Paradise Square - Edgar Allan Poe helps solve the murder by meat cleaver of a Five Points hot corn girl - E. M. Schorb, Denlinger's Publishers and Bookstore

Paradise Square"
a mystery by
E. M. Schorb

A GRAND PRIZE WINNER in the Frankfurt Awards
Cover by Brenda Pinnell

THE BOOK

This title was nominated for the Frankfurt eBook Awards.

Edgar Allan Poe is called upon for assistance in solving the shocking murder of a young hot corn girl in the Five Points section of Manhattan. A former classmate of Poe's at West Point, Peter Van Brunt, is accused of the crime, and Poe, always the gentleman, is honor-bound to help clear the young man who had years before helped to save him from complete disgrace upon leaving the Academy. Young Detective Sergeant Jonathan Goode is assigned to the case and though he finds the poet's insights into solving the matter invaluable, his patience with poetic genius is occasionally severely tested.

Sergeant Goode and Poe follow all leads from the murder scene, through the thug-infested streets, taverns, and tenements of the Five Points to the more genteel environs of Washington Square. The victim's employer, Dr. Eleanor Whitney, administrator of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor, lends aid in discovering the truth of the crime while becoming friends with the poet and more than friends with Sergeant Goode. Their adventures lead them into the struggle between the corrupt political regime, whose Boss is also the leader of one of the largest outlaw gangs in New York, the Plug Uglies, and the reform party. Things get so hot in the city for Poe and Sergeant Goode, that they decide to seek refuge at Poe's cottage at Fordham. Dr. Whitney goes along with the two in order to keep an eye on Poe, who has developed a high fever. During their stay of several days at Fordham, Sergeant Goode and Dr. Whitney fall in love, Poe recovers, and all are menaced by a strange lone rider with a rifle.

Their return to the city brings the story to a thrilling climax, when Poe, Goode, and a squad of Municipal police, called leatherheads for their protective headgear, attempt to arrest Boss Meade. A riot ensues between the Plug Uglies and various factions of the police, and the United States Cavalry is called in to restore order. But Meade escapes into the Old Brewery with Goode and Poe in hot pursuit, only to be assassinated by the true killer. The killer is at last cornered in the Phoenix Theatre. What happens next is a bit of Poesque legerdemain.

Selected Reviews

"A crackling good story told in the compelling, precise prose of a poet. Imaginative. Evocative. Wander the streets of New York with Edgar Allan Ple, who, dear reader, must solve a murder to save a friend. The Frankfurt eBook Grand Prize in Fiction goes to E.M. Schorb for Paradise Square."
—Award citation by Walter Anderson, Chairman, CEO and Publisher, Parade Publications

"A modern blend of literary history and spunky humor that deserves its Frankfurt nod."
—Publishers Weekly

"...Schorb makes no attempt to hide the corruption and injustice present in 19th Century New York, but he also reflects 19th Century modesty and keeps the tale free of modern gory descriptions. Fans of the original Sherlock Holmes cannon and its peers will recognize the work Schorb has done to imitate 19th Century story-telling techniques, which provide much of this novel's charm. With chapter titles such as "No Coward Soul is Mine," "We Get The Old Heave Ho!," and "J'Accuse!" the reader is treated to examples of 19th Century sensationalism. Nineteenth Century slang is sprinkled throughout.

Paradise Square is a delightful read, full of nods to classic tales and classic characters familiar to fans of the genre."
—Reviewed by Lisa Eagleson-Roever Ebook Editor

"...This book deserves to be read simply because of the use of the English language. E.M.Schorb writes in a style that places the book alongside contemporary literature of the very period that he writes about. That is not an easy feat. If you're a fan of Poe you should read it too..."
—Pat Mullan, County Galway, Ireland

"I found this novel compelling and well-written."
—Kate Burke Miciak, Associate Publisher, Bantam

". . . impressively researched and skillfully written."
—Lawrence Peel Ashmead, Executive Editor, Harper Collins Publishers

"I am fascinated by this concept for a novel, and I think Schorb's research into the era has been flawless."
—Jacquie Miller, Senior Editor, Dell

"Schorb does an excellent job of setting the scene, using details and language that evoke a lively, 1840's feel. A poet's precision obviously went into this and it shows."
—Stephen de las Heras, Editor, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.

"You'll rue the day if you miss this one! In PARADISE SQUARE, E.M. Schorb ushers in the father of modern mystery as Edgar Allan Poe plays detective in 1840's New York City. Atmosphere + intrigue = a compelling read. I'm ravin'!"
—Mignon F. Ballard, author of ANGEL AT TROUBLESOME CREEK

for Patricia

THE AUTHOR

Photo of E. M. Schorb E.M. Schorb's most recent poetry collection is Murderer's Day, winner of the Verna Emery Poetry Prize and published by Purdue University Press (1998). His other books are 50 Poems, Hill House New York (1987) and The Poor Boy and Other Poems, Dragon's Teeth Press (1975) and Scenario for Scorsese, Denlinger's Publishers (2000).

His stories and poems have appeared in: The American Scholar; The Antigonish Review (Canada); The Beloit Poetry Journal; The Carolina Quarterly; The Chattahoochee Review; Chelsea; The Chicago Review; The Dark Horse (Scotland); Dramatists Guild Quarterly; The Formalist; Frank (France); Gallery (England); The Hollins Critic; Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine; The Kansas Quarterly; Keats Prize Poems (London Literary Editions, Ltd.); The Laurel Review, The Massachusetts Review; Negative Capability; New Letters; The New Welsh Review (Wales); Outposts (England); Outrider (Australia); Painted Bride Quarterly; Poetry Northwest; Prism International (Canada); Puerto Del Sol; Queen's Quarterly (Canada); The Roanoke Review; The Sewanee Review; The Southern Review; The Southern Humanities Review; The Southern Poetry Review; The Southwest Review; Stand (England); The Texas Review; The Wascana Review (Canada); Whiskey Island Magazine; The William and Mary Review; The Windsor Review (Canada); Writers Forum; The Xavier Review; and The Yale Review, among others.

Grants and Awards include:

Senior Fellowship in Literature, The Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center
Regional Artist Project Grant, North Carolina Arts Council
Fellowship in Literature, North Carolina Arts Council
Carnegie Fund for Authors
The Dramatists Guild
The Authors League Fund
Mystery Writers of America
The Ludwig Vogelstein Foundation
The Verna Emery Poetry Prize, Purdue University Press
International Keats Poetry Prize, London Literary Editions, Ltd.

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