Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford (2024) What if whole nations had not been decimated by smallpox as part of the colonization of Turtle Island? Such an intriguing premise upon which to build a world, and such an interesting world to then populate with indigenous royalty, 1920’s jazz pioneers, corrupt local cops, hapless Klansmen, pragmatic church prelates, mysterious mystical armies and cynical academics.
The protagonist is the orphan Joe Barrow, recent veteran of the first world war, now a plainclothes police detective in the independent city state of Cahokia, which dominates the terrain across the Mississippi from Saint Louis, Missouri. Joe is a lost soul and a gifted jazz pianist. He follows the notes of a murder case with his right hand, while his left hand accompanies with the rhythm of his spiritual journey.
Barrow’s quest takes him to all corners of the city, from its celestial heights to its murkiest depths, with stops on every step of the social ladder, from palaces and private club rooms to cheap hotels and smoky speakeasies. Each setting is well drawn and fascinating.
My cycling and driving companion continues to be Kinsey Millhone, the private eye created by Sue Grafton, and masterfully narrated in the audio versions by Mary Peiffer. I’ve reached the half-way point in her “alphabet” series of novels, and still loving them.
G is for Gumshoe-Kinsey turns 33, is stalked by a devious hitman for hire and has a fling with the mysterious private eye hired to protect her.
H is for Homicide- Kinsey accidentally goes undercover to breakup a murderous ring insurance fraudsters and is reunited with her old flame from high school.
I is for Innocent-We learn more about Kinsey’s past when she is enlisted to salvage an investigation begun by one of her mentors, who inconveniently (and suspiciously) died before finishing his work.
J is for Judgment-Kinsey is undercover again, this time in Mexico, to track down a Ponzi scheme investor who swindled millions out of hapless investors before faking his own death. Back in California, she learns she has long lost family, and must decide if she wants anything to do with them.
K is for Killer- a grieving mother enlists Kinsey’s help to investigate the death of her daughter, who turns out to have led a double life as a high priced escort. Kinsey’s quest for justice for the murdered woman leads her to step outside the rule of law and to enlist unlikely allies.
L is for Lawless- Kinsey agrees to do a simple favour for her landlord’s neighbour. She becomes caught up in the search for the loot from a decades old bank robbery that takes her from California to Texas and then to Kentucky. In order to get home for a wedding, she is forced to accept help from one of the family members she has sought to keep out of her life.
M is for Malice-The 13th book in the series is a sensitive and clever midrash on the parable of the prodigal son. Kinsey is hired to find the wayward son of a wealthy family that ould like him to sign away his claim to a share of his deceased father’s estate. She finds the man and discovers he’s found religion and has no interest in the family fortune. Kinsey is quite taken with him. She grieves and vows justice when he is found murdered at the family estate.
It is fun ... I made it through "T is for Trespass" and drifted away , but I was reading them as they came out (started with F and went back and then I was regular) but Cahokia sounds like a lot of fun.