The Pink

From the Lambda-Award winning author of the Boystown Mysteries, Marshall Thornton comes this tale of a gay Pinkerton agent coming to terms with his sexuality as he solves cases. Set in 1913 in Chicago, Lewis Wait is tricked into becoming a Pink when his middle-class mother claims to be having money troubles and insists that he leave his studies and take a job. Conveniently, she’s arranged an interview with the Pinkertons where his late father was employed. Instantly, he plans to do everything he can to fail at being a detective. Despite, his desire to return to his studies, Lewis discovers his natural talent for deduction.

Not content with her machinations, Lewis’ mother introduces him to “new woman” Edna Riggins whom she thinks is a fellow teetotaler. Despite his disinterest, Edna ferrets out that Lewis is a fellow invert and proposes a white marriage. Which Lewis agrees to after meeting her attractive brother. As all of this happens, Lewis juggles several cases as well as correcting the dreadful grammar of his fellow agents. When Lewis’ mother discovers Edna is not temperance she attempts to end the engagement but Lewis stands firm, even as his job grows more dangerous and there are threats on his life.