FICTION

The Fatal Flame

by Lyndsay Faye
Putnam. May 2015. 480p. ISBN 9780399169489. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780698155947. F
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In 1840s New York, star copper (aka police detective) Timothy Wilde investigates a string of suspicious fires. He is a bit leery, given that his parents were killed in a fire, and he has the burn scars to prove it. He is also thrown by the sudden reappearance of the love of his life, Mercy Underhill. Add to the mix some corporate greed and a hotly contested election for city alderman, and it's no wonder Tim's investigation, and maybe his life, is in jeopardy.
VERDICT While this is the third entry in Faye's trilogy (after The Gods of Gotham and Seven for a Secret), it could easily stand alone. Her use of period language effectively conveys the grit and flavor of the times, but can be a barrier to the reader's understanding, even with a handy glossary of flash terminology (criminals' slang). For the patient reader fond of historical mysteries, this is a rewarding tale of loyalty and courage. [See Prepub Alert, 11/25/14.]
Reviewed by Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib. , Apr 15, 2015
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