Book review:

February, 1987 . page 11

Lesbian Mystery is a Thriller

by Linda Markin

Between Angela Landsbury’s "Murder,

She Wrote" and Barbara Wilson’s novels.
I'm becoming a mystery fan. Barbara
Wilson’s first feminist thriller could also deal
with political and psychological complexities.
In her second whodunit, Sisters of the
Road, Wilson has again taken on some tough
issues and kept up a steady, engrossing
mystery plot as well.

When a young woman is brutally
murdered on the Seattle streets, Pam Nilsen.
super-sleuth, goes in search of the victim's
best friend, Trish Margolin, and the
murderer. Along the way, Nilsen encounters
teenage prostitutes, other runaways, and a
few feminist professionals -- a lawyer and a
social worker who know more about the

In Memoriam

I lost a friend a few weeks ago. No,
not to AIDS although it seems as if we
are all losing people we know to AIDS.
No, this was something much simpler. He
got drunk one night, fell down and died a
couple of days later. He was 20 years old -
full of life - full of energy - full of love.
He first walked into my office over a year
ago and announced that he was a member
of the gay community and was proud of it
and thought it was great. I agreed and
asked if he was having any problems with
being gay. He said no but just wanted me
to know, and he wanted to know that he
could come periodically just to talk. His
decision to be in the Gay/Lesbian Pride
Celebration Parade this past summer was a
big decision. He carried his sign "Just
looking for a few good men" with that
wonderful and mischievous smile on his face.
He was at times outrageous, at times
flamboyant, at times scared but always proud
- proud of his uniqueness, proud of his
wonderfully supportive non-gay friends he
had helped to understand what being gay
was all about. He was planning to talk with
his parents this coming summer - at least to
his Mom. And we had spent some time
discussing this.. Hiding his gayness from his
family hurt, "straightening" up his room was
hard on his friends, not having him come
back after semester break WI“ be devastating
- losing a proud, happy, loving and caring
Young man from our already small
community is indeed a sad loss - he will not
soon be forgotten as he enriched all of us
who knew him and shared in his life, his
energy and his pride at being gay.

Dave

world of prostitution than she does

Many substantial issues surface during
the course of the story, and Wilson does an
excellent job of voicing different points of
View without succumbing to didacticism or a
tedious debate. Questions concerning
prostitution, pornography, violence against
women, class, and choice are woven into the
story. Because each of Wilson’s very
believable characters speaks from her own
experience, the reader comes away without

easy answers but satisfied that the
complexities involved have been portrayed
justly. The integrity of the mystery plot holds
these voices together.

Le_sbian content and subplots are
minimal in Si§.tsLL2f_ths_R2ad. but main
characters are lesbian. and that sensibility
informs the novel. Pam Nilsen, lesbian
feminist super-sleuth. is my lcind of hero.

 

O



.35 Pearl Street

Womyn’s Dance Feb. 6th, 5-9 p.m.

TWISTED LOVE

Valentine’s Day Dance

February 14th, 9 to closing

Open 7 Days a Week
Mon.- Fri. Open at 5pm
Sat. + Sun. Open at 8pm

0 Downstairs ls Open Tues., Thurs., Fri.. and Sat.

Burlington, Vermc nt

Now if only Jessica Fletcher...

Tues. Ed's $1 Bud Night
Wed. Ladies Night
Thurs. Boys Night Out

       

O

O

.802 863- A343