An excellent read! The content of Hudson's Kill is grotesquely descriptive and perhaps not for the faint of heart, but for lovers of mystery and intrigue it promises a fascinating well researched read. The history appears, well-studied, accurate and uncensored, a rare trait of much historical fiction. The language used throughout sections of speech is often appropriate to the time period and the book even includes a useful glossary at the back to help readers with some of the more obscure terms.
Paddy Hirsch presents a strikingly honest portrayal of New York in the early 19th Century discussing themes such as race, religion, gang warfare, poverty, organised crime, infant mortality, human trafficking, murder, rudimentary forensic science, early policing, civil unrest and warfare.
A young girl has been killed, her body discovered by Kerry O'Toole who although neutral herself has links to both of the major crime gangs in New York, as well as to the early policing network. It is through the investigations into this murder that we as readers are introduced to the powder keg of a political situation that is at the very heart of New York itself.
The descriptive writing in this novel is outstanding, at times I felt like I could see and smell the surroundings in which the characters were placed, particularly those of the market area.
One aspect of the novel that I particularly enjoyed was the debate over morality. 'Hudson's Kill' appears to be a tale of good and evil, but not in the traditional sense. The complex collection of characters are so well written that they represent the very best and very worst of humanity. Acts of atrocities are committed by those too naive to know better whilst the brotherhood of criminals commit acts of integrity and kindness. The question of whether or not bad deeds can be done for the best of reasons is frequently raised throughout the novel and the complex nature of morality is certainly presented as something to think about.
This is the first book of Paddy Hirsch's that I have read but I will certainly be reading his first novel and eagerly awaiting any more of his books in the future. I admire the work that has obviously led to the historical accuracy of this novel, something which I as a historian and Literature graduate often find disappointingly lacking in much historical fiction. The atmosphere felt realistic and the majority of characters behaved in a believable fashion for the era.
The tone of 'Hudson's Kill', as the title and blood spattered cover suggests, is dark and it certainly delivers the serious yet entertaining and absorbing read that I was hoping for. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery thrillers.
Paddy Hirsch presents a strikingly honest portrayal of New York in the early 19th Century discussing themes such as race, religion, gang warfare, poverty, organised crime, infant mortality, human trafficking, murder, rudimentary forensic science, early policing, civil unrest and warfare.
A young girl has been killed, her body discovered by Kerry O'Toole who although neutral herself has links to both of the major crime gangs in New York, as well as to the early policing network. It is through the investigations into this murder that we as readers are introduced to the powder keg of a political situation that is at the very heart of New York itself.
The descriptive writing in this novel is outstanding, at times I felt like I could see and smell the surroundings in which the characters were placed, particularly those of the market area.
One aspect of the novel that I particularly enjoyed was the debate over morality. 'Hudson's Kill' appears to be a tale of good and evil, but not in the traditional sense. The complex collection of characters are so well written that they represent the very best and very worst of humanity. Acts of atrocities are committed by those too naive to know better whilst the brotherhood of criminals commit acts of integrity and kindness. The question of whether or not bad deeds can be done for the best of reasons is frequently raised throughout the novel and the complex nature of morality is certainly presented as something to think about.
This is the first book of Paddy Hirsch's that I have read but I will certainly be reading his first novel and eagerly awaiting any more of his books in the future. I admire the work that has obviously led to the historical accuracy of this novel, something which I as a historian and Literature graduate often find disappointingly lacking in much historical fiction. The atmosphere felt realistic and the majority of characters behaved in a believable fashion for the era.
The tone of 'Hudson's Kill', as the title and blood spattered cover suggests, is dark and it certainly delivers the serious yet entertaining and absorbing read that I was hoping for. I would definitely recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery thrillers.