Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York

By Elon Green

Book Overview

**WINNER OF THE EDGAR(R) AWARD FOR BEST FACT CRIME**

A "terrific, harrowing, true-crime account of an elusive serial killer who preyed upon gay men in the 1990s."
-The New York Times (Editor's Pick)

"In this astonishing and powerful work of nonfiction, Green meticulously reports on a series of baffling and brutal crimes targeting gay men. It is an investigation filled with twists and turns, but this is much more than a compelling true crime story. Green has shed light on those whose lives for too long have been forgotten, and rescued an important part of American history."
-David Grann, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon

The gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon.

The Townhouse Bar, midtown, July 1992: The piano player seems to know every song ever written, the crowd belts out the lyrics to their favorites, and a man standing nearby is drinking a Scotch and water. The man strikes the piano player as forgettable.

He looks bland and inconspicuous. Not at all what you think a serial killer looks like. But that's what he is, and tonight, he has his sights set on a gray haired man. He will not be his first victim.

Nor will he be his last.

The Last Call Killer preyed upon gay men in New York in the '80s and '90s and had all the hallmarks of the most notorious serial killers. Yet because of the sexuality of his victims, the skyhigh murder rates, and the AIDS epidemic, his murders have been almost entirely forgotten.

This gripping true-crime narrative tells the story of the Last Call Killer and the decades-long chase to find him. And at the same time, it paints a portrait of his victims and a vibrant community navigating threat and resilience.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250224357
• ISBN13: 9781250224354
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Celadon Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.2" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Superbly written true crime story of queer NYC

Thank you to Celadon Books and BookishFirst for an advance reading copy of Last Call. The cover of Last Call shows a dark ominous nocturnal picture of Manhattan. Last Call is a superbly written and meticulously researched true story of a serial killer who preyed on gay men in NYC in the 80s and 90s. This book took three years to write and after reading it, I can understand why. The author delves deeply into the lives of the victims, such that the reader can appreciate who they were and what placed them in the path of the killer. These men, whose lives were taken so violently had friends, family and people who loved them. Although the background and life of the murderer was explored in depth, I appreciate how the author did not focus solely on the killer, and gave the majority of his attention to the victims. Last Call sheds light on the deplorable treatment of LBGTQ+ people and why their safety concerns were not taken seriously. The AIDS epidemic was raging at the time, which added to the fear of, and violence against, members of the queer community. The historical context provides a better understanding of why it took so long to bring the killer to justice. Last Call evokes great sadness in learning how so many people existed in the shadows, not able to live fully, due to hatred and homophobia. The loss of life due to both the killer and the AIDS epidemic is heartbreaking. The resilience of the queer community was inspiring to read about, as was the persistence of some of the law enforcement officers in finding the killer. Last Call held my interest from beginning to end. It was fascinating and compelling. Highly recommended for readers who are interested in true crime and LBGTQ+ history and rights. #ReadLastCall #CeladonReads #partner @CeladonBooks