Igal Kogan Kogan itibaren Luhden, 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.