I don’t really need to review A Queer Case: A Selby Bigge Mystery, because when I say what the premise is, most people will know immediately whether or not they want to read this novel. It’s Agatha Christie with a gay detective.
In 1929 London, Selby Bigge is unapologetically gay. But he knows he needs to be circumspect about his queerness, because it’s against the law. He runs into a fellow, Patrick, he went to school with who wants his help. Patrick hates his young stepmother and wants to reveal her as a gold-digger.
Patrick takes Selby along to dinner at the Ritz with his family. Selby’s willing to help because ever since their time at university, Selby’s had a crush on Patrick. Their meal is interrupted by a gossip columnist who’s out to ruin the new wife. Selby volunteers to help find out what’s really going on. Then someone’s murdered.
Author Robert Holtom has given us a classic cozy-style mystery with a modern protagonist. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the time period and setting — rich families with nasty secrets are the best kind of characters for this type of story. Everyone’s a bit terrible, except for Patrick’s fiancee Theodora, with a secret of her own.
The mystery was twisty, and I felt for Selby, hoping for romance against all odds. Here’s hoping we get more Selby Bigge Mysteries. (The publisher provided a review copy.)
English (US) · 