Reviews

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford

jeffburns's review against another edition

fast-paced

5.0

I just finished reading one of the best and most original novels that I've read in a long time.  It's the third book by Francis Spufford that I've read this year, and it's a 1920s detective-noir story combined with alternate history.  Its set in Cahokia in 1922.  Cahokia is a state occupying roughly southern Illinois and eastern Missouri, with a capital city of the same name, the name of the mound-building culture that occupied the Midwest and Mississippi River Valley a thousand years ago.  In this world, Cahokia is a state of the United States governed by Native Americans, but Native Americans, European Americans, And African Americans live in relative harmony and prosperity.   Then, a  seemingly ritualistic murder is committed, and it threatens to destroy the political order.  Detectives Joe Barrow, a Native American orphan raised without a connection to his Native American background, and Phineas Drummond, a white schemer with big plans for the future and questionable ethics whom Joe met in a World War I military hospital in France, are assigned to investigation. The investigation takes them into the complex web of Cahokian politics and culture, the speakeasies and bootlegging of the 1920s, gangsters, and the Ku Klux Klan.  And did I mention that Joe was also a super-talented jazz pianist who is forced to choose between police work and music? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters; I could see a series of books and tv/movie adaptations.  I have two faint criticisms:  1.  I figured things out, mostly, long before the hero (but maybe I'm just brilliant 😉), 2.  I kind of wish there was an introductory note explaining the alternate history world.  I had to piece together the historical tidbits dropped throughout the book to figure out how Cahokia came into existence.  The print editions of the book had two maps at the beginning, but I listened to the Audiobook and had to go looking for that.  Nevertheless, I am sure that Cahokia Jazz will be one of my favorite reads of the year.

missnelsonsings's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

jsholzman's review against another edition

adventurous tense fast-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

adastraperlibris's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

timinbc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

This has some of the best descriptive writing I've ever seen.  And please note, this is not a beach read; it's complicated and heavy at times.  And worth the effort. 

libbykerns's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

this was a fabulous, engrossing read. the worldbuilding was fascinating, though i have a few questions about the larger system (what’s with Mississippi??) and the ending was a smidge drawn out. those complaints are mere blips, though. i love joe and this novel!

jw101's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition

Took me a while to find the rythmn (hate that word... can never spell it...) RHYTHM and perhaps that's partly the point? I'm sure there are layers of jazz related meanings and motifs that are flying fast and furious over my head.
but for the nonjazz literate, this was an enjoyable noir, full of the themes and characters you'd expect to stumble into: newspaper broad, likable earnest young man, bewildered gumshoe in over his head etc etc. a bevvy of love interests who don't fade into so much wallpaper.

A bit heavy on the exposition maybe, but then this world needs a little; the fact our eyes (Barrow) is something of a semi tourist himself helps. in short, it's a dense book. heavy on the political intrigue which doesn't seem to rise above vague glimpses in murky gloom. Maybe a little more light would have made the society of this alternative timeline a touch more graspable and rooted in something solid. As such, I found it a little too slippery for true immersion. but it was likable never the less. Memorable final days.

Can practically see the adverts for the tv/limited series adaptation now.

ryzar's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

przela71's review against another edition

mysterious 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? No

4.75