Mysteriously called to the old Stone Arch bridge one night
he searches for the anonymous caller who promised him the lead to a blackmail
story. As a powerful mid-American thunderstorm crashes down Todd encounters
another man who was also summoned to the bridge. Before they can talk another
figure appears and shoots the handsome young man Todd has just met on the
bridge. As Todd tries to make sense of the scene he dodges a shot and then is
knocked unconscious by a falling sign. As he comes to his lover, police detective
Steve Rawlins, charges to his side.
At the same time Kris Kenney, formerly known as Christopher
Kenney, is coping with thoughts of her future. As a teenager she had lost her
testicles in an accident. Later she makes the decision to change genders and is
in the midst of the process. Only partly transgendered she finds herself neither
a member of the gay nor straight world. She desperately wants to find love.
With Todd on the scene of a murder and even being shot at
the producers at the station are in paroxysms of joy. They have an eye catching
story that forces other news sources to reference WLAK.
When it turns out the murder victim was also gay the
producers are even more excited. Todd is the lead story newscast after
newscast.
There are tensions between Rawlins investigating the murder
and Todd investigating the story of the murder. While they love each other they
are equally passionate about their work.
Rawlins has another level of stress in his life as he is HIV
positive. It is an era when he could be out on the force but not open about his
HIV status.
The investigation requires Todd, Rawlins and Kris / Chris to
all consider their sexual orientations and how they fit into current society.
The investigation takes everyone into the world of the transgendered.
It is a good book and I am glad I read it. Were it not for
needing a “Z” post to finish the Crime Fiction Alphabet meme hosted by Kerrie
Smith at her blog, Mysteries in Paradise, I doubt I would have read the book.
I found myself forced to think about presumptions and
assumptions in the murder of a gay man. (Oct. 1/13)
****
My connection to the book is the city of Minneapolis. I have
traveled there numerous times over my adult years. Most recently, Sharon and I
were there last January. It is quite easy to get a good deal on hotel rooms in
Minneapolis in January.
Bill - Yes, I can well imagine that Minneapolis in January is not an expensive or hard-to-arrange trip... As to the book, it sounds like a thought-provoking look at assumptions as well as a murder investigation. I'm glad you found it worth the read.
ReplyDeleteBill, this sounds like a very good book. I like books that make you think and challenge your own assumptions.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for getting to the end of the Crime Fiction Alphabet.
Bill, congratulations on completion of a successful journey through the Crime Fiction Alphabet. I hope there'll be a round-up of the 26 books you read for this challenge.
ReplyDelete"Outburst" seems like an unusual crime story. I think writers are experimenting, qutie successfully, with both the characters and plots of their novels. The only books I have read about a gay man is LAPD detective Milo Sturgis in the Alex Delaware series by Jonathan Kellerman.
Margot: Thanks for the comment. You should make a trip to Minnesota in January. It is a definite contrast to California.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time since I was as startled by the opening of a book as I was by Outburst.
TracyK: Thanks for the kind words. I do not go looking to be challenged when reading crime fiction but appreciate but pushed to think when it happens.
ReplyDeletePrashant: Thanks for the congratulations. The crime fiction world has stretched to include all the types of people in the real world.
ReplyDelete