The Gods of Gotham

By: Lyndsay Faye

Narrated by: Steven Boyer

Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

It is 1845. New York City forms its first police force. The great potato famine hits Ireland. These two seemingly disparate events will change New York City. Forever.

Timothy Wilde tends bar near the Exchange, fantasizing about the day he has enough money to win the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams literally incinerate in a fire devastating downtown Manhattan, he finds himself disfigured, unemployed, and homeless. His older brother obtains Timothy a job in the newly minted NYPD, but he is highly skeptical of this new "police force". And he is less than thrilled that his new beat is the notoriously down-and-out Sixth Ward - at the border of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.

One night, while making his rounds, Wilde literally runs into a little slip of a girl - a girl not more than 10 years old - dashing through the dark in her nightshift... covered head to toe in blood.

Timothy knows he should take the girl to the House of Refuge, yet he can't bring himself to abandon her. Instead, he takes her home, where she spins wild stories, claiming that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of 23rd Street. Timothy isn't sure whether to believe her or not, but, as the truth unfolds, the reluctant copper star finds himself engaged in a battle for justice that nearly costs him his brother, his romantic obsession, and his own life.

©2012 Lyndsay Faye (P)2012 Penguin Audio

GREAT VOICE GOOD BOOK

I REALLY like Steven Boyer. His characters are not over the top, I could really visualize each one. The story reminds me of Gangs of New York but I enjoyed it. I will purchase other books that Mr. Boyer narrarates.

Fascinating... Eerie... Great Performance

What did you love best about The Gods of Gotham?

The author certainly captured the ambiance of old New York and the complexity of the characters.

What did you like best about this story?

The plot moved along, but allowed one sufficient space to experience a different ethos.

Which character – as performed by Steven Boyer – was your favorite?

The protagonist.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

Steven Boyer's performance was spot on.

Great Writing

This author has mastered the simile, and the rich imagery is captivating to a listener like me. Yes, there is a mystery; yes, there is a lot of American/Irish/New York history feathered in; and, yes, the fiction is vibrant. I would definitely like to visit these characters again.

File Under: Worth a credit!

Not Your Typical Novel

I'm not sure why I chose to listen to this book but boy was I glad I did. A period piece, it was true to the era. Narration was terrific and the story was full of twists, turns, surprises, sadness, joy and hope. What a good listen.

Wonderful story

I was enthralled by this historical fiction. The writing was stunning and clearly took a great deal of time and attention to detail. The only fault I can find is in forcing a bit too strong of emotion and self reflection that felt somewhat unrealistic and overly floral. Otherwise, total enrapture, great mystery.

Amazing

Old New York. Glorious and relevant characters. Imagery that often takes your breath away because it is so rich, beautiful, interesting and dynamic

An absolute gem

What made the experience of listening to The Gods of Gotham the most enjoyable?

Perfect combination of excellent story line, well-developed characters, great pacing. The author displays a knowledge of history and language that makes it fun to look things up and never seems like it isn't pertinent to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

It totally drew me in and gave me a sense of being transported to a different time. There is nothing predictable, cliche or overdone about it.

What does Steven Boyer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Flawless performance, as far as I'm concerned. Again - nothing is annoyingly overdone. No verbal equivalent of "mugging" or bad acting. His accents are great. I'm really, really impressed. Over 60 audio books in, this one takes the cake.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't completely convinced by the listening sample. It was about Bird and not told from the same perspective as the rest of the book. When it switches to Tim's perspective about 5 minutes in, it really takes off.

A wonderful book

If you could sum up The Gods of Gotham in three words, what would they be?

Atmospheric, intelligent and engaging

What did you like best about this story?

This story is beautifully written, replete with descriptions of New York in the mid-1840s - what it looked like (sometimes gorgeous, more often dark and dreary), what it smelled like (smoky and rancid), and what it sounded like. Several themes run through a story that is about murder and mayhem, science and religion as well as the plight of women and children in an uncivilized place birthing itself from the depths of poverty and squalor. There are characters I wanted to know better - and hope that Lyndsay Faye will tell us more about Timothy Wilde, Bird Daley and the kinchins in the future. A most delightful element in this book is the way in which Timothy, who has been given a job as a ``copper star`` in the newly formed police force, uses his talent as a listener and observer of people and as an artist to become a detective - truly a problem solver using all of his gifts to understand `who did it`.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favourite scene was the one in which Timothy, beaten and discouraged, returns to his room above the bakery. Once home, he takes out his onionskin and begins to write down phrases that he has heard over the course of his inquiries, drawing pictures of what he has seen and, finally, piecing together an entire picture to make sense of the `crimes``. I also loved the scene where Timothy and his brother, Valentine, come to know a very dark truth about their family. The scene bristles with horror and is infused with compassion.

Who was the most memorable character of The Gods of Gotham and why?

While Timothy Wilde will stay in my mind for a long time, it is Mercy who I will remember. In her, the author has created a heroine tragically ahead of her time, deeply flawed, selfless and selfish, and for whom this female reader, while shuddering, can only feel compassion.

Gangs of NY, NYPD Style

Fast-paced and atmospheric, this historical murder mystery is set in the NYC of 1845 at the inception of the NYPD. Numerous historical details about what life was like in mid-19th century NYC enrich the story; in particular the author employs the virulent anti-Catholic/anti-Irish sentiments so prevalent at that time as the backdrop for what appears to be a series of vicious ritualistic murders.

I debated between 3 and 4 stars for the story, as it really is quite enjoyable and the narration is excellent. However, for all the author's attention to period detail, the sensibilities of her characters are thoroughly 21st century--which might make them more accessible to a modern audience but which doesn't really fit them into their historical setting. This is a quite common phenomenon in current "period pieces" whether of literature or film and probably a minor quibble for most readers with a murder mystery which is otherwise a great read.

Good writing, but drawn out story

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. There were sections of this book that moved along, but the story as a whole was very slow moving. I thought the author tried overly hard to develop the characters without really accomplishing the task. There was a bit of interesting history to it, but not enough to really save the story. I'd pass on this one.