The Black Maria

Old Philadelphia #3

by Mark Graham

Author Mark Graham masterfully evokes 19th-century Philadelphia with The Black Maria, his Edgar-nominated latest to feature Philly copper Wilton McCleary. While scouring the seedy section of town known as Shantyville at the height of the World's Fair Centennial Exhibition, McCleary, who's been lambasted in the press for his apparent botch of a well-documented kidnapping case, discovers the horribly mutilated body of a young girl; a strange-looking needle protrudes from her sickeningly damaged neck. McCleary is soon unofficially on the case, which his Cap, among others, is desperately trying to bury. Brilliantly envisioned and affecting, The Black Maria is a must for fans of dark, gritty, multilayered historicals. (Andrew LeCount)

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Mark Graham is the Edgar award-winning author of "Black Maria", third in a series of historical novels which have been translated into several languages. He studied medieval history and religious studies at Connecticut College and has a master's degree in English literature from Kutztown University. He lives in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[S.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Maria follows Philadelphia Police Detective Wilton McCleary as he exposes the seedy underbelly of the Centennial Exposition, in a gripping search to find a savage murderer. Page-turning suspense drives the plot, while carefully-researched details of late 19th Century Philadelphia life and times draw readers into the gaslight noir of McCleary’s world. Author Mark Graham’s attention to period detail has never been better, nor more fully-realized, than it is here. Readers will find themselves so caught-up in the sights, sounds, smells and excitement of the Centennial Exposition that, after they turn the last page, they’ll have a hard time believing they didn’t just travel back in time.

[Kirsty Darbyshire]

so far this is a dull description of philadelphia's centennial fair of 1876. i wouldn't have picked it up if it hadn't have been a group discussion read and i hope the storyline gets a bit more engaging and less sedentary soon.

I can't bring myself to pick this book up again to finish it. I'm just bored with the whole thing, characters, plot, even the scenery, which is probably the best bit, is boring me. I don't care what happened at all. I'm not even intruigued enough to look through other peoples posts in the group discussion to find out what happened in the end of the book.

This book won the 2001 Edgar Award for the Best Paperback Original. I'd expect an award winner to be a well rounded book in terms of writing, characters, plot and setting and to excel in at least one of those categories. I don't mind that a book I don't personally enjoy can win awards but I can't see anything in this book to make it award worthy.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book mostly because I'm a completist (plus I had already scored a copy on Paperback Swap before I got the unrelentingly bleak second book in the series, The Resurrectionist). I had a hard time getting started, mostly because I knew it was going to be a long revisit to a dark, dirty, unfair, and corrupt world. But I was so absorbed in the book that I nearly missed my bus, so I guess I did get into it. Have your neck brace ready, because the final 50 or so pages are an exercise in whiplash.

[Elizabeth Desole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok the tail end of my turn of the century murder marathon. OK. The plot was basically good but the lead character spends way too much time ruminating on good and evil and I still didn't give a hoot about him. Maybe he just failed next to the two previous turn of the century serial killer books. I think I need to focus on a new theme (as long as it's not more autistic characters for a while)
Not a bad beach read and some of the centennial Philadelphia descriptions are very interesting

[Mark]

Couldn't resist adding this one. Which I've heard is an excellent, excellent mystery. Not that I'm prejudiced in any way.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery from history

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

couldn't get into it

[Rhonda Sleighter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Mark Graham paints a good picture of Philadelphia in 1876 and the atmosphere of the World Expo that year. His characters are believable. I will definitely read more books by Mark Graham.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: police detective Wilton McCleary discovers the mutilated body of a girl in Shantyville with a needle sticking out of her neck.