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Archie Lean #1
The Truth of All Things
Two hundred years after the Salem witch trials, in the summer of 1892, a grisly new witch hunt is beginning....
When newly appointed Deputy Marshal Archie Lean is called in to investigate a prostitute's murder in Portland, Maine, he's surprised to find the body laid out like a pentagram and pinned to the earth with a pitchfork. He's even more surprised to learn that this death by "sticking" is a traditional method of killing a witch.
Baffled by the ritualized murder scene, Lean secretly enlists the help of historian Helen Prescott and brilliant criminalist Perceval Grey. Distrusted by officials because of his mixed Abenaki Indian ancestry, Grey is even more notorious for combining modern investigative techniques with an almost eerie perceptiveness. Although skeptical of each other's methods, together the detectives pursue the killer's trail through postmortems and opium dens, into the spiritualist societies and lunatic asylums of gothic New England.
Before the killer closes in on his final victim, Lean and Grey must decipher the secret pattern to these murders--a pattern hidden within the dark history of the Salem witch trials.
When newly appointed Deputy Marshal Archie Lean is called in to investigate a prostitute's murder in Portland, Maine, he's surprised to find the body laid out like a pentagram and pinned to the earth with a pitchfork. He's even more surprised to learn that this death by "sticking" is a traditional method of killing a witch.
Baffled by the ritualized murder scene, Lean secretly enlists the help of historian Helen Prescott and brilliant criminalist Perceval Grey. Distrusted by officials because of his mixed Abenaki Indian ancestry, Grey is even more notorious for combining modern investigative techniques with an almost eerie perceptiveness. Although skeptical of each other's methods, together the detectives pursue the killer's trail through postmortems and opium dens, into the spiritualist societies and lunatic asylums of gothic New England.
Before the killer closes in on his final victim, Lean and Grey must decipher the secret pattern to these murders--a pattern hidden within the dark history of the Salem witch trials.
404 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2012
108 people are currently reading
3195 people want to read
About the author
Kieran Shields
6 books82 followersKIERAN SHIELDS grew up in Portland, Maine. He's the author of the historical ysteries The Truth of All Things, A Study in Revenge, as well as a fantasy/adventure The Stone Ship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 315 reviews
February 3, 2012
This is a rich historical mystery set in 1892 Portland, Maine, complete with ritual murders, sinister madmen, secret societies, and seances.
Women in New England are being murdered, and their bodies displayed in gruesome fashion accompanied by strange symbolic objects and messages written in the Abenaki Indian language. Local deputy marshal Archie Lean and his colleagues aren't quite up to the task of solving the murder of Maggie Keene in Portland. The coroner brings in Perceval Grey, a half-Abenaki criminalist with a brilliant mind and a sparkling wit.
Grey and Lean work with the town librarian Helen Prescott to discover how the murders might be connected to the Salem witch trials of 200 years before.
Kieran Shields's first novel has atmosphere aplenty, and a wealth of historical detail that recreates Portland, Maine of 1892 in all the particulars. At times the story slows to a crawl while the author sets the scene for authenticity. This is more noticeable in the first half, and things pick up in the second half as the mystery gets more exciting.
Despite the slow patches, I have to go with four stars for the quality of the writing and the dedication to complexity in both plot and historical context.
Women in New England are being murdered, and their bodies displayed in gruesome fashion accompanied by strange symbolic objects and messages written in the Abenaki Indian language. Local deputy marshal Archie Lean and his colleagues aren't quite up to the task of solving the murder of Maggie Keene in Portland. The coroner brings in Perceval Grey, a half-Abenaki criminalist with a brilliant mind and a sparkling wit.
Grey and Lean work with the town librarian Helen Prescott to discover how the murders might be connected to the Salem witch trials of 200 years before.
Kieran Shields's first novel has atmosphere aplenty, and a wealth of historical detail that recreates Portland, Maine of 1892 in all the particulars. At times the story slows to a crawl while the author sets the scene for authenticity. This is more noticeable in the first half, and things pick up in the second half as the mystery gets more exciting.
Despite the slow patches, I have to go with four stars for the quality of the writing and the dedication to complexity in both plot and historical context.
January 18, 2016
This was a good effort from a first time novelist. Good, but not great. The plot was clever and well thought out, and the writing was generally good.
However, there were numerous instances of feeling like I had wandered into a middle book of a series, rather than a first novel, with no idea of the background. For example, one of the two main characters, Percival Gray, was half native American, yet there was no explanation as to why his mother, a girl from the upper echelon of Portland society, married a Native American (or Indian, as they were called during that era). Another character, the librarian whose name I can't remember, had a daughter, but no explanation about the girl's father, only some vague cryptic references such as "He's dead to me," implying that he was alive somewhere, just not there.
Another thing that irked me was the author's continual use of the the word "smirked". I think of a smirk as an unpleasant expression; Democrat that I am, Bush II smirked; bullies smirk; in fact, the dictionary definition of a smirk is "to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way". I'm not sure if the author thought he was being clever using smirk instead of other descriptions such as... "smile"...but it was extremely annoying. Someone was smirking almost on every page, and I, personally, would not want to be working with someone that continually smirked at me. His editor should have caught this one. The only thing that I am going to truly remember about this book is the smirk.
However, there were numerous instances of feeling like I had wandered into a middle book of a series, rather than a first novel, with no idea of the background. For example, one of the two main characters, Percival Gray, was half native American, yet there was no explanation as to why his mother, a girl from the upper echelon of Portland society, married a Native American (or Indian, as they were called during that era). Another character, the librarian whose name I can't remember, had a daughter, but no explanation about the girl's father, only some vague cryptic references such as "He's dead to me," implying that he was alive somewhere, just not there.
Another thing that irked me was the author's continual use of the the word "smirked". I think of a smirk as an unpleasant expression; Democrat that I am, Bush II smirked; bullies smirk; in fact, the dictionary definition of a smirk is "to smile in an affected, smug, or offensively familiar way". I'm not sure if the author thought he was being clever using smirk instead of other descriptions such as... "smile"...but it was extremely annoying. Someone was smirking almost on every page, and I, personally, would not want to be working with someone that continually smirked at me. His editor should have caught this one. The only thing that I am going to truly remember about this book is the smirk.
July 15, 2013
A decent first novel about a Sherlock Holmes-like character and a policeman in Portland Maine, 1892. The plot is about a hunt for a serial killer who is murdering women in order to fulfill some old prophecy.
In general the mystery side of the story is almost obvious. Also, the author doesn't quite convince me that the story is set in the time period it purports to be in, particularly when it comes to frequent references to the presence of electricity and telephones in a time period when those advances were only just starting out. It may be true that both existed in that time and place but the attitudes of the people using them are too blase to be believable.
Where this story actually shines is in the characterizations. Although the one character is a very obvious expy of Sherlock Holmes, he is lighter and funnier than Holmes and his 'Watson' is a sardonic fellow who interacts well with him. I'm not sure the romantic note thrown in was necessary, but am willing to see how things go in the sequel.
In general the mystery side of the story is almost obvious. Also, the author doesn't quite convince me that the story is set in the time period it purports to be in, particularly when it comes to frequent references to the presence of electricity and telephones in a time period when those advances were only just starting out. It may be true that both existed in that time and place but the attitudes of the people using them are too blase to be believable.
Where this story actually shines is in the characterizations. Although the one character is a very obvious expy of Sherlock Holmes, he is lighter and funnier than Holmes and his 'Watson' is a sardonic fellow who interacts well with him. I'm not sure the romantic note thrown in was necessary, but am willing to see how things go in the sequel.
February 4, 2013
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. But the plot suffers from an abundance of description made to convince the reader that the author really, REALLY knows the history of Portland, Maine, and you should too. Plus, I struggled with who the main character really was. Was it Archie Lean, the police officer? If so, why does he defer so much to Percival Grey? And if it's Grey, why is the narrative focus squarely with Lean? Percival Grey should be the star of this book. I was planning on reading both books in this series, but after finishing this one, I just can't. Disappointing.
November 15, 2012
It's always a pleasure when an author produces a seamless blend of two favorite genres, as debut novelist Kieran Shields has done in The Truth of All Things. Set in Portland, Maine during the 1890's, the book opens with the grisly, ritualistic murder of a young prostitute. Deputy Marshal Archie Lean catches the case, and the coroner has called in a specialist in interpreting evidence, one Percival Grey. The duo must carve out an efficient working relationship, and as that happens, they begin to note ties to the victims of the Salem witch trials. More murders ensue, and Lean and Grey frantically, though methodically, track down the killer, who leads them through enough twists and turns that the denouement is difficult to foresee.
What quickly comes to mind while reading Truth is the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade, though Lean is a better detective than Lestrade. Grey, however, might have read the Holmes canon, as he shares many of the same professional traits, including his reticence, his brilliance, and his penchant for donning masterly disguises. This would be annoying if Shields had handled it poorly, but it's a pleasure to note the similarities while getting to know Grey as his own character. A third character, single mother and librarian Helen Prescott, plays an important role in helping to pinpoint the motive behind the mayhem. Period detail abounds, in which the temperance movement and racial prejudice (Grey is one half Abenaki) loom large.
The Truth of All Things is an outstanding novel, even if it is Shields's first. Here's hoping there will be many more to come.
What quickly comes to mind while reading Truth is the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade, though Lean is a better detective than Lestrade. Grey, however, might have read the Holmes canon, as he shares many of the same professional traits, including his reticence, his brilliance, and his penchant for donning masterly disguises. This would be annoying if Shields had handled it poorly, but it's a pleasure to note the similarities while getting to know Grey as his own character. A third character, single mother and librarian Helen Prescott, plays an important role in helping to pinpoint the motive behind the mayhem. Period detail abounds, in which the temperance movement and racial prejudice (Grey is one half Abenaki) loom large.
The Truth of All Things is an outstanding novel, even if it is Shields's first. Here's hoping there will be many more to come.
April 23, 2012
A woman has been murdered. Her body has been laid in the form of a pentagram. She is pinned to the ground with a pitchfork in her neck.
At first the murder seems to be the work of some sick and twisted person but the deeper Archie gets involved in the case, the more it seems the woman’s death could be the work of evil magic and witches.
Deputy Marshall Archie Lean is on the case. He is joined by former Pinkerton agent and Native American, Perceval Grey, and historian, Helen Prescott.
While, this book had elements of my genre…mystery, I still had my reservations about it. At first, it seemed like it was going to take a while to develop the story and progress but I was surprised in a good way by how much I did enjoy this book. Yes, it is a slow progression of a story but if you stick with it, than I guarantee that you will like it as much as I did. The last half of the book is where the story really picks up.
For me, I picked up instantly on the fact that this book made me think of Sherlock Holmes. Perceval. He had brain smarts but in a way like Mr. Holmes. He picked up on things before other people did. I thought that he and Archie worked well together. They were kind of like the misfits, who banded together. Also, I did enjoy the setting of this story. It had this old time feel to it like the 1800’s mixed with elements of a western movie. The ending of this book ended on a high note. Mr. Shields shows that he is a voice to stand up and take notice of! I can not wait to see what he comes out with next.
At first the murder seems to be the work of some sick and twisted person but the deeper Archie gets involved in the case, the more it seems the woman’s death could be the work of evil magic and witches.
Deputy Marshall Archie Lean is on the case. He is joined by former Pinkerton agent and Native American, Perceval Grey, and historian, Helen Prescott.
While, this book had elements of my genre…mystery, I still had my reservations about it. At first, it seemed like it was going to take a while to develop the story and progress but I was surprised in a good way by how much I did enjoy this book. Yes, it is a slow progression of a story but if you stick with it, than I guarantee that you will like it as much as I did. The last half of the book is where the story really picks up.
For me, I picked up instantly on the fact that this book made me think of Sherlock Holmes. Perceval. He had brain smarts but in a way like Mr. Holmes. He picked up on things before other people did. I thought that he and Archie worked well together. They were kind of like the misfits, who banded together. Also, I did enjoy the setting of this story. It had this old time feel to it like the 1800’s mixed with elements of a western movie. The ending of this book ended on a high note. Mr. Shields shows that he is a voice to stand up and take notice of! I can not wait to see what he comes out with next.
April 19, 2012
At the end of the day, The Truth of All Things is an enjoyable trip through a fascinating period of history. I learned more about the Salem Witch Trials than I ever expected to. The Sherlock and Watson relationship between Lean and Grey goes a long way toward helping the reader overlook some more troubling issues with characterization. Shields’ writing is lyrical and easy to follow; descriptive without going overboard. He brings Maine to life and his historical research and detail is impeccable. All in all, despite its flaws, The Truth of All Things is a debut work to be proud of.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/04/...
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/04/...
July 5, 2014
This is a first novel- and it shows. It tries so hard and while a decent read, paring it down a hundred pages or so would have done wonders. Lean and Gray have a lot of modern buddy cop banter that while enjoyable, seems strained. There was so much going on that it was hard to follow and ultimately I didn't care about most of it, except for the 3 main characters, which was why I read it all the way through.
April 22, 2012
First-rate historical thriller. I can't recommend this highly enough. Slows down a wee bit about 2/3 in, hence the less-than-five-stars- but perhaps that's only because I had little time to devote to reading this week- the slow-down could have been me! Excellent.
September 1, 2023
Period piece. Mystery. Murder. On paper this spells utter perfection but as is always the execution never delivers. Oddly this story kept my interest until the final 100 pages, yes out of 400 pages I was thoroughly interested for the majority of it. However nearing its end the plot meandered and it was clear the author was trying to compress various subplots into a linear trajectory. So much was thrown at me that my mind felt jumbled trying to sift through it all, plus the exposition at the end I found insulting and tiresome. I was just glad to be done with it at the end of it all which saddens me but that is all I'm going to say this is going to be a short one. On the plus side the next book I will be reading is also a period piece which I trust holds much more promise. Thank you for reading.
August 30, 2018
4 stars because I loved reading a story based it Portland, Maine! It was great to be immersed in the old world of Portland with great descriptions of the city matching the street names & places I know.
I also loved how the characters and their relationships developed over the course of the story especially the dialogue between Lean & Grey.
The murder plot was sometimes a little difficult to follow and the motives of some characters seemed a bit flimsy.
Overall an enjoyable read and I would pick up the next one in the series!
I also loved how the characters and their relationships developed over the course of the story especially the dialogue between Lean & Grey.
The murder plot was sometimes a little difficult to follow and the motives of some characters seemed a bit flimsy.
Overall an enjoyable read and I would pick up the next one in the series!
August 27, 2023
I loved this book and did not want it to end! I was totally caught up in the mystery, the characters were fascinating, and the author did a fantastic job of intertwining the Salem Witch Trials into the story. Highly recommended.
January 4, 2018
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Very, very well done. Highly enjoyable puzzle. Could’ve used a bit of editing but other than that, I devoured this book. Highly recommended!!!
November 6, 2019
A very good debut- incredible on the historical fiction as he had to research not one,but two, periods. Pretty good on the mystery aspect. Okay on the characters. I will read the second in the series.
March 27, 2012
In Kieran Shields' superb new novel, "The Truth of All Things," brilliant but troubled private detective Perceval Grey is aptly named. Being of mixed American Indian and Caucasian racial heritages, he's forced to battle deeply ingrained late 19th century New England prejudices, even in his own family. Grey is indeed a gray man in the society he lives and works in -- neither an Indian, nor a white man, but straddling some murky, shifting ground in between. At times during an investigation of horrific murders tied to the infamous Salem witch hunts that happened 200 years earlier, Grey's mixed race is a valuable asset. Mostly, though, Grey finds himself forced to confront an array of bigotries to save the very people who belittle him from an unholy conspiracy that attempts to resurrect in their town's midst a long-dead evil.
Grey's mannerisms and methodologies will quickly remind readers of those of his contemporary across the Atlantic, Sherlock Holmes. Grey's a keenly astute and dispassionate observer, as aware of the facts in front of him as he is of the ones not present that others around him mistakenly presume. Along with his colleagues, Portland Deputy Marshall Archie Lean, Dr. Virgil Steig, and Steig's niece the local librarian/historian Helen Prescott, Grey scours Maine and its environs for clues both ancient and fresh to stop the murder spree. From the moment a prostitute's body is found dead late one night in the middle of a massive machine shop, pinned to the ground by a pitchfork thrust through her throat, the detectives' investigations propel them from churches to brothels to libraries to graveyards to seedy bars to lunatic asylums via foot, trains and hansom cabs. Shields obviously did a lot of painstaking research to do such a great job deftly conveying settings in New England as they were 120 years ago. All of his main characters, good guys and bad, are multidimensional, and they speak in dialogue that's well written and authentic. In addition to those accomplishments, the book's plot is a nonstop careening ride from start to finish, crafted with enough breakneck twists and turns to keep readers guessing literally until the story's very end.
"The Truth of All Things" is one of the best books I've read in a while, and I'm happy at its conclusion Shields leaves room for the return of Perceval Grey in a future adventure. Until that sequel comes, mystery and thriller fans will do themselves a big favor treating themselves to this excellent debut work by a very talented new author.
Grey's mannerisms and methodologies will quickly remind readers of those of his contemporary across the Atlantic, Sherlock Holmes. Grey's a keenly astute and dispassionate observer, as aware of the facts in front of him as he is of the ones not present that others around him mistakenly presume. Along with his colleagues, Portland Deputy Marshall Archie Lean, Dr. Virgil Steig, and Steig's niece the local librarian/historian Helen Prescott, Grey scours Maine and its environs for clues both ancient and fresh to stop the murder spree. From the moment a prostitute's body is found dead late one night in the middle of a massive machine shop, pinned to the ground by a pitchfork thrust through her throat, the detectives' investigations propel them from churches to brothels to libraries to graveyards to seedy bars to lunatic asylums via foot, trains and hansom cabs. Shields obviously did a lot of painstaking research to do such a great job deftly conveying settings in New England as they were 120 years ago. All of his main characters, good guys and bad, are multidimensional, and they speak in dialogue that's well written and authentic. In addition to those accomplishments, the book's plot is a nonstop careening ride from start to finish, crafted with enough breakneck twists and turns to keep readers guessing literally until the story's very end.
"The Truth of All Things" is one of the best books I've read in a while, and I'm happy at its conclusion Shields leaves room for the return of Perceval Grey in a future adventure. Until that sequel comes, mystery and thriller fans will do themselves a big favor treating themselves to this excellent debut work by a very talented new author.
March 31, 2012
Just realized I forgot to put this on the ol' GR.
The Truth of All Things is a murder mystery set in 1892, beginning in Portland, Maine (and mostly set there) but with heavy connections to the Salem witch trials. Our trio of protagonists are: Archie Lean, the new deputy marshal who has a wife and child and another on the way; Helen Prescott, a historian, young widow, and mother; and Perceval Grey, a brilliant young detective who is strongly reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, but is half Abenaki and faces prejudice because of this. The three wind up investigating the ritualistic murder of a prostitute and surmise that she is neither the first victim nor the last. A serial killer is at large, and he's obsessed with witchcraft.
Kieran Shields sets a great scene, and the characters are engaging. The plot, however, moves really slowly at first. The book was easy to put down in roughly the first 100 pages. In retrospect, there were important bits of information dropped during that portion, but I wasn't feeling a forward momentum until later. I was also surprised that there wasn't more magic or witchcraft. I mistakenly had the impression that there was a stronger paranormal element than there was, perhaps based on the comparison to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. There's a little bit, but the emphasis is much more on the procedural aspects of the case for a large portion of the book.
The Truth of All Things picks up dramatically when the protagonists discover a riddle that has a connection to the killings. I loved this plot development because (a) it brings the book into the realm of academic mystery, yay!, and (b) it's also an incredibly creepy bit of occultism. One doesn't necessarily get the sense that it would actually *work* in Shields's world, magically speaking, but our heroes have to figure it out anyway, before the killer can commit the murders that would complete it. And there's something ironic and fitting about what eventually happens.
I found The Truth of All Things slow going at the beginning, but it improved later on, and I would definitely read more books about this trio of investigators. I also learned something from it, as I hadn't realized before that the Salem witch hysteria was so connected to fear and prejudice against Native Americans.
The Truth of All Things is a murder mystery set in 1892, beginning in Portland, Maine (and mostly set there) but with heavy connections to the Salem witch trials. Our trio of protagonists are: Archie Lean, the new deputy marshal who has a wife and child and another on the way; Helen Prescott, a historian, young widow, and mother; and Perceval Grey, a brilliant young detective who is strongly reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, but is half Abenaki and faces prejudice because of this. The three wind up investigating the ritualistic murder of a prostitute and surmise that she is neither the first victim nor the last. A serial killer is at large, and he's obsessed with witchcraft.
Kieran Shields sets a great scene, and the characters are engaging. The plot, however, moves really slowly at first. The book was easy to put down in roughly the first 100 pages. In retrospect, there were important bits of information dropped during that portion, but I wasn't feeling a forward momentum until later. I was also surprised that there wasn't more magic or witchcraft. I mistakenly had the impression that there was a stronger paranormal element than there was, perhaps based on the comparison to The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. There's a little bit, but the emphasis is much more on the procedural aspects of the case for a large portion of the book.
The Truth of All Things picks up dramatically when the protagonists discover a riddle that has a connection to the killings. I loved this plot development because (a) it brings the book into the realm of academic mystery, yay!, and (b) it's also an incredibly creepy bit of occultism. One doesn't necessarily get the sense that it would actually *work* in Shields's world, magically speaking, but our heroes have to figure it out anyway, before the killer can commit the murders that would complete it. And there's something ironic and fitting about what eventually happens.
I found The Truth of All Things slow going at the beginning, but it improved later on, and I would definitely read more books about this trio of investigators. I also learned something from it, as I hadn't realized before that the Salem witch hysteria was so connected to fear and prejudice against Native Americans.
April 4, 2012
I received this book through a giveaway on Read It Forward. The short synopsis looked interesting so I entered my name in the drawing not really knowing what to expect. I really, really enjoyed this book! Kieran Shields does an excellent job developing his characters throughout the book. Unlike some authors who give you all the background on a character right at the beginning of a book (or series), in this you continue to learn more about the characters as the story unfolds. I loved the relationship between Archie Lean and Percival Grey, it had a Holmes/Watson feel to it.
I enjoyed how the story was mostly mystery with a good deal of history and some occult thrown in. The author didn't overdo the occult angle which was great because some authors can go overboard with it.
I thought I had everything pretty much figured out about 3/4 of the way through the book, but I wasn't disappointed by that fact. It was like the author was dropping just enough hints that he wanted you to figure things with the main characters, or even just before them. Then just as I was feeling quite satisfied with myself, here comes a twist and things weren't exactly as I thought. I loved that! The book kept me thinking.
The one thing I thought might have been a bit too much was the overly thorough descriptions of the cities and the layouts of the streets. Unless I missed something I don't think most of it was integral to the telling of the story. Sure, locations played a big role in parts of the story. But the author going into detail about what streets intersected each other, and that one street was called by another name the next town over actually took away from the story telling a little I think.
That's my only complaint. I definitely look forward to more from this author. Perhaps with some of the same characters as the ending seemed to have hinted that this won't be the last we hear from them. I'll also be recommended this book to friends.
I enjoyed how the story was mostly mystery with a good deal of history and some occult thrown in. The author didn't overdo the occult angle which was great because some authors can go overboard with it.
I thought I had everything pretty much figured out about 3/4 of the way through the book, but I wasn't disappointed by that fact. It was like the author was dropping just enough hints that he wanted you to figure things with the main characters, or even just before them. Then just as I was feeling quite satisfied with myself, here comes a twist and things weren't exactly as I thought. I loved that! The book kept me thinking.
The one thing I thought might have been a bit too much was the overly thorough descriptions of the cities and the layouts of the streets. Unless I missed something I don't think most of it was integral to the telling of the story. Sure, locations played a big role in parts of the story. But the author going into detail about what streets intersected each other, and that one street was called by another name the next town over actually took away from the story telling a little I think.
That's my only complaint. I definitely look forward to more from this author. Perhaps with some of the same characters as the ending seemed to have hinted that this won't be the last we hear from them. I'll also be recommended this book to friends.
April 1, 2015
Two hundred years after the Salem witch trials, in the summer of 1892, a grisly new witch hunt is beginning....
When newly appointed Deputy Marshal Archie Lean is called in to investigate a prostitute's murder in Portland, Maine, he's surprised to find the body laid out like a pentagram and pinned to the earth with a pitchfork. He's even more surprised to learn that this death by "sticking" is a traditional method of killing a witch.
Baffled by the ritualized murder scene, Lean secretly enlists the help of historian Helen Prescott and brilliant criminalist Perceval Grey. Distrusted by officials because of his mixed Abenaki Indian ancestry, Grey is even more notorious for combining modern investigative techniques with an almost eerie perceptiveness. Although skeptical of each other's methods, together the detectives pursue the killer's trail through postmortems and opium dens, into the spiritualist societies and lunatic asylums of gothic New England.
Before the killer closes in on his final victim, Lean and Grey must decipher the secret pattern to these murders--a pattern hidden within the dark history of the Salem witch trials.
Set in a vividly imagined Victorian Portland,Maine this intelligently written tale takes a while to get going. It is filled with incredible historic detail that slows it down and sometimes at the cost of characterisation. For example I found widowed lonely town librarian Helen Prescott a walking cliché and Lean's wife was not developed at all as were many other secondary characters.
However the period detail, sharp dialogue and a wonderful spooky atmosphere make this a fine début novel.
When newly appointed Deputy Marshal Archie Lean is called in to investigate a prostitute's murder in Portland, Maine, he's surprised to find the body laid out like a pentagram and pinned to the earth with a pitchfork. He's even more surprised to learn that this death by "sticking" is a traditional method of killing a witch.
Baffled by the ritualized murder scene, Lean secretly enlists the help of historian Helen Prescott and brilliant criminalist Perceval Grey. Distrusted by officials because of his mixed Abenaki Indian ancestry, Grey is even more notorious for combining modern investigative techniques with an almost eerie perceptiveness. Although skeptical of each other's methods, together the detectives pursue the killer's trail through postmortems and opium dens, into the spiritualist societies and lunatic asylums of gothic New England.
Before the killer closes in on his final victim, Lean and Grey must decipher the secret pattern to these murders--a pattern hidden within the dark history of the Salem witch trials.
Set in a vividly imagined Victorian Portland,Maine this intelligently written tale takes a while to get going. It is filled with incredible historic detail that slows it down and sometimes at the cost of characterisation. For example I found widowed lonely town librarian Helen Prescott a walking cliché and Lean's wife was not developed at all as were many other secondary characters.
However the period detail, sharp dialogue and a wonderful spooky atmosphere make this a fine début novel.
May 2, 2012
This was an ARC from Read It Forward. It's a very thrilling read, centering on the investigation of serial killings 200 years after the Salem witch trials that seem to be related in some way to those trials. The author is a native of Portland, Maine, where the novel is set, and obviously has a love of is town and its history. It's meticulously detailed, which is both a negative and a positive. On the good side, it can create a wonderful sense of atmosphere - you can really imagine the town around you. When it's overused, as it is occasionally in this novel, it becomes like being forced to watch someone's vacation photos and listen to their blow-by-blow travelogue. This over-detail also extends, inexplicably, to the characters' clothing. One paragraph in particular I can only imagine making sense to someone with a degree in fashion design or the history of costume. I assume that this is the first in a series with the investigators Archie Lean and Perceval Grey, because there's a lot of exposition and characters that pop in and are never seen again, maybe being saved for a later adventure. But I'm probably picky. I obviously enjoyed it, so the negatives are easy to overlook with such a fast paced read.
June 17, 2015
http://www.themaineedge.com/buzz/a-my...
In Perceval Grey, Shields has created an interesting deviation from the traditional literary “brilliant detective” character archetype. Those kinds of characters tend to have an outsider quality to them that directly connects to their perceptiveness – by being outside of everything, they can see everything. Grey’s outsider nature is inherent to his Abanaki blood. By the rules of his society, he fits in nowhere. It adds a real complexity and nuance that is sometimes absent with these sorts of superdetectives.
The mystery itself is a well-crafted one, proving intellectually complex enough to maintain our attention until the very end. The twists and turns are sudden and severe, but never strain the bonds of our credulity. Walking that line of believability is a major key to the success of any mystery; Shields walks it masterfully.
“The Truth of All Things” is a rip-roaring page-turner of a mystery. It introduces us to a rich and revealing world populated with truthful, fully-realized characters. We can only hope that Kieran Shields gives us the opportunity to visit this place and these people once again.
In Perceval Grey, Shields has created an interesting deviation from the traditional literary “brilliant detective” character archetype. Those kinds of characters tend to have an outsider quality to them that directly connects to their perceptiveness – by being outside of everything, they can see everything. Grey’s outsider nature is inherent to his Abanaki blood. By the rules of his society, he fits in nowhere. It adds a real complexity and nuance that is sometimes absent with these sorts of superdetectives.
The mystery itself is a well-crafted one, proving intellectually complex enough to maintain our attention until the very end. The twists and turns are sudden and severe, but never strain the bonds of our credulity. Walking that line of believability is a major key to the success of any mystery; Shields walks it masterfully.
“The Truth of All Things” is a rip-roaring page-turner of a mystery. It introduces us to a rich and revealing world populated with truthful, fully-realized characters. We can only hope that Kieran Shields gives us the opportunity to visit this place and these people once again.
April 5, 2015
I don't recall what made me add this book to my TBR back in 2013 since it's not really my kind of book. Oh yeah I love a good mystery but I need to have some excitement in a story and until the last chapter or so this is a rather dry historical that reads a lot like a text book on the Salem witch trials. It's interesting to a degree but I found the first 200 or so pages to be really slow moving. Though the character development is good. I found I liked each of the three main characters: detective Archie Lean, ex-Pinkerton Perceval Grey and historian Helen Prescott. There was just enough background detail on all three to draw the reader in but not bore them to death.
These three along with Helen's uncle, wind up investigating the ritualistic murder of a prostitute which gets the ball rolling but isn't the beginning of the story. When they figure out that a riddle is the connection to the various killings, the story finally picks up and keeps you turning pages trying to figure out what exactly is going on.
These three along with Helen's uncle, wind up investigating the ritualistic murder of a prostitute which gets the ball rolling but isn't the beginning of the story. When they figure out that a riddle is the connection to the various killings, the story finally picks up and keeps you turning pages trying to figure out what exactly is going on.
August 19, 2021
All the details are super fun because I’m an native of Portland AND a huge history buff…. The locations referred to in the book were or are real! For example, I live three blocks from Back Cove, locale of the shanty of Old Stitch.
That said, if I wasn’t familiar with Portland it would have been nothing special to me - the book should have included an array of vintage maps and photos. Furthermore, I think the book warranted an afterword with details about Bishop Healy, Maine General Hospital, Western and Evergreen Cemeteries, Mayor Ingraham, the Temperance Movement in Maine, Portland Observatory, etc etc.
The characters were just okay to me, and I’m kind of tired of the “it’s the Da Vinci Code again” approach to storytelling. And as another reviewer mentioned, way too much use of the word “smirk.”
That said, if I wasn’t familiar with Portland it would have been nothing special to me - the book should have included an array of vintage maps and photos. Furthermore, I think the book warranted an afterword with details about Bishop Healy, Maine General Hospital, Western and Evergreen Cemeteries, Mayor Ingraham, the Temperance Movement in Maine, Portland Observatory, etc etc.
The characters were just okay to me, and I’m kind of tired of the “it’s the Da Vinci Code again” approach to storytelling. And as another reviewer mentioned, way too much use of the word “smirk.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2013
I love historic fiction, this had the backdrop of a great intriguing tale!
It was a thrilling read, didnt read in one sitting- but 2.5 :-)
There were some chapters extremely well written and quite a few quotes that were keepers!
Some of the twists and turns were hard to follow, and I wish Grey's character were a little more deep (some insights to his foundation) I like him but he's no Sherlock Holmes, even though he's crafted after him. I'd like the author to build him out a little more!
Guess I will have to stay tuned for the next novel :-)
The witchcraft trials made this mystery very intriguing! Good use of history to intertwine an adventure - that always keeps me intrigued :-)
Overall great debut novel!
It was a thrilling read, didnt read in one sitting- but 2.5 :-)
There were some chapters extremely well written and quite a few quotes that were keepers!
Some of the twists and turns were hard to follow, and I wish Grey's character were a little more deep (some insights to his foundation) I like him but he's no Sherlock Holmes, even though he's crafted after him. I'd like the author to build him out a little more!
Guess I will have to stay tuned for the next novel :-)
The witchcraft trials made this mystery very intriguing! Good use of history to intertwine an adventure - that always keeps me intrigued :-)
Overall great debut novel!
April 23, 2012
This felt like what it was: the author's first book. The plot is intricate, and he keeps all the pieces under control, but sometimes there's a sense that you don't really need all the extraneous information his research on the Salem witch trials yielded to keep the story moving forward. Nifty premise--and authentic setting. But slow-moving and occasionally confusing. There are about six or seven twists at the end of the story that slow down the forward motion.
Interesting characters and story, but the narrative was cluttered with everything the author ever wanted to say. A good editing job may have made the book a little more coherent.
Interesting characters and story, but the narrative was cluttered with everything the author ever wanted to say. A good editing job may have made the book a little more coherent.
April 20, 2012
3.5 Definitely held my interest, since I haven't stopped reading it since I picked it up. Set in 1892, in Portland, a prostitute is murdered and a newly appointed detective and a half Abenaki Indian profiler must team together to solve the case. New investigative techniques and a duo that slightly resemble Holmes and Watson, the Salem Witch hunts and an uncanny ability to make the reader actually feel that they are in this time period mark this series debut by a new author, nothing short of fascinating. Can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.
April 28, 2013
This is a period murder mystery set in and around Portland, Maine. It loosely emulates Holmes and Watson in the form of Perceval Grey, a freelance detective and Archie Lean, a deputy marshall with the city police. While not a page turner, it moves along at a steady pace, and just when you think it's done...it not ;). The author has clearly invested time and effort in research, which reveals itself by way of attention to detail that contextualizes the narrative and kept me interested. I really did enjoy the slower pace of this crime thriller, made for a nice change.
November 29, 2016
This was a very complex mystery, filled with historical detail and intricate details about the characters involved. I really liked the historical detail, both in the present of the story and the back story about the Salem witch trials. Since I'm reading this novel after reading several nonfiction books about the Salem witch trials, I can confirm that several of the people mentioned are actual historical figures. I also liked the three-person investigative team. It was an unusual lineup that you don't usually see, but I thought they all worked well together.
July 7, 2013
Got about half way through and stalled out. Realized I didn't care who dunnit.
September 22, 2019
“The Truth of All Things” was an enjoyable enough book – and it got me through a week of being snowed in….
As is true with many historical mysteries (for me) – I did keep getting confused during the various twists and turns. There were too many details (oddly enough – women’s fashions were described down to the smallest detail) at the same time the characters made huge jumps in theory. One of the main characters, Perceval Grey, was enjoyable to read about, but was far too much like Sherlock Holmes. He had the disguises, the taking of the smallest detail to discern so much about a stranger that the stranger was shocked….etc.
The history of the Salem Witch trials, anti-Native American hysteria, post-Civil War politics, and the temperance movement…this book has it all. But the strongest part of the book for me was the character of Helen Prescott. At a time when women we just starting to made forward progress in the workplace, education and in politics (through the temperance movement), Prescott was interesting to read about and kept me going through some of the more muddled parts. While making very clear her thoughts and feelings, she retained just enough mystery to be interesting and to seem realistic.
I would read more about her, but am not sure the rest of the story would compel me to continue reading if there were follow up books to “The Truth of All Things”.
As is true with many historical mysteries (for me) – I did keep getting confused during the various twists and turns. There were too many details (oddly enough – women’s fashions were described down to the smallest detail) at the same time the characters made huge jumps in theory. One of the main characters, Perceval Grey, was enjoyable to read about, but was far too much like Sherlock Holmes. He had the disguises, the taking of the smallest detail to discern so much about a stranger that the stranger was shocked….etc.
The history of the Salem Witch trials, anti-Native American hysteria, post-Civil War politics, and the temperance movement…this book has it all. But the strongest part of the book for me was the character of Helen Prescott. At a time when women we just starting to made forward progress in the workplace, education and in politics (through the temperance movement), Prescott was interesting to read about and kept me going through some of the more muddled parts. While making very clear her thoughts and feelings, she retained just enough mystery to be interesting and to seem realistic.
I would read more about her, but am not sure the rest of the story would compel me to continue reading if there were follow up books to “The Truth of All Things”.
October 5, 2018
3.5 stars. If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes, I highly recommend picking this one up. Shields has created an American team of detectives that rival the famous duo from 221 B Baker Street. Archie Lean is Perceval Grey's Watson in this first of what looks to be a promising series.
It would be easy to dismiss The Truth of All Things as a copycat of the tales from across the pond, but Shields makes this story uniquely American. The mystery that our heroes must unravel is one that stretches back to the Salem Witch hysteria of 1692. As the bicentennial of that infamous chapter of history looms, Lean and Perceval are charged with finding the person or persons responsible for committing murders that echo significant life events of one of the Salem accused. It would be easy to get lost in all the twists and turns, but Shields maintains focus while spreading this story across several locales and introducing a plethora of characters. The ending answers all questions and leaves a bit of room to grow as the series progresses. I look forward to reading more of Lean and Perceval.
It would be easy to dismiss The Truth of All Things as a copycat of the tales from across the pond, but Shields makes this story uniquely American. The mystery that our heroes must unravel is one that stretches back to the Salem Witch hysteria of 1692. As the bicentennial of that infamous chapter of history looms, Lean and Perceval are charged with finding the person or persons responsible for committing murders that echo significant life events of one of the Salem accused. It would be easy to get lost in all the twists and turns, but Shields maintains focus while spreading this story across several locales and introducing a plethora of characters. The ending answers all questions and leaves a bit of room to grow as the series progresses. I look forward to reading more of Lean and Perceval.
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