Mystery Review: Fadeout is the first of twelve in the Dave Brandstetter series. Dave isn't really hard-boiled, he's no Mike Hammer, but he's tough and no-nonsense; won't start a fight but he can finish it if he has to. He's also gay. Despite the hype this isn't (so far) in the league of other Los Angeles detective authors like Raymond Chandler, Ross MacDonald, or Walter Mosley. Joseph Hansen (1923-2004) can write a nice description, but generally the style is workmanlike and serviceable. The real strength of Fadeout is the well-developed characters, and even more so the relationships between those characters. Additionally, there's value in the representation of a tough, gay detective who loves and has desires and relationships, in 1970. Perhaps that's why Fadeout has been reissued several times since its original publication. Despite a couple of twists, the mystery is secondary to the story as a whole, but that's not a drawback. This is only the first. I'll be reading more in the series, curious to see what comes next. [4★]
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