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City of Dreams (Peter Fallon #4)
by
William Martin (Goodreads Author)
“Can I interest you in saving America?”
That’s the text message Peter Fallon receives from a Wall Street bigwig. It’s not a challenge he can turn down, especially sincethe countryis in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Hidden somewhere in New York City is a box of 1780 bonds with a face value of ten thousand dollars. The Supreme Court is abo...more
That’s the text message Peter Fallon receives from a Wall Street bigwig. It’s not a challenge he can turn down, especially sincethe countryis in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Hidden somewhere in New York City is a box of 1780 bonds with a face value of ten thousand dollars. The Supreme Court is abo...more
Hardcover, 448 pages
Published
May 11th 2010
by Forge Books
(first published May 1st 2010)
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This review is based on a set of advance proofs which I won in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Boy HOWDY but this book was good! A walloping good time, a rollicking read!
William Martin weaves four stories together, all from different eras, all related to a lost set of "New Emission Money" bonds issued in the late 18th century. In the 2010 story, Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington chase down clues to find the bonds before other folks with more nefarious plans do. The three stories set in the past trace...more
Boy HOWDY but this book was good! A walloping good time, a rollicking read!
William Martin weaves four stories together, all from different eras, all related to a lost set of "New Emission Money" bonds issued in the late 18th century. In the 2010 story, Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington chase down clues to find the bonds before other folks with more nefarious plans do. The three stories set in the past trace...more
Good God, where do I begin? Let me begin here: I rarely give 1-star. And I certainly didn't think this book, which had very few poor reviews and an interesting premise, would merit it. But this book is so bad and has me so angry that rather than try to format this into the solid, coherent review that I am not capable of writing right now, I will list my reasons for dishing out but 1-star:
1. I don't know if the author has spoken to a person from the working-class since he made it in this racket b...more
1. I don't know if the author has spoken to a person from the working-class since he made it in this racket b...more
2 likes · like · see review
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I was asked to read and review this book a little while ago. Until I was contacted about this book I was not familiar with this author. I'm glad I took a leap of faith and gave the thumbs up on reviewing this book.
I did not realize until I was doing a little bit of research that this book is part of a series. I have not read the other titles in the series but if they are as good as this one was I will be looking into reading them as well. This is a thrilling story that is based around actual his...more
I did not realize until I was doing a little bit of research that this book is part of a series. I have not read the other titles in the series but if they are as good as this one was I will be looking into reading them as well. This is a thrilling story that is based around actual his...more
“Can I interest you in saving America?”
That’s the text message Peter Fallon receives from a Wall Street bigwig. It’s not a challenge he can turn down, especially since the country is in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Hidden somewhere in New York City is a box of 1780 bonds with a face value of ten thousand dollars. The Supreme Court is about to decide if these bonds still have value. If the decision is yes, those ten thousand dollars, at five percent interest,...more
That’s the text message Peter Fallon receives from a Wall Street bigwig. It’s not a challenge he can turn down, especially since the country is in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
Hidden somewhere in New York City is a box of 1780 bonds with a face value of ten thousand dollars. The Supreme Court is about to decide if these bonds still have value. If the decision is yes, those ten thousand dollars, at five percent interest,...more
It's a captivating, creative story with fascinating historical details drawn relevantly to current events and pressing modern issues. I have enjoyed many of Martin's books, and I will continue to seek out his other books.
But I have to be frank: the writing is not good. The dialogue, in particular, can be downright painful, especially when read aloud.
Knowing the story would be great and the writing mediocre, I got this on Audible so my husband and I could listen to it as we drove from FL to VT --...more
But I have to be frank: the writing is not good. The dialogue, in particular, can be downright painful, especially when read aloud.
Knowing the story would be great and the writing mediocre, I got this on Audible so my husband and I could listen to it as we drove from FL to VT --...more
2 likes · like · see review
In the chaos of the Revolutionary War, Waterfront Boy Gil Walker steals a Tory landowner’s gold guineas. The man’s wife puts a curse on the gold that, improbably, is used to buy bonds that the new government is issuing to finance the war. More than 200 years later a few of the bonds turn up, with a rumor of a larger stash somewhere. While the Supreme Court mulls over whether the government has to pay the considerable compound interest, Evangeline Carrington and Peter Fallon get caught up in a da...more
A strange uneven book that leap frogs back and forth between some genuinely compelling historical backstory (reminiscent of Michener) and a wholly, unbelievable and unsatisfying contemporary story. The only thing that kept me reading was the well handled historical segments. Is it a problem when you are cheering for the irritating, haughty and unlikeable protagonists (whom you are supposed to like and think clever despite their dialogue that makes the reader want to run with scissors) to meet a...more
Jul 29, 2011
Nancy
added it
Before there was Dan Brown and Robert Langdon there was William Martin and Peter Fallon the book seller from Boston. I guess the good characters come from Massachusetts. Peter and his lady Evangaline have quested after an origienal Paul Revere tea service (?) and a lost original copy of the constitution. Now they are seeking a collection of bonds about $20,000 dollars worth used to fund the American Revolution. The bonds were never cashed and there are people that believe that if found will solv...more
If you had told me that a work of fiction about finance and war bonds could be really exciting, I wouldn't have believed you. Now, I have to be honest and admit that I obtained this book via a first reads giveaway and the edition I received was an "uncorrected proof". Honestly though, I hope that the story and the flow of the book remain the same for the books release because this book was really really good.
At the center of this story are New Emission bonds with a face value of 10,000 that were...more
At the center of this story are New Emission bonds with a face value of 10,000 that were...more
Is New York the City of Dreams, Schemes or Nightmares? No-Pete and the E-Ticket are about to find out in a quest to locate bonds from America's powdered wig days. This fast-paced adventure story follows Peter Fallon and his fiance up and down Manhattan as they are menaced and / or aided by a fun assortment of gangsters, rich muckety-mucks and idealists.
The plot twists plus everyone's shadowy motivations kept me interested but the story really shone when describing the 2008 financial crisis and...more
The plot twists plus everyone's shadowy motivations kept me interested but the story really shone when describing the 2008 financial crisis and...more
Excellent. I loved how Martin told the story of the Revolutionary Wars bonds, the curse placed on them, and all the people who get involved from the time of their issue to the present day economic crisis (which plays heavily into the plot, making this a very timely read). It is a thriller with a bit of a love story that uses much of America’s history to create an intriguing plot. Without giving too much away, City of Dreams centers upon the race to find the war bonds that could completely bankru...more
Oct 23, 2012
Mike
added it
No spoilers! Was very pleased that the action and plot moved from Boston to a different locale (nothing against Boston but the readers really needed a change of scenery). Loved the ending - the author has gotten much better at tying up loose ends and bringing all threads (from the past to the future) to a satisfying conclusion. Very timely topics (national debt and our financial future) and asks some very basic questions about what it means to be a patriot without being preachy. The protagonists...more
City of Dreams follows the typical Peter Fallon script, but it is entertaining nevertheless. I really like his formula. This time it is set in New York City and walks through various stages in the history of that city--from its base of British activity in the early stages of the American Revolution to its being capital of the early republic and birthplace of its commerce under Hamilton's design, its growth as immigrants flooded the city, its role as epicenter in the stock crash of '87, and its b...more
William Martin's "City of Dreams" is a brilliant bit of storytelling. If you enjoy historical fiction--but with the history impacting the present--Martin's books are some of the best around. This one is bound up with the history of New York City, from the American Revolution to 9/11. In the present, rare book dealer Peter Fallon and his fiance, travel writer Evangeline Carrington, are appealing as always, interesting people with whom I enjoyed spending time. It's history, it's a thriller, it is...more
I Loved this book. Martin has taken a slice of American history many of us know a little about but haven't really thought too much about, the use of revolutionary war notes to provision George Washington's army. He's done this in a setting coming alive with the details and minutia of early America. His research and background material about the City of New York gives the book great credibility coupled with insight and a sense of discovery. His characters bring a pretty dull subject alive. I espe...more
WIth City of Dreams, William Martin maintains the excellence shown in his previous work, "The Lost Constitution" and , if possible, exceeds it. The story is as relevant as tomorrow's newspaper, while taking the reader on a vital journey that begins on July 4, 1776. His exceptional skill at interweaving chapters from the past with chapters from the present is at displayed at its very best. The contemporary story reunites us with our old friends from his previous Peter Fallon books, but, as always...more
Wow! I throughly loved this wild goose chase of a story through New York city that literally, takes you all the way back to the birth and brings you back up to current times. I've never been to New York, but this book put me right there during each time period. This was a joy to read. The pacing was great. The story was fun and Kept me guessing most of the way through. The writing, to me, was excellent. I enjoyed all the complicated and even, the not so complicated characters throughout this boo...more
Intrigue keeps the reader on edge. This mystery takes place in the 1750's, 1800's up to the present time. Peter Fallon and his fiancee are looking for old bonds and run into some very scary people. People being killed by the Russian mob. It traces an Irish family history during three centuries. You will
Get a tour of New York City that is factual and very accurate.
High Finance and history make this a very good read.
Get a tour of New York City that is factual and very accurate.
High Finance and history make this a very good read.
Aug 04, 2011
Deborah Bobo
added it
City of Dreams is the story that brings the Revolutionary war and present day crashing together. Martin alternates between telling the story of the financing of the American Revolution and the frantic search for those bonds in present day America. Peter Fallon and fiancé Evangeline find themselves on the treasure hunt of their lives. Rich in history and excitement, this is definitely a good read.
Peter Fallon and girlfriend, Evangline, search frantically for New Emission Bonds issued by Continnental Congress in 1776 to fund Revoluntionary War. Story shifts between current day search and an historical timeline for the bonds. I thought historical part educational and fascinating. Got a little lost with all characters hunting for bonds and murdering each other in present.
I absolutley love William Martin. This is an awesome historical fiction book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I am not even sure that you would need to like historical fiction to read his books because he makes it so interesting. If you haven't read his books his chapters alternate between present day, and in this case, the revolution in the late 1700's. Somehow he makes everything come together at the end. Excellent!
It was the first book I've read by William Martin. I want to read some of his other books. This one really dug into the American Revolution, something I knew virtually nothing about until reading this book. Apparently his other books are similar, with him using history as a backdrop. I like books where I can be entertained and educated at the same time.
For those who enjoy historical fiction as well as the enticing action of a political thriller, City of Dreams is an excellent book, capturing the early history of New York City, going back and forth with the exciting efforts of Peter Fallon, the main character. William Martin continues to amaze me in his ability to write compelling historical fiction of this variety -- not shying away from length, while capturing the time and place as well as the mind and thinking of his characters. It's why he...more
Found this Martin book a little hard to get in to, but I am glad I stuck with it. I enjoy the characters- Peter Fallon and his fiancé Evangeline. I have an interest in the topics that William Martin has in his historical fiction novels. I like how he writes a chapter in present times and a chapter in the historical time.
Wow. This novel is quite original and very entertaining in spite of its several flaws. (Which I won't describe here) I thought that the alternating chapters in the (far) past were going to be a drag but I ended up looking forward to them. First novel I read from this author. I'm going to read more.
These Peter Fallon books generally flash from scenes in the past to present day intrigue. For me, the best parts are the historical happenings. Guess I'm getting old because all the intrigue twists and turns get a bit muddled for me. Sigh.
I have to admit I several times thought about putting the book down and giving up on it. I'm very glad I didn't.
Midway through the book definitely picks up pace and is a very thrilling ride to the end. I am definitely a newly minted fan of William Martin and his treasure hunter, Peter Fallon.
Midway through the book definitely picks up pace and is a very thrilling ride to the end. I am definitely a newly minted fan of William Martin and his treasure hunter, Peter Fallon.
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I just love William Martin. I read Back Bay while I was living in Boston and plan to read it again. I love the history and modern day relationship in his books. He does so much reserch to present acurate info. Great story telling.
Have read all of William Martin's books and very much enjoy his Peter Fallon series. I love the historical interface as the story goes along, so that you can picture the past in the present day surroundings.
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William Martin is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels. He is best known for his historical fiction, which has chronicled the lives of the great and the anonymous in American history while bringing to life legendary American locations, from Cape Cod to Annapolis. He has also written an award-winning PBS documentary, one of the cheesiest horror movies ever made, magazine articles, and...more
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