What do you think?
Rate this book
Stan Kraychik Mystery #4
Mask For A Diva
Stan Kraychik, Boston hair-dresser extraordinaire, has been hired as the wig master's assistant for the upcoming season of a local opera company. For the main event, Italian opera diva and aging soprano Marcella Ostinata will perform the lead. As the company heads unsteadily towards opening night, murder threatens the entire festival and Stan finds himself playing a crucial role in a deadly grand opera, performed without music, and with real weapons and killers.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
9 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Grant Michaels
19 books15 followersGrant Michaels is the pen name of Michael Mesrobian (born 1947, died 2009), an American writer of mystery novels. He published six novels with St. Martin's Press in the 1990s centering on Stan Kraychik, a gay hairdresser turned amateur detective.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 25, 2016
Hilarious and a really great mystery!
This is book four in the series and Stanley Kraychik really comes into his own this time round. His from-the-gut and bother-people-to-distraction detecting skills are first class, surpassing those of the police. Such that he gets invited to get involved in the case. A far cry from earlier stories. Stanley has come a long way!
In this story Stanley is invited to become a wig master's assistant for the operatic festival in a nearby town. When he gets there he has to cope with an ageing operatic diva, an insulting bully of a wig master boss, a timid and heavy smoking orchestra maestro, a bullish and demanding opera director and a colourful, demanding and suspicious cast of stage hands, understudies and theatre hands.
Throw into the mix petty jealousy, diva tantrums and a deaf mute handy man who thinks Stanley is his great love and you have a weird but rich mix of characters all heading towards some kind of horrible climax.
And climax it does when murder happens!!
And of course Stanley in true Kraychik fashion snoops around in the hope of discovering who dunnit? Not only does he discover who did it, he manages to uncover twists and turns of dark pasts and rivalries.
This is a really great mystery, with entertaining but lethal characters, mayhem, thwarted attraction, music, opera and divas supreme. The story is written in a way that engages the reader and it really held my attention.
Best of all is Stanley with his side quips, observations, great detective skills and general nosiness.
Lots of intrigue in this one with no obvious murderer which was great because I couldn't guess who did it. I had to keep reading and follow through with Stanley as he sorted through all the possible suspects and reasons in a really jumbled up-trial and error process that only belongs to him and yet puts modern policing methods to shame.
I really liked this one. The best in the series so far!
This is book four in the series and Stanley Kraychik really comes into his own this time round. His from-the-gut and bother-people-to-distraction detecting skills are first class, surpassing those of the police. Such that he gets invited to get involved in the case. A far cry from earlier stories. Stanley has come a long way!
In this story Stanley is invited to become a wig master's assistant for the operatic festival in a nearby town. When he gets there he has to cope with an ageing operatic diva, an insulting bully of a wig master boss, a timid and heavy smoking orchestra maestro, a bullish and demanding opera director and a colourful, demanding and suspicious cast of stage hands, understudies and theatre hands.
Throw into the mix petty jealousy, diva tantrums and a deaf mute handy man who thinks Stanley is his great love and you have a weird but rich mix of characters all heading towards some kind of horrible climax.
And climax it does when murder happens!!
And of course Stanley in true Kraychik fashion snoops around in the hope of discovering who dunnit? Not only does he discover who did it, he manages to uncover twists and turns of dark pasts and rivalries.
This is a really great mystery, with entertaining but lethal characters, mayhem, thwarted attraction, music, opera and divas supreme. The story is written in a way that engages the reader and it really held my attention.
Best of all is Stanley with his side quips, observations, great detective skills and general nosiness.
Lots of intrigue in this one with no obvious murderer which was great because I couldn't guess who did it. I had to keep reading and follow through with Stanley as he sorted through all the possible suspects and reasons in a really jumbled up-trial and error process that only belongs to him and yet puts modern policing methods to shame.
I really liked this one. The best in the series so far!
October 24, 2021
I learned more about opera than I ever wanted to while paging through this light hearted mystery. I've been a fan of Stanley's since book one. I missed Nicole this time but quickly fell in love with Daphne. Mr. Michaels has tossed out another hit with this gem.
May 5, 2021
3.75 stars
April 24, 2020
NOTE: This book was provided by ReQueered Tales for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Stan Kraychik strikes again. In this, the fourth opus of Grant Michaels’s murder mystery series, the sassy Boston hairstylist whom the sophisticated reader might already have met in the three previous installments, has been engaged by the newly founded New England Summer Opera Festival in Abigail-by-the-Sea. His job is to help out in the wig department for one of the upcoming operatic productions, Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera”. Upon arriving, his identity is immediately mistaken and swept away from the train station by festival sponsor Daphne Davenport, an elderly and eccentric widow, who good-naturedly takes Stan under her wings and invites him to stay in her big mansion when informed of her mistake. Clever plot device, as now Stan will be able to witness the whole story from a front seat (and I with him).
And no time is wasted. Stan meets the main protagonists of this story on the very first evening: Bruce David, a tenor of so feeble a constitution that everyone wonders who might have thought him capable of singing a Verdi lead role; the ageing Italian soprano Madama Ostinata, whose best singing years are way behind her; her understudy, able-voiced April Kilkus; her accompanist, mousy Carolyn Boetz; the baritone Hwang Yung Cho; Sir Jonathan Byers, renowned stage director with horrible manners; Ricky Jansen, Byers’s “plus one”, a blonde and hunky but aggressive hustler cum man Friday; handsome set designer Adam Pierce; and last but not least, Maestro Toscanelli, world-famous and eons-old conductor.
The first dynamics of the evening and the next morning show the way to a promising storyline: Byers has a crush on Pierce and scowls at his rent boy Ricky’s unrequited love. The stage manager Ronda Lucca pines for Carolyn Boetz; Madama Ostinata, on top of being an insufferable diva, has the hots for Ricky; April Kilkus and Hwang Yung Cho seem to be more than friendly; and to Stan’s dismay, his superior, the real Master of Wigs Dan Carafolio, turns out to be an odious Drama Queen. There are undercurrents, ambitions to be satisfied, personal rivalries, secret backstories, twists and turns, attempted seduction (Daphne’s deaf-and-mute handyman, young and hot-as-BLEEP Maurizio tries to distract Stan from monogamy)… and dead bodies. Duh. Murder mystery and Grant Michaels, okay? Oh, and of course, the fabulously hot but straight Lieutenant Branco is once again the police detective asked to investigate.
Another fun read by what is slowly becoming one of my favourite murder mystery writers. No car chases, no gruesome death methods or tedious police work described in detail, but wit and banter and High Drama de luxe, in the classical style, what I’d call the Agatha-Christie-gone-queer style. For once, I have some minor niggles: I was overwhelmed at times because of the multitude of characters. Some of the descriptions were a tad over the top, too, and left the impression of certain passages being overlongish—they might have been tautened, which would have added some tension and suspense. But all in all, the book turned out to be an overall enjoyable read. Michaels didn’t weaken in his purposeful, engaging writing, turning out chiselled and witty dialogs, larger-than-life characters, and a well-paced plot. The dynamics between the different protagonists, the diverse psychological threads, and the whole setting in the battle trenches of opera-world egos made this a read I can wholeheartedly recommend once again.
Stan Kraychik strikes again. In this, the fourth opus of Grant Michaels’s murder mystery series, the sassy Boston hairstylist whom the sophisticated reader might already have met in the three previous installments, has been engaged by the newly founded New England Summer Opera Festival in Abigail-by-the-Sea. His job is to help out in the wig department for one of the upcoming operatic productions, Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera”. Upon arriving, his identity is immediately mistaken and swept away from the train station by festival sponsor Daphne Davenport, an elderly and eccentric widow, who good-naturedly takes Stan under her wings and invites him to stay in her big mansion when informed of her mistake. Clever plot device, as now Stan will be able to witness the whole story from a front seat (and I with him).
And no time is wasted. Stan meets the main protagonists of this story on the very first evening: Bruce David, a tenor of so feeble a constitution that everyone wonders who might have thought him capable of singing a Verdi lead role; the ageing Italian soprano Madama Ostinata, whose best singing years are way behind her; her understudy, able-voiced April Kilkus; her accompanist, mousy Carolyn Boetz; the baritone Hwang Yung Cho; Sir Jonathan Byers, renowned stage director with horrible manners; Ricky Jansen, Byers’s “plus one”, a blonde and hunky but aggressive hustler cum man Friday; handsome set designer Adam Pierce; and last but not least, Maestro Toscanelli, world-famous and eons-old conductor.
The first dynamics of the evening and the next morning show the way to a promising storyline: Byers has a crush on Pierce and scowls at his rent boy Ricky’s unrequited love. The stage manager Ronda Lucca pines for Carolyn Boetz; Madama Ostinata, on top of being an insufferable diva, has the hots for Ricky; April Kilkus and Hwang Yung Cho seem to be more than friendly; and to Stan’s dismay, his superior, the real Master of Wigs Dan Carafolio, turns out to be an odious Drama Queen. There are undercurrents, ambitions to be satisfied, personal rivalries, secret backstories, twists and turns, attempted seduction (Daphne’s deaf-and-mute handyman, young and hot-as-BLEEP Maurizio tries to distract Stan from monogamy)… and dead bodies. Duh. Murder mystery and Grant Michaels, okay? Oh, and of course, the fabulously hot but straight Lieutenant Branco is once again the police detective asked to investigate.
Another fun read by what is slowly becoming one of my favourite murder mystery writers. No car chases, no gruesome death methods or tedious police work described in detail, but wit and banter and High Drama de luxe, in the classical style, what I’d call the Agatha-Christie-gone-queer style. For once, I have some minor niggles: I was overwhelmed at times because of the multitude of characters. Some of the descriptions were a tad over the top, too, and left the impression of certain passages being overlongish—they might have been tautened, which would have added some tension and suspense. But all in all, the book turned out to be an overall enjoyable read. Michaels didn’t weaken in his purposeful, engaging writing, turning out chiselled and witty dialogs, larger-than-life characters, and a well-paced plot. The dynamics between the different protagonists, the diverse psychological threads, and the whole setting in the battle trenches of opera-world egos made this a read I can wholeheartedly recommend once again.
December 27, 2007
Lured in by the concept of a gay hairdresser/wigmaster for an Opera Company as top sleuth, I picked this up at the library. It was a very, very campy read but a bit too self-consciously cute for my taste. (and I really like light mysteries with not too much gore)
March 8, 2021
When it comes to the mystery, this one was, hands down, the best. The victims' personalities, the sheer amount of suspects with feeble motives, the convoluted, exciting, nerve-wracking atmosphere of opera about to go live, all added to a really thrilling read.
And when the resolution came up I thought; But, of course! Because it made a lot of sense, even when I didn't see it before. All the clues were there, most of them in regard to the culprit's state of mind, but they were subtle enough that I missed them.
Now, about Stan... I really didn't like him very much in this book. After all the fuss he did about Rafik's fidelity in Dead on Your Feet he certainly falls easily enough for Maurizio. And his relationship with Rafik doesn't look like one based on love but in the need of feeling loved :( And his attitude while investigating could be improved. He seems to purposefully alienate everybody around him, which is not very helpful in his position.
And what was with the 'deputy' thing? I'm sorry, but to me looked like when you tell a kid: you're the boss of lights to get him to remember to turn them off :P
Branco's development is... kind of expected at this point, and yet, I still find it disappointing. And that last message from Rafik's parents? I know what's coming, and it feels too much as a 'deus ex machina'.
I'll take a break before reading the next one, as there are some new books I don't want to wait for reading, and will come back to this series after that.
And when the resolution came up I thought; But, of course! Because it made a lot of sense, even when I didn't see it before. All the clues were there, most of them in regard to the culprit's state of mind, but they were subtle enough that I missed them.
Now, about Stan... I really didn't like him very much in this book. After all the fuss he did about Rafik's fidelity in Dead on Your Feet he certainly falls easily enough for Maurizio. And his relationship with Rafik doesn't look like one based on love but in the need of feeling loved :( And his attitude while investigating could be improved. He seems to purposefully alienate everybody around him, which is not very helpful in his position.
And what was with the 'deputy' thing? I'm sorry, but to me looked like when you tell a kid: you're the boss of lights to get him to remember to turn them off :P
Branco's development is... kind of expected at this point, and yet, I still find it disappointing. And that last message from Rafik's parents? I know what's coming, and it feels too much as a 'deus ex machina'.
I'll take a break before reading the next one, as there are some new books I don't want to wait for reading, and will come back to this series after that.
January 10, 2021
Stani goes to the Opera! A rarified world of artistry where suspension of belief is required when ageing amply filled-out sopranos (think Bianca Castafiore folks) undertake roles of barely legal virgins. Within the first chapter, there's a beheading, a near train wreck, a pseudo-abduction, a grande dame driving a vintage Bentley ... the fun and games take off from there.
The ranks of suspects and victims are filled out with the standard operatic demigods, temperamental director, maestro conductor, hopeful understudies and rising stars ... complete with overwrought performances, histrionic outbursts, emotional breakdowns, hissy cat-fights, and of course unexpected deaths/murders. Stani Kraychik is is usual sardonic, snippy self through it all in his role as assistant to the Wig Master (who's called a list of really amusing derogatory nicknames by Stan). Through all manner of plot mechanisms/ploys, our nosy sleuth gets to 'interview' the huge cast of secondary characters/suspects before the arrival of one Lt Vito Branco. And the author continues to tease readers as to whether something might happen between Stan and Vito (portrayed as 'straight as a die' he-man in all previous books), with the ending setting up a teaser for a stay-tuned-for-more-on-this relationship. 3.5 stars.
The ranks of suspects and victims are filled out with the standard operatic demigods, temperamental director, maestro conductor, hopeful understudies and rising stars ... complete with overwrought performances, histrionic outbursts, emotional breakdowns, hissy cat-fights, and of course unexpected deaths/murders. Stani Kraychik is is usual sardonic, snippy self through it all in his role as assistant to the Wig Master (who's called a list of really amusing derogatory nicknames by Stan). Through all manner of plot mechanisms/ploys, our nosy sleuth gets to 'interview' the huge cast of secondary characters/suspects before the arrival of one Lt Vito Branco. And the author continues to tease readers as to whether something might happen between Stan and Vito (portrayed as 'straight as a die' he-man in all previous books), with the ending setting up a teaser for a stay-tuned-for-more-on-this relationship. 3.5 stars.
October 7, 2023
Probably the best of the books so far.
That being said the plot has its ups and does. Probably 30 pages too long like all the others in this series.
Stani does become quite genuinely unlikeable by the second half and I eye-rolled at a lot of his behaviour. That said, there were good elements - the developments around Branco may be judged by some as predictable but I was glad to see him more rounded out and Stani and the absent Rafik's relationship explored more was an interesting subplot.
The first third or so before the murder begins was pacy as we got to see the grotesque display of the Opera cast and wished they'd all be killed off.
That being said the plot has its ups and does. Probably 30 pages too long like all the others in this series.
Stani does become quite genuinely unlikeable by the second half and I eye-rolled at a lot of his behaviour. That said, there were good elements - the developments around Branco may be judged by some as predictable but I was glad to see him more rounded out and Stani and the absent Rafik's relationship explored more was an interesting subplot.
The first third or so before the murder begins was pacy as we got to see the grotesque display of the Opera cast and wished they'd all be killed off.
June 8, 2022
This is not a very good series. This book, however, was well received when published back in the mid-nineties. I cannot imagine why this is. It is -like the previous books -filled with stereotypes of gay people. Some are even very problematic. One character is heavily into S/M and brags about how deep he is into it as he confesses to some of the murders. According to this writer gays are either extremely insecure or else obsessed with sex under any conditions.
If I feel so negatively about the writing, why do I continue to read books in the series? Praise is given to this author in the prefaces written by various other writers. With each book I look for reasons why such praise is given. I have no clue. I've read four books in this series and the author has not improved hardly at all as a writer.
Do I recommend this author or this series? Sadly, I have to say no. These books should have been left in the closet to gather dust.
If I feel so negatively about the writing, why do I continue to read books in the series? Praise is given to this author in the prefaces written by various other writers. With each book I look for reasons why such praise is given. I have no clue. I've read four books in this series and the author has not improved hardly at all as a writer.
Do I recommend this author or this series? Sadly, I have to say no. These books should have been left in the closet to gather dust.
November 28, 2025
I love this series, but this is possibly the worst one I’ve read so far. I don’t know if he had a word count that he was working towards or what but it feels padded like crazy. It doesn’t help that it’s confined to such a small area so that there is very little for the main character do beside move from room to room harassing people repeatedly. Large portions of the book really are just the main character being antagonistic for no reason to people who don’t really seem like viable suspects. It’s weird.
November 4, 2013
fun mystery adventure book
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews