Dope

this is an absolutely incredible book, hardboiled as xxxx. josephine flannigan is a recovering dope fiend who is hired by a wealthy family to locate their dope fiend daughter, who is adrift deep in the bowels of 1950 new york city. i can't say enough about this book. gran is a powerhouse writer, and her prose is a hot fix, exactly the punchy, clever, streetwise dialogue you'd expect--and crave--from a really good, really tight noir. josephine is a wonderful character, sympathetic, tough, weary, but still with a shred of optimism, a belief that there can be good in a dark, seedy world. the plot is nicely put together, a perfectly twisty tale that continually reveals truths and perspectives that challenge previously held notions. and somehow, i don't know how, gran manages to make a world of really hard luck junkies, hookers, pimps, and con artists both engaging and relatable. a misstep here, a tough break there, and we're all lying in the same gutter. i absolutely adore this book.

I liked this book more than I had anticipated. Sara Gran is an author I had not heard of but one that I can appreciate. Josephine is a strong leading character in that her addiction, her desire for more junk after two years of "clean living," as well as the toxic relationships with acquaintances from the underground of the dope world ring true and are believable. However, the descriptions of her shoplifting sprees and her relationship with her model sister seem undeveloped. These are key to Josephine's character and to the plot; and I believe that Gran could have "connected the dots" to create an intertwining of the chords of the characters and the impact of the events of their lives that are essential to their growth and as well as to their demise. We are, after all, either shaped by our experiences or our left to our own misshapen selves always moving toward the center of darkness or in light. The novel is realistic in reflecting such an idea.

I found the plot to be entertaining and her characters, especially the Hell's Kitchen crowd, were strong. However, the ending was a disappointment and the foundation for the wrap up was in no way sufficient enough to support the strengths of other parts of the book.

I would read the book again and I would recommend it to a friend because of its images of the palatable pain that the characters exude in their addiction and the ensuing fractured existence.

It is engaging and, especially for a new author, ambitious and raw. However, my recommendation would come with the warning not to lean on the ending and not to expect everything to be connected by a cohesive unending thread.

Sara Gran's sophomore novel is billed as Chandleresque detective noir. She certainly has the setting correct--flophouses and the streets of 1950's New York. She employs a cast of addicts, pick pockets, hookers, up-and-coming actresses, and pimps in her detective story. Unfortunately, the novel completely lacks a plot or plausible mystery. It's centered around reformed heroin addict named Josephine ("Joe") who is employed by a missing girl's parents to track her through the underbelly of the city.

The novel consists entirely of Joe traipsing through the city, talking tough and being in the know. Towards the end, Gran throws in a series of "twists" that serve more as monkey wrenches in a plodding story that as compelling plot devices.

If you want noir, stick to the tried and true classics. Gran's novel is barely mediocre, and certainly not worthy of comparison to any of the great detective authors.

I know, I know, the book is always better, but I'm going to say that in the right hands, this would make a damn fine movie, too.
Sara Gran sure knows her way around the gritty New York scene of the 50s. Her heroine, Josephine, is an ex-junkie who got clean in jail. She still lives rough, getting by as a pickpocket and "shoplifter" and her "friends" are still dopers, drunks and whores.
Except her baby sister, Shelley, who is slowly making her way towards fame first as a model and now as the star of a new TV series.
The story begins as Josephine is approached by a distraught husband and wife, looking for their runaway daughter, who is now a junkie. If Josephine finds her, she'll get $2000.
That's as much as I'll say, but Gran took me for quite a ride.

Sara Gran is a real find. Her clean, tight prose is often reminiscent of Chandler, but it is definitely her own. A recovering junkie, Josephine Flannigan is hired by distraught parents to find their drug addict daughter who has disappeared. A simple set up for a fast-paced, complex novel set in the sleazy underbelly of New York City in 1950. Streetwise and gutsy, this is everything you would expect from good noir fiction, but from a woman's perspective, which is refreshing in a genre dominated by men. I look forward to reading more of Gran's work.

5 stars within the noir genre. Clear writing style unencumbered by gratuitous details. Nice pace. Excellent character portraits. Several twists. Great ending.

As someone who is old enough to have experienced this 'old' New York, I am amazed that young as she is, she got it so right. The plot, the ending, doesn't bother me at all. This is not a 'crime' novel. This is more of an 'atmosphere' novel. Loved it!

As a fan of every flavor of hardguy - I guess "hardgal," in this case - fiction, from Stark to Vachss, I'm an easy touch for a cover like the one on "Dope." Thing is, I tend to read the first page in the bookstore, and put a book down, disappointed. Not this time. Read a page, bought the book, and knocked it off inside of a day. (And I had things to do, dammit!)

I hope Gran does more of this stuff, because in some very short strokes, she brings a fully-formed, desperately sad underworld to life, populated by thieves and junkies...the users and the used. Her characters crackle and breathe...and her heroine is worth rooting for. This is no parody or homage; this book is the real, hard-boiled deal. Bravo!

The quality in the delivered item was as advertised. But the book itself was average. It didn’t live up to the hype

Pretty good read - goes quick. About a girl who use to be an addict and is now clean, uses her past connections to find a missing girl. Lots of characters and twists.