Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Gilded Needles” as Want to Read:
Gilded Needles
by
Welcome to the Black Triangle, New York's decadent district of opium dens, gambling casinos, drunken sailors, gaudy hookers, and back room abortions. The queen of this unsavory neighborhood is Black Lena Shanks, whose family leads a ring of female criminals-women skilled in the art of cruelty.
Only a few blocks away, amidst the elegant mansions and lily-white reputations ...more
Only a few blocks away, amidst the elegant mansions and lily-white reputations ...more
Get A Copy
Kindle Edition, 265 pages
Published
June 25th 2015
by Valancourt Books
(first published 1980)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Gilded Needles,
please sign up.
Be the first to ask a question about Gilded Needles
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Gilded Needles

4.5 stars!
This book was SO MUCH fun! Set in the early 1880's in the city of New York in a district called The Black Triangle,(where crime runs rampant and poverty reigns), McDowell brings the city and this district vividly to life. Abortions, prostitution and gambling are just a few of the dark deeds that are common here.
Black Lena Shanks and family run their all female criminal empire here without interference from police or anyone else. That is until the The Tribune decides to run a series of ...more
This book was SO MUCH fun! Set in the early 1880's in the city of New York in a district called The Black Triangle,(where crime runs rampant and poverty reigns), McDowell brings the city and this district vividly to life. Abortions, prostitution and gambling are just a few of the dark deeds that are common here.
Black Lena Shanks and family run their all female criminal empire here without interference from police or anyone else. That is until the The Tribune decides to run a series of ...more

Gilded Needles
By: Michael McDowell
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
This book has so many aspects to it that make it terrific and dark at the same time. The author sure knows how to set the atmosphere to dark and deadly! The story revolves around an area of New York that is crime ridden by the poor in 1882.. It also revolves around two main families. One poor and on the wrong side of the law and the other well off and upstanding citizens but has the power to make the law or control punishments.
It's very int ...more
By: Michael McDowell
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
This book has so many aspects to it that make it terrific and dark at the same time. The author sure knows how to set the atmosphere to dark and deadly! The story revolves around an area of New York that is crime ridden by the poor in 1882.. It also revolves around two main families. One poor and on the wrong side of the law and the other well off and upstanding citizens but has the power to make the law or control punishments.
It's very int ...more

4.5 stars!
GILDED NEEDLES, by Michael McDowell is another tale rich in atmosphere that has been re-released by Valancourt Books. I quickly became a McDowell fan after reading some of his supernatural-themed titles. In Gilded Needles, he takes a much different approach. We are presented with an elaborately vivid tale of two vastly different families living in New York.
The Shanks family, headed by matriarch Black Lena Shanks, live in the "wicked", poor area known as the Black Triangle. They have a ...more
GILDED NEEDLES, by Michael McDowell is another tale rich in atmosphere that has been re-released by Valancourt Books. I quickly became a McDowell fan after reading some of his supernatural-themed titles. In Gilded Needles, he takes a much different approach. We are presented with an elaborately vivid tale of two vastly different families living in New York.
The Shanks family, headed by matriarch Black Lena Shanks, live in the "wicked", poor area known as the Black Triangle. They have a ...more

“You are falling into inanity,” said Judge Stallworth coldly. “I have told you, the lower classes do not take revenge upon the upper."
My third McDowell and I think I am a little in love with his writing. How else did I just enjoy a work of horror fiction with a blood-curdling and violent revenge plot at the heart of its story?
In an earlier update I mentioned that I could see some similarities between Gilded Needles and The Godfather. I still believe this is true. Except that Black Lena Shanks a ...more
My third McDowell and I think I am a little in love with his writing. How else did I just enjoy a work of horror fiction with a blood-curdling and violent revenge plot at the heart of its story?
In an earlier update I mentioned that I could see some similarities between Gilded Needles and The Godfather. I still believe this is true. Except that Black Lena Shanks a ...more

Gilded Needles is without a doubt one of the darkest, creepiest tales of revenge that I've ever had the pleasure to have read.
The setting of Gilded Needles is New York, 1882. The first thing that struck me on opening the book was the most excellent panoramic view of the city as the old year changes into the new. The author provides us here with a glimpse across the spectrum into what's happening at that moment, giving us a peek at the lives of "... the poor whose poverty was such that they woul ...more
The setting of Gilded Needles is New York, 1882. The first thing that struck me on opening the book was the most excellent panoramic view of the city as the old year changes into the new. The author provides us here with a glimpse across the spectrum into what's happening at that moment, giving us a peek at the lives of "... the poor whose poverty was such that they woul ...more

A dark historical thriller set in the infamous Black Triangle of 1880s New York, where crime is rampant, every vice is available for a price, and even the law can be bought.
When a "crusading" judge declares war on an all female criminal empire by sentencing three of its members to death, his entire family receives invitations to their own funerals in the opening salvo of a campaign of revenge and terror from the "queen" of the Black Triangle......Black Lena Shanks.
And Hell hath no fury....
McDow ...more
When a "crusading" judge declares war on an all female criminal empire by sentencing three of its members to death, his entire family receives invitations to their own funerals in the opening salvo of a campaign of revenge and terror from the "queen" of the Black Triangle......Black Lena Shanks.
And Hell hath no fury....
McDow ...more

This book didn’t grab me at first. But after continuing through, I did end up enjoying it. I’ve been a fan of some of McDowell’s other books, and I’d rate this one just like those - very well written, especially effective settings and a good story. I wouldn’t classify this as a horror, more of a thriller, I guess. Worth the read!

It may seem counterintuitive but some of the best horror I’ve read has no supernatural elements in it at all. Michael McDowell’s Gilded Needles is just such a book. The Alabama native applied his mastery of the Southern Gothic genre with all of its genteel depravity, racism political machination and wretched poverty, and applied it to the most unlikely setting, Manhattan.
Set in the New York City in 1882, it is an eminently believable story of hatred and revenge pitting two families, the staid a ...more
Set in the New York City in 1882, it is an eminently believable story of hatred and revenge pitting two families, the staid a ...more

Sep 30, 2016
Kate
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
3-kindle-loanable,
zreading-challenge-2016
The upper class Stallworths, looking to gain political favour, decide to wage war on the sqalid NY district called The Black Triangle. The Shanks family, known for all manner of criminal activity, get caught in the crosshairs of the family's investigations in the area. When matters turn deadly, Black Lena decides to seek vengeance for the loss of her kin.
Set in the late 1800s, this book is rich in historical detail and you get a complete sense of the era. The authors descriptions of life in the ...more
Set in the late 1800s, this book is rich in historical detail and you get a complete sense of the era. The authors descriptions of life in the ...more

Great story that's very different for this author. It's fictional history with horrors that are 100% believable, but not really Horror.
The Audible version, at times, sounds like the old show "The Untouchables" because of the narrator's voice, but he does decent voices. There are a LOT of characters and things to think about, so while you're thinking about one thing you might lose track and need to hit the "Back 30" button. lol
Great, great story! ...more
The Audible version, at times, sounds like the old show "The Untouchables" because of the narrator's voice, but he does decent voices. There are a LOT of characters and things to think about, so while you're thinking about one thing you might lose track and need to hit the "Back 30" button. lol
Great, great story! ...more

*re-read 9/2016: rounding up to 5 stars!
4.5 stars!
GILDED NEEDLES, by Michael McDowell is another tale rich in atmosphere that has been re-released by Valancourt Books. I quickly became a McDowell fan after reading some of his supernatural-themed titles. In Gilded Needles, he takes a much different approach. We are presented with an elaborately vivid tale of two vastly different families living in New York.
The Shanks family, headed by matriarch Black Lena Shanks, live in the "wicked", poor area ...more
4.5 stars!
GILDED NEEDLES, by Michael McDowell is another tale rich in atmosphere that has been re-released by Valancourt Books. I quickly became a McDowell fan after reading some of his supernatural-themed titles. In Gilded Needles, he takes a much different approach. We are presented with an elaborately vivid tale of two vastly different families living in New York.
The Shanks family, headed by matriarch Black Lena Shanks, live in the "wicked", poor area ...more

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned...
"Gilded Needles" is the tale of an all-female crime circuit and the lengths they go to exact revenge on a judge who prosecuted one of their family...and it's terrific!
I REALLY enjoyed this. I was expecting more of a horror theme based upon the author's previous work but in truth it's more of a crime drama that happens to have some murders thrown in. I thought the author did a great job setting up not only the seedy setting, but the characters (and there' ...more
"Gilded Needles" is the tale of an all-female crime circuit and the lengths they go to exact revenge on a judge who prosecuted one of their family...and it's terrific!
I REALLY enjoyed this. I was expecting more of a horror theme based upon the author's previous work but in truth it's more of a crime drama that happens to have some murders thrown in. I thought the author did a great job setting up not only the seedy setting, but the characters (and there' ...more

Listened to this one on audio and dug it. The narrator did a great job. It was a little slow going in the beginning but found its grove in the later chapters.
Written very well, this one is pretty dark and the language reminded me bit of John Connolly’s Matthew Corbett’s series. That’s a good thing, btw.
Don’t be messin’ with the Shanks family. Lessens you want to get a party invite with your name on it. You don’t want that. Seriously.
Written very well, this one is pretty dark and the language reminded me bit of John Connolly’s Matthew Corbett’s series. That’s a good thing, btw.
Don’t be messin’ with the Shanks family. Lessens you want to get a party invite with your name on it. You don’t want that. Seriously.

3.5 stars
Not a book, but a Russian doll.
First doll. Here we have historical fiction (set up in New-York during the Gilded Age) and it is well documented by the author. Not bad, but where are we going? 🤔
Second doll. The aristocratic Stallorwths vs the lowly Shankses. We enter crime territory. To be honest this part of the story dragged 😴
Third doll. About time. Revenge with a capital R! A truly scrumptious dish that was worth the wait 🥳
Not a book, but a Russian doll.
First doll. Here we have historical fiction (set up in New-York during the Gilded Age) and it is well documented by the author. Not bad, but where are we going? 🤔
Second doll. The aristocratic Stallorwths vs the lowly Shankses. We enter crime territory. To be honest this part of the story dragged 😴
Third doll. About time. Revenge with a capital R! A truly scrumptious dish that was worth the wait 🥳

Michael McDowell is my bae, guys. He's a brilliant writer - whatever he writes may be something you've heard about, but he manages to make it new. He grabs the tired, exhausted, over-used haunted house stuff and created something as great and original as The Elementals and here, in Gilded Needles, he just gets the "underground gang vs a rich family" and just makes something superb out of it.
McDowell takes us to the Black Triangle, New York's decadent district, ruled by its queen Black Lena Shan ...more
McDowell takes us to the Black Triangle, New York's decadent district, ruled by its queen Black Lena Shan ...more

''Her opponent—Charlotta Kegoe, the Sapphic Pugilist—was greeted with less enthusiasm. However, Benjamin was fascinated by this second lady, not only because of her title and her legs—hard pillars of muscle that nearly burst their black stockings—but because of the nature of her jewelry. Since it would be imprudent in the extreme for a female fighter to wear any sort of ornament in the ring, Miss Kegoe had had numerous necklaces, bracelets, and rings tattooed onto the skin of her neck, wrists, a
...more

this is unlike any of the other Michael McDowell books I've read. I wouldn't say this one is his best but Black Lena is mean and devoted to seek her revenge.
...more

Gilded Needles is both twisted and entertaining and I loved reading every page of it. McDowell does a really good job of making you truly hate and despise certain characters throughout the story and that just makes the vengeance visited upon them even sweeter. The descriptions of the Black Triangle really left me with a bad taste in my mouth(the taste of stale beer mixed with the smell of an outhouse to be exact). For whatever reason I enjoyed feeling like I was thrown into this disgusting part
...more

I've enjoyed other Michael McDowell books very much, particularly his 6 volume Blackwater series and the scary horror tale The Elementals, but this revenge story was a pretty grim affair, populated as it was with mostly unpleasant, unsympathetic characters and winding down to a fairly predictable outcome.
...more

Sep 10, 2020
Joe Kraus
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction
I nearly gave up on this one at the start, but I’m glad I kept at it.
The first few pages make clear that this is saturated with great atmosphere. It’s set near the legendarily bloody Five Points area of New York in the gilded age (as the title references in nice double-entendre fashion), and it’s an era I know fairly well from my own gangster researches. McDowell brings it to life with details that give a sense of the corruption and decay of the place.
And yet, ugh, it’s all exposition early. For ...more
The first few pages make clear that this is saturated with great atmosphere. It’s set near the legendarily bloody Five Points area of New York in the gilded age (as the title references in nice double-entendre fashion), and it’s an era I know fairly well from my own gangster researches. McDowell brings it to life with details that give a sense of the corruption and decay of the place.
And yet, ugh, it’s all exposition early. For ...more

4.5 stars.
Another great read from Michael McDowell. Gilded Needles is set in New York City in the late 1800's. For those who aren't familiar with McDowell's writing, his often formally written prose is laced with both subtle humor and outright wit. Although I felt that a few parts of the book could have been shorter, the story itself is captivating and well-paced.
The Stallworth's are a wealthy family living in one of New York's wealthier neighborhoods. The Shanks' are a family of criminals livi ...more
Another great read from Michael McDowell. Gilded Needles is set in New York City in the late 1800's. For those who aren't familiar with McDowell's writing, his often formally written prose is laced with both subtle humor and outright wit. Although I felt that a few parts of the book could have been shorter, the story itself is captivating and well-paced.
The Stallworth's are a wealthy family living in one of New York's wealthier neighborhoods. The Shanks' are a family of criminals livi ...more

Gilded Needles is a sublime novel of revenge by Michael McDowell.
I'm not typically fond of stories set in New York City in the 19th century, although there are a few exceptions. I can gladly say that Gilded Needles is most certainly an exception, as by the time I was around 40% through this book (both ebook and audio), I could not stop reading.
An amazing, in depth analysis of life in New York City in 1882, McDowell pulls no punches in analysis of the Black Triangle neighborhood and those that w ...more
I'm not typically fond of stories set in New York City in the 19th century, although there are a few exceptions. I can gladly say that Gilded Needles is most certainly an exception, as by the time I was around 40% through this book (both ebook and audio), I could not stop reading.
An amazing, in depth analysis of life in New York City in 1882, McDowell pulls no punches in analysis of the Black Triangle neighborhood and those that w ...more

Well, think I found his masterpiece.
Gilded Needles shows the true love of McDowell was the love of the panorama, his art the art of sociology, watching the gears of people and place and social expectation meet and grind people to fine powder even before the horror starts. The opening of Gilded Needles which takes the same untethered, free floating approach through the underbelly of the gilded age New York, as the look at Pinecone Alabama at the beginning of Amulet. It doesn't matter if the setti ...more
Gilded Needles shows the true love of McDowell was the love of the panorama, his art the art of sociology, watching the gears of people and place and social expectation meet and grind people to fine powder even before the horror starts. The opening of Gilded Needles which takes the same untethered, free floating approach through the underbelly of the gilded age New York, as the look at Pinecone Alabama at the beginning of Amulet. It doesn't matter if the setti ...more

Holy shit. A more satisfying revenge yarn you'd be hard-pressed to find. A practically Dickensian one no less!
Now, the back of the book, at least the Avon edition, makes it sound as though the Stallworths are the heroes and that Black Lena and her crew are the villains of this tale. Truthfully, this book doesn't concern itself with black and white delineations like that. Both sides do equally horrid things to one another. But contrary to the synopsis, I found Lena and her family immensely more s ...more
Now, the back of the book, at least the Avon edition, makes it sound as though the Stallworths are the heroes and that Black Lena and her crew are the villains of this tale. Truthfully, this book doesn't concern itself with black and white delineations like that. Both sides do equally horrid things to one another. But contrary to the synopsis, I found Lena and her family immensely more s ...more

Bleaker than Dickens' "Bleak House" McDowell's novel set in 1882 New York City details the horrific lengths individuals will go to in the face of death, poverty, and loss. The city is a character in itself, full of the dregs of society; pocket-picking street urchins, backstreet hustlers, swindling prostitutes, and a host of other law breakers. In the midst of this miasma of the destitute, stands the upper class, so divided from the poor they cannot even begin to comprehend the horribleness that'
...more

The supreme revenge taken by a invincible family of criminals on a "righteous" family of would-be saints and stern lawyers is mind-boggling. Filled with the terror of gory deaths and ruined lives, this novels stuns with its visceral intensity. What can I say? The immensely-talented man did it again!
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Valancourt Books: Audiobook out now! Gilded Needles (1980) by Michael McDowell | 9 | 25 | Apr 03, 2018 07:35AM | |
paced reading hor...: September Group Read - Gilded Needles 100% spoilers | 35 | 25 | Oct 02, 2016 10:33PM | |
Supernatural Frea...: Ramble As You Read: Gilded Needles | 7 | 5 | Nov 16, 2015 01:14PM | |
Valancourt Books: Gilded Needles (1980) by Michael McDowell | 12 | 18 | Jul 16, 2015 08:25AM |
Michael McDowell is a prolific horror writer who has distinguished himself with a varied body of work within the genre. He was born in Enterprise, Alabama, in 1950 and died of AIDS-related illness in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1999.
His first horror novel, The Amulet, relates the tragedies that befall various individuals who come in possession of a supernatural pendant in a small town.
In McDowell's ...more
His first horror novel, The Amulet, relates the tragedies that befall various individuals who come in possession of a supernatural pendant in a small town.
In McDowell's ...more
Related Articles
Kazuo Ishiguro insists he’s an optimist about technology.
“I'm not one of these people who thinks it's going to come and destroy us,” he...
235 likes · 25 comments
1 trivia question
More quizzes & trivia...