I had to reread the last few chapters, because while Monk is able to prove Hester did not kill Mrs. Farraline, it's not really clear which member of the family did until the last page or so. Hester learns a great deal from her prison ordeal, and Monk learns a lot from his mostly fruitless efforts to find the truth. One of the things they learn is that, quarrels aside, they do their best work together. But the way this Scottish trial is structured keeps them apart. A truly frightening story, since it could cost Hester her life. But since it's part of a series, readers know that somehow she will be saved. Finding out how Monk and Rathbone, who's not allowed to be her lawyer in Scotland, do this, with her help, makes for a delicious story.

I enjoy the Monk series and am trying to read them in order. I may have missed one b/c I didn't realize there was such a triangle among the characters!
I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment.
It was 'fun' to go to Edinburgh via this story!

This is the best William Monk novel yet. Lots of suspense right up until the end.