Nonfiction
Katherine V. Forrest: A Critical Appreciation

by Phyllis M. Betz
McFarland, February 2017, $35

There’s no doubt that For rest, an important figure in the development of lesbian genre fiction and the author of some excellent police procedurals about LA cop Kate Delafield, is worthy of a full-length study. Betz draws on her extensive correspondence with Forrest while discussing contributions to romance and science fiction as well as mysteries. Especially outstanding is the account of the development of Delafield’s character from book to book and the challenges that escaping the closet presents to a female police officer. Occasional slips into the negative features of academic scholarly writing (dissertation-style organization, over-elaboration of obvious concepts, wordiness and jargon) should not turn off fans or general readers. The very readable and knowledgeable discussion of the novels should inspire many to discover or rediscover Forrest’s work.

Jon L. Breen

There’s no doubt that For rest, an important figure in the development of lesbian genre fiction and the author of some excellent police procedurals about LA cop Kate Delafield, is worthy of a full-length study.

Teri Duerr
5878
Betz
February 2017
katherine-v-forrest-a-critical-appreciation
35
McFarland