Lyndsay Faye, THE GODS OF GOTHAM

I didn't love Faye's first novel (Dust and Shadow), but I loved this one. Set in NYC in 1845, when the first police force was being created and the potato famine is driving the Irish to NYC in droves, newly-minted Inspector Timothy Wilde finds himself investigating a sordid crime that seems to be motivated by anti-Catholic sentiment. Faye knows her history and crafts her secondary characters really, really well--they're all odd and interesting and "round." Wilde's voice is clear, sharp, original. Totally enjoyable. : )