City of Light

Written by Lauren Belfer

Narrated by Jan Maxwell

NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • “Breathtaking . . . a remarkable blend of murder mystery, love story, political intrigue, and tragedy of manners.”—USA Today

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. . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
• Release date: Jul 5, 2000
• ISBN: 9780553750072

Lauren Belfer

Lauren Belfer’s novel A Fierce Radiance was named a Washington Post Best Novel; an NPR Best Mystery; and a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Her debut novel, City of Light, was a New York Times bestseller as well as a number one Book Sense pick; a New York Times Notable Book; a Library Journal Best Book; and a Main Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. She lives in New York City.

Reviews for City of Light

[mystereityreviews · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read this a few years ago and enjoyed it, a well crafted mystery and a familiar setting for me.

[radiojen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I would never have picked this book up had it not been for a book club, but I actually feel more enriched after having read it.

It's only fair to note I grew up not far from Buffalo and live in the suburbs now. That probably makes the book even more interesting to me than it would to someone who didn't know the places the author mentions. I do love how it takes place in a real city and involves many places with which I am familiar: Delaware Park, Niagara Falls, Goat Island, Three Sisters Islands, East Aurora, Medina, etc. And the people in the book are real as well: Grover Cleveland, John Albright, George Urban ...

This piece of historical fiction taught me a lot about the city in which I live and a lot about how bringing electricity to the people of Buffalo wasn't necessarily a welcome change. I loved learning about some of the people whose names I've heard, but never read about. And the fiction characters brought into the story made it more interesting and worthwhile.

The story is not an easy, light read. There are about 500 pages and there are a lot of characters to learn as you go. I often had to ask myself, "Now, who was Milburn again?" and would flip back to find him earlier in the story. Of course, I was reading it quickly to complete before a book club meeting, so you may read it more slowly than I did and retain some of those facts a little better.

City of Light has history, romance, murder, underhanded business dealings and everything you could possibly want all rolled up into one story. Of course, it's based on life, and don't we have all those things in everyday life too?

[christinejoseph-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

very good historical fiction. A little slow and an unbelievable ending

[laugal-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

City of Light is a journey back in time in Buffalo at the turn of the century. Buffalo was the 8th Industrial city at the time. A time of promise and the future and all things possible. (not in 2008). This story combines issues of women, immigrants, new technology and the magic of simple but promising times.A worthwile read.

[memccauley6 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Although the writing was technically perfect, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was reading an almanac or tourist guide of Buffalo, New York made into a novel. Add to that the first person narration by a character I found to be unsympathetic and unrealistic… let’s just say that I was not enthusiastic about finishing.

The very detailed rape scene at the hands of a former president (confirming the painfully predictable plot) was the final straw… I could not make myself finish.

[pdill8 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Was so enjoying the descriptions of the setting that I could have ignored the cliché characterizations if it weren't for the embarrassingly silly plot twists. I wanted to like it so much but I just couldn't.

[horomnizon · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Didn't pass the 100 page test for me. Sat it down and had no desire to pick it back up. The 'murder mystery' aspect didn't even sway me.

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I love novels that are a mix of genres, and the back of this book billed it as a mix of murder mystery, romance and historical fiction--set in the Buffalo, New York of 1901. The story is told by Louisa Barrett, a progressive thirty-something headmistress of an elite girls school for the daughters of the wealthy and powerful. She's close to the wealthy Thomas Sinclair, the adoptive father of nine-year-old Grace. (I guessed the so-called secret of her birth and parentage as soon as she was mentioned. I think Belfer would have done better to hang a lantern on it from the beginning rather than endlessly, heavily hint. Well, half-guessed, and the other half is just too ridiculous.) Louisa is quick to suspect Sinclair when a man he argued with is killed. Far too quick--even though she claims to be close to the Sinclairs and there's no good reason to believe the death isn't an accident. Soon her help is recruited by reporter Franklin Fiske.

The narrative flowed well, and Belfer was good at conjuring up both the opulent wealth and squalid poverty of the Gilded Age. However, I soon found myself irritated by the heavy handed left-wing pieties and platitudes about this period. I rolled my eyes when I hit the passage from Fiske about electricity belonging "to the people" and after that was sure where the so-called mystery was headed. Before many more pages after that I just headed to the back and checked, and I wasn't wrong. Too annoyingly predictable with clanging anvils streaming behind.

[seriousgrace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As a 36 year-old spinster Louisa Barrett is the headmistress of a well-to-do boarding school and she harbors a dark secret. While she is trusted and beloved by her community she is a contradiction in character. It's this contradiction that makes her human and extremely likable. She worries about propriety and yet goes out of her way to create confusion about her personal life. She's modern and yet knows her place in society when dealing with members of the opposite sex. At the height of Louisa's tenure as headmistress Buffalo, New York is going through a metamorphosis. The husband of her late best friend owns a power plant that, by using nearby Niagara Falls, promises to light the entire region. Environmentalists are up on arms over the draining of the falls and suddenly people start dying. Somehow, Louisa finds herself in the middle of the mess. It's her secret that has her tied to the drama.

City of Light is one of those books I like to call a "location" book. It brings the sense of a particular place to reality. For City of Light that place is Buffalo, New York and its famed Niagara Falls. Set in the early 1900s this is a period piece. A time when women barely held a place in society beyond practiced restraint and stiff decorum. City of Light is also an environment versus science debate as the development of a hydro-electric plant threatens to drain Niagara Falls of its rushing waters for the sake of lighting Buffalo and beyond. Set against the political and environmental debates of the era City of Light is also a mystery as two men are found dead under suspicious circumstances. It is hard to ignore they were both prominent men, connected to the power plant. Yet, no one can prove with absolute certainty they were murdered. Finally, City of Light is a nontraditional love story. Louisa learns the best way to love is to let go.

[tsisler_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good piece of historical fiction. It's part murder mystery, part intrigue, and a large helping of a tragedy of manners. Being from NY and having a family that loves the falls, I really enjoyed the facts that are incorporated into this novel.SPOILER:The characters are very engrossing and the reader is taken on a trip of hope and disappointment with the many female characters. Although feeling anger for and being appalled by the injustice, and as much as I would have liked to see a happy ending, perhaps it's a good that we're reminded of the realities of the past so that we know how far we've come, what that has taken, and the importance of continuing to move forward.

[pascoejm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

early 1900s, Niagra power just starting up, women in society. Interesting read, but not a keeper. Plan to share book with others.

[kasthu_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Set in Buffalo, New York, in 1901, City of Light is told from the point of view of Louisa Barrett, a 36-year-old spinster and the headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school in town. She is extremely modern, almost to the point of yawning, and her progressive views on girls’ education and the position of women in society in general got to be wearying after a while. The novel starts with a sensational murder connected to the power plant that’s owned by Louisa’s best friend Tom.

This novel was a little confusing. At some points it’s a murder mystery; at others, it’s social commentary; at others the novel focuses more on the technological and political issues of the day. It’s as though the author conducted tons and tons of research on her subject (by no means a bad thing) and she decided that she just had to get it all in. Everything about the use of electricity is detailed, so much so that I became bored by the author’s descriptions of every single little thing.

Another thing I couldn’t stand about this novel is the main character. She’s full of contradictions: she’s modern and progressive and has salons at her home that are attended by all the notables of Buffalo. She’s also concerned about appearances; on the other, she encourages people to think that she’s got a “Boston marriage with her friend.” She’s strong and independent, but she allows something to happen to her that basically makes her a victim in the situation, that basically goes against the character the author created in the first 400 pages.

The plot had a lot of potential, but there were some serious holes; and there were some twists that were interesting but not particularly skillfully revealed (I could see the twist about Grace coming from a mile away). I liked the premise of the book, but there were some major flaws about the book that couldn’t get me seriously interested in the plot or the characters. It’s too bad, because there’s a lot of promise here.

[samsheep_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A nice chunk of historical novel about 19th Century Buffalo and the coming of electricity. It was interesting but good without being great. Perhaps a little overlong and plot a little unsatisfying?

[bruneau_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing. I enjoyed this turn-of-the-century (previous turn) novel for what it really is. Ignore the misleading USA Today review (on the book cover) which claimed it to be a "remarkable blend of murder mystery, love story, political intrigue, and tragedy of manners," as the book could disappoint if approached from any of those perspectives. Rather, it works perfectly as a whimsical portrait of life in what was poised to become the greatest modern city on earth (Buffalo), showcasing human nature with all of its foibles. One aspect of the books ends as if the author ran out of paper, but it is irrelevant as a portrait has no beginning or end.

[nycxile · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Electrification of Niagara Falls. History, controversy, American ideals in 1901. Morals, community, social conscious

[kateiyzie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Historical novel of Buffalo, Niagra Falls, and electricity. Quiet, but always interesting. Strong female headmistress inspired me.

[rperritt_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book but I did not really love it. For one, it was too long. The terminology in it was a little difficult for me and I am not what I consider a stupid person. I do like that it was based on factual information. It had a surprise ending, which I like in a book. I do not think that I would rush out to read another book by this same author.

[picardyrose · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Annoying character -- every man in the story and even a lesbian fell for her -- but fine job with time and place.

[nancylouu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful Book!

[griff_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Being from Buffalo, it was a joy to read about my city at the turn of the century - at the time of the Pan American Exposition of 1901. Familiar names (national and local), familiar landmarks, familiar history. The story eventually brings together that history and the central character, Louisa Barrett. The descriptions of the era are well written, allowing me to see and feel Buffalo at the height of its national prominence. The energy and turbulence of the time and place is also well captured. Again, being from the area likely colors my perception, but others will certainly enjoy this solid first novel. I recommend it.