“The Organ Grinder” (Five Star) by Maan Mayers is what you might call a hard-boiled historical — a gritty crime novel set in Manhattan a century ago that doesn’t contain an ounce of fake nostalgia for “Old New York.”
The book delves into the brutal murder of a prostitute — for a missing locket that might have fallen into her hands — but the crime is just the starting point for a thrilling examination of the social and cultural changes that were sweeping through the city at the beginning of a new century.
The novel is packed with interesting characters including two women — photographer Esther Breslau and reporter Flora Cooper — who are pioneers in the revolutionary roles that women were about to play in the 20th century city.
“The Organ Grinder” is just the latest in a series of Maan Meyers novels following a Dutch family — the Tonnemans — from the earliest days of the settlement of the city through the beginnings of the modern era.
The blend of good storytelling, accurate history and deft characterization have made the books favorites of both mystery readers and those who love to explore New York City’s past.
Maan Meyers is the pseudonym of the husband and wife writing team of Annette and Martin Meyers whom I have come to think of as quintessential New Yorkers.
Annette and Martin are not related to this blogger, but I have known them and their work since Annette started her fiction career with a bang when Bantam published “The Big Killing” in 1989.
Annette brought a unique background to the mystery genre. She had two separate careers before her ficton debut — working as assistant to Broadway legend Harold Prince (in his glory days of producing and directing “Cabaret” and “Company” and “Follies”) and then as a Wall Street headhunter.
In her “Smith and Wetzon” mysteries, Annette captured the zeitgeist of Broadway and Wall Street as the city headed toward a new millennium.
She and her writer-actor husband Martin teamed up for the “Dutchman mysteries” and they have been writing wonderful stuff together — and separately — ever since.
In novels and short stories that have appeared in some of the best mystery anthologies (including Lawrence Block’s great collection, “Manhattan Noir”), Annette and Martin Meyers have displayed a peerless understanding of the city and the way it shapes people.
