The Devil's Half Mile, Paddy Hirsch: Book Review

New York, 1799: The fledgling financial system is still nervous after the Panic Of 1792 where rampant speculation caused a run on the banks - Wall Street is the Devil’s Half Mile of the title. Abolitionism and the manumission movement are also heavy in the air, sparking unrest amongst the rival dirt-poor gangs of lower Manhattan, a situation hardly eased by the bodies of slain young women that keep showing up.

Justice ‘Justy’ Flanagan arrives back into all this after some years in Ireland, where he studied law in Maynooth and helped out the Defenders during the 1798 rebellion, determined to uncover the truth behind his father’s death.

Paddy Hirsch’s gritty debut, rich with historical detail, full of bad bastards and tight fixes, gallops along gloriously, splicing several strands seamlessly. His use of period slang is particularly pleasing and he thoughtfully provides a glossary at the back of the book, in case you’re not clear on what ‘heavers’ or ‘tarrywags’ are. With any luck, we’ll get a sequel.