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Pentecost and Parker #5
Dead in the Frame: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery
The most dramatic installment yet in the Nero Award-winning Pentecost and Parker series, as Will scrambles to solve a shocking murder before Lillian takes the fall for the crime.
NEW YORK CITY, 1947: Wealthy financier and ghoulish connoisseur of crime, Jessup Quincannon, is dead, and famed detective Lillian Pentecost is under arrest for his murder. Means, motive, and a mountain of evidence leave everyone believing she's guilty. Everyone, that is, except Willowjean “Will” Parker, who knows for a fact her boss is innocent. She just doesn’t know if she can prove it.
With Lillian locked away in the House of D–New York City’s infamous women’s prison–Will is left to root out the real killer. Was it a member of Quincannon’s murder-obsessed Black Museum Club? Maybe it was his jilted lover? Or his beautiful, certainly-sociopathic bodyguard? And what about the mob hit-man who just happened to disappear after the shots were fired?
With the city barreling toward the trial of the century, each day brings fresh headlines and hints of long-buried scandals from Lillian’s past. Will is desperate to get her boss out from behind bars before her reputation is destroyed. Because the House of D is no kind place, especially for a woman with multiple sclerosis. Or one with so many enemies. Her health failing and targeted by someone who wants her dead, Lillian needs to survive long enough to take the stand.
With time running out on both sides of the prison walls, Will and Lillian must wager everything to uncover who put their thumb on the scales and a bullet in Quincannon’s head. Before Lady Justice brings her sword down, ending Pentecost and Parker's adventures once and for all.
NEW YORK CITY, 1947: Wealthy financier and ghoulish connoisseur of crime, Jessup Quincannon, is dead, and famed detective Lillian Pentecost is under arrest for his murder. Means, motive, and a mountain of evidence leave everyone believing she's guilty. Everyone, that is, except Willowjean “Will” Parker, who knows for a fact her boss is innocent. She just doesn’t know if she can prove it.
With Lillian locked away in the House of D–New York City’s infamous women’s prison–Will is left to root out the real killer. Was it a member of Quincannon’s murder-obsessed Black Museum Club? Maybe it was his jilted lover? Or his beautiful, certainly-sociopathic bodyguard? And what about the mob hit-man who just happened to disappear after the shots were fired?
With the city barreling toward the trial of the century, each day brings fresh headlines and hints of long-buried scandals from Lillian’s past. Will is desperate to get her boss out from behind bars before her reputation is destroyed. Because the House of D is no kind place, especially for a woman with multiple sclerosis. Or one with so many enemies. Her health failing and targeted by someone who wants her dead, Lillian needs to survive long enough to take the stand.
With time running out on both sides of the prison walls, Will and Lillian must wager everything to uncover who put their thumb on the scales and a bullet in Quincannon’s head. Before Lady Justice brings her sword down, ending Pentecost and Parker's adventures once and for all.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2025
255 people are currently reading
1722 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Spotswood
9 books643 followersStephen Spotswood is an award-winning playwright, journalist, and educator. As a journalist, he has spent much of the last two decades writing about the aftermath of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the struggles of wounded veterans. His dramatic work has been produced nationwide and includes Girl In The Red Corner (winner of the 2017 Helen Hayes Award for Best New Play), In The Forest She Grew Fangs, Doublewide, and more. His debut novel, Fortune Favors The Dead, will be released by Doubleday in October 2020. He makes his home in Washington, D.C., with his wife, young-adult author Jessica Spotswood.
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April 5, 2025
Said you're gonna shoot me down, put my body in the river / Shoot me down, put my body in the river / While the whole world sings, sing it like a song / The whole world sings like there's nothing going wrong (The Body Electric – Hurray for the Riff Raff).
Phew what a ride! I don't know how popular this opinion is, but now that I’m standing at the end of this thing, I think the only way I can summarize my thoughts on Dead in the Frame is that it's the best Pentecost and Parker mystery, and yet the hardest to read. I'm sure there's something profound I could say here about how only consuming easily digestible media rots the brain after a while. Something something, "it's good to be challenged by art" or something. Hey, I love a light and easy contemporary romance as much as the next person, but after reading a couple in a row, I've found myself having a hard time coming up with stuff to say about this book, even though it did make me think a whole lot. So yeah, I’ve probably said this a million times before, but I usually don’t like it when mysteries do the whole “main character is accused of a murder that they didn’t commit and they have to solve the case themselves to prove their innocence” trope. Which I know is an odd stance to take considering almost all mysteries have this premise. I think it’s because there’s an added level of anxiety and urgency that can feel a bit gimmicky if done too excessively. Besides, books with this premise always makes me skittish in not a good way and makes me want to rush through a book I might otherwise be enjoying. Call me The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the way I was trying to get my ass out of here! I mean, it’s clearly not a deal breaker for me, because I still read an alarming amount of mysteries regardless, but just know that I didn’t go into this book, the newest installment of my favorite book series, with the same amount of excitement that I have had with the previous books. Anyway, is it okay if I talk about it for a little while? In a move that’s already above how Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell handled Wayward Son's intense cliff-hanger, the cliff-hanger from Murder Crossed Her Mind's final chapter gets answered almost immediately as Lilian Pentecost is arrested for maybe kind of sort of killing somebody and this whole book being about exonerating her. Now, this premise already marks this installment as vastly different than those that came before because this time around it’s up to everyone’s favorite bisexual, Will Parker, to sus out the real killer. All on her lonesome, can you believe it? They grow up so fast! The only problem is that the list of suspects outside of our favorite detective grows to be far more complicated and mind-boggling than she's ever before. Let me check list it; we’ve got the evil art collector who's idea of art falls on the macabre side, a “former” assassin with a gambling problem, a police officer who finishes his chores prematurely and... oh yeah, and Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye. That’s really just scratching the surface! Who dun it!? I hope Will finds out, because I dunno!
Seriously though, despite never trying to "win" at mystery books, sometimes I get lucky because I did end up guessing the right killer by maybe the halfway mark. But again, don't consider me an expert detective just yet, because it's important for you to know that I was still very confused throughout this entire book, but because all the characters kept getting killed off and the mystery got so twisted in knots, I figured I'd take a wild swing say it's most obvious culprit. That it would be a "the solution was right in front of us all along" kind of thing. Guess what? It was! Process of elimination or whatever. Hey, literally anything is better than how The Maid expected us to follow along with a mystery that was flat out making up new characters as the story went on so we literally couldn't include them on the suspect list! And my trepidation aside, I focused on Pentecost and Parker’s track record of absolute bangers in the past, and I owed it to Stephen Spotswood to at least give him the benefit of the doubt that he’d give these characters the kind of electric (boogie woogie, woogie) story that they deserve. You know, get me out my zone, I'm just talkin' comfort, shawty. You know how I always talk about how I forget everything in books the minute I finish them? Well, I don't sat that just to be quirky, because I actually forget a whole bunch, but I really do feel like Dead in the Frame will stay with me for a long while. I mean, ask me again next week. Really though, I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dead in the Frame is nonetheless a singular achievement in not only queer representation and feminism in the mystery genre, but it was also just so darn entertaining! It's just that I've found that a lot of authors think queer stories can either be "important" or "fun." You know, this one is the popcorn flick, and this one is the one that we take seriously. And this might just be because I'm bisexual, but I'm always left wondering... why not both? Well, the answer to that is Pentecost and Parker mysteries. Fun and exhilarating one second, breathtakingly sad the next. And like I said, I had a good time even though this one is a little less "fun focused" than usual. You know, because Ms. Pentecost spends most of it in jail being mistreated by the media and the prison institution alike. It's a hard read, and the book goes to great lengths to show that even if she were guilty, nobody deserves this kind of treatment. Oops, spoilers I think. I mean, I think it’s hardly a spoiler to say that Lillian Pentecost obviously didn’t do it to it to the guy. And that's cool, she's not a killer, but I actually think that’s where a few of my criticisms with the book came up. Dead in the Frame tries for a more “adult” vibe to its story considering it’s more apparent themes of police tampering, inhumane prison conditions, and infidelity and murder. All of which Ms. Pentecost and Will find themselves in the middle of, thus pushing them both much further than they’ve ever been pushed before.
"Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep." – Circe.
And not to get too hung-up on something that ultimately didn't bother me too much, but it would sometimes get to the point where the narrative felt like it was trying to convince us that maybe the heroes could have committed the drastic actions presented throughout the story, even though it didn't have any real interest in portraying Will and Ms. Pentecost as anything less than morally good. It often felt like a cop out because every time the main characters finally gain the nerve to actually do something kind of shady, when they're no longer “playing Mr. Nice Guy,” the narrative will oddly gives them a pass. For example (slight spoilers), as the story goes along and the pressure mounts to an unbearable level, Will, finding herself running out of time and options, decides that the move is to apply some Joel Miller interrogation techniques on a fool. Yes!! I was excited, I can't lie! Ugh, but the hype died pretty quickly as she finds that the guy already dead by the time she gets there? Boo~ooo! I know Will and Ms. Pentecost giving up their morals is not the point of the book (quite the opposite, actually) but I found myself oddly disappointed regardless. Are these still consider Young-Adult books? Because at this point I'm kind of waiting for Will and her boss to go buck-wild on someone! I don't know, they spend so much of this book “taking hits” that it almost felt like the author was just stringing us along after a certain point. It started giving off that condescending vibe of, "What? You expected this to be easy? Oh, you sweet summer child." I won't name names (because I hate this kind of movie with a passion), but there's this specific kind of horror movie that likes to use shock value and violence (usually against women) as some kind of "statement" on the genre as a whole, positing that anybody who watches horror movies and finds enjoyment in... the horror, is somehow also complicit in the actions taken throughout the movie. And because of this angle, these movies will refuse to give the audience any kind of satisfying narrative pay-off simply because they are attempting to question the very notion of finding violence in horror movies entertaining. But I'd argue that because they are using the same violence and shock value in their movies that they apparently loathe in others, are they not doing the same thing? Self-awareness of story tropes doesn't mean you're exempt from them! Especially if you're using them in your story to "make a point!" Hey, I guess if you can't beat 'em... join 'em? Otherwise, I think I just kind of hate any story that's smugly proud of being able to make the audience angry. What, like it's hard or something?
Um, I know I said I wouldn't name names, but the truth is that I was actually talking about three different horror movies that annoyed the hell out of me. My top three of "never again's" They're The Vanishing, Speak No Evil (2022), and most importantly, Funny Games. Hate them, I hate them good. Anyway, my point is that while I'll admit that I was a little worried for a moment here, Dead in the Frame is decidedlynot one of those stories, but I found myself frustrated nonetheless because whenever it seemed like they’d finally hit back, the narrative goes out of its way to make sure nobody important to the narrative actually has to get their hands dirty. I include Ms. Pentecost in there because she has a very similar story line where she gets to the point of contemplating murder (for real this time) and her problem is solved in much the same way. Wasn't a fan, sorry. And I know that these books (and this one in particular) have a strong “revenge is bad and killing never actually solves any problem” theme, but I’d like to propose a counter argument; every shitty person presented in this book doesn’t deserve that much thematic consideration. Quincannon dying doesn’t solve anything? Well, considering he’s the classic “enlightened,” self-important, “learned” type of asshole who uses their calm and rational visage to mask the fact that underneath it all they’re really just a raging misogynist, I’d argue that him getting sent to the next dimension solved the very real problem of a disgusting ghoul like him being alive. Besides, if he really wanted to stay among the living, then his ass should have been walking around like Daft Punk! Just know I did the Lady Gaga “Abracadabra” dance when I saw that it was him who got murked. You know, the one where she’s doing the finger-pointing gun thing. Anyway, any criticism on my end are mostly just stray thoughts, as you can probably see by my star-rating that I really liked this! It's as stylish as ever and Will remains one of the best narrative voices in recent memory. I can't get enough of the writing style and whenever I finish one of these books I always start talking like, "'M'yeah, see? M'yeah'" and all that. But anyway, I really do think that the Pentecost and Parker books are the best mysteries out there right now because they forego Josh Lanyon type copoganda often seen nowadays in queer mystery novels and are much more reminiscent of old school Sherlock Holmes, where he used to look out for those ignored by society. That's what makes mystery detectives memorable for me; when they care for the forgotten and downtrodden.
“They deserve to pry some small bit of happiness from a world determined to deny it from them.”
Phew what a ride! I don't know how popular this opinion is, but now that I’m standing at the end of this thing, I think the only way I can summarize my thoughts on Dead in the Frame is that it's the best Pentecost and Parker mystery, and yet the hardest to read. I'm sure there's something profound I could say here about how only consuming easily digestible media rots the brain after a while. Something something, "it's good to be challenged by art" or something. Hey, I love a light and easy contemporary romance as much as the next person, but after reading a couple in a row, I've found myself having a hard time coming up with stuff to say about this book, even though it did make me think a whole lot. So yeah, I’ve probably said this a million times before, but I usually don’t like it when mysteries do the whole “main character is accused of a murder that they didn’t commit and they have to solve the case themselves to prove their innocence” trope. Which I know is an odd stance to take considering almost all mysteries have this premise. I think it’s because there’s an added level of anxiety and urgency that can feel a bit gimmicky if done too excessively. Besides, books with this premise always makes me skittish in not a good way and makes me want to rush through a book I might otherwise be enjoying. Call me The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry the way I was trying to get my ass out of here! I mean, it’s clearly not a deal breaker for me, because I still read an alarming amount of mysteries regardless, but just know that I didn’t go into this book, the newest installment of my favorite book series, with the same amount of excitement that I have had with the previous books. Anyway, is it okay if I talk about it for a little while? In a move that’s already above how Any Way the Wind Blows by Rainbow Rowell handled Wayward Son's intense cliff-hanger, the cliff-hanger from Murder Crossed Her Mind's final chapter gets answered almost immediately as Lilian Pentecost is arrested for maybe kind of sort of killing somebody and this whole book being about exonerating her. Now, this premise already marks this installment as vastly different than those that came before because this time around it’s up to everyone’s favorite bisexual, Will Parker, to sus out the real killer. All on her lonesome, can you believe it? They grow up so fast! The only problem is that the list of suspects outside of our favorite detective grows to be far more complicated and mind-boggling than she's ever before. Let me check list it; we’ve got the evil art collector who's idea of art falls on the macabre side, a “former” assassin with a gambling problem, a police officer who finishes his chores prematurely and... oh yeah, and Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye. That’s really just scratching the surface! Who dun it!? I hope Will finds out, because I dunno!
Seriously though, despite never trying to "win" at mystery books, sometimes I get lucky because I did end up guessing the right killer by maybe the halfway mark. But again, don't consider me an expert detective just yet, because it's important for you to know that I was still very confused throughout this entire book, but because all the characters kept getting killed off and the mystery got so twisted in knots, I figured I'd take a wild swing say it's most obvious culprit. That it would be a "the solution was right in front of us all along" kind of thing. Guess what? It was! Process of elimination or whatever. Hey, literally anything is better than how The Maid expected us to follow along with a mystery that was flat out making up new characters as the story went on so we literally couldn't include them on the suspect list! And my trepidation aside, I focused on Pentecost and Parker’s track record of absolute bangers in the past, and I owed it to Stephen Spotswood to at least give him the benefit of the doubt that he’d give these characters the kind of electric (boogie woogie, woogie) story that they deserve. You know, get me out my zone, I'm just talkin' comfort, shawty. You know how I always talk about how I forget everything in books the minute I finish them? Well, I don't sat that just to be quirky, because I actually forget a whole bunch, but I really do feel like Dead in the Frame will stay with me for a long while. I mean, ask me again next week. Really though, I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dead in the Frame is nonetheless a singular achievement in not only queer representation and feminism in the mystery genre, but it was also just so darn entertaining! It's just that I've found that a lot of authors think queer stories can either be "important" or "fun." You know, this one is the popcorn flick, and this one is the one that we take seriously. And this might just be because I'm bisexual, but I'm always left wondering... why not both? Well, the answer to that is Pentecost and Parker mysteries. Fun and exhilarating one second, breathtakingly sad the next. And like I said, I had a good time even though this one is a little less "fun focused" than usual. You know, because Ms. Pentecost spends most of it in jail being mistreated by the media and the prison institution alike. It's a hard read, and the book goes to great lengths to show that even if she were guilty, nobody deserves this kind of treatment. Oops, spoilers I think. I mean, I think it’s hardly a spoiler to say that Lillian Pentecost obviously didn’t do it to it to the guy. And that's cool, she's not a killer, but I actually think that’s where a few of my criticisms with the book came up. Dead in the Frame tries for a more “adult” vibe to its story considering it’s more apparent themes of police tampering, inhumane prison conditions, and infidelity and murder. All of which Ms. Pentecost and Will find themselves in the middle of, thus pushing them both much further than they’ve ever been pushed before.
"Humbling women seems to me a chief pastime of poets. As if there can be no story unless we crawl and weep." – Circe.
And not to get too hung-up on something that ultimately didn't bother me too much, but it would sometimes get to the point where the narrative felt like it was trying to convince us that maybe the heroes could have committed the drastic actions presented throughout the story, even though it didn't have any real interest in portraying Will and Ms. Pentecost as anything less than morally good. It often felt like a cop out because every time the main characters finally gain the nerve to actually do something kind of shady, when they're no longer “playing Mr. Nice Guy,” the narrative will oddly gives them a pass. For example (slight spoilers), as the story goes along and the pressure mounts to an unbearable level, Will, finding herself running out of time and options, decides that the move is to apply some Joel Miller interrogation techniques on a fool. Yes!! I was excited, I can't lie! Ugh, but the hype died pretty quickly as she finds that the guy already dead by the time she gets there? Boo~ooo! I know Will and Ms. Pentecost giving up their morals is not the point of the book (quite the opposite, actually) but I found myself oddly disappointed regardless. Are these still consider Young-Adult books? Because at this point I'm kind of waiting for Will and her boss to go buck-wild on someone! I don't know, they spend so much of this book “taking hits” that it almost felt like the author was just stringing us along after a certain point. It started giving off that condescending vibe of, "What? You expected this to be easy? Oh, you sweet summer child." I won't name names (because I hate this kind of movie with a passion), but there's this specific kind of horror movie that likes to use shock value and violence (usually against women) as some kind of "statement" on the genre as a whole, positing that anybody who watches horror movies and finds enjoyment in... the horror, is somehow also complicit in the actions taken throughout the movie. And because of this angle, these movies will refuse to give the audience any kind of satisfying narrative pay-off simply because they are attempting to question the very notion of finding violence in horror movies entertaining. But I'd argue that because they are using the same violence and shock value in their movies that they apparently loathe in others, are they not doing the same thing? Self-awareness of story tropes doesn't mean you're exempt from them! Especially if you're using them in your story to "make a point!" Hey, I guess if you can't beat 'em... join 'em? Otherwise, I think I just kind of hate any story that's smugly proud of being able to make the audience angry. What, like it's hard or something?
Um, I know I said I wouldn't name names, but the truth is that I was actually talking about three different horror movies that annoyed the hell out of me. My top three of "never again's" They're The Vanishing, Speak No Evil (2022), and most importantly, Funny Games. Hate them, I hate them good. Anyway, my point is that while I'll admit that I was a little worried for a moment here, Dead in the Frame is decidedlynot one of those stories, but I found myself frustrated nonetheless because whenever it seemed like they’d finally hit back, the narrative goes out of its way to make sure nobody important to the narrative actually has to get their hands dirty. I include Ms. Pentecost in there because she has a very similar story line where she gets to the point of contemplating murder (for real this time) and her problem is solved in much the same way. Wasn't a fan, sorry. And I know that these books (and this one in particular) have a strong “revenge is bad and killing never actually solves any problem” theme, but I’d like to propose a counter argument; every shitty person presented in this book doesn’t deserve that much thematic consideration. Quincannon dying doesn’t solve anything? Well, considering he’s the classic “enlightened,” self-important, “learned” type of asshole who uses their calm and rational visage to mask the fact that underneath it all they’re really just a raging misogynist, I’d argue that him getting sent to the next dimension solved the very real problem of a disgusting ghoul like him being alive. Besides, if he really wanted to stay among the living, then his ass should have been walking around like Daft Punk! Just know I did the Lady Gaga “Abracadabra” dance when I saw that it was him who got murked. You know, the one where she’s doing the finger-pointing gun thing. Anyway, any criticism on my end are mostly just stray thoughts, as you can probably see by my star-rating that I really liked this! It's as stylish as ever and Will remains one of the best narrative voices in recent memory. I can't get enough of the writing style and whenever I finish one of these books I always start talking like, "'M'yeah, see? M'yeah'" and all that. But anyway, I really do think that the Pentecost and Parker books are the best mysteries out there right now because they forego Josh Lanyon type copoganda often seen nowadays in queer mystery novels and are much more reminiscent of old school Sherlock Holmes, where he used to look out for those ignored by society. That's what makes mystery detectives memorable for me; when they care for the forgotten and downtrodden.
“They deserve to pry some small bit of happiness from a world determined to deny it from them.”
March 21, 2025
Good read!
A meticulous and still engaging plotline with this ongoing 'Pentecost and Parker' historical series.
Nice open ended conclusion.
Highly recommended book and series!
A meticulous and still engaging plotline with this ongoing 'Pentecost and Parker' historical series.
Nice open ended conclusion.
Highly recommended book and series!
May 30, 2025
So fucking good!!!!!!! Lillian and Will are my favorites ever
March 10, 2025
Not my favorite so far but I LOVE the series...
The characters, location, time period, all perfect. Willowjean Parker, early twenties, works for Lillian Pentecost, older and highly-skilled PI, and who has MS, in NYC late 1940's. The world's still recovering from war, and women are considered useful only as homemakers, nurses, teachers and secretaries. (Yeah, it's all true, though we were okay as low-paid factory workers, too.) But Willow and Lillian are the feminists of their time, living within and around and over restrictions. (There really were women like this, BTW.) However, this is not a series which puts current-day feminist thinking into the women of seventy-eighty years ago. It's not that at all.
What this one is about is suddenly, without warning, abruptly - yes, I know, redundant - Lillian Pentocost has been accused of the shocking startling and outrageous death of a man who collects 'murder memorabilia' for a hobby. Invited to his home - a mansion! - to see his collection, and with a motely group of the rich, poor, criminal and otherwise - he's found shot to death and Lillians's the main suspect...
There are prison scenes in this one which are so - wow - authentic and well-researched, IMO. Nothing too graphic, but wholly realistic. That's one of the strengths of this writer - he knows his stuff.
As for the entire set-up, like that, too. The dialogue and slang, the old cars, the references to news of the day - all of it. It's firmly grounded and with nary an anachronism that I can see. (I might miss some; I wasn't around during this time period.) But everything just reads and feels so authentic. It's up to Willowjean - Will - to figure out what's really going on here. She's limited by the forensics of the time, by the willingness, too, for people to follow their bias instead of the evidence. Witnesses stall, lie, hedge, and then maybe help - but only if you're shrewd, smart, capable and sometimes just lucky.
Again, I love the entire vibe of this series and always look forward to the next book. Why one star off? The ending felt rushed, but there IS a lot of rushing around in this book, mainly all around the city of New York circa 1940's.
For true mystery series lovers, if you haven't tried this series yet, start with No. 1.
Four stars.
The characters, location, time period, all perfect. Willowjean Parker, early twenties, works for Lillian Pentecost, older and highly-skilled PI, and who has MS, in NYC late 1940's. The world's still recovering from war, and women are considered useful only as homemakers, nurses, teachers and secretaries. (Yeah, it's all true, though we were okay as low-paid factory workers, too.) But Willow and Lillian are the feminists of their time, living within and around and over restrictions. (There really were women like this, BTW.) However, this is not a series which puts current-day feminist thinking into the women of seventy-eighty years ago. It's not that at all.
What this one is about is suddenly, without warning, abruptly - yes, I know, redundant - Lillian Pentocost has been accused of the shocking startling and outrageous death of a man who collects 'murder memorabilia' for a hobby. Invited to his home - a mansion! - to see his collection, and with a motely group of the rich, poor, criminal and otherwise - he's found shot to death and Lillians's the main suspect...
There are prison scenes in this one which are so - wow - authentic and well-researched, IMO. Nothing too graphic, but wholly realistic. That's one of the strengths of this writer - he knows his stuff.
As for the entire set-up, like that, too. The dialogue and slang, the old cars, the references to news of the day - all of it. It's firmly grounded and with nary an anachronism that I can see. (I might miss some; I wasn't around during this time period.) But everything just reads and feels so authentic. It's up to Willowjean - Will - to figure out what's really going on here. She's limited by the forensics of the time, by the willingness, too, for people to follow their bias instead of the evidence. Witnesses stall, lie, hedge, and then maybe help - but only if you're shrewd, smart, capable and sometimes just lucky.
Again, I love the entire vibe of this series and always look forward to the next book. Why one star off? The ending felt rushed, but there IS a lot of rushing around in this book, mainly all around the city of New York circa 1940's.
For true mystery series lovers, if you haven't tried this series yet, start with No. 1.
Four stars.
February 10, 2025
I waited so long for this and it didn't disappoint! I really liked how this time around Will had to do so much of the work on her own - as the series progresses it's becoming more and more clear that she'll have to take over the business, and I really loved seing her having to work the mostly case on her own, without Lillian's support. The story was tense and the reveal was great - I had considered it but it wasn't something I actually thought would happen.
March 15, 2025
I just love this cast of characters so much. It's fun to see how all these different side characters continue to pop up and help Will and Lillian solve mysteries or act as thorns in their sides. It would be so much fun to see this adapted as a TV series.
Hopefully Stephen Spotswood gets to write a million more of these.
Hopefully Stephen Spotswood gets to write a million more of these.
November 25, 2025
This was a super fun queer historical mystery featuring a bi woman protagonist! Set in late 1940s New York, the story follows an especially personal case for Will, as the person accused of murder is her boss and lead detective! Lots of interesting twists and turns, well-drawn characters, and nuanced representation of disability and queerness. Great audiobook narration too. I'll definitely be checking out more of this series!
February 19, 2025
I still love this series. This book also touches on trans rights and deals with it as deftly and caringly as all the other potentially triggering topics in the other books. I continue to be impressed with the characters and their development over time, in themselves and in their relationships. Beyond that, it's always a really fun mystery to watch be solved!
January 9, 2025
Would kill a man if Stephen Spotswood asked me to, at this point.
December 20, 2025
Ahoy there mateys! The First Mate recommended these to me and said they were like a queer Nero Wolfe series. Both he and me best friend love the Nero Wolfe series. I have read a couple of Nero Wolfe and they are okay but I have problems with how the series deals with women even while I enjoy Archie and Nero. So color me intrigued by the premise of this. I was quickly hooked and binged the first four and listened to the fifth on the day it was released. Seriously this series is wonderful. My order of preference for the five books is 3-1-5-4-2.
The narrator of these novels is Willowjean “Will” Parker. She is an ex-circus performer with a sad history but is full of sass and stubborness. In 1940s New York, the tenor of the city is changing and the ideas of morality are shifting. For queer folk like Will, freedoms that were allowed, if never discussed, are under attack. And then there are the everyday murders.
Will’s boss Lillian Pentecost is one of the best detectives in the city. Her mind is brilliant but her body is slowly failing her because she has multiple sclerosis. Will was hired to deal with Lillian’s burgeoning case load but also eventually ends up doing a lot of the legwork because of Lillian’s progressing illness. I appreciate Lillian as a character. She takes cases of the high and mighty but also runs weekly clinics for poor women. Will and Lillian are a great team and I love both their working and personal relationships.
Will returns from her first vacation to find chaos. Lillian has been arrested for murder. Will knows her boss could have done it but did she? Poor Will and Lillian are completely flat footed in this one. Will is not used to being the main lead in an investigation and the stakes have never been higher. Lillian is put into a notorious women’s prison. Both her mental and physical health are deteriorating. The solution to the mystery was rather silly but the ramifications of the murder were not. I was engrossed in finding out what happened next and read this in one sitting. Several plot points from previous books are tied up but the set up for the next book is so intriguing. I want it! Arrr!
The narrator of these novels is Willowjean “Will” Parker. She is an ex-circus performer with a sad history but is full of sass and stubborness. In 1940s New York, the tenor of the city is changing and the ideas of morality are shifting. For queer folk like Will, freedoms that were allowed, if never discussed, are under attack. And then there are the everyday murders.
Will’s boss Lillian Pentecost is one of the best detectives in the city. Her mind is brilliant but her body is slowly failing her because she has multiple sclerosis. Will was hired to deal with Lillian’s burgeoning case load but also eventually ends up doing a lot of the legwork because of Lillian’s progressing illness. I appreciate Lillian as a character. She takes cases of the high and mighty but also runs weekly clinics for poor women. Will and Lillian are a great team and I love both their working and personal relationships.
Will returns from her first vacation to find chaos. Lillian has been arrested for murder. Will knows her boss could have done it but did she? Poor Will and Lillian are completely flat footed in this one. Will is not used to being the main lead in an investigation and the stakes have never been higher. Lillian is put into a notorious women’s prison. Both her mental and physical health are deteriorating. The solution to the mystery was rather silly but the ramifications of the murder were not. I was engrossed in finding out what happened next and read this in one sitting. Several plot points from previous books are tied up but the set up for the next book is so intriguing. I want it! Arrr!
February 11, 2025
These are tied with Thursday Murder Club for my all-time favorite murder mysteries. Queer noir for life!!
Read
June 4, 2025Very excited for this based on NYT recommendation, but just wasn’t for me. DNF.
September 10, 2025
AHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD. THEY JUST KEEP GETTING BETTER. I'M ABSOLUTELY STUNNED. Literally about to start crying over waiting for book #6. Spotswood has earned the title as my new favorite author 💖
February 25, 2025
My current favorite detective duo is back and better than ever
October 9, 2024
Dead in the Frame, the fifth in the Pentecost and Parker historical mysteries series, is equally as enjoyable as the first four books. And the premise is shocking. Prominent private detective Lillian Pentecost is accused of murder and imprisoned, which doesn't bode well for her health, as she suffers from multiple sclerosis. And it leaves her young, street-smart lead investigator, Will (Willowjean) Parker, with the primary responsibility for finding the real killer of a millionaire who is known for his Black Museum of grisly murder memorabilia, while trying to deal with the firm's other clients.
Set in New York in 1947, the story is convoluted and the charges are tough to fight--after all, Lillian was present when the murder happened and fled the scene. Will uses her analytical skills, acquired contacts on both sides of the law, and sheer fearlessness to vindicate her boss before it's too late, and Lillian does what she can from the confines of prison to help her own cause. Will's narration is sometimes interrupted by excerpts from the journal Lillian is trying to keep, some of it written in code that only the two understand (thankfully decoded for the reader).
The two main characters have been defined and developed over the course of the series and are always a delight to encounter again. Supporting and incidental characters are also brought to life in an interesting and memorable way. You can't go wrong with this excellent series.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
Set in New York in 1947, the story is convoluted and the charges are tough to fight--after all, Lillian was present when the murder happened and fled the scene. Will uses her analytical skills, acquired contacts on both sides of the law, and sheer fearlessness to vindicate her boss before it's too late, and Lillian does what she can from the confines of prison to help her own cause. Will's narration is sometimes interrupted by excerpts from the journal Lillian is trying to keep, some of it written in code that only the two understand (thankfully decoded for the reader).
The two main characters have been defined and developed over the course of the series and are always a delight to encounter again. Supporting and incidental characters are also brought to life in an interesting and memorable way. You can't go wrong with this excellent series.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.
February 14, 2025
This continues to be such an enjoyable series, with well thought out mysteries and a wonderful pair of protagonists.
Will Parker is just the absolute best, and the set-up for this created an interesting situation that forces Will to take the lead and work on her own with Lillian Pentecost, let’s say, otherwise occupied.
I always enjoy a mystery where the detective becomes the suspect, and this was a clever way to do that, and it didn’t trade on the typical methods writers employ for this. While the solve is a bit convoluted for my taste, it does make sense, and the real fun of these is in the getting there. Spotswood delivers on that count as usual, and continues to keep this pair of lovable sleuths intriguing and a delight to spend time with.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Will Parker is just the absolute best, and the set-up for this created an interesting situation that forces Will to take the lead and work on her own with Lillian Pentecost, let’s say, otherwise occupied.
I always enjoy a mystery where the detective becomes the suspect, and this was a clever way to do that, and it didn’t trade on the typical methods writers employ for this. While the solve is a bit convoluted for my taste, it does make sense, and the real fun of these is in the getting there. Spotswood delivers on that count as usual, and continues to keep this pair of lovable sleuths intriguing and a delight to spend time with.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
March 19, 2025
I agree with several reviewers who say this is the best Pentecost and Parker book - it’s also Stephen Spotswood’s most recent. Pentecost is in jail leaving the other half of her investigative duo doing the leg work. Some great humor (I laughed out loud a bunch of times), some new details revealed about Pentecost’s mother, and some darn good sleuthing.
June 8, 2025
This series makes me go insaaaannneee I really love it. Such a hidden gem!!
Genuinely I think the stakes in this book were perfectly timed, after all the previous installments leading up to it. I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down!!
Genuinely I think the stakes in this book were perfectly timed, after all the previous installments leading up to it. I was hooked from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down!!
March 26, 2025
When you're without your mentor, just remember that the sexy woman you have sex with a lot is good to talk to and also have sex with and also believe in yourself I guess.
May 4, 2025
Overall, I greatly enjoyed the read - it grabbed my attention and yanked me all the way through the plot swiftly. I loved the character growth and exploration this installment provided - the more vulnerable side of Ms. P, Will's vices showed in a new light and the sweet ways and elaborated on strengths throgh which Holly helps her to overcome them. I also really enjoyed Val's subplot and I hope it's gonna see some development in the future. I was hacking at my brain all the way till the end to figure out the solution before it was revealed. Unfortunately, the solution itself seemed to me somewhat shy of being fully believable - don't get me wrong, Mr. Spotswood definitely delivered on putting all the earlier revealed pieces of the puzzle into one coherent picture, which made very happy - however, the one detail, which made the conclusion possible seemed to me a far stretch.
(SPOILERS AHEAD!)
My first and recurring thought throughout the story was that the case was a suicide done to frame Ms. P. However, there was one problem - what happened with the gun? I loved the way everything tied up, especially with the Bonnie and Clyde car door. Unfortunately, the gun-hiding compartment was an underwhelming solution to the gun predicament for me. It just seems so hard to imagine a contraption, that would wrestle a gun from a dead man's hand, drag it all the way across the room, rise it up to a desk-pulpit level and hide it inside, all in less than 15 seconds per Will's words. This would imply a mechanism with a pull strong enough to accomplish it in such a tight timeframe, which would seem to make precision, tumor-anihillating shooting quite tough. The gun was also speckled with Quincannon's fresh blood and dragged through the floor - it seems some of it would stain it or the green-velvet inside lining of the desk somewhat. Despite of that, at the risk of repeating myself I will say: I really enjoy the read. Additionally, if a similar mechanism exists or a similar stunt has been pulled, I apologise and shall be all the more satisfied with the lecture.
(SPOILERS AHEAD!)
My first and recurring thought throughout the story was that the case was a suicide done to frame Ms. P. However, there was one problem - what happened with the gun? I loved the way everything tied up, especially with the Bonnie and Clyde car door. Unfortunately, the gun-hiding compartment was an underwhelming solution to the gun predicament for me. It just seems so hard to imagine a contraption, that would wrestle a gun from a dead man's hand, drag it all the way across the room, rise it up to a desk-pulpit level and hide it inside, all in less than 15 seconds per Will's words. This would imply a mechanism with a pull strong enough to accomplish it in such a tight timeframe, which would seem to make precision, tumor-anihillating shooting quite tough. The gun was also speckled with Quincannon's fresh blood and dragged through the floor - it seems some of it would stain it or the green-velvet inside lining of the desk somewhat. Despite of that, at the risk of repeating myself I will say: I really enjoy the read. Additionally, if a similar mechanism exists or a similar stunt has been pulled, I apologise and shall be all the more satisfied with the lecture.
October 27, 2025
There seems to be a requirement that every mystery series have at least one installment where the protagonist is being framed for the crime. As seen in the cliffhanger that ended the previous book, this is that installment.
First, let me say that the actual mystery is done fairly well. (It would be better if at least some of the information needed for the reader to have an inkling of the actual murderer had been hinted at before the big reveal at the end.) But using essentially all of the time spent on Pentecost to pound the pulpit about how horrible the legal and penal system in New York was in 1947 was a waste of my time.
We are left, then, with an investigation almost entirely executed by Willowjean Parker, and she is not enough to hold the core of the story together. While Watson is a great character in his own right, a Sherlock Holmes story without recourse to the great investigative mind just isn't the same.
The story would also be better if one of the crucial clues to the solution were not provided entirely randomly by a person uninvolved in the actual investigation. Oh! What is this? This entirely unrelated case, which came up by complete chance, is the key to the whole mystery? Who could possibly notice this deus ex machina?
I do appreciate that Spotswood did not make all the people trying to convict Pentecost into villains. It was refreshing to see characters who had formerly been the usual bumbling, self-centered, uncaring caricatures of public servants actually showing some humanity.
But ultimately, this book was by far the worst book yet written in this series. The series has solid characters (if more than a bit derivative of Rex Stout's work), and Spotswood can pull you into an environment and atmosphere quite well. But he has a real problem with creating a mystery that feels to the reader as though it should have been solvable, having characters whose development seems organic, and writing social commentary without preaching.
The series started very well. It's a pity that the author hasn't been able to maintain that level of writing.
First, let me say that the actual mystery is done fairly well. (It would be better if at least some of the information needed for the reader to have an inkling of the actual murderer had been hinted at before the big reveal at the end.) But using essentially all of the time spent on Pentecost to pound the pulpit about how horrible the legal and penal system in New York was in 1947 was a waste of my time.
We are left, then, with an investigation almost entirely executed by Willowjean Parker, and she is not enough to hold the core of the story together. While Watson is a great character in his own right, a Sherlock Holmes story without recourse to the great investigative mind just isn't the same.
The story would also be better if one of the crucial clues to the solution were not provided entirely randomly by a person uninvolved in the actual investigation. Oh! What is this? This entirely unrelated case, which came up by complete chance, is the key to the whole mystery? Who could possibly notice this deus ex machina?
I do appreciate that Spotswood did not make all the people trying to convict Pentecost into villains. It was refreshing to see characters who had formerly been the usual bumbling, self-centered, uncaring caricatures of public servants actually showing some humanity.
But ultimately, this book was by far the worst book yet written in this series. The series has solid characters (if more than a bit derivative of Rex Stout's work), and Spotswood can pull you into an environment and atmosphere quite well. But he has a real problem with creating a mystery that feels to the reader as though it should have been solvable, having characters whose development seems organic, and writing social commentary without preaching.
The series started very well. It's a pity that the author hasn't been able to maintain that level of writing.
February 5, 2025
TW: Police Harassment, Transphobia, Homophobia, Mentions of Suicide
Rarely can a book be rightfully described as "cunty," but this one definitely is!
(And perfect timing too with Lady Gaga’s recent song release. 🪄)
It was emotional and dramatic in all the right places !!!
I’m so happy that Spotswood took the mentor-is-framed route, because it gave our favorite sleuthing duo that much-needed push to change for the better.
Will was meaner, and Lillian became more than just the mysterious amazing detective from the previous books.
The dual perspective was a really nice touch, adding depth to the entire conflict. I actually teared up how both of them worried over each other.
With mystery books like this, it’s so easy to get lost in the maze of different side quests that turn out (not-so-surprisingly) interconnected. Not with the author's great writing though!
I also loved that all the beloved characters from the previous books made an appearance!
(If you know, you know.)
My only gripe is that I wanted more scenes with our other heroines, Holly and Alathea 🫶
Overall, I’m so happy with this audiobook (amazing narration and production as always).
This entire series is really proving to be a classic for me. It’s definitely an important read, especially given the current political climate.
Rarely can a book be rightfully described as "cunty," but this one definitely is!
(And perfect timing too with Lady Gaga’s recent song release. 🪄)
It was emotional and dramatic in all the right places !!!
I’m so happy that Spotswood took the mentor-is-framed route, because it gave our favorite sleuthing duo that much-needed push to change for the better.
Will was meaner, and Lillian became more than just the mysterious amazing detective from the previous books.
The dual perspective was a really nice touch, adding depth to the entire conflict. I actually teared up how both of them worried over each other.
With mystery books like this, it’s so easy to get lost in the maze of different side quests that turn out (not-so-surprisingly) interconnected. Not with the author's great writing though!
I also loved that all the beloved characters from the previous books made an appearance!
(If you know, you know.)
My only gripe is that I wanted more scenes with our other heroines, Holly and Alathea 🫶
Overall, I’m so happy with this audiobook (amazing narration and production as always).
This entire series is really proving to be a classic for me. It’s definitely an important read, especially given the current political climate.
February 5, 2025
This book is different from previous installments. Our detecting duo are separated for most of the book, and it unbalances them both. They miss things they would not have if they were together, thus we do too.
We learn a lot about Pentecost in this book, and spend a lot of time in her head, since she is not free to be doing what she usually does. In the midst of a pretty horrific situation she continues to look after others where she can. This is one of the biggest improvements over Wolfe. Lillian CARES. She does not require that she be the centre of attention. She wants to make the world better.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because it's intricately assembled and well executed. I'm not going to be the one to ruin that for you.
There's some really great points about the justice and penal systems, not all of them are subtle and nor should they be.
The author's note is perfection.
Well done, Spotswood. 💪
We learn a lot about Pentecost in this book, and spend a lot of time in her head, since she is not free to be doing what she usually does. In the midst of a pretty horrific situation she continues to look after others where she can. This is one of the biggest improvements over Wolfe. Lillian CARES. She does not require that she be the centre of attention. She wants to make the world better.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, because it's intricately assembled and well executed. I'm not going to be the one to ruin that for you.
There's some really great points about the justice and penal systems, not all of them are subtle and nor should they be.
The author's note is perfection.
Well done, Spotswood. 💪
May 6, 2025
4.5 stars I think!! This one is probably my favorite of the series so far. Enthralling, consistently witty, fast-paced, absorbing. The reveal actually passed through my mind at one point, and even though the reader still wasn't equipped with all the info necessary to solve the crime alongside the characters, the eventual unravelling was extremely satisfying (even if highly unrealistic, it was deliciously dramatic).
February 7, 2025
the way i love this series so much. i loved how in this one we got to know more about the inner thoughts of lillian pentecost.
fantastic mystery as always, it took me way too long to put the pieces together and even then i had to wait for lillian to deliver them all. i love will and holly so much, and im glad we are getting to see queer life in nyc in the 1940’s
this book also serves as a reminder that trans people have always existed and they will always exist, and they deserve the same rights and the same protection as everyone and we must fight for everyone to be free 🏳️⚧️
fantastic mystery as always, it took me way too long to put the pieces together and even then i had to wait for lillian to deliver them all. i love will and holly so much, and im glad we are getting to see queer life in nyc in the 1940’s
this book also serves as a reminder that trans people have always existed and they will always exist, and they deserve the same rights and the same protection as everyone and we must fight for everyone to be free 🏳️⚧️
February 19, 2025
I read this all at once because a) I was sick and not able to do anything else, and b) it was so infuriating I just had to get through it. I get easily frustrated by "the detective is framed for murder" stories because I feel like I can't relax, and this one was a doozy and full of tense moments with horrible people that I didn't feel like I needed in this particular season of my life. That's me, though. Everything was still solid, and if you enjoyed books 1-4 you'll most likely enjoy this, too.
February 25, 2025
Stephen Spotswood is a national fucking treasure.
This book was just as wonderful as the previous installments in the series, and I loved the addition of a bit of Lillian’s perspective. Spotswood continues to wow me with his depiction of these smart, funny women who feel real and complicated and do a damn good job of solving mysteries. I am already salivating for the next book.
This book was just as wonderful as the previous installments in the series, and I loved the addition of a bit of Lillian’s perspective. Spotswood continues to wow me with his depiction of these smart, funny women who feel real and complicated and do a damn good job of solving mysteries. I am already salivating for the next book.
March 5, 2025
Another great Pentecost/Parker mystery! I’ve really enjoyed all of these books and the ending of this 5th book left it open for another one. I’ve added the book that Spotswood mentions in the acknowledgements at the end “Women’s House of Detention” to my TBR list. I really like the way that the author has captured the language style and the descriptions of NYC in the 1940’s.
April 24, 2025
Is anybody calling these Queero Wolfe? Another delightful entry in the series. Keep ‘em coming!
June 10, 2025
If this is the last book I’m gonna be so upset
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