Gods of Gotham

1845. New York City forms its first police force. The great potato famine hits Ireland. These two seemingly disparate events will change New York City. Forever.

Timothy Wilde tends bar near the Exchange, saving every dollar and shilling in hopes of winning the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams literally incinerate in a fire devastating downtown Manhattan, he finds himself disfigured, unemployed, and homeless. His older brother obtains Timothy a job in the newly minted NYPD, but he is highly skeptical of this untested "police force." And he is less than thrilled that his new beat is the notoriously down-and-out Sixth Ward-at the border of Five Points, the world's most notorious slum.

One night while returning from his rounds, heartsick and defeated, Timothy runs into a little slip of a girl—a girl not more than ten years old—dashing through the dark in her nightshift . . . covered head to toe in blood.

Timothy knows he should take the girl to the House of Refuge, yet he can't bring himself to abandon her. Instead, he takes her home, where she spins wild stories, claiming that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of 23rd Street. Timothy isn't sure whether to believe her or not, but, as the truth unfolds, the reluctant copper star finds himself engaged in a battle for justice that nearly costs him his brother, his romantic obsession, and his own life.

-Matthew Pearl, bestselling author of The Dante Club

"Lyndsay Faye's exquisite new novel, The Gods of Gotham, plunges us into the teeming, sordid streets of Old New York. But this is no Whartonian idyll-Faye's Manhattan is a raucous underworld of criminals and chiselers, the infamous Five Points, where thieves speak their own argot, the sanitation department consists of free running pigs, and Tammany-backed 'dead rabbits' rule with an iron fist. In this vivid and impeccably crafted adventure, newly minted 'copper star' Timothy Wilde is the only man who can solve a series of gruesome murders plaguing Gotham. Faye's prose crackles with historical authenticity so cunningly rendered that readers will lose themselves from the very first turn of the page."

-Katherine Howe, bestselling author of The Physic Book of Deliverance Dane

"Intriguingly complex yet deliciously smooth, The Gods of Gotham is, in a word, stunning. The vivid characters and deft use of the historical setting read like the work of an established writer at the top of her (or, indeed, his) career-that Faye is a newcomer is cause for an exuberance of fireworks, at the mere thought of so many superb novels yet to come."

-Laurie R. King, New York Times bestselling author of The God of the Hive and The Beekeeper's Apprentice

"The Gods of Gotham is a revelation. Lyndsay Faye puts the drive and passion of a modern thriller onto the mean streets of 1840s New York. She brings a fascinating page of history to life with a gripping, twisty plot, vivid characters and seamless research. This is historical fiction at its best."

-Daniel Stashower, two-time Edgar Award-winning author of Teller of Tales and The Beautiful Cigar Girl

"The Gods of Gotham is an enthralling novel that immediately pulls readers into its twisting tale of murder, conspiracy, and socio- religious turmoil. With an engaging narrator, smart rendering of time and place, and gripping suspense, this superb story is virtually impossible to put down."

-Stefanie Pintoff, Edgar Award-winning author of In the Shadow of Gotham

"Penetrating psychological study, flawless social history, beautifully crafted thriller . . . The Gods of Gotham is all these things, and a crackling great yarn to boot. Old New York has never been so blazingly alive. Lyndsay Faye is a writer to watch-and keep watching."

-Louis Bayard, author of School of Night

"Reading The Gods of Gotham is like being magically transported to another time. You'll be overwhelmed with the sights, sounds, smells, and chaos of New York in the 1840s while never losing sight of the fact that this is a first-rate crime novel for any era. I can't wait to see what Lyndsay Faye will conjure next."

-Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Bookshop

"The Gods of Gotham blew me away. Unflinching and bold, creative and dazzling cinematic, nineteenth century New York is alive."

-Laura Caldwell, author of Long Way Home and Claim of Innocence

"With crisp prose, memorable characters, and an impressive respect for its historic setting, The Gods of Gotham pulls you into Old New York's days of the Five Points. Lyndsay Faye is a writer to watch."

-Alafair Burke, author of Long Gone

"Lyndsay Faye makes it look easy to write a great historical mystery: First, research the hell out of a remote time period, painstakingly paint a picture of that alien world (in this case, mid-nineteenth century New York), and then craft a story so compelling that the reader forgets that it's alien! Her masterful Dust and Shadows reinvigorated Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper, but this wholly different tale confirms a talent far beyond her (damn her) thirty-year- old age."

-Leslie S. Klinger, author of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

"The launch of a brilliant new mystery series, set in 1845 New York City: Irish Potato Famine, the birth of the police force, brothels and bedlam."-- Gillian Flynn

"It's been almost twenty years since Caleb Carr's bestselling Olde New York crime novel, The Alienist, was published, and I cant count the number of times since then that someone has asked me if I can recommend a suspense story anything 'like it.' Well, New York has inspired lots of terrific thrillers, but I've just stumbled on one of the worthiest successors yet. Lyndsay Faye's novel, The Gods of Gotham."—Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air   “If your concept of paradise is popping in a DVD of Gangs of New York while rereading Caleb Carrs The Alienist, then put Lyndsay Faye's The Gods of Gotham on your to-buy list.”—USA Today   “Theres enough excitement here to cause anyones veins to quiver.”—The Washington Post   “Riveting.”—The New York Times

“Tantalizing!"—#1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter

“Fast-paced…Another Victorian page-turner!”—Robin Paige, author of Death on the Lizard

“Thompson’s Gaslight Mystery series provides a fascinating window into a bygone era.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Intriguing….”—Kate Kingsbury, author of Herald of Death

“Thompson vividly recreates the gaslit world of old New York.”—Publishers Weekly

“GANGS OF NEW YORK, eat your heart out!—This book is the real thing.”—Mystery Scene

“Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight Mysteries are first-rate with a vivid historical setting and a hero and heroine that will keep readers eagerly returning to Sarah Brandt’s New York City.”—The Mystery Reader

Praise for Seven for a Secret:

"This is a series for the ages, it's so spectacular. Amazing." —Gillian Flynn

"One of the year's best mysteries." —Tom Nolan, The Wall Street Journal

"This gripping, beautifully written, chilling, heartbreaking, and exciting novel by Lyndsay Faye is a completely immersive experience. . . . filled with vivid characterization, beautiful language, period slang, a gorgeous plot, and with incredibly evocative settings and heartbreaking twists of fate. In short, this is an amazingly rich story, worthy of the word 'epic' . . . . This is definitely one of the finest crime novels of the year." —Mystery Scene

"[A]tmospheric and exciting ... Lyndsay Faye's book is swift but poignant, full of violent encounters and thrilling escapes." —The Wall Street Journal

“As was the case in The Gods of Gotham, Faye folds a blistering indictment of prejudice and persecution of the defenseless within a satisfying complex mystery. . . . Vividly atmospheric; the thieves slang all by itself evokes 19th-century New York with wonderful specificity. Lets hope Faye finds more dirty work for her intriguingly conflicted hero.” —Kirkus Reviews

"Faye once again skillfully evokes the early days of the NYPD in this gripping and moving sequel to 2012's The Gods of Gotham, an Edgar finalist. . . . Simple but effective prose, a brilliantly constructed plot, and three-dimensional characters add up to another winner for Faye." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Superlative historical mystery."—Booklist

"Faye's first novel won popular and critical success with its pairing of early police work and the criminal underworld of 19th-century New York. Her second novel is doubly impressive."—Library Journal, starred review 

Praise for Lyndsay Faye and The Gods of Gotham:

“The launch of a brilliant new mystery series, set in 1845 New York City: Irish Potato Famine, the birth of the police force, brothels and bedlam." —Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Gone Girl

“A wonderful book. Lyndsay Fayes command of historical detail is remarkable and her knowledge of human character even more so. I bought into this world in the opening pages and never once had the desire to leave. Its a great read!” —Michael Connelly

“ New York has inspired lots of terrific thrillers, but Ive just stumbled on one of the worthiest successors yet [to The Alienist]. Lyndsay Faye's novel, The Gods of Gotham.”—Maureen Corrigan, NPRs Fresh Air

“If your concept of paradise is popping in a DVD of Gangs of New York while rereading Caleb Carrs The Alienist, then put Lyndsay Fayes The Gods of Gotham on your to-buy list.”—USA Today

“Riveting.”—The New York Times

“Lyndsay Faye is a superstar-caliber writer. She confidently and exquisitely re-creates the past while her characters live on with you in the present, the elusive gold standard for a historical novel. The Gods of Gotham  is a gift to the genre that readers will surely relish while we wait for Fayes next one.” —Matthew Pearl, bestselling author of The Dante Club

“Intriguingly complex yet deliciously smooth, The Gods of Gotham is, in a word, stunning. The vivid characters and deft use of the historical setting read like the work of an established writer at the top of her (or indeed, his) career—that Faye is a newcomer is cause for an exuberance of fireworks, at the mere thought of so many superb novels yet to come.” —Laurie R. King, New York Times-bestselling author of The God of the Hive and Pirate King

“A revelation. Lyndsay Faye puts the drive and passion of a modern thriller onto the mean streets of 1840s New York. She brings a fascinating page of history to life with a gripping, twisty plot, vivid characters, and seamless research. This is historical fiction at its best.” —Daniel Stashower, two-time Edgar Award-winning author of Teller of Tales and The Beautiful Cigar Girl 

“Enthralling . . . immediately pulls readers into its twisting tale of murder, conspiracy, and socioreligious turmoil. With an engaging narrator, smart rendering of time and place, and gripping suspense, this superb story is virtually impossible to put down.” —Stefanie Pintoff, Edgar Award-winning author of In the Shadow of Gotham

“Exquisite . . . Fayes prose crackles with historical authenticity so cunningly rendered that readers will lose themselves from the very first turn of the page.” —Katherine Howe, bestselling author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

Praise for Seven for a Secret:

"This is a series for the ages, it's so spectacular. Amazing." —Gillian Flynn

Praise for Lyndsay Faye and The Gods of Gotham:

“The launch of a brilliant new mystery series, set in 1845 New York City: Irish Potato Famine, the birth of the police force, brothels and bedlam." —Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Gone Girl

“A wonderful book. Lyndsay Fayes command of historical detail is remarkable and her knowledge of human character even more so. I bought into this world in the opening pages and never once had the desire to leave. Its a great read!” —Michael Connelly

“ New York has inspired lots of terrific thrillers, but Ive just stumbled on one of the worthiest successors yet [to The Alienist]. Lyndsay Faye's novel, The Gods of Gotham.”—Maureen Corrigan, NPRs Fresh Air

“If your concept of paradise is popping in a DVD of Gangs of New York while rereading Caleb Carrs The Alienist, then put Lyndsay Fayes The Gods of Gotham on your to-buy list.”—USA Today

“Riveting.”—The New York Times

“Lyndsay Faye is a superstar-caliber writer. She confidently and exquisitely re-creates the past while her characters live on with you in the present, the elusive gold standard for a historical novel. The Gods of Gotham  is a gift to the genre that readers will surely relish while we wait for Fayes next one.” —Matthew Pearl, bestselling author of The Dante Club

“Intriguingly complex yet deliciously smooth, The Gods of Gotham is, in a word, stunning. The vivid characters and deft use of the historical setting read like the work of an established writer at the top of her (or indeed, his) career—that Faye is a newcomer is cause for an exuberance of fireworks, at the mere thought of so many superb novels yet to come.” —Laurie R. King, New York Times-bestselling author of The God of the Hive and Pirate King

“A revelation. Lyndsay Faye puts the drive and passion of a modern thriller onto the mean streets of 1840s New York. She brings a fascinating page of history to life with a gripping, twisty plot, vivid characters, and seamless research. This is historical fiction at its best.” —Daniel Stashower, two-time Edgar Award-winning author of Teller of Tales and The Beautiful Cigar Girl 

“Enthralling . . . immediately pulls readers into its twisting tale of murder, conspiracy, and socioreligious turmoil. With an engaging narrator, smart rendering of time and place, and gripping suspense, this superb story is virtually impossible to put down.” —Stefanie Pintoff, Edgar Award-winning author of In the Shadow of Gotham

“Exquisite . . . Fayes prose crackles with historical authenticity so cunningly rendered that readers will lose themselves from the very first turn of the page.” —Katherine Howe, bestselling author of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

“Tantalizing.”—Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Backfire

“Victoria Thompson has a knack for putting the reader inside her characters heads and…[brings] the setting vividly to life.”—Kate Kingsbury, author of Mulled Murder

“Victoria Thompson shines…Anne Perry and Caleb Carr fans, rejoice!”—Tamar Myers, national bestselling author of The Witch Doctor's Wife

“Fast-paced…Another Victorian page-turner!”—Robin Paige, national bestselling author of Death on the Lizard

“A fascinating window into a bygone era.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Vividly re-creates the gaslit world of old New York.”—Publishers Weekly

“Gangs of New York, eat your heart out—this book is the real thing.”—Mystery Scene

“Enthralling…Fascinating characters with a story to tell.”—Fresh Fiction

 “[A]tmospheric and exciting . . . [Seven for a Secret] is swift but poignant, full of violent encounters and thrilling escapes.” —The Wall Street Journal

“This gripping, beautifully written, chilling, heartbreaking, and exciting novel . . . [Seven for a Secret] is an amazingly rich story, worthy of the word ‘epic . . . definitely one of the finest crime novels of the year.” —Mystery Scene

“[Gods of Gotham is a] rollicking historical novel . . . a sensational account. . . .”

—The New York Times Book Review

“If your concept of paradise is popping in a DVD of Gangs of New York while rereading Caleb Carrs The Alienist, then put Lyndsay Fayes The Gods of Gotham on your to-buy list.”

—USA Today

These two events will change New York City forever…

Timothy Wilde tends bar, saving every dollar in hopes of winning the girl of his dreams. But when his dreams are destroyed by a fire that devastates downtown Manhattan, he is left with little choice but to accept a job in the newly minted New York City Police Department.

Returning exhausted from his rounds one night, Tim collides with a girl no more than ten years old… covered in blood. She claims that dozens of bodies are buried in the forest north of Twenty-Third Street. Timothy isnt sure whether to believe her, but as the image of a brutal killer is slowly revealed and anti-Irish rage infects the city, the reluctant copper star is engaged in a battle that may cost him everything…  

One of The Wall Street Journals Ten Best Mysteries of the Year

Six months after the formation of the NYPD, its most reluctant and talented officer, Timothy Wilde, thinks himself well versed in his citys dark practices—until he learns of the gruesome underworld of lies and corruption ruled by the “blackbirders,” who snatch free Northerners of color from their homes, masquerade them as slaves, and sell them South to toil as plantation property.

The abolitionist Timothy is horrified by these traders in human flesh. But in 1846, slave catching isnt just legal—its law enforcement.

When the beautiful and terrified Lucy Adams staggers into Timothys office to report a robbery and is asked what was stolen, her reply is, “My family.” Their search for her mixed-race sister and son will plunge Timothy and his feral brother, Valentine, into a world where police are complicit and politics savage, and corpses appear in the most shocking of places. Timothy finds himself caught between power and principles, desperate to protect his only brother and to unravel the puzzle before all he cares for is lost.

A Gaslight Mystery

Frank Malloy has never known any life other than that of a cop, but his newfound inheritance threatens his position within his department. While trying to keep both his relationship with Sarah and his fortune under wraps, hes assigned to a new case—finding a missing young woman for her worried father, Henry Livingston.

It seems the girl had been responding to “lonely hearts” ads in the paper for months before she disappeared. Her father thinks that shes eloped with a deceptive stranger, but Malloy fears the worst, knowing that the grifters who place such ads often do much more than simply abscond with their victims. But as Sarah and Malloy delve deeper into a twisted plot targeting the citys single women, its their partnership—both professional and private—that winds up in the greatest peril…

No one in 1840s New York likes fires, but Copper Star Timothy Wilde least of all. So when an arsonist with an agenda begins threatening Alderman Robert Symmes, a corrupt and powerful leader high in the Tammany Hall ranks, Wilde isnt thrilled to be involved. His reservations escalate further when his brother Valentine announces that hell be running against Symmes in the upcoming election, making both himself and Timothy a host of powerful enemies.

Meanwhile, the love of Wildes life, Mercy Underhill, unexpectedly shows up on his doorstep and takes under her wing a starving orphan with a tenuous grasp on reality. It soon becomes clear that this wisp of a girl may be the key to stopping those who have been setting fire to buildings across the city—if only they can understand her cryptic descriptions and find out what she knows. Boisterous and suspenseful, The Fatal Flame is filled with beloved Gotham personalities as well as several new stars, culminating in a fiery and shocking conclusion.