Loud Pipes Save Lives

by Jennifer Giacalone

A tangled web ensnares an unlikely group of New Yorkers unaware that they are connected, from cops to criminals to corporate shills, in this thrilling tale…

New York City Detective Lily Sparr is stunned when she is inexplicably moved to the very same precinct that once upon a time handled her own father’s murder. There, she is assigned to the case of a women's motorcycle club which has been committing acts of violence all over the city. Despite missing her former partner, Miri, and fighting the ghosts of her past, Lily dedicates herself to the case, unaware that her own sister is mixed up in the swirl of violence and chaos.

After secretly reopening the file on her father’s death, Lily slowly unravels  threads of history, discovering that both cases lead to corruption and betrayal at the highest levels.

Featuring an ensemble of characters as diverse as its New York City setting, Loud Pipes Save Lives is a thriller-mystery with a twist of queer representation. 

Praise for Jennifer Giacalone and Loud Pipes Save "Giacalone explores a queer New York City at its gritty, diverse, and alive with a raw current of intelligence--just like her novel."

—Gregory Ashe, author of the HAZARD & A UNION OF SWORDS series



“Jen creates fresh, vivid characters that continually surprise you on the page, while crafting a nuanced, thought-provoking window on the complex relationships women have with each other. “

—Kelly Simmons, author of WHERE SHE WENT and Target bestseller ONE MORE DAY 

This is author Jennifer Giacalone's debut novel. Jennifer recently took 3rd Place in the Bucks County Short Fiction Contest with her short story, "Les Masques."

Genres: Asexual, LGBT, Queer

236 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2019

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

**'The signs of a great story happens when the premise, plotlines, characters are all nicely jelling then becomes clear from beginning to end..'

Impressive read!
A surprisingly well-written story..
A highly recommended book!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful surprise this book turned out to be. Not just because of the interesting characters and the unique story of a female vigilante biker gang, but because the writing was so flawless; it was as if the voice was created just for me. In fact, I didn’t realize how true this was until I began reading the first of the Vera Kelly books and found the voice to be rather distant. For a book with an odd title (it is a biker slogan), to the unprepossessing cover, Loud Pipes Save Lives is truly a gem worth the finding.

The plot is a subtly tricky one in which everything comes together at the end. In a nutshell, Homicide Detective Lily Sparr is assigned to investigate a motorcycle gang that seems to seek out domestic abusers who have been freed by the system and beat the shit out of them. The trouble is, one of these miscreants seems to be Lily’s sister Ainsley. And somehow, Lily’s father’s murder several years earlier is connected with her investigation. Coincidence?

Lily is a lesbian, but she is an asexual one (for another lesbian mystery with an asexual protagonist, see the two novels by Caroline Shaw featuring Lenny Aaron). Here is a lovely exchange between Lily and her friend Miri in an intimate moment.

Lily pulled back and looked at her uncertainly. “Do you want to kiss me?”
Miri’s face was quizzical. “Um...I never thought about it....I don’t think so. Do uh... do you want me to?”
Lily shook her head. “No, I don’t think so. I just...I just want to be...” She floundered. “near you.”

Although the two recoil from the idea of sex, they are genuinely in love.

For those who like inclusionary books, Lily’s sister is also a lesbian, but one who enjoys sex. There are handicapped characters, gay characters, Black characters, White characters, Brown characters, Muslim characters, and you name it. And although the author’s attempt to include as many minorities as possible is obvious, it didn’t bother me as much as it did in other books I have read.

The only thing that did rattle my chains about this book was its multiple points of view. Not that this is a flaw in itself (see Iza Moreau’s very studied use of the practice in The 5); it’s just that Giacalone uses too many and it gets confusing pretty quickly as to who all these people are and why they are important enough to deserve their own POV sections. It is best to stick with the main characters and get thoughts, opinions, and characterizations of others from dialog and the like.

All in all, though, this is a refreshing addition to the genre. It’s omission from the Finalists list in the Lambda Awards says more about the awards than it does the book.

Final Rating: 4.5
 
Note: I read the ebook version of this novel that was available on Amazon in April, 2021.

Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel , along with information on almost 1200 other lesbian mysteries by 400 authors.

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[Danika at The Lesbrary]

The city didn’t care. It lay serene as they all loved and teemed and scrambled and strove.

Loud Pipes Save Lives is a thriller with a noir feel, following a New York cop, a vigilante women's motorcycle club, and the many people tangled up in the ensuing investigation. From the beginning, I was pulled in with the writing, which reminded me of an old noir mystery: Sparr's partner is described as a "blond, butch slab of a woman." This isn't exactly a mystery, though: Sparr is moved to another district to try to track down the motorcycle club that has been beating down acquitted rapists and abusers. We're soon given the points of view of these women, though, so the reader is fully informed of what's really happening. The real mystery--and the reason Sparr has been relocated--is to investigate the seemingly closed case of her father's death.

There are a lot of pieces to this story, and it demands the reader keep track of a large cast and their relationships and dealings. There are political machinations, family secrets, romances, and, of course, a motorcycle gang (sorry--motorcycle club). I lost track of how many points of view we get in this story--at least seven? By the fifth point of view change in a row with no repeats, my head was spinning. On top of the POV characters, there's just a large cast in general: I found myself having to search my ebook multiple times to remember who people were, and some characters felt like they could have been cut out with no consequence for the plot. The frequent POV shifts also made me feel less connected to the characters, because I didn't spend much time with any one of them. Sparr seems like she should be the main character, but I didn't feel like I really knew her. The POV shifts also lessened the suspense, because we see almost everyone's perspective.

It's a shame to spend so little time with them, because this a diverse, interesting cast! The motorcycle club in particular is made up of many women of different races, nationalities, and orientations, and there are multiple major characters with disabilities. They are often complex and flawed--there are no perfect people here. This adds to the noir atmosphere: there are no clear winners, and justice is murky and undefined. It doesn't have a catharsis of the good guys beating the bad guys and everyone riding off into the sunset. Instead, we have to sit with the grey areas and complexity.

One aspect I wish we could have spent more time on is the romance between Lily Sparr and Miri. They are partners in the force, and they act just like a couple. They want to be together all the time. They go to each other for comfort. They stay at each others houses. They dance together. But they've never pursued anything romantic. [minor spoilers:] It turns out that they are likely both asexual--that word isn't used, but the text is explicit that neither of them is interested in any sexual acts. [end spoilers] This makes for a sweet couple of scenes, but it is a very minor part of the book. I can actually imagine this volume being expanded into a series, so we could get more of this romance and other characters' development. There is so much that is touched on, but it competes with the many other aspects of the story.

Ultimately, I appreciated the pieces all working together to bring this story to life. The writing was precise and included some memorable lines. There was a huge diversity in the characters, and they all had their own histories and motivations, complete with complicated relationships with others. But because each aspect was so concise, and there was so much packed in, I would have liked a little more room to explore the characters and their relationships to each other. I appreciated the story on an intellectual level, but I didn't get a chance to fully engage on an emotional level.

I also wanted to mention quite a few trigger warnings: violence and gore (described); mentions of: rape (incest and pedophilia), cutting, miscarriage, manslaughter, incest between siblings, ableist slur, police shooting of unarmed black man, sex work slur, death of sex worker, and depiction of a mentally ill person as violent.

This review was originally posted at the Lesbrary.

[DR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay. There's nothing I can share about reading this story that won't spoil it for those who've not read the book. So, suffice it to say I started the book when I awoke this morning and didn't put it down until I finished it, 45 minutes before midnight. Detective Lily Sparr is dedicated, meticulous, and determined. Her family's damaged after the suspicious death of their husband and father. Hence the heart of the story. Ainsley, her sister, is a loose cannon and Quin, her brother, just wants his family back. There's a rival family, a medicated aunt, and women in leather riding motorcycles. The writing's tight, exciting, crisp and engaging. There are moments I laughed and winced. But the story grabbed me by my hair and screamed "Come ride with me!"
I want my first book to grab the reader as Jennifer Giacalone's first book grabbed me. Well done indeed.

[Takara M Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is early morning here in Tennessee and this was the perfect way to start my day. I began reading a couple days ago and every second of my day I had free, I was wrapped in the pages of this book. As a person who has studied literature and creative writing for the last 11 years, I enjoy nothing more than reading books by writers who have such amazing writing styles. It is definitely captivating when someone can pull you into the book and have you surveying the very things being described.

I don't know about everyone else, but this book reminds me of works by Mosley and Connelly. Det. Sparr means business and her dedication towards her job shows. "I'm married to my job." I also like how Sparr's character is portrayed. I don't want to give up the details, but it is evident that Sparr is very independent.

I'm always up for an edge of your seat mystery/suspenseful book. I enjoyed how easy the read was and how organized the book is. The chapter titles definitely offers support to the content. If you are looking for something captivating, that will not lose a moment of your attention, I strongly encourage this read. I can't wait to share it with some friends. I'll be purchasing this for my bookshelf!

[Arlene Hazeltine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely

The characters are diverse and story has a cool twist. The dialogue is so interesting and real I couldnt wait to finish but sad that it ended. I can’t wait for her next book

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read and definitely something I wouldn't have normally picked up but I am so glad I did.

[Diana Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the female characters in this book. Loved the motorcycles. Lively story kept my attention. I'm ready for another book from this author.

[Linda T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loud Pipes Save Lives is one of those rare debut novels that instantly makes you sit up and pay attention not just to the story but to the voice behind it. Jennifer Giacalone writes with an emotional clarity and a sharp edge that makes every page pulse with energy. The tangled plot, which weaves together the lives of New Yorkers from all walks of life detectives, biker gangs, family members, and political puppeteers feels as alive and complex as the city itself.

What impressed me most was the nuance with which Giacalone handles her characters. Detective Lily Sparr isn’t just a tough-as-nails cop, she’s grieving, haunted, lonely, and driven by an internal moral compass that’s constantly tested. Her struggle with her father's unsolved murder adds deep emotional stakes to an already high-octane investigation. The LGBTQ+ representation here is not just incidental, it's integral to the story and beautifully authentic. The queer lens feels like a breath of fresh air in a genre often dominated by conventional narratives.

This book is smart, gritty, and incredibly human. If you're a fan of layered mysteries that respect your intelligence and your heart, Loud Pipes Save Lives is a journey well worth taking.

[Robert A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Giacalone doesn’t just write a mystery, she redefines what the genre can be. Loud Pipes Save Lives is packed with action and suspense, but it's also deeply literary in its treatment of identity, trauma, and justice. This isn’t your typical whodunit. It’s a story about how systems fail us, how secrets infect generations, and how people who seem worlds apart are often tangled together in ways they never expect.

The pacing is intense, but never rushed. Giacalone has a gift for suspense and dramatic timing, she knows exactly when to reveal a key clue, when to dig deeper into a character’s psyche, and when to let the action explode. Every twist feels earned, and by the time you get to the end, you're left reeling from the emotional impact.

What truly stands out, though, is how Giacalone centers queer women in roles that are powerful, flawed, courageous, and real. Representation like this isn’t just rare, it’s vital. She writes with such fierce empathy and respect that it elevates every page. I will be recommending this to every reader I know who craves bold storytelling with a heart.