I have read two books in this series, and read them out of sequence. It works, anyway. Tuby Dubonnet is a genial, not particularly driven attorney. He likes food, he loves his city (New Orleans), and he isn't dumb. In this case, a client falls into his lap: a casino. It seems like an easy gig, and Tubby is already busy, involved in the estate of his murdered friend. Of course, things are never as easy as they should be in the Big Easy, and Tubby has to sort out the tangled webs. Tubby is a fun character, and I will follow on and read more of Tubby's escapades, I am sure. Entertaining criminal investigation novel featuring a well-fed late middle aged lawyer named Tubby Dubonnet as the hero. Wonderful sense of evoking place: the setting is New Orleans and one call tell the author not only knows the range of traditions and perspectives possible in that singular city, he relishes them. Tubby begins to see some intriguing connections between a series of disparate cases he is involved in given the wide range of clientele he has—he is sensible about working for the big bucks as needed, but also can’t stop looking out for the underdog or marginalized in society, particularly when he feels this type of person isn’t getting the respect everyone is due as a human being. Tubby sees the dignity and value in folks others might walk right past on the street.As he becomes more involved in uncovering the complex web of interconnected corruption and misrepresentation, we are obligingly pulled deeper into the story. The dialogues were believable, the plot interesting. I’m glad he didn’t wisecrack all the time—sometimes you just want a buddy you can hang silently with while you do some lazy fishing in the bayou. If you’re in the mood for that kind of a hero, and you like to hear delicious food described and savored, this is a fine summer read. Second in a series, but I got along perfectly well without reading the first.
What do You think about City Of Beads (2012)?
Pleasant little mystery with lots of New Orleans flavor.
—mayur
