A satirical crime noir tale set in an alternate version of 2009, where the US is a second-rate power and emotions are weaponized through the use of powerful “psychopigments”. 

The Shamshine Blind spins a detective story as whimsical as it is bleak. We’re following Psychopigment Enforcement Agent Kay Curtida, who feels stuck in a loop as she solves small time cases & dreams of ever-elusive promotions. But when an old friend offers her a fresh case, she finds herself treading dangerous waters as she uncovers messy conspiracies and has to reckon with her own past.

In this version of our world, psychopigments play a starring role. These colorful hallucinogenic chemicals were initially created by Argentine scientists as a military strategy, but in the aftermath of war they’ve become a part of everyday life. Whether you’re taking a daily dosage of Sunshine Yellow to combat depression or you’re sinking into black market Magenta for a rush of adoration, emotions are no longer in your control.

What wouldn’t you give for a hearty splash of hope? Well, as long as it’s honestly coming from within you.

It’s a curious, clever commentary on our real-world relation to pharmaceutical & recreational drugs. It’s not a dismissal - not at all - but offers thought on how easily they can be systemically used to manipulate and abuse. And moving onto a bigger picture than the drugs themselves, the writing considers how easily people can be coerced (through propaganda, through psychological warfare, through cults & religious martyrs) and navigates the varying ways neurotypical and neurodivergent people grapple with grief and anxiety and all sorts of complicated emotions. 

Themes of racism, queer identity, and privilege are also explored. It’s refreshing to dip into this crime noir style with a detective pairing that’s not white & straight, and Curtida both feels invisible and becomes a target of xenophobic peers and superiors. These struggles are woven into the plot realistically, but are not overwhelmingly. While the plot doesn’t shy away from pain and difficulty, the writing in general is incredibly compassionate.

At times, I found the pacing too slow and the number of minor side characters overwhelming. I struggled to keep people & places in order and stay emotionally connected all while eyeing the plot with a mystery-solving lens. 

I found the real heart of the novel to be in the flashbacks, detailing Curtida’s losses and journeys with grief, her relationship with her mother, her fear of vulnerability and romance, and her various experiences with psychopigments.

I do love a clever satire, and would recommend this to anyone looking to cozy up by the fire alongside a fresh noir dystopia that feels uneasily real. 

CW: death, war, murder, gun violence, suicide, mental illness, medical content, kidnapping, racism, xenophobia, addiction, forced institutionalization, psychosis, torture, outing, memory loss

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(I received an advance reader copy of this book; this is my honest review.)