num_pages: 320
description: Readers of Anne Perrys bestselling William Monk novels feel as if theyve experienced the many shades of Victorian London from Belgravia to Limehouse from drawing room to brothel. In Execution Dock  Perrys first Monk novel in three years we find ourselves on the bustling docks along the River Thames. Here the empires great merchant ships unload the treasures of the world. And here in dank and sinister alleys sex merchants ply their lucrative trade.The dreaded kingpin of this dark realm is Jericho Phillips. On his floating brothel sex slaves are forced to endure unspeakable acts. Now one such soul thirteen-year-old Fig is found with his throat cut his tortured body tossed into the river.Commander William Monk of the River Police swears that Phillips will hang for this abomination. But the miscreant is as wily as he is monstrous and his wealthy clients seem far beyond the reach of the law. Monks attempt to bring about justice becomes the first electrifying episode in a nightmare that will test his courage and integrity.However reinforcements are on the way. Monks wife Hester who runs a free clinic for abused women draws a highly unusual guerrilla force to her husbands causea canny ratcatcher a retired brothel keeper a fearless street urchin and a rebellious society lady. To one as criminally minded as Phillips these folks are mere mosquitoes to be sure. But as he will soon discover some mosquitoes can have a deadly sting.This gripping terrifying story hurtles toward to a denouement that will leave the reader breathless but cheering. Execution Dock is Anne Perry at her incomparable magnificent best.
language: English
title: Execution Dock
publisher: Ballantine Books