_Blood on the Water_
by Anne Perry
On their way back to Wapping Station at the end of a long day upon the
Thames, William Monk, now Captain of the River Police, and Sergeant
Orme, his second in command, had their attention captured by a great
pleasure craft, the Princess Mary, sailing back to its berth, ready to
allow its passengers to go ashore after an afternoon and evening spent
in merry-making. Both briefly noted a man leaping from the deck into
the river, but had that image overwhelmed when the bow of the Princess
Mary blew up and the ship sank to the bottom in less than four minutes.
After spending the night rescuing survivors--primarily men--and
pulling bodies from the water, Monk even went into a diving suit to
physically survey the damage done, looking inside the shattered hull to
see bodies of men and women seated at table, their festive meals
interrupted.
But the case was first taken away from the jurisdiction of the River
Police and given to Inspector Lydiate of the London Metropolitan Police
on the pretext that the situation was too delicate for Monk to handle,
then given back when Monk found unavoidable evidence that Habib
Beshara, who'd been accused and convicted of placing and exploding the
dynamite that destroyed the ship's bow, had not been anywhere near the
ship at the time of the explosion. Only Beshara, who is suffering from
a debilitating degenerative disease, is already in prison, although his
sentence has been changed from death by hanging to life. Is it
worthwhile for Monk and his wife Hester to fully investigate? And as
they learn the identity of the man who leapt from the deck of the
Princess Mary moments before it exploded and who later sought to run
the ferry carrying Monk back home down, obviously intending to drown
Monk and stop his dangerous investigation, the question remains--what
is the motive for both the destruction of the ship and the attempt on
the lives of Monk and the ferryman?
The corruption is reaching very high this time, or so William and
Hester Monk and their friend Oliver Rathbone learn....
One of the best books in the series, particularly since Monk has
accepted captainship of the River Police. Definitely recommended.
This is the twentieth book in the series. It's not necessary to read
them in order, but doing so will help the reader appreciate why the
tactics used against Monk were employed and help the reader appreciate
the growth of the characters. I read it in print, and have learned it
is available in e-text and audio formats as well.
Bonnie L. Sherrell
Teacher at Large
"Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise
cannot see all ends." LOTR
"Don't go where I can't follow."
