Giovanni's Room

 Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin (1956) 192 pages

I listened to the audiobook on Libby narrated by Matt Bomer. It included an Introduction by poet Kevin Young that provided a lot of context. In a not-quite chronological narrative we meet David, a white American, having a "gap year" in Paris. There are conventional expectations back home and he is engaged to a young woman, but she is spending time away from him in Spain. David has a passionate affair with Giovanni, an Italian working in a bar in Paris. The two young men become roommates, but through self-denial and homophobia, David cannot admit that he is gay. When his fiancé joins him some sexist views come to light and a murder adds tension to the situation. The mysteries of the human heart are brilliantly explored by Baldwin.  

I Didn't Do It

I Didn't Do It: Thriller Writer Conventions Can Be Murder by Jaime Lynn Hendricks  325 pp.

The title pretty much says it all. Murder mystery and thriller writers are gathered in New York City for Murderpalooza, a convention of the industry's best and brightest and those who aspire to be them. The high point of the convention is the awarding of a prize for the best thriller author of the year. But the front runner is found murdered in her hotel room. Four other authors are receiving Twitter (before it was X) messages saying they may be killed next. Whoever is sending the tweets seems to know the dirty secrets of all four. They band together to find the murderer while still suspecting one of their group may be the killer. The twist at the end is somewhat of a surprise. It's a fun ride.