1906

As a native San Franciscan who grew up in that mixed area bordering Pacific Heights and the Western Addition, I was more than anxious to read this book. I was also intrigued as a former reporter who had Nellie Bly as an early heroine. The story here is enthralling as any retelling of the events of April 1906 should be, but the author's mixing of points of view from third to first person was confusing at times. Also the quick movement around the City was a little unsettling, much as it was in an old Alan Ladd movie, Hell on Frisco Bay, in which the San Francisco audience burst out laughing at the progress of a motor boat around the bay.The story of the graft and corruption of the era in politics and on the Barbary Coast is sometimes hard to believe, even if you know it is true! This is not my favorite of recent books I have read, but I am very glad to have done so. Whether you are familiar with the story or not it's a pretty good read.And, yes, Caruso was there!