DOPE by Sara Gran

Dope was recommended by the folks at The Mystery Bookstore in LA, a crew that knows the genre inside and out. This is classic noir from a female perspective, as hard-boiled as Chandler or Hammett with a voice that is both seductive and smart.

The novel explores the underground heroin scene in New York around 1950. The sense of time and place is pitch-perfect, from the smell of the seedy back rooms, the clothes, the cars, the hairstyles, and of course the dialogue. The voice of the narrator pulls you in immediately, and you hang on every word.

But the best part of this book is the twist at the end, followed by another twist, followed by yet another. You won't see them coming and when they do, you'll find your knuckles have turned white from gripping the book so hard. This book will stay with you. Check it out.