A Simple Suburban Murder

Tom Mason and Scott Carpenter #1

by Mark Richard Zubro

In Chicago, a math teacher is murdered, and it is discovered the victim was involved in gambling, sadism, and kiddie porn

Genres: Mystery, LGBT, M M Romance, Fiction, Romance, Crime, Contemporary

215 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Author 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.

Reviews

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to catch up on Mark Zubro’s books. “A Simple Suburban Murder” is from what must have been his first series of books, published under his full name by St. Martin’s Press (one of the few gay-friendly mainstream presses in the 1980s). It is one of the “Tom & Scott” series: Tom is a high school teacher in a suburb of Chicago, and Scott is a famous baseball player. Tom is sort of out in the way school teachers had to be in the late 1980s, and Scott is deep in the closet, as big-league baseball players still are (!).

Somehow, they make their eight-year relationship work. Even if it gets awkward at times. In these books the triumph is not being out and proud, the triumph is surviving as a couple any way you can, and recognizing that your love is just as good, possibly better, that what exists in the straight world around you.

“A Simple Suburban Murder” was first published in 1989. M/M fiction didn’t even exist. What we had is gay men writing novels, in this case a murder mystery—in the great tradition of Joseph Hansen’s Dave Brandstetter mysteries, which were still very much on my reading list then. There is an edge to these “early” gay novels, which reminds today’s reader of the very different reality that we lived in a quarter century ago.

There is virtually no sex in this book. It is not romantic, although Tom and Scott love each other. There is a brutal murder, a byzantine plot involving teenage prostitution and illegal gambling, and the depiction of some really horrible “normal” families. Straight people don’t come off looking very good. Nor do school administrators (was Mark a school teacher???).

Although I didn’t love this book, I enjoyed it, and I’m reviewing it in the light of its historical place at the forefront of American gay popular fiction. The story arc of this murder mystery is only the apparent purpose; the real purpose is to focus a light on a real, live, surviving gay couple and the realities of the closet as it existed (and still exists, I suspect) for many gay men in the wake of the AIDS epidemic’s first deadly decade. These are the books that gay men of my generation read for fun—but also to affirm that we existed and we were good people and solid citizens. Gay people were still largely invisible in mainstream literature (honestly, it’s not much different today, although we pretend otherwise), and Mark Richard Zubro was one of those writers who helped us feel visible in a world that didn’t want to acknowledge our presence.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple suburban murder. Or is it? Tom Mason is an ex-marine and now a devoted school teacher, who finds himself plunged into a murder mystery when he discovers the dead body of another teacher in his class one early morning. When shots are fired at him and the dead man's son goes missing, Tom decides to investigate for himself despite a rather unfriendly police detective, an irritating school superintendent and a bullying school principal. Tom teams up with his closeted baseball player partner Scott and together the two of them track down the murderer step by step while keeping their relationship hidden from prying eyes but being confident and bold at the same time.

This is an established series by the author Mark Richard Zubro with confident characters who might be quiet about their sexuality but who are not so quiet that they will allow murder to happen on their doorstep or in their classroom. I loved these two characters because they were confident, they couldn't be bullied and they both had a strong sense of justice and a great sense of adventure. Best of all they didnt kow tow to anyone as the school principal finds out when he threatens to tell parents that Tom is gay.

I really liked Tom with his confident approach to everything and the care he has for his students and their families. He is not afraid to be him and is able to put any detractors in their place but Tom softens when it comes to Scott. He knows how important it is for Scott to keep their relationship secret and he balances this with his love for Scott giving Scott the freedom to help the investigation in the best way he can. Scott also loves Tom and wants to help solve the crime. I loved seeing the two men work to pull random strands of evidence together and to take disparate pieces of evidence and make sense from it. First class crime detecting.

I enjoyed the way both men skilfully manage to hunt down the murderer by working together in a seamless partnership, understanding each other and drawing upon their strengths as a couple.

Also there were some funny moments between the two men and in their observations of others as they track down the murderer.

Set in Chicago this is a great first book to quite a long series which I am looking forward to getting into.

Full speed ahead!! And may my shadow never grow less!!

At least not until I have finished reading the remaining 13 books in this series. Thankfully the author shows no signs of stopping.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good gay mystery about high school teacher Tom, who finds a much-hated math teacher dead in his classroom, and his closeted baseball player boyfriend, Scott.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another vintage gay mystery series I never got around to trying before now.

I wasn't initially sure this was quite going to squeak out a 4 in the beginning. I appreciated we get right to business. We get the dead body on page one. A preexisting link with one of the detectives is mentioned which had me double checking this was in fact book one in the series, but that's not a problem. Characterization of Tom and Scott is not deep, and some of the behavior/interactions in the early part of the book felt awkward/unnatural to me, but it was engaging enough to keep going.

Things picked up as it went though. The scope and nature of the crimes eventually uncovered had me raising a brow, (they are closer to the thriller end of the spectrum than the cozy) and I'm not sure there's much room left to raise the stakes in future books without dipping into war crimes, but hopefully Zubro didn't feel the need to take things to those extremes.

This first came out in 1988 from what I can see. AIDS is mentioned, but there's none of the whole woe-is-us, depressing tragedy porn flavor that I found off-putting about so much gay fiction back in the 80s & 90s.

So, we're not in instant favorite territory here, but I'm definitely planning to check out more in this series as well as Zubro's other books.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good gay-themed series of mysteries and have been reading them for years. Recently, I came across this gem and LOVED the main characters. I believe my husband Bill will love them too.

The main characters are a English High School teacher, and his professional Baseball playing lover. The politics of a high school setting with the combination of great plot, fast pace and people you can care about will get me to buy book two in what is over 13 book series!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery - not sure that the whole Tom and Scott duo come over entirely as believable sleuthing amateurs but nevertheless an excellent read. I gather that this was Mark Zubro's first novel and as such it is very very good. Another plus in my book is the dearth of sex manual type sex in this book - yes the pair are gay and yes they make love but the story stands on it's own without the need for gratuitous erotica/porn.
4 stars

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author for me and I was pleasantly surprised.
The mystery was a good solid one. I did not guess the identity of the murderer until it was revealed at the end.
If I had any complaints it would be that there wasn't enough loving between the 2 MCs. Then again the book is 26 years old and maybe back then when it was written it was more about the romance and less about erotica.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book will make one feel mystified, sadness, anger, helplessness, relief, and then heartbreak. The author did not disappoint with this mystery starring Tom and his partner Scott.

[Lily Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom and Scott are my new love. With excellent pacing and plunging to genuinely sickening depths, the first instalment of this queer amateur sleuth detective mystery will absolutely not be for everyone, but I thought it was powerful and raw. When a colleague turns up violently murdered in Tom Mason's classroom, he gets pulled into a dangerous and thrilling mystery revealing the rotten core of suburban Illinois and dark secrets in the heart of Chicago. Initially fairly light-hearted, the tone takes an extremely and increasingly dark turn as the book goes on, involving child prostitution rings, sadomasochism, and snuff films, and with some fairly impressive sensitivity and awareness, especially considering how long ago it was published. My only complaint is that I felt the violence against Tom was often reported from a distance, when I think it would have been more effective to feel the terror and confusion from his immediate perspective. I loved the gentle, loving dynamic between Tom and Scott, and I have high hopes for this series.

cw: child abuse; child prostitution; child sex trafficking; torture; references to child pornography; violence; mutilation of a child; violent death of children; murder; f-slurs; homophobia.

rep: gay MC; gay LI; tertiary character with non-specific "learning difficulties"; largely queer cast.

CAWPILE: 9.7 (5*)

[Bev · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this one..don't remember much. But I have it labeled ""Yuck"" in my reading log. Which simply means I hated it. Should have noted down why

[Klaus Mattes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es ist Zubros erstes Buch gewesen. Der Mann lebt immer noch in einem der Vororte Chicagos, hat es mit seinem hier erstmals auftretenden schwulen Heldenpaar Tom Mason, dem Lehrer, und Scott Carpenter, dem erfolgreichen Baseball-Crack, auf 14 Fälle gebracht, dazu noch eine zweite Krimiserie am Start, außerdem Science Fiction und einige Young-Adult-Romane.

Seinerzeit hat es noch lange nicht so viele schwule Mörderkrimis gegeben. Joseph Hansen trieb sich seit 20 Jahren auf der Szene herum, aber Michael Nava hatte gerade erst angefangen und von John Morgan Wilson gab es noch nichts. Das Buch war einer der ersten Taschenbuch-Krimis im qualitativ hochstehenden schwulen Verlag St. Martin's Press, den amerikanischen Gay Men's Press oder Verlag rosa Winkel jener Tage. Dennoch kann ich mich der anhaltend freundlichen Aufnahme amerikanischer Leser im Internet („exzellenter Detektivkrimi“) nicht anschließen.

Als Tom eines kalten Morgens sein Klassenzimmer aufschließt, das sich in einer Schule mit 150 Lehrern und mehreren Hausmeistern befindet, entdeckt er auf einem der hinteren Stühle die zusammengesunkene Leiche eines Mannes. Sein Gesicht wurde mit einem stumpfen Gegenstand zertrümmert. Es stellt sich heraus, dass er ein Mathematiklehrer von der Schule war, den Tom kaum kannte. Die Polizei verdächtigt Tom zwar nicht ernsthaft, verübelt ihm aber, dass er sich zum Hobbydetektiv berufen fühlt, um, wie er glaubt, gefährdete Schüler zu schützen und sich gegen den massiven Druck seitens zweier Schulleiter zu wehren, die vor irgendwas Angst haben und ihn stilllegen wollen. Toms Lover ist ein Medienstar, der Sportler Scott, der in diesem Fall noch nicht viel zu tun hat, aber wohl für weitere Spannungsmomente in kommenden Folgen der Serie vorgehalten wird. Privat steht er zwar voll und ganz zu seinem Schwulsein, versteckt sich aber vor Sport-Journalisten, die Human-Interest-Aufmachern hinterherjagen. Außerdem hat er noch Familie im konservativen Süden. Einstweilen ist Scott vor allem dafür gut, gewaltig zuzulangen, wenn finstere Typen Tom auflauern oder, da er es mal gelernt hat, eine Alarmanlage auszuschalten, wenn man mal einbrechen muss. Auch kann er bösartige Cops mit handsignierten Bällen für sich gewinnen.

Am Anfang meint man längere Zeit, sich in einem solide gearbeiteten, stilistisch nicht gerade aufregenden, aber gekonnten Krimi der klassischen Detektiv-Schule zu befinden. Eher konventioneller als viele Joseph-Hansen-Bücher. Dort verflechten sich immerhin von Anfang an mehrere Geschichten, die unmöglich alle zur Aufdeckung des Mörders führen werden, sodass auch der Aspekt des Gesellschaftsbilds zum Zug kommt. Während wir hier nicht mal was über den Alltag von Schülern und Lehrern erfahren. Übrigens spielt auch der, Ende der achtziger Jahre sehr virulente AIDS-Aspekt noch fast keine Rolle. Zubro versucht das, wie Hansen noch in „The Little Dog Laughed“ (1986) oder Richard Stevenson in „Ice Blues“ (aus dem selben Jahr) wo irgend möglich, aus dem Buch zu lassen, indem alle entweder kürzlich negativ getestet wurden oder es nur mit Gummi tun, was sie nebenbei brav alle auch mal erwähnen. Noch so eine Seltsamkeit ist, dass Detektiv Tom jeden, den er trifft, nach kurzer Zeit fragt: „Haben Sie Evans umgebracht?“ Und alle sagen Nein und sind es am Ende wirklich nicht gewesen.

Wo der gute klassische Meisterdetektiv sich in die aufgemachte Box hinein bohren würde, jenen Plan vom Gebäude, der genau die und die Fluchtmöglichkeiten zeigt, jene paar Minuten, die genau zwischen den Alibis von diesem und jenem liegen, - und dann stimmt das alles nicht, es kann so nicht gewesen sein, wir werden getäuscht, kommt der Autor Zubro weiter, indem er immer nohc mal eine Box auf die vorige oben drauf stellt. Jede sieht brutaler und monströser aus als die Vorige. Bis alles durcheinander purzelt und eine Maus gebiert.

1. Evans, der Erschlagene, gerade eben noch ein nicht besonders sympathischer Kollege, aber korrekt, ist in Wahrheit ein Monster gewesen. Seinen älteren Sohn hat er so lange zusammengeschlagen, bis dieser groß genug war, ihn zusammenzuschlagen. 2. Die Mathematiklehrer der Schule betrieben mit ihren Computern ein Sportwetten-System, bei dem Schulden in den Tausendern aufliefen. 3. Evans hat den Fachleiter der Mathematiker erpresst. 4. Einer der bereits erwähnten Schuldirektoren hat seit Jahren Eintrittsgelder von Sportveranstaltungen unterschlagen. 5. Der oberste Chef hat das mitgekriegt und seinen Anteil kassiert. 6. Deren Kriminalität hat Evans herausgebracht und sie in seine eigene verwickelt. 7. Evans hat Schülerinnen zum Sex erpresst, ihnen dafür versetzungsentscheidende Noten zugeschanzt. 8. Evans' älterer Sohn ist schwul und darum nach seiner Flucht in einer Stricherbar und vor dort auf dem Strich gelandet. Angeblich ist er glücklich. 9. Die Direktoren bekommen von Evans Jugendliche für Sex. 10. Evans vermittelt die von ihm missbrauchten Jugendlichen als Sexarbeiter in die Großstadt. 11. Einige von ihnen werden für geheime, nächtliche Sexshows verwendet, bei denen angekettete Vierzehnjährige ausgepeitscht werden. Und so weiter. Das ist noch nicht das Ende. Es soll was an Vergnügen für den neugierigen Leser von Spannungsromanen übrig bleiben.

Was vertrauenserweckend anfing, versteigt sich zu kurioser Unglaubwürdigkeit. Wenn du es mit organisiertem Gangstertum zu tun bekommst, schleich dich durch den Hintereingang rein, wenn sie Party machen, wo auch nicht jeder alle kennt. Nimm einen Kumpel mit trainierter Körperbeherrschung; gemeinsam werdet ihr das schaffen!

Was ich Zubro am meisten verüble, ist seine mangelnde Kreativität an jenen Scharnierstellen, wo er seinem Leser erklären muss, wieso ein schwuler Lehrer zu überraschenden Durchbrüchen vordringt. Hat Tom es mit einem Zeugen zu tun, von dem klar ist, er kann nicht auspacken, das gefährdet ihn selbst, steht da drei Mal, er hat es nicht gesagt, dann steht da, wir haben 15 Minuten auf ihn eingeredet. Und dann sagt er es ihnen! Oder man besucht eine der minderjährigen Nutten, eine ehemalige Schülerin, in ihrer Wohnung. Sie sagt nichts, sie lebt davon. Aber dann ruft ein Kunde an, sie muss weg. Die beiden Schwulen sind mit dem Bruder des Mädchens gekommen, darum bleiben sie in der Wohnung. Sie stellen zwei Stunden lang alles auf dem Kopf und finden nichts. Zum Schluss drehen sie eine Matratze um und an der klebt eine Plastikhülle, mit einem Zettel darin. Auf dem ihre Kunden und Zuhälter mit Klarnamen, Wohnadresse und Telefon stehen. Schon kann's weitergehen.

[terrystad dit Roy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Le faubourg du crime (a simple suburban murder, 1989)

Quelle mauvaise traduction française. Plusieurs phrases sont tellement mal traduites, qu’on doit la lire à 2-3 reprises avant de ne deviner. On croirait une traduction Google, mais ce roman a été traduit en 1990 par Série noire de Gallimard.

C’est un polar où un couple gay jouent les héros pour découvrir un réseau de prostitution et de pornographie d’adolescent-e-s. L’auteur cherchait sûrement à créer des personnages gay positifs à une époque où il y en avait si peu dans les oeuvres.

Est-ce que c’est un bon roman? Non.
Est-ce que ce roman a une valeur historique de la communauté Gay occidentale? Pour avoir eu 20 ans dans les années 90 et l’avoir vécu, je dis « Oui ».

Sûrement de façon Inconsciente, l’auteur a projeté le contexte gay de cette fin du XXIe siècle: cette crainte d’être dévoilé dans le public ou à son milieu de travail; les jeunes gays ostracisé par leurs parents en raison de l’orientation sexuelle et, indirectement, le recours à la prostitution afin de survivre; pudeur sexuelle qu’on ne retrouvait pas dans les romans hétéros, etc. Dure époque que la majorité des gays en occident n’ont plus à vivre d’aujourd’hui. Gaiement!

[UnusualChild{beppy}]

4.5 stars
Tom works as a high school teacher, and one morning he comes in to find a dead body in his classroom. He becomes a suspect, and wants to work to clear his name. With the help of his paramour of several years, Scott, Tom investigates the crime. It leads them to underage prostitution rings, gambling rings, smut rings, the one ring to rule them all, etc, etc.
Okay, was there anyone that wasn’t involved in the criminal activities that were uncovered by the murder? I honestly can’t think of…well, the police, I guess. And Tom’s friend Neil. Other than that, I think everyone had some kind of criminal iron in the fire. This was well written, and kept me guessing up until the denouement as to who was the perpetrator of the original crime. I really appreciated the fact that, even though Scott is waaayyy back in the closet, he doesn’t hate himself or think of their relationship as wrong. They are just two guys who love each other, going about their lives, trying to solve a series of mysteries.

[Suze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite like this one! And shall be getting the next too.
Originally published at the end of the 80’s so assuming set then as it was a nice trip back in time - no mobile phones, floppy disc drives. But also the attitudes then to the gay community are sore to read and makes you think of the vast number of people that had to live in fear (and those that still do).
The simple suburban murder does take a dark twist at the end into the underbelly of society, and again gets the reader thinking of the lost souls that are preyed upon in cities.
Tom and Scott have been together a while so there is no build up of romance, just two guys who have to dance around society - mainly as Scott is closeted, but he did seem to put himself in lots of positions to be outed.
Tom is tenacious in his search and Scott is the reality check - I liked that balance. Tom is a bit ‘fools rush in’ at times and I’m sure police in reality would not let him!!
Anyway, enjoyed

[Darren McG · Rating 3 out of 5]

The definition of an easy read- 10 straightforward chapters, barely over 200 pages, simple characters, and a plot that trods along with little distraction other than to keep you guessing “whodunit.” The protagonists are a bit overly clean-cut and reductive but despite this they didn’t annoy me. The subject matter meanders into some surprisingly dark material and handles it without much introspection. I had no idea who committed the main crime until it was revealed. There were plenty of red herrings to keep me guessing. I enjoyed it overall and would recommend to anyone who enjoys amateur-sleuth type novels. This one being the first in a series.

[Robert Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this, but the writing was very flat and the characters were cardboard. What we mostly do about the main character is that he likes to exercise and he thinks that Taco Bell is the best Mexican food there is. There is scant reason for him to start investigating, for anyone to talk to him, or for much of this to happen. The subject matter is lurid but the book has a neutered, made for TV quality about it. The two main characters often seem strangely naïve, and a lot of it feels made up as it goes along, not plotted out. I can’t imagine bothering to read another book in this series.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent murder mystery. Very dark. Once I started it, I had to finish it in one sitting. This book deals with child pornography. Had I known that from the beginning, I would not have read it. But, Zubro kept the reader's sense of outrage in control by telling the story in more of a matter-of-fact manner than in wallowing in emotional turmoil. I'm willing to read another book in the series but I hope the other books don't deal with such depressing story lines.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, this book was likely purchased twice at Giovanni’s Room; once, used, in 2024; and another time, new, upon its publication in 1989. Giovanni’s Room btw is the United States’ oldest LGBTQ bookstore.

A masc for masc love story about murder, porn, snuff, and, as relavent today as it was then, a closeted Major League Baseball player.

I liked the teacher as a detective motif.

The writing, plotting and characterization were all weak despite this being an Edgar Award winner.

[Eric L Aust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Very good start to series, well plotted and many twists in plots to close at end, very wide opening about the sleazy side of the sex industry as well.

[ConM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good who-done-it. Some dark themes.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, if nothing else it brings 'obstruction of justice' to new heights.

[James Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed most of Zubro mysteries this was a fun easy read.

[Earl · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a recommendation I got from a library's blog post about gay mysteries. I wanted to check it out for my Reading the Rainbow BINGO challenge. It intrigued me because I do enjoy mysteries and if I liked it there would be other books for me to read. The problem with that would be I would want to binge-read the entire series. Fortunately, I didn't really enjoy the novel because it seemed outdated even when it was first published almost two decades ago so I was glad to have just finished the book.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd have to check to make sure, but I believe this is the first M-M book I've read that I've been able to give as much as 4 stars to. It's not the first non-sexual/erotic M-M book I've read, that would probably be that China Mountain Zhang book. I believe it's the first M-M mystery I've read, though.

The book is fairly straight forward as far as plot/story. As in as far as an amateur detective type book. It did include the lead having a partner. That doesn't always happen in amateur detective stories. Mostly tends to be a secretary or the like in those other stories. Actually, those wouldn't be amateur detective stories. Hmms. Well, at least in this case it's an amateur detective and his gay lover who just happens to be a star baseball player. One who 1) had thrown two no-hitters in the World Series, and 2) has a name I recognize as a real life baseball player. That part I found vaguely odd (looked the name up. Guess I was wrong as there's no listing of a baseball player having that name).

I also looked up the books on my gay shelf. I was wrong there as well. I have one previous book rated 4 stars that involves a main character who happens to be gay. The other three 4 star books on that shelf are only there because the writer won and or was nominated for the Lambda award. May or may not be gay characters in those three Steven Saylor books, but none main characters. So the long and short of it is that this is the second four star book I've read that includes main character gay men. The other is Fogtown. And, judging by its average rating of 2.91, I might be the only one who liked that book.

Right. Distracted myself there. I was mentioning the plot/story. Teacher arrives at school to begin his daily teacher chores. Notices a person sitting way in the back. Goes to investigate. Finds a dead body, that of a man, a fellow teacher he barely knew. One thing leads to another and the teacher who found the dead body begins investigating and searching for the murderer. Twists and turns lead to gay bars, prostitution rings, and porno films. Strong plot.

Stronger characterization than I was lead to believe. Yes, I did something I rarely do - looked at other reviews before reading this book. Lead me to believe the characters were lacking. Were paper thin. I found them fully formed. From lead characters down to the kids. The only ones who appeared paper thin, for the most part, where the cops, and they didn't really play that big of a role in the book.

In terms of relationships - you could tell that Scott and Tom were a couple, and were romantically involved. But most action occurred off the page. Beyond some kissing and massaging.

One of the things that normally drive me insane with gay books, and I do not know if it's just the books I previously chose to try, or if it is a common theme in gay books, and I've lost this sentence. A common theme I've found in gay books is an overly emotional group of people, filled with angst. I don't care who the characters are, I don't particularly like reading that. And, fortunately, that didn't occur in this book.

I like and would recommend this book.

[Tj · Rating 4 out of 5]

My hometown was tiny and had a library filled with books that came over on the ark. However, that did not matter for the books with their yellow musty pages fed my love for reading. I matched wits with the detectives created by McBain, Christie, Doyle, Stout, Gardner and Shannon to solve the murder before they made the big reveal. I left my hometown and that old library but not my love of reading or a good mystery.

I recently discovered the Tom & Scott Mystery series. Tom is an ex-Marine turned English teacher and Scott his boyfriend is a closeted professional baseball player. Trouble seems to follow Tom and, Scott is there as his backup. The series sounded like modern take on the old TV show Hart to Hart.

A Simple Suburban Murder starts out as a lighthearted Hallmark mystery but quickly amps up into something much grittier. Tom finds the body of a colleague in his classroom. Tom being Tom can’t leave it to the police. As he and Scott investigate, it becomes apparent just how vile Evans was and the list of suspects grows. The investigation leads Tom and Scott into the underbelly of Chicago and a cynical world that preys on children – a world in which once they are used up they can be eliminated.

Mark Richard Zubro is not a Pollyanna. In Tom, he has created a character that wants to help but also knows his limitations. Life isn’t all roses and sunshine and some people cannot be saved. Tom and Scott are a couple and have been for eight years. They have a warm dynamic but this is not a romance. The focus is not about their relationship but the mystery they are unraveling.

I look forward to continuing the series. If Amazon could only add that musty old book smell as I tap the screen to turn the pages.

[Serena.. Sery-ously? · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rispetto al periodo in cui è stato scritto, il libro è molto coraggioso e forse un po' scomodo.. Non solo per il giro scabroso intorno cui ruota la storia, ma anche e soprattutto per la presenza dei due protagonisti, una coppia omosessuale.
Purtroppo non è stato in grado di colpirmi al cento per cento né di farmi entrare nella storia come avrei voluto: non sono riuscita a provare empatia, né a sentirmi scossa dalla catena di eventi tremendi che accadono e né tantomeno - ahimé, a inquadrare bene i personaggi; il protagonista narratore anzi mi ha anche suscitato un po' di prurito.. Nessun motivo particolare, solo una sensazione di fastidio.
La serie poi è eterna.. Chissà se leggerò mai i successivi 28381295607682 volumi :3

[Cris · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, a big part of the reason I picked this book up was its reputation as an early example of gay characters in a mystery who were more than their sexual orientation. Unfortunately, I simply couldn't get into the book. I found the writing stilted, especially the dialogue. Maybe the book improves, but I couldn't bring myself to read far enough to find out.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bottom line, in my opinion: unless you can read anything as long as it has gay characters, give this a pass. Total lack of character development, one-dimensional with no depth. I don’t even have any desire to try another book in this series.

[Leigh Ann Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good beginning for a series. I never had a clue who the murderer was, which is a very good thing. It made me cry, at one point, which is also good, because it means I cared about the characters. A good read.

[Cecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good murder mystery.