City of Dragons

City of Dragons reminds me of the Italian cars of my youth -- beautiful to look at, but mechanically challenged to the point where you grit your teeth every time you turn the key. The central character of this neo-hard-boiled tale -- it's hard to think of her as a heroine -- is Miranda Corbie, an übe......more

A tough book to review. Many of the other reviewers have expressed my feelings about this book. Kelli Stanley did her homework on 1940 San Francisco. By the time I finished the book (which I finally did after putting it down several times) I honestly felt like I knew what it would have been like to......more

PROTAGONIST: Miranda Corbie, PI SETTING: 1940 San Francisco SERIES: #1 RATING: 2.75 When I picked up this book, I thought the concept was an interesting one, featuring a hard-as-nails female who’s been through a lot of tough times and who is now in the PI game. Set in 1940, you could almost see Miranda......more

A brand new pre-WWII noir written with a masterful hand, and the women are actual people, not just "blonde broads." History is also meticulously researched. Highly recommended!......more

There were a number of things I really liked a lot about the book. The author's attention to historical detail in particular was phenomenal; it's one of the best-researched novels I think I've ever read. She also does a great job with time & place. The plot is nicely complex but logical. I loved the......more