Reviews for Vermilion

The average rating for Vermilion based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-10-23 00:00:00 Chap Oner "The murderer had a weakness for boys ... and dirty politics. In Boston's steaming neon jungle, The Combat Zone, thrills are cheap, fast, and anyway-you-want-them. But when it comes to murder, nobody goes back for more ..." Dug this curious little first edition Avon paperback out from one of my storage boxes - thought after nearly 40 years it had been sadly neglected and needed to be read. Pretty basic murder mystery with the added bonus of a gay theme (still fairly rare at the time) which provides an interesting depiction of gay life in Boston circa late 1970s, especially potent as the novel was first published in 1980. The authors who make up the Nathan Aldyne by-line have taken a rather whimsical approach, making for a not very convincing plot and the characters, apart from odd couple Valentine and Lovelace, are not particularly well drawn. A pity because this could have been a terrific little thriller with more imagination. But still an entertaining and witty read which captures the period really well. My favourite line: "How could a woman with a repertoire of seven hundred show tunes be guilty of murder?" Points to the original publisher for the enticing cover design - even if the promo lines are wildly exaggerated and more than a little misleading! But that's how to sell a mass market paperback and probably the reason I bought it for a staggering $2.25, all those years ago!!

Review # 2 was written on 2012-08-06 00:00:00 Thomas Phelan Published and taking place in the early 1980s, this book is a bit of culture shock when it comes to representing the gay scene. Very un-PC. But that is also a big part of what I love about these vintage books: they represent the times as they were. Hustler/gay male prostitute Billy was freezing on the streets of Boston, trying to earn his living. When his body is later found on the lawn of a viciously homophobic Boston politician, the gay community is buzzing. Dan Valentine, bartender at the Bonaparte, a place for financially comfortable gay men, and his ex-turned-faghag Clarisse Lovelace, can't help but investigate when straight (and very nasty) police lieutenant Searcy comes gunning for Billy's killer. The pursuit of the mystery is very classic, with witty dialogue and clever repartees. Also a very satisfying and unexpected (if not entirely believable, IMO) solution to the mystery. A quick, enjoyable read. I spent this past Sunday lying lazily on the couch with it, and didn't regret a single lazy moment!