The Fatal Flame (Timothy Wilde #3)

I’d like a 6-star option for this book, the third and last in Faye’s trilogy about Timothy Wilde, NYC policeman in the 1840s. The plotting is amazing, the characters superbly developed, the history impressively researched, and the writing the best I’ve encountered in historical mysteries. This left me profoundly moved and also very sad that there will be no more adventures with Timothy. (Here’s hoping Faye will be coming out with another fictional historical character his equal sometime soon.)

Although it would be possible to read this as a standalone, you’ll get a much fuller understanding of the characters and a richer reading experience by having started with

The Gods of Gotham (A Timothy Wilde Novel)

, followed by

Seven for a Secret (A Timothy Wilde Novel)

.

In 1845 Timothy reluctantly begins his career as a NYC copper, after a fire destroys his home, kills his parents and leaves him with scars both visible and psychological. His older brother Valentine has his own personal demons to confront and tries to deal with them through drugs, alcohol and wild living, while at the same time working as a NYC political party man, policeman and fireman, and is an extremely charismatic figure, almost larger than life.

Turns out that Timothy has quite the instincts as a detective and we get to see his growth as a NYC copper from his start in 1845 through to the 1848 of this last installment. Along the way we are treated to some great puzzles and mysteries to be solved and meet up with a varied and fascinating group of secondary characters, good and bad, from all walks of life.

This particular book has as its main mystery an arsonist threatening various buildings owned by unscrupulous businessman and politician Robert Symmes of Tammany Hall. He’s not above exploitation of workers in his factories or exploitation of women in the prostitution business. Whatever will make him more money. Tie in to this the divisive slavery issue, the terrible mistreatment of immigrants, in particular those coming from Ireland to avoid starvation and finding life no better, and possibly worse, for them here, police brutality and mistreatment of prisoners, and the eternal struggles of women for egalitarian and non-exploitative treatment.

The headers beginning every chapter of the book are actual excerpts from newspapers, journals, magazine and essays of the time and are quite revelatory. This is a powerful book dealing with issues that can make the reader very uncomfortable and sad to realize that many are unresolved to this day. However, this is not to say that the book is a downer. It is a very complete and satisfying story, with thoughtful personal, political and social issues.

The ending is perhaps as good as can be, somewhat bittersweet with regard to Timothy’s love life, but also very hopeful with regard to the lives and friendships of Tim and many secondaries, including brother Valentine. It’s a beautiful book, perhaps the best of the trilogy, although THE GODS OF GOTHAM will always have a special place in my heart because it’s when I met Timothy Wilde and his New York City for the first time.

(My reading copy was supplied by my local library. May libraries live long and prosper. ETA: I have since then purchased my own copy for my personal library.)

Every so often my path intersects with a book that is nothing short of wonderful. Happily, I found Lindsay Fayes The Fatal Flame to be one of those books. Heres why:

Ms. Fayes style is consistent throughout the entire story. She takes readers back to New York in the 1840s, its realism enhanced due to the obvious research completed to bring this story to life. This is a mixture of 19th century police tactics, coupled with the feel of a Sherlock Holmes type of mystery and seasoned perfectly with the politics of the day. The author provides another layer of reality with flash, a language used by the rogues (and others) inhabiting what some would call the lower rungs of the citys inhabitants. Ms. Faye provides enough structure to allow readers to decipher flash, allowing us to learn as we go and thus further immersing us into the world of yesterday. Her descriptive passages are extremely enjoyable, and paint vivid pictures throughout. The pacing is steady, although the second half moves faster and races toward a satisfying conclusion.

The main as well as many of the secondary characters are developed, each a separate entity that can easily be identified. What was refreshing was that, unlike many of the heroes in other police/detective stories, Timothy Wilde only has his height (5 4) and a burn scar to bother him, and he has come to terms (of a sort) with both. In other words, neither will greatly affect his ability to be able to solve the mystery nor will they inhibit him physically at a critical juncture of the story.

I discovered part of the way through the book that this was the third in a series. Although previous events are mentioned, Ms. Faye explains enough so that I never questioned what was happening. This book can stand on its own, so readers new to Timothy Wilde could start with this story.

Previously I referred to The Fatal Flame as a Sherlock Holmes type of mystery. Throughout the book, clues are dropped regularly and although there was one instance where the author stretched my belief to a thin line, she did leave clues earlier that might have made it easier for me, if I would have caught them. As it was, there were numerous aha moments, and only once did I spot a clue (and even then, I wasnt sure exactly what it meant. Kudos to Ms. Faye for creating an inventive read.

There are instances of vulgar language throughout the book, although these are not constant nor overworked. When used, vulgarities are generally part of the dialogue.

Overall, this story will keep your interest, with the background providing insights into an era of American history. Definitely a five-star effort.

The final book in Faye’s trilogy about New York City detective Timothy Wilde, is an extremely compelling read that once again brings to vivid life a past episode in history–this time the mistreatment of women workers in garment factories–or worse. I won’t spoil it, but certain characters from the first book return, and wreak even more havoc on poor Timothy’s love life. He also meets some fascinating, and often repellent new ones. Luckily he has his trusty detective colleagues at his side most of the time, as well as the help of his brother Valentine, whose contest against a corrupt alderman drives much of the story. Faye does a masterful job of resolving the various elements and persona of the previous two books and leaves us with a satisfying, if inevitably bittersweet conclusion. She is as good as any author I have seen at combining a real history lesson with a compelling plot. Of course, her heroes are not typical 1840s New Yorkers. They have modern attitudes about women’s rights, gay rights, and a lot of other things that enable the author to express her own opinions, but they are opinions I share, so it is a pleasure to see Timothy and Valentine overcome their adversaries. The only thing that keeps the book from getting the full five stars is Faye’s over-tendency to foreshadow things. It’s too much like some sort of gothic romance at times–“If I only knew when I left that place what I know now…” and stuff like that. (That isn’t a direct quote.)

All books in this series are worthy of a 5 star review because of the sheer realism and the way she brings New York of the 1840s alive. Full of vivid descriptions of the filth, the poverty, the brutality and the corruption of the time and at the heart of it all, an unlikely hero in a sea of humanity struggling to survive.

All books in the seires deal with topics relevant at the time and even today. Racism, women’s rights, immigration and poverty all go hand in hand in a world where sentimentality has little place.

My only gripe is that there really should be more books than three in the series. Please write more!

Great book from start to finish and a great price enjoyed it very much

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