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knitterscasket's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, and Violence
camille_catterpillar's review
3.0
KEEPING SECRETS is a quick, entertaining read that feels like cuddling up on the couch to watch one of those trusted TV dramas (think the legal or police-type) and emerging from the experience with a profound sense of satisfaction.
It's an old-school police procedural in terms of style and pace, but with the refreshing twist of including an effortlessly diverse cast. I also appreciated that the police protagonist is a by-the-book cop and not yet another cowboy-cop.
The characters are sympathetic in a slightly archetypal way; the cynical itnrepid reporter, the disgruntled sleep-deprived cop, married to the job (until they meet), gym afficionadas. I like their relationship and their partnership and the frankness of their intimacy.
I found the ending and the villain to be bit formulaic and
I also found very interesting to see how much has changed since the nineteen nineties in terms of LGBTQ+ acceptance both inside and out of the community. Then, when I was too busy being an unborn foetus to be openly queer, the taboo was much heavier (though it still was in the schooldays before my teens) and the decision of coming out much more political and dangerous. I am also noticing acceptance of bisexuality seemed to still be pretty fringe within the queer community. (Of course, these observations are to be taken in the context of the society I personally live in and aren't true everywhere, as being openly queer is still dangerous in many places, including in some places in the US where the book is set.)
I have purchesed more of Mickelbury's Mimi&Gianna novels. Each novel focuses on a different marginalized community: closeted queer people, sex workers, mature women, the fringe side of the queer community. They have a clear social importance and I am very happy they exist.
It's an old-school police procedural in terms of style and pace, but with the refreshing twist of including an effortlessly diverse cast. I also appreciated that the police protagonist is a by-the-book cop and not yet another cowboy-cop.
The characters are sympathetic in a slightly archetypal way; the cynical itnrepid reporter, the disgruntled sleep-deprived cop, married to the job (until they meet), gym afficionadas. I like their relationship and their partnership and the frankness of their intimacy.
I found the ending and the villain to be bit formulaic and
Spoiler
the implication of madness in a case that was clearly a hate crime made me frown a bit. Violent homophobia can hardly be blamed on mental illness.I also found very interesting to see how much has changed since the nineteen nineties in terms of LGBTQ+ acceptance both inside and out of the community. Then, when I was too busy being an unborn foetus to be openly queer, the taboo was much heavier (though it still was in the schooldays before my teens) and the decision of coming out much more political and dangerous. I am also noticing acceptance of bisexuality seemed to still be pretty fringe within the queer community. (Of course, these observations are to be taken in the context of the society I personally live in and aren't true everywhere, as being openly queer is still dangerous in many places, including in some places in the US where the book is set.)
I have purchesed more of Mickelbury's Mimi&Gianna novels. Each novel focuses on a different marginalized community: closeted queer people, sex workers, mature women, the fringe side of the queer community. They have a clear social importance and I am very happy they exist.
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