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Simon Ziele #3
Secret of the White Rose
The murder of Judge Hugo Jackson is out of Detective Simon Ziele’s jurisdiction in more ways than one. For one, it’s high-profile enough to command the attention of the notorious new police commissioner, since Judge Jackson was presiding over the sensational trial of Al Drayson. Drayson, an anarchist, set off a bomb at a Carnegie family wedding, but instead of killing millionaires, it killed passersby, including a child. The dramatic trial has captured the full attention of 1906 New York City.
Furthermore, Simon’s assigned precinct on Manhattan’s West Side includes the gritty Tenderloin but not the tonier Gramercy Park, which is where the judge is found in his locked town house with his throat slashed on the night before the jury is set to deliberate. But his widow insists on calling her husband’s old classmate criminologist, Alistair Sinclair, who in turn enlists Ziele’s help. Together they must steer Sinclair’s unorthodox methods past a police force that is so focused on rounding up Drayson’s supporters that they’ve all but rejected any other possibilities.
Once again, Stefanie Pintoff’s combination of vital characters and a fascinating case set amongst the sometimes brutal and sometimes glittering history of turn-of-the-century New York makes for totally compelling reading in Secret of the White Rose, the third novel in her Edgar Award–winning series.
Furthermore, Simon’s assigned precinct on Manhattan’s West Side includes the gritty Tenderloin but not the tonier Gramercy Park, which is where the judge is found in his locked town house with his throat slashed on the night before the jury is set to deliberate. But his widow insists on calling her husband’s old classmate criminologist, Alistair Sinclair, who in turn enlists Ziele’s help. Together they must steer Sinclair’s unorthodox methods past a police force that is so focused on rounding up Drayson’s supporters that they’ve all but rejected any other possibilities.
Once again, Stefanie Pintoff’s combination of vital characters and a fascinating case set amongst the sometimes brutal and sometimes glittering history of turn-of-the-century New York makes for totally compelling reading in Secret of the White Rose, the third novel in her Edgar Award–winning series.
370 pages, Hardcover
First published May 24, 2011
75 people are currently reading
1195 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie Pintoff
8 books241 followersStefanie Pintoff is the Edgar® award-winning author of HOSTAGE TAKER and the Simon Ziele historical mysteries. Her writing has also won the Washington Irving Book Prize and earned nominations for the Anthony, Macavity, and Agatha awards. Pintoff's novels have been published around the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Croatia, and Japan. She lives on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where she is at work on the next Eve Rossi thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 138 reviews
November 12, 2016
In this last book of the trilogy Pintoff finally mastered her story. All three books bring in interesting aspects of late 1800s New York City; this book focuses on the anarchist movement. As usual, the character Sinclair is aggravating, Isabella is classy, and Ziehl is brilliant. What was worthwhile and worth the extra star was the smooth intertwining of the plots and other characters. Great transitions, juicy twists, some symbolism-all great in a mystery
August 2, 2018
Avendolo letto dopo L'Alienista i due libri si assomigliano un pochino. Stessa città ma dieci anni dopo. Uno sorregge l'altro sulla storia, quella vera, in cui viene inserito tanto da farci capire il grande lavoro, si degli autori dei due libri, ma pure di Teddy Roosvelt. Io finchè non ho letto L'Alienista, che cito ancora, tramite i libri di storia conoscevo solo il figlio che nella storia lo incontreremo poi durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale e che ho sempre stimato come Presidente. Grazie a questi due libri ora stimo pure Teddy.
Tornando a questo libro Theodore/Teddy a parte ci sono anche alcune rassomiglianze tra i protagonisti. Ma davvero poco e non influenzano la lettura perchè io ho letto prima Ziele #1 poi L'Alienista e infine Ziele #3. Quindi per quanto mi riguarda i libri su Simon Ziele, anche se mi manca il #2, meritano. Sono una lettura veloce ma io ve li consiglio se vi piace la NY dei primi '900.
Tornando a questo libro Theodore/Teddy a parte ci sono anche alcune rassomiglianze tra i protagonisti. Ma davvero poco e non influenzano la lettura perchè io ho letto prima Ziele #1 poi L'Alienista e infine Ziele #3. Quindi per quanto mi riguarda i libri su Simon Ziele, anche se mi manca il #2, meritano. Sono una lettura veloce ma io ve li consiglio se vi piace la NY dei primi '900.
February 11, 2021
Paskutinė istorinio detektyvo trilogijos dalis. 1906-ieji, Nujorkas. Anarchistas Al Drayson teisiamas už teroristinį išpuolį – susprogdino bombą, kurios aukomis tapo ne tie, kam ji buvo taikyta. Nukentėjo nekalti praeiviai, tarp jų – ir vaikas. Teismo procesas jau pasiekė savo finišo tiesiąją, kai netikėtai savo namuose randamas nužudytas bylą vedantis teisėjas. Miesto valdžia mielai ir šitą nusikaltimą užkabins anarchistams – juolab sąsaja yra. Bet Simonas Ziele, vokiečių kilmės detektyvas, įsitikinęs – viskas kur kas sudėtingiau. Ir tikrieji nusikaltimo motyvai gali neturėti nieko bendra su anarchistų veikla. Aišku, valdžiai tokia versija nelabai įtinka, tad pagalius į ratus Simonui kaišioja, kas tik netingi. O čia dar nuolatinis pagalbininkas ir draugas Alistairas Sinclairas ne tik kad nepadeda – blogiau – neabejotinai kažką slepia ir kažkaip yra susijęs su viskuo, kas vyksta. Tad Simonui teks daugiausiai remtis savo paties jėgomis.
Detektyvinė intriga vietomis kiek nuspėjama, bet gana tvirta. Istorinis fonas neblogai, bet ankstesnėse trilogijos knygose tas XX a. pradžios Niujorkas lyg ir gyvesnis buvo. Tai tokie trys iš penkių. Bet tikrai tvirti trys.
Detektyvinė intriga vietomis kiek nuspėjama, bet gana tvirta. Istorinis fonas neblogai, bet ankstesnėse trilogijos knygose tas XX a. pradžios Niujorkas lyg ir gyvesnis buvo. Tai tokie trys iš penkių. Bet tikrai tvirti trys.
June 17, 2011
I enjoyed Secret of the White Rose, but not as much as the first two Simon Ziele books. The subject matter of foreign anarchists was fascinating, and the mystery was absorbing, but I felt like I lost the characters a bit in this one and that the story could have been pushed just a little bit further. Still can't wait for the next one!
April 2, 2017
My LTER from last month was an ARC for the mystery The Secret of the White Rose, by Stefanie Pintoff. A trial is wrapping up in 1906 Manhattan; the defendant is one of the most reviled men in the city in decades, an anarchist called Al Drayson who made an inept attempt to blow up a Carnegie wedding and wound up killing, among other innocent (and non-upper-crust) bystanders, a small child. And on the eve of jury deliberations, the judge is murdered, his body found with the right hand resting on a Bible, a white rose sitting before him. This turns out to be the first act in a chain of violence, conspiracy, ciphers, and revenge.
This is the third book in a series about Detective Simon Ziele's uneasy partnership with criminologist Alistair Sinclair, and the first I've read. Here, they become involved because the judge was an old classmate and old friend of Sinclair, and the widow has asked for his aid - and where he goes, so does Ziele.
From the beginning this bore a strong resemblance to Caleb Carr's The Alienist and Angel of Darkness. Those took place in 1896 and 1902 Manhattan, and feature the friendship and partnership of a journalist and a criminalist; they were dark and complex and detailed with a wonderfully real setting - I still wish I could go to turn of the century Delmonico's. The Sinclair novels - or this one, at least - treads the same ground, although not the same restaurant - Ziele goes to Lombardi's for a slice of tomato pie (pizza - Lombardi's is now closed). The comparison isn't favorable for White Rose ... It wasn't bad. It was a rather clever, red herring-filled mystery, though perhaps a bit too filled with herring. The writing was good, although some of the dialogue bore little resemblance to anything most human beings would utter in this century or the last. I liked the main character, Ziele, from whose point of view the story is told in the first person, but I didn't form attachments to him or any of the others. The setting was well done, but not as strong and sensual as Carr presented. It's a shame that the comparison is so inevitable, because on its own merits it might do better.
On Goodreads, there are no half-star ratings, which is a shame; this is one of the times when three stars isn't quite good enough, but four is a little too strong: 3 1/2 on LibraryThing is right. I enjoyed it; it was a quick read; I will certainly read the other books in the series if I come across them but won't seek them out.
This is the third book in a series about Detective Simon Ziele's uneasy partnership with criminologist Alistair Sinclair, and the first I've read. Here, they become involved because the judge was an old classmate and old friend of Sinclair, and the widow has asked for his aid - and where he goes, so does Ziele.
From the beginning this bore a strong resemblance to Caleb Carr's The Alienist and Angel of Darkness. Those took place in 1896 and 1902 Manhattan, and feature the friendship and partnership of a journalist and a criminalist; they were dark and complex and detailed with a wonderfully real setting - I still wish I could go to turn of the century Delmonico's. The Sinclair novels - or this one, at least - treads the same ground, although not the same restaurant - Ziele goes to Lombardi's for a slice of tomato pie (pizza - Lombardi's is now closed). The comparison isn't favorable for White Rose ... It wasn't bad. It was a rather clever, red herring-filled mystery, though perhaps a bit too filled with herring. The writing was good, although some of the dialogue bore little resemblance to anything most human beings would utter in this century or the last. I liked the main character, Ziele, from whose point of view the story is told in the first person, but I didn't form attachments to him or any of the others. The setting was well done, but not as strong and sensual as Carr presented. It's a shame that the comparison is so inevitable, because on its own merits it might do better.
On Goodreads, there are no half-star ratings, which is a shame; this is one of the times when three stars isn't quite good enough, but four is a little too strong: 3 1/2 on LibraryThing is right. I enjoyed it; it was a quick read; I will certainly read the other books in the series if I come across them but won't seek them out.
February 23, 2013
I truly enjoy this author. The complexity, the depth of the characters and the twists and turns of the mystery itself make White Rose a most enjoyable read. Simon Ziele has returned to New York and finds himself embroiled in the investigation of a judge's murder. As the city reels from the activities of the anarchists who commit robberies and bomb areas to call attention to their concerns about the ":system," another judge is murdered. The commissioner believes that the anarchists are responsible but Simon is not so sure. When a college professor is murdered as well, Simon is certain that there is a personal motive for the murders. However, he must tread a thin political line to save his career, satisfy the commissioner and find the murderer. Well done!
October 4, 2011
This is another brilliant story by Stefanie Pintoff. Secret of the White Rose is an exciting story laced with actual historical places and events of the early 1900's in New York City. The story deals with the murder of three highly valued members of society and Detective Simon Ziele's search for the killer or killers. Mucking up the waters is the activity of violent but well organized anarchists bent on the destruction of society. There is politics aplenty as Ziele search leads to a run-in with the police commissioner. This book is well written mystery which also tells an important part of the history of the great city of New York. Another Simon Ziele winner by Stefanie Pintoff.
April 7, 2012
Hollywood give me a call cuz I have casting in mind! Pintoff's latest is a suspensful mystery and gritty investigative read. Ziele is back at it helping Alistair in this latest.
July 21, 2022
The third (and final, it seems) installment in the Detective Simon Ziele series set in early 20th Century New York. Ziele generally works with with criminologist Alistair Sinclair to hunt down answers that the more unimaginative members of the force can't even begin to discover. This story begins with Judge Hugo Jackson feeling edgy on the evening before the verdict is expected in the high-profile trial of Al Drayson. Drayson is an anarchist accused of attempting to blow up the Carnegie family wedding. But the anarchists' mistimed their bomb and it went of in the street killing innocent bystanders. Most affecting were the pictures of a single child's shoe the only thing remaining from a four-year-old boy caught in the blast.
The public has been divided between those howling that Judge Jackson, in his efforts to make sure the trial was scrupulously fair so there would be no cause for a mistrial or hope of an appeal, was being too soft on the prisoner and those, who favor anarchy, claiming that Drayson was being railroaded. Jackson will be relieved when it's all over. Little does he know that it's all going to be over for him...well before court opens the next day.
Jackson is found murdered in his study, his throat cut, his hand on a bible, and a white rose before him. No one in his household saw anyone enter or heard any noises whatsoever from the study. Alistair Sinclair was friends with the Jacksons and the judge's wife asks him to investigate. Alistair, in turn, asks for Ziele's help even though the murder took place well outside his jurisdiction. Fortunately, the case is so important that the commissioner is pulling in police from all over to hunt down the anarchists who must be behind this. When a second judge, also well-acquainted with Sinclair, is killed--this time shot and found with his hands bound in front of him and a bible and white rose nearby--Ziele begins to suspect that there is more to the case than anarchists. He's also certain that Sinclair is keeping something from him. But that isn't unusual. The criminologist has always preferred to play certain cards close to his chest in order to make the maximum effect when he reveals a solution. But this time keeping Ziele in the dark may cost Sinclair his own life....
It's been not quite ten years since I read the first two novels in this trilogy, but I find my response to the final installments has mirrored my reviews of the previous books. It's a fine plot with a very interesting explanation for the white rose and other clues found around the victims. I still find Ziele to be a good lead character and astute investigator and...I still can't figure out his relationship with Sinclair. The man will not trust him with all he knows and Ziele finds it hard to completely trust Sinclair. The relationship just doesn't make sense to me. You'd think after their work together, Sinclair would have figured out that Ziele is a good cop and a good man and that, especially now--in this particular case, it would be a good idea for him to have all the facts. It was also interesting to learn a little more about the anarchists of the early 20th Century in America. The historical background is explained well and woven into the story without overburdening the plot with info dumps.
My primary complaint with the plot is that there is no way to have seen the solution coming. There isn't a single hint what the white rose means until the end...and if you don't know what the white rose means, then you can't possibly figure out who did it. However, the story is still entertaining and packed with action--making for an enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
The public has been divided between those howling that Judge Jackson, in his efforts to make sure the trial was scrupulously fair so there would be no cause for a mistrial or hope of an appeal, was being too soft on the prisoner and those, who favor anarchy, claiming that Drayson was being railroaded. Jackson will be relieved when it's all over. Little does he know that it's all going to be over for him...well before court opens the next day.
Jackson is found murdered in his study, his throat cut, his hand on a bible, and a white rose before him. No one in his household saw anyone enter or heard any noises whatsoever from the study. Alistair Sinclair was friends with the Jacksons and the judge's wife asks him to investigate. Alistair, in turn, asks for Ziele's help even though the murder took place well outside his jurisdiction. Fortunately, the case is so important that the commissioner is pulling in police from all over to hunt down the anarchists who must be behind this. When a second judge, also well-acquainted with Sinclair, is killed--this time shot and found with his hands bound in front of him and a bible and white rose nearby--Ziele begins to suspect that there is more to the case than anarchists. He's also certain that Sinclair is keeping something from him. But that isn't unusual. The criminologist has always preferred to play certain cards close to his chest in order to make the maximum effect when he reveals a solution. But this time keeping Ziele in the dark may cost Sinclair his own life....
It's been not quite ten years since I read the first two novels in this trilogy, but I find my response to the final installments has mirrored my reviews of the previous books. It's a fine plot with a very interesting explanation for the white rose and other clues found around the victims. I still find Ziele to be a good lead character and astute investigator and...I still can't figure out his relationship with Sinclair. The man will not trust him with all he knows and Ziele finds it hard to completely trust Sinclair. The relationship just doesn't make sense to me. You'd think after their work together, Sinclair would have figured out that Ziele is a good cop and a good man and that, especially now--in this particular case, it would be a good idea for him to have all the facts. It was also interesting to learn a little more about the anarchists of the early 20th Century in America. The historical background is explained well and woven into the story without overburdening the plot with info dumps.
My primary complaint with the plot is that there is no way to have seen the solution coming. There isn't a single hint what the white rose means until the end...and if you don't know what the white rose means, then you can't possibly figure out who did it. However, the story is still entertaining and packed with action--making for an enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting portions of review. Thanks.
February 9, 2019
I picked this up not realizing it was part of a series, and I didn’t feel lost at all, which I think is a sign of good writing. It made me want to read the other books in the series. Overall, this is a solid mystery with some great twists. I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of 1906 Manhattan and the exploration of criminal justice and police work of the time. Definitely recommend if you enjoy mysteries!
August 22, 2020
Another great entry in this series. Not sure I loved the end. Was looking for a bit more of an wrap considering there are no more in the series.
I certainly wouldn't complain seeing another one come out!
I certainly wouldn't complain seeing another one come out!
May 18, 2011
A high-profile trial, an honest, fair judge, and some undisclosed history of the participants. All these circumstances resulted in a judge being found murdered in his home office along with a white rose and a Bible.
Who could have done this? There was speculation about who the culprit could be, and the detectives didn’t think someone had acted alone. Every detective that had some connection to a group or a family member who may have some connections was involved in the case. "Get to it gentlemen.........My goal is to arrest those responsible for the judge's murder within forty-eight hours." Page 70
Another idea to find the motive and the murderer was to get in touch with a judge named Angus Porter...he was a symbolist, and there definitely was a lot of symbolism in the clues and in the murder of Judge Hugo Jackson. The white rose in the judge's hand and also on a sheet of music gave the detectives the most clues as to why the murder had occurred. The crime scene was filled with symbolism, and the symbolism needed to be decoded. Some decoding was done, but another murder occurred shortly after, and again the murderer left a Bible and a white rose at the scene.
The similarities of symbols at both murders and the anarchist on trial, Drayson, led the detectives to a group of his followers. The group was then arrested for attacking an officer. While they were being held in jail, an explosion occurred...an explosion meant to assist in the freeing of the anarchists being held. It turned out the explosion had been a diversion so that Drayson could escape.
Meanwhile the two murders were not even close to being solved, but the clues were beginning to add up or so they thought. A third murder occurred, and it was not a judge....it was a professor at a local university. What connected all of them and why were the same items left with the bodies?
There was a surprise at the end, but not a great mystery/read for me. An interesting aspect was the setting in the early 19th century. It was interesting to see how crimes were solved during that time and how the police and detectives put clues together. It was also interesting to hear about the "cabs" that were pulled by horses in New York City.
I will give the book a 3/5 because I had trouble keeping track of the characters and their roles and it really wasn’t a “grab ya” story…it took a while to warm up to what was going on.
Who could have done this? There was speculation about who the culprit could be, and the detectives didn’t think someone had acted alone. Every detective that had some connection to a group or a family member who may have some connections was involved in the case. "Get to it gentlemen.........My goal is to arrest those responsible for the judge's murder within forty-eight hours." Page 70
Another idea to find the motive and the murderer was to get in touch with a judge named Angus Porter...he was a symbolist, and there definitely was a lot of symbolism in the clues and in the murder of Judge Hugo Jackson. The white rose in the judge's hand and also on a sheet of music gave the detectives the most clues as to why the murder had occurred. The crime scene was filled with symbolism, and the symbolism needed to be decoded. Some decoding was done, but another murder occurred shortly after, and again the murderer left a Bible and a white rose at the scene.
The similarities of symbols at both murders and the anarchist on trial, Drayson, led the detectives to a group of his followers. The group was then arrested for attacking an officer. While they were being held in jail, an explosion occurred...an explosion meant to assist in the freeing of the anarchists being held. It turned out the explosion had been a diversion so that Drayson could escape.
Meanwhile the two murders were not even close to being solved, but the clues were beginning to add up or so they thought. A third murder occurred, and it was not a judge....it was a professor at a local university. What connected all of them and why were the same items left with the bodies?
There was a surprise at the end, but not a great mystery/read for me. An interesting aspect was the setting in the early 19th century. It was interesting to see how crimes were solved during that time and how the police and detectives put clues together. It was also interesting to hear about the "cabs" that were pulled by horses in New York City.
I will give the book a 3/5 because I had trouble keeping track of the characters and their roles and it really wasn’t a “grab ya” story…it took a while to warm up to what was going on.
March 22, 2012
People vs. Drayson is the only headline in 1906 New York City. Everyone’s talking about the horrific anarchist who planted a bomb in a horse carriage in order to take out Andrew Carnegie - make him pay for his ill treatment of U.S. Steel workers. Instead, the bomb only took innocent lives on the street, including that of a child. Judge Hugo Jackson is in the center of this storm as he presides over the case. Every day he receives a new threatening letter and he’s becoming truly terrified.
Alistair Sinclair is one of the judge’s friends, and a professor who knows all about the criminal mind and spends his time analyzing the ‘monsters’ of society. But when he shows up unannounced on Detective Simon Ziele’s doorstep in the middle of the night, this story absolutely explodes with excitement.
Simon knows Alistair well, but when he tells him that Hugo has been murdered, Simon tries to explain that he can’t help - seeing as that the crime didn’t occur within his precinct. But unable to turn Alistair down, Simon finds himself a part of the case whether he likes it or not.
The clues left behind by the killer are extremely odd; a bible and a white rose surround the body that has been sliced from ear to ear. Simon soon finds himself on a hunt, teaming up with Alistair’s widowed daughter-in-law, Isabella, to try and uncover what’s actually happening by investigating everything from the wealth of the 400 Club to the gangs banding together to fight for people’s rights. When Alistair up and disappears and yet another dead judge is found, Simon must put the puzzle together, or risk losing his career.
This is truly an outstanding mystery, and the vibrant color of 1900’s New York is so rich that readers will want to stay there. From the glorious wealth to the criminal element to the ‘good hearted’ anarchists who are just trying to receive decent wages and housing - every aspect comes together to form a truly amazing story. In addition, the morals and messages are loud and clear as the reader takes a look at how two ‘people’ can see one issue extremely differently. After all, is ‘an eye for an eye’ the only real justice in the world? You decide!
October 21, 2011
I was ready for a good mystery, and a friend recommended this one. Hooray! (I discovered that this is the 3rd in a series, so have since gone back to read the first two.) Detective Simon Ziele is called in on a murder case in 1906 New York City. A judge has been found with his throat cut in his home the night before he is scheduled to hand down a verdict in a case involving an anarchist who killed unintended victims (including a child). The setting makes this series, in my opinion. Descriptions of sanitation, horse-and-carriage and subway transportation, restaurants, ethnic neighborhoods, different levels of housing as wealth buts up against poverty, and especially in this novel the politics and economics of the bustling turn-of-the-century NYC were all fascinating. The reviled anarchists were violent, true -- in an attempt to get their message heard in the face of powerful and disdainful big business and big government. It was easy to understand how labor unions have greatly improved working conditions and wages - and easy to see that in the early days it took some force to get them started.
Simon is brought into this investigation by Alistair Sinclair, a wealthy man who studies criminology, and a personal friend of the slain judge. Alistair's daughter-in-law and assistant, the widowed Isabelle Sinclair, also participates -- and Simon and Isabelle grow closer throughout the novel, leading to speculation about their relationship in future books in the series.
I enjoy reading novels about places I have been, and catching references to specific places. In historical fiction, it is intriguing to superimpose these references to buildings, parks, theaters, etc. over their matching modern-day images. For example, Alistair lives in The Dakota, the building on the west side of Central Park that was home to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Simon is brought into this investigation by Alistair Sinclair, a wealthy man who studies criminology, and a personal friend of the slain judge. Alistair's daughter-in-law and assistant, the widowed Isabelle Sinclair, also participates -- and Simon and Isabelle grow closer throughout the novel, leading to speculation about their relationship in future books in the series.
I enjoy reading novels about places I have been, and catching references to specific places. In historical fiction, it is intriguing to superimpose these references to buildings, parks, theaters, etc. over their matching modern-day images. For example, Alistair lives in The Dakota, the building on the west side of Central Park that was home to John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
June 19, 2011
I am thoroughly enjoying this mystery and will actually need to go back and check out others in the series...This book reminds me of a combination of Mary Russell Holmes(Laurie R. King) meets Sarah Brandt(Victoria Thompson)...
Want to read
March 29, 2011“Mystery lovers might just have found the next Caleb Carr.”—The Huffington Post
September 4, 2012
One of Ms. Pintoff's finest works. What an amazing story.
September 25, 2022
The Secret of the White Rose by Stefanie Pintoff is the third and final book of the Simon Ziele mystery series set in 1906 New York City. Judge Hugo Jackson is presiding over the high-publicity trial of Al Drayson, a violent anarchist who set off a bomb at a Carnegie wedding, which killed innocent bystanders including a small girl. The city is in an uproar.
On the eve of sentencing, the judge is murdered. Was the murder a tactic by anarchists to get a mistrial? Homicide detective Simon Ziele is back in New York City, now reporting to his former partner Mulvaney. The judge's murder is far from Ziele's precinct, but criminologist Alistair Sinclair pulls strings to get Simon on the case.
Ziele has a connection to one of the anarchists: his late fiancée Hannah's brother, Jonathan. The family pleads with Ziele to talk Jonathan out of his decision to lead a violent anarchist life.
Sinclair's focus is on understanding the criminal mind, the motivation behind crimes. Ziele's and Mulvaney's focus is to catch killers and bring them to justice. Despite their efforts, murders continue. Sinclair and Ziele notice similarities between crime scenes, overlooked by other police since the murder methods and weapons differ. Sinclair's widowed daughter-in-law Isabella has helped them with cases before; this time she decodes the musical scores discovered at murder sites, each decorated by a white rose.
As Ziele gets closer to the truth, he too comes under attack. Sinclair flees for his life. What secret is he keeping from Ziele? Without Sinclair, Isabella and Ziele must work as partners to solve the case - and save Sinclair's life. Plot twists reveal deception within deception...dark secrets from Sinclair's past...a revenge plot...current anarchist crimes...set in motion by a single mastermind.
On the eve of sentencing, the judge is murdered. Was the murder a tactic by anarchists to get a mistrial? Homicide detective Simon Ziele is back in New York City, now reporting to his former partner Mulvaney. The judge's murder is far from Ziele's precinct, but criminologist Alistair Sinclair pulls strings to get Simon on the case.
Ziele has a connection to one of the anarchists: his late fiancée Hannah's brother, Jonathan. The family pleads with Ziele to talk Jonathan out of his decision to lead a violent anarchist life.
Sinclair's focus is on understanding the criminal mind, the motivation behind crimes. Ziele's and Mulvaney's focus is to catch killers and bring them to justice. Despite their efforts, murders continue. Sinclair and Ziele notice similarities between crime scenes, overlooked by other police since the murder methods and weapons differ. Sinclair's widowed daughter-in-law Isabella has helped them with cases before; this time she decodes the musical scores discovered at murder sites, each decorated by a white rose.
As Ziele gets closer to the truth, he too comes under attack. Sinclair flees for his life. What secret is he keeping from Ziele? Without Sinclair, Isabella and Ziele must work as partners to solve the case - and save Sinclair's life. Plot twists reveal deception within deception...dark secrets from Sinclair's past...a revenge plot...current anarchist crimes...set in motion by a single mastermind.
June 16, 2025
This is the third entry of this series, but the first I've read. This time we're in New York in 1906, when Teddy Roosevelt, former Police Commissioner in the City, was now President. There had already been years of strife and bloodshed related to unions, racism, women's rights, and more. Our lead, Simon Ziele, is a NYC Detective, and a native of what was called Little Germany, an immigrant neighborhood on the City's lower east side. It is only two years after the General Slocum disaster, the worst such occurence until the Twin Towers surpassed it. Indeed, his fiancee was one of the victims, along with nearly all of the people who had been his neighbors. A dedicated Anarchist is on trial for a fatal bombing, killing a number of people, including the complete obliteration of a little boy. The Judge in the case receives letters every day, both from citizens howling for justice, and from other Anarchists, calling it a blow against the soulless Capitalists. The Judge is murdered, and the Police assume it was done by the Anarchist forces. The best thing about this book is the settings of New York 120 years ago, when a full dinner for two was $3.00, the Giants still played in the Polo Grounds, and there were ten or more daily newspapers. I'd give the book three and half stars if I could. Not great, not bad.
October 17, 2025
I haven't read the previous books featuring detective Simon Ziele, so now perhaps I should.
There may be more back story to his friendship with Alistair or his relationship with Isabelle, who seems like an assistant to his sleuthing at times, with an undercurrent of romantic interest.
This is a story that takes place in New York, in 1906. While some people are profiting from the growing capitalist society of America, there is a growing population of recent immigrants who are becoming disillusioned with the American Dream and are starting to act out to express their anger. In this setting, the court case of a well known anarchist charged with killing a child is being held when the presiding Judge is found murdered. Detective Ziele is brought into the case and starts to learn a lot about the underbelly of anarchy in New York and all the various actors in the cause.
Like most detective novels, the road to discovery is not straight and clear. There are other deaths, there are confusing clues and there is information gleaned from sources both trustworthy and unsavory. I like the historical fiction aspect of it, of which I am reminded every time a hansom cab is hailed or a woman has to contain her voluminous skirts.
There may be more back story to his friendship with Alistair or his relationship with Isabelle, who seems like an assistant to his sleuthing at times, with an undercurrent of romantic interest.
This is a story that takes place in New York, in 1906. While some people are profiting from the growing capitalist society of America, there is a growing population of recent immigrants who are becoming disillusioned with the American Dream and are starting to act out to express their anger. In this setting, the court case of a well known anarchist charged with killing a child is being held when the presiding Judge is found murdered. Detective Ziele is brought into the case and starts to learn a lot about the underbelly of anarchy in New York and all the various actors in the cause.
Like most detective novels, the road to discovery is not straight and clear. There are other deaths, there are confusing clues and there is information gleaned from sources both trustworthy and unsavory. I like the historical fiction aspect of it, of which I am reminded every time a hansom cab is hailed or a woman has to contain her voluminous skirts.
July 14, 2021
The third historical mystery featuring Det. Simon Ziele is better than the second, making better use of the 1906 New York City setting by tying the anarchist activity of that time into the plot. A judge presiding over the trial of an anarchist, whose bomb killed a child among other victims, is found brutally murdered in his home. Criminology professor Alistair Sinclair, a friend of the judge since they were classmates at Harvard Law School, calls on Simon, now reinstated with the NYPD, to find the killer, despite the case being outside Ziele's jurisdiction. While Ziele risks his career to help, he is increasingly aware that Alistair is keeping secrets from him, while he also must contend with the brother of his deceased fiancee, a young man involved with the anarchists. That both Simon and Alistair have something personal at stake gives the story a bit more tension than the previous book had. I figured out some of the mystery, but not all, and found this a fast, compelling read.
April 16, 2019
I enjoy these Simon Ziele books - and I think maybe this is the last in a trilogy, as there aren't any new ones - but I also don't feel like there was an end to this story. They're decent mysteries, with some fun historical aspects in there - turn of the century in New York, the roots of criminology, etc. I appreciate how with each book, Simon's circle of friends and colleagues expands just a little bit, and you get a glimpse at how the most successful detectives use lots of resources. This book had some great writing around class, as well, so that definitely added to the overall story.
May 31, 2019
* Great writing – I was immediately pulled into the story because the prose flowed and swept me along with it. It was amazing all that happened in only 10 days.
* Theme: does the end justify the means ?
* Resolution to the murder was good, but the ending wasn’t “satisfying”. It was a philosophical discussion of what is right, wrong, ethical – I wanted a resolution to their lives and relationships. Which perhaps is a good thing – that I wanted more of their story. But since this is the last book in the series, I’ll be left to wonder….
* Theme: does the end justify the means ?
* Resolution to the murder was good, but the ending wasn’t “satisfying”. It was a philosophical discussion of what is right, wrong, ethical – I wanted a resolution to their lives and relationships. Which perhaps is a good thing – that I wanted more of their story. But since this is the last book in the series, I’ll be left to wonder….
May 6, 2017
Reminds me of Inspector of the Dead (for reasons that would spoil the ending). The description of the general frenzy at the time due to the anarchists is pretty interesting, but the mystery itself is not too complex.
April 14, 2018
This is the best of the 3 book series about Detective Ziele. This mystery is more complex than the first two in the series and the story never lags. It’s a great story about a serial killer and once again it’s set in one of my favorite time periods- early New York City. I give this book 4.5 stars. I hope this isn’t the last time we hear from Detective Ziele.
February 27, 2017
The ending confused me slightly with the confrontation with one of the players involved in the murders, but overall I liked the book and would continue to read future stories with Detective Ziele and his team of helpers.
June 18, 2018
This was a difficult book for me to get into. Though well written, I found the characters and plot hard to connect with and as a result consistently put it down in favor for more personally engaging books.
March 3, 2025
If You decide to read this books you will fix it I quite excellent reading.the drma
I give 5stars a interesting mystery and guess who done it .I loved this book and am going to re books 1 + 2.I think you will enjoy this book very much
I give 5stars a interesting mystery and guess who done it .I loved this book and am going to re books 1 + 2.I think you will enjoy this book very much
Read
December 12, 2018Good, moved faster toward the end
July 25, 2018
I've read about 3/4 of this and I just cant get into it. I skimmed thru the rest. I might try one day.
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