Hudson's Kill by Paddy Hirsch

          3.5 Stars

I have not read the first of the Justy Flanagan series, The Devil's Half Mile, but I am happy to report that did not spoil this book for me.  There doesn't seem to be much in the way of re-capping that tale either and there is enough information given about the characters that you can get to know them through this book without having read the first.  Overall a win-win, if you have read the first you don't have swathes of text to skim through that are covering the first book and if you are new to it then this is almost a stand alone tale.

The setting itself is evocative and completely believable.  When reading you can almost hear the sounds and, regrettably, smell the air.  This is helped by the language used throughout the book, how accurate the "Flash" is we will never know but a glossary is provided at the back of the book to help you out if you don't understand a term or can't figure it out from context.  The sources for the language are also cited so any inaccuracies are definitely not the author's.  In fact, the research that has gone in to the whole book is incredible and gives it not only a sense of veracity but also a freshness; almost as if the author has transported themself back to the earliest days of New York and is writing from there.

Characterisation is very strong and not necessarily sympathetic.  Kerry O'Toole and Justy Flanagan are our main protagonists and both are very flawed human beings.  I like this in a fictional character, it makes them feel whole and more relatable than a perfect literary protagonist does.  Justy in particular has a wonderfully warring personality, where what is right is not necessarily what wins through - more what is right for the situation.

Discussions of class structure are also dealt with well and there is a real separation between the "haves" and the rest of the populace.  The delineation of the gangs between The Irish, The Negroes (contemporaneous term and not used to denigrate) and The Nativists is clearly described and there is a real sense of menace between the warring factions; all of whom want control of this burgeoning city.  I also found the blurring of the lines between The Watchmen/City Marshals as the infancy of a regularised police force and the gangs to be interesting and well handled.

My problems came with the plot, I just couldn't really buy in to it.  Far too much seemed to rely on coincidence and hot headedness.  The initial discovery of the mysterious, murdered girl is handled well and a sense of intrigue builds up well.  Somehow it then all got lost in a miasma of plots at the highest level of society, warring gang factions and a charismatic preacher.  Such a shame as so much about this book is completely wonderful.  It would probably have benefitted from one or two fewer "incidents" and concentrated on honing the whys and wherefores of the main plot.

THIS IS AN HONEST REVIEW OF A FREE COPY OF THE BOOK RECEIVED FROM READERS FIRST