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Nevermore: A Novel of Edgar Allan Poe and Allan Pinkerton
Only one of history's most famous detectives - Allan Pinkerton - could investigate the death of one of literature's most famous writers - Edgar Allan Poe. In this fictional imagining of the events following Poe's death, Allan Pinkerton, a real-life embodiment of the famed writer's C. Auguste Dupin, literature's first detective, embarks on a journey into the life and mind of the author and poet to uncover the secrets of Poe's life and untimely - and mysterious - death.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
392 pages, Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Brent Monahan
25 books33 followersBrent Monahan was born in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan in 1948, as a World War II occupation baby. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in Music and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Indiana University, Bloomington. He has performed, stage directed and taught music and writing professionally. He has authored fourteen published novels and a number of short stories. Two of his novels have been made into motion pictures. Brent lives in Yardley, PA, with his wife, Bonnie.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 25, 2012
My neighbor is a friend of the author so I decided to try one of his books. This one deals with Allan Pinkerton, the detective and Edgar Allan Poe. The author has done his homework and is knowledgeable about both Poe and Pinkerton.
Allan Pinkerton is the head detective of Chicago but wants to start his own detective agency. His partner Edward Rucker believes that Pinkerton could gain publicity for his agency if he could investigate the death of Poe who invented detective fiction. Pinkerton knows nothing about Poe when the story begins but he accepts the assignment and travels to Baltimore where Poe died. At first it seem that he is making no progress but when he identifies the person responsible for Poe's death he must outwit the killer before he is killed himself.
This novel raises some interesting points about plagiarism as well as the moral climate of the times. I would recommend it to both mystery lovers and fans of Poe.
Allan Pinkerton is the head detective of Chicago but wants to start his own detective agency. His partner Edward Rucker believes that Pinkerton could gain publicity for his agency if he could investigate the death of Poe who invented detective fiction. Pinkerton knows nothing about Poe when the story begins but he accepts the assignment and travels to Baltimore where Poe died. At first it seem that he is making no progress but when he identifies the person responsible for Poe's death he must outwit the killer before he is killed himself.
This novel raises some interesting points about plagiarism as well as the moral climate of the times. I would recommend it to both mystery lovers and fans of Poe.
March 4, 2013
As most of you know, I love Edgar Allan Poe, and when this review copy was offered to me by the author, I jumped at it. I was afraid that my high expectations for Nevermore would be dashed by a pale Poe-ish tale. Fortunately, it’s good — it’s damn good.
I was hooked by the first chapter. On more than one occasion, I thought that Monahan had missed a chance to pull in another reference to a piece of Poe’s work only to see that reference made a few pages later. It is a really well crafted novel.
The characters are fleshed out well, and they feel right. The intimate moments of Allan and Molly were titillating. I like the flawed character of Allan refraining from alcohol to please Molly. The story had the feel of an old film noir detective story.
Twenty chapters of Allan Pinkerton were not enough, and I hope that there will be more Pinkerton tales in the future. I highly recommend it and give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5. It’s a must-have for your home library.
I was hooked by the first chapter. On more than one occasion, I thought that Monahan had missed a chance to pull in another reference to a piece of Poe’s work only to see that reference made a few pages later. It is a really well crafted novel.
The characters are fleshed out well, and they feel right. The intimate moments of Allan and Molly were titillating. I like the flawed character of Allan refraining from alcohol to please Molly. The story had the feel of an old film noir detective story.
Twenty chapters of Allan Pinkerton were not enough, and I hope that there will be more Pinkerton tales in the future. I highly recommend it and give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5. It’s a must-have for your home library.
May 21, 2014
Monahan puts an interesting spin on a historical mystery by introducing Allan Pinkerton, the father of the famous detective agency, at the very start of his career. Aiming to make a name for himself, Pinkerton sets out to solve the mysterious death of author Edgar Allan Poe, who was discovered delirious and fatally ill on the streets of Baltimore several days before his untimely demise. Men with motives for revenge abound, but was there one who hated Poe enough to devise a plot sufficiently intricate to make the murder seem like accident or self-inflicted injury? Only Pinkerton and the few surrounding him at the end of this novel ever knew for sure.
I enjoyed this book but felt that the solution to the puzzle - and the hero's ability to get himself out of sticky situations - were a bit too contrived. For a novel that required the twisting of historic facts and events into a believable work of fiction, though, it deserves praise for creativity and entertainment.
I enjoyed this book but felt that the solution to the puzzle - and the hero's ability to get himself out of sticky situations - were a bit too contrived. For a novel that required the twisting of historic facts and events into a believable work of fiction, though, it deserves praise for creativity and entertainment.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews