I've enjoyed several of Perry's "William Monk" mysteries, and when I came across this good-condition hardcover at a local yard sale, I had to pick it up.

This one involves separate subplots that turn out to overlap, involving Hester's brother Charles, who's worried about his wife's behavior, and a colleague of Hester's at the hospital, whose wife is one of two murder victims, the other being an artist's model. It may be that one of the two women - found dead together - was the main target, and the other an accidental witness, but if so, which one was the primary target?

Lots of interesting period detail here - and a somewhat surprising development regarding Monk's relationship with police superintendent Runcorn. There have been hints about what may have occurred between them prior to Monk's amnesia, but since then the two have generally been at odds, with Runcorn seeming to despise Monk. In this book, though, the two have to work together, and both men seem to be making more of an effort to recognize the other's abilities. (The author does hammer this home a bit more blatantly than was strictly necessary, I thought, but I still enjoyed seeing two talented but incompatible people learn to respect each other.)

I plan to leave this book in the DCU lobby at around 2 or so; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released for the 2014 September Sapphire release challenge. ***