Wonderful historical fiction set in 18th C. NY thirty years before the Revolution. Francis Spufford is a fantastic storyteller—his characters and plot are entertaining and compelling to the extent that I couldn’t put the book down. Spufford’s writing is smart, well-crafted, and unique. It was such a pleasure to read his prose—absolutely loved it. I was completely engrossed by the story and the main character’s adventures with all kinds of surprising plot developments, wonderful characters, and a mystery that is compelling and immensely satisfying. A first-rate book that is a significant notch above the rest!