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encryptedorchardpest's review
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shksprsis's review
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
mcf's review against another edition
4.0
Well, that went from fun and vaguely fluffy to painfully emotional utterly exhausting in the space of about 10 pages. It started out an appealing if somewhat thin Chandler tribute but then, about halfway through, shifted very decisively toward Sara Gran territory -- utterly merciless, but totally worth it. There's a large chunk in the second half of the book which is magnificent in its unrelenting pace and claustrophobic writing, something which hadn't seemed remotely possible earlier due to what felt like some first novel clunkiness (trying to be too much like Chandler, a man whose weakness of flowery language only works through some sort of weird miracle), and a somewhat cliched organization. The second half, however, is much tighter, and a hell of an accomplishment. I don't want to spoil anything, but suffice to say Cha refuses to let anyone get away unscathed, as much as the reader might wish she did. Damn.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A who dun it thriller that sweeps you away from the beginning as a young Asian woman, Juniper Song is leaving a party and is swept into the makings of the crime novels that she loves to read. Juniper is sent to find out if a young lady has been seducing one of her friend's fathers and while in the midst of finding the details she is knocked over the head and left in her car to find more than just her automobile.
A who dun it thriller that sweeps you away from the beginning as a young Asian woman, Juniper Song is leaving a party and is swept into the makings of the crime novels that she loves to read. Juniper is sent to find out if a young lady has been seducing one of her friend's fathers and while in the midst of finding the details she is knocked over the head and left in her car to find more than just her automobile.
jrobles76's review against another edition
5.0
I've read her other two Juniper Song novels, but WOW what a debut! That ending is heartbreaking. So good that I need to reread the others. Can't wait to read her newest!
sandin954's review against another edition
2.0
I will probably give this series another chance since I did like the main character and her backstory but the plot in this book did not really hang together and the author tried too hard evoke the style of [a:Raymond Chandler|1377|Raymond Chandler|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206535318p2/1377.jpg].
seest12's review against another edition
2.0
It was a fast read, but I was super disappointed by the characters and how they talked. E.g., a 20-something woman would not muss another 20-something woman’s hair, or call her a kid. And so many things were unresolved-I still don’t exactly get what Yujin and Lori’s relationships were to Cook.
megatsunami's review against another edition
4.0
Edgy, angsty feminist-noir thriller. Will definitely read more by this author.
categal's review against another edition
4.0
What a summer of fun reads, here's another one.
This book is such a blast: it takes noir tropes and turns them on their heads while at the same time, paying homage to them. It is summertime in LA, and Song is pulled into an investigation by her best friend Luke. Is his Dad having an affair with Lori? She gives drunken Lori a ride home and the investigation begins.
Page turner!
xoxo
This book is such a blast: it takes noir tropes and turns them on their heads while at the same time, paying homage to them. It is summertime in LA, and Song is pulled into an investigation by her best friend Luke. Is his Dad having an affair with Lori? She gives drunken Lori a ride home and the investigation begins.
Page turner!
xoxo
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
Fun idea to have a female hard boiled noir detective in a modern setting, but misses its chance to be colorful and funny. Riddled with weird phrases like "I cracked every knuckle I knew I had" and "There is not one painted fingernail of glamour in this entire enterprise."