by Lyndsay Faye
First published 2016
Timothy Wilde dreads fires more than anything else in 1840s New York. An arsonist begins targeting Alderman Robert Symmes, a corrupt Tammany Hall leader. Wilde gets pulled into the investigation reluctantly. His brother Valentine decides to run against Symmes in the coming election. This decision creates dangerous enemies for both brothers. Mercy Underhill arrives unexpectedly at Timothy's door. She brings a malnourished orphan girl who speaks in puzzling riddles. The child holds crucial information about the fires spreading across the city. Timothy must decode her strange words to catch the arsonist. Political corruption and personal loyalty collide as flames consume New York. The investigation leads Timothy toward a explosive confrontation that will test everything he values.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, crime, 19th-century, political-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, reluctant-hero
Setting: New York
Period: 1840s
496 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group