Allusions:  LGBTQ Writing

Ann Aptaker - A Crime of Secrets (A Donner & Longstreet Mystery Book 1)

Allusions: LGBTQ Writing

Show Notes

Lambda Literary Award-winning author introduces readers to the crime-fighting duo of Fin Donner and Devorah Longstreet—Lovers. Investigators. Women ahead of their time.

New York City, 1899—a city on the cusp of a new century. A city growing taller, faster, a city of new inventions, new ideas—and old dangers on its shadowy streets where crime, misery, and murder lurk.

When Pauline Godfrey, a young woman embodying the coming modern age, is viciously murdered, her throat cut, private inquiry agents Finola “Fin” Donner and Devorah Longstreet must navigate a world of violence and passion, lust and betrayal, where duty is twisted into bitter obedience and love is soiled.

Fin, a tough survivor of the dockside slums, and her beloved companion, the elegant, intellectual socialite Devorah, probe deep into the festering secrets of a family, the rot and corruption of the police department, and the sinister world of the city’s thieves, whores, and thugs to find the killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Allusions: LGBTQ Writing

Sep 11, 2026

After the death of his husband, Ethan Marris leaves New York for Washington, D.C., hoping to begin again. He accepts a position as Compliance Officer at St. Jerome's Medical Center, once considered the region's most prestigious hospital. Around him, America's healthcare system is struggling to rebuild after a political movement dismantled decades of federal oversight.

Apr 29, 2026

It’s 1989, and Joe Agabian and his best friend Ronnie set out to spend their first summer working in the hedonistic gay paradise of Fire Island Pines. Joe is desperate to let loose and finally move beyond the heartbreak of having lost his boyfriend to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Apr 11, 2026

Detective Rory Scott was in college when six-year-old Savannah Armitage vanished and the body of a missing teen was found nearby in a shallow grave. The case went unsolved, but Rory’s mother's partner, Stephen, was convicted in the court of public opinion. When Rory’s mother refused to leave him, Rory broke familial ties.

Mar 18, 2026

Queer people spend around $100 billion annually on travel, and are twice as likely as the general population to hold a passport. In short, they love to travel! Despite their lavish spending, queer travelers are often underserved. They are either overlooked when it comes to travel guides, or are encouraged to stick to a handful of "safe” destinations. This conventional wisdom doesn't build their confidence or validate their identities. Nor does it teach them how to advocate for themselves as travelers or plan off-the-beaten-path adventures to new places. And, with the advent of anti-LGBTQ+ policies across the United States and elsewhere, travel has become more fraught than ever for queer individuals. Weaving personal experience with data and interviews, (Out) On the Road empowers LGBTQ+ travelers to face their fears, expand their comfort zones, find community, and thrive on the road. This book provides readers with a framework for planning travel, navigating risks, and becoming self-reliant. Written in a tone that centers female and nonbinary points of view, (Out) On the Road offers a deep dive into the queer travel experience.

Mar 14, 2026

A young, aspiring writer desperate for a break…and the legendary Andy Warhol superstar who gave him the story of a lifetime.

See all episodes →