Reviews

Murder at the Nightwood Bar by Katherine V. Forrest

orinposner's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A pulpy but well-written and interesting murder mystery with a lesbian detective, a lesbian victim, and a lesbian community.

"To be filed away in the records of a police station – I guess that's more immortality than most of us will ever have."

Gently melancholic, this detective novel addresses important issues (though triggering: child abuse), and represents lesbian lives as complex, deep and varied (though limited to Los Angeles in the 80s). I enjoyed reading it, found the characters rich and their struggles realistic.

This is better than the first book in this detective series (Amateur City), but I found both enjoyable and an easy read. I liked how this book very-briefly referenced the events of the previous one, but it definitely also works as a stand-alone.

angelsays's review

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

caitlinattemptstoread's review against another edition

dark hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

generaljinjur's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use

stefhyena's review against another edition

hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A very satisfying book that is easy to read. Short, clear chapters lead into each other.

There's some police bruality which is never OK and ideologies backing that up (eg aghast when one of Kate's new friends does not have good security on her home). Noone in the book seems to have good professional boundaries.

There's a sex scene, it's right for its context. The crime itself is disturbing but mostly bad things happen to bad people. Published in 1984 and ahead of its time, this sort of story would be more common and expected to be more subtle now. I think I will try to read more of these.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse

whyismybookshelfnotchaotic's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.5

emilymhb's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oof this is a well done, fascinating mystery, but there is some heavy, disturbing content in some detail, FYI: a serial child molester and incest perpetrator. Anyone picking this up should be prepared. The murder victim is also a lesbian sex worker. 

It was so interesting to get a view into this 80s dyke bar, especially the kind of one that has scrabble, coffee, and lesbian magazines. I wanna go there!! 

The murder Kate is investigating takes place just outside this bar -- The Nightwood -- and it brings Kate's personal and professional selves in awkward proximity. The bar's patrons and owner were drawn in characteristic stark honesty, as were other major suspects and witnesses. And the killer, holy shit what a sad twist. 

There are a few missteps here again re: race as well as in the book's treatment of sex work. Like, "well-meaning" comments about how beautifully exotic mixed race people are and how sad it is that some women have to resort to sex work. 

I'm definitely continuing with this series, but I think I need a break first! This case is featured in the newest Kate Delafield book published this year so I might jump around and read that one next! I'm so curious to see how Kate grows. 

Btw, Kate Zane does an incredible job with these books as the audiobook voice actor. 

undertheteacup's review against another edition

4.0

Forrest's books, aside from being satisfyingly well-written, also provide a fascinating window into the past and what life was like for a more-or-less out lesbian in 80s Los Angeles. It feels like holding something very precious in one's hands. I kept thinking... this person was there. This is their perspective on what it was really like.

The book very openly deals with homophobia and lesbians' vulnerability to state violence. It was also interesting to see the gay/lesbian solidarity in the form of the AIDS fund, and one of the most moving PRIDE scenes I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

The author takes some cringe-worthy steps dealing with race though. She fetishizes and exoticizes a mixed-race love interest for the main character, and the pure and innocent-looking young murder victim turns out to have an older Black lesbian basically playing the Mammy role in her life.

appeal: California queer history, lesbian bar culture, lesbian detective, police procedural