Tropic of Murder

Nick Hoffman #6

by Lev Raphael

There's gold in them thar hills again, but only trace amounts in this sixth Connor Westphal mystery. No one in Flat Skunk, Calaveras County, California, puts much stock in old Sluice Jackson even when he's sober, but there's no denying that what he's just pulled out of his miner's poke has a persuasive shine to it. "Gold," says Sluice, displaying a tooth-sized nugget. First witnesses to the find-if indeed it is one-are Connor, demon reporter (sexy and deaf), and p.i. Dan Smith, her lover (an attentive hunk). Since both like bucolic Flat Skunk the way it is, neither feels sanguine about the prospect of prospectors descending en masse. And they're right to be concerned, since a virulent case of gold fever is accompanied by the expected vicious behavior. For starters, someone burns down Sluice's cabin. Then there's a pair of killings, brutal and inexplicable. Meantime, Josh Littlefield, an old college friend of Connor's, suddenly turns up in Flat Skunk-a "deafie" married unhappily to a "hearie." Could they be in any way connected to Sluice's strike? When Sheriff Mercer arrests Josh on a charge of homicide, Connor knows it's time to dust off her Nancy Drew cap. Legally perky Connor (Blind Side, 2001, etc.) continues to appeal despite criminally porous plotting.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Gay Fiction, LGBT

100 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2004

About the author

I've wanted to be an author since I was in second grade and fell in love with "The Three Musketeers", which I read to pieces. It hasn't been a swashbuckling life exactly, but one full of surprises, including recently selling my literary papers to Michigan State University's Libraries.

Since second grade, I've loved all sorts of books and have ended up writing nineteen books in many genres: memoir, mystery, short story collections, a children's book, and more. I've been an academic, a radio DJ, had my own talk show, and currently have three terrific giugs.

I write a monthly column for Bibliobuffet.com called Book Brunch. I blog at Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lev-rap...). And I do a monthly "Under the Radar" book review for WKAR 90.5 FM in East Lansing, MI. I'm always on the lookout for beautifully written books in any genre, but I more and more favor books from smaller presses, because they need more exposure.

I love reading my work and have done hundreds of readings on three different continents. Readings are performances, and I practice, practice, practice.

Reviews

[Neet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 6th Nick Hoffman mystery and we find Stefan & Nick taking a much needed vacation . The couple decide to go to Club Med for a winter break to get away from the mayhem and murders at SUM. I'm getting a little tired of the author repeating that Stefan looks like the actor Ben Cross in every book.Also, the tiresome put downs of those that don't meet with their approval is irritating. Of course murder and intrigue follow.Still a good read it you look past that.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok, but not good enough to make me want to hunt up other mysteries by this author. It seemed choppy, like it was thrown together of bits and pieces that didn't really all fit together. And the ending was dissatisfying, but in how quickly things fell into place and in how little closure I felt at the end.

[Bk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody does academic satire better or more thoroughly than Raphael.