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A review by cspoe
The Unexpected Heiress by Frank W. Butterfield
5.0
This was an absolute gem of a story and a great start to what I'm sure will become my go-to comfort reads for years to come, the Nick Williams Mysteries. "The richest homosexual in San Francisco is a private investigator." With a description like that, how can I not be in this 110%?
Frank Butterfield paints a gorgeous setting of San Francisco in the 1950s, so vivid and alive the city must be included as a main character alongside the likes of Nick and Carter. Speaking of-- Nick Williams is basically an accidental millionaire after inheriting money that he couldn't spend all of in his lifetime if he tried. He works to keep himself busy, not because he needs to financially, and is generous with his money when it comes to others, but a bit lousy at using it for himself.
Luckily, that's where Carter Jones enters the story, a fireman who has relocated from Georgia to California, and is madly in love with Nick. The two of them are absolutely head over heels in love, and already have a longstanding, healthy, established relationship at the start of The Unexpected Heiress. Nick's position in society, coupled with a great lawyer and a lot of cash, makes him rather untouchable in a time period of America that otherwise wasn't kind to gay men, let alone men so perfectly in love like these two. But frankly, I adore how Butterfield ran with this, giving the reader two men who aren't afraid, who stand up for each other and themselves, and who don't have a tragic romance. Are they always going to get off scot-free? No. But will Nick and Carter fight tooth and nail? Oh yeah. And also, both of these guys are badasses with hearts of gold. It's impossible to not be swept away with characters like these.
Without including spoilers, the story involves Nick's sister, a bunch of unexpected money worth killing over, and a business venture a la the Pinkertons with Nick, Carter, Mike (Nick's former lover and a cop), Marnie (Nick's secretary), as well as another fellow cop and firefighter.
I cannot recommend this book enough. A historical, light romance with the air of a noir mystery, except with a bit more sunshine. Nick Williams is officially one of my favorite fictional characters.
-C.S.
Frank Butterfield paints a gorgeous setting of San Francisco in the 1950s, so vivid and alive the city must be included as a main character alongside the likes of Nick and Carter. Speaking of-- Nick Williams is basically an accidental millionaire after inheriting money that he couldn't spend all of in his lifetime if he tried. He works to keep himself busy, not because he needs to financially, and is generous with his money when it comes to others, but a bit lousy at using it for himself.
Luckily, that's where Carter Jones enters the story, a fireman who has relocated from Georgia to California, and is madly in love with Nick. The two of them are absolutely head over heels in love, and already have a longstanding, healthy, established relationship at the start of The Unexpected Heiress. Nick's position in society, coupled with a great lawyer and a lot of cash, makes him rather untouchable in a time period of America that otherwise wasn't kind to gay men, let alone men so perfectly in love like these two. But frankly, I adore how Butterfield ran with this, giving the reader two men who aren't afraid, who stand up for each other and themselves, and who don't have a tragic romance. Are they always going to get off scot-free? No. But will Nick and Carter fight tooth and nail? Oh yeah. And also, both of these guys are badasses with hearts of gold. It's impossible to not be swept away with characters like these.
Without including spoilers, the story involves Nick's sister, a bunch of unexpected money worth killing over, and a business venture a la the Pinkertons with Nick, Carter, Mike (Nick's former lover and a cop), Marnie (Nick's secretary), as well as another fellow cop and firefighter.
I cannot recommend this book enough. A historical, light romance with the air of a noir mystery, except with a bit more sunshine. Nick Williams is officially one of my favorite fictional characters.
-C.S.