The Gods of Gotham

It’s New York City, 1845, and Timothy Wilde becomes a member of the recently-created police department after a citywide fire leaves him scarred and jobless. Tim is less than enthusiastic about his new position – it was basically foisted on him by his larger-than-life brother Valentine, a fireman, brawler, and Democratic ward boss.   But it turns out that Tim is adept at solving crimes and is fluent in “flash”, the language of the streets, so the police chief soon enlists his skills as a detective even though that position doesn’t yet exist.

 

This is a long, exciting book with plenty of punchy descriptive writing (Tim is the narrator) and a plotline that moves along smartly and never fails to entertain.  Furthermore, Timothy is a damaged though likable protagonist who maintains his moral center as he navigates a world of greed, corruption, and violence.  And then there’s Valentine.  Val, who pops up frequently in the story, is absolutely compelling – a Victorian Falstaff whose enormous appetites for drugs, sex, food and rowdy fellowship often mask both a kind heart and a rough sense of honor. 

 

This book is followed by two equally fine sequels: Seven for a Secret and The Fatal Flame.