John Reisinger

Based on a real murder, this is a sparkling, very enjoyable mystery set in the Twenties.
All the elements that make for a good read, and especially for a good mystery are there: a diverse cast of characters, a good many secrets, good people and bad people, and even a locked room. Your interest never dulls. I think the author came up with a very interesting twist to the solution of the mystery (the real-life murder remains unsolved).
The story heavily relies on dialogues and this makes for a quick read.

But what I enjoyed the most is actually the depiction of the era. This is not the first novel I read set in the Twenties, but it's by far the best. It's obviously thoroughly research and although many of the usual characters of this kind of stories are there (flappers, gangsters, bootleggers), they never sound clichéd. Everything feels authentic. That world comes to life not just because of the occasional slang used here and there (slang is generously offered in this novel, anyway), but because of so many details that keep sneaking inside the narration. You never doubt where you are.
There's a log thread focusing on Allison - the sleuth's wife - that centres on the idea of the flapper, the new woman. It's interesting because, once again, it gives a depiction of this character which is more in death and more to the point than this characters usually receives.

The only thing I feel like complaining is that, with the focus firmly on the mystery, the characters suffer a bit, and this includes the two main characters. I never felt like I really knew these people. They didn't seem to have any life outside the mystery, which is a huge shame, because I think I'd enjoyed the story even more if I could get a closer look at least to the main characters - who, as it appears, will live more adventures in the future.
But with all this, I really enjoyed it.… (altro)

So what was happening in the Bahamas in the year 1860...

Well pretty much nothing exciting, the Island wasn't the place as we know it today, but this book gives us a peek into the world of the beginnings. Soon after the civil war broke out Nassau became the place to go for the blockade runners, and well the islanders both earn and lost money during those years.

Now for the story, we start in London, and the owner of a failing shipping business sends a new guy over to the Island to see if he could make a better go of it then the person there. On the way, Crane meets the Blackwells. a brother and sister who are going to see about some property that their father left them.

I think the characters make the story come a little bit more alive. Its chalk full of little tidbits and facts that will make any history person interested. I love the description we get during the last blockade run, which is a side that is rarely seen I think.

And the fact that I got to go to Charleston a couple summers ago, made the story all the better.… (altro)

Pre-CSI, pre-Miranda, pre-police procedural, even partly pre-mug shot, Ellis Parker was famous at the turn of the century for solving crimes in New Jersey. At one point, he was known as the American Sherlock Holmes. Of course, while some of the reputation was earned, much of it was carefully crafted and advertised by himself in order to garner an international reputation.

Ellis Parker was a man of considerable logical and psychological talent that had served him well throughout his career. Of course, as the Depression was in full swing and the Bureau of Investigation had the opportunity to declare Public Enemies, Parker began to run the risk of being eclipsed by so many other high-profile detectives that suddenly had the opportunity to collect many other less-talented but higher-cache criminals.

And then the crime of the century hit New Jersey with the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Charles Lindbergh Jr. While Parker was not officially involved for two years, his involvement in the case was seen as inevitable by nearly everyone in the country. Reisinger traces Parker's career before and throughout the Lindbergh case and then concentrates the book on Parker's obsession with finding the real kidnapper.

It is clear that Reisinger has a love both for Parker's career and for Parker the person. So it is not unsurprising that he is unable to maintain an objective eye with the fallout from Parker's investigation. This hampers the book, as the constant need to defend Parker makes him appear far weaker than he most assuredly was in real life. On the upside, this early portraits of New Jersey politics and life as seen through Parker's investigations are well-told.… (altro)