The Kingdom of Bones,
Stephen Gallagher, Shaye Areheart Books, New York, 368 pp, hardcover, $24.95,
ISBN 978-0-307-38280-1.
Set primarily in the England of
the 1880s but also in 1903 Philadelphia and New Orleans, Stephen Gallagher’s The
Kingdom of Bones is part murder mystery, part occult thriller, and part
loving re-creation of a bygone era.
Someone has been killing poor children, and Detective Inspector
Sebastian Becker believes ex-boxing champion Tom Sayers has something to do
with the slayings. After an understated
opening, the novel kicks into high gear when Sayers escapes arrest and tries to
clear his name by finding the real killer. In a move by Gallagher that will
delight genre fans, Sayers enlists the help of Bram Stoker. This leads Sayers
into a world of possible occult influence and secrets that will change his life
forever. Throughout the novel,
Gallagher’s careful, restrained writing creates great tension and
surprise. Sebastian as the pursuing
detective is convincing, but Gallagher’s careful, often brilliant
characterization of Sayers is The Kingdom of Bones’ main touchstone.
(Review, Realms of Fantasy magazine)
(Review, Realms of Fantasy magazine)
