The Dead Do Not Improve

Jay Caspian Kang


Rated: 2.70 of 5 stars
2.70 · 10 ratings · 274 pages · Published: 01 Jan 2012

The Dead Do Not Improve by Jay Caspian Kang
In this glorious debut novel, Jay Caspian Kang gives us a story of murderous intrigue, hippie detectives, and an MFA student on the run—a true original in terms of story, voice, language, and humor.

Philip Kim, stymied recent MFA recipient and a scathing, expert capturer of the filth and glory of our modern times, becomes the focus of an elaborate, violent scheme after the murder of his elderly next-door neighbor. Philip maneuvers through a suddenly menacing, unknowable San Francisco, fending off militant surfers, overpopulated quinoa cafes, and aggressive Advanced Creative Writing students as he—and the laconic cops who land his case—tries to determine who’s causing trouble in this city he loves to hate. Exceedingly unique, pulsing with vigor and heart, and loaded with fierce, fresh language, The Dead Do Not Improve will have Jay Caspian Kang standing alongside Junot Diaz, Gary Shteyngart, and Jonathan Lethem as a true American original.

Tagged as:

    romance tags

    crime tags

    literary-fiction tags

    historical-fiction tags

    fantasy tags

    sci-fi tags

    action-adventure tags

    thriller tags

    horror tags

    Collections/Custom tags



    Reviews