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A Nick Williams Mystery #32
The Loveless Lawyer
Monday, January 9, 1967
The new year has arrived and it's cold.
Nick and Carter feel it more than most since they're just off the plane after three weeks in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Jeffery Klein, Esquire, Nick's ex-lover, ex-lawyer, and ex-friend, is back in town.
He needs Nick's help.
Jeffery is being blackmailed. And not for chump change.
After some husbandly nudging from Carter, Nick agrees to look into who might be behind the outrageous demands for money.
Almost before they know it, Nick and Carter have discovered the real scandal behind the blackmail.
It's juicy. It's salacious. And it goes back quite a few years.
And, to their surprise, tracking down the blackmailer leads from San Francisco to Sacramento and the office of the Golden State's newest governor, former actor Ronald Reagan.
What will the Gipper think when he realizes what's been happening under his very nose?
- GenresMystery
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 24, 2019
19 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Frank W. Butterfield
123 books106 followersFrank W. Butterfield, not an assumed name, loves old movies, wise-cracking smart guys with hearts of gold, and writing for fun.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
Although he worships San Francisco, he lives at the beach on another coast.
Born on a windy day in November of 1966, he was elected President of his high school Spanish Club in the spring of 1983.
After moving across these United States like a rapid-fire pinball, he currently makes his home in a hurricane-proof apartment with superior water pressure that was built in 1926.
While he hasn't met any dolphins personally, that invitation is always open.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 11, 2019
The Loveless Lawyer (Nick Williams Mysteries #32)
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2019
Five stars
I think we could have a modern opera called “Jeffery Klein.” In this thirty-second installment of the mysteries involving Nick Williams and his husband Carter Jones, we come to the closing of a circle. At forty-four years old, after two decades with his lover, Nicholas Williams is, at last, a man in full.
Oh boy. This one made me cry. In public.
Jeffery Klein is back, and his story, which has been familiar to Frank Butterfield’s readers since the very beginning of this monumental series, is finally laid bare. Jeffery is the loveless lawyer of the title, and as the layered meanings of that title begin to resonate through the narrative, the tragedy of Jeffery’s life – in opposition to the triumph of Nick’s – can’t help but bring tears to the readers’ eyes.
Jeffery is the lost lamb, the fallen angel, the self-loathing gay man who has absorbed all the hateful prejudice against his kind that America in the not-too-distant past could dish out. His story is a reminder to me that, when I run across gay folk who believe and do things I can’t imagine any self-respecting gay person doing, I need to remember where we all came from. Nick and Carter and Jeffery, and all of the original part of Nick and Carter’s team, are of my parents’ generation. Even my generation struggled with the damage society inflicted, far more than we should have had to.
As Frank Butterfield is wont to do, he reintroduces the cast of characters at this pivotal finale, reminding all of us of what has happened over the last span of time since the first book appeared in 2016. We have watched Nick and Carter grow from young men who don’t fully understand the amazing stacked deck they’ve been handed, to international celebrities, both notorious and revered, who meet with presidents and grab headlines. Early on in my reviews I likened them to gay superheroes, sort of like a gay Batman and Robin, who fought injustice with their money.
This is the end of the series. But not the end of Nick and Carter. The author is starting a new series, which will carry the shared love and life of these two remarkable men forward. From Butterfield’s other books, we know rather a lot of what will happen in their lives, but not the details. Now we’ll get the details. Nick and Carter are done. Long live Nick and Carter. And thank you, Mr. Butterfield.
By Frank W. Butterfield
Published by the author, 2019
Five stars
I think we could have a modern opera called “Jeffery Klein.” In this thirty-second installment of the mysteries involving Nick Williams and his husband Carter Jones, we come to the closing of a circle. At forty-four years old, after two decades with his lover, Nicholas Williams is, at last, a man in full.
Oh boy. This one made me cry. In public.
Jeffery Klein is back, and his story, which has been familiar to Frank Butterfield’s readers since the very beginning of this monumental series, is finally laid bare. Jeffery is the loveless lawyer of the title, and as the layered meanings of that title begin to resonate through the narrative, the tragedy of Jeffery’s life – in opposition to the triumph of Nick’s – can’t help but bring tears to the readers’ eyes.
Jeffery is the lost lamb, the fallen angel, the self-loathing gay man who has absorbed all the hateful prejudice against his kind that America in the not-too-distant past could dish out. His story is a reminder to me that, when I run across gay folk who believe and do things I can’t imagine any self-respecting gay person doing, I need to remember where we all came from. Nick and Carter and Jeffery, and all of the original part of Nick and Carter’s team, are of my parents’ generation. Even my generation struggled with the damage society inflicted, far more than we should have had to.
As Frank Butterfield is wont to do, he reintroduces the cast of characters at this pivotal finale, reminding all of us of what has happened over the last span of time since the first book appeared in 2016. We have watched Nick and Carter grow from young men who don’t fully understand the amazing stacked deck they’ve been handed, to international celebrities, both notorious and revered, who meet with presidents and grab headlines. Early on in my reviews I likened them to gay superheroes, sort of like a gay Batman and Robin, who fought injustice with their money.
This is the end of the series. But not the end of Nick and Carter. The author is starting a new series, which will carry the shared love and life of these two remarkable men forward. From Butterfield’s other books, we know rather a lot of what will happen in their lives, but not the details. Now we’ll get the details. Nick and Carter are done. Long live Nick and Carter. And thank you, Mr. Butterfield.
September 18, 2019
Sadly, this is the last in the series - oh, don't worry, the characters continue in a new series, that starts about six months after this ends, called "The Adventures of Nick and Carter". These books continue to delight.
October 21, 2019
Great Finish to the Series
This last book was a well crafted story which ties many of the loose ends. Good character development and great supporting cast, with perhaps one too many deaths. The introduction of the psychic was a novel touch and added to the story. All’s well that ends well and I look forward to the future series.
This last book was a well crafted story which ties many of the loose ends. Good character development and great supporting cast, with perhaps one too many deaths. The introduction of the psychic was a novel touch and added to the story. All’s well that ends well and I look forward to the future series.
September 10, 2019
epub (Patreon) 236 pages
1967 - and a new beginning for WilliamsJones is in the stars. The continuing adventures of Nick and Carter reach a natural pause - an old friend? comes to a sticky end but this is a hopeful series and that hopefulness is present in spades. Wonderful stuff.
1967 - and a new beginning for WilliamsJones is in the stars. The continuing adventures of Nick and Carter reach a natural pause - an old friend? comes to a sticky end but this is a hopeful series and that hopefulness is present in spades. Wonderful stuff.
August 29, 2021
For me, this was perhaps one of the most emotional stories in this series of Nick Williams Mysteries. Many tears were shed while reading this book. The author can tell a story quite well, but often with a sense of foreboding so the reader suspects something is going to happen soon. In this book, I was caught off-guard several times with heartwrenching results. As this is the last in the series of Nick Williams Mysteries (but NOT the last of Nick and Carter's adventures) the author, once again, took many pages to reiterate previously gleaned knowledge about the characters and provide an exhausting synopsis of events of the previous mysteries towards the end of this book. For those of us readers who have read the previous 31 books, this was tedious. For a newcomer, it might have been a convenient way to summarize the highlights of all the major plots from earlier stories. Regardless, the setup for this "Poirot" (as Nick would call it) felt contrived and annoying. HOWEVER, I loved this amazing series because of the well-developed characters, the intriguing plots, and the way the author can make you feel the era in which the books are set. Another aspect of these books I found remarkable and enjoyable was that the author chose NOT to include descriptive, detailed sex scenes between characters. All interaction was suggested and alluded to but never described. These books are mysteries, after all, with gay characters as the protagonists. And while romance was certainly present, sex was not the primary focus. Or, the secondary focus. Or, the third. It was spoken of - but subtle. Thank you, Mr. Butterfield, for not using sex scenes as a crutch to fill out a book or to promote a plot. Thank you. However, SPOILER ALERT!!!! my biggest criticisms of this final book were the unresolved issues remaining. In the discovery of Jeffrey Klein's past, the author has a character state that Jeffrey had a direct cause in Taylor Well's death but then never reveals what Jeffrey had to do with it. Another question unanswered is, what did Benajmin Ross do about reporting Kenneth Wilcox's willful ignoring of the information regarding Jeffrey Klein's law license? Ross and Wilcox are lovers. Did Ross do as he said he felt he must and report Kenneth? Did it affect their relationship? And finally, why would Nick secure a lawyer and pay for the defense of Ernie after the heinous act that Ernie committed? Nick's reasoning is that Ernie "is one of us," meaning that he was a gay man and deserved good legal representation. However, Ernie was trying to shake Nick down for a ton of money, he killed Jeffrey, AND he practically destroyed Nick emotionally. Nick's compassion did not make sense, at all. With all that being said, (I can be a bit picky, at times) I highly recommend this 32-book series! 4 STARS OVERALL!
August 12, 2020
Enjoyed
Setting aside the predictable politics (Democrats good, most Republicans bad, lol) I highly enjoyed this last book of the series. Lots of surprises...one in particular was absolutely shocking. I’m talking BIG time page turning shocking. The ending was refreshing and light hearted which was a welcome reprieve from the seriousness (lots of tears) of the main story.
All in all, this book masterfully highlighted the theme running throughout the series: Nick and Carter’s boundless love for each other, their loyalty to their family which includes their family of friends, their monetary generosity with no strings attached, and one last doozy of a mystery. The author did a wonderful job of wrapping up and bringing a satisfying conclusion to the Nick Williams Mystery 5 star series. Now I can go on to reading about their adventures, the spinoffs and every book this author writes.
Setting aside the predictable politics (Democrats good, most Republicans bad, lol) I highly enjoyed this last book of the series. Lots of surprises...one in particular was absolutely shocking. I’m talking BIG time page turning shocking. The ending was refreshing and light hearted which was a welcome reprieve from the seriousness (lots of tears) of the main story.
All in all, this book masterfully highlighted the theme running throughout the series: Nick and Carter’s boundless love for each other, their loyalty to their family which includes their family of friends, their monetary generosity with no strings attached, and one last doozy of a mystery. The author did a wonderful job of wrapping up and bringing a satisfying conclusion to the Nick Williams Mystery 5 star series. Now I can go on to reading about their adventures, the spinoffs and every book this author writes.
January 1, 2021
What a great way to start 2020 - but sadly this proved to be the last book in the 32 book detective series. - what’s not to love? Nick the ostracized gay son of a San Francisco power broker finds strength and purpose in the US Army during WWII. Then finds fortune when he inherits his notorious uncle’s fortune. The love with his Southern born Fire fighter “the most handsome man on six continents” (which he claims to have proven over the course fo this 32 book series). Really great escapist fantasy
And a terrific “history” of how Gay San Franciscans went from despised minority to central to the city’s future. Over the series Rosalind Russell becomes a good friend and there are cameos from the duke and duchess of Windsor, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, A gay Raymond burr, and numerous other celebrities.
really fun
And a terrific “history” of how Gay San Franciscans went from despised minority to central to the city’s future. Over the series Rosalind Russell becomes a good friend and there are cameos from the duke and duchess of Windsor, John Wayne, Rock Hudson, A gay Raymond burr, and numerous other celebrities.
really fun
November 5, 2020
Yet another great book in this series, one that I am sorry to see is at an end. Do hope that you will provide us with many more stories of Nick and Carter in the new series even though you have branched out (similar but different) with the Daytona Beach and the Will and Eddie series and then the Holiday series.
Still, Nick and Carter are my favorites and so I'm hoping that you are not too tired of writing about them.
Still, Nick and Carter are my favorites and so I'm hoping that you are not too tired of writing about them.
December 9, 2019
Awesome series. While this series has ended luckily Nick and Carter are starting new adventures with a new series.
January 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this one - I had no idea it was the last. I truly enjoyed this series. Great work
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews