Be Gay, Do Crime

Llewellyn and Buckley (Peach Pit: Sixteen Stories of Unsavory Women) offer a new eclectic anthology of 16 short stories by queer authors, including Myriam Gurba, Emily Austin, Alissa Nutting, and Francesca Ekwuyasi, who offer intriguing takes on the myriad reasons why queer people might engage in crime. Some of the crimes in these stories are intentional, such as those committed by a character who purposefully steals things, and some are unintentional (or at least the characters want the actions to be portrayed that way). “Wild and Blue” by Aurora Mattia showcases the trans experience through the lens of a Bonnie-and-Clyde story, where stealing drugs is merely a symptom of life. In another story, “Redistribution” by Temim Fruchter, the main character balances out the losses perceived in their life with vigilante theft. “Wild Ale” by S.J. Sindu showcases how a queer couple drifting apart can come together by inciting a food fight of sorts.