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Paul Turner #2
Political Poison
Did someone in Chicago hate a city alderman enough to kill him? Chicago police detective Paul Turner is assigned the case and discovers that jealous professors and old-guard politicians have guilty secrets to protect. And Turner is not your ordinary cop. He's a widower who happens to be gay and trying to raise his two teen-aged sons.
208 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1993
3 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Mark Richard Zubro
48 books50 followersAuthor also writes as: Mark Zubro.
Mark Richard Zubro is an American mystery novelist. He lives in Mokena, Illinois and taught 8th grade English at Summit Hill Jr. High in nearby Frankfort Square, Illinois.
Zubro writes bestselling mysteries set in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County area, which are widely praised as fast-paced, with interesting plots and well-rounded, likeable characters. His novels feature gay themes, and Zubro is himself gay.
His longest running series features high school teacher Tom Mason, and Tom's boyfriend, professional baseball player Scott Carpenter. The other series Zubro is known for is the Paul Turner mysteries, which are about a Chicago police detective. The books are a part of the Stonewall Inn Mystery series, published by St. Martin's Press. Zubro won a Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's Mystery for his book A Simple Suburban Murder.
Series:
* Tom Mason and Scott Carpenter
* Paul Turner
I am the author of twenty-four mystery novels and five short stories. My book A Simple Suburban Murder won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's mystery. I also wrote a thriller, Foolproof, with two other mystery writers, Jeanne Dams and Barb D'Amato. I taught eighth graders English and reading for thirty-four years and was president of the teachers' union in my district from 1985 until 2006. I retired from teaching in 2006 and now spend my time reading, writing, napping, and eating chocolate. My newest book, Another Dead Republican, is my thirteenth book in the Tom and Scott series which features as main characters, a gay school teacher and his lover, a professional baseball player. One of the keys in my mysteries is you do not want to be a person who is racist, sexist, homophobic, or a school administrator. If you are any of those, it is likely you are the corpse, or, at the least, it can be fairly well guaranteed that bad things will happen to you by the end. And if in my books you happen to be a Republican and/or against workers' rights, it would be far better if you did not make a habit of broadcasting this. If you did, you're quite likely to be a suspect, or worse.
Mark Richard Zubro is an American mystery novelist. He lives in Mokena, Illinois and taught 8th grade English at Summit Hill Jr. High in nearby Frankfort Square, Illinois.
Zubro writes bestselling mysteries set in Chicago and the surrounding Cook County area, which are widely praised as fast-paced, with interesting plots and well-rounded, likeable characters. His novels feature gay themes, and Zubro is himself gay.
His longest running series features high school teacher Tom Mason, and Tom's boyfriend, professional baseball player Scott Carpenter. The other series Zubro is known for is the Paul Turner mysteries, which are about a Chicago police detective. The books are a part of the Stonewall Inn Mystery series, published by St. Martin's Press. Zubro won a Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's Mystery for his book A Simple Suburban Murder.
Series:
* Tom Mason and Scott Carpenter
* Paul Turner
I am the author of twenty-four mystery novels and five short stories. My book A Simple Suburban Murder won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's mystery. I also wrote a thriller, Foolproof, with two other mystery writers, Jeanne Dams and Barb D'Amato. I taught eighth graders English and reading for thirty-four years and was president of the teachers' union in my district from 1985 until 2006. I retired from teaching in 2006 and now spend my time reading, writing, napping, and eating chocolate. My newest book, Another Dead Republican, is my thirteenth book in the Tom and Scott series which features as main characters, a gay school teacher and his lover, a professional baseball player. One of the keys in my mysteries is you do not want to be a person who is racist, sexist, homophobic, or a school administrator. If you are any of those, it is likely you are the corpse, or, at the least, it can be fairly well guaranteed that bad things will happen to you by the end. And if in my books you happen to be a Republican and/or against workers' rights, it would be far better if you did not make a habit of broadcasting this. If you did, you're quite likely to be a suspect, or worse.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2015
3.5 stars
Book two in the Paul Turner series and it was ok but not as enjoyable as book 1.
This book sees Paul trying to solve the murder by poisoning of a local politician. At first he doesn't seem to have any enemies just the usual people that liked him and people that didn't, but bit by bit Paul and his police partner Fenwick discover the truth of the politician's life and the reason why someone wanted him dead.
The main focus in this story is the mystery. We do get to see Paul as a family man and single dad with his two sons but we don't get to see much of him with his boyfriend Ben. The mystery hits the ground at a fast pace but becomes a bit dry and starts to drag half way through.
The ins and outs of the political system and the many characters and past and present politicians made the story very confusing and other elements added to the feeling that the story dragged. For example, the author always describes the routes the police take as they are driving through the Chicago. This might well give the story a sense of place but I found it boring and unnecessary.
So it was ok but not a favourite from this author. Having said this I really like the characters so I shall definitely continue with this series.
Book two in the Paul Turner series and it was ok but not as enjoyable as book 1.
This book sees Paul trying to solve the murder by poisoning of a local politician. At first he doesn't seem to have any enemies just the usual people that liked him and people that didn't, but bit by bit Paul and his police partner Fenwick discover the truth of the politician's life and the reason why someone wanted him dead.
The main focus in this story is the mystery. We do get to see Paul as a family man and single dad with his two sons but we don't get to see much of him with his boyfriend Ben. The mystery hits the ground at a fast pace but becomes a bit dry and starts to drag half way through.
The ins and outs of the political system and the many characters and past and present politicians made the story very confusing and other elements added to the feeling that the story dragged. For example, the author always describes the routes the police take as they are driving through the Chicago. This might well give the story a sense of place but I found it boring and unnecessary.
So it was ok but not a favourite from this author. Having said this I really like the characters so I shall definitely continue with this series.
December 10, 2012
Definitely not his best one in the series.
June 25, 2019
the writing style was still not to my liking.
And once again
And once again
October 10, 2020
Not sure you my favorite Zubro character is, Paul Turner or Tom Mason. they are both a modern day Hercule Poirot!
February 23, 2023
Extra star for all the domestic scenes with Paul, Ben, Brian and Jeff, but overall this wasn't a memorable read, I think because I wasn't engaged with the murder victim or the mystery.
December 1, 2013
In this second Paul Turner mystery we find Detectives Turner & Fenwick investigating the murder of a professor/alderman Gideon Giles. Gideon seems to have been poison with a substance in the vile health concoction that he drank each day. We begin to learn that Gideon Giles had political dreams beyond his current position and used causes and people for his ambition. Paul and Buck learn that the Chicago machine is in full force and some don't want the detectives to learn how far the corruption goes in the investigation of the alderman's death. On a personal not Paul's met the man of his dreams in the form of Ben Vargas. Ben is an auto mechanic who Paul went to school with and now has been dating for 6 months.Ben loves Paul's kids ( Brian & Jeff) and Rose Talucci(the next door neighbor who watches the boys) have been trying to get the men together. Ben & Paul have admitted they love each and we wait for their next step.With threats to the Detectives lives in the form of being attacked by gun fire, Paul & Buck are anxious to solve this case and get back to their families.So, sit back and enjoy the twists ad turns of this latest Turner mystery. It's indeed a good read!
June 4, 2013
Kinda torn on this one. I didn't like how it ended, pretty sloppy summed up in less than 1 page, and not a good enough reasoning for a murder for me.
But the characters are what made this the most memorable... Paul Turner, widower, and recently out of the closet is a detective. His two sons, Brian and Jeff, are both lovable with Jeff being handicap and who doesn't love a rising special olympics basketball star?!? The next door neighbor, Mrs. Talucci, acts as a mother hen and protector with mob connections. And the hot thirty-something mechanic, Ben, who is Paul's lover and can charm us all.
Takes place in Chicago and I loved the scenery; felt like I was walking and driving down the street with him.
Will definitely be reading more by my new favorite author, Mark Richard Zubro.
But the characters are what made this the most memorable... Paul Turner, widower, and recently out of the closet is a detective. His two sons, Brian and Jeff, are both lovable with Jeff being handicap and who doesn't love a rising special olympics basketball star?!? The next door neighbor, Mrs. Talucci, acts as a mother hen and protector with mob connections. And the hot thirty-something mechanic, Ben, who is Paul's lover and can charm us all.
Takes place in Chicago and I loved the scenery; felt like I was walking and driving down the street with him.
Will definitely be reading more by my new favorite author, Mark Richard Zubro.
March 13, 2012
Pretty good gay mystery in Chicago police detective Paul Turner tries to figure out who killed a professor/alderman. The background stuff that doesn't change much between books was copied and pasted from the first book. Grrr. Strangely not feeling the urge to check more of this series out from the library... And seriously - why would someone try mouth-to-mouth on someone who was poisoned?!
April 21, 2016
I started off enjoying this book but by the end it had lost me. The authors description of Chicago was like reading a street directory with some travelogue passages. We didn't need to know what each character wore and as for the American political system incomprehensible just stick to a murder mystery and stop trying to do too much
December 1, 2013
*****Did review of the e-book edition and have read the paperback edition review is sqme.
September 7, 2014
The story isn't as good as the first one I read. It seems to have had a bit of a rushed ending. I do appreciate that being gay is the side story and not the main event.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews