• Gilded Needles

  • By: Michael McDowell
  • Narrated by: R.C. Bray
  • Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (1,841 ratings)

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Gilded Needles  By  cover art

Gilded Needles

By: Michael McDowell
Narrated by: R.C. Bray
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Publisher's summary

Welcome to the Black Triangle, New York's decadent district of opium dens, gambling casinos, drunken sailors, gaudy hookers, and back-room abortions. The queen of this unsavory neighborhood is Black Lena Shanks, whose family leads a ring of female criminals - women skilled in the art of cruelty.

Only a few blocks away, amidst the elegant mansions and lily-white reputations of Gramercy Park and Washington Square, lives Judge James Stallworth. On a crusade to crush Lena's evil empire, the judge has sentenced three of her family members to death. And now she wants revenge.

One Sunday, all the Stallworths receive invitations - to their own funerals. Can even the wealth and power of the Stallworth family protect them from Lena's diabolical lust for vengeance?

This first-ever republication of Michael McDowell's chilling classic of revenge features a new introduction by Christopher Fowler and cover art by Mike Mignola.

©2016 Michael McDowell (P)2017 Valancourt Books

Critic reviews

"Riveting, terrifying, and just absolutely great...Michael McDowell must now be regarded as the finest writer of paperback originals in America." (Stephen King)
"One of the best writers of horror in this country." (Peter Straub)

What listeners say about Gilded Needles

Average customer ratings
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bought this book as a daily deal

I was very pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could picture the settings, era and characters so clearly. The narration delivered.
I think this would make a really fun/dark and atmospheric movie.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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gilded neefles

interesting. the story was difficult to get into. the reader,s voice not interesting. but the last half I found it more to my interest.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

captain Joe Friday ? police story?

to much or to old an in your face style of writing. I just didn't like it. RC Bray got me through it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Deliciously Dark!

Loved this tale. It's dark, a little creepy, full of righteous and mean characters. Here, the "good" don't necessarily win. But karma is served. The narrator did an excellent job, though at times it reminded me of a newscast. Highly recommend if you aren't looking for light and fluffy and want a historical setting.

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    4 out of 5 stars

Disturbing!!

I found this story to be both very disturbing and entertaining. This was my least favorite of Michael McDowell’s books. That said, it was still captivating.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good Story of Early New York

In this story of the lives of the privileged and the poor.. Money is the ultimate equalizer..

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Gilded Needles

Well written story of revenge played out over a year’s time in 1882 New York. Twists and turns and a fine job of narration kept me engaged. Would recommend to anyone enjoying a suspense novel.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

More of a thriller than a horror story.

Imagery was bleak and disturbing, A drastic impression of late 19th century New York City. Characters were vivid and received satisfying resolve of the conflicts.

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Fabulously Gothic

If you are a fan of Class Privilege Gone Wild, Hypocrisy, Scandal, Alienage, Corruption In High Places Amongst The High Borne, Squalor, Pestilential Poverty, back door dealings, Vice, & Revenge served Chilled To The BONE 🦴, The THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. Gilded Needles is Exquisite in EVERY DIMENSION.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dark and discriptive

Initally, I was a bit impatient with the writing, it seemed that the author was overly discriptive ( he uses adjectives and adverbs with abandon). I stuck with it because of the intriguing story and the excellent narration. Not a fast-paced story, and the ending seemed abrupt, but it was interesting to find that "evil" prevailed.

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1 person found this helpful