City of Dreams

I finished this excellent book well over a week ago but needed time to digest and reflect on the significance of its timely - and personal - message. It is a look at the every day heros that built this country (New York specifically) and not just the life of historical figures that Martin has been so well known to write about. I appreciate the intense descriptions of life for ethnic groups that lived in poverty and hope. Martin wrote my own irish ancstry and, at times, it was painful. I was thunderstruck at Martin's ability to describe the old cart lanes and dirt roads of the original New York and take the story forward to the building of the city into today's paved and clogged streets. His recounting of the 9-11 trajedy and fall of the Twin Towers through the eyes of a character living the moment was staggering. Your breath will catch as you hurry to get away. You will taste the debris, your eyes will ache and your heart will relive the loss of life. He tells of Tammany Hall corruption, Hell's Kitchen, murder and a failing economy on Wall Street and the market. You will desperately want this country to turn back to its roots and moral convictions of our ancestors. You will want to believe that we were, and are, doing a noble thing and that America is the very best collaboration of every day heros. This man has the ability to bring his characters, male and female, to a vivid clarity and he will top your list of favorite authors. Add this book to your William Martin shelf - enjoy and look forward to his next gift.

William Martin really has a firm grasp on what it takes to keep his readers flipping pages. The back and forth style of writing keeps the story line fresh. His extensive research proves worth the effort. The recurring characters bring familiarity into the novel. Always an intense, well thought out plot, Martin keeps me coming back for each book he puts out.

Full disclosure right off the top: I'm biased because I think William Martin is the best historical fiction writer on the planet. I've read all his books and he hasn't once disappointed. Additionally, about 18 months ago I reached out to him to say my wife and I would be traveling from Texas to Boston - and asked if he would be willing to meet us. To my surprise, he answered yes, and we spent nearly two hours together discussing his books and career. (Then he pointed us toward the Boston Public Library and told us about a `hidden secret.' Seems his fondness for mystery occurs outside the pages of his books.) We stayed in touch by e-mail, and he sent a few updates that his latest novel was "really coming together nicely." Well, I finished reading "City of Dreams" last night, and one recurring thought kept popping into my head: "How on earth does he do this?" Somehow, Mr. Martin is able to take a sliver of historical fact and create incredibly spellbinding fiction. Even though he personally shared with me his approach to writing, I can't get my arms around how he brings it all together in an `I'm going to stay up late and keep reading because I have to know what happens next" story. An immediate difference you'll notice in "City of Dreams" compared to his previous novels is it's not so much a family history that Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington are uncovering as it is a series of unrelated characters who continue to hold and pursue the valuable bonds over 200+ years. The actions and coincidences that bring them together are quite intriguing. One thing that remains consistent is the incredible depth of his characters. You'll find yourself feeling deep emotions - and you'll become friends with the good guys and have a strong disliking for the bad ones. Plus, his vivid description of the events of 9/11 will put a lump in your stomach. While other historical events seem so long ago, that one hits close to home... and you'll feel it. A recurring theme in Mr. Martin's writing is a catchphrase that repeats itself throughout the generations. You'll discover one here too. However, my favorite line comes late in "City of Dreams" and seems a great reminder given the challenges of the past few years: "We still got the best chance in the world to make somethin' out of nothin', right here in the big city.'" My next step is to reach out to William Martin again and ask him when the next Peter Fallon novel will be released. Given the complexity of his storylines, it takes a few years to research and write these delightful tomes. Until then, I may go back and reread "Back Bay," "The Lost Constitution" and his earlier works. They are indeed my favorite history lessons.

'Here' in William Martin's new historical novel, City Of Dreams, is New York City. Once again Martin's Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington are on the hunt. This time for the root of all evil. Money. Peter Fallon receives the message, 'Can I interest you in saving America?' Those of us who have followed the Fallon/Carrington team in three of William Martin's former novels - Back Bay, Harvard Yard and The Lost Constitution - know that this is a challenge Peter Fallon can't resist. In the past Fallon and Carrington have searched for a Paul Revere Tea Set, an original Shakespeare manuscript and an annotated copy of the Constitution of the United States. Now Peter and Evangeline are in New York City, the real City of Dreams, and it's all about the Benjamins. They are looking for $10,000 in bonds from revolutionary times, guaranteed by the U. S. government in perpetuity and worth, in compound interest since the 1780's, more than one billion dollars. Only New York City, the financial capitol of the world, is the fitting setting for this story. Through Peter Fallon and Evangeline's search for these bonds, Martin shows us the financial history of this great city. This in depth look into the Big Apple begins in 1776. One of the earliest characters in this novel is Captain Alexander Hamilton. And there's a cameo appearance by George Washington, too. Meeting these major figures in our history through William Martin's eyes connects us immediately to his story and to history, as William Shakespeare as an early character in Harvard Yard does. It's William Martin's story and, as Americans, our story. City of Dreams takes us up to our recent financial collapse. When I read, in the first few pages, a reference to Barney Frank and his part in our nation's financial crisis, I knew this was going to be a wild ride. You will understand more of what caused this calamity from this novel than you will from listening to any number of economists. William Martin has always been a master at explaining the intricate elements of our history in a way that we can understand. That's because William Martin loves our country's history and this truth radiates through all of his works. Martin being Martin, there are other threads of New York history in his story. There's a look at Broadway theater and even a nod to birding, the fastest growing activity in the country, as a character searches for a Wilson's Warbler in Central Park. And, of course, 9/11 plays a major role in this complex tale. As complex as this story is, though, by the end Martin, Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington, pull it all together. Do they find the $10,000 in bonds and become partners in a billion-dollar plus payoff? Does the Supreme Court decide that, indeed, these bonds are redeemable at a rate of interest compounded over more than 200 years? I loved finding the answers to these questions in City of Dreams. You will too. This is a big story from the biggest city on the pl

A box of 18th century bonds is hidden somewhere in New York City. If cashed today, they'd be worth over a billion dollars. And Peter Fallon is in a race against time to find them. In City of Dreams, the latest thriller by William Martin, fan favorites Peter Fallon and Evangeline Carrington are back - this time to solve the mystery of the missing bonds. As Peter and Evangeline race through New York, they uncover the tales of those who have harbored the box through the years. Meanwhile, the intricate, pulse-pounding plot takes us back through time as far as the American Revolution, where historical figures are given vibrant voices alongside some of Martin's own best characters yet. Fallon's cult following in Boston will surely forgive their hero's Yankees-cap disguise as Martin captures Manhattan as a character in its own right, breathing life into the Bowling Green, Tammany Hall, Hell's Kitchen, and the emerging skyline over the Hudson. City of Dreams is a roller-coaster ride through the streets and centuries of a New York both gritty and glamorous - a page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end. For fans of history, thrillers, and masterful story-telling, it's a "must-read" for summer.