Has anyone read this book and what do you think of it?

[Carey]

I absolutely love this book. It is one of my favorites. Lydsay Faye is an amazing author and makes you feel as though you are there in 1845 NYC. She did a lot of research on the city which you can tell by her writing. This is a historical murder mystery. The main character is Tomothy Wilde who was a bartender in an oyster bar. He has an intense love of Mercy Underhill who comes in at times to purchase. Tomothy has been saving his money in was of silver bars so he can propose to Mercy. Then a fire starts in lower Manhattan and burns many blocks of Manhattan down including the oyster bar and Tim's home. He has lost everything. One side of his face is burned and now wears a piece of cloth on the burned side. Tim's brother Valentine has offered him a job as a policeman at the very start of NYPD (then called the Copper Stars). He was assigned to the 6th ward which is the worst place in all Manhattan. He finds a place to live in the 6th ward above a bakers shop. The baker is a woman and takes a liking to Tim and vice versa (only friends). One day, Tim is walking home from the first day on the job and runs into a little girl in a nightgown covered in blood late at night. He takes her to his baker's place where the baker and Tim help clean her up as she is telling horrific stories about children getting murdered. Tim does not know if she is lying or not but decides to let her stay at his place. The coppers are supposed to deposit wayward children at the House of Refuge but Tim just can't do it because he knows what a horrible place it is. Tim starts investigating the murders. That is all I will say. The books have lots of twists and turns and Lyndsay Faye using the street slang of that day called 'flash'. It is used by street people, gangsters, newsboys, etc. What do you think of the books? There is a sequel coming out Sept 2013 called Seven of a Secret. Can't wait. Love to hear what other people think about this book. I don't know anyone who has read it. I recommend it to people all the time but no one reads it and I don't know why.

[Michelle]

Carey wrote: "I absolutely love this book. It is one of my favorites. Lydsay Faye is an amazing author and makes you feel as though you are there in 1845 NYC. She did a lot of research on the city which you can ..."

I too loved this novel. Ms.Faye has an amazing ability to make you think you are right there in NYC at the beginning of the police department, learning flash, and struggling along with the characters. Loved this book!

[Sabrina]

'Gods of Gotham' was wonderful! Love her writing style and her characters. I can't wait until the sequel comes out... I believe it's due this year. Her other novel 'Dust and Shadows' is a great read too.

[James]

I agree with everything that Carey wrote above. It was easily the best book I read in 2012, and one of the best works of historical fiction I've ever read. I've recommended it to many people -- including my wife, who read it in her book club, and she all of the other women loved it, too. And when I recommend it, I always add: "It's better than The Alienist." And it is!

[Mike]

Personally, I enjoyed the book but thought it was difficult to read. I know it was written to parallel the era but I struggled with many of the words and phrases (even with the Flash Terminology section).

[Prince]

A wonderfully written book, although I was not completely happy with the resolution (I had truly hoped for a creepy murderer). Nevertheless I would highly recommend the book, and will certainly check out 'Dust and Shadow'.

And thank you for the news on the sequel. Can't wait!

[Eed99]

I loves this book as well.

The book has the feel of a realistic period piece (no modern language or mores among the characters which I find annoying in historicals).

I think the progression of the story is driven more by the characters and the city itself than the actual mystery (I found the main bad guy easy to spot) although there were a couple of plot elements that snuck up on me.

The writing is very good and really puts you in 19th century NYC.

[Belinda]

I recently finished the ARC of Seven for a Secret - it's just as good as Gods of Gotham. Plot is tight and the characterization, especially of the brothers, is consistent and continues to develop believably. On a scale from "Wouldn't borrow from the library" to "I'd stand in line in the rain to buy in hardback," SfaS is worth standing in the rain.

[Sabrina]

How cool that you received an ARC, Belinda! Can't wait to read Seven for a Secret.

[Eed99]

I admit I have already pre ordered the second book.

I love the mix of period piece and dark mystery. I wish more authors wrote books in this period (I have read several cozy mysteries set more around 1900) but few books have the harder, darker side of the times.

[John]

I absolutely loved this book. I work @ Chapters + I was sent a copy, which I have lent 2 many people! Loved the characters, the story, the setting - EVERYTHING! I look 4ward to her new book, coming out in Sept. which is the next installment.

[Michelle]

Eed99 wrote: "I admit I have already pre ordered the second book.

I love the mix of period piece and dark mystery. I wish more authors wrote books in this period (I have read several cozy mysteries set more ar..."

Have you tried 'Bone Garden' by Tess Gerritsen? It starts with a body found in a garden, which goes back to a 100 year old murder. It gives one a real feel for time and place. It felt historical to me and I was expecting a modern day mystery, not a historical piece. It was very good and my book group enjoyed it also.

As I read 'Gods of Gotham' I was reminded of 'Holmes on The Range' by Steve Hockensmith. Holmes... is set a few years earlier and out in the west, so that's different. But, it's the relationship between brothers that I find similar. The older brother looking out for the younger one even if he doesn't want looked after. Has anyone read anything else that's a mystery with that quirky sense of family?

[Joanne]

I was drawn to this book because I love to read anything about old New York and I was not disapointed. Ms Faye's descriptions of the people and the city at the time was clear enough to make you feel like you were there and the story about the formation of the first police department was really interesting. I expect The Gods of Gotham to be on my list of favorites for this year. I very much look forward to reading her other books

[Michelle]

Loved it also. I cannot wait till September for the next instalment!

[Susan]

I stumbled across this book in the library and was so put off by the ugly cover that I would not have taken a chance on it had I not read Faye's excellent Jack the Ripper/Sherlock Holmes novel. Even so, I didn't expect to like TGoG. It took me a while to really get into it, but once I was there, I was captured. The characters are superb (Valentine is brilliantly delineated, which is not to suggest that the others are less well-drawn, I'm just a fool for guys like Valentine); the dialogue is wonderful; the history is fascinating; and the story keeps you guessing. Also, I love the way Faye uses language; as soon as I read the sentence, "We're a new-hatched operation," I knew I'd have to keep reading, even tho' (as I've said) the story hadn't really drawn me in yet. And since I've long been intrigued by the use of slang throughout history, I adored all the flash. IMHO, Faye is a genius -- and a generous soul.

[Judy]

I enjoyed this book as well. If you liked TGoG, might I suggest you read The Alienist by Caleb Carr? This is a fantastic book that also has the reader entering historical NYC. The characters are great too, you feel as though you know them.

[Virginia]

I never really understood the hatred directed towards the Irish in America until I read this book. The primary source texts took my breath away. I'm looking forward to the holidays when I can read the sequel

[Rachel]

I, too, loved all the use of flash cant. I thought the deployment of it, and the confusion of meaning that it occasionally produced, was intentional on Faye's behalf, to illustrate how these neophyte policemen felt moving among a criminal population who were speaking words that seemed like they ought to know what they meant, but in fact did not. And i also found that, kind of like with reading a book like Trainspotting, or Chaucer, that after a while, i just kind of "got" it.

And I'm another reader who felt this book really illuminated the experience of the conflicts and bigotry Irish immigrants encountered at the time, perhaps better than anything else i've read.

[Susan]

Rachel wrote: "I, too, loved all the use of flash cant. I thought the deployment of it, and the confusion of meaning that it occasionally produced, was intentional on Faye's behalf, to illustrate how these neophy..."

A lovely observation, that.

[May]

Rachel wrote: "I, too, loved all the use of flash cant. I thought the deployment of it, and the confusion of meaning that it occasionally produced, was intentional on Faye's behalf, to illustrate how these neophy..."

I agree completely!!