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I don't read much Gaiman. I have heard of most of his work, though, because my husband is a fan, yet I hadn't heard about this short story until now, when it has been adapted into graphic novel form.

The graphic novel is done well. The art manages to capture the scale of heaven and the universe and the darkness and to illustrate the angels' genital-less nature without being crude. I appreciated the detailed yet still abstract representations of ideas and emotions.

However, I have to admit that the present-day mystery left me a bit confused. Are we meant to believe that the narrator killed Tink & co.? Or that someone came after he left? If he did it, why? And why doesn't he remember? I'm more used to traditional mystery novels in which, while it may be difficult to figure out "whodunit" during the course of the story, it's always made very clear at the end, without any ambiguity. That being said, I don't think the people who typically read Gaiman are the same people who typically read traditional mysteries, and I think the typical Gaiman readers are the kind of readers who appreciate a more subtle, more ambiguous ending.

Note: I received a digital copy of this book through NetGalley. ( )

Gave this a reread tonight since Brandi had mentioned it. I forgot how much I love this story! Excellent mystery, gorgeous imagery, one of my faves from Gaiman. ( )

Read this in larger collection. The first murder occurs in the Silver City, not on earth, which has not been created yet. The angel set to solve it tells the tale centuries later to an Englishman visiting LA.

An excellent radio adaptation of one of my favorite Neil Gaiman short stories. He always tackles various mythologies with such an ease and grace. And this whodunnit involving the first murder in Heaven is no different. ( )