Speak Softly

Historical mystery, when it's done right, is one of the most satisfying of the many mystery subgenres: not only do you get a painless lesson in history (social and otherwise), but you have the fun of wondering how the detective will solve his crimes without the aid of modern high-tech forensic gadgetry. But, especially if that detective is an actual person, the author has to know him well, and Alexander obviously does. In this second installation of the "Theodore Roosevelt Mysteries," New York City Police Commisssioner Roosevelt comes vividly to life along with his era and his place. And, as in the first of the series, there's a personal link between him and the mystery in which he takes an interest. A strangulation "signed" by a black-ink handprint (is that newly-arrived Sicilian organization, the Black Hand, involved?), a stolen submarine, a torpedo attack on a boatload of Italian holiday revellers in New York Harbor, and a threatening note addressed to Teddy's 13-year-old cousin Franklin Delano are only the beginning of this typically convoluted Gay 90's case, enlivened by guest appearances from assorted great and near-great names of the New York of that day. It doesn't take Teddy long to begin to put things together: "a lot of people are being murdered 35 years after they were all together in Canton, China"--and involved at least peripherally in the opium trade. But what's the connection between opium in China and Sicilians in New York? Therein lies Teddy's puzzle. Along the way to solving it he also discovers (by way of a volume borrowed by his children from neighbor Clarence Day of "Life With Father" fame) that he has been made a hero of a dime novel, "Commissioner Roosevelt on the Waterfront," in which "I take on six hoodlums single-handedly...They're no match for my pure heart and swift uppercut. It's not badly written, actually..." The chase leads to the Roosevelts' weekend home on Oyster Bay, and there, of course, all loose threads are united, red herrings are revealed, and Teddy again emerges triumphant. Alexander's portrait of his hero is just what anyone would expect who has ever read anything factual about TR, and his knowledge of his time and place is impressive. Moreover, with credits as a TV scriptwriter for various crime series (including "Cannon" and "Barnaby Jones"), he's written a book that would translate very easily to the screen (small or large); as another reviewer has observed, "Speak Softly" (and, for that matter, its predecessor) would make a great movie. No fan of our 26th President should miss reading it.

you'll love this book. Teddy Roosevelt as police commissioner of New York rushes from one crisis to another while not forgetting his children or his wife. The author inserts a large number of historical figures and recognizing them is part of the fun. It gives a good picture of TR's family and early New York. This would make a great movie!

Alexander has taken a segment of Theodore Roosevelt's life and done wonders with it. As a police commissioner of New York City, Roosevelt was a mover and shaker and not too popular in some quarters of city government. The author takes this period of TR's life and builds a great tale of 19th century crime. In the first chapter you get a good taste of what it was like to be a child in TR's household as TR is having an interview with his son's teacher. The latter is trying to explain that it might help TR's son if dad was a little less invovled with the details of his homework assignment. TR's "you're taking all the fun out of it" sums up his eternal quest to be a boy again. This seems to sum up TR quite nicely - the adult striving to recapture the best moments of his youth. Maybe this applies to all of us?You also meet the towering figures in the construction of early US submarines, John Holland and Simon Lake. Lake's submarine is stolen so we see a bit of industrial espionage 19th century style as well as plain old fashion murder.You will meet various and sundry of the extended Roosevelt family of several generations. Franklin D. makes and appearence.This is a good detective novel to sit down with. It flows well and informs as well as entertains, but you don't really catch on to the history lessons being delivered. I came to this book more with an interest in TR than in the detective mystery, but I think the author does a fine job of inserting TR into a mystery and doing it well. I highly recommend this book to any mystery buff, without reservation.