Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades

Ambrose Bierce #1

by Oakley Hall

A portrait of writer Ambrose Bierce and a glimpse of life in 1880s San Francisco mark a mystery in which newspaperman Tom Redmond investigates a series of murders of women, leading him to conspiracies involving the railroads and state politics. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical Mystery, Crime

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Oakley Hall also wrote under the nom de plume of O.M. Hall and Jason Manor.

Oakley Maxwell Hall was an American novelist. He was born in San Diego, California, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and served in the Marines during World War II. Some of his mysteries were published under the pen names "O.M. Hall" and "Jason Manor." Hall received his Master of Fine Arts in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ambrose Bierce heard of the first Morton Street Slasher murder, he said, "It appears there is a fellow who dislikes women more than I do."

I've never been much of a fan of using real historical figures in fictional situations, but "Bitter" Bierce's quirky, and acerbic personality makes for such a delightful character, it's easy to forgive Oakley Hall's decision to feature him in a series of mysteries. Hall was wise here not to make Bierce the narrator. Indeed, he spends much of the novel in the background as the older, wiser mentor to fledgling reporter, Tom Redmond. Redmond's naiveté makes a fine contrast to Bierce's cynical sophistication, occasionally making for drama, or at least spirited conversation.

"My dear fellow, what did you expect?" Bierce said kindly. "You have read too many novels. They reinforce the preposterous view of the happy ending."

"If nothing matters, why is it important to find out who murdered three whores?" I asked.

"It is not important, it is only interesting," Bierce said. "It is a puzzle to be solved."

In addition to the search for a twisted killer, there are hidden identities, secret societies, and old grudges. For me, all the minor plots served to drag the story down, though Bierce's appearances were always a highlight. This is one of those books that I really didn't like that much, but because of the fine writing, and unique look at American history, I feel it deserves four or more stars.

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been a masterful thriller-historical novel, as its plot and twist are interesting, but it was executed in a very uninspired way. A serial killer + The California Gold Rush + the Southern Pacific Railway magnates.

[Redrighthand · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't live up to what I was expecting. I thought I'd ordered a juicy gaslight thriller with irascible hardass Ambrose Bierce investigating ghastly murders of prostitutes in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, but I found I'd been given a bland nothingburger with MAYO....blech about dastardly mining syndicates and more priggish bluenose romance than I could digest.
The second book I've read by the same guy who wrote Warlock, which was superb.

[James Dalessandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ambrose Bierce mysteries, set in Gold Rush San Francisco and featuring one of the most extraordinary protagonists in the character of Ambrose "Bitter" Bierce, are classics. "Queen of Spaces" starts each chapter with a quote from Bierce's "The Devil's Dictionary," a work of humor and biting satire that is the worthy equivalent of anything Mark Twain produced. No mean feat there. Oakley Hall's style, his portrait of old San Francisco, the period detail and human observations all combine to rank him among the finest authors of historical fiction. I devoured every one of his books: his passing in 2008 was a great loss to literature, particularly the West Coast strain. These are near perfect works of historical mystery/fiction.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice little mystery but even better historical fiction and quite prescient social commentary for the early 21st century corporate takeover of usa govt and people. young reporter works with ambrose Bierce to take down the Southern Pacific Rail Road and the politicians they call things like the Senator from Southern Pacific and the Representative from Halliburton (oops, hah), I mean the honorable Judge of the district of BP (oops, dang, hah) and also try to solve a series of murders of working women by the "Slasher" who rips them from 'giggle to snatch" as they say. great evocation of 1880's san fransico and environs with a bonus side trip to virginia city, nevada. Oakley Hall is a deft and true to life writer, a master. see his western too called "Warlock", it's jsut as good, if not better. Warlock

[Ariane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book isn't a great mystery novel, but it sure is riveting as a piece of historical fiction about San Francisco right after the Gold Rush, which by the way is my favorite era of history. I loved how all the characters were real people who existed at the time.

[Tránsito Blum · Rating 4 out of 5]

En Ambrose Bierce y la Reina de Picas, Hall demuestra nuevamente su habilidad para combinar la ficción histórica con el misterio policíaco. Ambientada en el San Francisco de finales de la década de 1880, la novela nos sumerge en un mundo de corrupción, poder y crimen que refleja las tensiones sociales y políticas de la época.

La trama sigue a Tom Redmond, un joven aspirante a reportero que se une al célebre escritor Ambrose Bierce para investigar una serie de brutales asesinatos. El asesino, conocido como el Destripador de Morton Street, deja naipes de picas sobre sus víctimas, todas ellas prostitutas. Hall crea un dúo de investigadores fascinante: Tom, motivado por proteger a la joven que ama, y Bierce, el cínico escritor que ve el caso como una oportunidad para atacar a los poderosos.

La novela ofrece una vívida recreación del San Francisco decimonónico, explorando temas como la corrupción de los magnates del ferrocarril y la minería, el crecimiento urbano y sus consecuencias sociales, y el poder de la prensa y la sátira política. Hall demuestra su maestría narrativa al combinar elementos de novela histórica y policiaca, abriendo cada capítulo con una definición del "Diccionario del Diablo" de Bierce, lo que añade un toque de humor negro y crítica social a la narración.

Ambrose Bierce y la Reina de Picas va más allá del mero entretenimiento, realizando una mordaz crítica a la corrupción del dinero y el poder, la explotación sexual y la violencia contra las mujeres, y la manipulación política y mediática. Hall logra tejer una historia compleja que no solo cautiva por su trama intrigante y su rica ambientación histórica, sino que también invita a la reflexión sobre los oscuros orígenes de la sociedad estadounidense.

Fuente: Huracanes en Papel
https://huracanesenpapel.blogspot.com...

[Marsha Valance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical brings San Francisco and the Old West of the 1870s vividly to life. The Mission District, Nob Hill, the Southern Pacific Railroad, the mines of Virginia Cit, all come alive in our imaginations, along with their inhabitants: immigrant prostitutes, nouveau riche mine owners, Inspector Isaiah Pusey of the SFPD, C.B. Huntington of the S.P. Railroad, the very young William Randolph Hearst, and Bierce himself. Hall shows us Bierce in all his muckraking idealism, fighting for truth, exposing crimes and backroom dealings, standing up to the bosses, all in his cynical newspaper column “Tattle”, which also pricked all pretensions. When two prostitutes and a judge’s widow are brutally murdered, Bierce assigns cub reporter Tom Redmond to cover the story. As Redmond uncovers various threads linking the victims with various society robber barons, the Civil War veteran looks over his shoulder to see the emerging pattern, and solve the mystery.
"Ambrose Bierce and the Queen of Spades" is a fascinating look at San Francisco before the earthquake, and at the real people who built California, as well as a fast-moving, well-plotted mystery.

[Jerstyn Morehay · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a point midway through this 1880s San Francisco-set mystery, featuring real-life author/journalist Ambrose Bierce as an amateur sleuth of sorts, where a female literary friend pays a visit to Bierce's fictional young protege Tom Redmond and describes the famed cynic, in comparison to the greater success of Bierce's contemporary and competitor Mark Twain, as a "writer who hasn't found his heart". Oakley Hall had also written his more ambitious historical novel of Grand Canyon exploration and 1880s San Francisco literary journalism Separations around this time, and it's interesting to read this more conventional historical pulp-thriller along parallel lines. Beneath the pre-Jack the Ripper-style slayings and Gothic-tinged melodrama surrounding unknown parentage and secrets from the past, there's also Hall the Serious Writer's concern with historical truth, the web of lies around which social myths and powerful distortions arise, and most of all the natural evil that seems to coincide with money and power. Exposing such at all costs, Hall seems to say, is where Bierce's true heart lay.

[Jeff Bradbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and enjoyable 3.5 stars. Well written. Easy to read. I enjoyed the characters. Sad when it ended. Hall also sneaks in pieces from his book How to write Fiction. I learned a ton of California History. I kept checking some of the major players and much of what is portrayed is historical. For some reason some of the characters that were deplorable were written as likable. Maybe that is just me. There were a lot of characters to keep track or which is usually a problem for me. He did this well by repeating facts about people. The most likable character for me was the narrator. He was flawed but likable. But after so much discussion of his love interests the end just mentions his wife. We don't know who she is. I would have liked to know more. That is what happens when you make your characters so likable that the plot is secondary to the people. Also I would have liked more about The Gent.

[Jiana Bibbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm i love this book because of it being set in nob hill and all the streets are familiar and it felt so cool relating 1870s sf to what it is now. However the language was a little hard for me to keep up with but not bad i got really into it i didn't like the ending though!!! Kind of anticlimactic

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about this (period noir mystery novel with a literary bent by an author who is interested in the myths of the American West) is Extremely My Shit, so of course it was easy for me to inhale. Also; I really can see why Pynchon loves Oakley Hall so much esp the period dialogue and prose (again, Extremely My Shit).

[Yehmehneh · Rating 3 out of 5]

meh

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book and a fun read about a favorite author.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Familiar landscapes. Perfunctory prejudices. Great epilogue.

[Hedgewitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite a good historical mystery, heavy on California history, authentic period detail and dialog, and a sympathetic but not always flattering portrayal of Bierce. Every chapter starts with a quote from the Devil's Dictionary, and a great deal of Beircian wit, sometimes directly quoted from his journalistic essays, is included. Both the working girls whose careers are ended by the Morton Street Slasher, and the romance of the protagonist, a protege of Bierce's, with a society girl above his class with Bohemian tendencies, are colorful and accurate in their depiction of the limited choices of women in that era. There's also a lot of history on the Comstock Lode, and the corruption it spawned. Very entertaining light reading.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another contribution to the notion that real life historical personages might make intriguing mystery novels. This work involving the very real and somewhat controversial Ambrose Bierce has a nice sense of San Francisco to it.

[Kimberlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

set in 1800s San Francisco; interesting look at the railroads influence and a fictional depiction of Bierce

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book might not be the best mystery novel however it is a good piece of historical fiction about San Francisco after the Gold Rush.

[nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun setting (San Francisco in the 1880s) and an amusing conceit (Ambrose Bierce as a detective) and that's all I need to say.