More Than Meets the Eye
If judgment is based on first impressions, then The Twisted Root is simply an old-fashioned whodunit, complete with an English private investigator, a mysterious dead body or two, and some wealthy suspects who just must be hiding something. But like the characters in the rapidly unfolding story, this tale is much more complex than it appears.
Young Lucius Stourbridge, heir to a considerable fortune, seeks the services of private investigator Simon Monk—a popular recurring character of author Anne Perry—to find his fiancée, Miriam Gardiner, who ran away from the Stourbridge family home in an unexplained frenzy. Shortly thereafter, the coachman who facilitated her flight is found murdered. The ensuing search for Miriam Gardiner results in many twists in the increasingly complex plot, eventually leading to Miriam's arrest for murder. But this is just the beginning.
With such an engaging story already in the works, Perry's secondary plot seems a nuisance when it is introduced. Revolving around Monk's new bride, Hester, and her efforts to improve working conditions for nurses in the local hospital, this break from the primary story gives the impression that Perry is trying a little too hard to give her mystery tale a more contemporary and socially conscious facet. There doesn't seem to be any compelling reason to care about Hester's run-in with hospital administrators, and even the brief glimpses of the Monks' domestic life—although they admirably illuminate the state of gender equality in the Victorian age—are forced and inconsequential. Then Perry's skill as a novelist comes into play, as she beautifully interweaves her plots into a suspenseful and well-crafted mystery tale turned courtroom drama.
You see, the dead coachman was found on the path to the home of Cleo Anderson—the woman who found and raised Miriam as a child. But Cleo Anderson is also a nurse at the hospital where Hester works, and she is the prime suspect in the theft of a large quantity of medicine. With Miriam Gardiner and Cleo Anderson facing charges of murder, and an unshakable certainty that neither woman is guilty, Monk must find the connection, the missing fragment that unites the pieces of this puzzle. And he must do so without the help of Miriam, who is hiding a secret so shocking she cannot cooperate or speak in her own defense.
If you think I've revealed too much of the plot, be assured that I have yet to scratch the surface of the mystery. For everyone in this tale has something to hide. Treadwell, the dead coachman; the members of the Stourbridge family; Sergeant Robb, the policeman investigating the case; the administrators at the hospital; even Hester Monk—all are in possession of secrets that may either confirm or dispute the guilt of Miriam and Cleo.
The threads of suspense are pulled tight right up to the very last moment, when the sordid truth is finally revealed. The astonishing secret that Miriam Gardiner has been keeping is proof positive that this is no stodgy, traditional mystery. And while some of the sleuthing techniques employed by Hester Monk are quite implausible, the final product is a clever and deftly spun tale, incorporating straight-up mystery, courtroom drama, and a touch of social commentary for good measure. A deliciously guilty pleasure, indeed.
Wonderful narration is provided by television and film actor Simon Jones. Jones makes the story come alive, breathing a distinct personality into each character in the large cast. Making the narrative even more enjoyable is the absence of sound effects and music—the sound of horses' hooves will no doubt echo in your imagination much more strongly, thanks to Jones's powerful reading.
—Karen Burns
