Book Log 2008 #2: The Yiddish Policeman's Union by Michael Chabon

This book is set in present day Sitka, Alaska, where (as is mentioned often), it's a strange time to be a Jew. Sitka is the focal point of a district founded in the 1940s for Jewish immigration in the wake of the collapse of Israel, but it's all about to revert to the state of Alaska, leading to new chapter in the Diaspora for many.

One person who is moving out - permanently - is a junkie found dead in a flophouse that is also home to a drink-favoring homicide detective. The detective's interest in the case is tempered by his borderline alcoholism, the apparent involvement of a powerful Orthodox sect, and the reappearance of his ex-wife... who is now his boss.

Take away the unique background and this set-up wouldn't be out of place in mainstream mystery fiction. But with it - and with Chabon's stylish prose and ability to develop characters - there's much more depth to this book than the average work in the genre.

That being said, I did feel like the latter part of the book struggled a bit to maintain the various threads of the story, but it's still very successful. Very much worth a read.