The Midnight Band of Mercy [Paperback]

Michael Blaine (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Soho Press; First Edition. first pb edition (2004)
• ASIN: B000MSAH1W
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great 1890's period mystery, November 3, 2004

By 

Eric S. Zizelman (Tamaqua, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Midnight Band of Mercy: a novel (Hardcover)

The Midnight Band of Mercy is an exceptional historical mystery based in New York City at the end of the nineteenth century. A self-righteous group of women has taken it upon themselves to put an end to the cat over-population problem in the city which makes good headlines for a Jewish reporter named Greengrass. But the murder of a source leads Greengrass to a far reaching conspiracy involving politicians, power brokers, and the Catholic Church. Life in the big city is meticulously detailed to the point of including musical lyrics, language nuances, and overall succeeds in creating a gritty, realistic portrait of the metropolis. But the most noteworthy feature of the novel is the characters and the lives they lead. It is a well-researched and entertaining novel, one that is well worth the read.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Midnight Band of Mercy is a wonderful historical novel., August 18, 2004

By 

Marsha Garter (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Band of Mercy: a novel (Hardcover)

The Midnight Band of Mercy is a wonderful historical novel. Michael Blaine has done deep research into the mind set of the time, not just the manners and clothes, though he gets those details just right, too. His hero, the streetwise Max Greengrass, is admirable, just a little corrupt, smart and capable of self-decpetion when it suits him. In short, a complex human being. When he picks up the thread of his story, four cats killed in cold blood, right on the first page, the writer has you hooked. There is nothing simplistic here. You find yourself admiring some of the more evil characters and loathing some of the most high-minded. There are too many colorful characters to list here, but a few include the old reporter, Biddle, the cantankerous editor, Parnell, the larger than life lawyer, Howe, as well as Max's sister, the vaudevillian, Faye, who is addicted to Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, some kind of narcotic. This novel is fun and frightening and funny all at the same time. It's definitely for anybody who loves fine historical novels.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My opinion, August 18, 2004

By 

Jay Christmas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Band of Mercy: a novel (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a good read that doesn't insult your intelligence, and you like great historical fiction, The Midnight Band of Mercy will fill the bill. I was really immersed in this book. The research is great. You feel as if you're really living in New York in 1893. And the story just carries you along. I found myself identifying with the young reporter, Max Greengrass, who is literally writing for his life. When he gets on the trail of a hot story, some weird upper class ladies are killing cats, you're right there with him. The thing I liked the most was that the characters aren't stick figures, they're like living, breathing human beings, warts and all. The inside view of a nineteenth century newspaper was fascinating. There's a great fire scene and the action really builds up by the end. After I put this book down, I kept thinking about it. You won't forget it.