My Policeman


My Policeman is a 2012 gay-themed novel written by Bethan Roberts. It is set in Brighton, East Sussex, England, in the 1950s.

Plot summary

The novel is set in Brighton in 1957. Tom Burgess, a policeman, is gay. Marion, a schoolteacher, falls in love with him nonetheless. So does Patrick, a museum curator.> Because of the social constraints of the era, Tom and Marion get married, even though Tom is only in love with Patrick. When Marion becomes jealous, she exposes Patrick, who gets arrested for indecency.

Critical reception

The novel received good reviews in the press. Writing for The Guardian, Natasha Tripney said the style was "fluid and tender". In The Independent, Richard Canning wrote a positive review, suggesting the novel had "a strong period feel and a sprightly structure." Moreover, he added that the "euphemistic references to homosexuality and rich period slang" were congruous.