Helpful Score: 6
In 1865 Boston, not many people spoke Italian. It was much more popular for people to study Latin and Greek; the classic works in these languages were common reading for students and academics. But the small circle of literati in Pearl's inventive novel is bent on translating and publishing Dante's Divine Comedy so that all Americans may learn of the writer's genius. As this group of scholars, poets, publishers and professors readies the manuscript, much more exciting doings are happening outside their circle. The Boston police are hot on the trail of a series of murders taking place around town. In one, a priest is buried alive, his feet set on fire; in another, a man's body is eaten by maggots. It doesn't take a rocket scientist-only a Dante expert-to realize these murders are based on Dante's Inferno and its account of Hell's punishments. Scholars become snoopers, and the Dante Club is soon on the scene, investigating the crimes and trying to find the killer. A tad unlikely, but it makes for a terrific story. Gaines gives an stirring performance, nimbly portraying some of the "Hah-vad" professors' "Bah-ston" accents and impressively reading the Italian passages from Dante's work. Although it's sometimes hard to differentiate between the various characters-after awhile each stuffy Bostonian begins to sound alike-Gaines nonetheless amuses and, via Pearl's historical references, educates.
Helpful Score: 4
Very disappointing. I tried starting this book several times to no avail. While it starts out promising, the writing is just too pompous and overblown. If you want a good historial thriller, read Caleb Carr's, The Alienist.
Helpful Score: 4
Not a thriller. Very slow paced. Writing is good but I got bored. Also, for those who are squeamish like me, the descriptions of the dead bodies and the murders are particularly gruesome. (In one case, we hear a man's thoughts as maggots eat away his brains.) I like murder mysteries and they don't usually gross me out. However, I got nauseous reading this book.
Helpful Score: 3
The book didn't grab me like the I thought it would.
Helpful Score: 3
This novel is set in Boston in the nineteenth century. The novel focuses on a set of famous literary writers who are trying to solve grisly murders. The novel is a fast read and a great historical fiction!
