Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Can't Wait Wednesday (194)


Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.


FROM GOODREADS: A young detective who specializes in “tiny mysteries” finds herself at the center of a massive conspiracy in this beguiling historical fantasy set on Manhattan’s Westside—a peculiar and dangerous neighborhood home to strange magic and stranger residents—that blends the vivid atmosphere of Caleb Carr with the imaginative power of Neil Gaiman.

New York is dying, and the one woman who can save it has smaller things on her mind.

It’s 1921, and a thirteen-mile fence running the length of Broadway splits the island of Manhattan, separating the prosperous Eastside from the Westside—an overgrown wasteland whose hostility to modern technology gives it the flavor of old New York. Thousands have disappeared here, and the respectable have fled, leaving behind the killers, thieves, poets, painters, drunks, and those too poor or desperate to leave.

It is a hellish landscape, and Gilda Carr proudly calls it home.

Slightly built, but with a will of iron, Gilda follows in the footsteps of her late father, a police detective turned private eye. Unlike that larger-than-life man, Gilda solves tiny mysteries: the impossible puzzles that keep us awake at night; the small riddles that destroy us; the questions that spoil marriages, ruin friendships, and curdle joy. Those tiny cases distract her from her grief, and the one impossible question she knows she can’t answer: “How did my father die?”

Yet on Gilda’s Westside, tiny mysteries end in blood—even the case of a missing white leather glove. Mrs. Copeland, a well-to-do Eastside housewife, hires Gilda to find it before her irascible merchant husband learns it is gone. When Gilda witnesses Mr. Copeland’s murder at a Westside pier, she finds herself sinking into a mire of bootlegging, smuggling, corruption—and an evil too dark to face.

All she wants is to find one dainty ladies’ glove. She doesn’t want to know why this merchant was on the wrong side of town—or why he was murdered in cold blood. But as she begins to see the connection between his murder, her father’s death, and the darkness plaguing the Westside, she faces the hard truth: she must save her city or die with it.

Introducing a truly remarkable female detective, Westside is a mystery steeped in the supernatural and shot through with gunfights, rotgut whiskey, and sizzling Dixieland jazz. Full of dazzling color, delightful twists, and truly thrilling action, it announces the arrival of a remarkable talent. 

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  First of all, now that's a synopsis.  I feel like I've read a short chapter. Basically I've been looking for a book like "A Criminal Magic" since I read it and this one sounds like it might be in the same vein.  I also love the combination of magic and mystery.

WHAT BOOK CAN'T YOU WAIT FOR THIS WEEK???

39 comments:

  1. Wow, wow, wow, wow... this sounds stellar! 😍 I could read this for my Summer in the City month theme and still be reading about magic. 😱 Thanks for the heads up. 👍✨

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    1. Sounds like it would be a good match. Hope we both love it!

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  2. Barb, this sounds great! I haven't heard of either A Criminal Magic or Westside, but I really like historical fantasy like this that have a mystry in them, too! Good pick!

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    1. Jan, you should definitely check out A Criminal Magic. It's a historical fantasy and I LOVED it!

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  3. Barb, this sounds great! I haven't heard of either A Criminal Magic or Westside, but I really like historical fantasy like this that have a mystry in them, too! Good pick!

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  4. I've not heard of this book before, but I've also not heard of A Criminal Magic either. I really hope you enjoy this one! Have a great week!

    CWW
    Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know

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  5. I'm definitely excited about this! It sounds unique, and I love the historical aspect of it😁 And yep, that blurb is long!

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    1. I first saw it on your blog so you could say your excitement was contagious!

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  6. Sounds like a great mashup and one I would enjoy.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  7. WOWZA!! This one has DEFINITELY stopped me in my tracks!! Although I don't usually read mysteries, the combination of elements here has me SUPER intrigued!! And yes, that synopsis is like reading a chapter from this book!

    Not too keen on the cover, but the plot is something else!

    Adding this one to my Goodreads shelves! Thanks for the heads up, Barb!!

    HUGS TO YOU AND THOSE WONDERFUL PUPS, AND "WOOF, WOOF" TO THEM, TOO!! <3 <3 <3 :) :) :)

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    1. Yea, I kind of agree that the cover could be better. That being said, the synopsis more than makes up for it.

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  8. I think that the synopsis has me wanting more (despite the length!) It sounds like a mystery that I would really love. One more to add to my TBR. :)

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    1. Yay! Wednesdays are the days that everyone's TBR grows.

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  9. I absolutely love the sound of this one and the cover is fantastic. I have started to enjoy historical fiction more and more.

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    1. I feel the same way. I never thought I'd enjoy historical fiction but when there is an element of supernatural or mystery, I'm all for it.

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  10. I agree- this sounds fascinating! And I agree about the synopsis!

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    1. It's probably the longest I've seen in a long time.

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  11. I pretty much will give anything with magic a chance. I hope you enjoy this one, Barb!

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  12. Okay, this sounds AWESOME! A historical fiction with magic and mystery? I'm sold! I'm adding this to my wishlist right now. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. You're welcome and thanks for stopping by Ashley.

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  13. Haha, that is a long synopsis! But I love the addition of magic in pretty much anything!

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  14. I really dig detective fantasy fiction, especially when they take place in historical settings. I've had my eye on this one too, it sounds like it has so much promise!

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    1. Sounds like it might be quite popular. At least with those of us who regularly visit each other :)

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  15. That is a giant synopsis, but I like how well it sets up the story. Hope you enjoy this one!

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    1. Thanks Alicia. With that synopsis, maybe I need to double check how long the book is.

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  16. I agree *completely* -- THAT is how you write a synopsis. SUch a cool find Barb! Definitely a TBR addition!

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  17. Magic and mystery is the perfect combination. I can't wait for this one either!

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  18. Wow! I have to read this one. It has everything I like with a great setting and time period.

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  19. Magic, mystery, and a New York setting? Sounds amazing!

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  20. This book sounds fantastic! My favorite are mysteries, but when you mix it up with a bit of a paranormal twist to it, I LOVE IT EVEN MORE! Great choice! :)

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    1. Yes, paranormal twists make almost everything better.

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  21. Great CWW pick Wow this one looks and sounds absolutely amazingly fantastic and so right up my alley as well. Plus this is actually the first time I have heard or seen this book, I hope you do enjoy this book when you get the chance to read it. Thank you so much for stopping by my CWW post Barb.

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