A review by alexrafinski
The American Boy by Andrew Taylor

dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The back of the book doesn't really explain the contents very well.  This isn't a typical murder mystery, and although Edgar Allan Poe is a character in the book, he isn't one of the major ones.  The problem with setting books in a period a few hundred years ago (especially when written in the first person) is that very of often the writing style doesn't feel like it could come from a different period.  However the author does a pretty good job of writing in a style that doesn't feel modern, but also isn't so true to the period that it becomes hard to read.  A good story, although perhaps the book could have been a bit shorter.