The Orphanmaster
A Novel of Early Manhattan
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3.9 • 96 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Zimmerman's historical thriller, set in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam circa 1663, orphans are mysteriously disappearing. Searching for the missing children are a young trader and orphan named Blandine von Couvering and British spy Edward Drummond. As the two investigate the disappearances, they become romantically involved, but their fledgling love is threatened when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is charged with espionage. From the very beginning of this audio edition, listeners will be captivated by the performance of narrator George Guidall. His deep, velvety voice sounds cultured, traveled, educated, and comfortable on many continents, and he produces almost flawless French and Dutch accents. Guidall's reading captures the tone of the author's prose and essence of her characters, and the intimacy of his narration will keep listeners engrossed until the very end. A Viking hardcover.
