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A review by lezreadalot
Blackmail, My Love: A Murder Mystery by Katie Gilmartin
4.0
Good save us Nelly Queens.
I was on the edge of tears throughout so much of this book. A deep dive into the queer life of 1950s San Francisco, through the eyes of a young butch, looking for her gay brother, who has recently disappeared. Dark nightclubs, bright lives, dirty cops and blackmail. I didn't realise until about halfway through the book, when I looked up a few things, how deeply rooted in history this book is. A lot of the places are factual, which drove home the fact that this, or something deeply like it, definitely happened back in the day. As a murder mystery it was great, kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. As history it was tragic, and I cried several times. This one brought me low, and not in the way that usually peeves me, when books do tragedy and queers. It was all so real, and that got to me.
I really liked Josie as a character; tough and smart and absolutely tenacious. And god, sibling relationships get me so good. I especially loved the flashbacks! Her relationships with all the people she met in San Francisco were also all really good, especially Lucille. Lucille was amazing, as was Pearl, and Tiny, and Aaron, and Mr. Dodson, and Lily, and Mr. Garcia, and everyone. I love when books like this have an ensemble cast, and it WORKED. Everyone had a part to play. (I do admit to getting a little confused at times though.)
It took me a while to warm up to Eva Kaminsky's voice, but I gradually grew to love it. Very little about this book didn't satisfy me. I don't LOVE the ending, but I understand it, being as true to reality as it gets. And honestly? I'll take it.
Really great read; this is one I want to come back to.
I was on the edge of tears throughout so much of this book. A deep dive into the queer life of 1950s San Francisco, through the eyes of a young butch, looking for her gay brother, who has recently disappeared. Dark nightclubs, bright lives, dirty cops and blackmail. I didn't realise until about halfway through the book, when I looked up a few things, how deeply rooted in history this book is. A lot of the places are factual, which drove home the fact that this, or something deeply like it, definitely happened back in the day. As a murder mystery it was great, kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. As history it was tragic, and I cried several times. This one brought me low, and not in the way that usually peeves me, when books do tragedy and queers. It was all so real, and that got to me.
I really liked Josie as a character; tough and smart and absolutely tenacious. And god, sibling relationships get me so good. I especially loved the flashbacks! Her relationships with all the people she met in San Francisco were also all really good, especially Lucille. Lucille was amazing, as was Pearl, and Tiny, and Aaron, and Mr. Dodson, and Lily, and Mr. Garcia, and everyone. I love when books like this have an ensemble cast, and it WORKED. Everyone had a part to play. (I do admit to getting a little confused at times though.)
It took me a while to warm up to Eva Kaminsky's voice, but I gradually grew to love it. Very little about this book didn't satisfy me. I don't LOVE the ending, but I understand it, being as true to reality as it gets. And honestly? I'll take it.
Really great read; this is one I want to come back to.