I'm a bit disappointed, that I didn't find this book to be as good as the previous two. This book wasn't bad by any means, since Aptaker is a very good author, I just found the murder mystery and overall plot to be lacking in this book.

The book starts with Cantor overseas acquiring one of her stolen artifacts. I must say I liked finally getting to see the other side of Cantors business. When Cantor goes to deliver her goods, and get her paycheck, she is robbed. Cantor does not want to loose twenty grand, plus this is very bad for business. From her search for the missing artifact, Cantor finds herself back in Coney Island, the place of her childhood. Can Cantor get back what was stolen from her or will things go from bad to worse?

The book started off okay, with a little excitement, though I don't know how Cantor makes a living as a smuggler when she keeps losing her treasures. My problem with this book is once the murder mystery started, it turned quite convoluted and I lost interest. Normally, what I enjoy most about these books is the murder mystery, but this mystery involved people that you didn't care about if they were dead.

My other issue was, for almost half this book, I didn't understand why Cantor was even involved. Normally she is involved because her neck is on the line. That was not the case this time. As the book progressed, I didn't understand why Cantor didn't just pack up and leave these people to their own devises. I want to be careful not to spoil anything, but I felt like there were some plot holes to be sure.

My last small issue. There is a storyline that spans all three books, I was hoping it would finally be put to rest, in this one. No such luck. I feel like this is a bit too long to string the readers along. I'm quite frustrated to say the least. Aptaker made it sound like in book 4, we will finally know what happened. But who knows if it will actually be answered. I just don't know if a maybe is enough to get me to read the next volume.

I can't really recommend this. I would suggest starting at book one or two, and if you enjoy them, than give this one a read.

An ARC was given to me by Bold Strokes Books, for an honest review.

A hard-boiled detective fiction update set in the early 1950's, featuring dapper lesbian art thief, Cantor Gold. I particularly enjoyed exploring Coney Island of the past, with a look at the gangs, communities and criminals of all descriptions. Enjoyable and thought-provoking in its exploration of gender politics and power in crime. Very much a pulp novel requiring suspension of disbelief and stomach for a bit of violence.

The third, strong offering in a series and heroine about which I harbored much skepticism-as the noir realm can be hit or miss in the readability of its related publications. Cantor is a character who successfully and often, irresistibly, inhabits a zone of moral ambiguity that makes her adventures satisfying to become immersed in and leaves the audience wanting more. The expertise in artistic subject matter that is exhibited by the author in her writings adds a valuable dimension to the situations in which the protagonist finds herself. I enjoyed this volume quite a bit.