Keeping Secrets: A Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione Mystery

Mimi & Gianna #1

by Penny Mickelbury

Someone is murdering wealthy, married--and deeply closeted gay people in their own automobiles while parked in deserted parking lots in Washington, DC. Someone the victims allowed into their cars late at night. Someone who knows their most guarded and protected secret. Five murders so far on the same day of the month. Police Lieutenant Gianna Maglione, head of the DC Police Department's Hate Crimes Unit, has a month to find and stop the killer or she'll find Body #6. But she has another problem in ace newspaper reporter Mimi Patterson, who thinks the public, especially the gay public, has a right to know that a serial killer is on the prowl.Until Mimi, Gianna had managed to keep the murders a secret. A newspaper story would create a sensation and most likely drive the killer underground. They clash, the reporter and the cop, but only in public. Their private attraction to each other is as dangerous to them as, well, as a serial killer. Secrets=Death, and almost everybody has at least one. Including cops and reporters.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, LGBT, Lesbian, Queer, Crime

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Mickelbury is a former newspaper, radio and television reporter based primarily in Washington, D.C. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, she lives in Los Angeles. The novelist and former journalist also is an accomplished playwright whose work has won awards. Two of her Mimi Patterson/Gianna Maglione novels are Lammy finalists. She is the recipient of the Audre Lorde Estate Grant, and she had a residency at the Hedgebrook Women Writers colony.

Reviews

[Megan]

I read the Mimi and Gianna novels before I had decided to make the Lesbian Mystery my avocation. For that reason, I have only a general statement about the four books.

I have read the first four books in this series, each of which has more pages than its predecessor. Unlike some of the more mundane books in this list, I feel that Mickelbury’s books shine with an aura of importance. I like the literary aspect of the double-barreled storyline, wherein half of the story is told from Gianna’s point of view and the other half from Mimi’s. I believe in the love the two characters feel for each other and I sympathize with their need to keep their private and professional lives separate. Each of the novels has an agenda: gay women, prostitutes, menopausal women, fringe lesbians, the latter two deserving special praise for bringing them and their needs to our attention. This was also the first bi-racial couple I have come across. Pet peeves: Although this series has more than its share of gay men and women, every one—without exception—is described as beautiful. Well, maybe in her world . . . There are other things that do not ring perfectly true--one of the books has four serial killers throwing hunting knives from a moving car, yet never missing their victims’ hearts--but the series is good enough that you can almost suspend your disbelief.

Note: I read the e-book version of all four books which were available in September, 2013.

Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book club reads make me nervous. It's a strange book that you haven't heard of or don't have any interest in reading. You're afraid it's going to be a dud and that you'll have wasted your time reading an awful book when you could have been reading something amazing. But then the opposite happens. Every once in a while, you get an amazing book. A book that will completely take up all of your free time until you finish it. That will force you to recommend it to any and every one that happens upon you. That makes you start reading yet another book series when you're already reading a million of them. That will take your attention away from things like work or sleeping. You'll be lucky to get a book like that.

[Carol Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This the first in Mickelbury's series of detective stories with Police Lieutenant Gianna Maglione and newspaper reporter Mimi Patterson becoming a team in their personal and work lives. The two women quickly fall in love but they face conflicting responsibilities as Mimi is trying to write about murders that Gianna is trying to solve. A serial murderer has been killing gay men and lesbians in a gruesome way.

Gianna is white and Mimi is African American. They seem to have a promising relationship, but I thought there was too much emphasis on how gorgeous they both are.

[Toni Kania · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old series from my own shelves -- from 1991. Fun.

[Rien Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

"It seems we're both cheating the system today," Gianna said in the low familiar voice.

"The system deserves it," Mimi said wryly and pulled on her weightlifting gloves.

Keeping Secrets covers a particularly brutal chain of crimes in Washington D.C., investigated by the eponymous couple above. Both Mimi and Gianna are partially closeted, having to balance outing themselves for information with the risk of being targeted themselves.

I appreciated the constant give and take of different loyalties in the book, and the fact that Mimi and Gianna first meet in the gym, appreciating each other's strengths in a steam room scene with an energy I want from more lesbian novels. There's a bit of cop worship going on, but I do understand the fantasy that a Hate Crimes Unit could actually, you know, do its job.

My only critique was the twist feeling a little weak and the end somewhat rushed, but the chemistry between Mimi and Gianna was great, and the story explored a lot of intersectional complexity very well.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

consider this a Historical tale!

Considering the time when Penny Mickelbury wrote this story, it is quite a good mystery/romance. Yes, we have come a very long way from the closeted/forced out of the closet days, thankfully. Although at times it feels as if we are facing a resurgence of the hate from times past… Anyway, I enjoyed the dynamic between Gianna and Mimi. It will take a balancing act to build this relationship while trying to be the best at their jobs. I really enjoyed the way both mains followed their very different leads to the exact same place. Brava!

[Lidia · Rating 1 out of 5]

La historia en sí es buena, pero está llevada a cabo de forma que me ha decepcionado bastante. El caso policiaco es muy predecible, plano y sin giros dramáticos que te hagan envolverte en la historia.

Además, La historia entre las dos protagonistas parece un fanfic de Wattpad. Pasan de conocidas a enamoradas en un día y sin una historia de tensión detrás.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw that Penny Mickelbury won the Trailblazer award at the Golden Crown Literary Society's 2025 Conference.

This is her first book: and the first of the Police Lieutenant Gianna Maglione and newspaper reporter Mimi Patterson detective series.

Mickelbury handles depth, characters and suspense with aplomb.

Looking forward to catching up on her other books.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but it would have been so much better if it had been better edited. The change of perspective was jarring to me and some sentences made no sense at all.

I did love the characters though.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Series

I enjoy reading this author. I just began this series and loved the imagery and the issue of it. Ironically, both are still quite relevant 20 years later. I look forward to reading the rest of this series and the Phil Rodriguez series.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the first of its kind - a mystery featuring black professional women who are lesbians! By current standards, this could not fly. But read in perspective, it is an absolute gem!

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Los periodistas eran seres humanos y como seres humanos respondían igual que cualquier otro ante la conmoción y el horror.

[meeta]

trying to meet my reading challenge goal :/

[Menna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está bien, es entretenido, un poco predecible, pero da mucho gusto encontrar personajes lésbicos fuera del eterno rol melodramático.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I determined to read a number of 2SLGBTQI+ mysteries during June 2022 and this was one of them.

It was pretty good, had a feeling of age but I enjoyed it. The characters are engaging. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

[Ulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like coming home, to spend time with Gianna and Mimi!

[Frances Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

I really like the author I love this series This is the second time I'm reading it I recommend her books she's a great writer

[S.S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy read that will keep you invested for fans of mystery with a pinch of romance.