I think Christopher Moore started out to write a hard-boiled detective novel set in the late forties, but he’s Christopher Moore. And the end result is delightful, funny, full of creative turns of phrase and the weirdest blend of pop culture references and murder mysteries that I’ve ever come across. From the Roswell UFOs to the therapeutic uses of snake venom this book grabs you at the outset and takes you for a noir style ride. Highly recommended!