Mairi's review
The Poe Shadow: A Novel by Matthew Pearl
After going on a brief, but satisfying mystery kick and book-geeking about detective stories with someone, I really wanted more but had already run through all the ones that had been loaned to me. I considered going back and re-reading any of the number of books I have in that genre but ended up deciding on this, not knowing until I opened it that it is very much in line with the current cravings.
Like The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow is detailed, beautifully written, obviously well-researched historical fiction with a complex but definitely followable plot-line. I got more involved in it than I did Pearl's previous novel, possibly because I knew just a little more about the actual figures placed in the story and got more excited over the accuracies but I'm pretty sure I would've enjoyed it regardless. If you like Poe, particularly his Dupin stories or even just enjoy a historical yarn, I can't recommend it highly enough.
Like The Dante Club, The Poe Shadow is detailed, beautifully written, obviously well-researched historical fiction with a complex but definitely followable plot-line. I got more involved in it than I did Pearl's previous novel, possibly because I knew just a little more about the actual figures placed in the story and got more excited over the accuracies but I'm pretty sure I would've enjoyed it regardless. If you like Poe, particularly his Dupin stories or even just enjoy a historical yarn, I can't recommend it highly enough.
