A mystery novel, split between the detective on the case and the runaway it affected. Much of the story concerns the daily minutia of their lives rather than the investigation of Munch's father's death. Munch is a fascinating and heartbreaking character--an addicted teen with nothing going for her but stubborn will and experience as a mechanic. The mystery isn't great, and the ending is just ridiculous. ( )

First in series of a girl coming up rough on the streets in the mid 70s in CA. Well written characterisation and dialogue. Scenarios are totally believable for that time and place.

Trigger warnings for rape and rascist language ( )

J'ai lit ce livre en francais... s"appelle Tous des Rats. J’ai déjà lit un autre livre de ce séries... je pense que c'était le huitième et dans ce livre, j'ai pensé que Munch était un flic, ou un PI... Mais, ici, elle est un accro ! J’ai du lire le premier partie du livre deux fois avant de comprendre qu’elle n’était pas un flic. Étrange.

I read this book in French. I had previously read another book in this series, I think it was the 8th or so... and wanted to start back at the beginning. It was awhile ago that I had read the other book, and for some reason, I went into this book thinking that Munch was a cop, or perhaps a private investigator. Turns out she starts the series as neither: she is a recovering addict, and a former prostitute.

I think this makes her character more interesting - it isn't very often that the main character in a story is actually in the role that is usually "disposable": the addicts and prostitutes are the ones who get killed, or blamed for crimes, not the heros of the story. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series because Munch is a change of pace in this genre.

It is nicely paced with believable character behaviours (even if the characters might be stereotypical... i.e. bad bikers, dirty cops, flawed but legit cops, the helpful and caring stranger-waitress, etc). ( )