Ms. Abbott's novels have progressively become faster paced and more darkly plotted. Although short of the break necked pace of a later James Ellroy work, Queenpin moves with flash and verve through a world of shadowy characters. Another reviewer has commented accurately that there is solid thinking behind her plots in every book and there is no exception to that observation here. What is unique is the concept of a 'Queen-pin' as opposed to a 'Kingpin.' Although the Queenpin initially is drawn as a caricature, we learn more about her history as the plot advances. Although she never becomes a full person, she is real enough for the purposes of the book. Especially interesting is Abbott's portrayal of the power of sex in this book. Seen here, sexual need is indistinguishable from the lure of hard drugs to an addict. More uniquely, the women crave it more than the men. This makes for striking juxtapositions compared to a conventional noir novel. Abbott's ability to describe violence has also progressed. Despite the title of her first book, it was not that violent. The violence in 'The Song is You' was more often implied than described in detail. Queenpin throws any squeamishness over its shoulders, yielding nothing to her male noir peers. You can read her works in any order, as the stories are not at all interconnected. However, I'd suggest reading in chronological order. It reminds me of a fast forward video clip of a beautiful floor blossoming. We can only hope she is working on her fourth novel now.
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