Jean Zimmerman

This historical thriller, bordering on horror and described as “compulsively readable” by ALA Booklist, is an intensely dramatic narrative that brings to life 1660s Manhattan. When the orphans of New Amsterdam begin disappearing, some suspect any one of a cast of questionable characters, while others point to signs that it could be the witika—a demonic creature that feasts on human flesh. A young Dutch woman – also an orphan, and a trader – joins forces with an English spy in order to find out the truth.

“The Orphanmaster is a sweeping novel of great and precise imaginative intelligence; it's also the most entertaining and believable historical novel I've read in years. Jean Zimmerman is a debut novelist who already writes like an old master.” Darin Strauss, National Book Critics Circle Award-winning author of Half a Life and Chang and Eng

Zimmerman’s latest work of nonfiction, Love, Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance, is the true story of the people behind one of John Singer Sargent’s most famous paintings, “Mr. and Mrs. I.N. Phelps Stokes."Library Journal says:“With an impressive amount of research behind every page, Zimmerman manages to capture the sweeping drama of the turn of the century as well as the compelling story of a couple who knew how to love, fiercely. Her superb pacing and gripping narrative will appeal to all who enjoy history, biography, and real-life romance.”

About the Author Jean Zimmerman is the author of several works of nonfiction, including Love, Fiercely: A Gilded Age Romance, and The Women of the House: How a Colonial She-Merchant Built a Mansion, a Fortune and a Dynasty. She earned an MFA in writing from the Columbia University School of the Arts and has published her poetry widely in literary magazines. She lives with her family in Westchester County, New York.

Location: Street: 2559 N Downer Ave City: Milwaukee, Province: Wisconsin Postal Code: 53211-4242 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Debut author of the month, Jean Zimmerman delivers a historically suspenseful novel with, The Orphanmaster. Mystery, murder, and romance in the city that never sleeps, except this is the seventeenth century! A wonderful picture of New York in the 1660's, Zimmerman brings the city and her characters alive with vivid details and fascinating story. This is a thrilling novel by a debut author that will grip you from the first page to the very last.

It’s 1663 in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam, now present-day southern Manhattan. Orphan children are going missing, and among those looking into the mysterious state of affairs are a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old trader, Blandine von Couvering, herself an orphan, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond.

Suspects abound, including the governor’s wealthy nephew, a green-eyed aristocrat with decadent tastes; an Algonquin trapper who may be possessed by a demon that turns people into cannibals; and the colony’s own corrupt and conflicted orphanmaster. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony.

This event is FREE.

Location: Street: 768 Boston Post Rd. City: Madison, Province: Connecticut Postal Code: 06443 Country: United States (added from IndieBound)… (more)

Jean Zimmerman on tour for The Orphanmaster.

Who is kidnapping the orphans in 1660s New Amsterdam? The algonquin demon? The ambitious she-merchant? The decadent aristocrat? The corrupt orphanmaster? Our sales rep couldn't stop raving about this novel! In The Orphanmaster, a quick-witted twenty-two-year-old orphan, Blandine von Couvering, and a dashing British spy named Edward Drummond begin to investigate the mysterious deaths of orphan children in the tiny, hardscrabble Dutch colony of New Amsterdam (now present-day southern Manhattan) during the year 1663. Both the search for the killer and Edward and Blandine’s newfound romance are endangered, however, when Blandine is accused of being a witch and Edward is sentenced to hang for espionage. Meanwhile, war looms as the English king plans to wrest control of the colony. A Powerpoint presentation by the author, on the research that went in to writing this historical novel, will be presented at this book signing. (GibsonsB)… (more)