In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff

Simon Ziele, former NYC detective, has moved to rural Dobson, NY after the death of his fiancée. It is 1905 and he is hoping to find some peace and less violence in his life. This is not to be. A young female graduate student is brutally murdered while visiting her aunt in Dobson and the housemaid has vanished without any of her belongings. When a Columbia University criminologist, Alistair Sinclair, shows up the next day, things take a decidedly odd turn. Sinclair states he believes he knows who the murderer is based on the method. He has a patient he thought was purged of his violent actions by expressing them as fantasies in their sessions; but this crime is too similar to those fantasies and the patient, Michael Fromley, has disappeared. While skeptical of Sinclair’s theory, Simon returns to New York to work with him and pursue Fromley. His return to the city is painful but he is certain the solution to the crime will be found there.

Just as Simon finds himself caught between the old and the new in Sinclair’s early theories on profiling, the city itself is in a great change as well. The streets are a battleground of horses, cars, and pedestrians. Tammany Hall is stealing elections, Grand Central Station is going up, the subway opened recently and the elevated trains run overhead. Simon is both intrigued by and wary of the changes as he pursues his suspect, Fromley, and explores the ideas Alistair proposes.

In the Shadow of Gotham was a totally satisfying book! It is a very good mystery; it has well defined, believable characters; it evokes the New York of the early 1900’s beautifully; the writing style is literate without being pompous. A fines herbs omelette of a book.

CAS

Read-alikes:

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

The Interpretation of Murder by Jeb Rubenfeld

Our Holiday Favorites

The holidays are upon us, and in honor of the season, we've compiled a few of our favorite holiday-themed books. If you'd like to get in the holiday spirit, try one of these!

NPR Holiday Favorites
David Sedaris contributes his now classic "Santaland Diaries," his account of his experiences playing Santa's little helper at Macy's in New York. Susan Stamberg sneaks her mother-in-law's recipe for cranberry relish onto the air--again. Storyteller Kevin Kling finds an invitation to participate in a production of The Nutcracker too tempting to resist. Ghanian-born commentator Meri Danquah shares her thoughts on Kwanzaa. Cowboy poet Baxter Black describes a Christmas cookie with "the denseness of an anvil and the half-life of a radial tire." Robert Siegel goes in search of the correct spelling for December's Jewish holiday. The Thanksgiving tables are turned on unsuspecting Bostonians in "When Turkeys Attack."

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
Imagine a year without Christmas. No crowded malls, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That's just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they'll skip the holiday altogether. Theirs will be the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won't be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren't even going to have a tree. They won't need one, because come December 25 they're setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences and isn't half as easy as they'd imagined. A classic tale for modern times, Skipping Christmas offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of our holiday tradition.

Santa's Twin by Dean Koontz
"Someone has stolen Santa's bank card!" Combining the tongue-in-cheek charm of a modern classic with the timeless magic of cherished holiday tradition, here is a new Christmas story guaranteed to delight children of all ages--including those who pretend to have not grown up. At the request of his fans, bestselling novelist Dean Koontz has created a contemporary masterpiece that is destined to take place alongside "The Night Before Christmas" and Christmas Carol as a perennial Yuletide favorite. Santa's Twin is the hilarious and heartwarming story of two little girls, Charlotte and Emily, who set out to save Santa from his mischievous twin--Bob Claus--who has not only stolen Santa's sleigh, but has stuffed his toy bag with mud pies, cat poop, and broccoli! Plus, he's threatening to turn Donner, Blitzen and the rest of the reindeer into soup! And look at the mess he's leaving under the tree! How the brave but foolhardy sisters fly to the North Pole and rescue Santa from his "deeply troubled" twin is an utterly charming and unforgettable story that will add sparkle to your holiday season.

Wishin' and Hopin' by Wally Lamb

Back in his beloved fictional town of Three Rivers, Connecticut, with a new cast of endearing characters, Wally Lamb takes his readers straight into the halls of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parochial School—where Mother Filomina's word is law and goody-two-shoes Rosalie Twerski is sure to be minding everyone's business. But grammar and arithmetic move to the back burner this holiday season with the sudden arrivals of substitute teacher Madame Frechette, straight from Quebec, and feisty Russian student Zhenya Kabakova. While Felix learns the meaning of French kissing, cultural misunderstanding, and tableaux vivants, Wishin' and Hopin' barrels toward one outrageous Christmas.

Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris

Holidays on Ice is a collection of three previously published stories matched with three newer ones, all, of course, on a Christmas theme. David Sedaris's darkly playful humor is another common thread through the book, worming its way through "Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family!!!" a chipper suburban Christmas letter that spirals dizzily out of control, and "Front Row Center with Thaddeus Bristol," a vicious theatrical review of children's Christmas pageants. As always, Sedaris's best work is his sharply observed nonfiction, notably in "Dinah, the Christmas Whore," the tale of a memorable Christmas during which the young Sedaris learns to see his family in a new light. Worth the price of the book alone is the hilarious "SantaLand Diaries," Sedaris's chronicle of his time working as an elf at Macy's, covering everything from the preliminary group lectures ("You are not a dancer. If you were a real dancer you wouldn't be here. You're an elf and you're going to wear panties like an elf.") to the perils of inter-elf flirtation. Along the way, he paints a funny and sad portrait of the way the countless parents who pass through SantaLand are too busy creating an Experience to really pay attention to their children. In a sly way, it carries a holiday message all its own. Read it aloud to the adults after the kids have gone to bed.

 An Irish Country Christmas by Patrick Taylor

Barry Laverty, M.B., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. That unhappy prospect dampens his spirits somewhat, but Barry has little time to dwell on his romantic disappointments. Christmas may be drawing nigh, but there is little peace to be found on earth, especially for a young doctor plying his trade in the emerald hills and glens of rural Ireland. Along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O'Reilly, Barry has his hands full dealing with seasonal coughs and colds, as well as the occasional medical emergency. To add to the doctors' worries, competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the good people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts. But the wintry days and nights are not without a few tidings of comfort and joy. Between their hectic medical practice, Rugby Club parties, and the kiddies' Christmas Pageant, the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn't mean they never happen. . . .


Happy Holidays!

--Carrie

The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton DiSclafani

Why was Thea suddenly sent away to a riding camp/boarding school in North Carolina, far from her home in Florida? Thea and her twin brother Sam were born into a wealthy family with a doctor for a father and a beautiful mother who inherited orange groves and loves gardening and horses as much as Thea. Set mainly in 1929 – 1930, it is a story of a world with strict rules regarding ‘proper’ behavior, especially for females, clear social levels, and money – vital but never discussed.

The family lives an insulated life – there are no social equals nearby – and their only regular visitors are Thea's aunt, uncle, and a slightly older cousin, George. As the adults seem oblivious to the maturation of the children, natural biological changes are occurring. The details of Thea’s fall work their way out gradually until almost the end, but a sense of the general nature of them surfaces early.

Once sent to the camp, Thea gradually adjusts to what she believes is only a summer-long exile. She begins to see a world much larger than previously known, learns the ins and outs of the social world of young ladies, and, as the effects of the Wall Street collapse begin to impact the lives and status of other students, sees that money does matter. She also learns that she cannot only survive, but actually thrive as a separate person from her twin and other family members. Her life has veered down a different road just by living in another place without them, and all she left behind is irrevocably altered.

This is a well-drawn slice of a time, place, and a rigid society beginning to shatter. A true coming of age novel, The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls is a wonderfully complex but not confusing story. It was a satisfying reading experience.

CAS

Southern States -- Social life and customs -- Fiction

Southern States--Social life and customs--20th century

Bildungsromans

The Doors by Greil Marcus

The late rock critic Lester Bangs once referred to Doors lead singer Jim Morrison as a “buffoon” and argued that in the history of rock music The Doors were no more important than the Guess Who. This feeling that The Doors were an average band led by a bad poet prone to drunkenness has been echoed by many over the years. Going against this view in his book TheDoors: A Lifetime of Listening to Five Mean Years, music and pop culture critic Greil Marcus makes a case for The Doors as a talented, serious and sometimes revolutionary rock group.

Marcus’ book is not a biography of the band. Instead, most of the chapters are devoted to an exhaustive critique of an individual song or performance. Quite a few live recordings are analyzed that only the most fervent Doors fans are likely to own, but Marcus describes every beat, note and vocal inflection so well that it isn’t necessary to own these live versions to enjoy the book. The author is also quick to point out weaknesses in some songs or that some songs are just plain weak. In an amusing piece on the song “Strange Days,” Marcus writes that the song turns into trash after its brilliant first seven seconds.

Despite chapters being devoted to separate songs, The Doors still works as a whole, in large part because Marcus works in bits of the band’s history as well as what was happening in the U.S. at the time. While writing about a moment in the song, “The Unknown Soldier,” Marcus best sums up his view of The Doors. “It’s not a sound you’ve heard before, or want to hear again,” he writes. “It was the sound of the times that no one else made.”

John

Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson

Okay, I admit it. I have become obsessed with the television series Duck Dynasty. And when I saw that a book had been published on the life of the family patriarch, Phil Robertson, I was thrilled! Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander chronicles the story of a poor young man in Louisiana to the rich owner of one of the largest duck-caller/blind businesses in the world. (By the way, happy, happy, happy is one of his favorite expressions.) You find out so many tidbits of information about this man and his family that you would not even begin to see by just watching the show.

For instance, Phil Robertson was an outstanding football player at Louisiana Tech, but had no interest in pursuing a professional career because he wanted to go home to hunt and fish.

He has a Master's Degree in education, and taught for several years before he started his business, Duck Commander.

He once had a drinking problem, but turned his life around with help form his wife Kay, his four sons, and God.

This is not only an interesting read, but for fans of the show, it is also a very funny book.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Karen

The Liberty Amendments by Mark Levin

Expanding on the principles set forth in "Liberty and Tyranny" and "Ameritopia," conservative radio host Mark Levin presents solutions to America's woes in his new book.  The Liberty Amendments is a collection of ten amendments to the Constitution that Levin is calling on the states to adopt.  He references Article V of the Constitution, which allows "Legislatures of Two Thirds of the Several States" to petition Congress to "call a Convention for proposing amendments."  The ten amendments address term limits for Congress and Supreme Court Justices; the repealing of the 17th amendment (which allows for direct election of senators); the limitation of federal taxing, spending, and bureaucracy; the promotion of free enterprise through a narrow interpretation of the Commerce Clause; the protection of private property; and voting reforms.  The book is a well-reasoned and carefully crafted treatise, and Levin went so far as to write out the text of each amendment!  However, this is an exercise in futility, unless the Red States are reading this book and petitioning their legislatures to take action. Levin even admits that this method of amending the Constitution has never been attempted.   Passing one amendment is hard enough, but ten?? I'd venture to say it's impossible.

Dawn

Johnny Carson by Henry Bushkin

Readers looking for a Johnny Carson biography that covers his whole life will be disappointed with JohnnyCarson by Henry Bushkin. The book was written by Bushkin, Carson’s lawyer from the seventies until the late eighties, and focuses almost exclusively on those years. That being said, I still found the book very enjoyable.

Bushkin was an unknown lawyer when he was recommended to Carson by one of Carson’s associates. In agreeing to work for Carson, Bushkin devoted most of his time practicing law to him and was soon playing tennis and vacationing with Carson and whatever wife or girlfriend he was with at the time. A lot of Carson’s less than stellar behavior is documented in the book, but Johnny Carson is not a hatchet job. There are some odd accusations leveled, such as Bushkin’s claim that Carson’s womanizing ways rubbed off on him and caused his marriage to break up. Buskin is more successful when he tries to figure out what made Carson behave so badly at times.

Carson is in some ways as interesting for its depiction of what life is like for someone in a celebrity’s inner circle as it is for the stories Bushkin tells about Carson. While Bushkin obviously knows he is Carson’s lawyer and later on his partner in a number of successful business ventures, he seems unclear for much of the book whether Carson considers him a friend or if Bushkin considers himself a friend of Carson’s. This question is what ties the book together and moves Carson beyond the airing of yet another celebrity’s dirty laundry.

John

The House of Velvet And Glass by Katherine Howe

The House of Velvet and Glass is one of those novels that has it all - mystery, mysticism and mayhem. The story opens in 1915 in Boston. Sibyl Allston is still mourning the loss of her mother and sister on the Titanic three years earlier, and visits a medium in the hopes of reconnecting with her family. In the meantime, her younger brother is suffering in his own way, by dropping out of college and collecting gambling debts that he cannot repay. Their father, Harlan, deals with his loss by keeping to himself.

When an old family friend (and former beau of Sibyl's) comes back into their lives, he realizes this family needs help in a big way. But what can he do when they are determined to go on living in the past?

Traveling through three different time spans, this sweeping saga will keep you interested all the way until the end!

Karen

Read-alike author: Kate Morton

The Duck Commander Family by Willie and Korie Robertson

OK, folks, my curiosity got the better of me.  I have no desire to watch Duck Dynasty, but The Duck Commander Family by Willie and Korie Robertson looked intriguing.  The book is a quick read, and it's told in both voices, although Willie does most of the narrating.  It's inspirational as both an "only in America" rags-to-riches story and as a testament to the power of faith in God.  Where it falls apart is with its attempts to use food as a metaphor for their lives.  Yes, I know that each episode of the show ends with a family dinner, but just what are these people eating?  Frog legs? Fried squirrel?  Back straps?  (don't ask about that last one)
Just reading about all that oil and grease they consume was enough to make my arteries harden.  And these people in the South wonder why everyone is laughing at them!  Anyway, I really got to know the family, and I even went onto YouTube to watch a summary of one of the episodes and snippets of their hunting videos. Willie talks a lot about how the business has grown and changed over the years, especially once he and Korie bought part of it from patriarch Phil.  Their business model may not be for everyone (running a million-dollar empire out of their home, serving home-cooked meals to the employees, afternoon siestas and fishing trips), but they're successfully filling a niche in "hunting country", and for that I applaud them.

Dawn

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Jake Brigance is back, and I couldn’t be happier. John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill, featured the young lawyer from Clanton, Mississippi. It’s one of my favorite books. Sycamore Row picks up just three years after A Time to Kill. The story of Jake Brigance and his misfit cohorts is just as good.

Seth Hubbard takes his own life right after he writes a new will that cuts out his family, and leaves most of his fortune to his housekeeper. Seth has appointed Jake to be the lawyer for the estate, which throws Jake into a bitter will contest. You might think that a book about a contested will would be boring. This book is anything but.  As in most John Grisham novels, there are more questions than answers. Why did Seth Hubbard leave most of his fortune to his black housekeeper? Why did Seth choose Jake to fight for the new will? What is the awful secret that Seth and his estranged brother kept for over fifty years? What secrets does the housekeeper have?

The desire to discover the answers to these questions is why I kept reading. I wanted to see what happened to Jake Brigance next. Grisham keeps you guessing as he throws curve ball after curve ball. Once you think you have everything figured out, guess again.

If you liked this book, you might like Fall From Grace by Richard North Patterson. 

Carrie