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jarichan's review against another edition
4.0
Die deutsche Ausgabe ist mir mit ihrem originellen Cover gleich aufgefallen und hat mich neugierig gemacht. Schlussendlich endete ich aber mit der englischen Ausgabe, womit ich aber ganz zufrieden bin. Es passt einfach besser in die Stimmung des Buches.
Es ist ein ruhiges Buch, das von seiner Gemächlichkeit lebt. Ein klassischer Krimi, kein Thriller mit Blutvergiessen und Verfolgungsjagden. Auch der Aufbau ist interessant aufgezogen; bin ich doch die ganze Zeit davon ausgegangen, dass sie die Figuren schlussendlich treffen werden. Aber mehr will ich dazu gar nicht erzählen.
Celestin arbeitet mit zwei stark dominierenden Elementen: der Musik und dem Sturm, der unaufhaltsam auf New Orleans zukommt. Mit diesen illustriert er Gefühle, Emotionen und die Handlung. Oftmals scheint es, als seien sie die Hauptfiguren, nicht Michael und die anderen.
Aufgrund seiner Gemütlichkeit zieht sich die Handlung teilweise ein wenig hin, aber die Hänger werden immer wieder aufgewertet. Dies vor allem durch die durchgehend interessante Ausgestaltung des historischen Stoffes, denn die beschriebenen Morde fanden tatsächlich statt.
In seinem Buch versucht Celestin also eine Antwort zu finden. Ich persönlich finde seine Idee durchaus gelungen und auch wenn wir es niemals wissen werden (unterdessen ist zu viel Zeit vergangen), so hat der Autor doch eine durchaus spannende Herangehensweise gefunden, die zu lesen trotz der Hänger sehr kurzweilig ist.
Es ist ein ruhiges Buch, das von seiner Gemächlichkeit lebt. Ein klassischer Krimi, kein Thriller mit Blutvergiessen und Verfolgungsjagden. Auch der Aufbau ist interessant aufgezogen; bin ich doch die ganze Zeit davon ausgegangen, dass sie die Figuren schlussendlich treffen werden. Aber mehr will ich dazu gar nicht erzählen.
Celestin arbeitet mit zwei stark dominierenden Elementen: der Musik und dem Sturm, der unaufhaltsam auf New Orleans zukommt. Mit diesen illustriert er Gefühle, Emotionen und die Handlung. Oftmals scheint es, als seien sie die Hauptfiguren, nicht Michael und die anderen.
Aufgrund seiner Gemütlichkeit zieht sich die Handlung teilweise ein wenig hin, aber die Hänger werden immer wieder aufgewertet. Dies vor allem durch die durchgehend interessante Ausgestaltung des historischen Stoffes, denn die beschriebenen Morde fanden tatsächlich statt.
In seinem Buch versucht Celestin also eine Antwort zu finden. Ich persönlich finde seine Idee durchaus gelungen und auch wenn wir es niemals wissen werden (unterdessen ist zu viel Zeit vergangen), so hat der Autor doch eine durchaus spannende Herangehensweise gefunden, die zu lesen trotz der Hänger sehr kurzweilig ist.
crows_in_a_trenchcoat's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Murder, Rape, Gore, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Blood, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Pedophilia
clarebyfield's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
acemonkl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Spoilers towards end of review
Mfw when I'm on holiday and can devote time to reading xD but yeah I really liked this book, I originally read the second book, dead man's blues, and found this in a charity shop. You would think this means I would go aha these characters I know, let's see their origins, but alas it was a very long time ago and I did not remember, but reading the blurb for the second one helped jogged my mind
Getting onto the actual book, I think what I most like about this book and the next one as well is the cultural hodge podge of New Orleans and how the different cultures interacted and with the mob thrown into the mix as well. Also the jazz themes with Louis Armstrong, as some who likes jazz it's a nice angle to the book as well, although apart from the letter by the axeman it's... I don't want to say shoehorned in because it also makes sense for the time but maybe not used to its full potential. Although I guess with Armstrong's plotline it makes sense but I guess I would have liked more work to be done with the musical side.
Plot wise I just about held on knowing what was going on, god bless my brain not being able to keep up with more than like 3 characters xD. Each chapter swapping between the main characters in a rotation was engaging, when a chapter ended on an aha moment you want to find out what they knew, so you have to read 2 more chapters, and then they have their own aha moments and you just keep on reading it. In turn of the final like explained plot, I got... most of it? I got the whole revenge thing and how the mafia used it to do mafia things, but Ida's findings just lost me, probably because those secondary characters associated with her plotline findings I did not know. Also feels bad Luca man, I hope he comes back because he isn't confirmed dead, I hope he lives and settles down with Simone, they were cute.
All in all, a solid crime novel with really good historical backdrop in New Orleans and actually used it instead of it just being there.
Mfw when I'm on holiday and can devote time to reading xD but yeah I really liked this book, I originally read the second book, dead man's blues, and found this in a charity shop. You would think this means I would go aha these characters I know, let's see their origins, but alas it was a very long time ago and I did not remember, but reading the blurb for the second one helped jogged my mind
Getting onto the actual book, I think what I most like about this book and the next one as well is the cultural hodge podge of New Orleans and how the different cultures interacted and with the mob thrown into the mix as well. Also the jazz themes with Louis Armstrong, as some who likes jazz it's a nice angle to the book as well, although apart from the letter by the axeman it's... I don't want to say shoehorned in because it also makes sense for the time but maybe not used to its full potential. Although I guess with Armstrong's plotline it makes sense but I guess I would have liked more work to be done with the musical side.
Plot wise I just about held on knowing what was going on, god bless my brain not being able to keep up with more than like 3 characters xD. Each chapter swapping between the main characters in a rotation was engaging, when a chapter ended on an aha moment you want to find out what they knew, so you have to read 2 more chapters, and then they have their own aha moments and you just keep on reading it. In turn of the final like explained plot, I got... most of it? I got the whole revenge thing and how the mafia used it to do mafia things, but Ida's findings just lost me, probably because those secondary characters associated with her plotline findings I did not know. Also feels bad Luca man, I hope he comes back because he isn't confirmed dead, I hope he lives and settles down with Simone, they were cute.
All in all, a solid crime novel with really good historical backdrop in New Orleans and actually used it instead of it just being there.
graziapatrizia's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly bought this book because it seemed interesting, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Diving into early 1900 New Orleans with all its problems and dark and colorful ambience was a wild ride and I enjoyed every second of it. Celestin did a great job at setting the scenes and telling a story from a time so different from ours, but maybe that's just what we want to believe. The beginning was a bit slow and I didn't fully get immersed into it, but after some things started to align and the connections between the characters started to make sense I couldn't put it down. What was fascinating to me is how he told the same story from three people's point of views, while the information was all connected every person told the story of a different side eventually creating one big picture - three sides of the same coin. Overall a great book, would give it 4.5 starts if I could.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
5.0
One year after the end of the War and New Orleans is experiencing changes on an unprecedented scale, the Italians are running most of the vice but brothels have been closed down and not all the police are corrupt. Whilst segregation in Louisiana is not as great as in neighbouring Mississippi people are still judged by colour and jazz music is bridging the gap. Into this city a murderer appears slaying individuals with an axe and leaving a tarot card behind. He taunts the police by letter and they seem powerless to catch him. Who is the Axeman?
This is Ray Celestin's debut novel but his craft appears fully formed. Rather than have a single central character there are a section of voices adding layers to the storyline and different clues to the outcome. From the policeman with the secret coloured family to the enthusiastic young woman to the corrupt former cop to the addicted journalist, each is fresh and forms part of a jigsaw. In fact the only part of this book which jars is the inclusion of Lewis 'Louie' Armstrong, the character is fine, it is the forcing of a known 'game' into the narrative which feels false. Other than that this is a really satisfying and exciting book.
This is Ray Celestin's debut novel but his craft appears fully formed. Rather than have a single central character there are a section of voices adding layers to the storyline and different clues to the outcome. From the policeman with the secret coloured family to the enthusiastic young woman to the corrupt former cop to the addicted journalist, each is fresh and forms part of a jigsaw. In fact the only part of this book which jars is the inclusion of Lewis 'Louie' Armstrong, the character is fine, it is the forcing of a known 'game' into the narrative which feels false. Other than that this is a really satisfying and exciting book.
rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
I'd like to give it more than 3 stars, but I don't think it was quite up to four for me. I'm not huge on crime fiction at the best of times, so I am not a great judge. I enjoyed it more than a lot of crime fiction, so that counts for something. On the whole, though, I prefer the old-fashioned kind of detective novels, where you're given all the information you need to piece the mystery together, rather than just following the procedure. This is a matter of taste, rather than a problem with the book itself. My only real problem with the book itself was that I didn't understand why Louis Armstrong had to be involved.
eprains's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0