This is an AWESOME book!! It combines well-written historical fiction with a suspense thrill-ride that will keep you racing through the pages to find out how it all ends!!The author does a terrific job of taking what we actually know about the personalities of the historical figures who are the main characters in the story - Arthur Conan Doyle, H.P. Lovecraft, Harry Houdini, and Marie Laveau - and adding to that the appropriate behaviours that are needed to move the plot forward. The four main characters are part of an ancient society known as "The Arcanum" and when the leader of the group dies under mysterious circumstances, and a relic of inestimable value disappears, they fear that bad things are going to happen - and they do! Bizarre and brutal murders begin to happen in New York City, and Conan Doyle travels there to bring back together the other scattered members of the Arcanum to try to stop the carnage and best those responsible. But they won't be able to catch the perpetrators by normal means, and the police will just get in the way.Add to the fascinating main characters, the really cleverly conceived storyline, the setting of early 1900's New York City as the location, and an evil plot to . . . well, you'll have to read the book to find out what the evil is plotting - I don't do spoilers. But the story is well worth reading! There is excitement, suspense, conspiracies, unexpected betrayal and a climax that will have you on the edge of your seat.Considering this is the author's first novel, I would say he knocked it out of the part, and I would definitely check out any future books from Thomas Wheeler. In the meantime, if you like historical fiction and/or suspense thrillers I recommend this book to you - it has all of that and more. Fantastic read, highly recommended!
If Stephenie Meyer and Dan Brown had a baby, that baby would have grown up into Thomas Wheeler and it would have written this book. The writing is clunky and in places it's absolutely nonsensical. The plot is difficult to follow, which is a shame, because I think it could have been fantastic. The whole time I was reading it, I just kept thinking it was so close, yet so unbelievably far away. My chief issue with the novel was the treatment of the female characters. Each time a woman is introduced to the novel or even to a scene, her breasts are mentioned. (I'm not kidding, it's got to be 99% of the time.) Instead of using her legendary skills to distract hospital guards, Marie uses her body and pretends to be a prostitute. Naturally, Marie was the love interest of more than one member of the Arcanum. Not one female character escaped being sexualized, not even Houdini's wife (who was probably my favorite). Every time Marie was sassy or took initiative, it felt completely pasted on. It was pretty damn disgusting.That on top of flat characters and ridiculous circumstances (seriously? Houdini and Lovecraft escape by tightrope walking across the power lines? what the hell?), I was totally disappointed.
What do You think about The Arcanum (2005)?
I actually bought this book a couple of years ago on the recommedation of a co-worker back when I worked for a book store. I'm sorry it took me so long to read it. It was surprisingly good. After "Dante Club" by Matthew Pearl, I honestly didn't think I'd find any author able to fuse well known historical literary figures into a story and not have it come across as cheesey or cheap. Thomas Wheeler did a great job. Not only did I believe that I was reading the interactions of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, HP Lovecraft, and Harry Houdini, but their pursuit of the mystery and personal limits and demons felt right on. The basis of the story was exciting and the strings of the mystery were satisfactorily tied. I even loved the ending...redemption comes in so many forms, and this story we have each character finding their own redemption.It's a great mystery and historical account of attitudes and feelings from turn of the century New York and one that I highly recommend to any mystery/literary fan.
—Rebecca
The book begins with a silly, but fairly entertaining, premise: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, H.P. Lovecraft and voodoo priestess Marie Laveau form a group of sleuths tracking down supernatural events. Turning historical personages into 21st century-styled action heroes is hardly necessary, but is harmless enough. At first. Unfortunately, somewhere near the middle of the story, the plot moves rapidly from silly to preposterous to ridiculous. Anytime Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini require assistance from levitating magicians or trained mice who carry messages on their collar through downtown Manhattan, you know your gimmick has gone out of control. Where is an editor when you need one?
—Christopher
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, Marie Laveau, and H. P. Lovecraft: they fight supernatural crime! Can you think of anything more fun? Alas, I can. The Arcanum is a first novel by a successful screenwriter, and it shows -- it's fast-paced, adventurous, and shallow. While Wheeler's clearly done his research, he doesn't let history or character get in the way of telling the story he has in mind, which involves lost angels, a missing book of the Bible, and Aleister Crowley. It's a quick, fun, read, but it could have been more; it would definitely make a great splashy summer movie. I was torn between 2 and 3 stars; I didn't dislike it by any means, but it doesn't live up to its considerable potential.
—Catherine Siemann
