Review
Readers will be surprised to find that this is only the second
novel published by Michael Harvey. His prose clever and biting, his plot
churning with twists and loops that keep the pages flipping by, Harvey's modern
day thriller truly keeps readers on the edges of their seats. The mystery of the
1871 Chicago fire is stirring enough to pique the interest of even the least
historically inclined person; Harvey here manages, through obviously
comprehensive research and personal thought and reflection on the subject, to
fan even such ages-old flames until the narrative is ablaze with energy and
suspense.
No part of the book feels unrealistic, a bold evaluation considering the breadth
of drama protagonist Michael Kelly finds himself mired in: romantic turmoil,
witness of two murders (one of which he becomes the suspect of), and political
controversy...
Beyond the Book
The Great Chicago Fire burned from about 9pm on October 8th to
early on the 10th, 1871. The source of the blaze is unknown; for many
years it was believed that the fire was caused by a cow kicking over a lantern, but more than
twenty years after the fact the reporter responsible for first publishing this
story admitted that he'd made it up.
Although the number of lives lost was relatively low considering the extent of
the fire (about 200-300 people), the fire is still remembered today, partially
because of the extent of the damage (about four square miles of the mainly
wooden city were destroyed), but mainly as the catalyst for the city's subsequent growth into one of the most economically important and populous
American cities.
A...
