The Face of a Stranger

A William Monk Novel #1

By: Anne Perry

Narrated by: Davina Porter

In this exhilarating series debut, police detective William Monk must solve the mystery of his own past.

His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detective. But the accident that felled him has left him with only half a life; his memory and his entire past have vanished. As he tries to hide the truth, Monk returns to work and is assigned to investigate the brutal murder of a Crimean War hero and man about town. Which makes Monk’s efforts doubly difficult, since he’s forgotten his professional skills along with everything else.

“Richly textured with the sights and sounds of London and its countryside … Solidly absorbing and Perry’s best to date.”—Kirkus Reviews

Crack another case with William Monk.©1990 Anne Perry (P)1995 Recorded Books

Great characters! One thing I'd like...

Wonderful characterizations! Felt like I knew everyone at the end. Monk's haunting memory loss and the method of repeating questions made me think a long time about re-starting relationships using only reactions. Excellent reader, too. The one additional thing I hope for in the remaining books is to share a character's delight in something. All mysteries contain darkness. However, in Agatha Christie and other "cozy mysteries" the cottages, gardens, and seaside are warming. In Patrick O'Brian's rich Aubrey-Maturin series, the music, the sea & nature, etc, engage repeatedly. This Monk novel does include a wonderful estate, and I hope we will roam it much more often in coming books, to smell the roses, tread the leafy paths, perhaps find a ghost in the kitchen. I look forward to the very interesting Monk-Hester relationship.

The Face of a Stranger

I really do like this series. I wish I had listened to this one first. I've read some of the others out of order.

A bit drawn out

I thought it was amazingly narrated because it was Davina Porter but the sorry lacked depth. I kept waiting for something more exciting to happen besides the fact that the detective didn’t remember anything. I think I’m just spoiled by the outlander series.

Amnesia, a thoroughly traumatic happenstance!

The detective is given a very gruesome murder to solve.
His supervisor dislikes him so giving him this very "sticky" case, one which happens to touch on the nobility, gives him hope's
that it will be the com up ence of the detective.
As the detective looks deeper into the case things start to appear not what they seem. He must interfere in the lives of the elite. Yes, there is trouble now. You will be amazed at the final!

Older but Excellent Series

What made the experience of listening to The Face of a Stranger the most enjoyable?

This is the first "Monk" novel, and I listened because I so enjoy Davina Porter as a narrator. While I found the first part of the story to be a little slow, I am glad I stuck with it. Monk is such a complex character, and his memory lost made the story that much more intriguing.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Edge of my seat - no. However, it was a good pace, and very satisfying.

Any additional comments?

I cannot wait to listen to the next in the series.