I straight up loved this book.  I don’t read a lot of mystery so it takes a bit of convincing to get me to pick one up.  Making it queer will do it 90% of the time though.  This one hooked me by saying: “Fortune Favors the Dead introduces Pentecost and Parker, an audacious new detective duo for the ages.  It’s 1942 and Willowjean “Will” Parker is a scrappy circus runaway whose knife-throwing skills have just saved the life of New York’s best, and most unorthodox, private investigator, Lillian Pentecost.”

It’s a classic film noir detective story, but Will is queer and she’s learning the ropes from this badass mentor who is struggling with chronic illness.  It’s told as a recollection from Will’s POV who says if she’s only ever going to tell the reader about one case she worked with Lillian, it’s got to be this one.  

Favorite Parts - Will going out dancing at a nightclub, seeing Lillian go into full on overprotective “touch my people and I will BRING YOU DOWN”.  Love that trope when it’s done well.  

Read This If You - are a fan of noir mysteries, want to see happy queers in historical settings, ever wanted to run away with the circus.