Alternate history of America, where Native Americans are preeminent, and this present-day extinct city is sited near today's St. Louis. Two policemen try to solve a murder. What was most striking was the world-building. ( )

This is strange! I knew nothing about the Cahokia Mounds just east of St. Louis which is the setting for this alternate history of the place. The Cahokia Mounds were built by Mississippi Indians and apparently are evidence of a highly sophisticated urban indigenous society.

The author sets the story in the 1920's. Cahokia is a "state" of the federal union where the indigenous peoples, white people, and Black people all live in somewhat harmony. Throughout the book three distinctive words describe each of these peoples. A horrible murder of a Black man occurs on the roof top of a government building. Things fall apart from there as each group begins to fear the other. Two detectives are called to investigate: Joe Barrow and his partner Phin Drummond; they became close friends during the war although Barrow is of mised race and Drummond is white.

The Ku Klux Klan, a wealthy capitalist, the leaders of the indigenous peoples (Sun - the Man & Moon-his neice) all play major roles in the story. At times, funny, at times, brutal, and very often confusing. Then add Joe's musical ability to play the jazz piano..

This is really film noir with a handsome almost always good detective, a beautiful woman, corrupt cops, etc. The ending is over the top yet readable and enjoyable. The acknowledgments at the end are interesting. I can't really be sure if such a family as the Hashi did exist (the indigenous leaders).

Overall, interesting, fun, frustrating, and worth the read. ( )

I was less enthusiastic about this book than I thought I would be. Spufford creates an interesting alternative history, but he could have done the same in a more condensed form. In short, I wanted more dark, smoky jazz clubs and fewer plot twists. ( )

Excellent old fashioned detective noir in an alternate universe.

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2024/01/2024005-cahokia-jazz-francis-spufford.htm... ( )