A Dangerous Business is a 2022 novel by American author Jane Smiley. The novel is a mystery set in California.[1]
 | |
| Author | Jane Smiley |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
Publication date | 2022 |
Writing and publication edit
Smiley read about the history of Monterey, California and walked through the city during the period she wrote the novel.[2][3]
Reception edit
Critical reception of the book was mixed.[4] In a review published by The Guardian, Erica Wagner wrote that the novel was "startlingly flat and unsatisfying".[5] Writing for NPR, Heller McAlpin noted that the novel was inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and referred to it as "a sort of perfumed 'Poe-Pourri'".[1] McAlpin also noted that the novel was one of several by Smiley with "inspiration in classic fiction".[1] Smiley's novel A Thousand Acres draws from King Lear, and her novel The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton draws from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Heller, McAlpin (7 December 2022). "'A Dangerous Business' is an entertaining, Poe-inspired murder mystery". NPR. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Ciabattari, Jane (6 December 2022). "Writing the Historical Mystery Novel: Jane Smiley Explains Her Process". Literary Hub. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Neumyer, Scott (8 December 2022). "30 Published Books Later, Jane Smiley Is Still Finding the Joy in Writing". Shondaland. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ "A Dangerous Business". Book Marks. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ^ Wagner, Erica (29 December 2022). "A Dangerous Business by Jane Smiley review – madams and murder". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
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