First of three in Auster's collected NEW YORK TRILOGY: a certain affinity with / understanding of Quinn's plight – like the fictional Auster, I would have done the same thing as Quinn, especially in those periods of post-project / post-life ennui. While an incalculable number have attempted to elevate the detective novel to literary prominence, few have risen above their own pretensions: Auster nails it and then some. One of my favorite books from one of my favorite writers. Will return to the trilogy for GHOSTS, the second, after chipping away at the to-read stack a bit more: wonderful way to transition between books.