The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
saltycorpse's review against another edition
4.0
A book that begins as a mystery, and then noir, with twists and betrayal, and a satisfying and unexpected ending.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
Hard-boiled mystery set in the 1950's, in a gritty New York City populated by junkies, pimps and bent cops. Joe, or Josephine, is a former junkie herself. She's hired by a couple to find their daughter, and her search takes her back to all the places she's been trying to get away from.
This is pretty straight-forward, no-nonsense noir, at least compared to Gran's later, more off-kilter Claire DeWitt novels. It's pretty dark stuff, more tragic than cool. Reminded me of Megan Abbott's crime stories.
This is pretty straight-forward, no-nonsense noir, at least compared to Gran's later, more off-kilter Claire DeWitt novels. It's pretty dark stuff, more tragic than cool. Reminded me of Megan Abbott's crime stories.
silea's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Police brutality, Addiction, Blood, Death, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Classism, and Infertility
hzapico's review against another edition
5.0
I got so irrationally angry at the ending but overall a good book
mlklein1's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really nice quick noir read.
The protaganist is the ultimate anti-hero, a former drug addict, con-woman, thief, whore, and who knows what else.
Some good twists and turns in this short novel, and really fantastic descriptions of what it must be like to get hooked on drugs, and then get high, and lose all hope.
The protaganist is the ultimate anti-hero, a former drug addict, con-woman, thief, whore, and who knows what else.
Some good twists and turns in this short novel, and really fantastic descriptions of what it must be like to get hooked on drugs, and then get high, and lose all hope.
yasdnilr's review against another edition
5.0
This is a brilliant hard boiled story of an ex junkie in 50s New York looking for another junky whose parents are paying $1000 to find their strung out kid. Or are they?
I read this is an afternoon, riveted. It reads like a proper old fashioned detective novel, twists and turns at the end of each chapter and ends in a way you thought might've been possible...but, yeah. Nah. What????
Excellent arvo reading
I read this is an afternoon, riveted. It reads like a proper old fashioned detective novel, twists and turns at the end of each chapter and ends in a way you thought might've been possible...but, yeah. Nah. What????
Excellent arvo reading
tbsims's review against another edition
1.0
house of sand and fog is a person making bad decision after bad decision and falling down a hole. Here is someone that once was a prostitute to support her sister's dancing and acting and clothes, etc. And fell into drugs. But got clean and now is trying to help someone else into drugs. She fights, successfully, against drug use every day. And ends up getting her best friend killed and getting killed by her sister.
essinink's review against another edition
4.0
Generally, it's not a good sign when it takes me more than a week to get to my write-up, but this time it's not the book's fault. It's just timing, timing, and terrible timing...
I spent most of this read wound up in a tight ball of stress, trying desperately to distract myself while also paying attention to my email and rescheduling various commitments. Needless to say, this was not the best reading environment, and it would have doomed a lot of books to complete obscurity in my memory. And yet, despite all that, Sara Gran's Dope kept all the attention I had to spare, yanked me in unexpected directions with its twists and turns, and socked me in the gut at the end.
It was brilliant.
One of these days, I will reread and give this book a proper review. For now, I'm just going to direct you to carol. and Melissa, whose reviews inspired me to read this book.
I spent most of this read wound up in a tight ball of stress, trying desperately to distract myself while also paying attention to my email and rescheduling various commitments. Needless to say, this was not the best reading environment, and it would have doomed a lot of books to complete obscurity in my memory. And yet, despite all that, Sara Gran's Dope kept all the attention I had to spare, yanked me in unexpected directions with its twists and turns, and socked me in the gut at the end.
It was brilliant.
One of these days, I will reread and give this book a proper review. For now, I'm just going to direct you to carol. and Melissa, whose reviews inspired me to read this book.
tetedump's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Fatphobia, Addiction, Antisemitism, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Police brutality, Death, Sexual assault, and Murder
ktcarlston's review against another edition
2.0
Noir like novel that was just okay. There were a few twists that made it a little more exciting than I expected but the writing style wasn't my favorite.