Published by Celadon BooksDate Published: 9 March, 2021
Pages: 272
Genres: Non Fiction, LGBTQ, True Crime
Format: Print ARC
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
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The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon.
The Townhouse Bar, midtown, July 1992: The piano player seems to know every song ever written, the crowd belts out the lyrics to their favorites, and a man standing nearby is drinking a Scotch and water. The man strikes the piano player as forgettable.
He looks bland and inconspicuous. Not at all what you think a serial killer looks like. But that’s what he is, and tonight, he has his sights set on a gray haired man. He will not be his first victim.Nor will he be his last.
The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the ‘80s and ‘90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the skyhigh murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten.
This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the Last Call Killer and the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Author/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.
My Thoughts
I’m a sucker for a good true crime book. And, when the chance to review this one came up, I was quite happy. What I wasn’t expecting? Was the learning experience I got from reading this book. Page turn, after page turn, opened my eyes to so much within the LGBTQ community.
The depth of detail within the history that Green brings the readers of this book is epic proportions. The crime within these pages is both emotional and horrific, swept under the rug more than it should have been. It’s most definitely eye opening, that’s for sure! The victims, the gay men that were targeted, really twisted my heart up!
This book by Green is one that everyone should read. Whether you’ve heard of the Last Call Killer, whether you are knowledgeable about the goings on of the LGBTQ communities within New York, or you are just looking for a well written, richly researched and beautifully executed book, I highly recommend that you give this one a go! You won’t feel the same when you are finished. Hats off to you, Green! Well done!
About Elon Green
Elon Green has written for the New York Times Magazine, The Awl, and New York. He is anthologized in Sarah Weinman’s Unspeakable Acts. He may also be found at Longform, where he’s been an editor since 2011.
Great review!