The Long-Legged Fly

African American detective Lew Griffin first appeared back in 1992 in this novel by acclaimed, although largely unknown, author James Sallis. The story follows Griffin as he investigates four cases of missing persons. His success varies and even when he locates the people he's looking for, he never actually finds the object of his search.
This mystery is not really a mystery at all. Rather, it's the story of thirty years in the life of a hurting, flawed man trying to live a quiet existence in New Orleans. Rather than being epic in its sweep, though, "Fly" is minimalist. Sallis is a poet in addition to being an author and it shows in this book.
I suppose it's understandable that Sallis hasn't enjoyed wider success in the genre--his books certainly don't grab you in the same way that most mysteries do--but it's definitely a shame. Readers who are interested in more than simply solving a mystery will definitely find something to admire in this book.

no, i won't read any more of these. i love noir and detective fiction. this one brought nothing new to the table and did not hold my interest. it verged on metafiction. in the vernacular that means he was too much up his own rectum.

i love chester himes and this author wrote a good biography of himes. but there is nothing particularly black about this hero. and what is black seems lifted from and explicitly credited to classic black authors and figures.

the drunk detective shtick is becoming seriously tiresome. new orleans/drunk: james lee burke has done that to death. inability of loner detective to commit: yawn.

wow. he speaks a few words of french, and next thing you know he is a PROFESSOR? ditto he gets a BA and he is a professor? speaking as a phd, i wish it were that easy.

the book he is writing becomes the book you are reading..... this is not the kind of book i want to be reading.