Review: A Delicious Deep South Mystery
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 9, 2014
There is a good reason that Lovejoy is considered one of the prominent mystery writers of recent years, and why his more than a dozen books have earned him so much praise. Anytime an author chooses such a well-known setting, with such literary and cultural power behind it, they face a real challenge to match up to the past. New Orleans is a hotbed of style, jazz, history, and mystery, which makes it an ideal place to begin this adventurous mystery. Glen Kenney was a perfectly constructed character, far from perfect, but far better than others. An unusual hero with a somewhat checkered past, he dives into solving Debra's murder with chivalry and a hard-nosed determination to find the truth. The plot pulls the reader along, whether you want to go along for the ride or not, and through his unique and beautifully crafted prose, we become intoxicated by the flow and pulse of the story. As a writer myself, I love alternative, powerful, and natural prose, which Lovejoy delivers on every page. It reminded me, at times, of John Kennedy O'Toole's N'Awlins masterpiece, particularly in the way he was able to capture the identity and the personality of a character with only a handful of sentences. That is the sign of a truly great author, but when he combines that skill with a talent for weaving exceptional mystery plots and unexpected twists, we have ourselves an unmissable novel. Overcoming obstacles of every shape, size, and distance, Kenney moves through old circles and new dangers to solve a mystery that no one else seems to care about. A great, modern-day classic that is a celebration of honor, history, romance, danger, Americana, and mystery. A great achievement.