Rockville Centre resident and author Dan Cillis takes readers back to early 20th-century New York in “The Stealth Reporter,” a historical thriller about a newspaper reporter whose investigation into political and police corruption puts her life at risk.
Published Aug. 24 by iUniverse, the novel centers on Mae Mason, an independent reporter for the New York World who is covering New Mexico statehood when her work leads her into a dangerous story in New York.
“For the first time in the entire series, Centori is not the main character,” Cillis said. “It's Mae's town. New York is Mae's town. And she's the main person.”
Mason begins as a freelance writer, initially using a male name before securing a position at the New York World. Local assignments eventually lead her into an investigation of political and police corruption.
“She’s an incredibly independent woman,” Cillis said.
Mason pushes against social expectations, advocating for women’s rights and supporting a “Ladies’ Mile,” where women could shop independently. She also challenges conventions surrounding women smoking in public.
Longtime New Mexico journalist Gary Herron, who has covered Cillis’ books for the Rio Rancho Observer and helped edit “The Stealth Reporter,” said he particularly enjoyed Mason’s determination and Cillis’ decision to make her a female investigative reporter.
“I just think it's the doggedness of the reporter,” Herron said. “And this woman digs into the crux of the matter too. So that was pretty good that Dan would take a stand instead of having just a regular male reporter at that time in history, having a female do the detective work.”
Her reporting leads Mason to a source known as “Pope Pipe.” The investigation exposes a world in which gambling and prostitution operations can continue with police looking the other way.
“The police will look the other way for all kinds of vice operations, whether it's gambling, whether it's prostitution, they would look the other way,” Cillis said.
The danger becomes personal when Mason is attacked and thrown onto a train. The assault changes her motivation.
“I think she was more motivated,” Cillis said. “Number one, how dare you throw me on the freaking train. That's number one. And number two, I'm coming for you now.”
“She had to make the decision,” Cillis said. “Is she trying to get to the end of it just to break the biggest story in the world? Or is she trying to get to the end of it to protect herself from the next attack?”
Her editor eventually pulls her from the corruption investigation. Mason turns to Violet Evalina, another freelance writer, and has her ghostwrite a series called “Modern Woman Rising” while secretly continuing her investigation.
“He uses Colt .45 and Violet uses her pen,” Cillis said. “I like that line that the pen is mightier than the sword.”
Mason moves through a New York that includes Newspaper Row near City Hall, the Dakota, Longacre Square — now Times Square — and Central Park. Cillis uses these historical locations and everyday details to bring the period to life.
Herron, a journalist for 45 years, said Cillis’ use of real historical places and events helps make the setting convincing.
“When Dan writes a book, he always uses legitimate historical events and buildings. And when it's in New York, I know he knows a lot about Manhattan and what's around there. So it gives you a good feeling,” Herron said.
At one point, Mason rides an elevated train. After purchasing her ticket, she gives it to a worker known as a “cutter,” who puts it into a shredder.
“That is the kind of small detail that I think puts you into the situation,” Cillis said.
Cillis drew inspiration for Mason in part from Nellie Bly, the New York World reporter whose undercover investigative work in the 1890s made her one of the era’s best-known journalists. He was particularly interested in Bly’s investigation of conditions at an asylum on Blackwell Island.
“I just thought it was fascinating that she went in and subjected herself to the abuse,” he said.
“The Stealth Reporter” is part of Cillis’ series featuring Centori, which moves between New York and New Mexico. The latest book gives Mason a more prominent role in a city filled with newspapers, political influence and corruption.
Cillis, 77, has lived in Rockville Centre for about 15 years. A former professor and associate dean of graduate programs at Molloy University, he has also taught at Mercy University and Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus. He holds a Ph.D. from New York University.
Writing “The Stealth Reporter” took Cillis roughly 14 to 16 months. He begins with an idea of where the story is headed but allows the characters and plot to take unexpected turns.
“I usually do what I call the Indiana Jones, making it up as I go along, even though I might have an arc of the story,” he said. “It does change. It does take detours. There's subplots.”
For Herron, the combination of mystery and history is part of the appeal.
“You get a mystery and you learn a little bit about history and there's usually not an expected outcome, but an outcome that leaves you probably wanting more,” he said.
“The Stealth Reporter” is available in paperback and e-book formats through iUniverse and major online booksellers, including Apple Books, Google Play Books, and through Amazon at https://amzn.to/4dYDSlh.
