The Tuxedo Society
A Novel
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4.5 • 8 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
If Guy Ritchie directed a James Bond caper starring a queer 007, it might look something like this hilarious and action-packed spy thriller by Paul Rudnick, acclaimed screenwriter and author of Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style, that blends espionage and social commentary, with an elite, gay secret society.
They are fierce patriots. They are licensed to kill. And they are really, really gay. Welcome to democracy’s secret weapon, the Tuxedo Society.
When Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor making ends meet by working in a candle shop, gets invited to have dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock, his life takes an unexpected turn. What seems like a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails quickly spirals into a world of espionage, danger, and hilarity.
Andrew soon meets Reggie O’Malley, a Navy SEAL with a penchant for black tie, who recruits Andrew to join the society’s covert mission to protect national security. Armed with gadgets like an inflatable life raft backpack, a yoga mat that doubles as an assault rifle, and, of course, an AMEX Black Card, Andrew quickly finds himself tackling spies, thwarting assassinations, and facing a host of unexpected threats in settings from the White House to the Vatican to the Summer Olympic Games.
The stakes escalate when Andrew and his comrades are sent on a jet-setting mission to uncover the truth about an ancient artifact. Along the way, they clash with oligarchs, crooked senators, and a smarmy televangelist with sinister plans for world domination.
Packed with Paul Rudnick’s signature wit, The Tuxedo Society is a wild ride through decadence, danger, and unexpected heroism, as Andrew discovers that saving the world might just be the role he’s been waiting for.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This delightful espionage romp from screenwriter and novelist Rudnick (What Is Wrong with You?) combines brisk plotting, quippy humor, and an unexpected dose of patriotism. After aspiring actor and New York City candle shop clerk Andrew Birnbaum accepts his friend Brock's invitation to an elite gay dinner party, he's asked to work for the Tuxedo Society, a top secret, all-queer counterespionage team within the U.S. government. Members use unconventional skills like flirting, flower arranging, improv comedy, and online sex work to infiltrate the ranks of powerful global figures and uncover their secrets. Tasked with recovering an ancient, possibly magical artifact from a notorious smuggling ring at the behest of the first lady, the men (and one lesbian couple) of the Tuxedo Society circle the globe, learning along the way that the smugglers are more well-connected than they realized. Readers will forgive the goofy, far-fetched plot on the strength of its feel-good energy and Rudnick's boldly drawn heroes, who subvert the womanizing image of James Bond and celebrate the unique strengths of LGBTQ+ people without reducing them to hollow symbols of empowerment. By the time the finale rolls around, readers will be convinced this screen-ready adventure deserves a sequel.
