Author to publish ‘Brooklyn on Fire’

Brooklyn BookBeat

December 23, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Author Lawrence Levy. Photo by Fran Levy

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In his debut novel “Second Street Station,” which was named one of the five best mysteries of 2015 by Library Journal, award-winning television writer Lawrence H. Levy introduced readers to Mary Handley, a brilliant and independent young woman from Brooklyn who defied societal expectations of the late 19th century to become the first female detective in New York. Now, after successfully closing her first case in conjunction with the police department, Mary ventures out on her own as a consulting detective.

With the support of Brooklyn’s top brass, her friend Lazlo (who owns the bookstore from which she now consults), and a dashing new suitor, Mary eagerly takes on a dangerous case in “Brooklyn on Fire” (Broadway Books; Jan. 19, 2016).

At the heart of Levy’s story is a secret — one that several powerful people would kill for. There is a battle brewing between local politicians concerning New York’s attempts to annex Brooklyn — but how far will they go to achieve their goals and protect their reputations? Proving that her wits and determination can carry her further than her mother ever imagined possible, Mary capably navigates New York’s rough streets in a time of shifting politics and an uncertain future.

“Brooklyn on Fire” opens with a new case for Mary. Hired by a young woman who claims her uncle was murdered, Mary begins an investigation into the suspicious circumstances of his death. However, she soon finds herself embroiled in a high-stakes investigation of the city’s elite. As Mary crosses paths with larger-than-life New York celebrities of the day, including Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, the Vanderbilts and Brooklyn Mayor Alfred Chaney, it becomes harder and harder to tell who is innocent and who might be guilty, especially after a series of fires and mysterious murders begin to plague the city.

The clues lead Mary on a wild journey from New York City to North Carolina to uncover the truth, but she soon finds that her investigation has put her and her loved ones in grave danger. And when George Vanderbilt falls hard for Mary’s strong-willed spirit and witty remarks, Mary enters into an exotic life of luxury, unearthing secrets of the rich and famous, from family scandals and false identities to a lifestyle she’s afraid she could get used to.

With humor, charm and intricate details of a bygone New York, “Brooklyn on Fire” presents a world plunging into modernity through the eyes of our clever and beloved female sleuth.

Lawrence H. Levy is a highly regarded film and TV writer who is a Writers Guild Award winner and two-time Emmy nominee. He has written for various hit TV shows such as “Seinfeld,” “Roseanne” and many more. He is the author of “Second Street Station,” the first novel featuring Mary Handley.