Easy Street
Posted by Editor Alexandra Wolfe | Filed under Book reviews
Title: EASY STREET
Author: Elizabeth Sims
Publisher: Alyson Books, 2005
ISBN: 978-1555839260
Rated: 3 Stars
Genre: Mystery
Elizabeth Sims is the author of three previous books in the Lillian Byrd Crime Stories series: Holy Hell, Damn Straight, and Lucky Stiff. With the release of Easy Street Sims stretches her literary muscles in what may very well be the best Lillian Byrd novel.
Although Easy Street is the fourth in this wickedly funny, gumshoe detective series, don’t hesitate to pick it up even if you haven’t read the first three books. Easy Street stands on its own and new readers will be able to dive right into Lillian’s Detroit world.
What’s it about? Well, our main character Lillian Byrd just can’t catch a break. After three novels she’s still down on her luck: broke, single, horny, and having bad things happen to her every time she turns around. Sounds like certain portions of my life so I can sympathize with Lillian.
She’s likeable. Despite getting kicked in the teeth over and over again, the dear thing continually tries to help those in more need than herself. Case in point: Lillian’s offered a job by retired police officer Erma Porrocks. All that’s required is a little handyman work on a house Erma’s recently purchased and is planning to renovate. Big-hearted Lillian wants to share the wealth and brings on some unauthorized, sub-contracted help in the form of Drooly Rick. Anyone with half a brain realizes that someone by the name ‘Drooly Rick’ is sure to drag bad luck with him wherever he goes, and sure enough, Drool boy gets whacked while working on the house.
From here on out things go downhill very quickly for Lillian. Once Drooly Rick’s body is found, along with a cache of stolen money, up pops a stunningly gorgeous vamp that Lillian is soon besotted with just to complicate things. Rightly so, as said vamp teases poor Lillian to her whit’s end with no release in sight.
And there’s more bad luck in store for Lillian. Erma is struck by a hit-and-run driver and seriously injured, landing her in the hospital for a time. Gangsters are looking for hidden treasure. The vampy girlfriend becomes more dangerous with each turn of the page, and to top things off her beloved pet rabbit, Todd, circles the drain waiting to pass over The Rainbow Bridge. Being Lillian’s best friend, she faces a tough decision concerning his outcome. Fans of the series will be glad to know that Lillian does Todd right in the end; but that’s all I’ll say on the subject.
Elizabeth Sims kicks poor Lillian to the ground in this novel and I’m not quite sure she rises back to the top just yet. It’s refreshing that Sims doesn’t find the need to complacently follow along with modern convention and simply write the happy ever after ending. Lillian is pushed to her limits and is now aware of the lengths she can go. In short, she’s not the same happy go lucky girl I met on the first page. She’s darker now.
This is primarily a mystery/murder novel. Lillian’s a lesbian, that’s for certain. But romance and sex take a back seat in Sims’ novel. If you’re looking for scorch-your-retinas sex scenes, this isn’t the book for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy murder mysteries with a lesbian protagonist, then this will be the right flavor for you.
REVIEWED BY JARRON ENNIS
Kissed By Venus is a web site for the discussion and promotion of lesbian literature. We publish lesbian fiction, articles, book reviews, and interviews.
