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The Pink
From the Lambda-Award winning author of the Boystown Mysteries, Marshall Thornton comes this tale of a gay Pinkerton agent coming to terms with his sexuality as he solves cases. Set in 1913 in Chicago, Lewis Wait is tricked into becoming a Pink when his middle-class mother claims to be having money troubles and insists that he leave his studies and take a job. Conveniently, she’s arranged an interview with the Pinkertons where his late father was employed. Instantly, he plans to do everything he can to fail at being a detective. Despite, his desire to return to his studies, Lewis discovers his natural talent for deduction.
Not content with her machinations, Lewis’ mother introduces him to “new woman” Edna Riggins whom she thinks is a fellow teetotaler. Despite his disinterest, Edna ferrets out that Lewis is a fellow invert and proposes a white marriage. Which Lewis agrees to after meeting her attractive brother. As all of this happens, Lewis juggles several cases as well as correcting the dreadful grammar of his fellow agents. When Lewis’ mother discovers Edna is not temperance she attempts to end the engagement but Lewis stands firm, even as his job grows more dangerous and there are threats on his life.
Not content with her machinations, Lewis’ mother introduces him to “new woman” Edna Riggins whom she thinks is a fellow teetotaler. Despite his disinterest, Edna ferrets out that Lewis is a fellow invert and proposes a white marriage. Which Lewis agrees to after meeting her attractive brother. As all of this happens, Lewis juggles several cases as well as correcting the dreadful grammar of his fellow agents. When Lewis’ mother discovers Edna is not temperance she attempts to end the engagement but Lewis stands firm, even as his job grows more dangerous and there are threats on his life.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Marshall Thornton
58 books636 followersThree-time Lambda Award-winning author, Marshall Thornton is best known for the Boystown and Pinx Video mystery series. Other novels include the erotic comedy The Perils of Praline, or the Amorous Adventures of a Southern Gentleman in Hollywood, Desert Run and Full Release. Marshall has an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, where he received the Carl David Memorial Fellowship and was recognized in the Samuel Goldwyn Writing awards.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 5, 2026
Marshall Thornton doing a 1910s gay Pinkerton? Yes, please! I've been looking forward to this one since it was announced.
I'll be honest, the first half of this felt a little underdeveloped, but I liked Lewis, naive as he is, and was interested to see where things were going. Fortunately the back half of the book feels much more solid. Note that it's not a romance, and at times feels a little more like more of a coming of age book than a mystery. It also feels a lot like a series opener, setting up Lewis's social circle and history in ways that might not pay off until later volumes. The author's note in the back though makes me less certain that's in the cards, but I'd definitely be up for more if Thornton writes them.
If you know anything about the Pinkertons and you're not a robber baron, you might be giving the premise here a bit of a wtf side-eye, but if you were ok with Thornton's portrayal of law enforcement types in his other books, I think you'll find the treatment here similar.
I'll be honest, the first half of this felt a little underdeveloped, but I liked Lewis, naive as he is, and was interested to see where things were going. Fortunately the back half of the book feels much more solid. Note that it's not a romance, and at times feels a little more like more of a coming of age book than a mystery. It also feels a lot like a series opener, setting up Lewis's social circle and history in ways that might not pay off until later volumes. The author's note in the back though makes me less certain that's in the cards, but I'd definitely be up for more if Thornton writes them.
If you know anything about the Pinkertons and you're not a robber baron, you might be giving the premise here a bit of a wtf side-eye, but if you were ok with Thornton's portrayal of law enforcement types in his other books, I think you'll find the treatment here similar.
May 3, 2026
Lewis has an interview with The Pinkertons after his mother sets him up with a family friend. Lewis would rather continue with his education than take a job. However, he gets on well with the Pinkertons and has some interesting cases.
I enjoy Marshall's books.
I enjoy Marshall's books.
May 6, 2026
In the pink
Not content with his literary nostalgic dalliances of the 1980s and 90s, Marshall Thornton has decided to swing by the early part of the 20th century in his new book, The Pink. The setting in this one is 1913’s Chicago. In this new book we are introduced to Lewis Wait, a 22 year old student who is forced to take a job as a Pinkerton when money troubles cut short his academic career. Equipped with a brilliantly deductive intellect, riotously subtle humour and a well balanced period vernacular, we follow our reluctant hero as he solves cases whilst navigating life as a young gay man amidst the confines of polite society.
Despite relocating his story to the early 20th Century, the author still embodies his characters with sardonic whit, still describes precisely what they are wearing, and still ensures we get a detailed description of each nook and cranny the characters visit as they traverse the city. But unlike his previous books there is a fascination with some of these seemingly mundane descriptions, as he paints an interesting historical picture of what the city must have been like at the turn of the century. Maybe it’s not as entertaining or as visceral as something Jackson Marsh might write, but it is a refreshing change for this author.
I guess how much you like this book will depend on two things. First whether you like the narrative voice the author has created for his central character, Lewis. If you’re a harsh critic, you might find fault with some of the terms or phrases the author uses, but I think he balances it well without laying too heavy on the tongue of the time. The second is how much you’re willing to meander along with Lewis during the first part of this book. The author takes a leisurely pace, revealing different facets of Lewis’ life as he introduces us to a variety of characters he has to deal with during his work as a Pinkerton detective. But for me these are some of the key things that I enjoy when reading this type of comfort read. I didn’t so much mind the simple, slow pace of the plot as Lewis’ humour was just enough to keep me pleasantly entertained. Which was necessary given how much time we spent in his head! It was also a good idea to introduce someone like Edna, as she offered some refreshing colour to the atonal nature of Lewis. With the likes of Seamus, Bankhead and Cuthbert, the author has stacked the deck with some interesting side characters too, whether or not we get any future books.
I do praise the author for doing something different. I like the lighthearted nature of this, especially compared to his Boystown and Dom Reily series, and hope he returns to this era once more. And if he does, then leaning more into the comedy and making the investigation more engaging, might help turn this into a new hit series.
3.5 Stars
Not content with his literary nostalgic dalliances of the 1980s and 90s, Marshall Thornton has decided to swing by the early part of the 20th century in his new book, The Pink. The setting in this one is 1913’s Chicago. In this new book we are introduced to Lewis Wait, a 22 year old student who is forced to take a job as a Pinkerton when money troubles cut short his academic career. Equipped with a brilliantly deductive intellect, riotously subtle humour and a well balanced period vernacular, we follow our reluctant hero as he solves cases whilst navigating life as a young gay man amidst the confines of polite society.
Despite relocating his story to the early 20th Century, the author still embodies his characters with sardonic whit, still describes precisely what they are wearing, and still ensures we get a detailed description of each nook and cranny the characters visit as they traverse the city. But unlike his previous books there is a fascination with some of these seemingly mundane descriptions, as he paints an interesting historical picture of what the city must have been like at the turn of the century. Maybe it’s not as entertaining or as visceral as something Jackson Marsh might write, but it is a refreshing change for this author.
I guess how much you like this book will depend on two things. First whether you like the narrative voice the author has created for his central character, Lewis. If you’re a harsh critic, you might find fault with some of the terms or phrases the author uses, but I think he balances it well without laying too heavy on the tongue of the time. The second is how much you’re willing to meander along with Lewis during the first part of this book. The author takes a leisurely pace, revealing different facets of Lewis’ life as he introduces us to a variety of characters he has to deal with during his work as a Pinkerton detective. But for me these are some of the key things that I enjoy when reading this type of comfort read. I didn’t so much mind the simple, slow pace of the plot as Lewis’ humour was just enough to keep me pleasantly entertained. Which was necessary given how much time we spent in his head! It was also a good idea to introduce someone like Edna, as she offered some refreshing colour to the atonal nature of Lewis. With the likes of Seamus, Bankhead and Cuthbert, the author has stacked the deck with some interesting side characters too, whether or not we get any future books.
I do praise the author for doing something different. I like the lighthearted nature of this, especially compared to his Boystown and Dom Reily series, and hope he returns to this era once more. And if he does, then leaning more into the comedy and making the investigation more engaging, might help turn this into a new hit series.
3.5 Stars
May 13, 2026
The Pink
A well researched novel set in the early part of the twentieth century. It took me a little while to get into the story but proved most enjoyable and interesting. It centres round a young gay man living in Chicago whose mother’s machinations force him to become a Pinkerton agent. Despite his initial misgivings he finds he is actually good at the job and enjoys. It is also an exposé of how difficult it was to be gay in the 1913.
A well researched novel set in the early part of the twentieth century. It took me a little while to get into the story but proved most enjoyable and interesting. It centres round a young gay man living in Chicago whose mother’s machinations force him to become a Pinkerton agent. Despite his initial misgivings he finds he is actually good at the job and enjoys. It is also an exposé of how difficult it was to be gay in the 1913.
Read
May 14, 2026Told from the amusing and unusual point of view of an angst-free 22-year old who doesn't have a lot to say. The historical part was well done and I can imagine this becoming a series where Lewis comes of age.
May 4, 2026
Always a pleasure to read a new book by one of my favourites in the genre.
Lewis is green but by the end of it, you could say he's really getting into the pink.
Lewis is green but by the end of it, you could say he's really getting into the pink.
May 18, 2026
This deliciously wry story, written in the form of a memoir, charts the progress of Lewis Wait, a very sheltered young gay man in 1900s Chicago who is forced by his formidable mother to join the Pinkerton Agency in the footsteps of his long-deceased father.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lewis’ hapless attempts at self-sabotage to gain a dismissal until he realises he’s actually rather good at his job. The social observations are bitingly witty and the insight into Chicago’s early gay scene is fascinating. This story completely transported me to another time and place. Hugely enjoyable. I hope there’s more to come from young Lewis and his burgeoning Pinkerton career.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lewis’ hapless attempts at self-sabotage to gain a dismissal until he realises he’s actually rather good at his job. The social observations are bitingly witty and the insight into Chicago’s early gay scene is fascinating. This story completely transported me to another time and place. Hugely enjoyable. I hope there’s more to come from young Lewis and his burgeoning Pinkerton career.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews