Review: Widow in White

Title: Widow in White
Author: Evelyn Bond a.k.a Morris Hershman
Publisher: Avon
Copyright Date: 1973
Genre: Gothic Romance
Series? No

This was an amusing read. It had tons of problems (e.g. "I like my drinks and my women neat"), but it was so obvious about them, so comfortable with them, that I can't really bring myself to criticize it -- it is what it is, a wholly hegemonic 70s text. What is really interesting about this for me is that for the first time I know for sure that one of the romance novels I've read was written by a man. I didn't find out until I was finished and checking for the publication date, and I realized that Widow in White was copyrighted by a Morris Hershman. Not covering his tracks very well, but maybe he didn't need to in order to sell books. After all, I didn't think to check the copyright until after I was finished, and most people probably don't check at all. I've never willingly read a romance novel by a man, but I wonder how many I've read unknowingly? I'm also really interested in how his books are being marketed online -- as "mysteries" or "crime fiction," even though my book says AVON GOTHIC ORIGINAL right across the top. Maybe this is the reason he didn't WANT to be seen as a man -- maybe he just wanted to be able to write romance in peace.