'April 19th, 1831. In two or three hours I'll be dead.' So begins the chilling last testament of Gus Landor, a retired New York City police constable, whose numerous talents include code-breaking, riot control and the 'gloveless interrogation'. A young cadet has been found hanged at a military academy on the shores of the Hudson River. Before his body could be buried, however, it was stolen and his heart brutally carved out. Fearing a scandal, the top brass at West Point have summoned Landor to help catch the culprit, and keep his discoveries away from prying eyes. As Landor embarks on a thrilling adventure to solve the case, he uncovers a series of dark secrets and finds unlikely assistance in the form of a mischievous young cadet named Edgar Allan Poe.THE PALE BLUE EYE is a brilliantly atmospheric historical mystery, full of drama and unexpected twists. From the events of one seemingly ordinary afternoon, Louis Bayard conjures a tale as haunting as it is entertaining.
One surefire way to make me interested in historical fiction is to throw someone who actually existed into the mix. I’m not sure why this is, but I’m strangely compelled by fictional depictions of real people. In this case, the subject is Edgar Allen Poe.
I’m sure there are many liberties taken with Poe’s character, but nevertheless he is the star of this show. The main character, Gus Landor, has been brought to West Point in order to find out who has removed the heart of a soldier who was found hanged, either by his own hand or someone else’s. Some in the government are looking for any reason to shut down West Point, and the school is desperate for help. Landor asks for one thing – a cadet to be his eyes and ears in the ranks.
Most of the book is seen through Landor’s eyes, as he is the primary narrator, but the brightest spots come from Poe’s point of view. The author does a good job of changing up the voice in these sections.
The mystery and its resolution are a bit strange, but even stranger is the story’s twist. I’m still not quite sure how I feel about it. It makes sense, when you look back, but it seems a little forced. And I’m still unclear about how Poe figures it all out.
Regardless, this is a book I enjoyed. Bayard is earning his spot on my historical fiction favorites list.
