Book Review: City of the Absent

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

City of the Absent     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Robert W. Walker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical   Police Procedural
Series: Inspector Alastair Ransom and Dr. Jane Francis Tewes # 3
Harper Collins, 2007, 320 pps.

October 28, 1893 marks the last night of the World’s Fair held in Chicago. The date also marks the end of Carter Harrison’s life. Harrison, Mayor of Chicago, is shot down in his front yard.

This is just the first of many mysteries Inspector Alastair Ransom works to solve in City of the Absent. Dr. James Phineas Tewes manages to show up at most crime scenes although Ransom would prefer she quit posing as Dr. Tewes and just be Jane Francis Tewes, the woman Ransom loves.

Before much investigating can be done regarding the murder of the Mayor, Nell Hartigan is viciously murdered. The men that attack and kill her, take her for an old prostitute, and kill her to sell her body for scientific experiments. Little do they know that Nell is working undercover and is a Pinkerton Detective.

City of the Absent shows Chicago as it really was at that time in history. People killing other people so their bodies could be sold to doctors to further medical experiments. Children are living in the streets and making out as best they can to keep alive. The entire city was corrupt and you were never sure whom you could trust.

I’ve read all three Ransom books and am told this may be the last one. I certainly hope not. I think that Inspector Alastair Ransom and Jane Francis Tewes have many more stories of Chicago and the day-to-day crimes that readers would be most interested in learning about.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM