The Unexpected Heiress

4.5A few weeks ago I read [b:An Enchanted Beginning 32067313 An Enchanted Beginning Frank W. Butterfield https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474157809s/32067313.jpg 52712435] but his is the beginning, proper, of the Nick Williams Mysteries, and it serves as a set up, for what I suspect, will be the series as whole. In essence it's a bit of a gay fantasia of the 50's etc., or a could've, should've been of our recent past. What I mean by this is that though Nick et al. inhabit a recognizable, rooted in reality, and history San Francisco, he's also set up, and by extension his near & dear ones, as an openly gay man who, due to his socio-economic class, is almost immune to the repercussions of being “a lover of men”. Nick very firmly exists in 1950's America, and as such he's a witness or is on the receiving end of injustice, bigotry, and hatred, but thanks to his \(\)$ and [a:Frank W. Butterfield 6522971 Frank W. Butterfield https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1508622639p2/6522971.jpg] warm heartedness, he's able to be a bit of a Faery Godmother to a group of men who thought themselves without family and friendless due to whom they love. Nick, along with his inseparable Carter, provide a soft landing for many, and Nick indulges in matchmaking. This first installment, more than a mystery, is a ground laying for a couple of different interlocking stories some of which I'm sure will continue to play out in subsequent books. The heiress of the title is Nick's sister, who like most of the Williamses, has a colorful and sad story. Meanwhile, after another raid at a known gay meeting spot, Jeffrey, an attorney, Nick's former boyfriend, and stalwart friend, tasks P.I. Nick with finding out who, within the SFPD, is leaking information to the press. The publishing of photos on the front pages ruins people's lives, and Jeffrey has been an unwavering defender of these unfortunate souls. He also has skin in the game, as his current paramour, one Taylor Wells, is among the victims. The third strand has to do with the Hearst corporation and their brand of yellow journalism which Nick won't stand for. Like in RL all of these stories intersect, and weave. There is no real mystery and yet I had a satisfied smile. Nick and Carter will go on with their adventures, their chosen family, and friends. I like that Frank Butterfield has given these people a place where they're able to carve out a slice of happiness, one which was infuriatingly denied to many in real life, so why not? However don't think that it's all wine and roses. Nick is cantankerous, stubborn, and sometimes wrong; he and Carter sometimes have blowouts but later work them out. Their friends have ups and downs and though cushioned to the harshest of societies irrational judgments they still have toe a few lines and cross some Ts. Spending some time in Nick's world is just a nice respite where you know acceptance and the possibility of true love are around the next corner. For those looking for smex this is not the place, and I didn't miss it. The stories are told in the manner of B&W movies of yore, everything is more than suggested, with some heavy kissing, and some “rolling around”, but nothing descriptive. When the lovin' time comes it's curtains and walking up in each other's arms. Perfect.