The Last Nightingale by Anthony Flacco: A Review

In a moment, a young boys life changes when the San Francisco earthquake hits at 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906. Shane Nightingale witnesses on this chaotic night, not just the aftermath of the huge quake, but the murders of his adopted mother and two sisters at the hands of a madman. As he cowers frozen from fear, Shane watches from the broom closet unseen by the murderer mere feet away wanting to move but knowing if he does, he could well be the next victim.

As the police begin to search nearby homes hoping to alert all who remain to the threat of fire, they discover the bodies of Shane's family and mistakenly attribute their deaths to the quake, never knowing that a child is wandering the streets alone who has witnessed the whole thing and who will soon be in danger himself.

Befriended by those at the Mission Delores and given not just a home but a job, Shane soon settles down to a quiet existence living in a shed on mission grounds where he works to repair the quakes damage to the cemetery there. Because of the trauma of what Shane has seen, he finds he cannot speak without stuttering. Desperately wanting to have control once again over his speech, Shane begins to read aloud to himself, hoping to overcome his newfound affliction.

Meanwhile a psychotic murderer is loose in the city, killing men with swift knife thrusts and mutilation while leaving a poem behind as this demented killer's signature with each body. During the quakes aftermath, while others are trying to regain control of their city, the killer continues his murderous path with one sole purpose in mind.

Safe in his garden shed home, Shane reads a newspaper story of the death of Captain Sullivan and begins to put the pieces of the murder of together in a way the police have missed. He quickly realizes that the Captain's murderer was not his mistress, currently sitting in jail charged with murder, but his wife whom he belittled and taunted until she snapped and murdered her husband in blind rage not being able to take his abuse any longer. Because of Shane's deductive skills and Sergeant Randall Blackburn who believes in Shane's theory, the murderer makes a full confession and an innocent woman is set free.

Throughout this book, we are introduced to so many rich characters, from the innocent and frightened Shane with insight rare in one so young, to the strong Sergeant Blackburn who is as tough as he appears but who shows his compassionate side when he aids Shane in finding his true identity, to the relentless murderer who with chilling composure and a mind twisted and sick, kills relentlessly and even joyfully in order to achieve his desired end. And not to be forgotten is Moses, a man who before the earthquake served the city in the simple role of Department Official Record Keeper but who after the quake finds himself thrust into the role of acting chief, not because of his abilities but simply because he is the only man left in line to do the job. To say this man is put into a job that is above his head would be an understatement. But that said, it is extremely interesting to see what Moses does with his newfound powerful position and how he begins to warm to the role thrust upon him.

All the while, the city is scrambling to clean up after the quake, while the fear of "he black plaque sits heavy on every mind. As bodies begin to pile up and morgues are filled to overflowing, the likelihood of the plague grows and those working with the decomposing bodies are filled with anxiety and dread for what the next body may bring.

Soon Shane finds he has a sister in Vignette, a young girl from the orphanage they both shared. Vignette is shrewd beyond her years and she trails Blackburn back to Shane in the hopes of establishing some sort of relationship with him, thus insuring her safety and life outside the orphanage. She locates her "brother" at the garden shed and shares with him the news that they were separated when very young and not told of their relationship due to the orphanage's desire to adopt them out as soon as possible as single children.

What happens next in this book will have the reader anxiously turning pages and shaking ones head in disbelief at the cruelty and madness of the murderer still stalking the city. When Shane and Vignette find themselves involved with the murderer, his true plan comes to light and it is revealed that the murders of Shane's mother and sisters were not random acts by a deranged man but a ways to a means that only Shane's death can end.

Sergeant Blackburn finds himself thrust into the role of protector and savior at this point in the story and it is important to note that it is due to the actions of Vignette and Blackburn, that Shane is saved and his true heritage is revealed much to everyone's shock and disbelief.

This book was a very interesting read, in that it dived into details of the earthquake and its aftermath, not just in terms of geographical detail, (although that is very good as well) but in terms of how it affected the population from the simple life Shane led, to the horrors the survivors found upon the streets. With this detail the book went from just another natural disaster based novel to a novel which revolved around its characters with the quake as the backdrop for the story unfolding from it's destruction.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is a mystery/suspense lover. Within this book you will find not only suspense but well rounded characters and just enough tension to keep the reader turning the page until the ending is revealed and Shane's true identity is known to all. Make this one of your late summer reads and stock up on this book for holiday gifts. It is bound to be a hit with many readers due to its wide appeal. And to be honest, it's a book that is not only a quick read but an entertaining one too. I suggest anyone who likes mystery with a bit of suspense and some history thrown in for good measure, to get this book...I promise, you won't be disappointed!