Dear Great Book Guru,
I have been spending many mornings at Matt’s Deli. His Millennial Special (egg whites, avocado, roasted potatoes on a gluten free wrap) is my perennial favorite but there are lots of other scrumptious treats. While there, I like nothing better than spending an hour or so reading a good mystery. Do you have any recommendations?
Matt’s Deli Devotee
Dear Matt’s Deli Devotee,
I just read an historical mystery set in New York City that you will love. “31 Bond Street” by Ellen Horan is based on a sensational murder case set in 1857.
It explores a time of enormous wealth and crushing poverty complicated by the tensions brought about by the recently passed Fugitive Slave Act that seems poised to undo the successes of the Underground Railroad. The dubious ethics of sensational journalists and the massive corruption of city politicians further complicate the case.
New York City is described in such detail that you quickly come to realize that the city is a major character in this novel. While our sympathies lie with the defendant, the mysterious Emma Cunningham, and her idealistic attorney Henry Clinton, we are still shaken by the brutality of the dentist Harvey Burdell’s murder.
Although the story takes place over 150 years ago, there is a strange sense of the familiar throughout. A compelling read and highly recommended.
Would you like to ask the Great Book Guru for a book suggestion? Contact her at annmdipietro@gmail.com.
