Review: Blind Justice by Anne Perry

‘For a generation, Anne Perry’s New York Times bestselling novels have invited readers to explore the brilliantly seductive heart of Victorian London, where great wealth and great evil live side by side, and great men sometimes make unfortunate choices.

In Perry’s stunning new novel, Hester Monk, the wife of William Monk, commander of the Thames River Police, questions the finances of a London church whose members’ hard-earned charitable gifts appear to have ended up in the pocket of charismatic preacher Abel Taft, paying for his fine home and the stylish outfits of his wife and daughters.

Taft is accused of extortion, and brilliant barrister Oliver Rathbone, newly appointed a judge, is chosen to preside over his trial. It seems clear that Taft is indeed guilty. However, at the last second, the defense produces a witness who completely undermines the charges. Then Rathbone makes a well-meaning but reckless move that could ruin his career, his reputation, and his life.

Blind Justice presents a rich and lively panorama of London life, from the teeming Thames docks to the wealthy West End, while unfolding a magnificent courtroom drama. And while justice, law, and morality hang in the balance, Hester and Monk race to save their distinguished friend Rathbone from disgrace. The incomparable art of Anne Perry grips us fast until the final, unforgettable scene.’

If you are looking for the normal Anne Perry mystery, then this is not the book for you. It features Oliver Rathbone more so than Hester and Monk and while it was a good read, not the usual caliber you come to expect when reading Anne Perry. Oliver Rathbone is newly appointed to be a judge and his heart is in the right place. However his heart overrules his head and he makes a damaging mistake. One that will change his life forever and will impact his career in ways he didn’t think possible. Having read the previous books in this series, we know Rathbone is a superior attorney who lets his passions rule him in the courtroom. While that worked well for him when he was a lawyer, it utterly fails him in his position as a judge.

This book references old plots and you must have read the previous books in this series to really grasp this novel. This was one of my favorite series, but this book really didn’t do anything for me. I enjoyed it because of the characters and Perry’s writing, but it didn’t compare to the others in this series. There was some suspense, but it lacked the complexity of a murder that Monk and Hester have been known to solve. To me it was bland and seriously disappointing. This was more of a character building novel and while I am glad I read it, it just wasn’t up to par.

I sincerely hope this series isn’t becoming stale and that Perry is just preparing the reader for more to come. This series and the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series were some of my favorites and I hate to see a great series go to pot. Previously, I felt the same about the Pitt series, but then it revived itself with the latest installment and I am sure Anne Perry will return this series to its normal standards.