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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In the historical fiction novel O'Toole by Florence D'Angelo, set in mid-1800s Manhattan, Finnegan O'Toole, a former pickpocket of the Dead Rabbits gang, becomes a longshoreman at his father's urging. His life takes a new direction as he befriends fellow dockworkers, Sean and Johanna. During the Civil War, Sean illegally enlists them in the Union Army, but tragedy strikes when Sean dies and Finnegan gets injured. He seeks out Johanna, finding that she has moved on, but they reunite later. To start a bakery business after railroad construction, Finnegan makes a risky financial deal with the infatuated Whitehurst, who has his eyes set on Johanna.
O'Toole by Florence D'Angelo ticks all of the literary boxes for engrossing historical fiction with immersive settings, exceptional character development, and a plot that continues to drive forward at a comfortable pace. I genuinely felt I was in the places that D'Angelo describes and the period details were rich and eloquent. The standout to me was winter in Omaha with Christmas windows, sleigh rides, and bustling city streets. The dialogue is natural and goes a very long way in authenticating a full cast with distinct personalities. I envisioned neighborhood thug Cannon O'Neil entirely when he says to Johanna, "Hey there, lass. Are ya lookin’ for somebody in there? Maybe it’s me?” Of course, the romance angle and convergence of subplots that tie the novel together are at the heart, and there is no question that O'Toole will be embraced by readers of multiple genres. Very highly recommended.
