The Gods of Gotham (A Timothy Wilde Novel)

This was suggested by another reader, and the suggestion was a good one! I liked the book so much that I purchased the author's next book about Timothy Wilde, an 1840's era NYC "copper star." Can't wait to read it!

Outstanding read! Well researched -- fantastically rich characters and a great story. Lyndsay Faye's descriptions are so rich and vivid, you feel as if you can see exactly what New York looked like at the time. I can't wait to read the next one.

Wonderful book, great details. It helps that I live in Lower Manhattan but no one here seems to know much about that period of city history, and the book evokes it really well. About to start the second Timothy Wilde novel.

Faye transports you to 19th century Manhattan with a cast of characters as rich in detail as the locales he presents them. I read this straight through except for the moments i HAD to stop and investigate flash, the language of the NYC 19th century streets. I can't wait to return to NYC and trace the geography of this novel

loved the detail of this fine historical novel. especially loved the "flash" language of old new york. loved the story so much, i'm reading the next one in the series and i am hoping for a third. timonthy wilde is a brilliant creation.

Interesting New York city history, interesting characters and story, fun use of mid-1840s slang, and lots of local color. The sequel, "Seven for a Secret," is equally good but it is best to read this one first.

Extremely good.
One of those books you keep in your memory for months to come. I read it last year and a still think about it from time to time.
Not the most easy reading for a non-native English reader, but it is so good, it doesn't matter.
Five stars!

I really liked the book, because I love anything about the history of NYC. I enjoy reading about the NYC mean streets of the past and am VERY GLAD they're over, since I'm hitting NYC in three weeks. I feel very safe, and with all my reading about everything there, which has been compulsive over the past two years, I will never get lost. I may get mislocated, but never lost.
The book was very good and takes place in the very beginnings of the New York Police Department (who were very close, if not identical, to the criminals they sought and caught (or not)). The characters were well developed, but few of them had morals, which was the way of the City back then. Think about Tammany Hall and all the corruption the city has seen through 400 years of being a city. I really like the "real stuff" and the "real people" thrown in.
I read a lot, and many books, fiction and non-fiction, about New York City. One thing that made this book stand out was the inclusion (in conversation) of the "flash" vocabulary used by the criminal element at the time. The author included an abbreviated "flash" dictionary which was very helpful, because many characters in the book just spoke flash.
Great book. Thanks for writing it, Lyndsey Faye. Write some more about NYC (although I plan to read your other book, "Dust and Shadow."

Excellent view into the workings of early New York City. Difficult read at first but definitely worth the effort once you establish the cadence.

Reminiscent of an American " Jack the Ripper" mystery. Could be very upsetting if you are Irish Catholic or squeamish.

The Gods of Gotham is superbly written, exciting and well paced. Lindsay Faye accomplished a marvelous feat with the character development of "Copper Star" Timothy Wilde. At times it can be very difficult for an author to create and write for a protagonist of the opposite gender without making said protagonist either to masculine, to feminine or not enough of former as well as the latter. She artfully balances Mr. Wildes various flaws with his obvious strengths creating a central character that the reader can empathize as well as sympathize with. She accomplishes this mind you right in the middle of thrillfully engaging detective story during the mid-1800's in one of the most insufferable places of that time Five Points, New York.

When deciding to rate my book collection, I did not intend to use the 5-star rating. In my opinion, 5 stars should only be granted to books that are so extraordinary you would re-read them over and over again. While I have read more amazing books than I can count, I rarely read them more than once. As much as I love a good story, I have a short attention span and it takes a lot to capture me and keep me reading. No matter the level of suspense in a well-written mystery, once I have reached the climax conclusion or discovered the clever plot twist, I usually lose the desire to read it again. The "not-knowing" is what drives me and therefore little is gained in multiple readings if I already "know" what to expect. Of course most of the literary classics written centuries before my birth are exceptions as there are many works of which I never tire; modern literature often simply cannot compare.

The Gods of Gotham, a novel by Lyndsay Faye, is the first of my books to earn a 5-star rating. I do not often read historical fiction as I presumed its authors to lack the imagination necessary to create a world of their own. However Faye's creation not only dispels my ill-conceived notions about historical fiction but encourages me to seek out other novels I may have harshly pre-judged. The level of creative detail and realism in Faye's story and characters blur the lines between fact and fiction and leave one to wonder if the entire book is actually non-fiction after all.

The main reason I participate in a book club is to ensure that I read at least one novel per month outside of my preferred genres. I love horror, supernatural, sci-fi, and fantasy. Give me blood, gore, violence, vampires, demons, and serial killers any day. The more disturbing the story, the more satisfied I am. As it is likely unhealthy to solely indulge in my primary choice of fiction, I force myself to periodically expand my horizons. Since I cannot count on myself to voluntarily pick up a piece of chick-lit, biography, or political drama, I let the book club's selection of the month guide me and am usually pleasantly surprised to discover an enjoyable read.

Upon reading the summary of The Gods of Gotham, one can accurately assume it to be my selection for this month's book club. Yet upon reading the novel, one can expect to read a work of literature worthy of critical acclaim. I cannot describe much about the story without giving anything away, only suggest that things are not always as they seem. Faye keeps the reader guessing from the first line to the last. I could not put the book down until I was finished and now I cannot wait to read it again.

A really well written story, with well-developed characters. Reminiscent of The Alienist, but the writing lends an immediacy not felt for me in that book. In The Alienist I felt like an outside observer, whereas in The Gods of Gotham I felt I was inhabiting the same space and time.

I like fictional history, finding this book very interesting. I knew nothing regarding the police of New York City or that conditions were that horrible for the average person during that era. I did find the dialect hard to comprehend, I was reading on a Kindle and didn't make a copy of the slang words. The book reminds me of the TV series, Coppers.

If you can read about children's deaths without havinq nightmares and want to learn more about the developmental stages of the NYC police and fire departments, this is the book for you. Who knew why both departments were largely composed of Irish immigrants?

Timothy Wilde is a raw character who is charming and honest and exactly the type of man I would want guarding the streets of my hometown. I love the imagery and the word pictures crafted by Faye. She is a talented writer and I look forward to her other works.

Absolutely captivating from the onset of the story to the end. Superbly orchestrated to entertwine fact with just enough fiction to spellbind the reader. I sure enjoyed reading and sharing selected passages with friends and family. Would highly recommend to all.

The author was unknown to me prior to reading this novel. Now I am planning to read all of her books in this series. Her background knowledge of antebellum New York City provides a new source of mystery/suspense setting. Thank you, Lyndsay Faye!

It gave some insight into the beginnings of the police force in New York and the conditions people lived in after coming to America. The story is not for those who want to believe everything was an uipperward climb to success in the new country. As a mystery the plot was not strong as I had hoped, and the details did not keep you guessing as who did it. I would recommend for those looking for an easy, quick read. It will stimulate you to look for more stories of that time in our countries development.