Chicken Run: A Letty Campbell Mystery

Letty Campbell #1

by Alma Fritchley

A lesbian comedy thriller that marks the debut of a talented new author. When Letty Campbell warily agrees to let her land be used for a classic car auction, she has no idea what lies ahead. Why is her gorgeous ex-girlfriend, Julia, really so desperate for the auction to happen? Is the new love of Julia's life as suspicious as she seems? And why does Letty have a horrible feeling that she should have never got involved? Chicken Run has crime, sex, big cars, money, drugs, and, yes, chickens. And when the trouble comes, it comes in a very big way. A hilarious romp that will have you laughing out loud. 178 pp 5 x 8

Genres: LGBT, Fiction, Lesbian, Crime

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

Reviews

[Megan]

Letty Campbell, ex insurance agent, becomes the owner of a small chicken farm in the small town of Calderton, a half hour outside Manchester, U.K. . When the niece of a neighbor asks her to introduce her shy but recently-out-of-the-closet aunt to the lesbian scene in the nearby large city, Letty finds herself smitten with the woman. But also, through a series of coincidences, she also finds herself hosting a big-bucks automobile auction at her farm.

The most curious thing about this mystery is that is doesn’t seem to be a mystery at all. With only three chapters to go, the only unexplained happening is Letty’s suspicion that someone broke into her house for no reason and stole nothing.

As lesbian mystery novels generally go, the sex in this one is rather tame, with the the horrid word “after,” beginning more than one paragraph. But this is certainly no surprise in a mystery that is generally classified as a cozy. The writing is simply adequate, the mystery kind of nonexistent, and the humor—much praised in the blurb—muted at best.

I’m terrifically glad I was able to get hold of this book so I could judge it for myself. It is one of the few cozy lesbian mysteries and a welcome change from some of the blood-and-guts dramas and high-octane sex I have found in several other lesbian mystery novels. Still, I doubt I’ll go on to the next one in the series. Quite frankly, I didn't find Letty very interesting. And when your main character is bland, your book tends to be rated less stars they the author might wish. I suspect that Fritchley gets into a better stride in the next novel, makes Letty use more of her wits, but that is for another reviewer to decide.

Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light on plot (more a comedy of manners than a mystery), but Letty makes quite a likeable protagonist - can't wait to read the sequels!

[Eero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different approach to crime books, even if crime was bit too massive such amateur criminals