Blackmail, My Love

A Murder Mystery

By: Katie Gilmartin

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Josie O'Conner travels to San Francisco in 1951 to locate her gay brother, a private dick investigating a blackmail ring targeting lesbians and gay men. Jimmy's friends claim that just before he disappeared he became a rat, informing the cops on the bar community. Josie adopts Jimmy's trousers and wingtips, battling to clear his name, halt the blackmailers, and exact justice for the many queer corpses. Along the way she rubs shoulders with a sultry chanteuse running a dyke tavern called Pandora's Box, gets intimate with a red-headed madam operating a brothel from the Police Personnel Department, and conspires with the star of Finocchio's, a dive so disreputable it's off limits to servicemen - so every man in uniform pays a visit.

Blackmail, My Love is a murder mystery deeply steeped in San Francisco's queer history. Established academic and first-time novelist Katie Gilmartin's diverse set of characters negotiate the risks of same-sex desire in a tough time for queers. Humor leavens the grave subject matter. Set in such legendary locations as the Black Cat Cafe, the Fillmore, the Beat movement's North Beach, and the sexually complex Tenderloin, Blackmail, My Love is a singular, visually stunning neo-noir experience.

©2014 Katie Gilmartin (P)2014 Audible Inc.

love this reader!!!

I found this book via another book that was good solely because of the audio performance. it's a great story that few could pull off. She nails the 1940s classic detective Rex Stout vibe.

I have no words for how good this book is

The narration, the story, everything was absolutely perfect ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I had so many emotions listening to this book and this time period until now and to think how things change but stay the same. Minority groups are still dying by the hands of people that are suppose to serve and protect. The fear that the LGBTQ+ community go through. its heart breaking. I can on and on but its to much for this review.

Film Noir for your ears

The writing for this story was very reminiscent of the old black and white detective movies. The narration was spot on for it too, setting the mood for the dame in the slinky dress to enter the smoky room, while the private dick eyed her gams. The fear is palpable, the emotions high, and the sex steamy and real. Revenge may not be sweet, but it's deserved. A gritty, well-done Audible.

Good Story

Very gritty and realistic. Great recreation of past era. Good performance from narrator. Really enjoyed this book.

Why did I wait so long to listen?!

The writing of Katie Gilmartin is so good.
The story will stay with me for a while.
The narration of Eva Kaminsky... she didn’t read this story to me. She transported me into this world and brought the characters to life. I heard them, not her voicing them.

I don’t know why I waited to listen to this title. I’m so glad I finally took the plunge. I wish there was more from this duo.

Really, really, so good.
The content was hard and has affected me. I will carry it with me. And isn’t that about the highest praise there is for a writer?! Wouldn’t have been the same with a lesser narrator. Excellent match.
Seriously, not enough good things to say about this one.

A roller coaster trip thru SF

Yes, it’s a murder mystery, but really it’s a love letter and cry of grief for the gay community of the 1950s. The mutual support, the finding oneself, and yet the constant fear of discovery, of losing everything to a police raid. The glamorous queens, the self-denial, the mistreatment, and the carving out of safe spaces. Beautifully evoked, heartbreaking.

it was way kool

I liked most of it and the different parts of it were awesome. I would suggest listening to it

More please?

I am looking forward to more of their collaboration. The narrator is fantastic and the book was good.

I love this story.

The narrator made me want to cast myself back in time to defend those who lived through the hell that many of us now take for granted. I was not sure what to expect with this story, but this first release by Katie Gilmartin was, I thought, wonderfully written. It is not the norm, and I think that is what made it an even better story.

A gem of a story

The narrator did an amazing job bringing each character to life, which helped me keep track of the many characters that would have otherwise been difficult for me to remember.

This story is at its core about community and love, and how integral those things are to finding joy, self acceptance, and self-actualization in the face of a world that would prefer you were dead. A reality that is unfortunately still especially relevant in 2023.

I initially struggled with the heavy-handed use of what I assume are accurate 1950s hard-boiled genre language, but I knew I’d finish the book once the main character described attending pretend “church” as a child with her older brother, Jimmy, whose disappearance drives the plot of the story. The reader learns about Jimmy through the main character’s memories of him and those of the characters she meets. The content of those memories and their consequences are what give this book its heart.