This is a gem of a book, and I highly recommend it. It's the summer of 1961 in Houston, and private detective Harry Lark is hired to look into a pair of visitors who have an interest in building a Space Center there. Then a man ends up dead, and Harry's focus changes.

Meanwhile, his 12 year old daughter Dizzy gets a case of her own. Dizzy and her friends are aspiring Nancy Drews, and when a little girl in the neighborhood comes to them asking to prove that her daddy didn't die in a recent train wreck, they learn the the highly improbable belief is actually possible.

The two cases cross paths, and father and daughter team up to solve each other's mysteries in a noir story that lives in the history of Houston during 1961.

I thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Dizzy and Harry. Their father daughter relationship is charming in a hard boiled detective story kind of way. I'm somewhat reminded of the relationship in the movie Paper Moon, and I'm not sure why.

And speaking of movies, I think this has a great potential to be considered for one. There is a diverse supporting cast, as the civil rights movement factors into the plot, and the equally diverse culture of Houston is well portrayed. Weird suggestion-- if the author can get the attention of some Texas born actor like, say "Jensen Ackles," I could totally picture him in the role of Harry. I know, that's a silly idea... but what if... I hear he's free in about a year...

My only criticism is that, as smart as Dizzy is, I sometimes felt that her first person narrative sounded too adult for her character. But that's a minor complaint that I can forgive.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review. ( )

What do NASA, Florida, politics, mobsters, and a lost & found have in common? You'll have to read Bayou City Burning to find out!

Featuring father-daughter duo Harry and Dizzy, this book is a cross between a hard-boiled and girl detective fiction story. It has a unique narrative structure; the book alternates between Harry and Dizzy's perspectives.

I really enjoyed hearing their different perspectives and seeing how their stories weaved together. I thought that Dizzy was an especially fun character; I wish I was as brave as she was at 12! I also liked how most characters in this book, including Harry and Dizzy, have very identifiable and colourful voices.

To me, the action did start off somewhat slowly at the beginning, but the book definitely ramps up in excitement over time. If I had to use one word to describe the plot, it would be 'big'. As I mentioned earlier, there are a number of different and seemingly disparate elements to this mystery.

The time period that this book is set in, 1961 Houston, also plays an important role in the book, expanding the mystery even more. Historical events like the space race and the civil rights movement are discussed in this novel - with a fictional twist, of course. For me, it added an extra layer of realism to the story.

Sometimes, mysteries with big plots can be confusing and cumbersome. However, I'm happy to report that that wasn't my experience with this book. I thought that Borton did a good job of tying together the various elements of the mystery, which is a testament to her skill considering just how many elements there are! I thought that the mystery wrapped up fairly clearly.

Thank you to D.B. Borton for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Readers should note that there is some violence and foul language. Related to the book's discussion of integration and the civil rights movement in Houston, there are discussions of racism and instances where some characters use derogatory language.

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