Jo Epstein is a performance poet with a flair for detective work. She's good at what she does, which is why they always find her——the folks with loved ones who are most certainly guilty, but in need of one last chance. Told with a sardonic voice reminiscent of Raymond Chandler, Ask the Dead is a great start to a series featuring a strong female protagonist. Mystery readers who enjoy New York's ambiance as a city of light and darkness will love the details of life—and death—in the Big Apple, but the narrative is accessible to everyone who likes a hard-boiled gumshoe.