Thank you to Celadon Books and BookishFirst for an advance reading copy of Last Call. The cover of Last Call shows a dark ominous nocturnal picture of Manhattan. Last Call is a superbly written and meticulously researched true story of a serial killer who preyed on gay men in NYC in the 80s and 90s. This book took three years to write and after reading it, I can understand why. The author delves deeply into the lives of the victims, such that the reader can appreciate who they were and what placed them in the path of the killer. These men, whose lives were taken so violently had friends, family and people who loved them. Although the background and life of the murderer was explored in depth, I appreciate how the author did not focus solely on the killer, and gave the majority of his attention to the victims. Last Call sheds light on the deplorable treatment of LBGTQ+ people and why their safety concerns were not taken seriously. The AIDS epidemic was raging at the time, which added to the fear of, and violence against, members of the queer community. The historical context provides a better understanding of why it took so long to bring the killer to justice. Last Call evokes great sadness in learning how so many people existed in the shadows, not able to live fully, due to hatred and homophobia. The loss of life due to both the killer and the AIDS epidemic is heartbreaking. The resilience of the queer community was inspiring to read about, as was the persistence of some of the law enforcement officers in finding the killer. Last Call held my interest from beginning to end. It was fascinating and compelling. Highly recommended for readers who are interested in true crime and LBGTQ+ history and rights.
#ReadLastCall #CeladonReads #partner @CeladonBooks
#ReadLastCall #CeladonReads #partner @CeladonBooks