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Dan Randolph and Greg Zhu are a married gay couple thriving in Louisville, Kentucky. Dan, a dedicated Presbyterian minister, and Greg, an accomplished professional violin maker, are navigating the complexities of their lives together. Recently, Dan has felt that he may be inadvertently holding back Greg’s career since Greg has not won any awards since they became a couple. This realization has created some stress for Dan. Greg heads to Anaheim for a convention, and Dan soon joins him. While there, they reconnect with their long-time friend, Bill Sloan. During the visit, Bill discovers that his prized Jackson Stradivarius violin has vanished. Detective Jim Kavanaugh is brought in to lead the investigation and quickly learns that Greg was the last person in Bill's hotel room before the violin went missing.
In his book, Lee tackles critical issues such as xenophobia, homophobia, and anti-Asian sentiment. He firmly illustrates that while gay men may openly express their sexual orientation, they continue to face pervasive societal prejudice. Lee underscores a historical reality where gay men had to live in secrecy out of fear of arrest, and he highlights that, despite some progress, negative attitudes toward homosexuals persist. Furthermore, he confronts racism head-on, revealing how it distorts perceptions of an individual’s character. Lee emphasizes that many individuals are quick to judge others based on race and sexual orientation, which obscures their ability to recognize the person for who they truly are. This harmful tendency to generalize stifles genuine understanding and acceptance. Readers will find this book compelling and engaging, full of numerous twists and turns that maintain excitement throughout the narrative.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review