Reviews

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford

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oz2021's review

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challenging informative mysterious slow-paced

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

3.0

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babsbee's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense 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

3.75

I was really looking forward to reading this from the blurb I'd read, and I enjoyed the concept of the book. I liked not knowing everything about the society of Cahoka and learning about all the different characters. However,

I really really hated the ending of it. Joe was so happy and then he dies? Okay, he dies a hero saving the woman he loves and can't have and also the city, but still...

. The book did start out rather slow for me, but the last third of it was action packed. I will say that one should read the acknowledgments of the author at the end of the book. It explains how/where the alternate history starts and the very last paragraph of his acknowlegements does give a little insight into something that happens in the book.

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hirodotsu's review

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3.0

Story was good but writing was a bit mediocre.

brandongryder's review

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5.0

I am easily bedazzled by competent alternate history novels. Most recently “Underground Airlines” by Ben Winters and the masterful “Underground Railroad” by Colton Whitehead. And now I am astonished by “Cahokia Jazz.” The amount of imagination and world building it takes to set a murder mystery during the jazz age in Cahokia is amazing. In this alternate history the once very real Native American metropolis of Cahokia has survived and is a flourishing melting pot of society. Fantastic.

towanda000's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad slow-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

4.0

katy_bee's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

I loved this book and I'll be interested to learn more about it- the afterward was a good start!
I found the characters well drawn and compelling, the mystery intriguing and the world building was excellent- and thought provoking.
The final chapters meander a little as the story enters its final twists but I was invested enough by then that I can forgive it!

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