My Metropolis series of historical novels is set in New York City 1830-1880, a time of dizzying growth and speculation, riots, boom, and bust. Reflecting my lifelong passion for history, this project was originally inspired by background research for my biographies of the Wall Street speculator Daniel Drew and the abortionist Madame Restell. Each novel stands by itself, but characters from one often reappear in another. More titles in the Metropolis series are forthcoming.
5. Forbidden Brownstones (E.L. Marker, an imprint of WiDo Publishing, 2020) is the fifth title in the Metropolis series.
New York City, 1850s and 1860s. Junius Fox, an educated young black man, has an obsession with brownstones, the residences of the prejudiced white gentry live who run the city.
He dreams of living in one and even possessing it, a yearning that in time immerses him in dangerous thoughts of arson and murder.
For anyone who wants to know another age and experience its dramatic events, scandals, and prejudices.
Reviews
"If you love historical fiction, as I do, ... you will absolutely adore this story. I learned so much reading this and enjoyed the plot and its characters immensely. I can highly recommend this read." -- Five-star editorial review for Readers' Favorite by Grant Leishman.
"I thoroughly enjoyed this adult-themed read; the story flowed easily, while the narrative provided as much food for thought, as it did historical tidbits.... I heartily recommend this book as well as the others in the series they are all well worth the read." -- Editorial review for Reedsy Discovery by Lisa Brown-Gilbert.
“Forbidden Brownstones is an addictive novel that will charm, entertain, and mesmerize you; five stars for this wonderful, compelling read.” -- Five-star editorial review for Sublime Book Review.
"No matter what journey you’re looking to undertake, this author provides love, drama, mystery, action, death, prejudice, and unforgettable emotion." — Editorial review for Reader Views by Amy Lignor.
"This is the first time I have given a book a five…. I could feel the movement, the jazz of the black culture where characters swayed with the rhythm of life after years of slavery facing adversity no white person in the book could ever understand or even thought to ask." — Five-star editorial review for Reedsy Discovery by Karina Holosko.
"Not only is the story unique, but the writing is superb. Browder's work flows, and the story is well organized. The vocabulary is impressive." -- Editorial review for the US Review of Books by Toby Berry.
4. The Eye That Never Sleeps is the fourth title in the Metropolis series.
It tells of the strange friendship of a private detective and the bank robber he has been hired to apprehend, climaxed by a violent confrontation in the dark midnight vaults of a bank.
For readers who like well-researched historical fiction, and who love a fast-paced detective story set in turbulent nineteenth-century New York.
No longer available from the original publisher. A new edition is forthcoming with an impressive new cover. Beware of copies from sources that may charge extravagantly. Wait for the new edition.
Reviews
"A classically told detective novel that creates a web of intrigue, while giving the reader a tour of a bygone era of America through the filter of New York City." – Editorial review by Sublime Book Review.
"The Eye That Never Sleeps is a great midnight mystery to enjoy and I highly recommended it to all crime and mystery-loving fans." – Four-star editorial review for Readers’ Favorite by Tiffany Ferrell.
"Enter the seamier haunts of mid-nineteenth century NYC. One man is married, honorable. The other is an adept planner of felonies, and sneakily vindictive. Follow them around for a while and you decide which one bests the other in a dangerous game." — Five-star editorial review for NetGalley by Jan Tangen.
3. Dark Knowledge (Anaphora Literary Press, 2018) is the third novel in the Metropolis series.
Adult and young adult. A fast-moving historical novel about New York City and the slave trade, with the sights and sounds and smells of the waterfront.
New York City, late 1860s. When young Chris Harmony learns that members of his family may have been involved in the illegal pre-Civil War slave trade, taking slaves from Africa to Cuba, he is appalled.
Determined to learn the truth, he begins an investigation that takes him into a dingy waterfront saloon, musty old maritime records that yield startling secrets, and elegant brownstone parlors that may have been furnished by the trade.
Since those once involved dread exposure, he meets denials and evasions, then threats, and a key witness is murdered.
Chris has vivid fantasies of the suffering slaves on the ships and their savage revolts.
How could seemingly respectable people be involved in so abhorrent a trade, and how did they avoid exposure? And what price must Chris pay to learn the painful truth and proclaim it?
"A lively and entertaining tale. The writing styles, plot, pace and character development were excellent." Four-star LibraryThing early review by BridgitDavis.
"At first the plot ... seemed a bit contrived, but I was soon swept up in the tale." Four-star LibraryThing early review by snash.
"I am glad that I have read this book as it goes into great detail and the presentation is amazing. The Author obviously knows his stuff." Four-star LibraryThing early review by Moiser20.
2. Bill Hope: His Story (Anaphora Literary Press, 2017) is the second novel in the Metropolis series.
New York City, 1870s. From his cell in the gloomy prison known as the Tombs, young Bill Hope spills out in a torrent of words the story of his career as a pickpocket and shoplifter; his scorn for snitches and bullies; his brutal treatment at Sing Sing and escape from another prison in a coffin.
He also recounts his forays into brownstones and polite society; his
brief career on the stage playing himself; his loyalty to a man who has befriended him but may be trying to kill him; and his sojourn among the “loonies” in a madhouse, from which he emerges to face betrayal and death threats, and possible involvement in a murder.
In the course of his adventures Bill learns how slight the difference is between criminal and law-abiding, insane and sane, vice and virtue—a lesson that reinforces what he learned on the streets.
Driving Bill throughout is a fierce desire for better, a yearning to leave the crooked life behind, and a persistent and undying hope.
Available from Amazon.
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Reviews
1. The Pleasuring of Men (Gival
Press, 2011), the first novel in the Metropolis series.
New York, late 1860s. Tom Vaughan, a respectably raised young man chooses to become a male prostitute servicing New York City’s
elite, then falls in love with Walter Whiting, a renowned scholar and lecturer,
who proves to be his most difficult client.
Their story unfolds in the clandestine and
precarious gay underworld of the time, which is recreated fictionally with a
deep knowledge of the period.
Through a
series of sexual encounters – some exhilarating, some painful, some mysterious
– Tom matures, until an unexpected act of violence provokes a final resolution.
Reviews
“The Pleasuring of Men is deftly drawn
with rich descriptions, a rhythmic balance of action, dialogue, and exposition,
and a nicely understated plot. The Pleasuring of Men is both engaging
and provocative.” --- Sean Moran
"Altogether this is a tale encompassing both sophisticated wit and humour, and yet the subject matter is the gritty underbelly of society as enacted by its leading citizens—including the Reverend Timothy Blythe, D.D. Indeed, as I followed Tom’s sexual romp through the streets of New York, I couldn’t get the image of that other Tom out of my mind i.e. 'Tom Jones.' It is absolutely delightful. Five Bees." --- Gerry Burnie, Gerry Burnie's Book Reviews
Gival
Press, LLC
PO
Box 3812
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© 2021 Clifford Browder
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