Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An anonymous investigator delves into a MacGuffin of a murder designed to showcase her outrageous lifestyle. A postmodern girl living in a postmodern world, the unnamed protagonist of Dorsey’s series debut is a social worker who thinks about posting a classified ad for sex work in order to make her rent at Epitome Apartments. Although being ambisexual could double her client base, she’s dragged out of her fantasy when her powers of observation and general free time are called on to solve a crime. Her neighbor and sort-of-friend, who’s nicknamed Hep for her resemblance to Katharine Hepburn, learns that her granddaughter Madeline Pritchard’s body has been found in a river and seeks someone who can get to the bottom of things. An actual sex worker, not just one in her head, Maddie had been busy getting off drugs and trying to make something of herself. Who would’ve wanted to kill someone life had already brought so low? Through a series of facetiously titled chapters—such as "Underwear Is My Baby Tonight?"—the heroine dives into the case, ably supported by the requisite cast of unusual secondary characters. These include her friend and neighbor Denis, described as “the guy the term flaming faggot was invented to describe”; her cat, Fuckwit, whom she tries to rename Bunnywit so as not to offend her relatives; and a homeless woman–turned–potential love interest. The amusement these descriptions inspire may well predict different readers’ enjoyment of the whole story. A strained but relentlessly clever read. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

An anonymous investigator delves into a MacGuffin of a murder designed to showcase her outrageous lifestyle.A postmodern girl living in a postmodern world, the unnamed protagonist of Dorseys series debut is a social worker who thinks about posting a classified ad for sex work in order to make her rent at Epitome Apartments. Although being ambisexual could double her client base, shes dragged out of her fantasy when her powers of observation and general free time are called on to solve a crime. Her neighbor and sort-of-friend, whos nicknamed Hep for her resemblance to Katharine Hepburn, learns that her granddaughter Madeline Pritchards body has been found in a river and seeks someone who can get to the bottom of things. An actual sex worker, not just one in her head, Maddie had been busy getting off drugs and trying to make something of herself. Who wouldve wanted to kill someone life had already brought so low? Through a series of facetiously titled chapterssuch as "Underwear Is My Baby Tonight?"the heroine dives into the case, ably supported by the requisite cast of unusual secondary characters. These include her friend and neighbor Denis, described as the guy the term flaming faggot was invented to describe; her cat, Fuckwit, whom she tries to rename Bunnywit so as not to offend her relatives; and a homeless womanturnedpotential love interest. The amusement these descriptions inspire may well predict different readers enjoyment of the whole story. A strained but relentlessly clever read. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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The nameless narrator of this exceptional series launch from SF author Dorsey (Black Wine), a droll mix of mystery and metafiction set in an unnamed Canadian city, is an out-of-work social worker whose unemployment benefits ran out weeks earlier. She’s composing a classified ad to offer her sexual services when she gets a call to meet her old friend Hep Pritchard at the morgue. Hep’s granddaughter, Madeline, has been murdered. For the police, Madeline is just another dead, druggie prostitute, and pursuing her killer is unlikely to be a priority. Hep asks the narrator to investigate. As a friend remarks, “Hep needs someone who can ask hard questions to people without offending them. Nothing like a registered social worker to do that on an hourly basis.” From hanging out on street corners with prostitutes to attending glittering high-society charity balls with billionaire fraudsters, the always game protagonist proves herself to be a first-rate detective. Fans of unconventional mysteries will be richly rewarded. Agent: Wayne Arthurson. (Oct.)