UNPUTDOWNABLE .....31 bond street by ELLEN HORAN

SPELLBINDING WORK with gorgeous black and white images.

31 bond street - Historical crime drama includes murder, greed, corruption, politics, court investigation set in 1859 New York.

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A famous dentist Dr.Harvey Burdell murdered in 1857, New York City.

Emma Cunningham is a widow, lived with her two daughters in his residence.

One morning, 11 yrs old errand boy found his master Dr.Harvey Burdell's body brutally murdered in his bedroom.

Thus the novel starts about the trial of Emma Cunningham accused for the murder.

Hendry Clinton is a prominent advocate represents Emma Cunningham.

In spite of his wife’s displeasure against him taking the case and his senior partner James Armstrong threatening to cut his partnership in his law firm, Hendry Clinton represented Emma Cunningham.

The 11 yrs old John becomes his only ally, gathering info for Hendry Clinton from the house.

Descriptions are beautiful in this novel. Vivid descriptions added more enjoyment for me. I literally lived in 1857 New York City. Spellbinding.

Two narrations move back and forth keeping our interest intact.

One about Emma and Harvey first meet, Emma's desire to get a husband, Harvey's empty promises to Emma about marriage and home, their relationship, his secret life are all by Emma.

The legal investigation and trials are all done by the advocate Hendry Clinton.

Hendry Clinton has a cozy, happy marriage.

(Chapter 3 tells the wonderful marriage of Hendry Clinton and his wife Elisabeth, their life, her trips to deliver him lunch, her longing & fondness for the calm life, that's away from Clinton’s legal work loads.

Chapter 8, the day Hendry was fired by his senior partner from his law firm, he came home exhausted, told Elisabeth about his conversation with James and his decision to go on his own and defend Emma, is a beautiful chapter to read. Very intimate.)

His wife Elizabeth is loving ,intelligent and a trusted ally for him.

The descriptions of busy New York City-1859 streets, its real-estate growth, upper class living areas, trades, Dr.Burdell and Emma relationship{ even the house staff doesn’t like taking orders from her ( house mistress - society didn’t respect)}, his secrets, his relationship with his dentist elder brother, his interests in real estate business, descriptions of the murder and investigation scenes ( they ran preliminary investigations by keeping the people under house arrest), legal process and its flaws, media, district attorney with high political ambitions, abuse of power, racial society, slavery during that time all are very detailed and interesting.

The novel includes news clippings of the newspaper about the original murder based on which the novel has been written.

In fact THE NEW YORK TIMES donated their service to city proceedings and in exchange, the news paper got the permission to print the reports verbatim(அப்படியே...WORD BY WORD), thus THE NEW YORK TIMES is 'THE PAPER OF RECORD'


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Vinatha.