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Simon Ziel Series

Step into the shadowed streets of old New York, where early criminal science collides with brutal crimes. This gripping historical mystery series follows a brilliant detective haunted by personal tragedy, seeking refuge from his past. However, unsolved cases and perplexing murders continually draw him back into the vortex of investigation. It's a compelling journey into justice, personal demons, and the relentless pursuit of truth in an era when forensic science was nascent.

Secret of the White Rose
A Curtain Falls
In the Shadow of Gotham

Recommended Reading Order

  1. 1

    In the Shadow of Gotham

    • 400 pages
    • 14 hours of reading
    3.5(193)Add rating

    In 1905, Detective Simon Ziele grapples with the aftermath of losing his fiancée in the General Slocum ferry disaster. Seeking solace, he transfers to a police department in a quiet town north of New York. However, his peace is shattered when young Sarah Wingate is found brutally murdered in her bedroom on a calm winter afternoon. After just one day of investigation, Ziele is contacted by Alistair Sinclair, a criminologist from Columbia University. Sinclair reveals that one of his patients, Michael Fromley, has made disturbing remarks that closely resemble the circumstances of Sarah's murder. Given Fromley's history of violent behavior, questions arise: Why would he target Sarah, a respectable mathematics student, when his previous victims were so different? Is Fromley the murderer, or is someone else mimicking him? As Simon delves deeper into the case, he must navigate the complexities of the investigation with Sinclair's help, all while confronting his own haunting memories. This gripping tale of a man haunted by his past and racing against time to catch a killer showcases a remarkable debut talent, earning accolades including the 2010 Edgar Award for Best First Novel.

    In the Shadow of Gotham
  2. 2

    A Curtain Falls

    • 416 pages
    • 15 hours of reading
    3.8(50)Add rating

    The careers of New York City detective Simon Ziele and his former partner, Captain Declan Mulvaney, went in remarkably different directions after the tragic death of Ziele's fiancée in the 1904 General Slocum ferry disaster. While earmarked for bigger things, Ziele moved north of the city to escape the violence, and Mulvaney dug in deeper, heading up the precinct in the most crime-ridden part of New York. Yet with all of the resources at Mulvaney's disposal, a puzzling crime compels him to ask his former partner for help. A chorus girl has been found dead on a Broadway stage dressed as the lead. There is no sign of violence. The coroner would call it a suicide, but then she'd be the second actress to die that way in only days. Following on the heels of Pintoff's Edgar Award-winning debut, A Curtain Falls is a moody and evocative tale that follows Ziele as he scours the streets in search of a true fiend.

    A Curtain Falls
  3. 3

    Secret of the White Rose

    • 384 pages
    • 14 hours of reading
    4.0(49)Add rating

    Set against the backdrop of 1906 New York City, the story unfolds after the murder of Judge Hugo Jackson, a case that draws the focus of the police commissioner due to its high-profile nature. The judge was overseeing the trial of Al Drayson, an anarchist responsible for a deadly bombing that tragically claimed innocent lives. Detective Simon Ziele finds himself navigating the complexities of a case that extends beyond his jurisdiction, as the trial ignites public interest and controversy.

    Secret of the White Rose