Westside Saints audiobook

…she told about the coming resurrection, when our dead would rise from their graves and walk the Westside streets. ---------------------------------------A Westsider should know better. The dead do not return; grief does not subside. Our memories fade, until those we loved are no more real than paper saints on a wall. You can’t keep a good man down, or, apparently, a bad one. There seem to be some issues on the Westside around the dearly departed staying that way. Gilda Carr, the PI who found herself in some very strange sorts of peril in the 2019 release, Westside, that entailed a near civil war in the city, and a connection to a very strange place, is back for another go. The reimagined 1921 Westside of Manhattan from the first book remains extremely odd in 1922. Originally, Westside was imagined as a straight mystery, but as I found myself writing the early chapters, it occurred to me that the street scenes I was writing felt eerily empty. I wondered why that might be, and gradually (over the course of two or three very painful drafts) evolved the concept of a city where the Westside is desolate and isolated and the Eastside is vastly overcrowded. - from the Bidwell Hollow interviewIt still has a three story fence separating East from West, and some unusual characteristics that differ between the two sides. Things mechanical tend to fare poorly on the Western side, guns included, and the local flora tends to grow at an accelerated rate. Well, add one more touch of weirdness, as the Byrd family, long time cleric sorts, who spend considerable time and effort aiding the unfortunate, have been promising their parishioners, and any who will listen, that they will be holding a revivification lottery. Come on down to their place of worship, The Electric Church, buy a chance, and maybe your special passed-on-person can be brought back from the other side. Electric Resurrection they call it. Cash only. W.M. Akers – image from Chapter16.orgGilda smells a rat. This is a bit much, even for the Westside, despite the strangeness she encountered first-hand in the first Westside book. As usual, she takes on a tiny case, looking for a very specific color for Enoch Byrd, a member of that clerical family, to which Byrd’s mother adds a search for the missing relic of a saint that was kept at their church. But Gilda’s small investigations tend to grow into epic life and death struggles, so of course…A notorious preacher has returned. Apparently, at about the same time, a woman has as well. A woman who somehow finds her way to Gilda’s home, looking for help, a woman who is all of twenty-one years of age, a woman with a keen wit and a driving, acerbic personality, a woman trying to find out what has happened to her boyfriend, who’d mysteriously disappeared, a woman who happens to be Gilda’s late mother, Mary Hall, nicely fitted out with amnesia and a wardrobe that seems a bit out of date. Insert Louis Black double take here, complete with bouncing jowls.So, where the first book in this series centered to a large degree around Gilda’s relationship with her father, this one focuses on her maternal lineage. There is a third book in the works. One wonders if more family members will be called on in that one. I can certainly imagine a successful Westside series volume some years down the line bringing in cousins once-removed. Gilda decides it is best to keep their future relationship under wraps for the moment, to better allow the two of them to work together. Well, working together may be putting it too kindly, as Mary keeps dragging Gilda about and complaining about her near total uselessness. How Gilda endures her returned mother, while trying to keep her from awareness of their relationship is a wonderful bit of fun.It is quite clear that Akers loves New York. But he is not exactly a native. I was born and raised in Nashville, Tenn. As early as six, I remember wanting to live in New York City—this probably had something to do with obsessive rewatching of Home Alone 2 and the fact that Eloise was one of my favorite childhood reads. Even after I learned that living in New York usually doesn’t mean life at the Plaza Hotel, I was infatuated with the city, where I moved for college in 2006… One of the many reasons why I’m thrilled to continue working on the Gilda Carr series is to give me a chance to hang out with my own imagined version of New York—where, coincidentally, the rent is very low. - from the Bidwell Hollow interviewLike many erstwhile New Yorkers, he was driven out by the excessive cost of living there, and now makes his home in Philadelphia, no doubt at a more brotherly rent. The visuals are great fun, as in volume one. One drinking establishment, Berk’s Third Floor, lacks electricity and heat, and operates in a building from which a considerable portion of the exterior structure has disappeared. Be careful where you step. It does, however, offer alcohol, a substance unavailable on the East side. Another, The Basement Club, operates underground, barely, offering a novel way to purchase the only drink in the house. I paid my nickel and cupped my hands under the hose, slurping up whatever didn’t run through my fingers. I wiped my hands on the patron to my left, who was glassy with drink, his mouth stained bloody by the beet red liquor. Local color abounds, tending toward the bluish, from the tiny mystery of Gilda trying to find a very specific shade of blue for a client, to an eldritch, and seemingly far too coherent, stream of crackling blue light that has peculiar qualities, to the color of one’s lips as winter takes its toll. That special bridge comes into play, as does the Roebling family, bridge builders of note, who might not be thrilled with their portrayal here. Unpleasant winter weather plays a role, as the tough winter at the beginning of the book takes a turn for the historical towards the end, in its level of cold, wind, snow, and misery. We get a further taste of the deep corruption that flows through the Westside, and a look at the source of some of that corruption, on the Eastside.Brooklyn Bridge during a major blizzard – image from WikipediaThe cast of supporting characters is colorful and marvelous, as in Westside. Akers has succeeded in merging history, fantasy, and mystery, to concoct a wonderful take on old and imagined New York, and placing within it a compelling whodunit. There are very few saints in the Westside (any Westside without Zabar’s is decidedly unholy anyway), although there is one Cherub. Gilda will certainly not be offering herself for canonization, but you will enjoy hanging out with her. If you are fond of being transported (in a good way) to a strange but familiar place, crave a bit of mystery, and enjoy it all served with a chilled bowl of fantasy, you have come to the right place. Westside Saints is an infernally fun read. All I want is to help people—give them food, shelter, a midwife, a chance. But all that costs a hell of a lot of money, and crime is the only thing that pays. Review posted – May 8, 2020Publication date – May 5, 2020----------May 5, 2020 - hardcover----------April 13, 2021 - trade paperback=============================EXTRA STUFFLinks to the author’s personal and Twitter pages and to his very fun newsletter, Strange TimesInterviews - came across very little pertaining specifically to book #2-----Harper Voyager - Live with W.M. Akers on Westside - Angela Craft-----Bidwell Hollow - W.M. Akers Dives Into a Divided New York City in His Debut Novel by Nicholas BarronMy review of the first book in the series, WestsideItems of Interest-----New Yok Times – March 13, 1888 - In A Blizzard’s Grasp-----Akers produces a newsletter/site that explores the weirdest news of 1921, one day at a time - Strange Times - check it out-----Crimereads.com - Tiny Mysteries From the Files of the New York Times - an intro to the above by the author with some fun samples -----John A. Roebling - designer of the Brooklyn Bridge----- There is a Roebling Museum, but it is located in neither Brooklyn nor Manhattan, where one might expect it, but in Roebling, NJ, about 70 miles (about a three hour drive) from the bridge that brought them global renown. Of course, the Roeblings were involved in the construction of many bridges, including the Golden Gate.

I have very particular (some, including my husband, might say annoying) taste in my fantasy and sci fi books and movies. Must be more “Twilight Zone” than “Outer Limits.” Nothing taking place in space. (Exception of course for 2001: A Space Odyssey.) And absolutely no talking animals. (Exception of course for Animal Farm.) So I’m a tough customer. This book ticked all the boxes for me and was a delightful and beautiful read about a fictionalized Manhattan of the 1920s, which in this imagined world is divided strictly and divisive it into Eastside and Westside. (So, humorously, not TOTALLY inaccurate to reality.)Gilda Carr, our heroine, is a delightfully funny and tough broad who specializes in “tiny mysteries.” In this case, the book begins with the mystery of a stolen pickled finger of a saint. (Being a fan of all things weird in my mysteries, how could I not love this premise?) But much much more happens and snowballs after that, and I don’t want to give any of it away because the shock and the weirdness is a lot of fun.I loved the way this novel was written. Aside from the gorgeous prose, it also managed to be nostalgic and modern (and even a little futuristic?) all at the same time. Did I also mention it’s totally funny? Though filled with humor and weirdness there is decidedly nothing cozy about it. If you love New York, old-time lady detectives with suffrage era pluck, and a plot with a heavy dose of quirkiness you’re sure to enjoy this book. Be forewarned that the journey is non-linear, but very fun. Also, it has a lovely ending.Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and the very talented and funny W.M. Akers for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was my first W.M. Akers book, but it definitely won’t be my last.

I'm biased, but I'd say this book is even better than Westside. Not only is Akers a more assured writer, Gilda is a more complete character and--most important--the mystery is even tighter. These books definitely stand on their own, so you can start here if you want and fall in love with how big the "tiny mysteries" become. I've always thought of these books as a mix of The Alienist and City & the City, and I stand by that--great mix of mystery and fantasy.

I think I liked this book even more than I did the first in the series! Gilda Carr is back to solve more “tiny mysteries” but as the book cover says “tiny mysteries never stay tiny” and that is never true than with this case.The book is an instantly engrossing, clever, thriller/mystery that I couldn’t stop reading. Gilda herself is a interesting character with a complicated relationship with both parents. She lost her mother young and idealizes her, her father was a troublesome character but she still has retained a certain fondness for him. Along with all of this is her deep love for The Westside, and she finds herself invested in the people there and hopes to help them survive the terrors of the place. Gilda is also a very pained person. Isolated, introverted, difficult to be around, she is also a very principled person but her inner turmoil and insecurities really come to the forefront in this book. I feel like you really get to know her while reading.When her long-dead mother shows up in her house what evolves is a strange, jazz age Back to the Future type story. Our parents are never who we think they are. They are infinitely more nuanced, and their personalities are not really seen during our childhood when what we are really seeing is our own needs and selves reflected in them. Solving the mystery in front of her is Gilda’s focus, but it is her relationship with her mother that will really motivate her actions.Like I said, I really loved this second book in the series. I have no idea if there will be more books to come, but I certainly hope so. I’m going to keep Mr. Aker’s name in my search bar at Netgalley just in case.Song for this book: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – Bessie SmithDisclaimer: I received this book free from Netgalley

After the extraordinary events of her first outing in W.M. Akers’ Westside, Gilda Carr is even more determined to stick to tiny mysteries. She’s got two to work on as Westside Saints opens. The first is to find the exact shade of blue that matches the sky when the sun sets in New York. Gilda has feelers out on that one. Second, and perhaps equally impossible to solve, is the disappearance of the finger of Saint Roisín, stolen from the Electric Church. These tiny mysteries are Gilda’s way of making a living in the wilds of New York’s Westside. Not only do they help Gilda make a living, but they also help her stay out of the way of the more dangerous inhabitants of the Westside. That’s the idea anyway because nothing ever seems to go to plan for Gilda...Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, for review consideration.

This was a good little mystery and I'm glad I picked it up. I won it from Goodreads a while back (thank you to the publisher!). I did not read the first book in the series, but that was okay. I was still able to enjoy this book. Gilda, the main character was interesting and I enjoyed her a lot. There were some parts I had to reread because I was a little confused with the writing, but overall I liked it. It was easy to get into!

https://openbooksociety.com/article/w...Westside SaintsWestside, Book #2By W.M. AkersISBN: 9780062854063Author’s Website: www.wmakers.netBrought to you by OBS reviewer Omar SummaryReturn to a twisted version of Jazz Age New York in this follow up to the critically acclaimed fantasy Westside, as relentless sleuth Gilda Carr’s pursuit of tiny mysteries drags her into a case that will rewrite everything she knows about her past.Six months ago, the ruined Westside of Manhattan erupted into civil war, and private detective Gilda Carr nearly died to save her city. In 1922, winter has hit hard, and the desolate Lower West is frozen solid. Like the other lost souls who wander these overgrown streets, Gilda is weary, cold, and desperate for hope. She finds a mystery instead.Hired by a family of eccentric street preachers to recover a lost saint’s finger, Gilda is tempted by their promise of “electric resurrection,” when the Westside’s countless dead will return to life. To a detective this cynical, faith is a weakness, and she is fighting the urge to believe in miracles when her long dead mother, Mary Fall, walks through the parlor door.Stricken with amnesia, Mary remembers nothing of her daughter or her death, but that doesn’t stop her from being as infuriatingly pushy as Gilda herself. As her mother threatens to drive her insane, Gilda keeps their relationship a secret so that they can work together to investigate what brought Mary back to life. The search will force Gilda to reckon with the nature of death, family, and the uncomfortable fact that her mother was not just a saint, but a human being. ReviewTiny mysteries are the specialty of Gilda Carr such as lost gloves, the forgotten name of a special song, or a kind of shade of blue from a memory. In this case, it all starts with the small finger of a dead saint and while trying to find it Gilda stumbles upon the secrets of a religious family and her mother that should have been dead years ago. Now, Gilda has to figure out why the dead are coming back and why there is a secret mob organization trying to take over the Westside by using the religious scheme.Love the world of the Westside series and the new magical side of New York. Now I wonder if other cities in the United States of this world have slipt and have magical unpredictable sides.It was great to see Gilda back. I liked her character in the first installment of the Westside series. While in the first book she is just trying to get by, in this new story, Gilda is trying to survive a harsh winter and the guilt of the people that die and she killed in the previous book. It was nice to see a new side of her and character growth.The Westside is a strange and magical place and it seems that it doesn’t leave the dead alone to which Gilda keeps being haunted by those she loved and lost. I liked that we got to meet Mary and Virgil, the parents of Gilda, even if they are different from those she knew before. I liked this book; it was a good mystery book because I wasn’t able to predict the end outcome or who was pulling the strings in the shadows.Given how the first book ended, I didn’t think there was going to be a sequel. In this new book, the story brought back previous characters and set new ones for future stories, just like loose ends that Gilda may need to clear in the future. If you are a fan of W.M. Akers and other work, then I recommend you Westside Saints. Gilda Carr is back with a new mystery to solve, but not all tiny mysteries are tiny, some are actually the tip of the iceberg and much bigger things lurking in the dark.*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Westside Saints is another quirky adventure for the solver of tiny mysteries – Gilda Carr.This time she runs smack into her formerly deceased mother, Mary. Gilda is now confronted with a huge mystery. How did Mary get here? Why doesn’t Mary remember Gilda? Why is Mom so mean? And what is Gilda to do about it all?At the same time, there is a church. I’m just going to say it. It is a strange church. Even before the long dead patriarch returns from the dead. (Another huge mystery.) Still Gilda perseveres with the tiny mystery – the hunt for the church’s lost saint’s finger.Yes, there is a lot of stuff going on! Missing fingers, resurrected people, preaching, snow, cold, drinking colored gin, gangsters, a killing fire. There is a lot to keep track of. But, rest assured, somehow, Gilda will bring all the confusing jigsaw pieces together into one wacky finished puzzle.In Westside Saints, Akers has done it again, creating this very colorful alternative New York, messing with all the characters and deftly spinning a tale that threatens to spin out of control. But the top will stop spinning without falling off the table, all the characters will right themselves just where they need to be, and the saint’s missing finger will be found. You just cannot possibly imagine how this will all happen. And that is exactly what makes Westside Saints so fun!Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Tiny mysteries are the specialty of Gilda Carr such as lost gloves, the forgotten name of a special song, or a kind of shade of blue from a memory. In this case, it all starts with the small finger of a dead saint and while trying to find it Gilda stumbles upon the secrets of a religious family and her mother that should have been dead years ago. Now, Gilda has to figure out why the dead are coming back and why there is a secret mob organization trying to take over the Westside by using the religious scheme.It was great to see Gilda back. I liked her character in the first installment of the Westside series. While in the first book she is just trying to get by, in this new story, Gilda is trying to survive a harsh winter and the guilt of the people that die and she killed in the previous book. It was nice to see a new side of her and character growth.The Westside is a strange and magical place and it seems that it doesn’t leave the dead alone to which Gilda keeps being haunted by those she loved and lost. I liked that we got to meet Mary and Virgil, the parents of Gilda, even if they are different from those she knew before.I liked this book; it was a good mystery book because I wasn’t able to predict the end outcome or who was pulling the strings in the shadows.I received an Advanced Review Copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways.

Westside Saints returns us to the imaginative alternate-history/fantasy of W.M. Akers' Westside and grows both more personal and greater in scope than the first novel. Once again Akers has us world-trotting, though in this case we're dealing with (view spoiler)[time travel (hide spoiler)] as opposed to the alternate reality Gilda encounters in the first novel. If the first novel dealt mainly with what Gilda had lost in losing her father while addressing the origin and current state of the Westside, the second novel takes on Gilda's yearning for lost mother, and their relationship, along with some religious scam artists working their trade on the Westside. Once again, Gilda staves off the worst of several possible outcomes for her beloved Westside at great personal cost, and triumphs over both the "tiny mysteries" she is engaged to solve, and the world-shaking situations they lead her into. Akers continues his world in fine fashion here, fittingly building on his strong debut.

This is a quirky story about a detective named Gilda Carr who specializes in small mysteries such as finding lost objects. One of her jobs is to find out what happened to the relic of St. Remiens finger that went missing from the church. Her territory is the West side of Manhattan in the 1920's. Some black magic occurred during her investigation which open up a portal from the past. One of the people who came through was her dead mother who arrived as a young woman the same age as Gilda. She didn't know who she was and claimed to have amnesia. She hire Gilda to help find out who she is and where she is from. She has no idea that Gilda is her daughter from the future. Gilda's dilemma is should she tell her that she is her mother and try to get her back to the past so she can meet her father and give birth to her. What happens to her if she fails. Will she cease to exist? This is a very enjoyable tale.

I received an ARC through a Goodreads Giveaway.Is resurrection possible? According to the Byrd family preachers it is. When Gilda Carr’s dead mother walks through the door, she goes on a mission to find out how it is possible. The book is somewhat slow paced. The book’s twist comes from nowhere, really. It was not even on my radar. I was somewhat disappointed because it was almost like a (somewhat) plausible explanation was needed, so this particular explanation was picked out of a hat and put into the story. I had to read it twice to make sure I read it correctly. Once I got over that disappointment and kept reading, I was pleasantly surprised with how well it was weaved into the story.I have not read book 1 of this series, but I am putting on my TBR list. There are references to the previous book, but this can be read as a standalone without being confused.

While not as cohesively strong as Akers debut in the mythical, and yet very real Westside, Westside Saints has its moments in both plot and structure, not to mention quips and one-liners worthy of any fictional gumshoe. Without divulging too much of the plot, the one glaring issue with the book is how intertwined the Carrs and Byrds are, and yet it's only introduced (and currently contained) in this one book. Granted, Akers could not bet he'd get a second book in his broken universe but Westside Saints makes me hopeful there will be plenty more. The world building is solid, Gilda Carr speaks and acts for all of us (especially in the immediate present).

I was sent this 2nd book in the series without having read the first. I found the concept of “tiny mysteries” I unique and I liked the alternate historical view of Jazz age NYC. I felt like Gilda was a little underdeveloped for me, but the first book probably made better introductions.The characters were eccentric and the landscape well-described. Kind of a paranormal sci-Fi take of one of my favorite eras in US history.I’d recommend reading the first in the series before tackling this one, but for fans of the 20’s, New York City, mysteries, the paranormal, and sci-Fi it’s a really interesting read. I can see this being a great series.

Ah dang it. I loved the first one, "Westside." This one not as much. It's a bummer because the lyrical prose gets five stars, easy. The plot in Westside Saints just seems overdone. One of the major mysteries from the first book doesn't even get addressed that well, which is, Why is the Westside so hinky to begin with? I'm not convinced this is Akers' fault. My sense is he had an editor who was like, "Lovely. Fine. Who cares about the confusing plot points? Let's rush it to publication." I'm still looking forward to Akers' third book. Honestly. He's got the writing chops.