by Lyndsay Faye
Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Available on March 15th
1845. New York City forms its first police force. The great potato famine hits Ireland. These two seemingly disparate events will change New York City. Forever.
Timothy Wilde tends bar near the Exchange, fantasizing about the day he has enough money to win the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams literally incinerate in a fire devastating downtown Manhattan, he finds himself disfigured, unemployed, and homeless. His older brother obtains Timothy a job in the newly minted NYPD, but he is highly skeptical of this new "police force." And he is less than thrilled that his new beat is the notoriously down-and-out Sixth Ward-at the border of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.
One night while making his rounds, Wilde literally runs into a little slip of a girl-a girl not more than ten years old-dashing through the dark in her nightshift . . . covered head to toe in blood.
Timothy knows he should take the girl to the House of Refuge, yet he can't bring himself to abandon her. Instead, he takes her home, where she spins wild stories, claiming that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of 23rd Street. Timothy isn't sure whether to believe her or not, but, as the truth unfolds, the reluctant copper star finds himself engaged in a battle for justice that nearly costs him his brother, his romantic obsession, and his own life.
Timothy Wilde tends bar near the Exchange, fantasizing about the day he has enough money to win the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams literally incinerate in a fire devastating downtown Manhattan, he finds himself disfigured, unemployed, and homeless. His older brother obtains Timothy a job in the newly minted NYPD, but he is highly skeptical of this new "police force." And he is less than thrilled that his new beat is the notoriously down-and-out Sixth Ward-at the border of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.
One night while making his rounds, Wilde literally runs into a little slip of a girl-a girl not more than ten years old-dashing through the dark in her nightshift . . . covered head to toe in blood.
Timothy knows he should take the girl to the House of Refuge, yet he can't bring himself to abandon her. Instead, he takes her home, where she spins wild stories, claiming that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of 23rd Street. Timothy isn't sure whether to believe her or not, but, as the truth unfolds, the reluctant copper star finds himself engaged in a battle for justice that nearly costs him his brother, his romantic obsession, and his own life.
I'm always interested in books that start at the beginning of a known element - such as the beginning of the New York City Police Force - or books that start at the beginning of the study of psychology or the beginning of a specific religious belief . I like to try to puzzle out how things come to be. You could probably come up with other examples. Add in a serial killer and I'm hooked. This seems to be the second book for author Lyndsay Faye. Her previous effort was Dust and Shadow: An Account of the Ripper Killings by Dr. John H. Watson. I have not read Dust and Shadow, but the idea that Sherlock Holmes attempts to track down Jack the Ripper sounds interesting as well. I've got both Lyndsay Faye's books on my list.
I haven't heard of this book before. It does sounds interesting! Great choice! Thank you for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteSam
Books For All Seasons
Not sure about this one but I do like the sound of Dust and Shadow.
ReplyDeleteThis is new to me, but I am curious to learn more.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one, but it does sound amazing...thanks for sharing.
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MY WEBSITE
While I'm quite sure that this isn't my type of book (and wish I could say that it sounds amazing to me like the others here were), I hope you'll get to read it as soon as possible!
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My WOW
I haven't heard of this title but it sounds gripping. I need to add it to my good reads so I don't forget it. I like fiction that has a glimmer of one real fact also.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....could be very good!! Is that your back yard in the header with that awesome buck???
ReplyDeleteNo, Staci, not my back yard. It's from a vacation in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The buck (guess it's still called a buck) is an elk that we "met" when we came home from eating lunch one day. It's a beauty for sure. I just love the picture.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting. I'll have to order a copy for my library. Her book about Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper sounds good too. Great pick!
ReplyDeleteI almost couldn't get by your new pic. Wow!
ReplyDeleteI'm a sucker for a good serial killer myself.