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Book Review of The Manual of Detection

The Manual of Detection
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I don't exactly know quite how to describe this book. It was quirky and convoluted and, to be perfectly honest, confusing. The story takes place in an unnamed city at an undisclosed time in history. It has the feel of a semi-dystopian gumshoe detective noir with hints of steampunk, urban fantasy, and alternate realities, and it almost pulled it off.

This book had incredible potential. It started out slow but intriguing before getting bogged down in the middle with multiple story arcs and nesting dream states (think the movie Inception). By the time the end rolled around, I wasn't entirely sure what really happened.

I liked the feel of the book, the uncertainty of the realities, and the mysterious aura of the city and the secrets that it contained. Unfortunately, I feel like the plot was just a touch too messy and it did not come together quite like it could (or should) have. It is a slim book that can be read rather quickly, and perhaps that is where I went wrong. Then again, perhaps not...