I just finished reading/devouring the first six installments of the Boystown series. In three days! Yes, the series is that good. Now I have to find a way to do justice to the books without giving all kinds of spoilers. So I apologize in advance, if I fail at that.
Boystown is a neighborhood in Chicago, named that for the concentration of gays and gay businesses in the area. It was one of the first recognized gay villages in the USA.
Our hero is Nick Nowak, a Polish former cop. When he and his progressive boyfriend were gay bashed, Nick is outed against his wishes. The Chicago PD is notoriously corrupt, but it’s the standard anti-gay attitudes of the day that force Nick to resign.
He might as well have died in that attack as far his Catholic family is concerned. Not only do they refuse to have a “fag” in their family, but he chose to become a private eye.
The Boystown stories follow Nick as he solves crimes, finds the missing, and saves lives. This is a series of detective stories and should not be mistaken for a romance, although there are elements of romance present.
The stories take place in the early 1980’s, when I was still in high school. All the little bits of news that get thrown in to establish the era are things that I remember: the attempted assassinations of President Reagan and the Pope, the Tylenol poisonings.
With the exception of GRID. It was called AIDS by the time I was aware of the disease syndrome.
The way the different characters deal with the disease varies from “I’ve either already got it or I don’t” to “I’m never having sex again.” In between are men who chose how their life would end, men who find God, and men who learn how to use a condom.
This was an era when condom use was mainly to prevent pregnancy; although it was mentioned in high school health class, very few people were using them to prevent the spread of STDs. Maybe that was different in the cities.
Nick is a complicated man capable of fidelity, but not always practicing it. A “happily” closeted man, forced out by someone he trusted. A protector, who loses that sense of personal rightness when forced to protect himself and others. But overall, a good man as even his harshest critic is eventually forced to admit.
If you haven’t read the series, you should give the first story a try. You won't be able to stop there.
This is gay fiction, not m/m romance. So leave your expectations at the door.
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