The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl (Audio)

Synopsis
The second historical thriller by the author of THE DANTE CLUB focuses on Quentin Clark, a young lawyer living in 1849 who, after reading about Poe's less-than-ceremonious funeral, becomes obsessed with finding out how the great writer really died. His quest takes him to Paris, where he tracks down the man he thinks is the real-life basis for one of Poe's fictional detectives, and enlists his help in finding out the truth.

Key Details
Author:	Matthew Pearl
Language:	English
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Audio
Format:	Audio
ISBN-10:	0743555805
ISBN-13:	9780743555807

Additional Details
Narrated by:	Erik Singer

Publisher's Note
Baltimore, 1849. The body of Edgar Allan Poe has been buried in an unmarked grave. Everyone seems to accept the conclusion that Poe was a second-rate writer who met a disgraceful end, except for a young Baltimore lawyer named Quentin Clark, an ardent admirer who puts his own career and reputation at risk in a crusade to salvage Poe's.

As Quentin explores the puzzling circumstances and unanswered questions of Poe's demise, he realizes that he must find the one person who can help: the real-life model for Poe's brilliant fictional detective character, C. Augustine Dupin, the hero of ingenious tales of crime and detection. Soon Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving international political agents and the lost secrets of Poe's final hours, and must himself turn master investigator to escape Poe's grisly fate.

Drawing on original, groundbreaking research, the best-selling author of The Dante Club has once again crossed literary history with sublime craftsmanship and devious twists to create a beautifully detailed, ingeniously plotted tale of suspense.

Includes Matthew Pearl's exclusive audio afterword on the truth behind Poe's death!

Industry Reviews
"Pearl masterfully combines fact with fiction and presents some genuinely new historical clues that help reconstruct Poe's final days."
(03/13/2006)

"Admirably dense and atmospheric, but to get real pleasure out of this novel you have to have a passion for Poe and his period."
(05/01/2006)