Welcome back to the LGBTQ+ Fiction blog! Now that we’ve gotten some of my favorite books out of the way, going forward, I will mostly be reviewing newer books, published within the last year or two. Though I may, at times, review something older if it’s new to me and available at the library, because older books can be great too, and we certainly don’t want them to be forgotten.
Below, you will find reviews for two books I’ve read recently. After that, I will talk briefly about a book that came out late last year, which I am excited to start reading soon.
Please enjoy and happy reading!
Books I’ve Read Recently
Title/Author: The Dime by Kathleen Kent
Summary: Betty is a detective from a family of Brooklyn Detectives, who moves to Dallas with her girlfriend. Not all of her cases are as cut and dried as she’d like, however, and when a notorious drug dealer goes missing, and starts showing up in pieces, all hell breaks loose.
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre/sub-genre: Mystery/thriller
Book Format: Hardcover
Length: 352 pages
LGBTQ+ Orientation: Lesbian
Violence: There is a lot of violence here.
Well written/Editor Needed: Well written!
Would I Recommend?: Yes
Personal thoughts: From the moment I picked this book up, I could not put it down! The opening scene is one of the most gripping I’ve read in a long time. By the end, this reads more like an action thriller than a murder mystery, especially with the twists that keep coming, making the case much more personal for our main character, Betty. As for Betty, I loved her. She was tough, no-nonsense, but not in a way that made her hard to relate to. We don’t get to see as much of her girlfriend as I think I would have liked, but they have a good, pretty solid relationship that makes it okay.
Title/Author: Marriage of A Thousand Lies by S.J. Sindu
Summary: Lucky and her husband, Krishna, present their conservative Sri Lankan-American families with a heterosexual front that may be endangered when Lucky reconnects with Nisha. Her first lover has agreed to an arranged marriage but still wants to be with Lucky, if Lucky will have her.
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre/sub-genre: General fiction
Book Format: Hardcover
Length: 288 pages
LGBTQ+ Orientation: Lesbian and gay
Violence: None
Well written/Editor Needed: Well written
Would I Recommend?: Yes
Personal thoughts: I don’t normally read books like this one since I prefer a lot of action and adventure, however, I did really enjoy it. This was set in Boston with recognizable landmarks, which was fun. It’s a bit heartbreaking though, because Lucky’s conservative family is so sure her lesbian “tendencies” were just a phase when she was younger and get upset when they realize that’s not the case. Nisha is very frustrating as she runs hot and cold for a renewed relationship with Lucky because she too, is caught up in her own family’s conservative world and wants to break out but doesn’t know how. Since Lucky and Krishna mostly live separate lives and this story focuses on Lucky, we don’t get to see much of her husband, and I was interested to see what was happening on his side of the fence too. It’s not an easy read for sure, but don’t let that stop you.
Books I’m Looking Forward to Reading
Title/Author: The Year of the Knife by G.D. Penman
Summary: Agent -Sully- Sullivan is one of the top cops in the Imperial Bureau of Investigation. A veteran witch of the British Empire who isn't afraid to use her magical skills to crack a case. But Sully might need more than a good education and raw power to stop the string of grisly murders that have been springing up across the American Colonies.
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Genre/Sub-Genre: Fantasy/mystery
LGBTQ+ Orientation: Lesbian
Reasons I’m Excited About It: I think just about any book that combines police work and magic is my cup of tea, simply because they combine two things I really enjoy reading. What could be better than that? I am a huge fan of the Peter Grant series by Ben Aaronovitch, about a police constable with the London Met who discovers magic is real, and gets transferred to the department that handles all things weird. I love how that series is funny, yet very dark and I love the way he combines the two genres of mystery and fantasy. I’m hoping The Year of the Knife will be similar, but with queer characters.
Other Books Mentioned Above
Title/Author: Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch
Series/Standalone: Book one of the Peter Grant series, which is ongoing.
Genre/Sub-Genre: Fantasy/mystery
LGBTQ+ Orientation: None of the main characters are LGBTQ+, though occasional side characters are.
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