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The Fatal Flame

Review

The Fatal Flame

Edgar Award-nominated author Lyndsay Faye brings readers the third novel in her series set in 1800s New York City. Following the success of THE GODS OF GOTHAM and SEVEN FOR A SECRET, we now get to rejoin the escapades of officer Timothy Wilde at the advent of the NYPD.

THE FATAL FLAME is set in the 1840s before the start of the Civil War. The nation is ever-changing, and New York City is a hotbed of political alliances, violence and corruption at every level. Much like the former BBC cable series "Copper," the Wilde novels place us in a turbulent time in the history of NYC, and the need for an established and able-bodied law enforcement group has never been more necessary.

"Lyndsay Faye is able to successfully keep many balls in the air as the plot of THE FATAL FLAME drives towards a furious finish.... It’s easy to get lost in the book while all the time holding your breath, knowing what major changes in the United States are still to come."

Wilde has quickly become one of the more infamous coppers, while his brother, Valentine, works with the fire department. This is ironic as THE FATAL FLAME deals with a series of deadly arson attacks in the city that entangle both of the Wilde brothers in its web.

One of the principal characters from the controversial and mostly corrupt Tammany Hall ranks is tycoon Robert Symmes. It happens to be some of his properties that are victimized by the attacks --- a fact he readily uses against the NYPD and fire department. Of course, there is an ulterior motive. Symmes is running for re-election, and his opponent just happens to be none other than Valentine Wilde.

Meanwhile, Timothy is faced with a violent uprising connected with a group of abused and neglected women --- most of them recent immigrants --- and threatening notes left in the wake of each arson attack speak to these events being retaliatory. The prime suspect is a notorious woman named Sally Woods, an extremely vocal figure in the fight for women's rights.

As bizarre and powerful as Sally comes across, Timothy feels that she may have been set up to take the fall for these crimes. Working with the love of his life, Mercy Underhill, fresh from her return to the States after much time spent overseas, they find what appears to be an answer to the problems facing the city. An Irish orphan named Dunla Duffy, taken under her wing by Mercy, has much insight into what is actually going on, and the answers may be far too dangerous for Timothy and Mercy to handle alone.

Lyndsay Faye is able to successfully keep many balls in the air as the plot of THE FATAL FLAME drives towards a furious finish. A collection of terminology used by the characters in this time period is included at the beginning of the novel and helps immerse readers firmly in that era. The writing is lush and deeply atmospheric. It’s easy to get lost in the book while all the time holding your breath, knowing what major changes in the United States are still to come.

Reviewed by Ray Palen on June 5, 2015

The Fatal Flame
by Lyndsay Faye