Female detctive in a very Noirish New Orleans solves the disappearance of a D.A. using I-ching tiles and a handbook of detection. well drawn characters, plausible plot , rather a lot of drugs and alcohol use on the part of the detective,but, as she is fulfilling the role of an anti-hero, it fits. Will definitely try more ( )

Loved this book. The protagonist is complicated and kind of a mess, but fascinating and I want to read more. ( )

Set in post Katrina New Orleans, it is the twisty story of who killed Vic. Claire DeWitt is such an interesting character and the use of dreams to help her solve the crime was an interesting take as she knows what is happening, but just can't see it for herself. New Orleans really comes alive in this book, but it isn't the Bourbon St tourist part, but rather the real parts of single and doublewides. It is where the neighborhood people are. DeWitt herself isn't a characterture either as she struggles, gets high, loses thought, and has baggage. My only complaint, if there is one, it ends at least 3 times, but then keeps going each time. I enjoyed it. ( )

I read [b:The Infinite Blacktop|38532150|The Infinite Blacktop (Claire DeWitt Mysteries, #3)|Sara Gran|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1523631136l/38532150._SY75_.jpg|58137013] on the basis of strong reviews when it was first published in 2018. I enjoyed it, but when I was done I realized that I very much wanted to read the first book in the series, [b:Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead|9231999|Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead (Claire DeWitt Mysteries, #1)|Sara Gran|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312909281l/9231999._SY75_.jpg|14112168]. Infinite Blacktop was laced with references to Claire's personal history, and I had an idea that it would all make more sense if I started at the beginning.

Well, I've just done that, and although I can't say that "making sense" is something Sara Gran is going for in the Claire DeWitt series, I can say that I enjoyed City of the Dead even more than Infinite Blacktop. Her descriptions of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the impact of the storm and the broken levees (the worst engineering disaster in the history of the US, according to Wikipedia) not just on the physical structures of New Orleans but on the mental health of the survivors, is nothing short of amazing. It is not a conventional rendering in any sense, but I would venture to say that it is far more compelling than 90% of what you've seen on broadcast news or social media.

The mystery that brings Claire back to The City of the Dead is both tied to the storm and its aftereffects, and separate from them. And as is so often the case with books set in New Orleans, the city itself is something of a character.

Gran is an author of unique talents, one who stimulates us to consider issues related to The Meaning Of Life and other equally weighty topics through Claire's musings, her search for omens, her interest in the I-Ching and her ingestion and inhalation of all manner of illicit and unhealthy substances. It's easy to feel connected to her even if you share no life experiences simply because she challenges you at every turn and presents you with realities that, as she would say, you may not want but you definitely need.

I look forward to reading the middle book in the series, [b:Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway|15814401|Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway (Claire DeWitt Mysteries, #2)|Sara Gran|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1368071910l/15814401._SY75_.jpg|21540836]. I guess at the end of the day I just enjoy being in the reading company of difficult women who challenge me to think beyond the mystery they are ostensibly attempting to resolve. ( )

I'll try the next, see how it goes, but this was just ok for me ( )