My Policeman
My Policeman is a 2012 historical romance novel written by Bethan Roberts. It is set in Brighton, East Sussex, England, in the 1950s.
This article is about the novel. For the film adaptation, see My Policeman (film).Authors
Plot summary[edit]
The novel is set in Brighton in 1957.[2] Tom Burgess, a policeman, is coming to terms with his sexuality.[2] Marion, a schoolteacher, falls in love with him oblivious to his homosexuality tendencies. Tom explores gay love with Patrick Hazelwood, a museum curator but, because of the social constraints of the era, Tom and Marion get married, even though Tom still has feelings for Patrick.[2] Tom is torn between the safety his marriage to Marion offers him and his attraction to Patrick. When Marion becomes jealous, she exposes Patrick and gets him arrested for indecency.[3] This causes a permanent split in Tom and Patrick's relationship and building tension in Tom and Marion's marriage.
Critical reception[edit]
The novel received positive reviews in the press. Writing for The Guardian, Natasha Tripney said the style was "fluid and tender".[2] In The Independent, Richard Canning wrote a positive review, suggesting the novel had "a strong period feel and a sprightly structure."[3] Moreover, he added that the "euphemistic references to homosexuality and rich period slang" were congruous.[3]