The Orphanmaster

In 1663 in the hardscrabble colony of New Amsterdam—today’s lower Manhattan—orphan children are going missing and residents suspect a serial killer. The list of possible culprits is long and strange. Among those looking into the mystery are a shrewd young Dutch woman, Blandine van Couvering, and a dashing Englishman, Edward Drummond, whose newfound romance is threatened by horrible accusations.

            In this spellbinding work of historical fiction, Jean Zimmerman relates the harsh realities of life in early Manhattan, re-creating the sights, smells, and textures of the rough settlement surrounded by wilderness and subject to political turmoil. Compulsively readable and filled with New York history, The Orphanmaster will delight fans of Caleb Carr, Hilary Mantel, and Geraldine Brooks.

“The ideal historical mystery for readers who value the history as much as the mystery… .Zimmerman’s nicely flowing narrative is animated by robust characters who thrive on the edges of civilization.”

—The New York Times Book Review

“As Jean Zimmerman proves in her immersive first novel, careful and imaginative research can be exhilarating. The novel does, in fact, achieve literary complexity in its depiction of women's lives in colonial times…”

—USA Today

“A rip-roaring read, packed with action and dark suspense.”

—NPR, “The Year’s Best Historical Reads”

“A thriller, love story, and costume drama in one.”

—Good Housekeeping

“…outstanding historical thriller…with a complex, deftly-designed plot… [Zimmerman] writes with authority about the day-to-day life in the colony while filling the story with memorable characters. Packed with twists and frights, this book will keep you reading late into the night”

—Suspense Magazine