Opium and Absinthe
Synopsis: New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?
A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.
Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.
As a lover of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I was drawn in and addicted (pun very much intended) to the storyline. I found myself immersed in the mystery surrounding Lucy’s death, the time period and how Tillie works to stop a killer that is on the loose in Manhattan.
I’m a huge fan of historical details and descriptive writing, and Kang did an amazing job. I was swept back in time through the dialogue, setting and culture of Manhattan. There were many truly fascinating historical details that dove into the disparity between the rich and the poor during the late 19th century Manhattan, and I found myself swept up in the time period. The reader gets to dive into the life of a “newsie” (the poor) and the lives of those on “Millionaire Row” (richest of the rich). Kang brought these two different worlds together in a superb and entertaining fashion that helped the heroine, Tillie, solve a very unusual murder. I swear I was swept up visually into Tillie’s world as she traveled from the slums to the glittery lives of the rich.
The plotline and development of Tillie’s opium addiction follows with how so many women and men became addicted to the poppy after having a doctor subscribe it for medicinal purposes. I felt like I really knew all the characters in the story as I held my breath for them, cheered for them, or criticized their mistakes. Each character was very real and believable…Especially Tillie. Her character is flawed, but she doesn’t allow this to hinder her curiosity or drive to find the truth about her sister’s murder.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. As a teacher and librarian, I always have my nose in a book. Therefore, it takes a well-researched book full of captivating details to hold my attention so much so that I stay up late reading, and cannot wait to wake-up and dive back in, and Lang’s book did just that!
If you are looking into an epic historical fiction book with a hint of mystery, you will enjoy this well written book. You will get a glimpse into the lives and times of late 19th century Manhattan, the troubling diaspora (that are still troubling today), the role of women, opioids, and medicine.
