by Matt Lubbers-Moore
Here is this month’s look at Queer Mystery books coming up in January of 2023!
Repatriate by Jaime Maddox
Out January 10, 2023, Bold Strokes Books
Fresh out of rehab, disgraced physician assistant Ally Hamilton is trying to reinvent herself while working as a home health aide. But it’s not easy to start over, and Ally isn’t sure which way to go. Her new job takes an unexpected twist when she discovers a fortune in stolen artwork lining the walls of her patient’s mansion. Now, she has a chance to do something truly noble if she can avoid the wrath of the violent man who stole them. But repatriating the masterpieces before her patient succumbs to his illness and she loses access won’t be easy.
Chasing Liberty by Isabella
Out January 13, 2023, Sapphire Books Publishing
Liberty “Libby” Chase’s name an explosion of patriotism from her military father and her yuppie, free-loving mother. Her name emerged from a drug-induced haze her parents floated through the night she was conceived. Life threw her a curve ball when she was born with fiery red hair and a too-tall gene, striking an intimidating figure. Morgan Pierce is a corporate lawyer who has mapped out the path her life will take. So far, it’s working out as planned, and she is on track to make partner in her firm. That all-but-certain end is called into question when an unexpected revelation rocks her world off its axis. When a fatal car crash with suspicious origins makes it clear that Morgan’s life is in danger, these two women from different worlds must work together to figure out who wants Morgan dead…and why.
Another Dimension of Us by Mike Albo
Out January 17, 2023, Penguin Workshop
In 1986, Tommy Gaye is in love with his best friend, budding teen poet Renaldo Calabasas, but at the height of the AIDS crisis and amidst the homophobia running rampant across America, Tommy can never share his feelings. Then, one terrible night, Renaldo is struck by lightning, and he emerges from the storm a very different boy. In 2044, Herron High student Pris Devrees jolts awake after having a strange nightmare about a boy named Tommy and a house in the neighborhood the locals affectionally call “The Murder House.” When she ventures to the house to better understand her vivid dreams, she happens upon an old self-help book that she soon realizes is a guide to trans-dimensional travel. As bodies and minds merge across the astral plane, Pris, Tommy, and their friends race to save Renaldo from a dangerous demon, while uncovering potent realities about love, sexuality, and friendship.
Shock to the System by Richard Stevenson
Out January 17, 2023, ReQueered Tales
Donald Strachey is asked to investigate the suspicious death of Paul Haig by three different people: Haig’s homophobic mother, his ex-lover, and the psychiatrist hired to “cure” him of his homosexuality. Just as he gets started, however, all three remove him from the case, leaving Strachey with a brutal murderer that now everyone wants left alone.
And
Chain of Fools by Richard Stevenson
Out January 17, 2023, ReQueered Tales
Private Investigator Donald Strachey is asked to look into the events surrounding the months-old murder of Eric Osborne. His death, originally believed to be a random attack, takes on new significance when Janet Osborne, Eric’s sister, survives an attempt on her life. Skeeter, Eric’s lover, believed both attacks were meant to silence them before the sale of their family’s newspaper. Drawn into a complex family feud, Strachey must unravel the secret behind the attacks before the killer tries again.
Carmilla: the First Vampire by Amy Chu
Out January 24, 2023, Berger Books
Before Dracula, before Nosferatu, there was…Carmilla. At the height of the Lunar New Year in 1990s New York City, an idealistic social worker turns detective when she discovers young, homeless LGBTQ+ women are being murdered and no one, especially the police, seems to care. A series of clues points her to Carmilla’s, a mysterious nightclub in the heart of her neighborhood, Chinatown. There she falls for the next likely target, landing her at the center of a real-life horror story and face-to-face with illusions about herself, her life, and her hidden past. Inspired by the gothic novel that started the vampire genre and layered with dark Chinese folklore, this queer, feminist murder mystery is a tale of identity, obsession and fateful family secrets.
Happy of the End by Ogeretsu Tanaka
Out January 24, 2023, KUMA
Dazed and confused, Chihiro awakes on a pile of garbage with memories of a wedding still fresh in his mind. When out of the blue, a young man named Keito appears before him. Instantly, he then recalls the night he spent with this person. The booze! The hotel! The punch to his face! Chihiro may not have a place to call home currently and Keito may not be a good person by any means, but maybe the two of them could be happy together.
Other LGBTQ+ releases:
Bloodlines and Shrines by Myosotis, out January 1, 2023
Dinner and Diatribes: Stay Grounded by B. H. Lynn, out January 11, 2023
Jon and Mack’s Terrifying Tree Troubles by AJ Sherwood, out January 13, 2023
Tropical Newton by Tetilla B., out January 17, 2023
Beloved Enemy by Elizabeth Whitaker, out January 17, 2023
Avenging Kelly: the Lonely Heroes by Sam Kraemer, out January 23, 2023
Inevitable Disclosure by Nicky James, out January 30, 2023
Dick and Dom Raise Hell by Skylar Sweeney, out January 31, 2023
Click on this link to take you to Mysterious Galaxy’s website where you can purchase many of these books & a portion will go to help support KRL:
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.
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