Reviews

Fresh Flesh by Stella Duffy

readingoverbreathing's review against another edition

3.0

"The hot summer had stilled happiness, slowed it to a single pulse, mouth opened wide and head thrown back in silent laughter, image frozen in rictus of a scream."

I didn't have any expectations going into this, as it's relatively unknown, difficult to get a copy of, and even the cover offers little clues as to its content, which is why, I think, I ended up finding this to be an intriguing and even pleasurable reading experience. Had I any expectations, I think they would have been let down, but all I knew was lesbian crime fiction here we come, and lesbian crime fiction, yes, we got.

The representation here is, even decades after its publication, remarkable. Almost all of the characters, particularly the ones we're rooting for, are either non-heterosexual, nonwhite, or both. The variety of sexualities among the characters are taken as granted, not an anomaly to be picked apart and discussed, and the book doesn't shy from engaging in conversations of racism prejudice.

The plot, too, while less gritty and glamorous than some of the other books I've read for this crime fiction module, was still gripping and well thought out, its pacing exactly right. There were some parts that seemed a bit farfetched, and some of the romance and dialogue were rather cheesy, but not to a grimacing effect.

Regardless, however, I think I'm gonna stick this at three stars, as I really don't think its writing or story were really all that profound, and I am not in the business of giving away free stars for diversity. There is definitely any interesting history here, though, to unpack within this genre, and I'm excited to discuss it in class here shortly.

nocto's review

In the most part this is an excellent mystery, there's not a murder in sight but plenty enough babies, adoptions and deceptions to keep most mystery afficianados happy I think. I really like Duffy's writing and her excellent depiction of what the heroine Saz Martin calls "non traditional" relationships.

If this book has a weak point it's in the conclusion which involves a rather too traditional bit of someone walking into danger and not telling anyone where they're going. Apart from that part I like the characters and the mostly believable plot.

This is the second book in the series I've read and I think that there are two previous episodes that I haven't read and that I'm going to put on my shopping list.