The Blackest Bird: A Novel of Murder in Nineteenth-Century New York"Irresistibly seductive. Murder mystery, historical novel, portal to another time; The Blackest Bird is a masterpiece." —Anthony Bourdain In the sweltering New York City summer of 1841, Mary Rogers, a popular counter girl at a tobacco shop in Manhattan, is found brutally ravaged in the shallows of the Hudson River. John Colt, scion of the firearm fortune, beats his publisher to death with a hatchet. And young Irish gang leader Tommy Coleman is accused of killing his daughter, his wife, and his wife's former lover. Charged with solving it all is High Constable Jacob Hays, the city's first detective. At the end of a long and distinguished career, Hays's investigation will ultimately span a decade, involving gang wars, grave robbers, and clues hidden in poems by the hopeless romantic and minstrel of the night: Edgar Allan Poe. |
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The Blackest Bird: A Novel of Murder in Nineteenth-Century New York Joel Rose No preview available - 2008 |
The Blackest Bird: A Novel of Murder in Nineteenth-Century New York Joel Rose No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
Anderson Balboa barouche Bennett body Brennan brother called carriage city’s Clemm Colonel Colt Colt’s Colt’s cell constable’s crime dark daughter dead dear death Dillback door Eddie Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Poe eyes face father front gang gentleman Halleck hand Hays asked Hays knew head heard High Constable Hays Hot Corn Girl Jacob Hays James Gordon Bennett James Harper John Colt John Howard Payne looked man’s Marie Rogêt Mary Cecilia Rogers Mary Rogers Mary’s Mayor mind mother Muddie murder Nevermore night ofthe Old Hays Olga Hays once Osgood Papa Payne Poe’s poem poet police Pretty Hot Corn prison Putnam Raven returned river Ruby Pearl Samuel Adams Samuel Colt segar Sergeant McArdel Sissy smiled standing staring stood story Street tell told Tombs Tommy Coleman Tommy’s took Trencher turned voice Warden watched wife woman word York young