Reviews (3)

A good quick read
"Fatal Reunion" is the second installment in the Carol Ashton detective series. The reader is introduced to Christine, Carol's ex-lover who was briefly mentioned at the end of "Lessons in Murder." Although Carol is not officially on the case, Christine begs for her to help prove her innocence when her husband is found murdered. But as Carol and Christine become re-acquainted after three years of separation and a bad breakup they both realize that their feelings and desires have not completely disappeared causing significant strains in Carol's new relationship with Sybil. Carol finds herself at a fork in the road concerning which woman she wants. In addition Carol remains in the closet in fear that her lesbian relationships will be revealed and her professional career jeopardized. OK for a couple hours mundless reading.
I enjoyed reading Fatal Reunion.It was a nice time killer but not a book I would particularly read again.This is not to say I don't plan on reading the third book in the series.Just that the author walks thereader through the mystery from the first murder to the arrest. I am happyto say Sybil made it into the second book and the scenes between her andCarol adjusting to life together were nice.

You won't put this one down until you turn the last page.
This second book in the Carol Ashton series provides some background into her past lovelife and how the past has affected her ability to love as well as her child's custody. In this novel we meet her former lover, Christinewho still has a hold on Carol's heart. This causes obvious strain withCarol's lover, Sybil. In the course of her investigation, Carol must cometo terms with her past with Chris in order to solve a murder case thatseems open and shut. All the while, she must reconcile her feelings forSybil as well as for Christine. This book is one that you just can't putdown. From the moment Christine enters the picture until the very lastpage, the questions about what will happen abound. It is a delightful readthat proves that Claire McNab has a handle on the complexities of hercharacters and develops well what "makes them tick". I can't waitto read #3. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious char    3. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious character)    4. Australia    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    7. Lesbian    8. Lesbians    9. Mystery & Detective - General    10. Mystery/Suspense    11. Policewomen    12. Adventure / thriller   

Editorial Review

American lesbians should all be looking further west and south, if this Australian anthology is any indication of the overall quality of lesbian writing Down Under. The title is drawn from a dramatic monologue by Donna Jackson in which a lesbian mechanic praises cars for their simplicity (compared with the greasy mess of relationships). One of the strengths of this collection is its comprehensiveness; without sacrificing a certain wildness that must have been one of the editorial requirements, it includes works from several genres, and from writers of all backgrounds and ages.The best story may be Susan Sayer's odd family history, "Xanthippe," a cross between the fiction of Angela Carter and Kathryn Davis, with its startling images (her father is described as being "as long-tongued as Granny, and she could lick her own eye") and rude, playful language. Even the less successful pieces here give the sense of being starting points for stronger work rather than dead ends. It's an unusually impressive collection, full of experiment and promise. Read more

Reviews (2)

Lesbian Feminist Writing
What a terrific collection. Donna Jackson's play car maintenance, explosives and love was one of my favorites. The students also found a lot in this play to challenge contemporary gender stereotypes. I was alsofortunate to hear Ursula Dawkins read her piece cycles per second whichappealed greatly. Wonderful work! Very engaging! Congratulations

absolutely fabulous
I must say that this is simply one of the best things I have read all year.Something in it for everyone.I must point out that i found the main attraction to be Susan Sayers absolutley divine piece toward the endof the book. Go look it up for yourself when you read the book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthologies (multiple authors)    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    4. Lesbian    5. Mystery & Detective - General    6. English    7. Feminism    8. Modern fiction    9. Other prose: from c 1900 -    10. Social Science / Lesbian Studies   

Reviews (12)

After a Drought, Finally a Worthy Book
This series features Greenwich Village private investigator Lauren Laurano.Her friend, Elissa, asks Lauren to absolve her of the murder charges pending against her for the murder of her wealthy aunt.Unbeknownst to Lauren, she's beeing stalked by a psychopath.To add to her misery, her relationship seems to be falling apart, and there's seemingly nothing she can do to stop it.This began as excellent series, deteriorated into the doldrums of a so-so series, and with this entry, has come full circle. The writer evokes the Village so we know how the wet streets feel, her characters are well drawn and likable to the point that the reader finds herself hoping Lauren's relationship with Kip can be saved. Normally, I recommend a reader read a series in order if new to it, but I wouldn't subject any reader to the mediocre middle entries in this series.

Wow!!
I love this series and this is my favorite in the series so far.. The ending will leaving you wanting more.

Predictable and badly written
Awful. Apart from the computer thing mentioned in the first review, what about the mobile phone? First we find out she's got one (that she only uses for work), then when the psychopath cuts the phone lines to her apartmentAND her neighbour's no mobile phone in handbag (which she is carrying withher). Full of lists of computer products - hardware and software. How muchpayola is she getting? "AOL - it means America On Line, youknow".D'oh! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - General    5. Mystery & Detective - Series    6. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    7. Mystery/Suspense    8. Crime & mystery    9. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    5. Mystery/Suspense    6. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths   

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious char    3. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious character)    4. Australia    5. Fiction    6. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    7. Lesbian    8. Lesbians    9. Mystery & Detective - General    10. Mystery/Suspense    11. Policewomen    12. Crime & mystery   

Reviews (4)

Murder and Walmart
Mary Vermillion's debut novel was very well written.Go figure, she an English professor.
Terrific Midwestern Mystery
I enjoyed this mystery for many reasons: Mara Gilgannon is a protagonist I could really root for, a believable blend of neurosis and pluck; the other characters are also well-drawn and completely believable--their quirks make them lovable but never go over the top; the town of Aldoburg became quite real for me, a place I feel I'd recognize if I stumbled upon it; and the mystery is well-plotted--when the actual murderer is revealed, it is a surprise but also seems exactly right. Plus the WalMart premise is timely, especially with the recent release of the documentary "WalMart: The High Cost of Low Prices." Although Vermillion's main characters are in the anti-WalMart column, she does a good job of showing the other side's reasons for wanting WalMart, so the novel never seems like a political tract.
Mystery With a Social Conscience
Since another reviewer has outlined the story in, er, great depth, I'll just say that Mary Vermillion has written a terrific new mystery set in America's heartland.It's a pleasure to welcome Mara Gilgannon, a refreshingly unslick sleuth, to the lesbian detective literary scene. A Lambda Literary Award Finalist in two categories, Death by Discount is smart, funny, and entertaining. I recommend it highly.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Aunts    2. Crimes against    3. Disc jockeys    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    6. Lesbian    7. Lesbians    8. Mystery & Detective - General    9. Mystery/Suspense    10. Crime & mystery    11. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - General    4. Lesbian    5. Mystery & Detective - General    6. Romance - Contemporary    7. Modern fiction   

Reviews (1)

Good Book!! Fast pace - full of action.
Good Book - the author carries on the lifes of the characters - Robin Miller and KT Bellflower in believeable roles with just the right touch of romance thrown in for good measure.This book will keep your attention ifyou like a fast pace and a tough lesbian. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Lesbians    3. Miller, Robin (Fictitious char    4. Miller, Robin (Fictitious character)    5. Mystery & Detective - General    6. Mystery/Suspense    7. New Orleans (La.)    8. United States    9. Women detectives    10. Adventure / thriller    11. Crime & mystery   

Reviews (1)

Just Another Alex Peres Mystery
I actually like Jessica Thomas' mysteries themselves. Maybe I'm not too smart, but I have read all three of her books to date and was somewhat surprised at all three endings. I think she writes her characters well in general and the books are a decent length (not too long or too short). I also love Alex Peres' dog Fargo, who is used liberally in each book.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - General    5. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    6. Popular American Fiction    7. Modern fiction   

Reviews (4)

Why Do I Keep Reading These?
This Detective Inspector Ashton's 11th outing.It could be interchanged with several of the previous outings.Someone is murdered, Ashton catches the case, she solves case, her personal life remains static.I keep hoping that Ashton will grow as a person, but she remains the same book after book.After finishing this one, I promised myself to read number 12 and if it wasn't an improvement, I will stop reading the series and move on - much as I wish Carol Ashton would.

Good Procedural But . . .
In Detective Inspector Carol Ashton's ninth outing, she must find a serial killer who sends each potential victim a similar letter.The killer is careful and doesn't give Ashton much to go on other than the letters.The author has gotten stale in her last few outings, Ashton seems locked into a relationship that doesn't give her much satisfaction, but she can't seem to let go of it either.The procedural part of the book remains well done, but the author has got to do something with her character's personal life or risk losing her following.

Lost the plot
Claire McNab has lost the plot - the series started well but the story lines now seem to take second place to the inspector's private life. CarolAshton while proclaiming a wish to stay with Sybil can't seem to pass up anoportunity to sleep with any woman that comes along. The sex scenes havebecome functional & unappealing. A shame. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious char    3. Ashton, Carol (Fictitious character)    4. Australia    5. Fiction    6. Lesbian    7. Police    8. Policewomen    9. Crime & mystery    10. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - General    5. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    6. Adventure / thriller   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    5. Romance - Contemporary   

Editorial Review

Barbara Wilson's mysteries are witty, fast-paced, and fun to read. Plus, they have enough politics so that you can tell yourself that reading them is good for you. Read more

Reviews (6)

A superbly crafted and energetically written mystery
Cassandra Reilly is at work in Barcelona translating novel when she gets a call in London from Frankie Stevens that Frankie's husband had gone missing. Frankie thinks her vanished spouse is somewhere in Barcelona and asks Cassandra to find him. Cassandra obliges and in the course of her search encounters a foot therapist names April Schauer, a sax layer supposedly from Prague, seedy bars in Barcelona's red-light district, dreamlike gardens of Parc Guell, and high adventure in a madcap mystery where appearances are deceptive and surprises are the order of the day. Gaudi Afternoon is a superbly crafted and energetically written mystery that will fully satisfy even the most demanding devotees of the genre.

the shatest book of the decade an i had to study it
this book is pooh man! i waz up all night writing a naff essay on lesbos and they never even sold coffee in the computer city

Ben and Ali's Early Morning Review
Firstly there are two recurring themes in the book, that of feminism and of homosexuality.These theme relate well to Barcelona (where the book is set) as its sets the city in its context of modernoty and post-Francoist liberation.You will learn about the Spanish/ Catalan divide and also get a taste of Gaudi's wonderful and quite frankly rather wierd architecture.You will sit in a Ramblas' Cafe watching the world go by.Yes, the book certainly gives you a taste of Barcelonian life from the comfort of your arm chair. Lesbianism is a prominat theme in the book and we see how homosexuality has in effect come out of its' proverbial closet since the Transition to democracy.There is certainly an "anything goes" policy about the city (from what we can gather from the book).Other than that it is a rather ordinairy novel with little action and little plot. But for an insight into Catalan Culture its THE easy-read novel. Frankly there's little effort gone into the story line from the author. we're blue in the face from reading it but if you like Mills and Boon with a bit culture thrown in for good measure its the book for you! ENJOY!! ali and Ben. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    3. Lesbian    4. Lesbians    5. London (England)    6. Mystery & Detective - Series    7. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    8. Reilly, Cassandra (Fictitious    9. Reilly, Cassandra (Fictitious character)    10. Women translators    11. Crime & mystery    12. Modern fiction    13. Mystery   

Reviews (3)

U of I Women's Basketball
Vermillion writes about Iowa, which isn't commonplace in novels.
Another Terrific Mara Gilgannon Mystery
Murder by Mascot, the second Mara Gilgannon mystery, is every bit as good as the first, Death by Discount. Author Mary Vermillion has a wonderful talent for wrapping socially relevant topics in a page-turning story full ofbelievable characters and vivid settings. Main character Mara is anappealing and convincing blend of determination, pluck, self-doubt, and wry humor. I'm a rabid college basketball fan myself, a graduate of the University of Kansas, where basketball is more of a religion than a sport, and Vermillion has nailed the university basketball atmosphere perfectly. This is a well-written, well-plotted mystery that's hard to put down.

"You have more love interests than suspects."
A memorable cast of characters, a tightly written story, and witty dialogue make the latest offering in this breakout series great reading. Fresh from solving a caper involving her hometown and a corporate megastore, amateur sleuth Mara Gilgannon must untangle a mystery surrounding the murder of accused rapist Dave DeVoster, a member of the university men's basketball team, and the cloud of suspicion hanging over a person close to her. The preferential treatment of star athletes, the lingering ties between lesbians and their ex's, and homophobia in college sports are just some of the topics covered in this thought provoking page turner by the author of DEATH BY DISCOUNT. This is a terrific, fun mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - General    5. Fiction / Lesbian    6. General & Literary Fiction    7. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (3)

"Blonde" is more Bomb than Bombshell
I can't really recall why I picked this up, other than Duffy's name being vaguely familiar from the first in the "Fresh Blood" anthology series and a general interest in cutting-edge crime fiction from the UK. In any event, I soon found myself in a potboiler about a pop star siren who's been getting creepy messages and flowers from a person or persons unknown. Brought in to solve this problem is lesbian PI Saz, who's apparently still recovering from some kind of burn accident that has left her with terrible scarring from her midriff to her knees (I kept waiting for this to be explained, but it's apparently either the remnant of an adventure related in a previous book). Eager to get a little independence from her supportive girlfriend, she becomes a PA to the singer as a cover for her "investigation" and jet-sets around the world with the band as the plot thickens. I put investigation in quotes because she is there more as a entry point for the reader to watch the drama unfold than actually accomplish anything useful. The stalker tale depends greatly on a massive bit of misdirection which never really works because Duffy's narrative technique gives the game away rather obviously. She intersperses chapters written from within the stalker's head that both give backstory, and remove a lot of mystery. In fact, the real mystery is whether or not Saz will cheat on her girlfriend with the bombshell singer. By the end it's hard to care too much what happens as the murders that do occur have unrealistic consequences, and the band members engage in all the usual drugs -n- debauchery one expects in fiction. And between Saz's stupidity and own weaknesses, it's hard to care much about her either.

Sometimes more is less
The only way I can like this novel is by assuming its excesses are tongue in cheek digs at the degeneration of the lesbian crime novel into political uncorrectness. The detective heroine is "scarred" and a moralmidget. She has no principles. For some unfathomable reason, her highlyeducated supportive and working lover is always sexually available. Ourheroine is allowed to sleep around without being punished, something thatusually doesn't happen in dyke crime. She doesn't solve anything, butScoppetone's been doing that for years. She's just the paid witness to a"bizarre" tale anyone who has seen Ricki Lake would yawn at.Buteven though I never took the book seriously and could enjoy, at some level,its deviance from genre correctness, its stand on drugs irritates me. Anyauthor presenting cocaine consumption as less damaging than it really is,is doing readers a disfavor. Read Redmann instead.

Loved it!
Being a devoted fan of Stella's, I couldn't put this down and loved every minute of it!Her heroine is back on the sleuth trail in a tale that whizzes her from her home in London to the US and even New Zealand.And the finale is a ripper!If you don't get the reference to 'the tour', then let me know - I was there!As with her previous books, also fills a big hole in the well-written lesbian fiction scene. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. England    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    4. Lesbian    5. Lesbians    6. London    7. Martin, Saz (Fictitious charac    8. Martin, Saz (Fictitious character)    9. Mystery & Detective - General    10. Mystery & Detective - Women Sleuths    11. Women private investigators    12. Crime & mystery    13. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General   

Reviews (3)

Witty writing and charming characters...
This is a book I enjoyed from cover to cover, largely due to the author's fresh style and non-stop sense of humor. It was a pleasure getting to know her resilient protagonist, Jess Shore, and her engaging gaggle of friends and lovers. Loved it, but.........
This book kept me interested.It fleshed out the characters well, gave pretty decent background, kept a good pace, and was a very good mystery. Loved Jess and Buster.Got more than a few chuckles, but.........as good as the book was, I felt let down in the last chapter.Is was as if Ms. Morris wanted to end the book in 225 pages or less, and she did.Would have liked to have read more about her relationship with Cat...oh, well, maybe next time.Still, a very good read.

A PI with endless quips!
Look out V.I. Warshawski, here comes Jessica George Shore-ex-Canadian cop turned PI. She not only flys her own plane but has a large canine sidekick named Buster. Jess Shore spends her time between Toronto and Provincetown and this book takes P-town by storm. When a popular restaurant owner is whacked into a coma, PI Jess needs to find out who did it. The book is fast-paced and the cast of characters and endless quips keep you chuckling while you read. The heroine is all too human right down to her committment avoidance and migraines. I left this one wanting to read more of the friends and family of Jess Shore. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - Romance    3. Lesbians    4. Mystery fiction    5. Provincetown (Mass.)    6. Romance - Adult    7. Romance - General    8. Women private investigators    9. Crime & mystery    10. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (1)

Rough Justice
"Rough Justice" crossed legal, biological, and marine life all into one novel.I loved the mystery between the characters and their development throughout the book.I wished she wouldn't have made her characters so timid, aloof.The lighthouse and island were a fantastic setting.I enjoyed it for it many professional facets. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Fiction / Lesbian    4. Fiction / Romance / Contemporary    5. General    6. Mystery & Detective - General    7. Mystery/Suspense    8. Lesbianism    9. Modern fiction    10. Northwest, Pacific    11. Pacific Northwest    12. Romance - Contemporary   

Features

• Bargain Price

Reviews (18)

can't put it down
I'll fully engrosed with this mystery.Can't wait to see how it ends.

Not a great start
This is my first Muller book and it was not a great start.I was engaged at first and read rapidly making mental notes of the characters and locales so I could absorb the details and emerse myself in the story.Halfway through the book it occurred to me that things were not coming together.The secondary characters never moved to the forefront.But most disappointing was the ending.The book just stopped.There was not a final wrap-up where the police and the surviving characters reflect on the past or project the future.This is not a spoiler, but be aware that it is never explained why Ardis acted like she does.She has no personality beyond the way Carly, her lesbian partner, and Matt, her ex-husband, see her.Even her daughter has remarkably little to say about her.The book would have been so much better if the focus had been the complex Gwen/Ardis and included her thoughts and point of view.Why was she so restless and uncomfortable to the point that she rearranged the lives of other people?What made Ardis so endearing that others wanted to protect and keep her - except her parents?Was it her sexual orientation, her sexual confusion, or, as I suspect, did sex have nothing to do with it?
This is a remarkable novel of true lives and complexities
greed, corruption, hate and murder take a back seat to the true lives and the complexities of people who enter into troubled relationships.
Read more

Subjects:  1. California, Northern    2. Fiction    3. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    4. Lesbians    5. Missing persons    6. Mystery & Detective - General    7. Mystery/Suspense    8. Runaway wives    9. Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General    10. Bargain   

Reviews (2)

Bad Pilot Treatment
I've read worse. Not by much, granted, but I have read worse. Two major flaws were the superficiality of the characters and overly self-aware use of "clever" language. One assumes there would be more depth to the follow-up novel, now that we all know who's who and what each character means to the other. The author should consider dropping the lesbian bit, as it reads like what it is, a man's PC attempt at portraying a lesbian. Or perhaps just the characterization of Bird as a controlled machine is the problem, since none of her relationships seem to involve, well, her.

Niiiice Characters!
My favorite character has to be the "pacifist" who doesn't use bullets, but carries a gun, does random yoga positions at random times and thinks everyone is reincarnated--and still recovers people who owe bail money! He is such a classic character--as are all the characters in this book. He'll keep you laughing all the way through...so if you're looking to laugh out loud, this is a good way to relax after work :) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. Fiction - General    3. Lesbian    4. Mystery & Detective - General    5. Crime & mystery    6. Fiction / Lesbian    7. Literature of special Lesbian interest   

Reviews (1)

Danger in High Places Doesn't Live Up to Its Potential
Danger in High Places is set in 1993 and features Alix Nicholson, a freelance photographer who travels from Iowa to Washington, DC to snap photos of the AIDS quilt.As supporters for funding for AIDS research are reading the names of victims, a woman interrupts the reading to shout her opposition to AIDS funding when so many women were dying of various cancers for which there was little research funding.Alix is drawn to the woman and invites her to stay the night with her when it turns out that Sandra has no where to stay.Sandra is angry, mysterious, and piques Alix's interest and lust.During the next week, there is a murder, an arrest, and a confession.Alix is also drawn to a Congresswoman's aide and spends the night with her, too.While all this sounds interesting, even intriguing, the author was unable to make the reader care about any of the characters, from the murder victim to Alix.They are all cardboard characters and as the book progresses, the readers indifference grows.While I did finish reading the book, it was more because I wanted to know if the denouement was going to be as predictable as the characters were lackluster.It is to the author's credit that there was just enough of a twist at the end to be interesting although she pulled the murderer out of nowhere and didn't play fair with the reader by providing enough clues to even suspect the murderer.There are better written mysteries, there are better plotted mysteries, and there are more finely drawn characters in mysteries available.But if you're starved for a lesbian protagonist and a non-Naiad-formulaic read, this just might be your cup of tea. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Mystery & Suspense Fiction    2. Detective and mystery stories    3. Fiction    4. Fiction - Mystery/ Detective    5. Fiction / Lesbian    6. Mystery & Detective - General    7. Mystery/Suspense    8. Modern fiction    9. NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt    10. Photographers    11. Washington (D.C.)