Customer Reviews

Pale Blue Eye

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Summary, no spoilers:

This is the story of former New York police detective Augustus Landor and his investigation of a macabre murder at West Point Academy in 1830.

Landor selects (eccentric) cadet Edgar Allan Poe to assist him, and the two of them work against time to prevent further murders which could result in the closure of West Point.

Along the way we meet the mysterious Marquis family - with their beautiful daughter Lea, destined to play an important role in this drama. This novel is full of intrique and mystery - and everyone is suspect.

First of all, let me say that this was not a quick read for me. I can usually read a book like this in a day, but this took me a while. This is not a book you can skim; nor is it a book you would want to rush.

Also, if you think having Edgar Allan Poe as a character would be problematic for you, don't be concerned. It's a brilliant choice, and it doesn't detract from the story at all. If anything, when you finish the book, you want to seek out some of Poe's poems and stories.

The writing is just terrific. The characters are wonderfully alive, and when I finished the book I was sorry to see them go.

This novel is moody, funny at times, and very very clever.

I highly recommend this novel to everyone, but especially to those of you who like "twists". Without saying more, be sure to read this book to the very end. I am usually disappointed with book endings, but this one was a stunner.

Bravo.

I won't go into plot details. Most of the other reviews have already done that. I will say that this guy Louis Bayard is one terrific writer. In comparing this book, for example, to Matthew Pearl's also brilliant "The Poe Shadow," I find Bayard to be every bit as capable at crafting period details, celebrity recreations, turns of phrase, and stunning narrative as Mr. Pearl. Yet Bayard is the more lively, imaginative, entertaining and readable author.

I also felt that Bayard fashioned a convincing Edgar Allan Poe and many of the scenes involving him evoked the novel's most touching moments. Bayard did him justice as a man, though maybe not quite as a writer.

Having said these positive things, I must also confess that my assessment of Bayard's book is that the group of reviewers who gave it two stars for being partially hokey and the group that gave it four or even five stars for being generally brilliant... were both right. The problem is that neither group takes both good and bad aspects into consideration in judging the book as a whole: it is a brilliant work of fiction that, particularly at one point, seems to suddenly collapse into pulpy teenage fiction, then rights itself. You may temporarily feel betrayed as a reader by that sudden collapse. Or you may feel permanently betrayed by it. To me, the overall experience of the book was a good one and I will definitely be buying Bayard's other mystery, "Mr. Timothy."

When I first tried to read Louis Bayard's book, "Mr. Timothy", for some reason, it didn't resonate with me initially. I gave it the usual 50 pages, and then, put it down when I wasn't hooked. Flash forward a year later, and I pick up the book again to try it. I couldn't put it down. Bayard's recreation of Timothy's London was gripping, the plot amazing, and the characters will formed.

When I learned of his new book, "Pale Blue Eye", I found myself standing in line to purchase this one. I know little of famed author of E. A. Poe, only that he's known for writing spooky stories and was a bit of a lush. I'm proud to report that there was abolutely no problem getting into his second book, and I daresay, it surpasses Mr. Timothy in both style, plot, and intrigue!

The story starts with a "suicide", a gruff, retired police chief named Augustus Landor (for some reason, his name resonates with me), and a very young Poe, who is obviously brilliant and obviously struggling with alcohol. The two team up to unravel this mystery, and what a ride it is.

I found myself entranced by Bayard's words and writing, once again. He sets scenes simply, with rich detail, that makes visualizing the content rich and easy. His characters are drawn well, very complex, and somewhat surprising. Fans of both mysteries and Poe will find this book well worth their time, plus anyone who loves historical novels.

Another book has been published dealing with Poe. Perhaps this is the time for Poe to re-emerge from the shadows and rightfully take his place among the panethon of American literary phenomenons. Perhaps we'll see him more than a tragic figure. Bayard's book certainly whets the appetite for that movement forward!

It probably would come as a surprise to high school students writing their book reports on "The Tell-Tale Heart" that its author, Edgar Allan Poe, had risen to the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army back in the 1820s, and then spent a little time as a plebe at West Point -- before orchestrating his own dismissal in disgust. This engrossing novel takes that odd connection and casts the twenty-one-year-old Poe as a sort of assistant detective, helping a retired New York City constable investigate a series of highly gothic murders at the Military Academy. Augustus Landor, the aging cop, is called in to conduct a quiet investigation by Superintendent Sylvanus Thayer and Commandant Ethan Allen Hitchcock, because the Academy is already in danger of being shut down by President Jackson and a hostile Congress. While acting as Landor's eyes and ears in the corps of cadets, Poe falls heavily for Lea Marquis, daughter of the school's physician. But Lea (who appears in Poe's poems as "Leonore" . . .) and her brother, Artemus -- a firstclassman -- have their own problems and Landor and his Romantic helper, naturally, get caught up in them. Even without its riveting plot, however, this book would fascinate if only because of its style. Landor comes across as an intelligent but plain-spoken, almost artless man -- until the last chapter, anyway. But no one would ever call Poe "artless." Bayard's masterful use of language brings out the young poet's personality beautifully, showing us just how profoundly literate a person he was. The supporting characters are all fully realized, as well -- my favorite being Benny Havens, the legendary innkeeper and bartender, and his principle helper, Patsy. And I guarantee you will NEVER be able to predict the ending!

I very much enjoyed Mr. Bayard's last novel, Mr. Timothy, where he gives us a story of what might have happened when Dickens' Tiny Tim grows up. In his new novel, The Pale Blue Eye, we get a story of what might have happened when Edgar Allen Poe was a young man. It turns out, this is an even better novel.

Once again, Mr. Bayard shows himself to be extremely adept at creating a character based on what can be gleaned through works of fiction. I found his grown-up Tiny Tim to be very believable and I certainly had no problem believing in his young Poe. As a huge Dickens and Poe fan, this was very important to me and Mr. Bayard satisfied my expectations completely.

In this novel, however, Mr. Bayard tacks a little differently than in Mr. Timothy and these differences are all for the better. First, though a major character, Poe really plays a supporting role here and we often get him through letters he writes, allowing his distinctive prose to make its way effectively into this novel. The narrator and lead character of this novel is, in fact, Augustus Landor, a former New York City police detective who has retired to the Hudson Highlands. When a bizarre murder takes place at West Point (where Poe is a cadet), Landor is called in to investigate the case. He is at least as compelling and interesting as Poe.

But most importantly for me is the fact that the ending of this novel surprised me completely without seeming to be far fetched. The reason I find most mystery/thrillers to be merely OK is that they are basically predictable and I am rarely fooled by the "mystery." In this novel I thought I had a pretty good handle on what was going on but the reality underlying everything caught me completely off guard.

Mr. Bayard is clearly an excellent writer who has no trouble carrying us along on an historical adventure like he has in his past couple novels. Even without a great ending it would be worth the trip because the road has enough twists and turns and is "well paved" enough to keep us going. It is the ending here that takes this book to another level--one well worth reaching.

Most Poe fans are aware that the poet spent a short time at West Point, before being court-martialed and dismissed. This author's plot takes place during that brief time, and involves Poe in helping a retired New York City detective to solve one murder, which eventually evolves into two. The writing is crisp and the plot moves along quickly. The author has captured as well as possible the unusual nature of Poe, and all of the other main figures are extremely well-drawn. This is an exciting mystery, with a twist at the end. Not everyone in the book is actully what they appear to be, and even a close reading doesn't necessarily help the reader in atempting to solve the murders. An exciting read, and one I highly recommend!

This is quite the mysterious mystery and a very good read. But... the language is very typical of the writing in 1830 -- flowery with a larger than normal vocabulary. If that turns you off, go elsewhere for your thrills. Personally, I enjoyed this book thoroughly, from the philosophical debates between the two main characters to the rather gory details. I will be ordering the author's Mr. Timothy soon.

I haven't been a fan of Poe or of mystery/thriller novels in general. That said, "The Pale Blue Eye" has changed my opinion of both. I couldn't put the book down! Bayard's use of language and his attention to the details and characters of West Point c. 1830 created vivid images which gave this reader an incredible literary ride!

I highly recommend this book for anyone, friend or foe of Mr. Poe! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

Louis Bayard is the author of Mr. Timothy, which is his take on the adult life of Dickens' Tiny Tim.

It's October 1830 and New York City detective Gus Landor has retired to his cottage in the quiet Hudson Valley. Landor's calm life is interrupted when his presence is requested at West Point to investigate the apparent suicide and subsequent mutilation of the body.

In Landor's quest to learn what happened and why, he acquires an assistant, the moody and interesting cadet who is known as Edgar Allan Poe. Poe, the young poet, makes for a good assistant--if he's not drinking. As the two men follow the clues to the young cadet's death, they find themselves in a world filled with a dark, secret society and more death. And Landor must confront his own life and the secrets he holds.

The Pale Blue Eye is a brilliant and breathtaking literary thriller with its imaginative plot and interesting prose. The characters are vivid, complex and fully developed and the atmosphere is intriguing, dark and brooding. It is absolutely delicious and since I haven't read Mr. Timothy, I will certainly do so. If Mr. Timothy is as good as The Pale Blue Eye, I will be in heaven.

Armchair Interviews says: The Pale Blue Eye is an absolute must read. It's a gripping story with an ending that will stun.

The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard is, like the writings of one of his characters, a tale of mystery and imagination. Set at West Point in the 19th Century, the novel has all the flavor and ambiance befitting such a setting. I love reading books that fictionalize real people. Bayard fictionalizes the leadership of West Point at that time, as well as one of the most eccentric writers in American history.

The chief investigator of this mystery/detective novel enlists one Cadet Edgar Allen Poe to assist him in his investigation. Bayard brings Poe to life to a greater extent than he does with any of his other characters. Reading the chapters of Poe's reports to Gus Landor, the chief investigator of this creepy, mysterious case, I couldn't help but think that Bayard was having a lot of fun at Poe's expense. Bayard does an excellent job of writing Poe's reports to Landor in a tongue-in-cheek faux-Poe.

Even though the story line has every creepy element conceivable, mysterious murders, hearts stolen from corpses, villains stealing through the darkness in cloaks, mysterious strangers, disappearing cadets and a graveyard of other things, whenever Poe walked off the page, it all turned dull. Bayard tried to make his protagonist interesting. Gus Landor, an ex-New York detective with a mysterious past (I'm getting tired of using the word mysterious) and a bend toward alcoholism leads the investigation. Throughout the book, Landor looked up at me from the page, wanting me to care about him. I just couldn't. He wasn't likeable or interesting.

The Pale Blue Eye feels like a guy book. If we have Chick-Lit, here is an example of Dick-Lit. Distinctive brown cover, technical tools on the cover, and mahogany tones and pipe smoke throughout. All of the women characters are difficult to bring into focus. They're silly little things, panting for attention and totally oblivious about how trivial they are. Even the one with the biggest part to play didn't place a shred of passion on the side of sanity. Landor has a cookie-cutter girl friend, a barmaid who is sleeping with scores of others. She is there so that we can have bosoms swaying to the rhythm of pot scrubbing and because we need someone who looks at him with distain and tells him to quit the case because it's killing him.

And then there's the end. Don't worry. I won't give it away. But I will tell you that there's a twist. And it's not foreshadowed to an extent where it is warranted. In other words, Bayard broke the cardinal rule of novel writing. I felt manipulated. The twist comes from so far out of the court that I was beginning to wonder if I'd get through the book without having aliens land and tell us they were just there to serve man.

But then there's Poe. He plays his part unflinchingly. The Pale Blue Eye is fun for anyone who wants to be prompted to read a biography about Poe. I know I want to get one. The details Bayard supplies about him are crisp, humorous and fascinating. Was he ever a cadet at West Point? Did he dedicate his first book of poems to the Academy because he'd manipulated the cadets into buying a copy? Considering all that the book has given me to think about, I guess I'm glad I read it. But I'm even more glad that it's over.