The Gods of Gotham (Timothy Wilde, Bk 1)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Jeanne L. (bkydbirder) -
Helpful Score: 2
The Gods of Gotham is a great look into 1845 New York City. Riots, fires and crime abounds, not to mention a real antagonism between the Democratic and Republican (Whig) parties. This is the same time as the great potato blight in Ireland and Irish emigrants are flooding into NY and with them they bring their poverty and (gasp) their religion - Catholicism. Now we see antagonism between Catholics and Protestants as well.
Due to the chaos and crime, etc. a police force is set up -finally- and their badge is a copper star so they are referred to as "the copper stars". This is headed up by George Washington Matsell who is a very dynamic figure. He's big, he's smart and he's a Democrat. Of course, most of the police force comprises men who are in Matsell's camp.
Into this fray, we find two brothers: Valentine and Timothy Wilde. When young boys their parents died in a home fire and they have been on their own for years. Val is 6 yrs older than Tim and has been looking after Tim but Val is a drug using, arbitrary, political animal whereas Tim is much more subdued. Val has been a firefighter and Tim has been a bartender - for years. They have many disagreements between them and Tim is saving his money to buy a fishing boat and some land on Staten Island. Along comes another fire which wipes out a large portion of the city and in this conflagration, Tim loses his hard earned money. Val lets him know that he need not worry because Val has arranged for Tim (as well as Val himself) to be hired on as "copper stars". Since Tim hasn't much choice, he joins up...
Irish child prostitutes are dying apparently at the hand of a madman who wants to make a point against the Irish AND the Catholic faith. Tim takes his job very seriously and actually starts functioning in the role of a detective or an investigator (neither position which exists at the time). Away we go....The plot is intricate, the characters well developed and the history very enlightening.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope that there will be more involving these characters. I give this book a solid 4 stars.
Due to the chaos and crime, etc. a police force is set up -finally- and their badge is a copper star so they are referred to as "the copper stars". This is headed up by George Washington Matsell who is a very dynamic figure. He's big, he's smart and he's a Democrat. Of course, most of the police force comprises men who are in Matsell's camp.
Into this fray, we find two brothers: Valentine and Timothy Wilde. When young boys their parents died in a home fire and they have been on their own for years. Val is 6 yrs older than Tim and has been looking after Tim but Val is a drug using, arbitrary, political animal whereas Tim is much more subdued. Val has been a firefighter and Tim has been a bartender - for years. They have many disagreements between them and Tim is saving his money to buy a fishing boat and some land on Staten Island. Along comes another fire which wipes out a large portion of the city and in this conflagration, Tim loses his hard earned money. Val lets him know that he need not worry because Val has arranged for Tim (as well as Val himself) to be hired on as "copper stars". Since Tim hasn't much choice, he joins up...
Irish child prostitutes are dying apparently at the hand of a madman who wants to make a point against the Irish AND the Catholic faith. Tim takes his job very seriously and actually starts functioning in the role of a detective or an investigator (neither position which exists at the time). Away we go....The plot is intricate, the characters well developed and the history very enlightening.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope that there will be more involving these characters. I give this book a solid 4 stars.
