31 Bond Street audiobook

I am writing this even tho I have 50 pages left in order to be sure I don't reveal anything I shouldn't. This is by far one of the best books of 2010 and I can honestly state that just a mere two months into the year. I have not been able to put the book down. It's like an episode of Law and Order in 1857. The book goes back and forth between the trial in 1857 following the lawyer, Mr. Clinton and the the summer and fall of 1856 following the suspect, Emma and her dealings with the murder victim, Dr. Burdell. Was she mistress or wife? Was she a gold digger? Who was really supposed to die? Who killed Dr. Burdell? Enter the early days of Manhatten and shady business deals and the risky world of real estate and scam artists to find out...Fabulous look at the way the law was played out back then. Wow. Thank goodness there have been changes to our constitution since then. It didn't look as tho Emma was going to get a fair trial there for a while as the coroner took over the case and placed her under house arrest and did not permit her to see a lawyer, nor her daughters. I encourage readers to read the author's excerpt regarding how she came across the idea for this book. That page is just as intriguing as the story itself. Highly recommended for mystery and historical fiction lovers alike.

Published: 01/02/2011Author: Ellen HoranThis was an absoulutely amazing book! It was very hard to put it down, it is definately a 'page turner' in this book we follow the investigation to find out who killed the dentist (Dr Harvey Burdell) we see it from the view of Emma Cunningham and Samuel. It is set in New York before the Civil War, we see what it was like for people living there and they way that they believed that things should be. We also see the prejudice that was against Samuel and other people (such as the plan to have them as slaves). It is a fast paced who done it which lets you see it from two points of view which lets you see what is happening at the present (in the trial) and what actually happened to the dentist. It is incredibly well written by the brilliant Ellen Horan, it is definately one of my favourite books that I have read. This genre of books is one of my favourite genres and I thought that this was a great portrayal of the crime fiction genre. In this novel we are trying to find out who it was that killed Dr Havey Burdell, Emma is in the spot light as she hasn't being married to her for long she has the who village against her, saying it must be her, but with the help, love and support of her daughters she stays strong against everyone who is against her. The story that we read about Samuel is touching and is so descriptive that it does make you feel like you are reading a real life story about someone and reading about the things that happened in his life. This is a truly incredible novel and this shows just how amazingly talented Ellen Horan! I love her writing style.

I know I do give out five stars quite freely, so let me preface this book by saying if I could give out six stars, this would be a six star book. I read a great many mysteries, and this one had me early on, and I have to say I quickly reached a point that I was frantically turning pages because the story had me enthralled. The setting is 1856 in New York, and Doctor Harvey Burdell, a dentist, is found dead in his room, having been murdered in a spactacularly grisly fashion. Emma Cunningham is a woman who lives on an upper floor with her two daughters and is acting as housemistress, and the coroner in the case immediately suspects her and refuses to allow her to leave the house while he investigates. Enter hotshot lawyer Hentry Clinton who realizes that Emma can't be held agaist her will without counsel and becomes determined to represent her in a rather dramatic court case. And this is only the beginning. The author weaves a present time narrative with a series of flashbacks, so you learn the story as it has been progressing as well as following the trial and the aftermath. I don't want to reveal any intricate plot details but there are some revelations and the writer adds enough spice and suspense that you really want to know more. I will definitely be putting this one on display at the library. It will be an easy book to sell to mystery readers, even ones who don't normally read historical. I even found the cover to be very appealing, it jumps right off the shelf into your hands! Definitely give this one a read. But be prepared. Once started, you will want to finish it soon!

I thought the author did a good job weaving fiction around the actual facts of the case--until the addendum at the end I couldn't tell who the real and the fictional characters were. The book was well researched and seemed historically accurate. But aside from all this, it was just a good read. The characters were interesting and well defined. I liked Emma and, although her machinations and manipulations may not have been entirely above board, I'm not sure she deserved the hand she was ultimately dealt. I felt compelled to read on to find out what happened to her. I thought this author's shifting back and forth pre and post crime was an effective way of holding the reader's interest. I know other readers mentioned not liking the ending, but I found it an effective frame to the story in the character of the young boy. A somber end to a sad story.

I like historical detective novels in general. This one based on true story caught my attention. The book starts with a murder of Dr. Burdell and accusing his housekeeper/lover Emma Cunningham. Story happened in the middle of 19 century in New York. We can feel the historical background: women are depended on marriage, "coloured" people are discriminated. And world is full of adventurers who is seeking for more money. The author is mixing events before and after the murder helping us to understand the main characters. I did enjoy almost all book, except the ending. I found it too predictable.

The first chapter of this murder novel is absolutely fantastic, smacking of an old fashioned novel steeped in intrigue and nostalgia. It was pure genius and had me hooked, as I plowed through the rest of the story which was steeping with mystery, drama and multiple intrigues. This is a novel that is based on the true story of a horrific murder in 1857, amidst Dick Tracy style policemen and the thriving city of New York. Bond Street, to be exact, was the fashionable focal point of houses for the rich and well-to-do folks of New York City.One of the these residents was Dr. Harvey Burdell, who lived at 31 Bond Street, and Ellen Horan's novel begins with the young errand boy, John, finding his employer the dentist Dr. Burdell brutally stabbed in his office. Dr. Burdell had a young lady, Emma Cunningham and her daughters, boarding upstairs in his house and of course all suspicion is directed at her. Emma pleas for help from the local criminal attorney, Mr. Henry Clinton, because she has been sequestered at 31 Bond Street without representation. The prosecutor is out for justice, and his fingers point to Emma. I must confess, before my passion for European historical fiction on royalty overtook my reading habits, I once could be found reading only Lawrence Block, James Patterson, Lee Child, Mary Higgins Clark and Anne Rule. If you enjoy those writers, you will also be enamored with this novel by Ellen Horan. Imagine my glee with this blast from my reading past, for a well honed murder mystery that is a true story, set in the state where I grew up, and where the case remains hanging in suspense as it is unsolved to this day. Ellen Horan stumbled on this story while browsing through bins in a print shop and found a clipping regarding nearby Houston Street, NYC, one thing led her to another, and we now finally have this fascinating look into a murder mystery that took place within a row of townhouses that are no longer there, replaced by the growth of retail and warehouses and parking lots. Instead of writing the intended non-fiction work on this murder mystery, Ellen Horan adapted this into a much more dramatic fictional tale. She leaves a few of the original characters in, but embellishes greatly and adds her own twists to the story. Since I had absolutely no idea about the 'true story' I was completely and utterly enthralled with this fictional tale as Ellen Horan spins it.I can understand though, that those who prefer to stick close to facts when dealing with a true-crime situation, may be a little annoyed at the fictional leaps that the author takes. Since I was not looking for a realistic account of the murder at this time, this novel kept me entertained for an entire Sunday, refusing to let me sleep until I finished it. I am so glad I spent my Sunday on this, and I will spend some more time googling for more interesting twists and facts that really happened between this murder mystery involving the dentist and the widow. A classic who-dunit.. of who was the real victim, and who was the villian? I was very impressed with the writing style of this debut author, as I was both immersed in the visual time period of 1857 that Horan vividly describes, and with the characters that Ellen Horan portrays. Doubly enticing were the backstories of slave trade and the corrupt police departments. The murder victim, Dr. Harvey Burdell, is also portrayed as being a total loser who was a womanizer and knee-deep with the aforementioned corruption which includes transporting slaves. The accused murderess, Emma Cunningham, is one where you really couldn't tell what was going on in that warped head. Since the true murder mystery remains unsolved to this day, I have a feeling that not a lot of people could tell what was going on inside of Emma Cunningham's head. The epilogue was quite interesting as well, but even that leaves out some of the critical factors that occurred in the case.My absolute favorite characters were Samuel, the negro driver to Dr. Burdell, and John, the 11 year old boy who was the errand boy. But still high on that list was the defense attorney, Henry Clinton, who was portrayed as a shrewd attorney without an unethical bone in his body. The author inserts his wife within the novel, when in reality they did not marry until after the case, and it was with similar subtle changes that Ellen Horan used to make her novel her own, creating a sensational blend of murder, passion and suspense. Emma Cunningham also only has two daughters in the story, when in reality it was reported that she had five children. The crooked district attorney, Oakley Hall, was indeed crooked in real life, though (surprise!). For those wanting a strictly-the-facts type of book, there is the non-fiction work that was written in 2007 by New York City historian Benjamin Feldman titled Butchery on Bond Street - Sexual Politics and The Burdell-Cunningham Case in Ante-bellum New York, which has now caught me eye after reading this story. He also runs the blog for where the above clipping was borrowed from.For those wanting the intriguing drama of a historically themed suspense, this work by Ellen Horan fits that bill perfectly. It was an unforgettably nostalgic journey through 31 Bond Street in New York City that I would not hesitate to recommend to fellow mystery lovers. Visit Ellen's website regarding the book at, none other than: 31 Bond Street.Giveaway going on until 3/27/10 at http://www.theburtonreview.com/2010/0...

I generally don’t read murder mysteries but this was quite a page turner set in old New York. I really couldn’t put it down!

With 31 Bond Street, Ms. Horan presents the reader with historical fiction at its finest. It is a story that is quite literally "ripped from the headlines", with those headlines first printed in the 1850s. A real-life murder mystery, Ms. Horan does an excellent job of filling in the blanks, imagining the story behind the headlines and fleshing out characters that have long since been forgotten. Through her skill, the reader gets the pleasure of enjoying a well-written of literary fiction with enough fact interspersed to make the story truly compelling.The story unfolds methodically, switching narrators to allow new evidence to come to light. As a result, the reader never gets the chance to understand the full story until late in the novel, at which point in time the reader has become fully absorbed in the story. This switching of narrators, the back and forth battle for information, and the methodical "follow the evidence" approach to solving the mystery enhances the power of perception, which in turn leaves the reader waffling back and forth in one's sympathies for the various characters. Enhancing the overall story is the addition of photographs of the real headlines from the actual murder. This drives home the fact that this is one story in which the historical aspect of the story outweighs the fiction. Ms. Horan does an excellent job of bringing to live long-dead characters - Henry vs. Harvey, Elisabeth vs. Emma. Her descriptions are breath-taking and exact, allowing the reader to clearly understand what it was like to live in 1850s New York. The political undertone behind the murder itself remind the reader the tension that existed before the Civil War erupted. These all combine to create characters that pull a reader's sympathies in various directions, rooting for one character versus another. Emotional involvement is always the hallmark of a well-written book, and 31 Bond Street meets that mark.One of the most appealing aspects of the story are the questions remaining at the end. Did Emma, and all of the characters, get their just rewards for their actions? Where did each character go wrong? Could this entire situation have been avoided under similar circumstances? Ms. Horan could easily have addressed some of these questions in her novel but rather leaves them for the reader to ponder. As with the emotional involvement, this is an added benefit that enhances the entire novel. Murder, mystery, intrigue, politics, a lush backdrop and rich setting combine to create an amazingly vivid, compelling novel. However, 31 Bond Street is not just for historical fiction lovers. Its study of criminal investigations and pre-Civil War detective work makes it a novel for fans of detective and suspense stories. Its mass appeal will make 31 Bond Street a story for the summer and beyond.

In 1857 a man named Harvey Burdell, a seemingly upstanding New York dentist, was brutally murdered in the middle of the night. His throat was sliced, nearly severing his head, and he was fiercely stabbed several times through his back and chest. The crime scene was bloody, but no evidence of the murder weapon or culprit was ever found. Living on the upper floors of Burdell’s wealthy 31 Bond Street townhouse are the widow Emma Cunningham and her children. As the only household member with motive present at the time of Burdell’s death, Emma became the prime suspect and the victim of a witch-hunt-like prosecution.Over 150 years later Ellen Horan, wandering through scrap bins in a print shop, comes across an old newspaper article with an etching of the avenue of Bond Street, showing a crowd of people milling around number 31. Intrigued, Horan researches the story regarding the murder, and skillfully puts down on paper a tale of intrigue, suspense, betrayal, and murder. All set in the bustling town of New York amid slave-trade scandals and the high-class expectations of the wealthy.Well crafted, with experienced execution, 31 Bond Street is a delicious debut novel that exhibits the author’s talent with an intriguing narrative. Told in a non-linear fashion, we begin on February 1, 1857, the day after the murder, and then go back in time seven months to follow Emma Cunningham, her two daughters, and the path they took to wind up on Bond Street under the roof of Harvey Burdell. Horan switches back and forth, tantalizingly leading us up to the actual murder, but leaving us frothing with questions as she nimbly skips forward to the trial at hand.The way Horan chose to portray the characters is realistic and believable. Harvey Burdell is painted as a charming bachelor at first, but a seedy background and double-handed schemes soon darken his portrait. Henry Clinton, Emma’s lawyer, is compassionate and dedicated, seceding from his prestigious law firm to defend Emma. Additional characters such as Samuel, the near-slave coachman, and John, the poor scrap of a house boy, add to the legitimacy of the time period and elicit our emotional connection with the novel. Emma herself is a mystery, at times I sympathized for her plight, at others I questioned her bad decisions and naiveté.In all, I was swept away in a believable interpretation of what could actually have happened back in 1857. Horan displays a fine skill at weaving historical fiction, as well as a murder mystery with believable scenarios. I am definitely interested to see what genre she should choose to write next.4 stars(I received this book from the author for review)

The humble origins of iconographic places often get lost beneath the layers of time and change. In the late 1800s, the streets of New York City still used cobblestone paving. The Jersey shore still had lots for sale. Shanty towns peppered the city and wooded areas still bordered the city. However the life changing opportunities and unforgiving competition for position and power which personify New York were well on their way to being fully formed. New York society teamed with economic and cultural growth as well as political power. Ellen Horan captures the burgeoning persona of New York in her novel, 31 Bond Street and offers up an enticing drama filled with murder, intrigue, greed and betrayal. Horan’s novel retells the murder trial of Dr. Harvey Burdell, a dentist, a respected citizen of New York and a man who dabbled in local real estate. She brings the city of the era clearly and engagingly to life with her vivid descriptions, characterizations and believable imagining of the events preceding and following the murder trial. The novel opens in the winter of 1857. Burdell has been viciously murdered in his home. Emma Cunningham, the widow who resides there with her two daughters and manages his home is the primary suspect. She finds herself being tried in the court of public opinion as the Coroner Edward Connery conducts a highly questionable inquest in the Burdell home; she may receive a guilty verdict before her case makes it to trial. Recognizing her precarious position Cunningham sends a note to Henry Clinton a popular New York attorney known for taking on worthy and challenging cases. When he accepts her request, he learns that his professional rival, New York County district attorney, Abraham Oakley Hall seems to intend to use the trial to raise his public profile and further his bid for the mayoral seat of New York. Using these dynamic historical figures and equally intriguing fictional additions, Horan weaves a solid story of murder, personal betrayal and political ambition. 31 Bond Street is not an edge of your seat page turner to be bolted down in a few sittings. It’s a meal to savor much like the one described in a scene during which Clinton and his junior partner discuss trial strategy. The meal is served in sumptuous and fully articulated courses meant to be weighed and appreciated to the last bite. This novel deserves the same.

31 Bond Street succeeds as a mystery and as unique glimpse into Old New York. Ellen Horan has carefully researched the period, the trial, and the characters that make up this book and this comes across from the very start. She weaves in details about daily life in the 1850s and makes it come alive.Henry Clinton who defends Emma Cunningham is a talented defense lawyer who goes on to become the highest paid attorney of his time -- and it is this case that changed his career. Clinton goes up against Abraham Oakey Hall is another historical figure who is later elected mayor of New York in 1868. Clinton is aided by his wife, Elizabeth Clinton, who is a paragon of a wife and would have made a formidable attorney, had women been allowed to practice law during that time. Horan created the character of Elizabeth Clinton and this woman is a foil to the accused, Emma Cunningham. Cunningham's story shows us how difficult it was to be a woman then.The book stood out for me because of the attention that Horan placed on capturing the historical details of the period. I enjoyed being able to imagine New York of that time -- what the different neighborhoods and peoples were like. I loved learning just how trials were run at that time. Would you have expected that newspapermen attended trial and wrote the trial transcripts for free? In exchange, the newspaper was given the exclusive right to print the trial transcripts. Horan reveals what it would have been like to be in court then.The book itself captures the period because of its slower pace, vivid descriptions, and the dialogue. It is easy to imagine New York after the Civil War, the sort of life available to a young widow with dwindling resources and the trouble that Emma Cunningham found herself in. Just as the book is about Emma Cunningham, it is equally the story of the Clintons, their legal skill, and the trial that changed their lives. If you enjoy historical fiction, stories of New York, or mysteries and legal thrillers, 31 Bond Street will prove a riveting read.ISBN-10: 0061773964 - Hardcover $25.99Publisher: Harper; 1st edition (March 30, 2010), 352 pages.Review copy provided by the publisher and TLC Book Tours.

I'm always a little leery, but can never resist, an actual unsolved murder case and the story an author is willing to create around it. Sadly, a lot of authors who take an actual case out of history and try to recreate it, fail miserably. They can't seem to get a good sense of character or the time period the slaying took place in. The tale they craft, while maybe good fiction, doesn't have the ring of truth about it. The solution they created just isn't believable. Thankfully, that was not the case with 31 Bond Street.The tale that Ellen Horan weaves around the murder of Dr. Harvey Burdell is not only believable but entertaining as well. She brought the streets of 1857 New York to life in ways that may get me to love historical fiction after all. New York is treated as an important character, one that brings the color and texture to the story in ways that allows an almost tactile experience. As the characters encounter different parts of the city and surrounding land, that setting supports everything they do.She obviously did her research and the story was richer for it. She managed to blend both historical and fictional characters and events into a cohesive narrative that felt like the truth. It felt as if she had found Emma Cunningham's journal, Henry Clinton's private memoir, and had H. G. Wells' time machine at her disposal. The characters are so real that it almost feels like they will come off the page at any second and explain what it is they are doing and why things happened the way they did. It was a brilliantly done look into the minds of people that have been dead for years.If you couldn't tell that I loved this book, then I didn't use enough flattering language. Maybe I should go back and put in a few more just for the fun of it. The book is certainly deserving of it. I'll be looking forward to anything else this author chooses to put out there for the public to consume. At this point I would be willing to read an informational pamphlet about the mating rituals of peacocks, if this author was the one who wrote it.

31 Bond Street is a historical novel based on the events surrounding the murder of Dr. Harvey Burdell, a wealthy New York dentist found butchered in his New York townhouse in February 1857. After a flimsy investigation, the district attorney decided that Burdell’s attractive housekeeper and mistress, Emma Cunningham, had killed him to seize control of his sizable estate. The evidence was not compelling, but no better suspect could be found. Her murder trial was a media circus that held New Yorkers spellbound until a sensible jury found her not guilty. Mrs. Cunningham did not fade gracefully into obscurity: when her former lover’s fortune was awarded to his siblings, she claimed to be pregnant with Burdell’s child. The sceptical police kept an eye on her and caught her trying to buy an infant that she could pass off as the rightful heir to the Burdell fortune. Forced to admit defeat, Emma Cunningham slunk out of the spotlight. In this fictional interpretation of the Burdell murder, Ellen Horan presents an alternate reality that resurrects the darker aspects of life in 1850s New York: the bloody slavery debates, obsessive social and political ambition, and the rise of an undignified and soulless ‘New Money’ class. Burdell is portrayed as an unholy schemer who meets a well-deserved end, and Emma Cunningham is, in my opinion, similar to her real-life counterpart: a desperate figure that creates her own nightmares by trying too hard to secure her financial future. The novel digresses in places, but only to build suspense and add a sinister logic to Burdell’s bloody end. 31 Bond Street will appeal to fans of historical mystery novels such as Matthew Pearl’s The Poe Shadow. Those interested in learning more about the Burdell murder case are advised to read Benjamin Feldman’s Butchery on Bond Street.