Review of A DANGEROUS BUSINESS by Jane Smiley (New Release)

3 Stars 

The novel is set in the 1850s in Monterey, California.  Eliza, after the death of her husband, finds work in a brothel.  When several young women go missing and authorities take no action, Eliza and her friend Jean take it upon themselves to investigate.  They are inspired by the techniques of C. Auguste Dupin, the fictional detective introduced by Edgar Allan Poe in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”

The book suffers from a meandering plot that mirrors the women’s ambling.  The only sleuthing the two women do is walking or hiring horses for rides around Monterey.  The reader is given detailed descriptions of Eliza’s day, her walks/rides, the countryside, and the types of clients she services.  There is no real sense of rising tension though Eliza becomes suspicious of every man she encounters. 

Besides the slow pace, there are other issues with the plot.  Eliza and Jean stumble across three bodies?  This seems rather coincidental.  Some episodes seem to serve little purpose.  Why, for example, is it necessary to describe virtually all the meals that Eliza eats and even include a taste-testing of a biscuit versus a scone?  Then there are the needless repetitions:  the many descriptions of clients’ preferences for sexual activity become tedious.  At other times, an element is introduced and then dropped.  For instance, Jean mentions ghosts in almost every conversation in the first part of the book, but then loses interest?  Are the references to ghosts meant as a nod to Poe’s gothic horror fiction?  And the ending is underwhelming.  The resolution is weak; instead of a thrilling denouement, events at the end seem rushed and are wrapped up very neatly.  My reaction was, “That’s it?” 

Much about the novel feels flat.  Just as the plot is plodding, so is the prose because it lacks a smooth flow.  The characters also do not emerge as fully developed.  Eliza is unsophisticated and uneducated (having to learn about geography from her clients) and not especially intelligent.  Jean, with her penchant for cross-dressing and dramatic flairs, is much more interesting. 

The theme of the novel seems to be that it is dangerous to be a woman:  there are statements like “’being a woman is a dangerous business’” and “indeed, every woman in the world had been pushed and slapped.”  But there are some contradictions.  Yes, the victims in the book are women, but Eliza works in a clean brothel where she is protected from violent clients; even the madam is kind and caring.  (This depiction of prostitution in California during the Gold Rush is accurate?)  There is a serial killer, but most of the men seem to be rather solicitous. 

This book just wasn’t for me.  The plot is contrived and there is a lack of suspense.  I felt indifferent about the characters.  This is a disappointing novel from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Note:  I received a digital galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.