Murder On Camac
Murder on Camac. Yes, for any gay Philadelphian the title must give you pause and maybe even make you chuckle a little at its cleverness. While the Philly gayborhood may be bigger than in most cities, one of its most famous bars and danceclubs is named "Tavern on Camac." Notably, Camac is a small alley-esque street which makes it the perfect location for a gay bar...and for murder!
While the Tavern is mysteriously absent in this book, the Philly gay scene is front and center, as a prominent gay author is gunned down in the middle of said street. Famed Philly gay detective, Marco Fontana, is hot on the case after first being retained by the victim and then his lover. What Fontana uncovers is a mix of conspiracy theory and Catholic Church cover-ups as he delves into discovering why this old queen was gunned down in an alley.
Though Fontana is big on his investigation, he also owns a male strip company that works out of a large gay establishment in the city. The action is constantly bouncing back and forth between Marco being sexy detective and sexily running a strip troupe. Author Joseph R.G. DeMarco does a fantastic job of allowing us time to drool over Fontana and his boys with hefty, first-person descriptions of their physiques. One hopes that DeMarco can be retained to write gay.com profiles.
The setting of Philadelphia suits the story well, with both a well-established gay community and an entrenched Catholic presence. If you’re from the city of brotherly love, many landmarks were written into the tale, even including some gay establishments like the oldest gay bookstore in the country, Giovanni’s Room. Don’t be surprised if the gayborhood is far more exciting than in real life (though artistic license has always been taken in this regard...one wonders how Pittsburgh became the gay Mecca in Queer as Folk).
In comparison to famed gay detective Donald Strachey of Albany, Marco Fontana certainly jumps off the page in similar fashion. DeMarco does an excellent job of making him a little gritty, a hero, and entrepeneur without going too over the top. All in all, if you’re in for a fantastic gay adventure, Murder on Camac (which still makes us chuckle) will give you exactly the jolt you’re looking for.
by Joseph R.G. DeMarco
