![]() ![]() Though the novel starts promisingly enough, fueled by realistic dialogue and characters, its repetitious structure and rushed conclusion give it a formulaic feel. North by Night: A Story of the Underground Railroad by Katherine Ayres It's 1851 and Lucy Spencer's family is keeping a secret. Ayres peppers her story with vivid period details (including descriptions of the city's immigrant population), but the historical color cannot salvage a disappointing, often unappetizing plot. Clues as to what might be making his grandfather sick, and what may be killing rats (as well as two hobos) around town, spur Mike into an urgent and dangerous bit of sleuthing. But Mike finds it difficult to feel lucky as a boy bullies him at school and as his grandfather's deteriorating mental health is compounded by increasing bouts of gastric distress. ![]() ![]() Mike even has his own job, trapping rats in the storeroom. Mike Costa knows his family is fortunate-their Italian food market, Costa Brothers Fine Foods, holds its own while many businesses are failing. Ayres ( Voices at Whisper Bend) takes to the gritty streets of the Strip, the warehouse district in Pittsburgh, for a Depression-era tale steeped in mystery and exploring family ties. ![]()
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