In a sensational breach of promise suit, two wealthy social climbers are suing on behalf of their beautiful daughter, Zillah. The defendant is Zillah's alleged fiancé, brilliant young architect Killian Melville, who adamantly declares that he will not, cannot, marry her. Utterly baffled by his client's refusal, Melville's counsel, Sir Oliver Rathbone, turns to his old comrades in crime -investigator William Monk and nurse Hester Latterly. But even as they scout London for clues, the case suddenly and tragically ends. An outcome that no one -except a ruthless murderer- could have foreseen.

No breath of scandal has ever touched the aristocratic Moidore family, but then Sir Basil Moidore's beautiful widowed daughter is stabbed to death in her own bed. Inspector Monk is ordered to find the killer, and as he gropes through the shadows, he approaches an astonishing solution.

Another Perry mystery that highlights the frustrating status of women in Victorian England. The story hinges on society's low opinion of nurses and of both single and married women who seek abortions. A talented nurse is found strangled, and Inspector Monk and his friends, a nurse and a lawyer, follow the clues to see that the murderer will hang. It is difficult to decide which element is the author's true forte-the details of everyday life or the suspenseful courtroom dialogues. The plot has many twists and turns. Readers may suspect some of the answers, but surprises continue right until the last page. The opening chapters place readers in a subplot that provides background on different characters. The shift in the action is slightly confusing as these people are rarely mentioned again. However, Perry fans will not be disappointed, and newcomers will be entertained by a good mystery as they enter the world of Victorian high society.

Two holiday novels provide the perfect combination of mystery and murder mixed with a generous helping of Yuletide cheer.A CHRISTMAS GUESTWhen her daughter and son-in-law plan a Christmas vacation to Paris sans hers truly, Grandmama Mariah Ellison travels to the chilly, windswept Romney Marshes to spend the holiday with old friends. But when the body of a fellow guest is found lifeless in bed, Grandmama senses foul play and takes it upon herself to assume the role of amateur detective-uncovering startling truths about the victim… and herself as well.A CHRISTMAS SECRETDominic Corde is thrilled to 'fill the robe' as substitute vicar in the village of Cottisham while the Reverend Wynter is away on a Christmas holiday. Upon arrival, Dominic and his wife, Clarice, wonder how they will be received by the congregation. But the Cordes soon discover that they have more dire matters to worry about. It turns out that the Reverend Wynter isn't on holiday at all-and that something very sinister has transpired.

The 12th mystery in the beloved Inspector and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mystery series, now a hardcover success. When a moneylender named William Weems is murdered, there is discreet rejoicing among those whose meager earnings he devoured. But the plot thickens when Inspector Pitt finds a list of London's distinguished gentlemen in Weems' office.

The 12th mystery in the beloved Inspector and Charlotte Pitt Victorian mystery series, now a hardcover success. When a moneylender named William Weems is murdered, there is discreet rejoicing among those whose meager earnings he devoured. But the plot thickens when Inspector Pitt finds a list of London's distinguished gentlemen in Weems' office.

A century ago, Charles Darwin's revolutionary theory of evolution rocked the civilized world, and the outraged Anglican church went on the warpath against it. In a mansion in London 's affluent Brunswick Gardens, the battle is intense, as that most respected clergyman, the Reverend Ramsay Parmenter, is boldly challenged by his beautiful assistant, Unity Bellwood – a "new woman" whose feminism and aggressive Darwinism he finds appalling. When Unity, three months pregnant, tumbles down the Parmenter's staircase to her death, Thomas Pitt, commander of the Bow Street police station, is virtually certain that one of the three deeply devout men in the house committed murder. Could it have been the Reverend Parmenter, his handsome curate, or his Roman Catholic son?

In his family life, Angus Stonefield had been gentle and loving; in business, a man of probity; and in his relationship with his twin brother, Caleb, a virtual saint. Now Angus is missing, and it appears more than possible that Caleb-a creature long since abandoned to depravity-has murdered him.Hired to find the missing man, William Monk puts himself into his shoes, searching for clues to Angus's fate and his vicious brother's whereabouts. Slowly, Monk inches toward the truth-and also, unwittingly, toward the destruction of his good name and livelihood…

DESCRIPTION: From some of the greatest literary minds of our time comes a collection of stories about dangerous women.With an unprecedented lineup of authors, Mysterious Press proudly presents an extraordinary collection of short stories. Lorenzo Carcaterra, Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Jeffery Deaver, Nelson DeMille, J.A. Jance, Andrew Klavan, Elmore Leonard, Laura Lippman, Ed McBain, Jay McInerney, Walter Mosley, Joyce Carol Oates, Anne Perry, Ian Rankin, S.J. Rozan, and Thomas H. Cook combine their talents in a collection which is certain to find a large audience eager to read stories by some of the most distinguished names in the genre.

A superintendent in the Thames River Police, William Monk is on a patrol boat near Waterloo Bridge when he and his men notice a young couple standing at the railing, apparently engaged in an intense discussion. The woman places her hands on the man's shoulders. Is it a caress or a push? He grasps her. To save her or kill her? Seconds later, the pair plunges to death in the icy waters. Has Monk witnessed an accident, a suicide, or a murder? The ensuing investigation leads him toward a conspiracy that reverberates into the highest levels of Her Majesty's government.

Hester Monk's voluntary work in Coldbath Square is increasingly demanding. Every night she tends to a stream of women of the streets who have been injured or become ill as a result of their trade. But the injuries are becoming more serious, and now a body has been discovered in one of the area's brothels. The dead man is none other than the wealthy and respectable Nolan Baltimore, head of Baltimore and Sons, a successful railway company. With calls for the police to clean up the streets, Hester decides she must intervene to protect these women who stand to lose everything. Meanwhile her husband, William Monk, has been approached by Katrina Harcus, who suspects that the company her fiance works for may be guilty of fraud. That company is Baltimore and Sons. As Monk endeavours to prevent a serious crime, possibly even a tragedy, taking place, he faces some staggering revelations. And with the link between the two cases becoming ever clearer, Monk finds that the time has come to confront his own demons – even if it means losing all that he now holds dear…

General Carlyon is killed in what first appears to be a freak accident. But the general's wife readily confesses that she did it. With the trial only days away the counsel for defence work feverishly to break down the wall of silence.

Cuándo el general Thaddeus Carlyon, insigne veterano del Imperio de Su Majestad, muere en una elegante fiesta londinense, nadie sospecha que se trate de un asesinato. Sin embargo, la bella esposa del general, Alexandra, se confiesa autora del crimen, lo que causará una profunda conmoción en la aristocracia victoriana. El detective Wílliam Monk trabajará, incansablemente junto a Oliver Rathbone, su colaborador habitual y abogado defensor de Alexandra Carlyon, para conseguir salvar la vida de la acusada. Defensa o traición, es la tercera novela de la serie de misterio victoriano protagonizada. por el detective William Monk.

En la turbulenta Constantinopla del siglo XIII, una joven busca la verdad tras el exilio de su hermano.Anna Zarides llega a Constantinopla disfrazada de eunuco dispuesta a dedicarse a la medicina. Desde el momento en que llega a la ciudad, amenazada por las cruzadas, Anna pasa a ser Anastasio.Sin embargo, el viaje encierra un secreto: su hermano gemelo, Justiniano, ha sido acusado de asesinar al emperador Besarión, y ella desea probar su inocencia. Mientras tanto, Constantinopla está bajo el asedio de las tropas de Carlos de Anjou, y Anna aprovecha la oportunidad de salvar a su hermano.

Sir Oliver Rathbone es un serio abogado de la época victoriana, que nunca se mezcla en asuntos turbios. Por ello, todo el mundo se extraña cuando acepta defender a la condesa Zorah Rostova, acusada de difamación por haber insinuado que la princesa Gisela ha matado a su esposo, el príncipe Friedrich. El detective William Monk es el encargado de investigar el caso. Tras determinar que sí hubo asesinato, debe descubrir el motivo e identificar al culpable. El equilibrio de la balanza es una nueva incursión de Anne Perry en las luces y las sombras de la Inglaterra victoriana.

El respetable abogado Leighton Duff aparece muerto a golpes en un sórdido callejón. A su lado, se encuentra el cuerpo moribundo de Ryhs, su hijo. La policía no es capaz de profundizar en el caso hasta que aparece en escena el sagaz inspector William Monk, que intuye una relación entre este suceso y una serie de violaciones y palizas a prostitutas. Sorprendentemente, se cierne la sospecha de que ha sido el propio Ryhs quien ha matado a su padre.En los barrios bajos del Londres victoriano los ciudadanos llevan a cabo sus más vergonzosos y secretos negocios. Con dinero se puede conseguir cualquier cosa pero, a veces, el precio a pagar es la propia vida…

Los planes de Emily Radley para Navidad quedan en nada cuando se entera de que su tía Susannah se está muriendo. A pesar de que no tenían mucha relación, Emily decide ir hasta Irlanda para acompañarla en sus últimos días. A su vez, Daniel, el único superviviente de un naufragio a causa de una tormenta, busca cobijo en el hogar de Susannah. Emily acabará irremediablemente envuelta en la investigación de la muerte sin resolver de Connor, otra víctima de un naufragio, varios años atrás, y lo que descubrirá es que algunas personas serán capaces de hacer cualquier cosa para mantener a salvo sus secretos.