I could not put this book down. A friend saw me reading Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep last summer and recommended I check out Steph Cha's book. I kind of enjoyed The Big Sleep, but wasn't over the moon. Although I enjoy P.I. movies, something about Chandler's literary private eye didn't sit right with me -- plus that sort of requisite femme fatale character and Marlowe's fear/hatred of women bothered me. I hesitated for over six months to pick up Follow Her Home. It was so much more enjoyable than The Big Sleep. Maybe it's because I find Song, a twentysomething woman, much more compelling and relatable than any Marlowe could ever be to me. It does everything that noir should do without the drawbacks of some of the older works (which I know that Ms. Cha is a fan of). Even better, it's a mystery with an ending that is satisfying. Great work, Ms. Cha. I will definitely be on the lookout for any future adventures of Song. Impressive first novel, with a strong main character and a plot that zips along. Having a protagonist who idolizes Marlowe lets Cha play with echoing Chandler's style. Sometimes this works, but more often the similes clank and the language gets in the way of the story. Simple editing could fix a few things (describing someone as "deferent"?) and experience may help with the rest. On the whole a promising start.
What do You think about Follow Her Home (2013)?
A notable attempt at LA Noir. A quick beach read. Lacks the depth of a real noir mystery.
—tantantania
Couldn't finish it . . .just couldn't get into it and too many more books to read.
—Alexandria
Korean-American feminist LA noir. Totally works.
—cacai
very cliche, don't highly recommend
—Megamikitty13
