Review: “Looks Are Deceiving”
A cozy mystery/thriller with an unlikely and admirable hero and a meaningful message
This was my eighteenth book I chose via the Reedsy Discovery program, for which I am the single approved reviewer for this new book. I chose it because the preview was interesting, and I love diversity in characters I read about. This review also appears on Reedsy.
If you’re interested in becoming a Reedsy reviewer (and have the chance to get paid “tips” to review books!) check it out here.
The Premise
Will’s humdrum life takes a swift turn when he stumbles across the dead body of a young Latino man, whom he soon learns was gay. A middle-aged gay Latino himself, Will feels personally connected to the murder case — especially as he had an experience in his past with the death of a friend to a hate crime. Thinking this situation may be similar, Will is determined to get to the bottom of the matter — even if it means putting himself in danger. With the help of his new boyfriend José, he uses his connections and natural charm in the community to go digging for clues. But will he undercover more than he can handle?
The Pros & Cons
This was a cozy mystery/thriller with an unlikely and admirable hero (a gay older Latino), and a meaningful message.
Despite the subject matter being so heavy — hate crimes and the seedy underbelly of the online dating world (particularly for gay men) — our hero Will is a witty, snarky pleasure of a character to experience.
The novel’s preview drew me in immediately, because a typical crime fiction usually features a “hard-hitting-take-no-prisoners macho male” (if it’s a crime/thriller) or a “cute-but-kicks-ass female” (if it’s a cozy mystery). Will is neither of those and far off the spectrum of what you’d expect for the genre, which I absolutely loved.
He is clearly admired and respected in his community, and jumps into action to save those who need his help — both the young men whose deaths he wants to avenge, as well as the married antagonist-turned-acquaintance who is struggling with his sexual identity. I also liked the role José played in this — their swift love connection seems too good to be true, and Will’s past history of heartbreak clouds his vision as he doubts their budding relationship. Will’s sister rounds out the cast nicely, bringing joviality and overbearing sibling behaviour home to the reader’s heart.
Overall it was a charming read, with just enough of a who-dunnit thrill to hold the reader’s interest without going too dark down into the rabbit hole of guts and gore. I love these kind of stories, as they leave room for humour even when danger and death are afoot.
At the same time, among the levity, there are heartfelt, moving moments when we get insight into Will’s past or glimpses into the lives of those who were murdered, and these highlight that hate crimes are all too real in our society today. We are also reminded that one’s sexual identity can have a crushing impact on a family, particularly among the Latino community due to religious and cultural beliefs.
Admittedly, there were some parts of the narrative where too much exposition hindered the storytelling. We get insight into the killer from the outset with the future-jumps into his mind, and I kept thinking this viewpoint would connect to the first-person narrative from Will, but this conversation never actually seems to come to pass between the two disparate persons and timelines. It felt like an added overture of a crime-show-TV staple (“Criminal Minds” is even casually mentioned), and honestly without any of that, the story still would’ve worked well, as it was fabulous on its own with Will at its helm!
Conclusion
Despite my personal preferences of flow and cadence for storytelling, this novel was an enjoyable ride overall. The author manages to effectively balance a difficult blend of humour while addressing serious issues. I was also thrilled to see this kind of hero, as it’s not often we get such a trifecta to admire in terms of diversity.
Will used all of these identities/roles to enhance his sleuthing ability — being able to connect with other Latino families, moving easily between straight and gay communities, and carrying himself with the respect that an older and accomplished academic deserves and expects. This was great to experience, and I can imagine this character having many more adventures. It seems like there is a sequel or series coming up, and I would be thrilled to keep on reading. I would recommend this book to others, and look forward to more from this author.
