Igal KoganKoganitibarenLuhden, Jerman
Reading this book made me want to see the old movies with Myrna Loy and ?? (can't remember the leading man) ... it's written in a 1930's film noir first person style - for example: "She asked me if I was asleep. I said that I was." I think I was more taken with the time-period of the story than the actual mystery itself (which turned out to be a little complicated in the end). It must have been written just after prohibition because everyone constantly drinks (Nick & Nora usually started the scotch and sodas at noon, which was when they usually got up for breakfast) and is always discussing who is sober and who is "tight". I think most of the characters in the book would be considered alcoholics by today's standards. Also bars/nightclubs are referred to as speakeasies or speaks, for short and one of the speaks, the Pigiron Club, was owned by a semi-reformed gangster named Studsy! This book solved a long-standing misconception of mine that Asta, Nick & Nora's dog, was a fox terrier. Now I know she was a schnauzer. :=D
I love the premise of this book. A plague that affects gasoline and the outcome of America not having any. I can't shake the feeling that it is not written very well but I'm hoping that the plot will make up for the poor writing. Or...maybe I was just not in the mood while I was reading the first chapter.