A review by ominousjorts
Fadeout by Joseph Hansen
5.0
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. I really didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did in the end, mostly because of when it was originally published (1970!) and because of horror stories I had heard about perpetually morose LGBT fiction featuring impossibly unfortunate situations designed seemingly to punish the characters.
In comparison this book was an absolute delight. Despite serious themes, it never let itself get lost in the depressive reveries that plague more recent works in the genre. It was fun and silly, a real romp, but it was equally touching, and the problems the characters faced genuinely inspired my sympathy.
I don't want to misrepresent this book. At its heart it is a faintly ridiculous private investigator mystery set in small town California, with a gay principal character. However, it is in my opinion an excellent mystery, and I think I might genuinely be in love with Dave Brandstetter.
In comparison this book was an absolute delight. Despite serious themes, it never let itself get lost in the depressive reveries that plague more recent works in the genre. It was fun and silly, a real romp, but it was equally touching, and the problems the characters faced genuinely inspired my sympathy.
I don't want to misrepresent this book. At its heart it is a faintly ridiculous private investigator mystery set in small town California, with a gay principal character. However, it is in my opinion an excellent mystery, and I think I might genuinely be in love with Dave Brandstetter.