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The Secret History of Las Vegas
A gritty, riveting, and wholly original murder mystery from PEN/Hemingway Award-winning author and 2015 Edgar Awards winner Chris Abani
Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths. As Sunil tries to crack the twins, the implications of his research grow darker. Haunted by his betrayal of loved ones back home during apartheid, he seeks solace in the love of Asia, a prostitute with hopes of escaping that life. But Sunil’s own troubled past is fast on his heels in the form of a would-be assassin.
Suspenseful through the last page, The Secret History of Las Vegas is Chris Abani’s most accomplished work to date, with his trademark visionary prose and a striking compassion for the inner lives of outsiders.
Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths. As Sunil tries to crack the twins, the implications of his research grow darker. Haunted by his betrayal of loved ones back home during apartheid, he seeks solace in the love of Asia, a prostitute with hopes of escaping that life. But Sunil’s own troubled past is fast on his heels in the form of a would-be assassin.
Suspenseful through the last page, The Secret History of Las Vegas is Chris Abani’s most accomplished work to date, with his trademark visionary prose and a striking compassion for the inner lives of outsiders.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2014
90 people are currently reading
2508 people want to read
About the author
Chris Abani
62 books280 followersChristopher Abani (or Chris Abani) is a Nigerian author.
He was a political prisoner in Nigeria at various times during 1985 and 1991. At times he was held in solitary confinement and he was held on death row for some time after being sentenced to death for treason.
He is a Professor at the University of California, Riverside and the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the 2001 Prince Claus Awards, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Selections of his poetry appear in the online journal Blackbird.
He was a political prisoner in Nigeria at various times during 1985 and 1991. At times he was held in solitary confinement and he was held on death row for some time after being sentenced to death for treason.
He is a Professor at the University of California, Riverside and the recipient of the PEN USA Freedom-to-Write Award, the 2001 Prince Claus Awards, a Lannan Literary Fellowship, a California Book Award, a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award and the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Selections of his poetry appear in the online journal Blackbird.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
April 29, 2015
I had to DNF this because it was so horrible and disgusting. If you want to read about the worst of humanity, read this book. I'm on page 22 and there's already been a suicide, leukemia, a racist cop who shot an unarmed black man to death, another pair of racist/ablest cops who accuse a black pair of conjoined twins of being serial killers for no other reason than the fact that they are black and conjoined, and torturing animals, specifically torturing mother baboons with newborn babies to death by setting fire to their cages and "seeing how they react."
Not to mention the author doesn't believe in quotation marks.
So I'm done. Hasta la vista, baby.
Not to mention the author doesn't believe in quotation marks.
So I'm done. Hasta la vista, baby.
June 5, 2014
The lavishly talented poet, novelist, playwright, and publisher Chris Abani began his writing career in Nigeria at sixteen with a satirical political novel, Masters of the Board, and followed up with political plays meant to be performed on the street. He was jailed in Nigeria three times in the 1980s, then moved to England and onward to the United States. He continues to accumulate awards for his edgy poetry and prose, publishes The Black Goat Poetry Series, an imprint of Akashic Press, and teaches English at Northwestern University. Abani was raised Roman Catholic and while a teen studied in the seminary.
Abani’s latest novel is about betrayal and illusion, and how sometimes they might be the same thing. Humans betray all the time, intentionally or not, and we recognize the guilt or pain the characters confront as they examine large and small betrayals in their own lives. Sunil is a mixed-race South African transplant to Las Vegas where he works in a government lab, the Desert Palms Institute, as a scientist and co-director of a research project.
Sunil knows something about a body dump just outside Vegas city limits near Lake Mead. Soon-to-retire Detective Salazar wants to solve the miserable case of multiple murders that has stretched on for years and, when he comes upon a possibly sociopathic pair of conjoined twins near the site, he calls Sunil for help.
It is here that Abani shows his particular sensitivity and skill in recognizing and representing the lives of outsiders. He parallels Sunil’s story as a Black Indian growing up in South Africa (doubly estranged from powerful White society under apartheid) with the conjoined twins who are part of The Downwinder Nation, a group committed to the eradication of dangerous military research in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Many of the Downwinders feel betrayed by their government because they are victims of that research, manifesting mutations as a result of being improperly protected from nuclear testing.
Illusion is another theme that runs through the narrative, and the conjoined twins, as freaks in the sideshow of a circus, understand and exploit this aspect of Las Vegas. Sunil himself has photos on the wall of his office that show zebu, the cattle of his childhood, so uniquely marked with spots that from a distance they look like flocks of birds resting on hillside, a spotted Rubik’s Cube, or a tarot deck. The Desert Palms Institute, supposedly working for the good of mankind, may actually be harming it.
Abani writes a dark story about the underside of glittery Las Vegas but ultimately the story is redemptive. Eskia trails Sunil from South Africa with a vendetta of his own, and Brewster, Sunil’s boss, rules the lab with an unethical expediency. Neither escape the traps they have set for others.
Sunil has more than one woman in love with him, and he is capable of loving each. Sheila is a woman who works with him, and Asia is a prostitute. Sunil has ambiguous feelings about Asia’s work, but resolves it by explaining to Asia that “’prostitute’ comes from the Latin verb prostituere”. As a verb, it could mean that one is a prostitute only while having sex for money, rather than all the time as when the word is used as a noun. Sunil is not granted resolution in the matter of the women so that we wonder at the end if these folks will reappear in a novel yet to come.
Abani’s great skill--what sets his work apart from many others--is rooted in his use of language, and his deep and abiding humanity in view of great inhumanity.
Abani’s latest novel is about betrayal and illusion, and how sometimes they might be the same thing. Humans betray all the time, intentionally or not, and we recognize the guilt or pain the characters confront as they examine large and small betrayals in their own lives. Sunil is a mixed-race South African transplant to Las Vegas where he works in a government lab, the Desert Palms Institute, as a scientist and co-director of a research project.
“Now Sunil thought of Las Vegas as home. That’s the thing about having always been a displaced person; home was not a physical space but rather an internal landscape…[though] Vegas is really an African city…a grandiose tomb to itself…Just like in every major city across Africa, from Cairo to his hometown of Johannesburg, the palatial exteriors of the city architecture barely screen the seething poverty, the homelessness, and the despair that spread in townships and shantytowns as far as the eye could see.”
Sunil knows something about a body dump just outside Vegas city limits near Lake Mead. Soon-to-retire Detective Salazar wants to solve the miserable case of multiple murders that has stretched on for years and, when he comes upon a possibly sociopathic pair of conjoined twins near the site, he calls Sunil for help.
It is here that Abani shows his particular sensitivity and skill in recognizing and representing the lives of outsiders. He parallels Sunil’s story as a Black Indian growing up in South Africa (doubly estranged from powerful White society under apartheid) with the conjoined twins who are part of The Downwinder Nation, a group committed to the eradication of dangerous military research in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. Many of the Downwinders feel betrayed by their government because they are victims of that research, manifesting mutations as a result of being improperly protected from nuclear testing.
Illusion is another theme that runs through the narrative, and the conjoined twins, as freaks in the sideshow of a circus, understand and exploit this aspect of Las Vegas. Sunil himself has photos on the wall of his office that show zebu, the cattle of his childhood, so uniquely marked with spots that from a distance they look like flocks of birds resting on hillside, a spotted Rubik’s Cube, or a tarot deck. The Desert Palms Institute, supposedly working for the good of mankind, may actually be harming it.
Abani writes a dark story about the underside of glittery Las Vegas but ultimately the story is redemptive. Eskia trails Sunil from South Africa with a vendetta of his own, and Brewster, Sunil’s boss, rules the lab with an unethical expediency. Neither escape the traps they have set for others.
Sunil has more than one woman in love with him, and he is capable of loving each. Sheila is a woman who works with him, and Asia is a prostitute. Sunil has ambiguous feelings about Asia’s work, but resolves it by explaining to Asia that “’prostitute’ comes from the Latin verb prostituere”. As a verb, it could mean that one is a prostitute only while having sex for money, rather than all the time as when the word is used as a noun. Sunil is not granted resolution in the matter of the women so that we wonder at the end if these folks will reappear in a novel yet to come.
Abani’s great skill--what sets his work apart from many others--is rooted in his use of language, and his deep and abiding humanity in view of great inhumanity.
January 23, 2014
With “The Secret History of Las Vegas” a new genre emerges: Horror/Mystery/Literary Fiction. The book is chilling and not recommended for the faint of heart or easily squeamish. Deformity is the central theme in this book and that deformity can take many forms including physical or mental or emotional or some combination of the three. Sunil is a psychiatrist who grew up in South Africa and lived through some horrific things only to escape to the US only to find situations that are just as terrible. Some of these nightmares follow him from his childhood and others are home grown right here in the States. Sunil is also nursing a broken heart for the woman he left behind and is unable to move on with his romantic life.
Part of the mysteries in this book are known from the beginning…except for motive and the genesis of how what is hidden became so. Abani not only writes a literary thriller but he seamlessly goes back and forth between past and present, America and South Africa, drawing parallels that tie the action together. Sunil makes a leap from the conventional DSM definition of psychopathy to a disease that twists the soul and spirit. This holistic approach is the main strength of “The Secret History of Las Vegas”. The descriptions of the Vegas and African deserts are evocative and haunting and serve as metaphors for the dichotomy between a rich inner life and often depraved appearances. This is true not only for people but for the two governments as well since both Africa and America have been guilty of betraying their populations through abuse and an attempt to control them. I found the all too realistic evil that’s portrayed in this book chilling. There’s nary a Miss Marple or Cabot Cove in the book. If you like cozy mysteries “The Secret History of Las Vegas” isn’t the book for you but if you like wonderful writing and depth of emotion and characterization you’ll be delighted.
An e-copy of this book was provided by the publishers for review purposes.
(Disclaimer given as required by the FTC.)
Part of the mysteries in this book are known from the beginning…except for motive and the genesis of how what is hidden became so. Abani not only writes a literary thriller but he seamlessly goes back and forth between past and present, America and South Africa, drawing parallels that tie the action together. Sunil makes a leap from the conventional DSM definition of psychopathy to a disease that twists the soul and spirit. This holistic approach is the main strength of “The Secret History of Las Vegas”. The descriptions of the Vegas and African deserts are evocative and haunting and serve as metaphors for the dichotomy between a rich inner life and often depraved appearances. This is true not only for people but for the two governments as well since both Africa and America have been guilty of betraying their populations through abuse and an attempt to control them. I found the all too realistic evil that’s portrayed in this book chilling. There’s nary a Miss Marple or Cabot Cove in the book. If you like cozy mysteries “The Secret History of Las Vegas” isn’t the book for you but if you like wonderful writing and depth of emotion and characterization you’ll be delighted.
An e-copy of this book was provided by the publishers for review purposes.
(Disclaimer given as required by the FTC.)
January 17, 2014
Splendid!
Was my thought when I finished the last hauntingly suspenseful page of this intensely intimate novel exploring the human soul seeking redemption, revenge and acceptance to the question what do we owe to others and ourselves for their roles in our lives.
While I have read other Abani’s novels in the past, I was not quite sure what to expect as this book seemed it would a departure from his other work. So I was pleasantly surprised when discovering this was much more than a standard mystery story and what initially looks like separate storylines (serial killer, atomic testing, apartheid) effortlessly intertwine around your emotions as you are folded into the characters world. As one of the character states – “There is always blame, he said. There has to be, what is life without it?”
The lyrically assured prose is both beautiful and bold in a bracingly unexpected manner as the tightly-plotted storyline deals with people who are often voiceless until they disturb the tranquility of our charmed lives.
Was my thought when I finished the last hauntingly suspenseful page of this intensely intimate novel exploring the human soul seeking redemption, revenge and acceptance to the question what do we owe to others and ourselves for their roles in our lives.
While I have read other Abani’s novels in the past, I was not quite sure what to expect as this book seemed it would a departure from his other work. So I was pleasantly surprised when discovering this was much more than a standard mystery story and what initially looks like separate storylines (serial killer, atomic testing, apartheid) effortlessly intertwine around your emotions as you are folded into the characters world. As one of the character states – “There is always blame, he said. There has to be, what is life without it?”
The lyrically assured prose is both beautiful and bold in a bracingly unexpected manner as the tightly-plotted storyline deals with people who are often voiceless until they disturb the tranquility of our charmed lives.
Read
May 16, 2017Everything about this novel was fantastic which left me kicking myself for not having read Abani sooner but excited that I have his back catalog to dive into. The writing is excellent; the story is captivating, disturbing, and dark; and the fringe characters create so much uniqueness and depth–from the conjoined twins (Fire and Water) to Sunil (a doctor that specializes in sociopaths)–that I could not put this book down. Abani expertly blends literary fiction, mystery, and horror as a detective tries to solve a slew of murders which he becomes convinced must have been committed by the conjoined twins that he found bathing near a barrel filled of blood. Sunil, while not convinced the twins are murderers, is fascinated by understanding them–when he’s not busy reliving his dark past or falling in love with Asia. Definitely a book that will stay with me a long time.
— Jamie Canaves
from The Best Books We Read In February 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/28/riot-r...
____________________
I am here to tell you that Chris Abani can WRITE. This man does sentence structure, character development, and plot like it’s the simplest thing in the world — which, as we all know, is far from the truth. A troubled researcher teams up with an aging detective to crack a murder case that may involve a set of conjoined twins; what ensues is heartbreaking, funny, thoughtful, sensual, political, and page-turning to the extreme. I hesitate to even say it, but The Secret History of Las Vegas might be perfect. — Jenn Northington
from The Best Books We Read In March: http://bookriot.com/2015/04/01/riot-r...
— Jamie Canaves
from The Best Books We Read In February 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/28/riot-r...
____________________
I am here to tell you that Chris Abani can WRITE. This man does sentence structure, character development, and plot like it’s the simplest thing in the world — which, as we all know, is far from the truth. A troubled researcher teams up with an aging detective to crack a murder case that may involve a set of conjoined twins; what ensues is heartbreaking, funny, thoughtful, sensual, political, and page-turning to the extreme. I hesitate to even say it, but The Secret History of Las Vegas might be perfect. — Jenn Northington
from The Best Books We Read In March: http://bookriot.com/2015/04/01/riot-r...
April 24, 2023
I'm still not sure exactly what I read, but I didn't hate it.
This was part murder mystery, part techno terrorists masquerading as a carnival freakshow, and plenty of other oddities. If you're looking for a diverse read, this is it. Featuring conjoined twins, assassins, prostitutes and more, and told from their varying perspectives.
I did enjoy the different points of view, but I feel like at times it almost went into the bizarre alleyways of Tarantino territory, and it was sometimes difficult to figure out exactly what the primary plot was. Overall, it was just okay for me.
2 out of 5 stars.
This was part murder mystery, part techno terrorists masquerading as a carnival freakshow, and plenty of other oddities. If you're looking for a diverse read, this is it. Featuring conjoined twins, assassins, prostitutes and more, and told from their varying perspectives.
I did enjoy the different points of view, but I feel like at times it almost went into the bizarre alleyways of Tarantino territory, and it was sometimes difficult to figure out exactly what the primary plot was. Overall, it was just okay for me.
2 out of 5 stars.
March 2, 2015
You know I really didn't care for this book. I finished it, which means it isn't all bad. But here is what I disliked about the book:
1. The book never used quotation marks in the dialogue. This makes dialogue hard to follow and confusing.
2. The story would go from riding in a car, to a flash back and then back to the current car ride with no warning. I find this very hard to keep up with, and found myself re-reading things wondering what I missed.
3. The cover of this book describes this book as suspenseful. I never found it suspenseful at all. There was a point, about 200 pages in, that I thought "OK, here it is, the story line is coming together, this is going to be good" and then I had to force myself to finish the book.
4. That being said about suspense, I also disliked the ending. I will admit to liking books that have a tidy ending, in that all story lines are wrapped up. This story line didn't wrap up a single story line. Maybe it's leaving itself up for a part two, who knows?
So what I did I like about this book? That list isn't as long....it does read well. It did hold my interest. I thought the story line gave good visuals and I could imagine and picture where they were and the characters well. I did enjoy a few of the characters which doesn't happen in every book I read.
Not sure I would pick up another book by this author.
1. The book never used quotation marks in the dialogue. This makes dialogue hard to follow and confusing.
2. The story would go from riding in a car, to a flash back and then back to the current car ride with no warning. I find this very hard to keep up with, and found myself re-reading things wondering what I missed.
3. The cover of this book describes this book as suspenseful. I never found it suspenseful at all. There was a point, about 200 pages in, that I thought "OK, here it is, the story line is coming together, this is going to be good" and then I had to force myself to finish the book.
4. That being said about suspense, I also disliked the ending. I will admit to liking books that have a tidy ending, in that all story lines are wrapped up. This story line didn't wrap up a single story line. Maybe it's leaving itself up for a part two, who knows?
So what I did I like about this book? That list isn't as long....it does read well. It did hold my interest. I thought the story line gave good visuals and I could imagine and picture where they were and the characters well. I did enjoy a few of the characters which doesn't happen in every book I read.
Not sure I would pick up another book by this author.
May 29, 2014
I'm headed to Las Vegas next week to visit family, so thought it would be the perfect time to read this one. And holy moly, but where has Chris Abani been all my life?
Here is the premise: Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths.
This dark and gritty tale is unlike any other mystery/crime novel I have read. The prose is lyrical, the sense of place so wonderfully described that I could feel the grit, and the book is peopled with fascinating characters.
This is a book about many things: secrets, atomic testing, apartheid, psychopathy, serial murders, regrets, freaks, the human condition, and yet somehow the author skillfully weaves all this threads together to form a tapestry that disturbs as much as it delights.
This is not one for the faint of heart. And I've read reviews where people where bugged by the fact that the author does not use quotation marks. You get used to it. So why not 5 stars? I felt that the women characters could have used a bit more fleshing out. I'd highly recommend this complex and disturbing story, just be forewarned that there is quite a bit of violence, so it is not a cozy read.
Here is the premise: Before he can retire, Las Vegas detective Salazar is determined to solve a recent spate of murders. When he encounters a pair of conjoined twins with a container of blood near their car, he’s sure he has apprehended the killers, and enlists the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a South African transplant who specializes in the study of psychopaths.
This dark and gritty tale is unlike any other mystery/crime novel I have read. The prose is lyrical, the sense of place so wonderfully described that I could feel the grit, and the book is peopled with fascinating characters.
This is a book about many things: secrets, atomic testing, apartheid, psychopathy, serial murders, regrets, freaks, the human condition, and yet somehow the author skillfully weaves all this threads together to form a tapestry that disturbs as much as it delights.
This is not one for the faint of heart. And I've read reviews where people where bugged by the fact that the author does not use quotation marks. You get used to it. So why not 5 stars? I felt that the women characters could have used a bit more fleshing out. I'd highly recommend this complex and disturbing story, just be forewarned that there is quite a bit of violence, so it is not a cozy read.
September 11, 2018
For my video review of the book, go here: https://youtu.be/4uMDTQT61ts
I thought this was a very interesting story. It wasn't quite what I expected from the summary on the inside flap--I thought it would be a murder mystery, but the cause of the mysterious deaths the detective is investigating is revealed to the reader almost immediately. That being said, there are still some mysterious elements to the story, such as the motivations of a pair of conjoined twins, which are worked out over time. I also enjoyed the writing; though the story was definitely gritty and dark, the prose still had an artful quality about it.
It should be noted first and foremost that a lot of characters in this book are rather unpleasant and hard to like. People are very openly rude to the twins, including their nurse in a hospital. The phrase "Fuck you" is thrown around a lot, even from one psychiatrist to another in what should be a professional situation. In general, it felt like Chris Abani went out of his way at times to make characters almost unbelievably unpleasant. That being said, there are still a lot of characters that have redeeming qualities, and I did find myself liking Sunil, who is arguably the main protagonist. I personally found the unlikable characters tolerable, but you should be prepared on reading this to see the darker side of humanity.
Another complaint I had about this book was that it does spend a lot of time in flashbacks and can even get a little info-dumpy about the characters' history. Sunil, our main character, comes from South Africa and experienced the hardships of apartheid. Much of this story is actually about the things that happened to him in South Africa, and while these diversions into the past made sense in the later parts of the book when I could see how everything was going to tie together, it felt very dense and unnecessary in the beginning. This book introduces you to a wide range of characters early on, and the fact that it also kept jumping into the past felt almost too much until the significance of these stories started to become more clear.
Perhaps my biggest complaint about this book, however, was the science behind the twins. Externally, one twin has his own full, relatively normal body, while the other twin is simply a head and two arms sticking out of his side. It is also said that the smaller, more parasitic-looking twin is unable to do things such as digest solid foods. Yet upon further examination of the two of them, they are discovered to be two very separate twins who don't share any vital organs, etc., and it is said that they could have been easily separated as children. This strikes me as strange. I find it hard to believe that an otherwise normally-shaped body could fit two full sets of organs without further complications. A later development in the plot makes Abani's decision to have them completely separate internally even less logical. Truly, the only reason Abani had to give them two separate organ systems was so that he could say that doctors offered their mother the option of separating them at birth, which she declined out of concern that the smaller twin would die, but this is the exact kind of thing that would occur with a parasitic twin. In general, parasitic twins are removed in order to give their fully-formed sibling the best chance at life possible. So I honestly have no idea why Abani went with this more nonsensical biological explanation.
The last negative thing that I have to say about this is that the story didn't get tied up quite as neatly as I would have liked. There was a sort of love triangle going on in the background of all the more thrilling material, yet nothing ever comes of it. By the end of the book, neither of the potential romantic interests have been chosen, which makes me almost question their purpose to the story. I don't think we needed two love interests if our main character was never going to commit to deciding on pursuing one of them; their small contributions to the other parts of the story could have been combined into one character. I was also a bit unclear about the significance of the drum of blood found with the twins at the beginning of the book. I generally know why it's there. What's most unclear, though, is where they obtained that blood in the first place.
All that said, I did enjoy this book a lot. It was refreshing to read a book with such a diverse cast--almost every single character was a POC, and, of course, there were conjoined twins. There was also a character that I think might have been intended to be trans, although that could just be my little LGBT-loving heart reading into things, as nothing was definitively stated.
I would recommend this book for people looking for a unique, gritty thriller and for those interested in stories about apartheid-era South Africa. I would definitely read more by this author.
I thought this was a very interesting story. It wasn't quite what I expected from the summary on the inside flap--I thought it would be a murder mystery, but the cause of the mysterious deaths the detective is investigating is revealed to the reader almost immediately. That being said, there are still some mysterious elements to the story, such as the motivations of a pair of conjoined twins, which are worked out over time. I also enjoyed the writing; though the story was definitely gritty and dark, the prose still had an artful quality about it.
It should be noted first and foremost that a lot of characters in this book are rather unpleasant and hard to like. People are very openly rude to the twins, including their nurse in a hospital. The phrase "Fuck you" is thrown around a lot, even from one psychiatrist to another in what should be a professional situation. In general, it felt like Chris Abani went out of his way at times to make characters almost unbelievably unpleasant. That being said, there are still a lot of characters that have redeeming qualities, and I did find myself liking Sunil, who is arguably the main protagonist. I personally found the unlikable characters tolerable, but you should be prepared on reading this to see the darker side of humanity.
Another complaint I had about this book was that it does spend a lot of time in flashbacks and can even get a little info-dumpy about the characters' history. Sunil, our main character, comes from South Africa and experienced the hardships of apartheid. Much of this story is actually about the things that happened to him in South Africa, and while these diversions into the past made sense in the later parts of the book when I could see how everything was going to tie together, it felt very dense and unnecessary in the beginning. This book introduces you to a wide range of characters early on, and the fact that it also kept jumping into the past felt almost too much until the significance of these stories started to become more clear.
Perhaps my biggest complaint about this book, however, was the science behind the twins. Externally, one twin has his own full, relatively normal body, while the other twin is simply a head and two arms sticking out of his side. It is also said that the smaller, more parasitic-looking twin is unable to do things such as digest solid foods. Yet upon further examination of the two of them, they are discovered to be two very separate twins who don't share any vital organs, etc., and it is said that they could have been easily separated as children. This strikes me as strange. I find it hard to believe that an otherwise normally-shaped body could fit two full sets of organs without further complications. A later development in the plot makes Abani's decision to have them completely separate internally even less logical. Truly, the only reason Abani had to give them two separate organ systems was so that he could say that doctors offered their mother the option of separating them at birth, which she declined out of concern that the smaller twin would die, but this is the exact kind of thing that would occur with a parasitic twin. In general, parasitic twins are removed in order to give their fully-formed sibling the best chance at life possible. So I honestly have no idea why Abani went with this more nonsensical biological explanation.
The last negative thing that I have to say about this is that the story didn't get tied up quite as neatly as I would have liked. There was a sort of love triangle going on in the background of all the more thrilling material, yet nothing ever comes of it. By the end of the book, neither of the potential romantic interests have been chosen, which makes me almost question their purpose to the story. I don't think we needed two love interests if our main character was never going to commit to deciding on pursuing one of them; their small contributions to the other parts of the story could have been combined into one character. I was also a bit unclear about the significance of the drum of blood found with the twins at the beginning of the book. I generally know why it's there. What's most unclear, though, is where they obtained that blood in the first place.
All that said, I did enjoy this book a lot. It was refreshing to read a book with such a diverse cast--almost every single character was a POC, and, of course, there were conjoined twins. There was also a character that I think might have been intended to be trans, although that could just be my little LGBT-loving heart reading into things, as nothing was definitively stated.
I would recommend this book for people looking for a unique, gritty thriller and for those interested in stories about apartheid-era South Africa. I would definitely read more by this author.
September 21, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this thriller with a literary fiction tone. Chris Abani takes us on a wild ride with a complex story that takes the reader between Las Vegas and South Africa. Despite the originality of this novel I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. It is very different than a typical thriller.
January 25, 2014
Interesting characters, plot doesn't sustain momentum.
April 14, 2014
Chris Abani (and The Secret History of Las Vegas) included in this Between the Lines column for BBC.com:
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/2014...
http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/2014...
July 18, 2014
An absolute triumph in originality and its take on the noir. Asia's character--however--did not satisfy. Extremely well done save for the ending which fell flat.
abandoned
April 4, 2024What is this trend of authors not using quotation marks for dialogue?! This is considered "stylistic" and I don't get it at all. Here is a story that is 80% dialogue with zero quotation marks, making it nearly impossible to follow. I tried. Made it 60 pages before throwing this across the room.
August 7, 2016
http://www.mybookishways.com/2014/01/...
Over the course of a couple of years, the bodies of homeless men have been turning up along the shores of Lake Mead, right outside of Las Vegas. Not just one or two at a time, either, but piles of bodies. Detective Salazar has been working the case, and, on the cusp of retirement, he’s determined to put it to rest, as the last good thing he can do. All of the dead are a burden on his soul, but it’s one body that stood out the most, that of a red headed young girl, found amongst a pile of the dead. He’s soon called to the shores of Lake Mead again, where a park ranger has found conjoined twins in the lake, one seemingly holding the other under the water. A container full of blood is also found nearby. Not sure if he has attempted murder, suicide, or something else on his hands, Salazar calls in Dr. Sunil Singh, whose specialty lies in studying the nature of psychopaths. Little does Salazar know, Dr. Singh knows more about the body dumps than he’s letting on, and the twins, Fire and Water, are much more than they seem.
Chris Abani is the author of six novels and numerous works of poetry, and he’s won too many awards to count. The man very accomplished, and is highly respected in the literary world, for good reason. The Secret History of Las Vegas is, on the surface, a mystery, but underneath lies a fascinating story of a complicated, and at his core, good man whose past haunts him and who continues to seek redemption, in spite of his current work. Sunil Singh’s studies on the nature of psychopaths aren’t exactly what anyone would call humane, and its intended applications are terrifying. Singh’s past in Apartheid era South Africa has instilled in him enough horror to last a lifetime, and the heartache that he carries for a lost love is an undercurrent in the sadness that follows him like a dark cloud. Singh doesn’t know what to think of the twins, but he does sense something else at work, and he hopes to get to the bottom of it. Singh’s past is about to catch up with him, and a desert showdown is on the horizon.
The narrative mainly follows Salazar and Singh, and delves into both of their pasts, but this is really Singh’s story. The book, however, begins with the story of the twins’ mother, their birth, and eventually, her death right before they are to join a sideshow, and the scenes with the twins were some of my favorites. There’s a distinct nourish feel and Salazar is appropriately gruff, but like Singh, there’s nothing simple about him either. The horrors of Apartheid are explored through Singh, but never gratuitously, always in a very matter of fact way and perhaps this was why, for me, it was so upsetting, especially his memories about the chilling Vlakplaas,which served as the headquarters of the South African Police counterinsurgency (C10) during Apartheid. Singh is a man shaped by his past, by much tragedy, and yet constantly hopes for brighter things. His love for a prostitute named Asia punctuates his sadness, and longing. Abani is a master of subtlety, and it’s the little things that are important in this novel. Abani’s exploration of racial identity are also a big part of this book, as are those of the nature of family, and even love.When I started the book, I never could have imagined how it would end, but I can tell you that it was surprising, and ultimately, very satisfying. Amongst so much darkness, there can still be hope, and light, and it’s on this note that the author leaves us. This is an unusual, fascinating, sometimes very creepy, and ultimitely optimistic novel, and it’s not to be missed.
Over the course of a couple of years, the bodies of homeless men have been turning up along the shores of Lake Mead, right outside of Las Vegas. Not just one or two at a time, either, but piles of bodies. Detective Salazar has been working the case, and, on the cusp of retirement, he’s determined to put it to rest, as the last good thing he can do. All of the dead are a burden on his soul, but it’s one body that stood out the most, that of a red headed young girl, found amongst a pile of the dead. He’s soon called to the shores of Lake Mead again, where a park ranger has found conjoined twins in the lake, one seemingly holding the other under the water. A container full of blood is also found nearby. Not sure if he has attempted murder, suicide, or something else on his hands, Salazar calls in Dr. Sunil Singh, whose specialty lies in studying the nature of psychopaths. Little does Salazar know, Dr. Singh knows more about the body dumps than he’s letting on, and the twins, Fire and Water, are much more than they seem.
Chris Abani is the author of six novels and numerous works of poetry, and he’s won too many awards to count. The man very accomplished, and is highly respected in the literary world, for good reason. The Secret History of Las Vegas is, on the surface, a mystery, but underneath lies a fascinating story of a complicated, and at his core, good man whose past haunts him and who continues to seek redemption, in spite of his current work. Sunil Singh’s studies on the nature of psychopaths aren’t exactly what anyone would call humane, and its intended applications are terrifying. Singh’s past in Apartheid era South Africa has instilled in him enough horror to last a lifetime, and the heartache that he carries for a lost love is an undercurrent in the sadness that follows him like a dark cloud. Singh doesn’t know what to think of the twins, but he does sense something else at work, and he hopes to get to the bottom of it. Singh’s past is about to catch up with him, and a desert showdown is on the horizon.
The narrative mainly follows Salazar and Singh, and delves into both of their pasts, but this is really Singh’s story. The book, however, begins with the story of the twins’ mother, their birth, and eventually, her death right before they are to join a sideshow, and the scenes with the twins were some of my favorites. There’s a distinct nourish feel and Salazar is appropriately gruff, but like Singh, there’s nothing simple about him either. The horrors of Apartheid are explored through Singh, but never gratuitously, always in a very matter of fact way and perhaps this was why, for me, it was so upsetting, especially his memories about the chilling Vlakplaas,which served as the headquarters of the South African Police counterinsurgency (C10) during Apartheid. Singh is a man shaped by his past, by much tragedy, and yet constantly hopes for brighter things. His love for a prostitute named Asia punctuates his sadness, and longing. Abani is a master of subtlety, and it’s the little things that are important in this novel. Abani’s exploration of racial identity are also a big part of this book, as are those of the nature of family, and even love.When I started the book, I never could have imagined how it would end, but I can tell you that it was surprising, and ultimately, very satisfying. Amongst so much darkness, there can still be hope, and light, and it’s on this note that the author leaves us. This is an unusual, fascinating, sometimes very creepy, and ultimitely optimistic novel, and it’s not to be missed.
April 11, 2014
This book wasn't really what I expected. It's hard to review in any meaningful way without giving away the secrets of the book, which are the real reason to read it. The premise is that a set of conjoined twins (Fire and Water) are discovered near a barrel of blood near Las Vegas. Detective Salazar, a LV detective near retirement, wants to solve a case involving body dumps of many homeless men and one young woman; he feels that the twins might somehow be involved. He elicits the help of Dr. Sunil Singh, a psychiatrist from South Africa who specializes in psychopathy.
But, to say that is what this book is really about misses the mark entirely. To a large extent, the mystery of the body dump is resolved very early in the book for the reader (though not for Salazar). The more interesting part of the story revolves around the early life of Dr. Singh, the horrors he witnessed and participated in in South Africa. The book becomes largely a look at apartheid and its consequences. But even that doesn't really get to the heart of the book.
It was a complex, disturbing story with many interesting characters. I would recommend it pretty highly (but be forewarned that there is quite a lot of violence). Also, reading another review reminded me that I should mention that the author chooses not to use quotation marks anywhere. It drove me crazy. I wish he would have followed regular conventions, as I sometimes had to reread, not sure whether the character was speaking or not. A minor quibble, but quite annoying and distracting.
But, to say that is what this book is really about misses the mark entirely. To a large extent, the mystery of the body dump is resolved very early in the book for the reader (though not for Salazar). The more interesting part of the story revolves around the early life of Dr. Singh, the horrors he witnessed and participated in in South Africa. The book becomes largely a look at apartheid and its consequences. But even that doesn't really get to the heart of the book.
It was a complex, disturbing story with many interesting characters. I would recommend it pretty highly (but be forewarned that there is quite a lot of violence). Also, reading another review reminded me that I should mention that the author chooses not to use quotation marks anywhere. It drove me crazy. I wish he would have followed regular conventions, as I sometimes had to reread, not sure whether the character was speaking or not. A minor quibble, but quite annoying and distracting.
September 21, 2015
It makes me irrationally angry when authors don't use quotation marks for dialogue, or at least old style dashes. It's such an easy thing to do, and it makes everything so much more readable. It's like using paragraphs. Yes, all authors do it, but they do it for a good reason. People who make the 'artistic' choice not to do it just piss me off. Oh, you're too fucking good for quotation marks? Well I'm too fucking good for this book.
I'm kind of glad I persevered with this book, but it could have just been so much better with just a minimal amount of formatting effort. Great job, Chris Abani, you've turned me off anything else you're ever going to write, and I was really looking forward to GraceLand.
I'm kind of glad I persevered with this book, but it could have just been so much better with just a minimal amount of formatting effort. Great job, Chris Abani, you've turned me off anything else you're ever going to write, and I was really looking forward to GraceLand.
June 19, 2016
I read this book back when it came out. I just realized that I never got around to writing my review of this book. Not because I did not like this book but because I loved this "freakin" book. It was both a combination of awesomeness and freaky. I was so in awe of what I read that I needed to digest everything before I wrote a review. Although I must admit in the beginning I was not sure what I was reading. Yet, the further I read the more I liked the story and the characters. This book has the feel of American Horror Story. A favorite show of mine. Water and Fire are like ying and yang but they complement each other. Detective Salazar is another strong character. He started out closed minded but by the end he and I were both open minded. This is a must read.
November 18, 2014
This book is part detective thriller and part literary fiction. Abani is an incredible writer, with a voice that creates interesting, dynamic characters. I heard him describe this book at a recent conference as a "detective novel about a pair of conjoined twins that may or may not be serial killers." Throw in some major guilty flashbacks from South African upbringing for the main character, and that's a pretty spot-on description. I was enthralled with the book from the first page, and am still puzzling over some of the mysteries. Some of the scenes were truly disturbing, exposing (what I assume) were just the realities of living in Apartheid South Africa. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good fiction.
June 6, 2020
Amazing. I thought I was getting a quirky book about the underbelly of Las Vegas with a little magical realism thrown into the mix. What I got was a modern noir, one that explores how the big, horrible stuff humans do (apartheid, racism, sexual abuse, authoritarianism) is like a nuclear bomb to society, it's destruction radiating out and poisoning us for years and years. Sadly, a very timely read.
Really brutal, powerful stuff, written about in a spare, but excellent way. One of the best books I've read this year.
Really brutal, powerful stuff, written about in a spare, but excellent way. One of the best books I've read this year.
April 5, 2014
I really thought I would enjoy this book because I enjoyed his Graceland and other reviewers who I follow and respect gave it high marks. I had one of those "what's wrong with me" instances where you're not quite understanding how others have loved the book and you're like this lone wolf out there alone. I just don't get it. This one really, really disappointed me.
November 16, 2023
I don't even know how to describe this book but all I can say is that I didn't like it. The two characters that actually interested me were barely in the story and the rest was about a guy with a traumatic past screwing a hooker.
October 18, 2017
Wrenching, delicate, breathtaking, brutal. Read it.
March 21, 2018
So anticlimactic. The book was building and building the whole time and then POOF. Everything happened and that was the end. And the author doesn't use quotation marks!!!
March 25, 2022
I will give it a 3.5 ! Interesting story. Lots of intrigue, history, facts and conclusion. Characters galore in this twisted, somewhat, story about a researcher from afar, now in Vegas doing similar work. A love story that pit two men against each other with one plotting revenge. Add to the story conjoined twins who form the basis of the book, with suggestions that a lot of malformed individuals that were prevalent during the 60"s and 70's at freak side shows were in fact the results of the nuclear tests done in Nevada. Throw in the fact that one of the conjoined twins is a savant ( rain man movie ) and you end up at least with an infinite amount of knowledge on subject matter one probably would never venture on questioning. You will also get a real life view of prostitution and the why it takes place. Lots of little trails of story telling impregnated through this novel to give you a variety of things to ponder on. In the end it follows a script of vengeance with sub plots and red herrings. Nuff said ! Read it when your mind needs to drift off in another way.
June 1, 2018
I happened to randomly pick up this book as I was strolling past the infinite library shelves & am VERY glad I did! Not only was it a compelling page-turner, as every mystery should be, but it was beautifully written & far more complex than your average mystery—exploring ideas about human connection to the past, both physical & remembered, the connections between people and place, the ramifications of apartheid in South Africa (ever present for those who endured it), and how we view and behave toward those that are different from ourselves. I was impressed with Abani's ability to tell a fantastic mystery tale with so much insight, emotion, and depth.
November 19, 2023
*3.5; i really hated this book for the first 250 pages, and then it picked up and became very interesting. so idk go read it if you have a boring weekend to yourself? otherwise don’t waste your time
November 19, 2024
omg this was everything i’ve ever wanted in a book. send me all the circus/freak show/ desert/joshua tree/forensic psychologist/military ops/psychopath research books my GOSH
May 16, 2018
Very slow at times, but incredibly shocking ending! (For me, at least)
December 19, 2018
This book is not for people who would like to pretend the world is a soft and fluffy place filled with rainbows and unicorns. This book *is* for people who seek unflinching insight into the nature of apartheid— not as some long ago historic occurrence— but as a state of oppression in which all people— oppressors and oppressed— lost pieces of their humanity, and struggle to recover them to this day. This is a story about how that loss of humanity is not unique to apartheid, but can occur in the every day and mundane. It is also a story about how people survive atrocity, fight atrocity, and come back. Not a pleasant read, but an incredible one, with kind of an amazing plot twist I didn’t see coming.
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