Transitory

This book is about Gay people in New Orleans. Mickey is a private investigator and gets caught up in a murder investigation she witnessed or a Trans woman. She is also hired to find a grandson of a very bigoted woman. The plot involves both cases and intermingles Mickey's investigation of the murder and the missing grandson. Mickey is a 40ish gay woman and cares deeply for the gay community. Her caring is very evident when she will not drop the case of murder even though the police do not care. I found the book very enlightening and the characters made the book come to life. I recommend this book for all caring readers.

Michael Wells via NetGalley

I love the Mickey Knight books so there is no surprise that I liked this book too. I think Mickey is getting better as time goes on and I was pleased to see Cordelia in the story too. Mickey sees what turns out to be murder and even though it is not her case, she works to find out what is going on because the police just wrote it off...Mickey figures it out and gets the answers for her family. I love this character and will always read this series. Well worth the time and effort.

Shelley Murphy via NetGalley

Transitory is a very well written PI noir mystery...It's a long running and extremely well plotted series featuring a competent, intelligent, and intrepid PI in her late 40s, well established and ethical. In some ways the style and realism remind me of Sara Paretsky's excellent Warshawski novels, this series featuring New Orleans and Paretsky's featuring Chicago. The settings are well rendered and indelibly woven into the story.

Although it's the 11th book in the series (there are also short fiction pieces collected in anthology form as well), it works perfectly well as a standalone read.

The story contains several different disparate threads which intertwine into an overarching mystery. It's an intricate plot, but not overly complex or difficult. The author does a good job of describing the often stark daily realities of LGBTQIA+ people, especially PoC, where they intersect with the official police and government. As such, much of the book is quite distressing and sad. Many (most?) of the characters are gay and/or trans, and generally speaking, there's a distinct contrast with the straight characters. There's a lot of discussion about wealth and class disparity and racism in addition. Despite that, this is a phenomenally well written book, with a satisfying denouement and resolution.

With 11 books and some shorter fiction pieces in the series, it would be an excellent choice for public library acquisition, or a long binge/buddy read.

Four and a half stars. Excellent. Recommended for fans of PI noir...

Annie Buchanan via NetGalley

Transitory is a murder mystery that begins all to familiarly for people in the queer community with the death of a black transwoman being ignored by the police after it is witnessed by private detective Micky Knight. The case leads her back into contact with an ex she hasn’t gotten over yet and neck deep into old New Orleans’ family and criminal drama as she attempts to solve the murder.

This was my first encounter with Micky Knight, the character created by J.M. Redmann. She has appeared in 10 other books, and I think one of the great things about the book was that while I could feel the history of what may have happened in those other novels, I never felt like I was missing anything. I could understand the main character and everything that was happening without any need for a backstory exposition. This is a rare thing in a book series, and I greatly appreciated it.

I am doubly glad of that because it let me slide into a masterfully told mystery that feels grounded in reality, from the nuts and bolts of how Micky does her job, to the relationships in the community she lives in , all the way to the heartache of a person you still love that keeps showing up in your life even though they are no longer with you. Then there is the city of New Orleans which feels like a character in the story unto itself. You feel like you are walking down the streets or having a beer with the inhabitants. You feel like it’s your home when you see it through the eyes of Micky Knight.

The case itself, well two cases that ended up interwoven, are both ones that are based on things that queer people encounter all too frequently. The book opens with the detective witnessing a hit and run that the police refuse to take seriously because they write it off as a transwomen sex worker being hit. The second case details Micky being hired by a grandmother to find a person that she kicked out of her home for being gay. It is a sad fact that most books that feel accurate to the queer experience, always have trauma and abuse but the subjects are handled well. I really loved this one and might have to go looking for some of the other Micky Knight books.

Kathryne Lentes via NetGalley

I absolutely love Micky Knight mysteries and have read every single one. I enjoyed every single minute reading this one. JM Redman does not disappoint as usual and has written another amazing piece.

BONNIE KAY A via NetGalley