The Face of a Stranger: The First William Monk Novel (William Monk Novels)

I've read and enjoyed Perry's Pitt series but the stories and characters in the Monk series, at least this first one, are more elaborate and interesting. What made this story particularly interesting was the rediscovery by Monk of his own personality after suffering a bout of total amnesia at the very beginning of the book. Another interesting plot thread involved the revealing of a rather...more

I've read and enjoyed Perry's Pitt series but the stories and characters in the Monk series, at least this first one, are more elaborate and interesting. What made this story particularly interesting was the rediscovery by Monk of his own personality after suffering a bout of total amnesia at the very beginning of the book. Another interesting plot thread involved the revealing of a rather psychotic personality in the person of someone who, to most people, seemed a most personable and lovable fellow.   hide

I read and really enjoyed all of the William Monk novels. I think it is important to read them in order since the story and the character's relationships build from book to book. This is the first and a great series to begin.

William Monk wakes up and doesn't know who or where he is. He does know enough to realize that if his amnesia becomes known he will be reduced to living in a workhouse and poverty will be his reality. He slowly begins to piece his life together - before a carriage accident that killed the driver and left him with complete amnesia - he was a police detective, and a damn good one. He...more

William Monk wakes up and doesn't know who or where he is. He does know enough to realize that if his amnesia becomes known he will be reduced to living in a workhouse and poverty will be his reality. He slowly begins to piece his life together - before a carriage accident that killed the driver and left him with complete amnesia - he was a police detective, and a damn good one. He was successful and on track for promotion, but there is mounting evidence that in his single minded pursuit to better himself he made many enemies. His challenge is to discover who he was, and is, without revealing to his superior that is looking for any reason at all to release him, all while investigating the brutal murder of a Crimea war veteran from a prominent family. Excellent book, the first in a series, that I highly recommend.   hide

The first William Monk novel. 1856 in England. Enjoyed this book & looking forward to the next one "A Dangerous Mourning"