City of Light

By: Lauren Belfer

Narrated by: Jan Maxwell

The year is 1901. Buffalo, New York, is poised for glory. With its booming industry and newly electrified streets, Buffalo is a model for the century just beginning.

Louisa Barrett has made this dazzling city her home. Headmistress of Buffalo’s most prestigious school, Louisa is at ease in a world of men, protected by the titans of her city. But nothing prepares her for a startling discovery: evidence of a murder tied to the city’s cathedral-like power plant at nearby Niagara Falls. This shocking crime—followed by another mysterious death—will ignite an explosive chain of events. For in this city of seething intrigue and dazzling progress, a battle rages among politicians, power brokers, and industrialists for control of Niagara. And one extraordinary woman in their midst must protect a dark secret that implicates them all. . . .

©1999 Lauren Belfer (P)1999 Random House, Inc., Bantam Doubleday Dell Audio Publishing, A Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK

“Suspenseful…A historical novel of high intrigue.” (People)

“Get your hands on City of Light, a full-to-the-brim first novel…a straight-through, sleepless read.” (Time)

"...an ingenious first novel." (The New York Times Book Review)

“Breathtaking . . . a remarkable blend of murder mystery, love story, political intrigue, and tragedy of manners.” (USA Today)

ABRIDGED, Please record the FULL book!

PLEASE RECORD THE FULL BOOK! The City of Light is one of my FAVORITE books-in the full-length version. I have read & re-read the FULL printed version over & over, yet I was still happy to pay my precious monthly credit for the Audio version, assuming it was the full-length book.

Unfortunately, this abridged version is terrible, and the story is ruined. This is a real shame, because the full book is a completely engaging, can’t-put-it-down story, with fascinating, realistic, historic detail that is the result of painstaking research. PLEASE re-record, and give us the FULL book!

Protagonist Is Not Really a Modern Woman

I bought this book because the blurb sounded great, and it started out very well. The details about the beginnings of the electricity business and all the blurred notions of right and wrong that are part of any big money-making enterprise were very interesting. The protagonist is the victim of a crime--which goes unpunished by her or by others who know about it. The other crime that she uncovers in the true mystery of the story she decides to do nothing about. She really disappointed me as a woman; her choices were not those that a modern woman would make, and it ended up helping her not at all. The mystery is great, the history is interesting and chilling, but the protagonist was a disappointment to me.

Listen to the sample before you slap down a credit

I read City of Light for a book club. While historical fiction isn't really my thing, I did find the locale especially interesting, as I currently live in the neighborhood where this novel takes place. I drive on Forest Avenue, passing the Asylum and Forest Lawn Cemetery, as well as Delaware Park and Hoyt Lake every single day. I didn't have to imagine much to see where Louisa is walking, sledding or riding, as all the same homes and estates are right here, updated slightly but mostly unchanged. Unfortunately, this is where my enjoyment of the novel ends.

I now understand better how difficult was the effort to use Niagara Falls to introduce electricity to Western NY, and how fearful people were of this "new" technology. My 123 year old house still uses gas for practically everything, and we are constantly having to remove old gas pipes in order to put in electric ceiling fans, electric appliances and such. Buffalo ran on gas, and in lots of ways, still does, which is kind of funny since the source of vast amounts of electricity is right here at the Falls.

I know this is a work of fiction, but it still felt so very contrived to me. Did you see the movie Midnight in Paris? Where the guy keeps running into all les années folles movers and shakers, like EVERY SINGLE ONE of them? This book is kind of like that, but most of the politicians and prominent Buffalo investors she encounters are rapey, misogynistic and condescending to our almost childlike heroine, Louisa. It was a different era, but I still got annoyed by almost every single male character.

As for the narration, if they were going for an old-timey, echoey, bland production, then they by George, they nailed it! Was it an effort to sound more authentic for the era in which the book was placed, or was the production just really awful? Either way, I did not enjoy it.

good historical detail

I enjoyed the reader and the story. Tells a tale of gender differences and budding feminism effectively. Also recounts the beginning of electricity for the masses and how that occured.
The more we hear of how men made fortunes on the backs of the poor yet telling the world what they were doing was for our own good, the more it is the same. Very apt with the BP disaster in the Gulf.
Wish the sequel - Radiance of Light was being put into audio.

Problem with Narration

It sounded to me like the speaker was talking from a distance which made the audiobook hard to enjoy.

Unsatisfying ending

The bad guys succeed. The good guys lose but think they are okay with it and their lackluster continued existence. Basically, it's realistic.

What appealed to me was the early descriptions of an intellectually engaged woman and the salon she hosted. But that made it no further than a few lines about her intellectual gatherings (salons) in the first chapter. Eventually, we learn the protagonist was victimized and never recovered emotionally and so that is the reason for her life choices.

But it was well-written and one did get unique mental insight into what it was like for an intelligent, but not rebellious, woman to navigate the man's world of her time outside the traditional female role and psychology.

Great historical story about Buffalo and the Great Pan American Exposition Loved it.

I loved everything about this novel. The characters,Suspense and the strong feelings of heartbreak and life of a woman at that time.

Good story questionable audio

This is a good story blending history and drama. The narrator is fine. The audio quality is the shortfall. The sound is quite tinny and required equalization to keep from being unpleasant.

Great Turn of the Century Story

I moved to Buffalo last year and saw this book. I love mysteries, so gave it a try. I read the first half, and really enjoyed the story & vibrant turn of the Century descriptions of the city of Buffalo & Niagara Falls. I decided to listen to the 2nd half as I wanted to continue the story while working/walking. I believe a lot of the book is left out of the audible version, which is too bad, and the reason I gave it only 3 stars. I would recommend the Book rather than the audio version, but if you're familiar with, from, or living in Buffalo this is a great read and a great listen if you're too busy to sit down with a book. Best recommendation if you're actually IN Buffalo: Save it for Winter and read the entire book!

Meh…

Audio quality was horrid, sounded as though recorded over an analog phone line. Narrator range of emotion was quite narrow, no variation in speaking fro one character to the next other than the Irish brogue. Would’ve preferred more history and less melodramatic fiction. Go Buffalo!