I thought Immodesty Blaize was an American drag artist. But as I worked my way through this book it 'felt' English. Words and phrases seemed very un-American even though it is set in the strip joints of Las Vegas. But it felt like it was trying to be American. So I googled and discovered that Immodesty Blaize is actually from Hitchin, Hertfordshire and is a lady burlesque act. So that explains the Englishness of the text.
It's not a bad book it's just not a book written too well.
Yes, the story is entertaining enough and there are enough pages to make it a decent enough read. The characters are colourful, too - but they are all really thinly drawn.
The only really interesting character for me is Blue, the dresser. But he like all the others is just not deep enough - they all seem to be a thumbnail portrait of a stereotyped character. And he does not feature nearly enough for me.
The narrative, although it moves well enough and all the ends are tied up by the last chapter, just feels like it has been written by someone who has been asked to write a precis of a novel.
The characters are kind of like the pieces on a draughts board. Thin and flat pieces being placed here and there with no embellishment or literary craft. The events are just stated matter of factly and any attempts at 'poetic description' just don't ring true.
I am no writer myself, so it is hard to describe what is lacking in this book - but go and read Daphne Du Maurier's 'My Cousin Rachel' or 'Rebecca' or even a Jackie Collins or something like that to see how characters can be drawn.
Having said all that, I still thought it was ok in a Julian Clary novel sort of way. But it hasn't made me want to read the author's other book.
It's written by someone playing at being a novellist, and really they should leave the writing to those who have more flair for it.
As the saying goes, don't give up the day job. And if it was actually written by a ghost writer, then, maybe they should change careers.