Author Description

Kate Martinelli, heroine of Laurie R King's new thriller Night Work is a high-profile San Francisco homicide detective simply because she is the one out lesbian in the job; inevitably she spends much of her social life with other high-profile lesbians such as her own lover's ex, minister Roz, and is caught up in the tos and fros of the lesbian and gay political and artistic scene. When she finds herself investigating a series of vigilante killings of wife-beaters, rapists and child abusers, she has to ask herself serious questions about her loyalties, particularly when Roz is preaching powerful sermons about the vengefulness of God the Mother and pursuing what seems to be a case of bride-burning in the South Asian community. And are the killings the darker face of a series of feminist pranks against abusive man carried out by the guerilla group called the Ladies of Perpetual Disgruntlement? This is a serious-minded, but entertaining thriller about a conflict of duties and about some serious issues--when you know your cause is just, just how far do you go? Kate Martinelli is more than a poster-child lesbian cop; she is a sincere and passionate viewpoint character caught in intriguing puzzles and dilemmas. --Roz Kaveney