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Blackmail, My Love: A Murder Mystery
Lambda Award 2015 for Best Gay Mystery!
Foreword Reviews' 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Winner
Josie O'Conner travels to San Francisco in 1951 to locate her gay brother, a private eye investigating a blackmail ring targeting lesbians and gay men. Jimmy's friends claim that just before he disappeared he became a rat, informing the cops on the bar community. Josie adopts Jimmy's trousers and wingtips, to clear his name, halt the blackmailers, and exact justice for too many queer corpses. Along the way she rubs shoulders with a sultry chanteuse running a dyke tavern called Pandora's Box, gets intimate with a red-headed madam operating a brothel from the Police Personnel Department, and conspires with the star of Finocchio's, a dive so disreputable it's off limits to servicemen -- so every man in uniform pays a visit.
Blackmail, My Love is an illustrated murder mystery deeply steeped in San Francisco's queer history, as established academic and first-time novelist Katie Gilmartin's diverse set of characters negotiate the risks of same-sex desire in a dangerous era. Set in such legendary locations as the Black Cat Cafe, the Fillmore, the Beat movement's North Beach, and the Tenderloin, Blackmail, My Love is a singular, stunning introduction to a new author and to gay noir.
Foreword Reviews' 2014 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award Winner
Josie O'Conner travels to San Francisco in 1951 to locate her gay brother, a private eye investigating a blackmail ring targeting lesbians and gay men. Jimmy's friends claim that just before he disappeared he became a rat, informing the cops on the bar community. Josie adopts Jimmy's trousers and wingtips, to clear his name, halt the blackmailers, and exact justice for too many queer corpses. Along the way she rubs shoulders with a sultry chanteuse running a dyke tavern called Pandora's Box, gets intimate with a red-headed madam operating a brothel from the Police Personnel Department, and conspires with the star of Finocchio's, a dive so disreputable it's off limits to servicemen -- so every man in uniform pays a visit.
Blackmail, My Love is an illustrated murder mystery deeply steeped in San Francisco's queer history, as established academic and first-time novelist Katie Gilmartin's diverse set of characters negotiate the risks of same-sex desire in a dangerous era. Set in such legendary locations as the Black Cat Cafe, the Fillmore, the Beat movement's North Beach, and the Tenderloin, Blackmail, My Love is a singular, stunning introduction to a new author and to gay noir.
312 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
March 26, 2015
3.5 Stars
Full review can be found at -
Josie's brother didn't call her on her birthday. This is a very big deal because Jimmy always calls her on her birthday. Panicked, she takes off for San Francisco and discovers that he's disappeared without a trace. It's 1951 and Jimmy is gay. Being gay during that time could get you arrested or worse. Scared, Josie sets off on a journey of sorts in the gay underground trying to find out what happened to her brother. Along the way, she meets some very interesting characters, my favorite of which was Aaron, a flamboyant character who has to (like everyone else) hide who he is.
This is a nice murder mystery that could have been much better had it been condensed a bit. Page after page was dedicated to what I didn't feel were necessary details, yet when something important happened, it was a bit rushed. Aside from that, a good read.
This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 18, 2015
Some works of fiction are noteworthy because of the research that went into them. Katie Gilmartin has done a fabulous job of researching mid-20th century San Francisco and LGBT lifestyles of the period. She uses her research to weave a noir tale featuring blackmail, police corruption and brutality, and familial loyalty. Every detail and every line ring true.
December 1, 2020
A work of historical fiction set in a post WWII San Francisco. A gay noir mystery. An award winner. With dedicated artwork inside. Ok, I was sold.
Now to the goods…this is indeed a very gay mystery. I’m not actually sure how SF became such a gay mecca, but in the 1950s it had great many queer citizens of all shades of the rainbow, despite the fact that back then the laws still encouraged and enabled discrimination and prosecution of them. Oh, the good old days, when American citizens were punished for love with the same zeal that’s now more concentrated on skin color…Anyway, San Francisco still was a city of dreams, a city that interestingly enough had more gay bars then than it does now. So many bars, they inspired their own sort of culture. Being found in one of those bars though had dire consequences, legal, social, etc. It was potentially deadly. And it certainly created a perfectly ripe atmosphere for blackmail. Which is a key element of the plot, and title.
So the location is established. Now onto the players. Meet Josie O’Conner. A queer lady who comes looking for her beloved brother Jimmy, a SFPD cop turned PI and a gay man who has mysteriously disappeared. Josie quickly grasps the fact that she’ll go much further with her inquiries as Jimmy’s brother than as his sister, so she gets a cut, dons a suit and a pair of wingtips and transforms into a young man who won’t rest until he uncovers the truth. Along the way, Josie encounters a fascinating, variegated cast of characters, closeted and flaming, butch and femmes, drag queens, singers, etc. Josie uncovers a blackmail ring her brother was trying to get shut down, someone has been systematically preying on people wanting to stay in the safety of the shadows. There’s also a much unwelcoming police involvement, a pseudo protection racket and raids.
So a lot is going on. A lot for an amateur sleuth’s first outing, certainly. Good thing there’s plenty of assistance along the way, from well meaning friends to a well placed love interest with curves to die for. (It is noir, after all.)
All in all, made for a pretty good read. The mystery aspect worked, the characters were interesting, the era and the scenery were brought to life expertly. The author is an academic who specialized in this and it really shows in details, large and small. She is also an artist, specifically printmaker, so each chapter features a linotype, mostly a portrait of one of the characters. Nice addition, though not exactly my style, the last one, of Josie herself, finally, was great, just as you’d imagine her, androgynous noir tough with a perfectly angled fedora.
The book read well, but not quickly and featured a lot, a lot of exposition, the characters tended to do launch monologues. Seems like a debut thing and really not by any means a major detractor, just something noticeable enough to mention. The noir thing was done nicely, though very, very (too much so?) seriously, none of the inherent cheesiness, though all the genre appropriate creative similes and metaphors you can ask for.
Overall, an entertaining read. A decent mystery and a credible work of historical fiction. Pretty exciting for a fictional debut from an academic, though at times you can tell, it’s nothing comparing to the thesis style of the afterword. My first gay noir. Cheers to diverse reading and all that. Cheers to laws and policies evolving to leaving those backward days and ways behind. For now, anyways.
Now to the goods…this is indeed a very gay mystery. I’m not actually sure how SF became such a gay mecca, but in the 1950s it had great many queer citizens of all shades of the rainbow, despite the fact that back then the laws still encouraged and enabled discrimination and prosecution of them. Oh, the good old days, when American citizens were punished for love with the same zeal that’s now more concentrated on skin color…Anyway, San Francisco still was a city of dreams, a city that interestingly enough had more gay bars then than it does now. So many bars, they inspired their own sort of culture. Being found in one of those bars though had dire consequences, legal, social, etc. It was potentially deadly. And it certainly created a perfectly ripe atmosphere for blackmail. Which is a key element of the plot, and title.
So the location is established. Now onto the players. Meet Josie O’Conner. A queer lady who comes looking for her beloved brother Jimmy, a SFPD cop turned PI and a gay man who has mysteriously disappeared. Josie quickly grasps the fact that she’ll go much further with her inquiries as Jimmy’s brother than as his sister, so she gets a cut, dons a suit and a pair of wingtips and transforms into a young man who won’t rest until he uncovers the truth. Along the way, Josie encounters a fascinating, variegated cast of characters, closeted and flaming, butch and femmes, drag queens, singers, etc. Josie uncovers a blackmail ring her brother was trying to get shut down, someone has been systematically preying on people wanting to stay in the safety of the shadows. There’s also a much unwelcoming police involvement, a pseudo protection racket and raids.
So a lot is going on. A lot for an amateur sleuth’s first outing, certainly. Good thing there’s plenty of assistance along the way, from well meaning friends to a well placed love interest with curves to die for. (It is noir, after all.)
All in all, made for a pretty good read. The mystery aspect worked, the characters were interesting, the era and the scenery were brought to life expertly. The author is an academic who specialized in this and it really shows in details, large and small. She is also an artist, specifically printmaker, so each chapter features a linotype, mostly a portrait of one of the characters. Nice addition, though not exactly my style, the last one, of Josie herself, finally, was great, just as you’d imagine her, androgynous noir tough with a perfectly angled fedora.
The book read well, but not quickly and featured a lot, a lot of exposition, the characters tended to do launch monologues. Seems like a debut thing and really not by any means a major detractor, just something noticeable enough to mention. The noir thing was done nicely, though very, very (too much so?) seriously, none of the inherent cheesiness, though all the genre appropriate creative similes and metaphors you can ask for.
Overall, an entertaining read. A decent mystery and a credible work of historical fiction. Pretty exciting for a fictional debut from an academic, though at times you can tell, it’s nothing comparing to the thesis style of the afterword. My first gay noir. Cheers to diverse reading and all that. Cheers to laws and policies evolving to leaving those backward days and ways behind. For now, anyways.
September 23, 2017
A great look back at San Francisco in the 50s. Clean, crisp writing that kept me glued to the story. The lesbian sex was not hard to get past so don't let that put you off of this excellent mystery.
July 27, 2015
Excellent, beautiful writing, engaging, but depressing.
April 7, 2017
How much you like this book might depend on what you are looking for. The setting is very strong and, for me, really interesting. San Franciso, gay community, 1950s (I think). Noir. But also really firmly set in the gay community which, of course, is subject to all sorts of harassment, etc. For a long time the setting itself--bars, coded language, that sort of thing--carried me along. The plot is fine, but there do turn out to be a lot of characters and, in the end, I didn't think they were well enough drawn. I either couldn't distinguish them or didn't care enough to try. Either way, it's a limiting factor. Still, it was worth the time (right up until the moment, 2/3 of the way through, that I began to skim.
July 12, 2021
3.5 stars.
I has this on my TBR list for so long but the setting in 60s closeted America kept me from jumping in. I’m sorry it took so long now because it’s a good read, really enthralling to see how it works out, and how the MC navigates a world where no one is interested in helping. Plus there’s a sweet love affair thrown in. And decent slice of revenge. Good story. Great narration. Enjoyed this.
I has this on my TBR list for so long but the setting in 60s closeted America kept me from jumping in. I’m sorry it took so long now because it’s a good read, really enthralling to see how it works out, and how the MC navigates a world where no one is interested in helping. Plus there’s a sweet love affair thrown in. And decent slice of revenge. Good story. Great narration. Enjoyed this.
May 27, 2022
A poignant novel depicting the historical accuracies of LGBTQ treatment during the 1950s blended with a murder mystery. This broke my heart to read of the things people endured. A beautiful story of self discovery accompanies the characters through the mystery.
February 10, 2015
While I loved the setting and nods to historical places, figures, and events, I found myself unable to love the main character Joe. I really wanted to, but when her backstory wasn't even explained until after the third chapter I was lost for what her motivations were. Her expression of emotions were so subtle that I felt they were reaching for hidden depths that just didn't exist. The multiple plots did a fair amount of twisting but the primary "blackmail" plot is easily guessed halfway through. If the intention is to be more noir than mystery then I suppose that is a good thing. I did miss the classic noir staple of the femme fatale, though there was a femme, there was nothing fatale about her. She served more as a light love interest, a quick pg rated love scene that left me uninterested, and more often a therapist. Not to mention taking a knock at stone butch women by flat out insulting them (which when recounted to others, consensus was that the line in that scene comes off as more "I like to rape women" than "I convince stone butches to let me have sex with them").
What did I really like? The character of Pearl, who was fun and interesting, deep and thoughtful, and ruthless when necessary. She carried the show, even assisting with what I assume is the authors desire to discuss non binary gendered thinking, which for the time period seems unlikely of most characters. Pearl managed to pull even that off. I liked several of the blackmailed characters, who were intense and their pain reached off the page, their stories struck nerves that made my heart ache. I liked the storyline of Joes brother, though it was simple and not difficult to figure out, it was realistic, well written, thoughtful and at times raw. It took time to get to the real meat of this plot line, but it was worth it. The brother sister connection and details of their relationship were told so vividly I felt as if I was in the forest there with them.
With so much research accomplished by the author from the extensive acknowledgements and bibliography, I am left confused how a book that seeks to encapsulate gay and lesbian life from 1950's San Francisco can consciously make so many historically inaccurate choices. Was it the authors wish to see the time through rose colored glasses? Was she inserting herself as the character of Joe, who switches between butch and femme with no qualms about how that would actually be received in the lesbian community of Joe's time? This is what I was left with when the book was over, but reading about the historical references along with the offered photos help calm my internal storm. In the end I give it a solid 3 stars.
What did I really like? The character of Pearl, who was fun and interesting, deep and thoughtful, and ruthless when necessary. She carried the show, even assisting with what I assume is the authors desire to discuss non binary gendered thinking, which for the time period seems unlikely of most characters. Pearl managed to pull even that off. I liked several of the blackmailed characters, who were intense and their pain reached off the page, their stories struck nerves that made my heart ache. I liked the storyline of Joes brother, though it was simple and not difficult to figure out, it was realistic, well written, thoughtful and at times raw. It took time to get to the real meat of this plot line, but it was worth it. The brother sister connection and details of their relationship were told so vividly I felt as if I was in the forest there with them.
With so much research accomplished by the author from the extensive acknowledgements and bibliography, I am left confused how a book that seeks to encapsulate gay and lesbian life from 1950's San Francisco can consciously make so many historically inaccurate choices. Was it the authors wish to see the time through rose colored glasses? Was she inserting herself as the character of Joe, who switches between butch and femme with no qualms about how that would actually be received in the lesbian community of Joe's time? This is what I was left with when the book was over, but reading about the historical references along with the offered photos help calm my internal storm. In the end I give it a solid 3 stars.
November 18, 2014
I've recently moved to San Francisco and wanted to find out a little more about the city's history. I don't do well with textbooks (even sleeping with them under my pillow doesn't work) so I absorb facts from fiction using some form of osmosis. I'm always on the look out for a piece of fiction that can give me a interesting perspective on the place I'm living in.
Blackmail, My Love did just that. It's a decent LGBT murder mystery but it's the world-weaving (yes, that's a thing), which I like. The book is rife with the geographical and historical touchstones that I love. The author does a really good job of bringing the 1950's LGBT community's plight alive. SF back then was definitely not liberal and a new law meant (in a round about way) that police raids were stepped up and a lot of the LGBT community were beaten, or in the case of the protagonists brother... disappeared. It really shocked me. I've always thought of SF as being a liberal city, it never occurred to me that those rights had to be fought for. I knew it in the back of my head of course but there's a difference between knowing something and seeing it happen to a character you can identify with.
I googled the author and found an interview where she says that she interviewed a lot of people who lived through those times, so I guess it's as legit as it can be. I also liked the drawings throughout (not too many, I don't like picture books) and it turned out that they're prints that she's made. That sealed the deal. I'm kind of obsessed with her.
In short. Plot decent. World-weaving (again, real thing) great. Author's credentials + print skills = legendary. I don't think I'll ever see the streets of SF in the same way again.
Blackmail, My Love did just that. It's a decent LGBT murder mystery but it's the world-weaving (yes, that's a thing), which I like. The book is rife with the geographical and historical touchstones that I love. The author does a really good job of bringing the 1950's LGBT community's plight alive. SF back then was definitely not liberal and a new law meant (in a round about way) that police raids were stepped up and a lot of the LGBT community were beaten, or in the case of the protagonists brother... disappeared. It really shocked me. I've always thought of SF as being a liberal city, it never occurred to me that those rights had to be fought for. I knew it in the back of my head of course but there's a difference between knowing something and seeing it happen to a character you can identify with.
I googled the author and found an interview where she says that she interviewed a lot of people who lived through those times, so I guess it's as legit as it can be. I also liked the drawings throughout (not too many, I don't like picture books) and it turned out that they're prints that she's made. That sealed the deal. I'm kind of obsessed with her.
In short. Plot decent. World-weaving (again, real thing) great. Author's credentials + print skills = legendary. I don't think I'll ever see the streets of SF in the same way again.
March 22, 2015
In the 1950s gay and lesbian life was very different. Bars were clandestine venues, living openly was impossible, and the scourge of McCarthyism swept through the country, even supposedly liberal San Francisco.
In Gilmartin's richly researched murder mystery, Josie, barely aware of her own lesbian identity, enters the shadowed world by the Bay to find out what happened to her gay brother, a former policeman. Donning male clothes to gain easier access, her trail introduces her to a fascinating array of characters; a beguiling nightclub temptress, a flitting postal worker, a matronly lesbian, and corrupt cops and blackmailing bar owners.
Borrowing from the pulp fiction style, with a bit of mysterious noir that never veers into mimicry, Josie's journey documents the harrowing brutality and oppression "friends of Dorothy" endured at the time. Some cower in the closet while others help her out. Some actual historical people like gay rights pioneer José Sarria are even included.
Gilmartin's intricate illustrations reflect the dark night settings of many scenes. The writing is sumptuous, poetic and intriguing. Despite not being much of a mystery fan, I found this to be a compelling book and an earnest tribute to a pivotal era in LGBT life.
In Gilmartin's richly researched murder mystery, Josie, barely aware of her own lesbian identity, enters the shadowed world by the Bay to find out what happened to her gay brother, a former policeman. Donning male clothes to gain easier access, her trail introduces her to a fascinating array of characters; a beguiling nightclub temptress, a flitting postal worker, a matronly lesbian, and corrupt cops and blackmailing bar owners.
Borrowing from the pulp fiction style, with a bit of mysterious noir that never veers into mimicry, Josie's journey documents the harrowing brutality and oppression "friends of Dorothy" endured at the time. Some cower in the closet while others help her out. Some actual historical people like gay rights pioneer José Sarria are even included.
Gilmartin's intricate illustrations reflect the dark night settings of many scenes. The writing is sumptuous, poetic and intriguing. Despite not being much of a mystery fan, I found this to be a compelling book and an earnest tribute to a pivotal era in LGBT life.
December 5, 2018
This was really good! I was expecting something a little lighter, because I usually read cozy mysteries, and this was kind of dark. I recommend it highly to queer mystery lovers and queer history lovers. So many memorable characters.
September 14, 2020
What a murder mystery! you go on a roller coster of a ride... double cross, coverup, revenge, suicide, satisfaction, justice and love, for friends, community and relationship both good and bad ... what more could you ask for. Loved it from beginning to end!!!
August 31, 2015
Excellent writing and narration, though morbid, as must historical fiction in this genre is. Recommended.
August 26, 2017
Highly satisfying! I loved reading about gay/dyke culture in San Francisco of the 1950s. Great characters, compelling nail-biting plot and really pretty writing. Wish all mysteries were like this!
July 1, 2016
Excellent novel!
September 3, 2017
You can also find this review on Hedgehog Book Reviews!
Josie is on the search for her brother, Jimmy, who recently disappeared. Jimmy is a gay man serving on the San Francisco police force, who frequented local queer bars until the community thought he was ratting them out. As the search goes on, Josie experiments with the way she presents herself to others and becomes closer to people in gay nightlife of San Fran. Josie is determined to clear her brother’s name and get to the bottom of his unsolved missing persons case that has been suspiciously swept under the rug.
My favorite parts of Blackmail, My Love were the queer history lessons it gave. I learned a lot about what it was like to be gay in the 1950’s and I, now, very clearly recognize how lucky we are to live as minorities in the present world. I usually feel satisfied with myself while reading a book that is both educational and interesting, so Blackmail, My Love was a great choice.
This book was raw, it really told the story of 1950 San Francisco in a blunt manner. There were scenes of police officers abusing queer people, suicides committed because of homophobia, and gay hate crimes. For most of the book, Josie presents herself as a man by the name of Joe. (I’m using female pronouns because the back of the book uses them.) In the beginning chapters, Josie is still learning how to shop for and wear men’s clothing. I want to highlight a couple paragraphs in which Josie is looking for a new men’s suit. The employees in this store pretty quickly realize that Josie is not biologically a male and begin harassing her. Actually, it gets to a point when the readers know that Josie will be sexually assaulted if she gets trapped in this situation. The men say,
This line really shook me. This is the moment when the verbal exchange goes from verbally to sexually harassing a transgender person. I remember sticky tabbing this quotation because the turning point in this speaking scene is so blatant and…horrifying. The sticky note was also to signify something in the book that made me extremely sad. This portion of the book, in general, made me sad because I know that there are people who still, today, would say these things to a transgender individual. These types of people are on the news; they’re marching on college campuses and holding rallies in big cities. It’s very depressing.
Blackmail, My Love truly educated me on parts of queer history that I’m not well versed in. For example, I was not very familiar with gay bars paying cops not to raid them. I mean, bar owners really had to hand over envelopes of cash so police officers wouldn’t arrest people for just occupying space in a gay bar. I’m lucky to live in a time and place where people aren’t actively thrown in jails for nothing more than which bars they like to attend. In the 1950’s, people weren’t that lucky.
The actual story of this book wasn’t as interesting as the history lessons it provided. I was really captivated by learning about what life was like as a queer person 60 years ago. The solving of the mystery didn’t stand out very much to me, maybe because I was too engrossed by the other aspects of the novel.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The lessons it gave were crucial to my understanding of the privilege it is to live in a post 2010 United States. I want to thank Cleis Press for my copy of Blackmail, My Love. I’m extremely glad that I stopped by their booth at NYC Pride. If you’re looking for a captivating book to educate you on gay history, this is the one for you!
“No one else can know what is right for you. What’s right for you might seem wrong to someone else, and that’s okay, because maybe it’s wrong for them. But if your heart wants it, God put that desire there, and it is the right desire for you.”
Josie is on the search for her brother, Jimmy, who recently disappeared. Jimmy is a gay man serving on the San Francisco police force, who frequented local queer bars until the community thought he was ratting them out. As the search goes on, Josie experiments with the way she presents herself to others and becomes closer to people in gay nightlife of San Fran. Josie is determined to clear her brother’s name and get to the bottom of his unsolved missing persons case that has been suspiciously swept under the rug.
My favorite parts of Blackmail, My Love were the queer history lessons it gave. I learned a lot about what it was like to be gay in the 1950’s and I, now, very clearly recognize how lucky we are to live as minorities in the present world. I usually feel satisfied with myself while reading a book that is both educational and interesting, so Blackmail, My Love was a great choice.
This book was raw, it really told the story of 1950 San Francisco in a blunt manner. There were scenes of police officers abusing queer people, suicides committed because of homophobia, and gay hate crimes. For most of the book, Josie presents herself as a man by the name of Joe. (I’m using female pronouns because the back of the book uses them.) In the beginning chapters, Josie is still learning how to shop for and wear men’s clothing. I want to highlight a couple paragraphs in which Josie is looking for a new men’s suit. The employees in this store pretty quickly realize that Josie is not biologically a male and begin harassing her. Actually, it gets to a point when the readers know that Josie will be sexually assaulted if she gets trapped in this situation. The men say,
“Is that your big prick? Come on girly, lay it down and take a look at a real one.”
This line really shook me. This is the moment when the verbal exchange goes from verbally to sexually harassing a transgender person. I remember sticky tabbing this quotation because the turning point in this speaking scene is so blatant and…horrifying. The sticky note was also to signify something in the book that made me extremely sad. This portion of the book, in general, made me sad because I know that there are people who still, today, would say these things to a transgender individual. These types of people are on the news; they’re marching on college campuses and holding rallies in big cities. It’s very depressing.
Blackmail, My Love truly educated me on parts of queer history that I’m not well versed in. For example, I was not very familiar with gay bars paying cops not to raid them. I mean, bar owners really had to hand over envelopes of cash so police officers wouldn’t arrest people for just occupying space in a gay bar. I’m lucky to live in a time and place where people aren’t actively thrown in jails for nothing more than which bars they like to attend. In the 1950’s, people weren’t that lucky.
The actual story of this book wasn’t as interesting as the history lessons it provided. I was really captivated by learning about what life was like as a queer person 60 years ago. The solving of the mystery didn’t stand out very much to me, maybe because I was too engrossed by the other aspects of the novel.
I enjoyed this book a lot. The lessons it gave were crucial to my understanding of the privilege it is to live in a post 2010 United States. I want to thank Cleis Press for my copy of Blackmail, My Love. I’m extremely glad that I stopped by their booth at NYC Pride. If you’re looking for a captivating book to educate you on gay history, this is the one for you!
September 13, 2022
Josie O'Connor's brother is missing and the cops are refusing to earnestly investigate his disappearance just because he is gay. Josie resolved to solve her brother's disappearance, changes her appearance and resumes her brother's investigation of a blackmail ring in San Francisco that's targeting lgbt+ community. As she investigates Josie gets deeper and deeper in conspiracies and danger.
-----------------
Trigger Warning: sexual assault
This was an interesting story.
Originally I had to stop after the 1st chapter in my first attempt to read this. The book tries to mimic that noir narration style and at first it was just too heavy-handed for me to enjoy. I tried this book again this week and it got better as you go on.
The story was really informative. It's set in San Francisco in the 1950s and Gilmartin does a nice job of setting the scene and showing how bad it was to be lgbt+ in that era. I liked how she didn't try to broadly paint all lgbt+ having the same amount of difficulties and showed some intersectionality when it came to race and gender. The book didn't really dwell long on that aspect however, it was focus on general issues for lgbt+ people were facing in that era.
Josie was an interesting protagonist. Most of the struggles in the novel were external however she had an internal struggle when it came to her gender identity was interesting.
The mystery part of the novel was really interesting and I liked how everything connected at the end. However, I think it got a little too long. Some of the minor plot point weren't really necessary for the story but I guess it helped up the stakes of the novel?
Overall, it's a pretty good mystery novel that's pretty informative about being lgbt+ in 1950s San Francisco. it's just takes a little while to get into the prose and it drags at some points.
-----------------
Trigger Warning: sexual assault
This was an interesting story.
Originally I had to stop after the 1st chapter in my first attempt to read this. The book tries to mimic that noir narration style and at first it was just too heavy-handed for me to enjoy. I tried this book again this week and it got better as you go on.
The story was really informative. It's set in San Francisco in the 1950s and Gilmartin does a nice job of setting the scene and showing how bad it was to be lgbt+ in that era. I liked how she didn't try to broadly paint all lgbt+ having the same amount of difficulties and showed some intersectionality when it came to race and gender. The book didn't really dwell long on that aspect however, it was focus on general issues for lgbt+ people were facing in that era.
Josie was an interesting protagonist. Most of the struggles in the novel were external however she had an internal struggle when it came to her gender identity was interesting.
The mystery part of the novel was really interesting and I liked how everything connected at the end. However, I think it got a little too long. Some of the minor plot point weren't really necessary for the story but I guess it helped up the stakes of the novel?
Overall, it's a pretty good mystery novel that's pretty informative about being lgbt+ in 1950s San Francisco. it's just takes a little while to get into the prose and it drags at some points.
December 10, 2022
I found this book to be just okay. I thought the plot had a lot of promise, but I didn't really care for the main character, I found her difficult to relate to. This is not because of her sexuality or gender (twinsies!), but because she just really didn't vibe with me. The noir tone really came and went, and felt so forced when it was being hit hard (so many one-liners that just didn't live up to the genre's best). It just felt like a way to keep me away from the character. I felt like I didn't really understand her on a deeper level because of this distancing and the shifting tone caused by this back-and-forth of being noir or not.
I found the plot quite frustrating and bland, and that this book just kept trundling along and introducing new endings, none of which felt particularly earned or important to me. It was tangled but not in a fun noir way, more in a "i had a lot of ideas and I will include them all" way. Did we need a plot about the police AND a specific officer AND a blackmailer, or could this have been a few books? I think that would have made the ending feel like less of a slog.
I also personally had a very hard time stomaching the graphic description of animal abuse and murder. I know that sounds precious and delicate of me to say, since this book is about very dark things, but I found that scene lingered with me and really messed up my day. It was deeply unpleasant, and I don't feel like it was included with enough purpose to justify its existence. Like how did it come back, really? What did it bring us, about the character or her world, that paid off in any way?
Overall, this was tragically not for me. There were so many elements that should have really worked, but alas, it just didn't hit.
I found the plot quite frustrating and bland, and that this book just kept trundling along and introducing new endings, none of which felt particularly earned or important to me. It was tangled but not in a fun noir way, more in a "i had a lot of ideas and I will include them all" way. Did we need a plot about the police AND a specific officer AND a blackmailer, or could this have been a few books? I think that would have made the ending feel like less of a slog.
I also personally had a very hard time stomaching the graphic description of animal abuse and murder. I know that sounds precious and delicate of me to say, since this book is about very dark things, but I found that scene lingered with me and really messed up my day. It was deeply unpleasant, and I don't feel like it was included with enough purpose to justify its existence. Like how did it come back, really? What did it bring us, about the character or her world, that paid off in any way?
Overall, this was tragically not for me. There were so many elements that should have really worked, but alas, it just didn't hit.
August 24, 2019
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.
May 4, 2020
Absolutely amazing. Maybe the best noir story I've ever experienced, and definitely the best noir I've ever read.
The idea of setting a noir story in the LGBT community of 1950's San Francisco is so perfect. It dovetails real history with everything that makes the noir genre special in a way that's SO perfect it's unreal. When I heard about it, I couldn't believe the idea hadn't occurred to anyone before this. (Or to me, frankly.) To be honest, I can't believe that idea hasn't been used so often as to be completely played out.
But Gilmartin doesn't just have a great concept, she delivers a phenomenal read! Seriously, I can't stress enough how great the writing is.
The protagonist is engaging and relatable. The prose is trim, without a bunch of asides that don't have anything to do with the story, but not so tight that there isn't room for a little embellishment here and there to just sit with a character, setting, or mood and just *be* for a second.
In particular, the swing from dialogue to reflection is amazing. Huge parts of the story are conversations, with little to no technical flitting about or meaningless interjections to remind us about something other than the conversation: it's just dialogue back and forth. When Josie needs to think, she does it when she's by herself, (for the most part), so it's almost entirely either long self-reflection or rapid conversations, and if I'm honest, this is the exact way I'd want to write if I wasn't so much of a coward.
Phenomenal. Great. I wish to God I'd read this book when I was 16 instead of 36.
The idea of setting a noir story in the LGBT community of 1950's San Francisco is so perfect. It dovetails real history with everything that makes the noir genre special in a way that's SO perfect it's unreal. When I heard about it, I couldn't believe the idea hadn't occurred to anyone before this. (Or to me, frankly.) To be honest, I can't believe that idea hasn't been used so often as to be completely played out.
But Gilmartin doesn't just have a great concept, she delivers a phenomenal read! Seriously, I can't stress enough how great the writing is.
The protagonist is engaging and relatable. The prose is trim, without a bunch of asides that don't have anything to do with the story, but not so tight that there isn't room for a little embellishment here and there to just sit with a character, setting, or mood and just *be* for a second.
In particular, the swing from dialogue to reflection is amazing. Huge parts of the story are conversations, with little to no technical flitting about or meaningless interjections to remind us about something other than the conversation: it's just dialogue back and forth. When Josie needs to think, she does it when she's by herself, (for the most part), so it's almost entirely either long self-reflection or rapid conversations, and if I'm honest, this is the exact way I'd want to write if I wasn't so much of a coward.
Phenomenal. Great. I wish to God I'd read this book when I was 16 instead of 36.
December 17, 2021
if i were rating simply the prose, and if every character didn't insist on speaking solely in meandering page-long monologues every single time a piece of I formation needed to be conveyed, i probably would have given this five stars. and if i were rating simply the sections where josie talks about being butch and/or god, then this would be five stars. however a book is more than the best parts of it, and i have to admit that the plot takes a long time to get going and when it was going,it didn't really go anyway. instead it sort of fizzled out without any real tension about who the blackmailer was, aka the thread holding the plot together, until its' rather lackluster reveal. while i enjoyed both the illustrations and the cast of characters, i didn't think the illustrations were completely necessary (though they were lovely) and the characters were so numerous i almost wanted to make a chart like this was a russian novel.
the most absolutely buckwild thing to happen in this book is that there's a shout-out to thee archetypal pulp butch BEEBO BRINKER and i fully left my body laughing
the most absolutely buckwild thing to happen in this book is that there's a shout-out to thee archetypal pulp butch BEEBO BRINKER and i fully left my body laughing
June 8, 2021
Blackmail, My Love — Katie Gilmartin (Foreword + 15 chapters + Historical Notes) June 7-8, 2021
Audiobook (Foreword and Historical Notes not included) and ebook.
Eva Kaminsky, the narrator, did an awesome job with the telling of the story and the vocal characterizations.
I am so glad I finally got around to reading this book. I have always loved the noir genre and mysteries and lgbqt+ stories. This one encompassed all these and made a very compelling, wonderful read.
As the story unfolded, Josephine is in San Fransisco trying to find her brother. He always called on her birthday and this year he didn’t. From there, she follows some leads and as she tracks down her brother, government corruption becomes a central theme along with the deaths of several prominent members of the community. Using her ability to blend and reach people to get them to talk, she pieces together what happened to them and her brother.
A well-written, engrossing story that read fast. It was a page-turner.
Five stars.
Audiobook (Foreword and Historical Notes not included) and ebook.
Eva Kaminsky, the narrator, did an awesome job with the telling of the story and the vocal characterizations.
I am so glad I finally got around to reading this book. I have always loved the noir genre and mysteries and lgbqt+ stories. This one encompassed all these and made a very compelling, wonderful read.
As the story unfolded, Josephine is in San Fransisco trying to find her brother. He always called on her birthday and this year he didn’t. From there, she follows some leads and as she tracks down her brother, government corruption becomes a central theme along with the deaths of several prominent members of the community. Using her ability to blend and reach people to get them to talk, she pieces together what happened to them and her brother.
A well-written, engrossing story that read fast. It was a page-turner.
Five stars.
dnf
June 28, 2025DNF. No rating.
Unfortunately, I cannot.
"The bar was as crowded as a pair of double D's in a C cup."
This book is filled with awkward and uncomfortable similes like these. Clearly the author is going for a 1950s film noir feel, but the clever language you'll find in those films is made ridiculous here, and I cannot.
Regarding gender and sexuality, there is language here typical to the 1950s that today we would question or even find offensive. And that's fine. But here some of that language felt gratuitous. I kept asking myself if those words were really necessary to tell the story. I can also acknowledge that I may have been too sensitive and should have let some of the language slide for the sake of the story.
However, this is the year of ruthless enjoyment. I'm not enjoying this one, so another one bites the dust.
Unfortunately, I cannot.
"The bar was as crowded as a pair of double D's in a C cup."
This book is filled with awkward and uncomfortable similes like these. Clearly the author is going for a 1950s film noir feel, but the clever language you'll find in those films is made ridiculous here, and I cannot.
Regarding gender and sexuality, there is language here typical to the 1950s that today we would question or even find offensive. And that's fine. But here some of that language felt gratuitous. I kept asking myself if those words were really necessary to tell the story. I can also acknowledge that I may have been too sensitive and should have let some of the language slide for the sake of the story.
However, this is the year of ruthless enjoyment. I'm not enjoying this one, so another one bites the dust.
November 22, 2021
So, I’ve been wanting to read a book exactly like this one for at least 20 years. I loved it. I think learning about our queer history is very important and I really enjoyed that this noir detective story was interwoven with such rich history. I felt like I had visited San Francisco in the ‘50s and was really glad to emerge and find myself firmly in 2021. No sugar-coated longing for the mid-century “good-old-days” after walking around with Jo. I loved the vignettes throughout the story- and that they were realistic and poignant and sometimes really, really sad. I love that it’s gritty and sexy even while the heroes are ultimately powerless in so many ways. I can’t wait to see what this author is writing next.
September 22, 2025
This was a well-intentioned noir mystery about LGTB SF in 1951 concerning a lesbian sister investigating her gay policeman brother's death. The historical settings, decor and atmosphere are first rate. However, I found some of the story hard to follow, confusing the multitude of characters and the convoluted story line.
However, the author's intentions are to educate as well as entertain and her heart is in the right place. Gilmartin is also a talented artist and illustrates the story with her own wonderful linocut drawings.
Recommended for those readers who are interested in LGTB history and the author contributes an excellent afterword about the history of the times featured in her novel.
However, the author's intentions are to educate as well as entertain and her heart is in the right place. Gilmartin is also a talented artist and illustrates the story with her own wonderful linocut drawings.
Recommended for those readers who are interested in LGTB history and the author contributes an excellent afterword about the history of the times featured in her novel.
March 15, 2020
Absolutely spectacular! This wonderful novel is a fantastic depiction of gay life in the 50s and the trials, challenges and outright danger of being a 'sexual deviant'. The protagonist searches for her missing brother and in the process meets a fascinating cast of characters representing just about every color of the LGBTQ rainbow. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a good private investigator mystery. Especially folks who are interested in historical fiction and San Francisco. This extremely well written, Lambda award winning novel ticks all those boxes.
September 5, 2023
If I had to choose three things that make this book as quality as it is would be the historical accuracy, the incredibly well-written twists, and the character development/building. This book touches on some extremely touchy subjects in a very real, prevalent way that really makes one feel the fear one would have felt as an LGBT person in this era. All I have to say is, as a picky reader, I'm a big fan.
October 15, 2018
Three for atmosphere and historical details, which are totally fun. Just not convinced of certain plot turns and choices...look forward to seeing how she develops further in the queer historical mystery genre!
October 22, 2018
The best book I have ever read, gripping and full of strong community.
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