Claire DeWitt is said to be the best private detective out there, which is how she comes to find herself striving to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of Assistant District Attorney Vic Willing in post-Katrina New Orleans. Hired for the investigation by Willing's nephew, Leon, who has recently come into possession of his uncle's great fortune and now wants answers, DeWitt is far from your average private detective. She is impetuous, but inherently brilliant and naturally disposed to investigative work. She is a Sherlock Holmes for the modern age (and in female form, of course), and her idiosyncratic reliance upon instinct, her dreams, the I-Ching, and various herbal substances adds great dimension to this dynamic, well-crafted character. DeWitt is a storm in her own way, destructive and altogether fascinating to watch as she haphazardly wanders through a city known for both its wild night-life and its risks. But this is New Orleans 18 months after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and it is still a very sad picture. Struggle is around every corner, and much remains to be understood. For example, Claire's job is to find out where Willing was after Katrina struck. Since Willing was the only ADA who was not corrupt in the city, perhaps the chaos following the storm provided the perfect opportunity for someone to exact revenge. At least, that seems like a rational conclusion...
...This is only the beginning. Follow Claire through storm ravaged New Orleans as she works to solve the case of Vic Willing's disappearance in the novel Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead, the latest release from novelist Sara Gran.
Gran, who has traveled extensively throughout the United States, takes inspiration from her experiences in different locations of interest. New Orleans is definitely one of those places. Like Claire, she is originally from Brooklyn, but she provides us with a clear and honest picture of New Orleans after the major storm. It is a depressing and captivating account, the perfect basis for this suspenseful and fascinating modern mystery.
If you really enjoy contemporary-style mystery fiction and suspense, then look for Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran. The novel will not disappoint. Also, for those readers who are fans of books set in New Orleans, this novel has been described by readers as a powerful and accurate account of post-Katrina New Orleans, and you should consider reading it worth your time.
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