Daniel Czitrom

The author deserves a lot of credit for all the research that went into writing this book. That alone must have been a daunting task.

I wish I could say that I loved the book, but as a whole it felt cumbersome. The writing is far more textbook than narrative nonfiction. We're given what feels like a string of facts that overshadow the story aspect of the main players involved.

The content is heavier on politics than I expected, and lighter on the criminal aspects than I expected. Also, there are a whole lot of people I'd never heard of popping in and out of the timeline, and keeping track of them became an effort. I just didn't have that connection to pull me in and hold my attention.

I found the subject matter fascinating, and I learned some interesting tidbits along the way. But this book is definitely more suited to readers with a strong interest in New York politics during the 1800s.

*I was provided with an advance ebook copy by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.*… (más)