By Yankee Rose
The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers by Thomas Mullen (Random House, 2010), is a (multiple) murder mystery that twists and turns until the very last page. Mullen, a Decatur resident, has already excelled in writing historical fiction with the award winning The Last Town on Earth. The fantastic plot of The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers was enriched by Mullen’s deep understanding of the depression era crime waves the book is based upon.
The period vocabulary makes this a challenging book for those unwilling to grab a dictionary or ask your grandmother what a yegg or avatar is. (Burglar or safecracker and archetype, respectively.) For those who enjoy this kind of enlightenment, Mullen’s incredible attention to the language of the time will transport the reader into the personal circle of two notorious bank robbers. Mullen’s historical details are a key element in helping the reader approach his criminally minded protagonist with empathy and appreciation.
Solving the mystery of the book was always just out of my grasp, making it a stimulating and gripping read. The plot is not only well-conceived, but brilliantly executed with showers of comic relief breaking up the otherwise dismal economic backdrop and constant death. I would recommend this book to any serious reader – or anyone looking for a great mystery novel.
Until next time we’ll be here, reading the books so you don’t have to.
by Gunter Grass. All are welcome.
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