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"It is the first serious, explicit, but non-sensational
JANUARY 1977
A GAY CRIME SOLVER
By Mitchell Menigu
Over the past few years Joseph Hansen has produced three crime novels with the same central character, Dave Brandstetter, a claims investigator for Medallion Insurance Company of Los Angeles. In order of their appearance, ideally the order in which they should be read, the novels are Fadeout, Death Claims and Troublemaker. They have been published by Harper & Row in its prestigious series of mystery novels under the label "A Harper Novel of Suspense."
What is especially noteworthy about the novels is the presence of the crime-solving Dave Brandstetter. Dave is a gay man in his mid-forties whose gayness has a bearing on the plots of all three novels. Dave is a man who is completely comfortable being gay, but his gayness is not without problems for him. Through the three novels, his personal life runs as a secondary plot to the detection stories. It is for that reason that I urge reading the novels in the order of their composition, even though each is complete in itself.
In Fadeout Dave is faced with
movie about homosexuality to be shown in this country." adjusting to the loss to cancer
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suggests to her a new path that leads to greater happiness in her life. The brief descriptive passages that set scenes are reminiscent of James M. Cain's and Raymond Chandler's methods of creating vivid impressions of Southern California in a period earlier than that in the background of Hansen's contemporary novels.
JOSEPH HANSEN
by JOSEPH HANSEN
In all three novels relationships between gay characters other than Dave form part of the plot structure. Troublemaker takes the reader most extensively into the gay world since its victim is half-owner of a gay bar and its denouncement takes place at a Mr. Marvelous contest. Particularly remarkable is Hansen's presentation of such a wide variety of gay people that by implication he challenges all
of his lover of many years. The situation is very similar to that facing Christopher Isherwood's George in A Single Man. While examining Dave's reactions to his loss is secondary instead of central as Isherwood's concern with George is, Hansen presents Dave sensitively and sym-stereotypes of gayness. pathetically portrays his feeling for his dead lover. The resolution of Dave's problem by his entering a new love relationship at the end of Fadeout sets up the examination of problems in sustaining the new relationship that forms a subplot in both Death Claims and Troublemaker.
I look forward eagerly to the next Dave Brandstetter story. Only Troublemaker is currently in print in this country. By going to two different branches of the Cuyahoga County Library, I was able to find the first two novels. Since then I have found paperback editions of those two in San Francisco published by Quartet Books of Great Britain. I seeking out Hansen's novels in the library or asking a friendly book store to order copies of the British reprints. The noveis deserve attention not only because they are pleasurable reading but because they promote a positive image of gay people.
All three novels succeed splendidly as stories of detec-urge tion. The crime plots are cleverly devised so that the reader has the pleasure of trying to outguess the author and his crime solver. Brandstetter solves crimes by doggedly pursuing leads and by using his ratiocinative powers to draw conclusions about the evidence he gathers. Dave is a hero because he uses his mind wel!, not because he faces danger constantly. There is surprisingly little violence in these novels
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Hansen writes well. He has created a company of interesting characters. Two others who reappear in all three novels are especially interesting. !. refrain from mentioning one of them for fear of spoiling some of the pleasure of Fadeout, but I
STUDENT DISCOUNT feel free to call attention to
Dave's Lesbian friend who offers him solace in his grief and comfort and advice in the later two novels when his personal life becomes difficult. In return Dave
JOSEPH HANSEN
by JOSEPH HANSEN