Murder in the Castro: A Lou Spencer Mystery [Paperback]

Elaine Beale (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

First novelist Beale introduces amateur sleuth Lou Spencer, a red-headed British transplant who works as office manager for a nonprofit antihate organization in San Francisco. Lou begins her sleuthing career when police accuse her best friend, a gay co-worker, of murdering his ex-lover?also a co-worker. Lou must battle phone harassment, police bigotry, political tensions, and her growing attraction to a Latina cop to expose the real culprit. Solid work, decent plot, and an engaging protagonist recommend this for most collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: New Victoria Pub (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934678871
• ISBN-13: 978-0934678872
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,965,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elaine Beale grew up in East Yorkshire, England. She studied creative writing at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and was the winner of the 2007 Poets & Writers California Exchange writing contest in fiction. She lives in Oakland, CA.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two very enthusiastic thumbs up, fine holiday fun!, November 9, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Murder in the Castro: A Lou Spencer Mystery (Paperback)

Finally a well-written, fun and suspenseful mystery set in the Castro district of San Francisco. The author does an excellent job of telling the stories and lives of her gay and lesbian characters. I felt like I knew each character on an intimate level. By injecting the uniquely British wit of the protaganist, this book deals with the controversial issues of anti-gay crime, domestic violence, police brutality and political corruption while still being highly entertaining and humorous. I couldn't put it down! Buy this book as a holiday gift for your closest queer friends. They'll love you for it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it even if you don't like mysteries!, November 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Murder in the Castro: A Lou Spencer Mystery (Paperback)

Lou Spenser's dogged investigation into the death of her co-worker is suspenseful, witty, and sexy. If you have ever had a thing for lesbian cops this is your chance to indulge yourself! The characters are believable--you'll feel as though you know them, and you'll definitely want more Lou Spenser mysteries. Ms. Beale has to provide us with them!