Sara GranDope

this is an absolutely incredible book, hardboiled as xxxx. josephine flannigan is a recovering dope fiend who is hired by a wealthy family to locate their dope fiend daughter, who is adrift deep in the bowels of 1950 new york city. i can't say enough about this book. gran is a powerhouse writer, and her prose is a hot fix, exactly the punchy, clever, streetwise dialogue you'd expect--and crave--from a really good, really tight noir. josephine is a wonderful character, sympathetic, tough, weary, but still with a shred of optimism, a belief that there can be good in a dark, seedy world. the plot is nicely put together, a perfectly twisty tale that continually reveals truths and perspectives that challenge previously held notions. and somehow, i don't know how, gran manages to make a world of really hard luck junkies, hookers, pimps, and con artists both engaging and relatable. a misstep here, a tough break there, and we're all lying in the same gutter. i absolutely adore this book.

This was a great noir story told through the eyes of an ex-junkie in 1950 NYC. It had that classic Raymond Chandler style, gritty, suspenseful, full of twists and turns, and I really liked that it was told through a female protagonist.I really enjoy the work of Sara Gran. It's always unpretentious and written in a very simplistic manner; but, this book, like Come Closer, left me wanting a bit more. Like she's so talented that I feel she could have gone that extra mile to propel the story from really good to great, but didn't.But this is a great read perfect for a lazy summer day on the beach.

Bizarre ending, great idea for story, simple writing, quick read for cold evening, interesting main character, original, but overall 3 stars are maximum.

This was a fine novel, and noir in the truest sense of the word. I can't believe that a contemporary author caught the idiom so well! This is the story of Josephine (Joe) Flannigan. The year is 1950, and Josephine is in the second year of being clean from drugs. She is contacted by a man and woman about finding their daughter. She had been recommended to them because she knew the streets. Word is that their daughter had gotten mixed up with dope and prostitution. The story follows Josephine as she searches for the illusive Nadine.While the story itself is interesting, the true beauty of this novel is the local color -- the sense of hopelessness in a community of losers: drug addicts, taxi dancers, street girls. I haven't read anything so engrossing on the subject since I read William Bourroughs's book Junkie.This is an excellent book and should be widely read in the mystery genre. My only regret is that the end seems to indicate (and I am not going to spoil it here) that Joe won't be doing any more detecting. I could have happily read a dozen stories about her.

From another author this might get 5 stars. I have to rate it relative to her other work. A good read. It felt in parts of the book like she stretched a little hard to include 1950s cliches. As in her other works, the plot is strong, and as in her other works, the plot is truly secondary to the heroine (pun intended). If you are new to the author and wish to read her best work first, start with Claire Dewitt and the City of the Dead.

I am a huge fan of Sarah Gran. She writes with authenticity about the seamy underside of life in the 1950's when we like to remember this era as one full of hope and optimism in America. There has always been drug addiction, poverty, prostitution and people who prey on the downtrodden. Sara Gran brings this all to life with characters you want to reach out and help, but can't, because they would ultimately drag you down with them. This book is disturbing and will be remembered long after the last page is turned. None the less, I recommend it as a dark mystery about an anti-hero with a twisted ending.

It was fine enough. Nothing exciting but good enough to finish. The ending wasn't that great. But it was an easy read.

Plot twists you don't see coming. The filth and grime of the underworld really come through in a way that isnt too harsh and in your face.

Tolles Buch, mitunter die kleinen holperigkeiten eines Frühwerks. Absolut mitreißend und kenntnisreich. Aber .. will nicht spoilern.

une plongée excitante dans le Brooklyn des années 50, très noire aussi par la drogue omniprésente sur fond de Billie H.