It's not easy to breathe life into real-life characters, especially when quoting their words extensively from reported sources, but Cunningham and Clinton live on the page as freshly as if they had stepped, newly minted, from Horan's vivid imagination." Washington Post "31 Bond Street works as both historical fiction and courtroom drama. Add in the actuality of the event, and you have a trifecta of a historical crime story in the hands of a skilled writer." -- San Francisco Book Review "This is a gripping, elegantly written, and brilliantly researched legal thriller, but it is more than that: 31 Bond Street illuminates a critical period of our history with sharp insights into sex, class, and politics. Don't miss it." Joe Conason, New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting of the President and Big Lies "Set in 1857 and based on true events, this is a deft and highly readable book, much recommended..." The Daily Mail "A smart, well-crafted and sophisticated story...Like E. L. Doctorow and Caleb Carr, Ms. Horan has written a fine, historical novel based on fact." Jason Boog, Mediabistro "31 Bond Street works as both historical fiction and courtroom drama. Add in the actuality of the event, and you have a trifecta of a historical crime story in the hands of a skilled writer." The Sacramento Book Review “The skill with which Ellen Horan has braided true crime with thoughtful novelizing is pure pleasure.… Caleb Carr meets Scott Turow. What could possibly be better?” u2028— Beverly Swerling, author of City of God “An impressive blend of imagination and history as it vividly brings to life one of New York’s City’s most notorious crimes. Ellen Horan has written a novel that, once begun, will be difficult for any reader to put down.” — Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of Serena "Horan brings to life a sensational 19th-century New York City murder trial in which a woman is accused of viciously killing her husband. . . . An engaging mix of fact and fiction, with a juicy trial, sensationalistic reporters, and lots of local urban color." Kirkus Reviews Vanity Fair, Hot Type, Essential Reading, May 2010 Indie Pick, May 2010 Who killed Dr. Harvey Burdell in his opulent Manhattan town house? At once a gripping mystery and a richly detailed excavation of a lost age, 31 Bond Street is a spellbinding tale of murder, sex, greed, and politics in 1857 New York. Author Ellen Horan interweaves fact and fiction—reimagining the sensational nineteenth-century crime that rocked the city a few short years before the Civil War ripped through the fabric of the nation, while transporting readers back to a time that eerily echoes our own. Though there are no clues to the brutal slaying of wealthy Dr. Burdell, suspicion quickly falls on Emma Cunningham, the refined, pale-skinned widow who managed his house and servants. An ambitious district attorney seeks a swift conviction, but defense attorney Henry Clinton is a formidable obstacle—a man firmly committed to justice and the law, and to the cause of a frightened, vulnerable woman desperately trying to save herself from the gallows. Ellen Horan is a novelist living in New York City. She has worked on staff and freelance for the publications as a photo editor such as Vanity Fair, Vogue, and ARTnews.xa0She lives in downtown Manhattan, the setting of her first novel, 31 Bond Street. Read more
Features & Highlights
Who killed Dr. Harvey Burdell? Though there are no witnesses and no clues, fingers point to Emma Cunningham, the refined, pale-skinned widow who managed Burdell's house and his servants. Rumored to be a black-hearted gold digger with designs on the doctor's name and fortune, Emma is immediately put under house arrest during a murder investigation. A swift conviction is sure to catapult flamboyant district attorney Abraham Oakey Hall into the mayor's seat. But one formidable obstacle stands in his way: the defense attorney Henry Clinton. Committed to justice and the law, Clinton will aid the vulnerable widow in her desperate fight to save herself from the gallows. Set in 1857 New York, this gripping mystery is also a richly detailed excavation of a lost age. Horan vividly re-creates a tumultuous era characterized by a sensationalist press, aggressive new wealth, a booming real-estate market, corruption, racial conflict, economic inequality between men and women, and the erosion of the old codes of behavior. A tale of murder, sex, greed, and politics, this spellbinding narrative transports readers to a time that eerily echoes our own.
Customer Reviews
Rating Breakdown
★★★★★
30%
(62)
★★★★
25%
(52)
★★★
15%
(31)
★★
7%
(14)
★
23%
(47)
Most Helpful Reviews
★★★★★
5.0
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We shall See Who Our Seemers Be
"31 Bond Street" by Ellen Horan is a historical mystery set in the decade before the American Civil War. The prose approximates that of the period as close as is possible without slowing down your reading rate. As it is, the author's mastery of the style embellishes her richness of the period, taking the reader back in time so that one is there in 1856. In just the same way, author Horan's knowledge of New York at that time is awesome - taking you back street by street and house by house! Every page is a delight, e.g.:
"Please sit down," Emma said gaily, waving at a bench. Dr. Burdell placed his hat beside him. She noticed that it was a fashionable height: an inch higher and he would be a dandy or a ruffian, an inch shorter, a clerk."
Midst all the elegance of language and precise description, "31 Bond Street" is still a fast moving mystery which opens with the murder of a high society dentist and surgeon, Dr. Harvey Burdell, who is found hacked to death in his bedroom.
There is poetry in the prose of this book, too, lyrical and at once arresting, new ways to see everyday things, e.g., "The sky which had been so blue earlier, had patches of yellow light bleeding through clouds the color of greyhounds."
An outstanding historical novel, the book is no less a gripping mystery, a tale of the greed of the rich and powerful with their disregard for human life and pain. The book's final chapters, a trial to convict the sometimes-seeming innocent companion/alleged wife of the villainous, now dead, dentist, is also a conflict between two lawyers, one the tool of the rich and powerful; the other the defendant's attorney, a humanist concerned with justice.
As yet another example of author Horan's deft prose - perfectly attuned to the period - demonstrates "They tipped hats, Hall's was the taller, and when he lifted it, he revealed an ornate hairstyle. Hall made a deep bow. `I greatly anticipate our encounter in court,. But I regret that the verdict will be a sorry conclusion to your already dwindling career.' He mounted his carriage. His cape swooped the air, and his elongated profile was outlined in the window as he rode away."
Finally, add to the rich mix of character, the alleged "window" and her two beautiful debutante daughters, a poor-but-honest houseboy and a runaway slave in hiding and you have a cover-to-cover can't-put-it-down thriller. The great sadness of this work is that Amazon has only a five point scoring system - this book would surely be a "ten" if there were such.
10 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
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Effective twists, plenty of suspense and a dash of tragedy; an excellent book with exceptional writing
First Sentence: For a boy who watched boats, his room was the perfect perch.
The brutal murder of well-to-do dentist, Dr. Burdell, immediately places his housekeeper, Emma Cunningham as the prime suspect. Attorney Henry Clinton parts ways with his respected law partner and, with the support of his wife and the help of others, sets out to prove Emma's innocence.
From a very good opening which establishes the sense of time place the impact of the weather and the demeanor of the characters, this compelling story proved very difficult to put down, even for meals and life's necessities. Horan provides a fascinating look at the justice system and New York City during this period leading up to the Civil War when free blacks in the North were being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. It is always interesting to gain a picture of society live, and the concerns of women; the workings of the house and meals of the period. But it is as equally interesting look at investigative methods, techniques and forensics of the time.
The story is told in duality; something which can be awkward as one thread is often stronger/more interesting than the other. That is not the case here. One thread begins with the crimes and moves through the trial, while the other provides the background of the characters leading up to the crime. Ms. Horan does a remarkable job of keeping both stories equally fascinating and distinct. At no point does one wish to get through the current segment into order to return to the other thread. That is very rare indeed and not only does each thread holds its own, but the suspense contained within each builds at an equal pace. That exhibits remarkable skill by the writer.
While many legal thrillers today spend more time being thrillers, this really does focus on the legal process of the time, yet it is driven by the characters who are fully developed and alive. There was not a superfluous character in the story; each added weight and merit. In some ways, one could say the story has two villains and two victims, both being the same characters at different times. The heroes, if you will, are quite unexpected and unusual.
The plot is excellent with very effective twists, plenty of suspense and a dash of tragedy. The author paints visual pictures that take the reader through all the story's locals both attractive and foul. There is an unexpected revelation and even unanticipated motive.
While I don't usually care for books based on a true crime, "31 Bond Street" is an excellent book with exceptional writing.
Effective twists, plenty of suspense and a dash of tragedy; an excellent book with exceptional writing
First Sentence: For a boy who watched boats, his room was the perfect perch.
The brutal murder of well-to-do dentist, Dr. Burdell, immediately places his housekeeper, Emma Cunningham as the prime suspect. Attorney Henry Clinton parts ways with his respected law partner and, with the support of his wife and the help of others, sets out to prove Emma's innocence.
From a very good opening which establishes the sense of time place the impact of the weather and the demeanor of the characters, this compelling story proved very difficult to put down, even for meals and life's necessities. Horan provides a fascinating look at the justice system and New York City during this period leading up to the Civil War when free blacks in the North were being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. It is always interesting to gain a picture of society live, and the concerns of women; the workings of the house and meals of the period. But it is as equally interesting look at investigative methods, techniques and forensics of the time.
The story is told in duality; something which can be awkward as one thread is often stronger/more interesting than the other. That is not the case here. One thread begins with the crimes and moves through the trial, while the other provides the background of the characters leading up to the crime. Ms. Horan does a remarkable job of keeping both stories equally fascinating and distinct. At no point does one wish to get through the current segment into order to return to the other thread. That is very rare indeed and not only does each thread holds its own, but the suspense contained within each builds at an equal pace. That exhibits remarkable skill by the writer.
While many legal thrillers today spend more time being thrillers, this really does focus on the legal process of the time, yet it is driven by the characters who are fully developed and alive. There was not a superfluous character in the story; each added weight and merit. In some ways, one could say the story has two villains and two victims, both being the same characters at different times. The heroes, if you will, are quite unexpected and unusual.
The plot is excellent with very effective twists, plenty of suspense and a dash of tragedy. The author paints visual pictures that take the reader through all the story's locals both attractive and foul. There is an unexpected revelation and even unanticipated motive.
While I don't usually care for books based on a true crime, "31 Bond Street" is an excellent book with exceptional writing.
Harvey Burdell was a wealthy dentist and all around sketchy guy who is murdered in his home in Manhattan in 1857. Emma Cunningham, a widow living with Harvey and her two daughters, is accused of the crime.
The novel moves back and forth between Emma's story leading up to the murder and that of Henry Clinton, the lawyer who takes on her case to make sure she is given a fair trial. While I loved the setting and historical aspects and the plot was interesting, it just did not grab me as I had hoped. It wasn't quite the thriller I had expected. I didn't realize until the end that this was based on a true story. I never connected with Emma and this may have been the downfall for me. Parts seemed unfinished when the book was done and left me unsatisfied.
2 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
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A Phenomenal Debut!
I love getting and reading a book and ending up surprised (pleasantly, of course!) with the content. This author is fantastic. She took a true crime and wove it's details into a magnificent work of fiction. From beginning to end, she filled the pages with words and characters that become the reader. The reader is taken on twists and turns through out, following the author's clue like words to the very end.
The setting is set just before the civil war in New York. There's carriages and fancy dresses, there's little boys who do errands for important people, and then there's crime. A murder. A horribly, gruesome, mysterious murder of a Bond Street dentist. Instantly, I was hooked on this richly detailed crime. I felt the excitement of the town when it found out about the murder of Dr. Burdell. I became Henry Clinton, if but for a time, as I (he) tried to find the answers and save Emma Cunnigham, one of the last people to see the Doctor alive. This is just something I could never think about happening back then, but through fabulous research, Ellen Horan brings it to life and now I know:scandalous, greedy murders were a part of the history then.
If you love fiction, if you love true crime, if you simply love the work of an outstanding author, then, without hesitation, read this beyond 5 star, high society, dramatic, scandalous crime debut. Ellen Horan has instantly made a place for herself on my favorites list, and I look forward to more WOWmazing work centered around true crime, the Civil War era, and complex characters!
*This review is based on a complimentary copy which was provided for an honest review*
2 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
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Classy Historical Who-Dunnit With A Blood-Smattering of True Crime
Once I had picked up '31 Bond Street', I had great difficulty putting it down! It's a gripping story, made all the more fascinating by it's basis in reality. Ellen Horan writes evocatively of New York in the 19th Century and her characters are well-delineated and totally believable - they sprang off the pages. The narrative jumps effectively between past and present, revealing Emma Cunningham's story to us bit by bit. As well as an engaging historical tale, it is also very much a 'who-dunnit?' and kept me guessing until the very end. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in crime or historical fiction. I'm hoping very much that Ellen Horan has another book out soon.
1 people found this helpful
★★★★★
5.0
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Classy Historical Who-Dunnit With A Blood-Smattering of True Crime
Once I had picked up '31 Bond Street', I had great difficulty putting it down! It's a gripping story, made all the more fascinating by it's basis in reality. Ellen Horan writes evocatively of New York in the 19th Century and her characters are well-delineated and totally believable - they sprang off the pages. The narrative jumps effectively between past and present, revealing Emma Cunningham's story to us bit by bit. As well as an engaging historical tale, it is also very much a 'who-dunnit?' and kept me guessing until the very end. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in crime or historical fiction. I'm hoping very much that Ellen Horan has another book out soon.
1 people found this helpful
★★★★★
4.0
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Historical Mystery
Enjoyable, interesting (but fictionalized) account of an actual unsolved murder that took place in 1850's New York City. When prominent dentist Dr. Harvey Burdell is found brutally murdered in his home, suspicion immediately falls upon his housemistress, Mrs. Emma Cunningham, a widow with two teenaged daughters. As the case unfolds, Horan allows us to view events from multiple points of view--defense attorney Henry Clinton, young houseboy John, and even the accused Mrs. Cunningham show us what could have really happened that night in 1857.
I love a good mystery with a satisfying conclusion, and this book certainly fits the bill. My #1 5-star choices in the genre of "historical mystery/thriller" are still The Alienist and Angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr (which if you haven't read those, GO AND READ THEM NOW!), but 31 Bond Street is a good solid read.
1 people found this helpful
★★★★★
3.0
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I'm not really one for historical fiction -- usually the ...
I'm not really one for historical fiction -- usually the blending of fact and fantasy gets to the point where you can't tell where one ends and the other begins (I'm looking at you, Dan Brown). 31 Bond Street skirts that problem neatly by saying that, outside of the central murder occurring, nothing else in the book is genuine save some of the names. A review on the back cover calls it Scott Turow meets Caleb Carr -- an enticing combination, to be sure. However, the author doesn't really know what she wants here. She builds up a fairly neat little mystery surrounding a shady dentist, a destitute widow and her lovely daughters, a Southern gentleman, and a freed slave. Then she adds a dynamic defense attorney vs. Tammany Hall flacks and a crusading DA. Now we're all set up for some juicy 19th Century courtroom drama, and then the book falls flat. The courtroom stuff is nearly set aside for the resolution of the central mystery. Scott Turow, where art thou?
★★★★★
3.0
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Entertaining historical murder mystery
I found this a good read especially the first half of the book. An entertaining murder mystery / courtroom drama set in a great historical setting of New York City in the years right before the civil war. The problems are toward the end with some of the fictional aspects of the book seeming far-fetched to me. The Southern conspirators/sympathizers wanting to get rich off of Jersey shore land speculation with the idea to use it to send blacks back to the south and sell arms/shoes or whatever the south needs..a sort of pipeline for northern goods to south. Then you have a freed slave angry at the system, some Native Americans who want revenge for their land being stolen, a poor innocent kid mistreated by the wealthy. The whole thing just gets kind of silly. The author has a feminine touch that adds some comfort to the scenes. A lot of descriptions of 19th century clothing, meet and greets in parlor rooms and so on but not a whole lot of actual character development. A good if somewhat flawed but enjoyable book.
