The Affair of the Porcelain Dog by Jess Faraday

A tale of Victorian suspense, shortlisted for the 24th annual Lambda Awards, and narrated by actor Philip Batteley.

London, 1889. For Ira Adler, former rent-boy and present plaything of crime lord Cain Goddard, stealing back the statue from Goddard’s blackmailer should have been a doddle. But inside the statue is evidence that could put Goddard away for a long time under the sodomy laws, and everyone’s after it, including Ira’s bitter ex, Dr. Timothy Lazarus. No sooner does Ira have the porcelain dog in his hot little hands, than he loses it to a nimble-fingered prostitute.

As Ira’s search for the dog drags him back to the mean East End streets where he grew up, he discovers secrets about his own past, and about Goddard’s present business dealings, which make him question everything he thought he knew. An old friend turns up dead, and an old enemy proves himself a friend. Goddard is pressing Ira for a commitment, but every new discovery casts doubt on whether Ira can, in good conscience, remain with him.In the end, Ira must choose between his hard-won life of luxury and standing against a grievous wrong.

THE AFFAIR OF THE PORCELAIN DOG is available from Audible.

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Jess Faraday is the author of two novels (including the Lambda-shortlisted Affair of the Porcelain Dog), three book translations, a handful of short stories, and numerous nonfiction articles. She also moonlights as the mystery editor for Elm Books.