Faraday, Jess. The Affair of the Porcelain Dog. Valley Falls, NY: Bold Strokes Books, 2011. Paperback. 236p. $16.95. ISBN: 978-1-60282-230-6.
The summer of 1889 finds Ira Adler is living in luxury as the kept boy and confidential secretary to London crime lord Dr. Cain Goddard. Born and raised in the slums of Whitechapel, 25-yearold Ira is trying to decide whether he
loves Cain or merely the luxurious life Cain provides him.
Cain‘s life is in danger of unraveling, however, due to the theft of a porcelain dog that contains details of the risqué life that led to his dismissal from a teaching position at Cambridge. Sent to retrieve the porcelain dog from a pawn shop, Ira is interrupted by Cain‘s rival‘s lover, Dr. Timothy Lazarus, who is, as chance would have it, Ira‘s ex. After a struggle, Ira gains possession of the dog only to have it stolen by a nimblefingered yet surprisingly strong prostitute.
Feeling the need to redeem himself, Ira sets out to track the dog down in the complex and dangerous underworld of London.
Help appears in the form of Cain‘s rival, Andrew St. Andrews. He, too, is being blackmailed with evidence hidden in the dog. Unexpectedly, Ira‘s childhood friend Nate appears with information both useful and confusing.
Opium, a gay brothel, an Afghan war hero, martial arts, and a men-only restaurant all play a part in the mystery.
Along the way Ira discovers things about himself and his relationship with Cain.
The Affair of the Porcelain Dog is an excellent mystery. The characters are complex and in general not what they seem on first sight. Many unexpected twists and turns keep the novel intriguing right up to the end. The historical setting of late Victorian London is portrayed accurately.
It is recommended for mystery collections at public libraries, especially those in gay- and lesbian-friendly areas, and college and university collections.
Jess Faraday has written several short stories and translated three books. This is her first novel. It is also available in Kindle and Nook editions and as an eBook from the publisher.
Reviewed by Paul Hubbard
Retired Public Reference Librarian