The Best Bad Things

A Novel

De: Katrina Carrasco

Narrado por: Saskia Maarleveld

2019 Shamus Awards - Nominee

2019 Shamus Awards - Winner

2019 Lambda Literary Award - Nominee

"A brazen, brawny, sexy standout of a historical thrill ride, The Best Bad Things is full of unforgettable characters and insatiable appetites. I was riveted. Painstakingly researched and pulsing with adrenaline, Carrasco’s debut will leave you thirsty for more.” (Lyndsay Faye, author of The Gods of Gotham)

A vivid, sexy barn burner of a historical crime audiobook, The Best Bad Things introduces listeners to the fiery Alma Rosales - detective, smuggler, spy.

It is 1887, and Alma Rosales is on the hunt for stolen opium. Trained in espionage by the Pinkerton Detective Agency - but dismissed for bad behavior and a penchant for going undercover as a man - Alma now works for Delphine Beaumond, the seductive mastermind of a West Coast smuggling ring.

When product goes missing at their Washington Territory outpost, Alma is tasked with tracking the thief and recovering the drugs. In disguise as the scrappy dockworker Jack Camp, this should be easy - once she muscles her way into the local organization, wins the trust of the magnetic local boss and his boys, discovers the turncoat, and keeps them all from uncovering her secrets. All this while sending coded dispatches to the circling Pinkerton agents to keep them from closing in.

Alma’s enjoying her dangerous game of shifting identities and double crosses as she fights for a promotion and an invitation back into Delphine’s bed. But it’s getting harder and harder to keep her cover stories straight and to know whom to trust. One wrong move and she could be unmasked: as a woman, as a traitor, or as a spy.

A propulsive, sensual tour de force, The Best Bad Things introduces Katrina Carrasco, a bold new voice in crime fiction.

©2018 Katrina Carrasco (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Unusual

The story did not appeal to me. The subject was interesting, however, vulgar and distasteful.

A real fun listen

I got very invested in the main character and loved her fire. Even when decisions were made that I didn't agree with, I could see how the logic worked for the different characters. It felt like every set back was different from the last, not repetitive at all, and kept a good pace. There are alot of side characters that were had to keep straight some times, but the voice actor was a amazing in all her different accents.

Maybe I'll be able to finish it someday...

I really wanted to like this book, it's been on my radar for a long time. I had a credit and decided to give it a try, but I don't think I'll be able to finish it unfortunately. Yes, it's a fast-paced, sexy, historical fiction story but the writing is a bit stilted and there's nothing that makes me attached to any of the main characters. The plot isn't gripping and the back and forth of the narrative with police interview transcripts is confusing. Unless you're an absolute die hard 1800s western fan I would skip this one.