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A Dick Hardesty Mystery #4
The Hired Man
When private investigator Dick Hardesty is hired by businessman Stuart Anderson to conduct routine background checks on potential store managers, he becomes reacquainted with a former trick, Phil Stark, who has undergone an amazing transformation from bar hustler to professional escort. When Anderson is murdered, Hardesty is hired by the escort services owners, Arnold and Iris Glick, to keep Phil and the agency away from police scrutiny. Two subsequent murders make this impossible, and Hardesty embarks on a mission to find the identity of the killer.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2002
5 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Dorien Grey
36 books126 followersIf it is possible to have a split personality without being schizophrenic, Dorien Grey qualifies. When long-time book and magazine editor Roger Margason chose the pseudonym “Dorien Grey” for his first book, it set off a chain of circumstances which has led to the comfortable division of labor and responsibility. Roger has charge of day-to-day existence, freeing Dorien—with the help of Roger’s fingers—to write. It has reached the point where Roger merely sits back and reads the stories Dorien brings forth on the computer screen.
It’s not as though Roger has not had an uninteresting life of his own. Two years into college, he left to join the Naval Aviation Cadet program. Washing out after a year, he spent the rest of his brief military career on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean at the height of the cold war. The journal he kept of his time in the military, in the form of letters home, honed his writing skills and provided him with a wealth of experiences to draw from in his future writing. These letters will be appearing in book form shortly.
Returning to Northern Illinois University after service, he graduated with a B.A. in English, and embarked on a series of jobs which worked him into the editing field. While working for a Los Angeles publishing house, he was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines, of which he became editor. He moved on to edit a leading L.A. based international gay men's magazine.
Tiring of earthquakes, brush fires, mud slides, and riots, he returned to the Midwest, where Dorien emerged, full-blown, like Venus from the sea. They’ve been inseparable (and interchangeable) ever since.
He . . . and Dorien of course…moved back to Chicago in 2006, where they now devote full time to writing. After having published fourteen books in the popular Dick Hardesty Mystery series, four books in the Elliott Smith (paranormal) Mystery series, and the stand-alone western/romance/adventure novel, Calico, he is busily at work on yet another Dick Hardesty mystery.
But for a greater insight into the "real person" behind Dorien Grey, the curious are invited to check out his website (http://www.doriengrey.com), where you can read the first chapter of any or all of his books for free, and his various blogs: Dorien Grey and Me (http://www.doriengreyandme.com) and A Life in Photos (http://www.doriengreyphotolife.blogsp...) among them.
Dorien passed away on November 1, 2015.
It’s not as though Roger has not had an uninteresting life of his own. Two years into college, he left to join the Naval Aviation Cadet program. Washing out after a year, he spent the rest of his brief military career on an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean at the height of the cold war. The journal he kept of his time in the military, in the form of letters home, honed his writing skills and provided him with a wealth of experiences to draw from in his future writing. These letters will be appearing in book form shortly.
Returning to Northern Illinois University after service, he graduated with a B.A. in English, and embarked on a series of jobs which worked him into the editing field. While working for a Los Angeles publishing house, he was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines, of which he became editor. He moved on to edit a leading L.A. based international gay men's magazine.
Tiring of earthquakes, brush fires, mud slides, and riots, he returned to the Midwest, where Dorien emerged, full-blown, like Venus from the sea. They’ve been inseparable (and interchangeable) ever since.
He . . . and Dorien of course…moved back to Chicago in 2006, where they now devote full time to writing. After having published fourteen books in the popular Dick Hardesty Mystery series, four books in the Elliott Smith (paranormal) Mystery series, and the stand-alone western/romance/adventure novel, Calico, he is busily at work on yet another Dick Hardesty mystery.
But for a greater insight into the "real person" behind Dorien Grey, the curious are invited to check out his website (http://www.doriengrey.com), where you can read the first chapter of any or all of his books for free, and his various blogs: Dorien Grey and Me (http://www.doriengreyandme.com) and A Life in Photos (http://www.doriengreyphotolife.blogsp...) among them.
Dorien passed away on November 1, 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 3, 2019
This was bad. So bad. Honestly, this is the worst "mystery" I've read since P.S. I Spook You, which was an insult to anyone with two brain cells to rub together. This one makes that one look like Pulitzer Prize material.
Where do I start?
I thought the first story was decent, even if Dick didn't do much real investigating, but he wasn't an actual P.I. yet in that one (and I'm not sure he's a real P.I. in this one since he's apparently never heard of a retainer's fee). The next two were better but this one was a huge step back. I hope this is just a blip and not an indication of things to come.
Where do I start?
I thought the first story was decent, even if Dick didn't do much real investigating, but he wasn't an actual P.I. yet in that one (and I'm not sure he's a real P.I. in this one since he's apparently never heard of a retainer's fee). The next two were better but this one was a huge step back. I hope this is just a blip and not an indication of things to come.
February 25, 2017
The Hired Man (Dick Hardesty Mystery #4)
By Dorien Grey
3 stars
I’ve been reading these in order, but have peeked at reviews of a few of the later books in the series. So far, I liked this least of the four. But, as I always remind myself: just because I didn’t like it, that doesn’t mean it’s not good. I realize that much of what didn’t grab me about this book – in some ways about the series – is closely tied to who I am as a gay man.
The only comparison I can really make with this series is to Joseph Hansen’s Dave Brandstetter novels (of which I read all twelve) written in the 1970s and 80s, when I was a young gay man. Although I’d say that Dorien Grey (the late Roger Margason) is a good writer, he’s not as refined and elegant as Hansen is. More important, however, is my inability to really relate to his characters. Dick Hardesty (who is somewhere around 30, therefore a bit older than I was at the time in which the books are set) is just not a very interesting character. Brandstetter, who was in his late 40s as I recall, was a complex man, comfortable with being gay, but a whole generation older than Hardesty (Dorien Grey’s age, in fact). There were layers to this man, and in his relationship with the world. Dick Hardesty seems like a good guy, but I never quite lock onto his character as someone with depth and a powerful moral compass.
One particular example that irked me is the fact that Hardesty, a good post-Stonewall gay man, resents the fact that the homophobic police assume that all gay men are promiscuous. Sort of hypocritical to complain about that when Hardesty seems to have sex with nearly every male character he meets in the course of the book (and this was true in the last book, too). The fact that the book focuses on two main themes--bisexuality and male prostitution—without really digging into either topic very profoundly, left me feeling flat.
I suspect for someone without my particular sensibilities would have fun reading this series, and I commend it to them. However, for this 60-something gay man, Dick Hardesty’s world doesn’t seem quite real enough to grab onto.
By Dorien Grey
3 stars
I’ve been reading these in order, but have peeked at reviews of a few of the later books in the series. So far, I liked this least of the four. But, as I always remind myself: just because I didn’t like it, that doesn’t mean it’s not good. I realize that much of what didn’t grab me about this book – in some ways about the series – is closely tied to who I am as a gay man.
The only comparison I can really make with this series is to Joseph Hansen’s Dave Brandstetter novels (of which I read all twelve) written in the 1970s and 80s, when I was a young gay man. Although I’d say that Dorien Grey (the late Roger Margason) is a good writer, he’s not as refined and elegant as Hansen is. More important, however, is my inability to really relate to his characters. Dick Hardesty (who is somewhere around 30, therefore a bit older than I was at the time in which the books are set) is just not a very interesting character. Brandstetter, who was in his late 40s as I recall, was a complex man, comfortable with being gay, but a whole generation older than Hardesty (Dorien Grey’s age, in fact). There were layers to this man, and in his relationship with the world. Dick Hardesty seems like a good guy, but I never quite lock onto his character as someone with depth and a powerful moral compass.
One particular example that irked me is the fact that Hardesty, a good post-Stonewall gay man, resents the fact that the homophobic police assume that all gay men are promiscuous. Sort of hypocritical to complain about that when Hardesty seems to have sex with nearly every male character he meets in the course of the book (and this was true in the last book, too). The fact that the book focuses on two main themes--bisexuality and male prostitution—without really digging into either topic very profoundly, left me feeling flat.
I suspect for someone without my particular sensibilities would have fun reading this series, and I commend it to them. However, for this 60-something gay man, Dick Hardesty’s world doesn’t seem quite real enough to grab onto.
October 29, 2017
Gay sex all over the place and no mention of HIV/AIDS?
May 15, 2014
Before reading this you need to know that I love all things Dorien Grey. I have all of his books as paperbacks and also as e-books where available. Finally, I am now adding audio books to my collection.
I love Dorien's stories. They are well thought out and well written. Usually, when reading a mystery or a murder etc I can pick the culprit early on but not in Dorien's books. I usually have to wait until the end to know whodunnit but, when I look back over the book, I find that all the clues were there. I just missed them.
This is the case in this book. For a synopsis, you can look elsewhere as there are plenty around. Just know that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and also the audiobook and would have no problem recommending it and the series to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
I love Dorien's stories. They are well thought out and well written. Usually, when reading a mystery or a murder etc I can pick the culprit early on but not in Dorien's books. I usually have to wait until the end to know whodunnit but, when I look back over the book, I find that all the clues were there. I just missed them.
This is the case in this book. For a synopsis, you can look elsewhere as there are plenty around. Just know that I thoroughly enjoyed the book and also the audiobook and would have no problem recommending it and the series to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
May 25, 2014
Another wonderful chapter in the saga of private investigator Dick Hardesty. His latest case leads on a journey thru the world of high priced "men for hire" in the gay and bisexual community. What I really enjoy about Mr. Grey's writing is that he presents each of these characters to us as a person who just happens to have a little less than ordinary job. We get to see them as real people with real emotions and real lives. You develop a real empathy for most of them as the story progresses.
This is the first of Mr. Grey's books I've read so far that I didn't totally figure out until the end. A real "whodunit", for sure. If you enjoy a good mystery with a little "spice" thrown in for fun, this will be enjoyable read . I loved it.
This is the first of Mr. Grey's books I've read so far that I didn't totally figure out until the end. A real "whodunit", for sure. If you enjoy a good mystery with a little "spice" thrown in for fun, this will be enjoyable read . I loved it.
July 25, 2008
In his 4th detective novel, Dick Hardesty comes up against a web of lies, of half truths and betrayal. Dick is still controlled by his hormones and makes a few new friends along the way, meets old ones again and some of his friends meet for the first time and connect. The story is adequate and keeps your reading. I just hope Hardesty gets out of his hormone phase soon.
July 3, 2016
Another good mystery from Dorien Grey - just misses out on the full 5 stars because of a stupid error in proff reading probably. If one of the clues was a feather in Billy's mouth - when did they find his head? Did I miss the bit where Billy's head and hands were found?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
intriguing twisting…….
I think my Amazon ebook was missing the end…or was leaving the reader guessing. Having thought about wanting more, I was able to laugh and the book just a little more…..what was the final resolve: a mystery!
I think my Amazon ebook was missing the end…or was leaving the reader guessing. Having thought about wanting more, I was able to laugh and the book just a little more…..what was the final resolve: a mystery!
February 1, 2017
Lol. This book is just....
Just read it.
You'll find out.
Just read it.
You'll find out.
June 1, 2014
This is for the new Audio version:
This is the very first audio book that I have listened to and I must say it was both a surprising and satisfying adventure.
I had previously read this mystery in its text form but listening to it was like experiencing it for the first time all over again. Granted, it had been a while and a few details had been pocketed away in my brain to make room for fresh data and only remembered as they were encountered once again, but that allowed for meeting the story head on in a fresh, new context.
Listening to Jeff Frez-Albrecht as Dick Hardesty gave my mind's eye a whole new look for the detective; one that was, in all honesty, more detailed and a whole lot sexier. Things simply looked different to me this time around and here's the "surprising" aspect, not once did I become bored or disillusioned with the story nor did I find myself fast-forwarding anywhere to move the story along.
I'm going to sum up here because I prefer to keep my reviews at a modest length; plus the fact that I can tend to ramble after a certain point, and we are at that point. If you have yet to read this wonderfully realistic mystery or if you are of the inkling to re-read it, I do recommend this audio book as a more than suitable stand-in to the text version. You won't be disappointed.
This is the very first audio book that I have listened to and I must say it was both a surprising and satisfying adventure.
I had previously read this mystery in its text form but listening to it was like experiencing it for the first time all over again. Granted, it had been a while and a few details had been pocketed away in my brain to make room for fresh data and only remembered as they were encountered once again, but that allowed for meeting the story head on in a fresh, new context.
Listening to Jeff Frez-Albrecht as Dick Hardesty gave my mind's eye a whole new look for the detective; one that was, in all honesty, more detailed and a whole lot sexier. Things simply looked different to me this time around and here's the "surprising" aspect, not once did I become bored or disillusioned with the story nor did I find myself fast-forwarding anywhere to move the story along.
I'm going to sum up here because I prefer to keep my reviews at a modest length; plus the fact that I can tend to ramble after a certain point, and we are at that point. If you have yet to read this wonderfully realistic mystery or if you are of the inkling to re-read it, I do recommend this audio book as a more than suitable stand-in to the text version. You won't be disappointed.
May 27, 2014
This in an intriguing Dick Hardesty mystery and the 4th in the series.Dick is hired to do background investigation for an out of town businessman (based on a mutual friend) the friend turns out to be Phil/Tex. Phil was a hustler who Dick he a really hot sexual encounter with (and he didn't pay) a while ago and now Phil is a high paid model/ male escort working for ModelMen.Dick is grateful for the job and especially reconnecting with Phil. What should be an easy assignment turns into a murder investigation when Dick's client turns up brutally murdered.The agency that Phil works for hires Dick to keep its agency in the clear and basically run interference with the police.Soon another body linked to the agency is discovered, this time a young model who was Phil's best friend and roommate.Dick is more then intrigue and wants to solve the murders before more carnage ensues. Another well written and good read from Dorien Grey, I love this series!
October 26, 2015
I need a little break from this series.
This fourth book is the longest one so far and it could use an editor. Nothing happens really and there is a lot of dancing around suspects and motives that gets tiresome. Add into this Dick sleeping with everyone he meets and it becomes unrealistic as well.
I don't really understand how he solved the crime, the book is too full of his crotch talking to him, I'm guessing this happens more than 20 times. Less implied sex, more implied murder please.
Dick needs a vacation, a change of scene, and he still needs a friend. Ramon is in the book but the only friends Dick seems to pay any attention to are the ones he sleeps with.
The series managed to ride the edge between gay detective and gay sex camp and this book put it over the edge into the later category. I hope Grey can pull it back.
This fourth book is the longest one so far and it could use an editor. Nothing happens really and there is a lot of dancing around suspects and motives that gets tiresome. Add into this Dick sleeping with everyone he meets and it becomes unrealistic as well.
I don't really understand how he solved the crime, the book is too full of his crotch talking to him, I'm guessing this happens more than 20 times. Less implied sex, more implied murder please.
Dick needs a vacation, a change of scene, and he still needs a friend. Ramon is in the book but the only friends Dick seems to pay any attention to are the ones he sleeps with.
The series managed to ride the edge between gay detective and gay sex camp and this book put it over the edge into the later category. I hope Grey can pull it back.
Read
September 23, 2014The Hired Man, by Dorien Grey, a-minus, Narrated by Jeff Frez-Albrecht, produced by Dorien Grey, downloaded from audible.com.
In this, the fourth in the series which I read out of sequence, Dick Hardesty left the public relations business and has opened a private eye firm. He is hired to determine why a gay man was murdered. In fact, this plot becomes even more complicated as one of the possible murderers is bisexual, and does that enter in? Complicated plot but very good.
In this, the fourth in the series which I read out of sequence, Dick Hardesty left the public relations business and has opened a private eye firm. He is hired to determine why a gay man was murdered. In fact, this plot becomes even more complicated as one of the possible murderers is bisexual, and does that enter in? Complicated plot but very good.
August 19, 2016
Another great mystery love the ending
Dorian Grey did it again the best stories and plots and always a twist. Well worth the read. He has moved up to the top of gay mystery writers and the only one with a plot that is unique and not always a bad guy who is from the right or the church
Dorian Grey did it again the best stories and plots and always a twist. Well worth the read. He has moved up to the top of gay mystery writers and the only one with a plot that is unique and not always a bad guy who is from the right or the church
Want to read
June 10, 2010february 8th, 2011 another one i have no idea where it is.
July 4, 2014
These Dick Hardesty AudioBooks just keep getting better and better. What a twist! I think I have enjoyed this episode the best of the series so far.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews