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.