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From a debut novelist, a gripping historical thriller and rousing love story set in seventeenth-century Manhattan
It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.
Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.
Jean Zimmerman brings New Amsterdam and its surrounding wilderness alive for modern-day readers with exacting period detail. Lively, fast paced, and full of colorful characters, The Orphanmaster is a dramatic page-turner that will appeal to fans of Hilary Mantel and Geraldine Brooks.
Jean Zimmerman was born in Tarrytown, New York. An honors graduate of Barnard College, she is the author of several works of nonfiction, including Love, Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance and The Women of the House: How a Colonial She-Merchant Built a Mansion, a Fortune, and a Dynasty. She lives in Ossining, New York.
WarrenAWA
Posted June 22, 2012
Superb historical fiction, a real page turner. Based in the Dutch colony of Manhattan just as the British are set to invade, the plot concerns a string of murders. Working at solving the mystery are a female fur trader and a British spy. The detail in the writing is truly staggering, you really feel as though you are there then. For anyone who likes to really fall into a book, this one is for you.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 21, 2012
2.5 stars - If I could have given this book 2.5 stars I would have. I could have easily forgiven how laden with (unnecessary) detail the first part of this books was if the story had somehow redeemed itself. Sadly, however, it did not. You begin to feel worn down by this book after only a few pages into it. Neither the characters nor the dark nature of the story are ever fully realized. Yes, there are some gruesome scenes but there is no real action or character development. And, unfortunately, when there is, it's few and far between. I really feel misled by the many four and five star reviews here and I haven't the slightest clue as to why they would describe this book as a "real page turner". While it provides some entertaining historical insights, they aren't enough to carry the story, I apologize for reviewing this book rather harshly but it only goes to show how disappointing it was. The party responsible for the missing orphans has such an interesting back-story that it is beyond my understanding as to why the author would choose to overlook so much of it. If she had taken more time to explain to us how this person's experiences had given rise to their dark nature it would have made for a much more interesting read. Sadly, however, she chooses to inundate the reader with page upon page of seemingly inconsequential description. Again, I apologize for the negative nature of this review but I feel that if no one else here is willing to tell you the truth, I should. Save your money and look elsewhere.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The author has pulled together an amazing amount of historical information and coupled it with just the right amount of political intrigue, superstitious myth (or is it really?), romance, and even a sort of feminism of the time period. It's a read to be savored for it's informative content, sub-stories, and implications. I loved the character development and the way the characters (there are many) are carefully introduced. The novel is beautifully paced and structured. You can tell I loved it, I gave it 5 stars.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.great read
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 12, 2012
Jean Zimmerman has spun an imaginative tale out of historical threads that is both suspenseful and action packed, yet still quite beautiful. As a result, The Orphan Master is an immensely entertaining novel.
The setting is the island of Manhattan in 1663 when the island was named New Amsterdam and was occupied by the Dutch, their African slaves, and the native Indians who managed to survive the Europeans. The backdrop for our protagonist and her romantic interest shows the dynamic that soon created New York. As only a historian can, Zimmerman shows the hysteria, religious fervor, and political conundrum of the time and its effect on a lively cast of characters from the vulnerable to the truly evil.
Zimmerman manages to convey raunchiness, love, hate, madness and even grisly murders, with a deft and gentle hand. This could have been the result of editor Betsy Lerner’s keen tutelage. Not a single foul word or cringe worthy scene. The women are strong and the hero is perfect, even when he is imperfect, so it sniffs, mildly, of a romance novel, one with Fabio on the cover, except The Orphan Master is smarter, more suspenseful – though we know early on who she will choose – and despite revealing the villain half-way through, we still hang in there to see who will survive.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 10, 2013
Got to page 200 and gave up because I really didn't care about the characters. The author paints a picture of an ugly place with small minded ugly people.
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Posted March 5, 2013
The Orphanmaster by Jean Zimmerman, although long, is well worth the read. Featuring a smorgasbord of suspects and thrilling plot twists, you will find this book very hard to put down. It is clear to readers that the author devoted a considerable amount of time thoroughly researching the environment that the story is set in to ensure an accurate historical perspective. The focus of the book is on Brandine Van Couvering, a trader, who grew up as an orphan in the Colony of New Amsterdam under Dutch rule. This area is now New York. In her spare time, Brandine investigates a series of murders of orphans in the Colony. Originally the Colony blames their own Orphanmaster whose job it is to find permanent families for the orphans. As fear turns to hysteria, the Colonists begin to blame the Witika, a supernatural being, towering nine feet tall that craves human flesh. The plot twists suddenly several times throughout the novel as finger-pointing thrusts several different suspects into the spotlight. It is impossible to find any flaws in the historical components of this novel. Although it is a fictional story, it is set in an accurately portrayed time period with some real characters, such as Brandine. I’m not a fan of fiction, however the historical relevance and the compelling story of the orphans made this book enjoyable for me and I will keep an eye out for Jean Zimmerman’s next novel. Erik B
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Posted July 28, 2012
Great story line, great charactrs, very well written! Really enjoyed it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookLoverCT
Posted July 28, 2012
This book offered a premise I had never considered. There were many causes of an abundance of parentless children. This book has some history that is probably not too well known.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.wisebon
Posted July 19, 2012
Interesting history of the founding of Manhnatten. Hard to believe anyone could be so cruel. Almost unbelievable. Main character was very compasionate and really tried to see the "good" in people although there was not too much good to see in those times. History buffrs might enhjoy but, unless you have a strong stomach, I would not5 recommend this book.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I love historically accurate novels, but it's a rare treat to read such a vigorously researched book with a thrilling, complicated plot. The characters were brought fully to life and the setting was absolutely tangible. I felt sick to have this novel end. Highly recommend.
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Posted July 3, 2012
This wonderful historic masterpiece would make a blockbuster film.
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Posted April 5, 2013
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Posted July 28, 2012
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Posted March 31, 2013
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Posted June 14, 2012
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Overview
From a debut novelist, a gripping historical thriller and rousing love story set in seventeenth-century Manhattan
It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward ...