The Pink

by Marshall Thornton

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.

Genres: Historical, LGBT, Fiction, Historical Fiction, M M Romance

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

Three-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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Reviews

[Teal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit of a cross between a mystery and the coming-of-age story of a young gay (or in his own words, ‘invert’) man in 1913 Chicago.

Early on I fell in love with one of the female characters — a feeling which, as I got to know her better, changed decisively to dislike. I eventually settled on simply enjoying her as a fictional character. Everyone here is a mixed bag of human frailties, and even the least sympathetic characters felt like they’d have an interesting story to share if they were granted the privilege of being the MC.

A thing I particularly appreciated was the depiction of the importance of social class in daily life. Interpersonal interactions, prospects for the future, hopes and dreams, indeed virtually all aspects of a person’s life were shaped and constrained by social stratification to an extreme that’s almost alien to us nowadays.

There were a couple things I did not like. For example. the narrative was constructed as the MC’s reminiscences of a time long ago. I never saw the reason for that; it didn’t seem to enhance or support the story. Instead, it served as an intrusive reminder that events weren’t happening in the MC’s ‘now’ and that he’s no longer that version of himself. Some stories use that framing successfully; here it felt unncessarily distancing.

Also — and if you’ve read my reviews you’ve likely seen this rant before — why wasn’t this book proofread before publication? Specifically, I’d like to know why an award-winning author of more than 40 books doesn’t understand how to use punctuation. Commas, semicolons, periods — they all have different functions in a sentence, and aren’t randomly interchangeable with each other. I’m glad I read this through KU, because if I’d bought it I would have been tempted to return it for a refund. I don’t understand why authors choose to treat their readers this way. It smacks of contempt. Ugh, I’m going to cut this rant off right here, because I’ve said all of this before elsewhere & it’s not an enjoyable rant to indulge in. It makes me feel crabby.

At any rate, I was annoyed enough that I intended to rate this 3.5 stars. But 4 stars feels more fair, because I believe the story and characters will linger in my mind more vividly than the memory of the (inexcusably bad) punctuation.

Oops, I almost forgot — I know there are those of you who are, first and foremost, romance readers. This book won’t scratch that itch for you. I liked what it did and how it did it, but you should be aware that it doesn’t follow the “they fell in love” to “happily ever after” pipeline.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Historical Fiction about a young man who joins Pinkerton Detective Agency in the first decade of the 20th century. He's got a secret - he's gay, and his mother unknowingly may have the solution to his problems in a marriage to a rich, young woman. Slow burn. You really come to love Lewis the lead character.

[SebFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok. A little slow/dull. On the plus side was the period feel and Lewis’ clearly drawn naively rigid personality type. He felt like a real person of his class in that period.

[Monika · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 *
Jestem usatysfakcjonowana. Ogromnie. Goniłam za tym uczuciem, kiedy zamykasz okładkę - no cóż, wirtualnie w tym przypadku - i po prostu czujesz, że niczego ci w tej historii nie brakowało.
Wierzyłam, że Marshall Thornton jest w stanie napisać coś takiego, co jednocześnie jest fluffy, ale i sarkastyczne, z subtelnym humorem, ale i z kilkoma komicznymi momentami. A jednocześnie realistyczne do bólu, ale tym razem bez bólu. No prawie bez bólu, bo nie można pominąć realiów opisywanej tu robotniczej dzielnicy imigrantów.
Były też bardzo słodkie momenty, oczywiście mocno stonowane, takie niemdlące ;), jak zawsze u tego autora. Co akurat bardzo sobie cenię. Sztuką jest pisać o uczuciach i emocjach bez nadmiernej egzaltacji i wielkich słów.
Obawiałam się trochę tej historii, ze względu na rok 1913, w której się toczy, więc tym bardziej cieszę, że weszłam w nią praktycznie "na ślepo", a skończyłam bardzo pozytywnie zaskoczona.

Tylko dlaczego to nie jest zapowiedziane jako seria? !!! No halo, to musi być seria.

ps. Wątek kryminalny nie jest głównym fokusem, co w zasadzie jest zrozumiałe, bo Lewis jest początkującym agentem. I dostaje swoje pierwsze drobne sprawy do rozwiązania. Więc nie oczekujcie jakiejś mocno skomplikowanej historii kryminalnej w dawnym Chicago. Do tego wszystko dzieje się w czasach, kiedy sprawdzanie odcisków palców było dość skomplikowanym przedsięwzięciem. Dużo chodzenia po mieście i okolicach z wieloma opisami budynków, ulic i komunikacji. Jak zawsze u Marshalla :)

To miała być taka recenzja na szybko, a wyszedł jakiś rant ;)

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Red tie at night, shepherd's delight.

Another good read, I really enjoy Marshall’s writing. Good historical storyline and a nice amount of humour. The gay line is there but we aren’t treated to the basic grittiness as is often in other books of this ilk. I await the publication of whatever series is next.

[John Fitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet

What a charming hero caught in some very un-charming situations.
The was intriguing and interesting: I hope this the beginning of more “The Pinks” novels to see how our hero progresses.

[Michael Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Fun!

Fans of Marshall Thornton will be delighted with The Pink! And anyone that picks up the book will become a fan! I can't wait to see what comes next from this talented writer and witty storyteller!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad editing disappointed me, especially from this author. I was also sad to find out this was a single book, I had been hoping for a series.

I enjoyed this, the glimpses of Chicago at the time were wonderful. I also enjoyed the background on The Pinkertons as I don't know much about them. It was interesting to see the difference between the income levels of the various characters. I was also happy that although this can't be called a romance it did have a happy ending. Thornton always writes interesting mysteries and even though a lot of his books feel melancholy it's nice when the characters find peace and happiness.

[Mark Lucas-Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Spitz]

Told 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.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pink
By Marshall Thornton
Published by Kenmore Books, 2026
Five stars

It’s 113 years ago in Chicago. In his first attempt at historical fiction, Marshall Thornton gets it right, and takes the reader on a time-travel adventure that is convincing and emotionally potent. It is a compelling, disquieting book, where details of the past come alive and draw us into the characters’ reality.

College graduate Lewis Wait has a game plan for his life, which is about to be upended by his meddling mother. Claiming financial troubles, Mrs. Wait has gotten Lewis a job interview with the Chicago office of the Pinkerton Detective Agency – the famous agents who both protected presidents (before the Secret Service) and helped break up pro-union strikes in Chicago. To Lewis’s dismay, he is hired right away. As he’s sent out on his first case – a possible insurance fraud – Lewis is determined to fail miserably, so he can go back to his previous plan.

The second bit of meddling is when Lewis’s mother targets a bold young woman, Edna Riggins, as a possible bride. Clearly, Lewis’s widowed mother suspects something about her son; something she can’t quite name. Getting a manly job like his long-dead father had and a girlfriend would help Mrs. Wait rest easier.

There is a slightly comic edge throughout the story, as Mrs. Wait’s attempts at controlling her son misfire in unexpected ways. At the same time, there’s a melancholy shadow present, as Lewis deals with his personal guilt over being the way he is, while also yearning for the freedom to live his own life. He’s a feckless young man, not entirely likeable; but we can see that this is because of a deeply-rooted unhappiness. In this way, Lewis reminds Thornton’s readers of Nick Nowak, the central figure in his long series of “Boys Town” books.

Mrs. Wait is a marvelous study in contrasts. Left alone with a toddler by the death of her husband and son from a flu epidemic, she embodies the idea of a woman seeking to empower herself in a world where she still can’t vote. But the woman fighting for suffrage is also a leader in the temperance movement (which, in just a few years, will result in Prohibition). Like so many characters in Thornton’s writing, she can’t be dismissed.

1913 Chicago is the star of the book, and its stark contrasts fill the reader’s imagination. From the massive, bloody stockyards that drive the city’s economy, to the sprawling Art Institute, where modern art is displayed; from the grim slums of Packingtown, to the new luxury high-rises of Lakeshore Drive, the story is wrapped in a dense, vivid reality.

All through this book I was captivated and fascinated – but also uncomfortable. Thornton surprised me at the end, which made me happy, but also made me hope that this is the start of a new series. By the end, Lewis has become someone I could admire and want to know better. I hate to think that this is all we’ll get.

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think May is going to be remembered for how many terrific books I found randomly and loved. As a mood reader, sometimes I stare at the books I haven’t read yet and feel unmotivated, so that’s when I start looking for something new. And The Pink is another unexpectedly terrific book I found.

In 1913, 22-year-old Lewis lives with his mother in Chicago. He is studying physiognomy, and dreams of an academic life, in the company of his friend and mentor, Josiah. But his mother unexpectedly turns the tables on his dreams. Claiming sudden financial woes, she tells Lewis it’s time to get a job.

But knowing her son all too well, she gets him an interview at the famed (and infamous) Pinkerton Detective Agency. It’s where his father once worked. And while the last place Lewis wants to work is the company known for busting unions, he’s drawn to detective work. He proves to be quite good at it, as well.

Lewis’ mother is also determined to find him a wife. As a supporter of the Temperance movement, she lands upon a woman she finds suitable for Lewis—Edna, an intelligent, outspoken heiress. While getting married is not among Lewis’ desires, Edna intrigues him, and offers him a chance for something he had never thought of for himself.

Meanwhile, his star is on the rise at Pinkerton. When he unwittingly thwarts a burglary by inadvertently shooting the culprit, he surprises his colleagues—and himself. But an insurance investigation proves to be more complex—and more dangerous—than he expects.

I devoured this book in one sitting. I thought Lewis was a great character—naive in the ways of love but set on what he wanted—and he was a natural detective. I loved the setting and his constant battles with his mother. Might there be another book or two with Lewis at the helm?

Check out my best reads of 2025 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2025.html .

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

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[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Great read stars Rounded Up

With The Pink, Marshall Thornton has written what appears to be the first volume of a promising new multivolume series. At least I hope that’s so because I’m already anticipating Volume 2.

A great M/M ‘nearly’ romance novel with a less than HFN ending, reinforces my projection.

In his usual way of creating unforgettable characters, Thornton has done it again with Lewis Wait, the narrator of The Pink, Wait’s mother, his “fiancée”, Edna Riggins, a fellow invert who proposes a white marriage, Edna’s brother, Hal, and all the secondary characters of Chicago’s slaughter yards, as well as the staff of the Chicago Pinkerton office.

Enjoy reading The Pink, and then join with me in asking Mr. Thornton for more.

[Ayanbisi Boluwatife · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1913 Chicago, Lewis Wait is a queer man in a world with no word for him, forced into the Pinkerton Agency by his scheming mother. He's a natural detective which is exactly the problem: every case he solves inches him closer to exposure. Thornton resists modern sensibilities, making Lewis's journey feel raw and earned. The period detail is immersive, the tension between his talent and his secret is razor-sharp, and the supporting cast from a "new woman" proposing a marriage of convenience to his temperance-obsessed mother adds glorious complexity. If you crave character-driven historical mysteries with real stakes and queer lives rendered honestly, this is your book. Highly recommended.

[Nancy Houser-Bluhm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories that offer insight to a group or era and this book does both. The author skillfully sculpts an early 1900s world. The terms, the visual depictions- masterful. There’s a great contrast among the societal classes and motives that drive their actions. The characters are all well developed. The main character, Lewis, is a gay man calculating a life in which he can just quietly live life as himself before events send him a different direction. Edna is a woman with a similar drive but her station allows her to be more flamboyant about it. The mystery that unfolds is the undercurrent that keeps the pages turning.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gay man lives with his mother in 1920s Chicago. His mother pressures him to get a job and find a wife. Despite his effort to resist, he gets engaged to a woman, and starts working as a detective at the same firm (Pinkerton) where his late father was employed. He tries to get fired, but performs unexpectedly well. Everything turns out nicely for him in the end.
There are several on-page gory scenes: human blood after shootings, severed human body parts, human corpses, animal slaughter, and a woman who has been beaten.

[Richard Brulotte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not the Mystery Expected!

I had always heard of The Pinkertons and was excited to find a mystery about them in Chicago in the early 20th century, but was less than excited about several side story lines covered in the book. One also has to overlook various mispellings, missing words and grammatical errors. Although tempted to close the book and stop reading, the Pinkerton aspect kept me reading, but will not read another book by the author.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not read any blurbs beforehand and was pleasantly surprised. Just happen to enjoy Marshall Thornton's books. Another bang-up job !! Seemed different from his other books, delving more into the past and creating winsome characters. Guess more in the line of gay gothic novels. Another winner !!

[James Quentin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Johanna]

I loved Thornton's Boystown series. His characters are always well-drawn and his stories have immediacy no matter what decade they are set in, so I look forward to reading this new adventure.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.