No Comfort for the Lost: A Mystery of Old San Francisco. Nancy Herriman. New American Library/Penguin
Group (USA). August 2015. 384 pp. ISBN#:
9780451474896.
British-born
Celia Davis became a nurse and served in the Crimean War, a womanly career
frowned upon by late 1800 society. Now Celia has become the caretaker of her
half-Chinese cousin, Barbara, and has opened a free clinic where she cares for
anyone in need. Her concerns compel her to visit even the ill Chinese
prostitutes in Old San Francisco, acts that further ostracize her from “decent”
society. In 1867 there is a huge and
growing anti-Chinese segment of society that is part prejudicial and part fear
as the Chinese laborers are accused of taking jobs that would normally go to
Caucasian workers. So the story opens
with Celia’s visit to the bedside of a very physically abused and ill Chinese
prostitute. The setting is starkly
described and we quickly come to understand Celia’s compassionate attitude for
those living in such poor conditions.
Later she will become involved with Li Sha, a young woman who escaped
this way of life and whose horrific murder becomes the source of Celia’s quest
to find the killer.
In
her initial appearance at police headquarters, Celia makes clear her assertive
demand to see Li Sha’s body will not be denied. While most of the police she
encounters dislike her attitude, Detective Nicholas Greaves finds her feisty
attitude amusing. They quickly begin a
prickly yet close bond in their investigation into Li Sha’s death. They also have painful backgrounds of loss
that they slowly reveal in their chats, a force that compels them to care more
for others and which also places each in considerable danger!
Their inquiries bring them into the seedier
side of Old San Francisco, including Chinatown and the Barbary Coast area,
where secrets are gradually revealed that involve smuggling, prostitution,
gangs, bribery, and the political machinations that ruled the City and
protected the guilty from discovery and prosecution – at least until Celia and
Nick aggressively pursue their case.
Their insistence will bring both sleuths close to death and the mounting
threats and attacks make for riveting scenes! The anti-Chinese riots, attacks
and fires are based on actual historical facts!
No Comfort For the Lost… is fine historical mystery reading with
surprises at every turn (not spoiled by above description) and an exposure of a
social atrocity within the late 19th Century California area. Very
finely written and highly recommended reading!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment