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Todd Mills Mystery #5
Innuendo
An Anthony and Edgar Award nominee, and the winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Closet and Outburst, R.D. Zimmerman, like Sandra Scoppettone and Michael Nava, marries the best of gay and mystery fiction in Innuendo, the latest in his acclaimed Todd Mills mystery series.
Glamorous, fabulous, and famous, A-list actor Tim Chase is in Minneapolis shooting his new film. Although he's married to Gwen Owens, herself a beautiful and talented member of the Hollywood elite, one question continues to follow him: "Is he gay?" As an investigative journalist for WLAK-TV, Todd Mills knows he's the perfect person to break the story, if he can get an interview with the reclusive star.
Todd's pursuit of the Chase story is tragically interrupted by the murder of a young runaway whom Todd and Todd's lover, homicide detective Steve Rawlins, both knew from their volunteer efforts at the local center for gay youths. As he investigates for WLAK-TV, Todd finds out that Rawlins knew the young man much better than he is willing to admit at first, and that Rawlins is trying to keep this embarrassing fact from becoming public.
A roller coaster of a mystery and a sharp assessment of gay life in America--and Hollywood--in and out of the closet, this latest entry into the Todd Mills series is R.D. Zimmerman's finest book to date.
Glamorous, fabulous, and famous, A-list actor Tim Chase is in Minneapolis shooting his new film. Although he's married to Gwen Owens, herself a beautiful and talented member of the Hollywood elite, one question continues to follow him: "Is he gay?" As an investigative journalist for WLAK-TV, Todd Mills knows he's the perfect person to break the story, if he can get an interview with the reclusive star.
Todd's pursuit of the Chase story is tragically interrupted by the murder of a young runaway whom Todd and Todd's lover, homicide detective Steve Rawlins, both knew from their volunteer efforts at the local center for gay youths. As he investigates for WLAK-TV, Todd finds out that Rawlins knew the young man much better than he is willing to admit at first, and that Rawlins is trying to keep this embarrassing fact from becoming public.
A roller coaster of a mystery and a sharp assessment of gay life in America--and Hollywood--in and out of the closet, this latest entry into the Todd Mills series is R.D. Zimmerman's finest book to date.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
5 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Zimmerman
22 books19 followersA pseudonym used by Robert Alexander
Award-winning author R.D. Zimmerman has been nominated for two Edgars, two Lambda Literary Awards, and an Anthony. He has written ten previous novels, including Tribe and Closet (1996 Lambda Literary Award winner) in the Todd Mills series, six children's books, and created six bestselling mystery jigsaw puzzles. Raised in Chicago, he now lives in Minneapolis.
Award-winning author R.D. Zimmerman has been nominated for two Edgars, two Lambda Literary Awards, and an Anthony. He has written ten previous novels, including Tribe and Closet (1996 Lambda Literary Award winner) in the Todd Mills series, six children's books, and created six bestselling mystery jigsaw puzzles. Raised in Chicago, he now lives in Minneapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Want to read
March 30, 2015Free on kindle 13th july 12
March 11, 2019
The continuing saga of Todd Mills!
Enjoying this trip back to the recent past, 3.5*
The one in which Todd and Rawlins both seem to go into self destruct on their relationship. They pried the lid off pandora’s box last time with the talk of opening the relationship.
Murder again is the main story, with lots of twists and turns and who’s and why’s. Also, the bonds of family are examined as Andrew’s death throws everything up in the air.
The murder is solved with a bit of subterfuge and Todd and Rawlins are tentatively going forward.
Enjoying this trip back to the recent past, 3.5*
The one in which Todd and Rawlins both seem to go into self destruct on their relationship. They pried the lid off pandora’s box last time with the talk of opening the relationship.
Murder again is the main story, with lots of twists and turns and who’s and why’s. Also, the bonds of family are examined as Andrew’s death throws everything up in the air.
The murder is solved with a bit of subterfuge and Todd and Rawlins are tentatively going forward.
August 25, 2022
Delightful story. The author wrote multiple character perspectives very well. Never a dull chapter, the plot was full of twists and tantalizing details.
December 10, 2012
Superb writing and plot development as well as characterization. Then why not 5 stars? Maybe I'm being too snooty about my stars, but I have to reserve them for something truly wonderful, and there are just a couple hitches with this book.
But that by no means should dissuade you from reading it. Zimmerman is a superb writer and crafter of detail. And while this book may be filed in the murder mystery section, it is more about love, trust and fidelity than it is about who done it.
No finer work have I read that delves into the issues of what makes relationships work, and the rocky road that Todd Mills and Steve Rawlins travel is realistically and lovingly portrayed.
Like any true murder mystery, we have a dead body by the second page. And we know that something is afoot by the end of the first chapter. If you have ever struggled through issues of fidelity and trust in your relationship, you will read nothing truer than the doubt and tricks the mind plays Zimmerman pens in these pages. And there's an excellent murder mystery mixed in to boot.
So why just four instead of five stars? Without giving it all away, let's just say I think Zimmerman didn't tie up all the loose ends as neatly as he should have. There is still one thing left unexplained, significant in my view. And the other problem is mere careless editing I think. And that is when we read the first chapter from Todd's point of view, we realize he is curious about Tim Chase: is the actor gay or straight? Good enough. But then we get to the chapter about Tim Chase and we get the same unnecessary information, or rather, the question is posed in a very bothersome and redundant manner. Minor yes, but with a writer of Zimmerman's caliber, I think he should have caught that.
But that by no means should dissuade you from reading it. Zimmerman is a superb writer and crafter of detail. And while this book may be filed in the murder mystery section, it is more about love, trust and fidelity than it is about who done it.
No finer work have I read that delves into the issues of what makes relationships work, and the rocky road that Todd Mills and Steve Rawlins travel is realistically and lovingly portrayed.
Like any true murder mystery, we have a dead body by the second page. And we know that something is afoot by the end of the first chapter. If you have ever struggled through issues of fidelity and trust in your relationship, you will read nothing truer than the doubt and tricks the mind plays Zimmerman pens in these pages. And there's an excellent murder mystery mixed in to boot.
So why just four instead of five stars? Without giving it all away, let's just say I think Zimmerman didn't tie up all the loose ends as neatly as he should have. There is still one thing left unexplained, significant in my view. And the other problem is mere careless editing I think. And that is when we read the first chapter from Todd's point of view, we realize he is curious about Tim Chase: is the actor gay or straight? Good enough. But then we get to the chapter about Tim Chase and we get the same unnecessary information, or rather, the question is posed in a very bothersome and redundant manner. Minor yes, but with a writer of Zimmerman's caliber, I think he should have caught that.
December 7, 2016
This novel further convinced me that I am the wrong audience for murder mysteries. The genre is so unrealistic and fanciful as to nearly fall into the category of fantasy literature, like the Harry Potter stories, the Ring stories, or other fairy tales. During my lifetime I have never known an ordinary schlub who solved murders, yet the murder mystery novel model is always built around an ordinary person doing just that -- the local cat lady, the newspaper reporter, the elementary school bus driver, the hiker, the avid knitter, the housewife, the cook, the computer hacker, the university professor, etc. The whole genre is too far away from how the world actually works on any level to be believable on any level. But that's just me.
The writing in this book is fine, I guess, though wordy. The universal omniscient narrator talks a lot, and there is a lot of telling and not showing going on. The reader gets deep dives into the characters' thoughts and insecurities without enough of their behavior to support it. Also, the actual killer is so scantily foreshadowed at the beginning and middle of the novel as to make the reader uninformed about his identity, and then isn't revealed until the last few pages during the book's summation. Maybe that's how the model is supposed to work. It doesn't work for me.
But, like I said earlier, I am the wrong audience for murder mysteries, and this is the last one I will read. I'm done with this genre. Good bye.
The writing in this book is fine, I guess, though wordy. The universal omniscient narrator talks a lot, and there is a lot of telling and not showing going on. The reader gets deep dives into the characters' thoughts and insecurities without enough of their behavior to support it. Also, the actual killer is so scantily foreshadowed at the beginning and middle of the novel as to make the reader uninformed about his identity, and then isn't revealed until the last few pages during the book's summation. Maybe that's how the model is supposed to work. It doesn't work for me.
But, like I said earlier, I am the wrong audience for murder mysteries, and this is the last one I will read. I'm done with this genre. Good bye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2012
#5 in Todd Mills series. Investigative journalist and his gay lover detective Steve Rawlins are having jealousy problems. Todd is trying to interview A-list actor Tim Chase, whose sexuality is enigmatic. He is trying to keep his troubling attachment to Chase from Rawlins.
Todd Mills series - A-list actor Tim Chase is in Minneapolis shooting his new film. Although married to beautiful Gwen Owens, one question continues to follow him: "Is he gay?" Investigative journalist, Todd Mills knows he's the perfect person to break the story, if he can get an interview with the star. Todd's pursuit of the story is interrupted by the murder of a young runaway whom Todd and detective Steve Rawlins, both knew from efforts at the center for gay youths. Todd finds out that Rawlins knew the young man better than he is willing to admit, and that Rawlins is trying to keep this embarrassing fact from becoming public.
Todd Mills series - A-list actor Tim Chase is in Minneapolis shooting his new film. Although married to beautiful Gwen Owens, one question continues to follow him: "Is he gay?" Investigative journalist, Todd Mills knows he's the perfect person to break the story, if he can get an interview with the star. Todd's pursuit of the story is interrupted by the murder of a young runaway whom Todd and detective Steve Rawlins, both knew from efforts at the center for gay youths. Todd finds out that Rawlins knew the young man better than he is willing to admit, and that Rawlins is trying to keep this embarrassing fact from becoming public.
Want to read
July 8, 2012kindle freebie 7.7.12
October 13, 2014
Outstanding!
I really enjoyed this book. This one was as good as the first one. I cannot wait to read more by R.D. Zimmerman. Randy
I really enjoyed this book. This one was as good as the first one. I cannot wait to read more by R.D. Zimmerman. Randy
May 7, 2013
Interesting mix of a mystery and the homosexual scene
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews