Sam Bone is not the world's most successful journalist, seeing himself instead as a Bogart-style [gumshoe]. But his wildest fantasies come to life when an American actress is murdered.. This first novel evokes London's lowlife at its most sleazy.
Confused, especially at the start and takes a great deal of knowledge about the history of gay life in England to understand, you went to jail for being gay.* But it has the framework of a great story and builds some steam. With a little more experience the author could have made something good out of this.
*A breakthrough classic movie, Victim, is a great introduction. Stars Dirk Bogarde who took on gay roles his whole career and never did much to deny it about himself.