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Death of a Stranger Audiobook
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(3.02) - 1,195 listener ratings
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Few authors have written more mesmerizingly about Victorian London than Anne Perry. Readers enter her world with exquisite anticipation, and experience a rich variety of characters and class: aristocrats living in luxury, flower sellers on street corners, ladies of the evening seeking customers on gaslit streets, gentlemen in hansom cabs en route to erotic diversions unknown in their Mayfair mansions. Now Perry gives her myriad fans the book they’ve been waiting for—the novel in which William Monk breaks through the wall of amnesia and discovers at last who he once was.
For the prostitutes of Leather Lane, nurse Hester Monk’s clinic is a lifeline, providing medicine, food, and a modicum of peace—especially welcome since lately their ailments have escalated from bruises and fevers to broken bones and knife wounds. At the moment, however, the mysterious death of railway magnate Nolan Baltimore in a sleazy neighborhood brothel overshadows all else. Whether he fell or was pushed, the shocking question in everyone’s mind is: What was such a pillar of respectability doing in a seedy place of sin?
Meanwhile, brilliant private investigator William Monk acquires a new client, a mysterious beauty who asks him to ascertain beyond a shadow of a doubt whether or not her fiancé, an executive in Nolan Baltimore’s thriving railway firm, has become enmeshed in fraudulent practices that could ruin him.
As Hester ventures into violent streets to learn who is responsible for the brutal abuse of her patients, Monk embarks upon a journey into the English countryside, where the last rails are being laid for a new line. But the sight of tracks stretching into the distance revives memories once stripped from his consciousness by amnesia—as a past almost impossible to bear returns, eerily paralleling a fresh tragedy that has already begun its inexorable unfolding.
“Perry can write a Victorian mystery that would make Dickens’s eyes pop.”—New York Times Book Review
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"addicted to William and Hester. My second time around reading these books and appreciate the subtle observations and added descriptions of the time, fashion, interior design, and cultural attitudes that add credibility to the overall story."
— Duffy (4 out of 5 stars)
Death of a Stranger Listener Reviews
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" I like mysteries that include lots of local color, and Anne Perry's William Monk novels are set in Victorian England. "
— Kathy, 2/20/2014 -
" One of Anne Perry's best books. She isn't afraid to take on unpopular topics of the Victorian Age. As usual I didn't see the ending coming. Good to finally learn about Monk's past. "
— Pam, 2/18/2014 -
" I really like Hester and Monk, and their passion for the truth. "
— Sue, 2/10/2014 -
" For the prostitutes of Leather Lane, Nurse Hester Monk's clinic is a lifeline, providing medicine, food, and a modicum of peace, especially welcome since lately their ailments have escalated from bruises and fevers to broken bones and knife wounds. At the moment, however, the mysterious death of a railway magnate Nolan Baltimore in a sleazy neighborhood brothel overshadows all else. Whether he fell of was pushed, the shocking question in everyone's mind is" What was such a pillar of respectability doing in a seedy place of sin? "
— Morgan, 1/31/2014 -
" This book had its slow moments but definitely picked up speed (quite literally!) at the end. "
— Kathy, 1/30/2014 -
" I love Anne Perry's deep insight into character and all that I learn about Victorian social issues and everyday life. The plot, however, is incredible and way too complex. I am also heartily sick of Monk almost remembering things. Amnesia has been played out over many seasons, not just a few games. "
— Graeme, 1/15/2014 -
" I liked this one better than the first Ann Perry I read. Maybe I just knew more what to expect. "
— Cathy, 1/13/2014 -
" Mostly boring. Read about 100 pages then skipped to the last three chapters. Didn't miss a thing. "
— Tina, 1/11/2014 -
" Very good mystery! While not a book I couldn't put down, it was very good and kept me guessing. Many surprises and unexpected twists and turns. The ending was suspenseful but rather abrupt. "
— Tracey, 11/9/2013 -
" Another good book by anne perry, kept me guessing about the killer till the very end. So glad I didn't live in london back then. "
— Holly, 10/5/2013 -
" As always Anne Perry doesn't disappoint and keeps you hanging on til the very end. This story provides some additional background to William Monk's earlier life and the pieces of his personal puzzle start to fall in place. "
— Gail, 9/12/2013 -
" Eh. . .kind of average for this series. "
— Shemsi, 9/11/2013 -
" It was so-so. These last few books have not been nearly as good as the first half-dozen or so. "
— Daniel, 9/1/2013 -
" I like a mystery, I just finished this today, I enjoyed it in that it answered a lot of questions in the main characters past. A great read! "
— K.C., 5/2/2013 -
" Book Club June 2008 "
— Lauren, 2/22/2013 -
" This was my first book back into the William Monk novels (I had taken a few years off) and it was nice to see him reach a measure of peace with his past. I also like the depiction of Monk and Hester's relationship. "
— Carrie, 11/1/2012 -
" Not as good as the other Monk book I read. "
— Katie, 6/17/2012 -
" Monk investigates a case of fraud in the new railway line and subsequently the death of a railway magnate. While investigating, Monk recalls incidents from his past and slowly regains his memory. "
— Cheryl, 3/24/2012 -
" The historical accurancy and the complexity of her characters keeps me enthralle. "
— Wendy, 2/22/2012 -
" This has been my least favorite of the series so far. I couldn't get into the plot, and I pushed forward, hoping the next in the series will be better. "
— Meg, 11/5/2011 -
" My favorite Anne Perry book so far. Learned a lot about railroads. Very fast-paced and certainly kept my attention. "
— Bev, 9/12/2011 -
" Liked the book very much. Anne Perry is such an accomplished writer and develops her story so thoroughly; makes it difficult to put a book down once started. "
— Karin, 7/7/2011 -
" The first half of the book is more like 2.5 stars, but by the end, I was engrossed and in awe of how Perry could tie all of those loose ends together. Finally, a better view of the man Monk was! "
— Angela, 5/31/2011 -
" Excellent. One of the best Monk books. "
— Mary, 2/25/2011 -
" It was OK, not bad but not great either. Too much train talk in my opinion and not so much mystery. I have to say I enjoyed more reading Ms. Monk's activities than his husband's, who is the main character! "
— Andrula, 12/28/2010 -
" I really like Hester and Monk, and their passion for the truth. "
— Sue, 11/19/2010 -
" Excellent. One of the best Monk books. "
— Mary, 8/3/2010 -
" It was OK, not bad but not great either. Too much train talk in my opinion and not so much mystery. I have to say I enjoyed more reading Ms. Monk's activities than his husband's, who is the main character! "
— Andrula, 8/3/2010 -
" Monk investigates a case of fraud in the new railway line and subsequently the death of a railway magnate. While investigating, Monk recalls incidents from his past and slowly regains his memory. "
— Cheryl, 5/25/2010 -
" My favorite Anne Perry book so far. Learned a lot about railroads. Very fast-paced and certainly kept my attention. "
— Bev, 4/23/2010 -
" I liked this one better than the first Ann Perry I read. Maybe I just knew more what to expect. "
— Cathy, 3/9/2010 -
" The first half of the book is more like 2.5 stars, but by the end, I was engrossed and in awe of how Perry could tie all of those loose ends together. Finally, a better view of the man Monk was! "
— Angela, 12/15/2009 -
" This was my first book back into the William Monk novels (I had taken a few years off) and it was nice to see him reach a measure of peace with his past. I also like the depiction of Monk and Hester's relationship. "
— Carrie, 4/13/2009 -
" I like a mystery, I just finished this today, I enjoyed it in that it answered a lot of questions in the main characters past. A great read! "
— K.C., 2/6/2009
About Anne Perry
Anne Perry (1938-2023) was an English author of historical detective fiction, mysteries, young-adult fantasy, and young-adult fiction, and holiday novels, with several making the New York Times bestsellers list. Her novels were set in Victorian England, the Ottoman empire, and in Europe during WWI and WWI.
About Ralph Lister
Ralph Lister is an actor, voice actor, and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator. He spent fifteen years in London theater before moving to the United States to focus on film and television. He has held numerous roles in Shakespeare and modern dramas, as well as starring roles in independent films. His voice and character work can be heard in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearland 13 Going On 30. He lives in Los Angeles.