Readers have been waiting a number of years to travel back into the past with the one-and-only Radha Vatsal. Ever since she debuted with her much-loved Kitty Weeks mystery series, fans have trusted her to bring the past to life on the page while also telling gripping crime stories. With her newest release—No. 10 Doyers Street—Vatsal transports readers back to 1907 New York City, telling a story of immigrants that feels ever more relevant with each passing day.
Our view into this world comes from Archana “Archie” Morley, a journalist who refuses to accept the status quo of her life in a time and place that refuses to “see” her. As a woman, Archie is used to being underestimated and because she hails from India, she is familiar with being treated as though she is invisible. All the better for her work as she is able to silently observe and report on various stories around the city.
Readers familiar with E. L. Doctorow’s Ragtime—in any of its formats: novel, movie, or Broadway musical—will be familiar with the Stanford White criminal case—universally known as the “crime of the century.” Radha Vastal cleverly uses this landmark case as a bit of a time-marker throughout the novel. While it is mainly background for the real story she wants to tell, readers can follow along with the passage of time as the criminal trial progresses.
The true focus of No. 10 Doyers Street is the resident at that address—Mock Duck. A notorious—and very real—gangster, Archie finds herself tangled in his snare when the courts try to remove his young daughter from his care. Following that case leads Archie further into the lifestyle of Chinatown and its residents. With this, the plight of immigrants as second-class citizens takes centerstage and grips the reader.
There is no denying that Radha Vatsal knows this time-period. The streets of New York City come alive through her evocative words, and she has a unique talent for connecting the past and present in meaningful ways that just might alter the views of some readers unfamiliar with the struggles faced by minority groups in this country. By juxtaposing higher society against those with much less, No. 10 Doyers Street feels both timely and relevant.
Since Archie is very much an outsider, the lens through which she views the world becomes all-consuming. She is a character readers will want to know more about, so it’s fortunate that Rahda Vatsal has left much yet to be explored. It’s unclear if this is the start of a series, but certainly no one will doubt that there are many more journalistic avenues Archie Morley could still traverse. But in the meantime, join Archie as she enters No. 10 Doyers Street. Her life is about to change—and just maybe yours will as well.
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BUY LINKS: No. 10 Doyers Street by Rahda Vatsal
Disclaimer: An e-galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
