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Peter Fallon #1
Back Bay
Meet the Pratt clan. Driven men. Determined women. Through six turbulent generations, they would pursue a lost Paul Revere treasure. And turn a family secret into an obsession that could destroy them. Here is the novel that launched William Martin's astonishing literary career and became an instant bestseller. From the grit and romance of old Boston to exclusive—and dangerous—Back Bay today, this sweeping saga paints an unforgettable portrait of a powerful dynasty beset by the forces of history...and a heritage of greed, lust, murder and betrayal.
532 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
297 people are currently reading
2188 people want to read
About the author
William Martin
371 books393 followersMeet 'the king of the historical thriller' (Providence Journal). William Martin is a New York Times bestselling author of twelve novels, an award-winning PBS documentary, book reviews, magazine articles, and a cult classic horror movie, too. He is best known for his historical fiction, which has chronicled the lives of the great and the anonymous in American history while bringing to life legendary American locations, from Cape Cod to the Sierra foothills during the California Gold Rush. His latest, December '41, sweeps us across America in the weeks after Pearl Harbor and has been hailed as "propulsive," "cinematic,' and "riveting" by critics. He was the recipient of the prestigious 2005 New England Book Award, given to "an author whose body of work stands as a significant contribution to the culture of the region." And in 2015, the USS CONSTITUTION Museum gave him the Samuel Eliot Morison Award. He has three grown children and lives near Boston with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
March 26, 2015
Martin introduces the reader to the Pratts; a family steeped in history who hold a deep secret that traces back to the time of George Washington. After being given aa Paul Revere silver tea set, Washington promises to keep it on display in the White House, much to the chagrin of one Horace Taylor Pratt, Massachusetts Founding Father. After the tea set is stolen from the Madison White House during the War of 1812, Pratt seeks to secure its ownership through a number of negotiations and keep the profits inside his family circle. However, an accident leaves the tea set hidden somewhere in the Back Bay part of Boston, and the mystery flows down for six Pratt generations. Modern historian Peter Fallon stumbles upon the Pratt secret when perusing some old family papers and begins to ask questions not only about the tea set, but the Pratts in general. Juxtaposing the historical development of the Pratts and their secret with Fallon's modern search for answers blends the two stories into a single plot line that could mean the end of Fallon. The tea set appears to be the thread that keeps the story moving, though Martin recounts many sub-plots in the Pratt family history that create a rich and captivating tale for the reader. Less a mystery or historical document chase than a snapshot of a family riddled with secrets of their own, Martin captivates and educates the reader continually. Well worth the time invested and sure to whet the reader's appetite for the rest of the Fallon series.
I was not sure what to expect when I started the book, as it appeared to play out like a modern historian uncovering a secret item, lost in history, whose reappearance could answer many questions. Layer that with a family trying to preserve their own secrets and a few sinister villains, creating an all-around decent novel. However, Martin takes the reader through history to build on the mystery while addressing issues of the day and weaving threads between six generations, all culminating in the modern discovery of the secret. Martin uses the alternating chapters to keep the reader shifting their mind in order to better understand al the characters who appear throughout. Threads woven throughout the story come together nicely in the end and the reader will surely have at least a few forehead-slapping moments. I am eager to see what else Martin has in store in the series, set in and around Boston, an area that has always intrigued me.
Kudos, Mr. Martin for such an interesting opening novel. I can see this is only the beginning of what could be a highly captivating set of novels.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I was not sure what to expect when I started the book, as it appeared to play out like a modern historian uncovering a secret item, lost in history, whose reappearance could answer many questions. Layer that with a family trying to preserve their own secrets and a few sinister villains, creating an all-around decent novel. However, Martin takes the reader through history to build on the mystery while addressing issues of the day and weaving threads between six generations, all culminating in the modern discovery of the secret. Martin uses the alternating chapters to keep the reader shifting their mind in order to better understand al the characters who appear throughout. Threads woven throughout the story come together nicely in the end and the reader will surely have at least a few forehead-slapping moments. I am eager to see what else Martin has in store in the series, set in and around Boston, an area that has always intrigued me.
Kudos, Mr. Martin for such an interesting opening novel. I can see this is only the beginning of what could be a highly captivating set of novels.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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January 11, 2025I have enjoyed all of William Martin's books, because there is a well-researched historical component that unfolds in parallel with a related current story. It's like unraveling a mystery along with the characters. And the stories are distinct; he's not just writing the same formula over and over. He's one of the authors that I look for in a bookstore, hoping there is something new on the shelf that I haven't read yet.
September 5, 2009
I first read this book when it came out, and I remember enjoying it thoroughly. When this year's Brookline Reads list appeared, it was one of several choices and the only one available at the library at the time, so I reread it. Perhaps it's just that I'm not as fond of the long family tales that stretch over several centuries, but while I found the quasi-historical part interesting, I thought the story itself was contrived and the writing uninspired. I guess sometimes you really can't go home again . . .
February 17, 2013
I had read three or four stand-alone books by William Martin and enjoyed them all so I thought it was high time I began reading his Peter Fallon series. Back Bay is actually the first novel he published, more than 30 years ago. And, as expected, I enjoyed it very much.
This is a complex story that weaves historical events with a contemporary thriller/mystery-type plot. Peter Fallon is a present day student/historian working on his PhD and becomes entangled in a 200 year old mystery concerning a silver tea set crafted by Paul Revere. What follows is a multi-generational treasure hunt that drives the other aspects of the plot. I love the way the historical parts of the story are woven in among the contemporary scenes, allowing us to follow the history of the tea set and its impact on one very important and prominent New England family, the Pratts. Chapters are presented alternately, with a historical chapter taking place in, say 1789, followed by a contemporary one. I've read novels written this way before and sometimes they can be disruptive or downright confusing. But not so with this one. There are a lot of plot threads here that have to connect across time and Martin does a fantastic job of keeping them all straight and allowing us readers to follow along easily, building suspense and intrigue along the way.
I also have to mention the setting. Boston, especially historical Boston has long been a favorite of mine, ever since I read Johnny Tremain back in the 7th grade. So along with the history of the Pratt family and the tea set, we get to witness the town of Boston grow through its history. I've found the biggest theme in all of Martin's books is that we are the products of history and of our own personal decisions; the seemingly insignificant choice of some ancestor who made one small decision and thereby changed the lives of generations yet unborn, and of course, of the grand movements of history that affect us all.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next books in this series.
This is a complex story that weaves historical events with a contemporary thriller/mystery-type plot. Peter Fallon is a present day student/historian working on his PhD and becomes entangled in a 200 year old mystery concerning a silver tea set crafted by Paul Revere. What follows is a multi-generational treasure hunt that drives the other aspects of the plot. I love the way the historical parts of the story are woven in among the contemporary scenes, allowing us to follow the history of the tea set and its impact on one very important and prominent New England family, the Pratts. Chapters are presented alternately, with a historical chapter taking place in, say 1789, followed by a contemporary one. I've read novels written this way before and sometimes they can be disruptive or downright confusing. But not so with this one. There are a lot of plot threads here that have to connect across time and Martin does a fantastic job of keeping them all straight and allowing us readers to follow along easily, building suspense and intrigue along the way.
I also have to mention the setting. Boston, especially historical Boston has long been a favorite of mine, ever since I read Johnny Tremain back in the 7th grade. So along with the history of the Pratt family and the tea set, we get to witness the town of Boston grow through its history. I've found the biggest theme in all of Martin's books is that we are the products of history and of our own personal decisions; the seemingly insignificant choice of some ancestor who made one small decision and thereby changed the lives of generations yet unborn, and of course, of the grand movements of history that affect us all.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next books in this series.
March 13, 2014
I love Boston, and I love reading books set in Boston. But despite all the references to my favorite city, this book was too unrealistic and ridiculous for me to really enjoy it.
Peter Fallon is a Harvard PhD student, struggling to finish his dissertation. While researching his topic, he gets drawn into the mystery of a Paul Revere tea set, missing for over 150 years. As he attempts to find the tea set, its long history stretching back to 1789 is slowly revealed.
There were things I really liked about this book. I loved how the story of the tea set paralleled the development of Back Bay. The story of Back Bay is so interesting to me, so it was fun to read a fictional take on its history. Likewise, the book does include a fair amount of Boston/New England history and can even be slightly educational. Lastly, I love Boston dearly. I live there now and lived in Back Bay for three years. So all the references to the area were great - I could exactly picture where these events were taking place and the city is as much as character as the protagonist.
But while I loved the setting and history of the book, the plot ended up being so over-the-top. The main character is an academic. While the story starts out reasonably with him conducting research, its ends with him fighting mob hitmen, rescuing old ladies, being in a boat chase, and even violently destroying public property. Really, that's where the book lost me: And unfortunately, the end of the book is quite abrupt without much resolution.
So the main character becomes this sort of James Bond superhero type. Which isn't all that surprising when you read the introduction and learn the author based the character on himself. It makes it seem like this all some sort of wish fulfillment on the author's part. And that's fine to a degree; we all have fantasies of being awesome and badass. But it got creepy when the trite love story kicked in and the female character sleeps with the main character even after saying that she wanted him to back-off and even though she was devastated by her brother's suicide only two days earlier. It was not believable at all and again, it just felt like wish fulfillment, especially when the women appreciates the size of his erection. I was uncomfortable with their relationship.
And when the main character isn't up to thrilling heroics or bedding ladies, the story mainly revolves around a family trying to hold on to their corporation. Hostile takeovers and stock options are not that exciting. And this book is long - 500+ pages - so there is a fair amount of family infighting and politics all about their company. Not thrilling stuff.
I loved all the Boston detail, but the plot of this one was just silly. It reminded me strongly of The Da Vinci Code, though with more history and less conspiracy. New England-based fans of that book may enjoy this one, but I wouldn't recommend it.
Peter Fallon is a Harvard PhD student, struggling to finish his dissertation. While researching his topic, he gets drawn into the mystery of a Paul Revere tea set, missing for over 150 years. As he attempts to find the tea set, its long history stretching back to 1789 is slowly revealed.
There were things I really liked about this book. I loved how the story of the tea set paralleled the development of Back Bay. The story of Back Bay is so interesting to me, so it was fun to read a fictional take on its history. Likewise, the book does include a fair amount of Boston/New England history and can even be slightly educational. Lastly, I love Boston dearly. I live there now and lived in Back Bay for three years. So all the references to the area were great - I could exactly picture where these events were taking place and the city is as much as character as the protagonist.
But while I loved the setting and history of the book, the plot ended up being so over-the-top. The main character is an academic. While the story starts out reasonably with him conducting research, its ends with him fighting mob hitmen, rescuing old ladies, being in a boat chase, and even violently destroying public property. Really, that's where the book lost me: And unfortunately, the end of the book is quite abrupt without much resolution.
So the main character becomes this sort of James Bond superhero type. Which isn't all that surprising when you read the introduction and learn the author based the character on himself. It makes it seem like this all some sort of wish fulfillment on the author's part. And that's fine to a degree; we all have fantasies of being awesome and badass. But it got creepy when the trite love story kicked in and the female character sleeps with the main character even after saying that she wanted him to back-off and even though she was devastated by her brother's suicide only two days earlier. It was not believable at all and again, it just felt like wish fulfillment, especially when the women appreciates the size of his erection. I was uncomfortable with their relationship.
And when the main character isn't up to thrilling heroics or bedding ladies, the story mainly revolves around a family trying to hold on to their corporation. Hostile takeovers and stock options are not that exciting. And this book is long - 500+ pages - so there is a fair amount of family infighting and politics all about their company. Not thrilling stuff.
I loved all the Boston detail, but the plot of this one was just silly. It reminded me strongly of The Da Vinci Code, though with more history and less conspiracy. New England-based fans of that book may enjoy this one, but I wouldn't recommend it.
January 11, 2023
Boston. 1789. To modern day.
Peter Fallon & Evangeline Carrington live. The ending left me wondering if there's a sequel to this book.
The Golden Gate angle Tea Set made by Paul Revere, given to George Washington, lost during the British siege on President Madison's house, and stolen from Dolley Madison's care, sailed to Boston on a stolen schooner, rowed into Back Bay in a rowboat and sunk to the bottom of the Easterly Channel.
Nearly all the Pratt family have died over this "buried treasure".
Only to be found under the church in Copley Square, then stolen again, and blown to the bottom of the open water of the bay . Never to be found again? Is that what we're led to believe by that ending?
They are all better off without it?
It's a piece of America's History!!
Bring it to the museum, to replace the fake. Any one associated with its whereabouts for the last 200 years, is now dead anyway!!!
So, as you can tell, it's a POWERFUL story!
It's long, some details didn't matter, but helped describe the surroundings. Once we get to the nitty gritty, it's quite an amazing tale! ( Keeping track of all the Pratts was futile!)
I can't wait to read Wm.Martins next book, Cape Cod !
( because I grew up in Plymouth county, right between Cape & Boston!)
Peter Fallon & Evangeline Carrington live. The ending left me wondering if there's a sequel to this book.
The Golden Gate angle Tea Set made by Paul Revere, given to George Washington, lost during the British siege on President Madison's house, and stolen from Dolley Madison's care, sailed to Boston on a stolen schooner, rowed into Back Bay in a rowboat and sunk to the bottom of the Easterly Channel.
Nearly all the Pratt family have died over this "buried treasure".
Only to be found under the church in Copley Square, then stolen again, and blown to the bottom of the open water of the bay . Never to be found again? Is that what we're led to believe by that ending?
They are all better off without it?
It's a piece of America's History!!
Bring it to the museum, to replace the fake. Any one associated with its whereabouts for the last 200 years, is now dead anyway!!!
So, as you can tell, it's a POWERFUL story!
It's long, some details didn't matter, but helped describe the surroundings. Once we get to the nitty gritty, it's quite an amazing tale! ( Keeping track of all the Pratts was futile!)
I can't wait to read Wm.Martins next book, Cape Cod !
( because I grew up in Plymouth county, right between Cape & Boston!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2012
I really enjoyed this. Both of Martin's books I've read, Back Bay and Cape Cod, I haven't been able to put down. I have lived in Boston for many many years and spent several years on Cape Cod. I'm descended from the Mayflower and a crusty old sailor named Phineas Pratt...what with the main character family's name in this book being Pratt....well there you go! It was very interesting reading about the filling in of the back bay. One of those things, like living in NYC and never going up the Empire State Building, because you see it every day....Now, I take much more interst in my wanderings in that area. It's a good mystery, with strong characters. If you have any interst in Boston's history you should enjoy this book.
May 10, 2016
Historian Peter Fallon is searching through some old documents when he uncovers references to a Paul Revere tea pot, a gift to George Washington, that has been missing since 1812. It is rumored that the wealthy Pratt family had something to do with its disappearance. Befriending the family matriarch, Fallon races against time to discover the Golden Eagle's hiding place. This is my first Martin novel and hopefully not my last. What a story teller! Loved how the chapters alternate between past and present and covers six generations of a prominent Boston family. Fast paced and cleverly told. Believeable characters and situations. A real page turner!
December 31, 2013
This is not an in depth review. Overall, a good story with an unsatisfying ending. I believe this is the author's first book in the Peter Fallon series. It is a good alternate historical fiction/mystery yarn. It was also pretty long. It could have used some editing. The author leads you along, so there are really no jaw dropping reveals. I will read some more these books, as they are a fast fun read. If you need something light and fun (think Dan Brown meets National Treasure) this is good start.
March 13, 2018
Excellent book. Historical data was very interesting and the story was very entertaining and moving.
June 23, 2019
A re-read-read before years ago. First in the Peter Fallon series. Looking forward to the series once again
September 25, 2016
What a tale! William Martin takes us on a tour of American History beginning in 1789 when, in Boston, a Paul Revere silver tea set is presented to His Excellency, President George Washington, during his visit to the city, but at the protest of one Horace Taylor Pratt, Revolutionary War veteran. In 1814, the silver tea set mysteriously disappears from the presidential mansion during the British assault on the swampy and young US capitol and becomes the kernel of a suspenseful tale of the multi-threaded corporate greed of what becomes the Pratt corporate empire, woven around the rich history of Boston.
The story has many twists and turns, but what makes it such a delightful read is the author's ability to suspend disbelief to the point where you, the reader, are willing to say "ok, that could happen."
Martin leaves no plot-hole stones unturned, making you wonder where historical and technical fact ends and fiction begins.
This is required reading for any Bostonian, and highly recommended reading for everyone else!
The story has many twists and turns, but what makes it such a delightful read is the author's ability to suspend disbelief to the point where you, the reader, are willing to say "ok, that could happen."
Martin leaves no plot-hole stones unturned, making you wonder where historical and technical fact ends and fiction begins.
This is required reading for any Bostonian, and highly recommended reading for everyone else!
August 5, 2008
I am really loving this book! I am already half through it & just started it tonight!! It's about a prominent New England family who holds the secret to a missing Paul Revere treasure. I was surprised to find out this book was published in 1979..long before all the other books of a similar genre. It's hard to put down! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!
Read this book in 2 days & loved it! Can't wait to read the next in the series, Harvard Yard. I had a hard time putting this one down!
Read this book in 2 days & loved it! Can't wait to read the next in the series, Harvard Yard. I had a hard time putting this one down!
October 1, 2008
I just never liked the main characters nor thought much of the author's writing style. I didn't get caught up in the plot nor did I think it dug into early-american history or culture despite having the perfect opportunity to do so. I know this was a best seller, but it just didn't work for me...
August 12, 2013
This is the first William Martin book I've read. I wanted to get into the Peter Fallon series. So, I went back to where it all started. I really enjoyed the book and how the one story was told from two different time periods. I'm still not completely sure how I feel about the ending. However, I'm definitely a William Martin fan and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 10, 2016
I love Boston, Boston's history, and William Martin's writing. This book was the trifecta. Wonderful!
September 14, 2016
Really, really cool...very interesting to read the history of Boston buried inside an interesting story. The book encouraged me to plow through maps, histories, and tours.
March 28, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Back Bay. I am a Boston girl born and bred and educated. I learned a lot about Boston and I enjoy the format of past and present.
February 2, 2023
🫖🫖🫖🫖/5
I genuinely enjoyed this read. I had to take some points off for a few reasons. Number one I won’t say because it will spoil it. And number two – it was too verbose at times, but not enough to make it less enjoyable overall.
I love a book that starts with a family tree. I have always been a sucker for being able to turn back and see where folks fit in the scheme of it. The Pratt family, God bless them, were the same as the rest of us in their pure dysfunction. Ambition is not a bad quality to have or inherit, but like any drive it depends on what is done with it. A transport company that grows into something much bigger. Deaths that seem a little too convenient in their explanations and a historian bound to uncover it all. Peter Fallon begins looking at the Pratt family as part of his history dissertation and uncovers a note in the family papers that takes him on a surprising journey looking for a rare Paul Revere tea set. He finds unexpected allies as well as enemies, because why is someone now trying to kill him and where has the matriarch of the family gone? Filled with intrigue, a good “whodunit”, and family drama fill the reader’s cup to the brim. A long book, but worth the time it took to read.
Book Quote: “But within our story, everything has two faces, dual meanings, and it is up to us to find the face of goodness and hope.”
I genuinely enjoyed this read. I had to take some points off for a few reasons. Number one I won’t say because it will spoil it. And number two – it was too verbose at times, but not enough to make it less enjoyable overall.
I love a book that starts with a family tree. I have always been a sucker for being able to turn back and see where folks fit in the scheme of it. The Pratt family, God bless them, were the same as the rest of us in their pure dysfunction. Ambition is not a bad quality to have or inherit, but like any drive it depends on what is done with it. A transport company that grows into something much bigger. Deaths that seem a little too convenient in their explanations and a historian bound to uncover it all. Peter Fallon begins looking at the Pratt family as part of his history dissertation and uncovers a note in the family papers that takes him on a surprising journey looking for a rare Paul Revere tea set. He finds unexpected allies as well as enemies, because why is someone now trying to kill him and where has the matriarch of the family gone? Filled with intrigue, a good “whodunit”, and family drama fill the reader’s cup to the brim. A long book, but worth the time it took to read.
Book Quote: “But within our story, everything has two faces, dual meanings, and it is up to us to find the face of goodness and hope.”
May 22, 2019
My second William Martin book and it did not disappoint. I personally liked the 1st book I read by him better, but this one was still amazing. Can't wait to find his other books and continue reading him.
March 28, 2023
Fabulous Page Turner
Yes, I know I’m late to the table. 'Back Bay' was released in 1979, and I only got around to reading it in 2023. Better late than never. I was captivated from the very start and could not put the book down.
Follow the Pratt family from October 1789 to modern-day Boston (in this case, the 1970s.) Pratt family intrigue, greed, and mystery compel modern-day Peter Fallon to investigate the Pratts and the disappearance of the Paul Revere silver tea set created at the time of George Washington’s visit to Boston.
Characters will bite you from the page. My favorite—Abigail Pratt—is brilliant, manipulative, and creative. What’s not to love.
I highly recommend this book. I have recently discovered William Martin’s work and will not let go.
Yes, I know I’m late to the table. 'Back Bay' was released in 1979, and I only got around to reading it in 2023. Better late than never. I was captivated from the very start and could not put the book down.
Follow the Pratt family from October 1789 to modern-day Boston (in this case, the 1970s.) Pratt family intrigue, greed, and mystery compel modern-day Peter Fallon to investigate the Pratts and the disappearance of the Paul Revere silver tea set created at the time of George Washington’s visit to Boston.
Characters will bite you from the page. My favorite—Abigail Pratt—is brilliant, manipulative, and creative. What’s not to love.
I highly recommend this book. I have recently discovered William Martin’s work and will not let go.
January 14, 2023
I read this for the 2023 Reading Across the USA because it is set in Boston, Mass. The concurrent timeline was interesting, especially since I have never read any of the other books in the Peter Fallon series. There's a bit of a feel of "National Treasure" to the story, which makes it interesting.
January 8, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book most of the way through. I thought it was very interesting and creative because there is a well-researched historical component that unfolds in parallel with a related current story. It's like unraveling a mystery along with the characters. Also, I love the city of Boston and he took the time to study the streets and what it's actually like to be there. The history of Boston was very captivating as well as picturing the differences between the various time periods in the book. Although this is all true, the ending was very unrealistic and I couldn't connect well with the characters of the story. There were also too many holes in the plot as a whole that threw me off. Overall, this was a captivating book and I appreciate the time Martin took to discover all of Boston and its ins and outs.
July 9, 2016
Mixed review on this one. I love historical fiction and anything Boston-themed. However, I kept falling in...and then...out of love with this book. I found the War of 1812 era sections intriguing and enjoyed the Evangeline subplot, but then all of the other circuitous subplots got added and it felt like the book kept starting and stopping and taking random detours here and there. The overall story was worthy, but I did get stuck in places, especially the Rule family history there with the labor riot. Unnecessarily complicating. The plot did get a bit unbelievable in places, mainly the action sequences and the ending was frustrating, but there were enough nuggets here to make it probable that I will read the second book.
September 21, 2013
Plus side: loved reading the Boston history and picturing the differences between the various time periods in the book, as well as now [the book was written over 30 years ago]. Minus side: completely unbelievable ending, and a confusing cast of characters (many of whom have the same name, since this is about a dynastic family). I had to get a later edition of the book from a different library, since the original edition I had did not include the helpful family tree. But even the family tree is limited, since some of the characters are descendants of non-family members, and their relationships are revealed within the story. A good read but not great.
June 25, 2020
Loved it! The ending was anti-climactic. The first time I read it I loved it. I loved the details about the streets of Boston down to the Copley Plaza MBTA station. I really enjoyed reading about the mixing of the social classes. I enjoyed how Martin acknowledged the existence of a large Lithuanian minority in Boston. It seems as if it was the inspiration for the Nicolas Cage movie "National Treasure." The second time I read it I felt rather disgusted with the irredeemable qualities of many of the Pratt family. I'm beginning a third time. Any time I want to go home there is always Back Bay.
April 20, 2011
I heard the author on a radio interview. Thought I try his first novel.
Loved the way he weaved the story back and forth between the past from the 1780's through the 1950's) and the present.
Loose ends all tied up nicely.
But....the ending was a little disappointing for me. Why? boom-boom, it's over, done. With the build up I had expected more.
Will I read any of his other books?
He did say in the interview that he has gotten to be a better story teller over the years.
So yes, I will read his other books.
Loved the way he weaved the story back and forth between the past from the 1780's through the 1950's) and the present.
Loose ends all tied up nicely.
But....the ending was a little disappointing for me. Why? boom-boom, it's over, done. With the build up I had expected more.
Will I read any of his other books?
He did say in the interview that he has gotten to be a better story teller over the years.
So yes, I will read his other books.
Read
September 9, 2012I really enjoy historical novels/fiction, ala Steve Berry. I enjoy stories that weave actual historical people and events into a tale of fiction and, with that being said, I enoyed "Back Bay" by William Martin. What I didn't like (which nearly ruined the entire book for me) was the abrupt and completely unrealistic end to the novel. It seemed like the author got tired of the story and simply decided to end it as quickly as possible. Since this is Martin's first book and was released in 1979, I can only hope that his later works conclude better than this one.
December 26, 2012
Saw William Martin interviewed by Emily Rooney. The interview was quite interesting and you couldn't help but like W.M. He writes historical novels and researches the history for each book for 2 or more years. This book is 500+ pages which actually went by fast. It was interesting reading the history of the Back Bay and facts about filling in wetlands to make land for building in the Back Bay. I enjoyed the book; however, I thought the ending was a bit disappointing given the intensity of the book. I did buy all the books in this series (5) as I do like his writing.
June 21, 2015
This was a fairly interesting book, with a good story line, and interesting ties to history. At times it was a bit hard to follow because of the number of characters to keep track of and the way it bounded back and forth in time. But it held my interest and was an enjoyable read. My main problem with it was that I thought the ending was incredibly lame. I will not go into details so as not to spoil it for anyone interested in reading it, but...the ending was lame!
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