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ampersand148d8's review
A lady Sam Spade set in 1930s San Francisco. Enjoyed the historical references. Author said she even used an old phone book to get the phone exchanges correct. Lots of action -- fish out of water - ahead of her times detective.
vkemp's review
3.0
Miranda Corbie is a private investigator in San Francisco. It's 1939 and the Japanese have just invaded China. Miranda fought in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War and she has seen too many people die. When Eddie Takahashi is shot in front of her during a Rice Bowl party and the police want to cover it up, Miranda vows to find his killer. The trail leds her through Chinatown and soon she finds the Mob working with the Chinese to bring dope and prostitutes into San Francisco. She is run over and beaten up and still keeps swinging. I really enjoyed the period feel of this book. Miranda wears a size large suit of armor to protect herself from feeling anything. I wonder where her next adventures will lead her?
lil's review
3.0
Liked it for the most part. Did keep questioning Miranda's actions. Hated the whole my one and only love died hair shirt she had on. And, the smoking, yikes. She must've smelled like an ashtray at all times. Yuck!
Mystery was okay, a little convoluted, but okay. Did enjoy the setting.
Mystery was okay, a little convoluted, but okay. Did enjoy the setting.
alanfederman's review
3.0
This mystery had all my favorite elements - an anti-hero detective (Miranda Corbie - as hardboiled as they come), atmosphere (40s San Francisco - so foggy I could feel it in my bones), historic elements (Japan's invasion of China) and crisp, terse writing (ala James Ellroy). Though a great mystery, at times the plot got off course (though to the author's credit, she brought it back on course very quickly). I really enjoyed the dialogue and the setting, just wish the story had been pared down a bit. That said, can't wait to continue the series!
scherzo's review
1.0
Be prepared to vicariously smoke an average three cigarettes per page. It seemed like a third of the words addressed smoking, wanting to smoke, buying smokes, needing smokes, crushing smokes, etc. ad nauseum.
Main character is a whiny bitch who throws in some token angst for the miseries of the rest of the world in 1940.
Main character is a whiny bitch who throws in some token angst for the miseries of the rest of the world in 1940.
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