1896, Manhattan
--Alice Austen photographer, hansom cab of period
All kinds of things happen when it gets hot, too hot.
Nicholas Sharp, a singer for Club Bulgaria, a low rent venue for men sharing likeminded desires. When one of the club's employees ends up dead, Nicky is the one to find them and the police have questions.
Hank Brandt, an Acting Inspector for NYPD has a secret. This secret means that he has no interest in pushing the fairy resort murder aside, especially when another body with like wounds and matching victim profile turns up. Like all jobs, there's the work and there's the politics of work. Hank has a mind for one, but not the other.
Nicky, and his alter ego Paulina Clodhopper, have an effect on Hank. He suddenly wants things, that which he's denied himself for years since joining the force, and the consequences be damned. That's all fine and good, but between the serial killer and Roosevelt's cleaning shop and "morally questionable" officers are being ousted, Hank's got to be careful. So does Nicky.
--This is an image of the tenements during the heatwave of 1896, source NPR
This is a feel good historical, you meet a lot of interesting characters and while there are some portrayals of the poor and seedier parts of life at the time, the hardships, it isn't gritty. A bit unrealistic and Nicky got a bit wordy and whiny near the end. Loved the setting and all the historical references, but the interactions felt a bit canned towards the end, and my rating reflects that. While I preferred the first half of the book to the second, I enjoyed reading it. Just not in love with it.
Overall, an optimistic love story during difficult times.
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