(1997)Very good Monk story about a man who is badly beaten at the same time as his father was beaten to death. Turns out he had been gang raped and his father was part of the trio that did the deed, along with his doctor. Good twist.

Book #8. The author, Anne Perry, writes an involved mystery set in Victorian England and also gives insight into the social evils of the era and the vast differences between the upper class and the very poor.

This story starts with Sergeant John Evan being called to the scene of the violent murder of two men, in St. Giles, a slum on the outskirts of London. The father is dead, but the son is barely alive and is sent to the hospital. Later, Evan arranges for Hester Latterly to be his nurse. Meanwhile, William Monk, agent of inquiry, is asked to find the men responsible for terrible beatings and raping of working women in another slum - Seven Dials. While investigating, more of his memory returns and he must face the man he was in the past.

Hester, Monk, and Sir Oliver Rathbone again work together to solve the mystery and obtain justice. We also see more of Hester and Oliver’s relationship and Hester and Monk’s relationship.

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Cannot recommend this book. Too gross to merit the title of "cozy" mystery.

En los barrios bajos del Londres victoriano los ciudadanos llevan a cabo a sus más vergonzosos y secretos negocios. Con dinero se puede conseguir cualquier cosa pero, a veces, el precio a pagar es la propia vida...
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 el escenario 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 Ryhs quien ha matado a su propio padre.

Hester Latterly is nursing a young man found badly beaten next to his father's body while Monk is investigating the rapes and beatings of some poor women of St Giles. The two cases intersect in another fascinating Victorian mystery.
I enjoyed the first few books in this series, but I've found them more and more compelling as it moves along. The characters of Monk and Hester are so well defined. Both are learning more about themselves, especially Monk in this book. I always like reading the bits about Oliver Rathbone and John Evans who both appear again here.
Ms. Perry knows her subject well and effortlessly conveys the brutality and hopeless poverty of Victorian London. The ending here was a bit of a surprise though all the clues were there when I look back. Another very enjoyable read in this series. ( )