It was 1857 in St. Louis and riverboat captain Abner Marsh thought his run of bad luck was over, when he met the exceedingly wealthy, eccentric, and pale Joshua York.

York proposed a partnership with Marsh. With his chests full of gold coins and Marsh’s river expertise they would build the fastest and most beautiful steamboat ever seen on the Mississippi. All York asked was that he be named her captain, that his sometimes unusual behavior (such as sleeping during the day and conducting his activities after dark) not be questioned, and that his friends could travel with them for free. Of course, if something seems too good to be true. . .

The new boat, the Fevre Dream, lived up to every bit of Marsh’s hopes and York’s promises. However, when York begins to go on mysterious nighttime excursions, Marsh finds it increasingly difficult to contain his curiosity. The more Marsh discovers, the more he realizes just how dangerous — and how compelling — this new venture really is.

This is as much a well-written historical novel as it is a chilling vampire story.

Martin is a dervish for research and detail; his descriptions of steamboat design and function, of life on the river and in the river towns, and of the politics and customs of the era are fascinating. His descriptions of the ample Captain Marsh’s gustatory adventures alone are worth reading.

Complex characters, a well-crafted story and plenty of suspense make this a great read in any genre.

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4. “Idiot America: How Stupidity Became 
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