The Gods of Gotham (Timothy Wilde #1)

These books are perfection. I’ve read all three and this review applies equally to all of them. The plotlines are detailed and interesting, the environments are incredibly rich, and I cannot say enough about the characters. All of the characters come to life- even the secondary characters are fully developed, but the main characters in particular are just incredibly well done. I have to comment in particular on the author’s style of writing. I read a LOT, and I’ve never experienced this before. I hesitate to say that the prose sounds like poetry, because I don’t like poetry, but that’s the closest I can come to describing it. When you’re reading these books, at times it’s almost like the words just carry you along like a breeze. That sounds cheesy, but I don’t know how else to describe it- the author has a talent I’ve never had the pleasure of coming across anywhere else before. These books would have rated five stars from me even without this added bonus, but they are worth the read for this experience alone. If I were forced to make a criticism, the only one I could come up with would be that I would have liked to have seen more of Valentine in the books. His presence is felt often in the background, and he is possibly the most interesting character in the books, and when the brothers are interacting it is always entertaining, so I would have loved to have seen more of him. Really though, even that is more of a compliment than a criticism.

This book was such a pleasant surprise. The author uses a language called “flash,” which takes a bit of getting used to. It’s kind of like reading “A Clockwork Orange,” which contained a made up language. Once you see the words used several times in context, you begin to feel comfortable with them and the reading goes faster.

The characters are what make this book so fantastic. The central character, Timothy, is endearing and cunning at the same time. He is a product of his time, which is pre-civil war New York. In many ways, the world he inhabits is very similar to ours in that the populace is being riled up against foreigners and there is a strong nationalistic fervor. Maybe that’s one reason it hit so close to home for me. I also came to like Timothy’s brother, Valentine, by the end of the book, although he is a nasty character overall. We come to see why, though, which makes him more sympathetic.

I unreservedly recommend this book.

Absolutely BRILLIANT historical fiction! WOW! Faye has and does it all: her language is fluid and melodious; her work’s historical accuracy and her attention to detail are downright academic; the characters she creates are multi-dimensional and continue to grow throughout the novel; etc, etc.

The setting is early 19th century antebellum New York City. I’ve read a bunch of scholarly studies on the era and region, and was absolutely blown-away by all the accurate details Faye managed to explore: women’s entrance into the workforce (and piece-work, that kept many off the streets but in constant poverty), racism and racial-based violence, political battles between the Democrats and the Whigs, 19th century medical practices, the formation of a police force and the conflict this caused, a lot more, and most of all, a quite believable portrait of what 19th century New York was like to live in.

I love, love, LOVE New York. It is my soul-city. And I, as any reader probably, have often wondered what it would be like to have lived at some point past (or future?) – have been there, in fact, by reading. <i>The Gods of Gotham</i> is a complete immersion into a fully fleshed out, entirely plausible, compelling rendering of 19th century New York City. And it’s absolutely fascinating, especially if you love that time period or the City: there are the rural locations east of 5th Ave, there are people in the streets pumping water, there are firemen brigades which basically rule the city like mafiosos (until the police force steps in, tentatively, during this period).

The novel is not perfect: it’s definitely “genre” fiction – it follows all the plot rules, and Faye takes no creative license beyond her absolutely beautiful use of language. But, this language is almost too poetic: it’s a strange thing for me to say, because I value that above almost all else as I read, but at times it was hard to believe that all cops, madams, spinsters, dock-workers, etc, spoke in such exalted tongues. Also, the mystery itself is not the most compelling, and the ending, as these things tend to, tries to “twist” one too many times, just for the sake of novelty.

Still, highly enjoyed as a ticket to antebellum NYC!

I can’t say enough about this book! I just looked at another review and there are more in this series! I must read the others. The writing is superb. Some of the best writing I have read in a long time. The dialogue and description feel right on. The reader feels that he or she is actually experiencing the events in New York in 1845. Such an authentic feel! You become this character – Tim Wilde – one of the first policemen in the newly formed first ever New York City Police Force. Add to that an extremely riveting mystery and characters that are three dimensional and seem straight out of old New York, and you get a novel that is truly memorable. This has become one of my favorites. If you love mysteries and also period pieces in old New York City, this is the book for you. Highly recommended!!!!

Brilliant, fast paced, and keeping you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter, this look at New York City in its grittiest will appeal to anyone who loves history, thrillers, and exceptional storytelling. This isn’t a slasher book, or play by the numbers mystery – it’s a finely woven tapestry of intrigue that will keep you thinking about it long after you’ve put the book down.

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