Friday, March 16, 2012

"A civilization is destroyed only when its gods are destroyed." Emile M. Cioran

GIVEAWAY



Not many novels have probed my feelings and left me raw as that of "The Gods of Gotham."

It's 1845 and we are taken to the poverty stricken Sixth Ward of New York City.

The potato famine in Ireland brings thousands of emigrants to New York. Soon embers begin to simmer between the Democrats who want the Irish vote and the Whigs who are often people who don't get their hands dirty. They live to see their riches grow. They increase tariffs and would like to deport the Irish to Canada.

As an example of the fiery surrounding, a major fire burns down a large part of downtown Manhattan.

Timothy Wilde was a bartender until this fire wiped out the bar at which he worked while it was devastating the area.

With few alternatives, Tim joins the newly formed police department. He's assigned as a patrolman in the Sixth Ward and is given a copper star as a badge.

There are horrors all around him with people living in squalor, with more people dieing of starvation daily.

He finds a young girl about ten years old, covered with blood and learns that there are Irish children who work at a brothel. There is also a man with a black hood who comes there and cuts up children.

After questioning the girl further, she admits that she followed the man one day and knows where he buried the children. Tim informs his superior, Justice George Washington Matsell, who had become the first person to lead the New York Police Department.

Not to reveal too much in this suspenseful story, but the police find the grave site and Tim is assigned to finding the responsible person.

This is a literary novel that details some gruesome parts but as a historical novel, it seems to paint a more accurate picture of what was going on.

Not many literary novels show such character development as that seen in Tim Wilde and Mercy Underhill and Tim's brother, Valentine. Together, they show growth and development that could be a symbol of what was going on in New York in 1845.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R1TKRQGUVA1PN/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

GIVEAWAY RULES:
A: Be a follower of this blog
B: Use above link to read Amazon review and indicate "YES" review helpful
C: Leave e-mail address and indicate you have completed steps A and B
D: Giveaway ends March 29th
E: Giveaway is for an advanced review copy
F: U.S. and Canada only

36 comments:

Patricia said...

Guess I will need to close my eyes as I read the gruesome parts, but this book is going on my TBR list!
Good review, Mike.
Thank you for the post!
Patricia

Carol N Wong said...

I have a lot of reviews that say the same thing about the horrors. Even though stuff like that gives me nightmares, I am still interested in this book.

Thank you for this reveiw.

Carol

Karen B said...

A & B done.

I've been known to skim over gruesome book pages - and channel surf on TV - when things get bad. I, too, am still interested!

kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Anonymous said...

Done the A & B Mike. love the historical reads and this one sounds gread. Wonderful review you have done
Would love the chance for this book. Thank you.
Diane C.
dian429@yahoo.com

Sara Kovach / Dare to be Different - Teach! said...

I have completed all requirements.

skovach717@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Please add me to the list.

Georgia Girl

Blake J. Stine said...

A and B complete, Great review and now on my reading list.

Blake J. Stine said...

CSP196@JUNO.COM

Unknown said...

Hi Mike,

As always a superstar review. I've completed steps A & B and here's my email addy thebookendsreviews at gmail dot com, or kkappleby at msn dot com, either one will work. Thanks for the opportunity of the giveaway contest.

Karen

Deb said...

Hi, Mike, This sounds like an interesting book. I like the children in the brothel and being slaughtered by a stranger angle; that, along with the historical setting, makes it very intriguing to me. Frightening! You've really come a long way with your blog since I first stopped in some time ago. Amazing work! I'm a follower, and I went to Amazon, read your review and "Yes"ed it!! Wishing you well with your book, too, Mike. Come visit me when you get a chance.
Deborah/TheBookishDame
http://abookishlibraria.blogspot.com

lag123 said...

I completed steps A and B.

Thanks for the review!

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Carol L. said...

Great review. I enjoy all books from this time frame. You described the characters so well and I really look forward to reading The Gods Of Gotham.
I completed steps A&B. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

Unknown said...

Follow your blog thru RSS Feed (google reader)

mmbear_us@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Left a "yes" on your review on Amazon.com

mmbear__us@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I have done both A & B

mmbear_us@yahoo.com

Carol M said...

I have completed steps A and B.

I would very much like to read this book!

mittens0831 at aol dot com

Connie said...

Hi! I thought the review of this book was really interesting to read and learn about.
I did parts A and B for you. :)

aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com

catslady said...

I enjoyed your review and this story sounds like a very interesting read. Thanks.

catslady5(at)aol.com

catslady said...

Oh, sorry, I guess I was to say I've done A & B :)

catslady

Ethan said...

Sounds like a good read! I've completed the above steps.
-Ethan
ethanschneider135@yahoo.com

Lori Thomas said...

Great review!! Look forward to giving this a read. Thx 4 the chance!!

A & B done


ctymice at gmail dot com

Jonathan Wilhoit said...

I want to read this book so badly! Sign me up, mike. A & B are done, and many thanks go to you for sharing your review with us.


Jonathan @ I Read a Book Once

Marcus Hammond said...

I have been looking for this book everywhere. I so want to read it. I follow the blog and clicked yes on your amazon review. Marcus (dot) hammond46(at)gmail.con

Unknown said...

I'm very excited about this giveaway since I've been anticipating reading this book since I first read about it last week. I don't read a lot of historical fiction but this offers many elements and themes of the kind of historical fiction I enjoy.

I thought your Amazon review was great, too!
(I completed A & B of Giveaway Rules)

Thank you!
Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com

JJT said...

Thank you for the review. I am a follower and followed step B.
jtretin(at)aol(dot)com

skkorman said...

Thanks for yet another great review and giveaway, Mike! I did A & B!

Sheila K.

karenk said...

this sounds like a great story....thanks for the chance to read it :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

In Julie's Opinion said...

I'm fascinated by that period in US history and have had my eye on this book for a while now! Thanks so much for the review and giveaway, Mike :)
I follow your blog and I clicked "Yes" on your review.
jwitt33 at live dot com

Literary Chanteuse said...

Sounds like a very good book! I have done A and B. Thanks!

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good book. I've just started reading historical stories and this one sound intriguing.
I've done A & B.

Lori Z.

knitrix29 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

This sounds like an awesome read. Please enter me in the giveaway.
gfc - mamabunny13
indicated yes on Amazon
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

ann said...

Did all that was required to enter
amhengst at verizon dot net
USA

Heather said...

Such a diverse. And dramatic history this city has.

Follower and liked.

Unknown said...

Thank you to everyone who entered this giveaway.
The winner is JJT.
I hope everyone will continue to enter my giveaways. The new giveaway is for "Unwanted." There will be three winners of this book.
Mike

Jenkins said...

A and B complete, Great review and now on my reading list.

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