Just okay
The book's electric start gives us enough of a plot line with which to enjoy this novel, but the execution of the premise leaves a little to be desired. It's played out in a chronological mismatch that sometimes makes things more confusing than they need to be.

A must read! A+++
I loved the way this story was narrated. The narrator confesses to a murder and the premise of the book is the story that leads you to understand his cold-blooded motive. It is a sizzling murder mystery, but the mystery is not who did it, but instead why he did it. The language is easy to read, but still transports you to Victorian London. Unbelievably suspenseful and intriguing with plenty of twists and characters you will love to hate!! A must read! A+++

A Review - The Meaning of Night by Stephens James
[...]

THE MEANING OF NIGHT - BY MICHAEL COX c.2006

As I near the last remaining pages of this excellent work of fiction by Mr. Michael Cox, I must say that the "The Meaning of Night" has to this point ( as I have yet to read the few remaining final chapters) been both entertaining and mysterious. And, if the reader enjoys mysteries of Victorian lost birthrights and descriptions of old London, I do believe, they would also be pleased. Both of these literary interests of mine may have influenced my high regard for the work in that I, as possibly the author, have an unmitigated love for Dickensonian-style literature.

Written in the style of "Oliver Twist" and "The Bleak House." I have only read one other modern well written Dickens style novel that would compare to this work. It being "The Quincux" by Charles Palliser, and Mr. Micheal Cox exhibits an intimate knowledge of old London (the great leviathan) and its surrounds in the mid eighteen hundreds and describes them in sometimes minute detail.

The story that unfolds in the 703 pages will hold your interest and wonder throughout, and you are constantly guessing as to the ultimate outcome. I write this first part of the review without finishing the remaining pages so as to not cloud my overall opinion of the whole works that sometimes an unexpected conclusion may cause. I am in hopes that the ending is as well written as the beginning. One particular phrase that rang out in the work was "And an advantage, however small, is everything to the resourceful man." The next chapters shall tell the tale.

great read
This book kept me up very late. It makes you really want to know what happens next. The charecters come alive. One starts to feel for Edward and his quest.

The Talented Mr. Glyver
Robbed of everything you desired most in life, how far would you go to revenge yourself on those who wronged you? What would you be willing to do? What would you be willing to give up? These are the central questions asked by "The Meaning of Night", an above-average historical thriller from Michael Cox. For Edward Glyver, the novel's narrator, revenge becomes an obsession and he will stop at nothing to punish his enemy. Despite being over 700 pages and written in a deliberately archaic style, "The Meaning of Night" is a quick and very entertaining read.

Some reviewers have compared this novel to Camus' "The Stranger" and Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment"; but while this work is certainly captivating, I don't think it rises to the level of greatness (hence 4, rather than 5 stars). For one thing, thanks to HEAVY foreshadowing, the second half of the book becomes too predictable to be really thrilling and certain "revelations" (the identity of Glyver's menacing pursuer, for example) are far from surprising. Furthermore, the psychological portrayal of Edward becomes somewhat unclear as the novel progresses - certainly he is meant to be a complex character, which I can appreciate, but at times his "complications" fell unfocused. Whether or not other reviewers agree with me on this point is certainly up for discussion and I don't want this critique to dissuade anyone from reading this book.

The bottom line is, "The Meaning of Night" is a very entertaining read and a superb showing from first-time novelist Michael Cox. However, this is not a book that will appeal to everyone. Some will really love it, others think it's just OK, and others will despise it. If you enjoy unreliable narrators, historical accuracy, and densely plotted fiction you will enjoy "The Meaning of Night".