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It’s 1992 and Los Angeles is burning. Noah Valentine, the owner of Pinx Video in Silver Lake, notices the fires have taken their toll on fellow shopkeeper Guy Peterson’s camera shop. After the riots end, he decides to stop by Guy’s to pick up his overdue videos, only to find Guy’s family dividing up his belongings. He died in the camera store fire—or did he? Noah and his charmingly meddlesome downstairs neighbors begin to suspect something else might have happened to Guy Peterson. Something truly sinister.

The first in a new series from Lambda Award-winner Marshall Thornton, Night Drop strikes a lighter tone than the Boystown Mysteries, while bringing Silver Lake of the early 1990s to life.

201 pages, ebook

First published September 15, 2017

156 people are currently reading
807 people want to read

About the author

Marshall Thornton

56 books629 followers
Three-time Lambda Award-winning author, Marshall Thornton is best known for the Boystown and Pinx Video mystery series. Other novels include the erotic comedy The Perils of Praline, or the Amorous Adventures of a Southern Gentleman in Hollywood, Desert Run and Full Release. Marshall has an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, where he received the Carl David Memorial Fellowship and was recognized in the Samuel Goldwyn Writing awards.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
Profile Image for Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus.
1,120 reviews1,062 followers
February 4, 2021
4.5 stars

description

Marshall Thorton is right up there with Gregory Ashe as my two favorite Gay Mystery writers.

This one made me feel everything good and heartbreaking inside. It's been a while since a book made me feel things. This one was so engaging.

Marshall's writing is so different and really good. It is provoking, in your face, daring and soooo goood. The humor dry is and amazing. I can go on and on.

description

We are now in the 90s. Set against the backdrops of the LA riots in 1992, daaaamn! that is 29years ago, we are taken through what happened that day in the words of Noah Valentine, our main narrator.

I freaking loved Noah, it was love at first word. He is one lovable character. Noah is the owner of Pinx video, he also decided to double as an amateur sleuth, I am yet to decide if he good at it. The most important thing is that it he is entertaining.

Jeffer and I had opened Pinx Video together in eighty-nine. The name was his idea. Pink because we wanted to stock a lot of gay movies. But ending in an X because we wanted to stock a lot of gay porno movies. Actually, Jeffer originally wanted to call it Pinxxx, but I put my foot down. All those X’s seemed vulgar. As though we planned to only rent porno movies.

description

The mystery was so engaging and had me trying to help Noah solve it. Noah's neighbours, Lol!! I will leave it at that. Just Lol!

As for Noah, Jesus lawd! what a mess, I really did not see that coming. I knew there was something but I didn't expect that!

description

Gaaah! I can't wait to enjoy the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Martin.
807 reviews604 followers
February 6, 2022
This was a VERY interesting start of a series that I'm going to stick with.

I admit, while I was reading it, I wasn't too sure whether I'd be a fan or not.

Noah Valentine did come across as a pretty boring person, especially since I cannot help but compare this series to Adrien English.

The similarities are overwhelming, but where mystery book store owner Adrien was quirky and a bit clumsy but determined in his romantic endeavors, video rental shop owner Noah seemed downright plain and not particularly interesting, ESPECIALLY regarding romance.

And I don't mean that I didn't like him as a character. It just felt like his life was on hold the entire time.

At first I was confused by the many side characters, like his neighbors who constantly invite him over and share meals and conversations with him. I'm not a big fan of throwing too many characters into a story, but looking back I realize that without them, Noah would have been sitting around alone all day waiting for the next phone call from his mother so he could ignore it or pick up and apologize for missing mother's day yet again.

I didn't get it. I didn't get him. He seemed dry and withdrawn and the mystery of this story was kind of the only thing that kept him occupied. Like a very unusual hobby.


Noah's video rental shop Pinx seems to be doing okay, even when Noah isn't around. His quirky and sometimes even patronizing employees run it pretty smoothly.

We learn that Noah is somewhat of widower, even though he was estranged from his late partner at the end. His dating life is virtually non-existent and when he does date a guy, said person ends up dead after.

Which is how this story begins.

1992, the LA riots. People are on the streets and looters are running rampant. Still, Noah Valentine is sure that there is no danger for his little gay themed video rental shop Pinx where Noah offers a wide variety of mainstream movies alongside... well,... gay porn.

His shop survives the riot okay, but a camera shop nearby is burned down - and with it is shop owner Guy Peterson, whom Noah had briefly dated.

Intending to check out the scene, Noah visits the destroyed building and finds something that to his untrained eye does look like a bloodied murder weapon.

So did Guy actually die in the fire or was he murdered and the shop set on fire to cover the crime?

With this question in mind, Noah starts a research into a crime that gets bigger and bigger each time he uncovers another clue.

But disturbingly, the LAPD, and most importantly handsome detective Javier O'Shea, are not only unhappy with a rookie meddling in their investigation, but they might also be involved in whatever is going on behind the scenes.

The mystery was pretty good. I'm not really reading MM mysteries for the mysteries (I'm always looking for the romantic bits), but this one entertained me very well.

I should also point out that this book felt like a statement to remember gay history in the US. This is a fictional story that takes place during real events and tells a story of something that really happened like this. I'm being ominous now.

Anyway, I already compared it to Adrien English, so let me tell you that Detective O'Shea is the one you should look out for if you're wondering who might be 'The Love Interest'.

Gay shop owners and closeted cops. Don't we just love them?

Oh and I feel it's important to say that while I felt a bit of doubt toward Noah as a powerful lead character, the last few pages reveal something that makes many previous puzzle pieces fall into place. Noah isn't dull and unmotivated in his own life. But there is something weighing on his mind. And now I can't wait to see his future interactions in the next books knowing what I know now.

So yes, this story and the characters worked their way up from a 3.5 star solid but a bit dry mystery read to a 5 star favorite character piece!

And on to the next instalment...
Profile Image for LenaRibka.
1,463 reviews433 followers
June 5, 2018
Update 06-04-2018:



Congratulations Marshall!







30th Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalist - Gay Mystery


Gay Mystery:

Gifts Given, Marshall Thornton, Kenmore Books
Long Shadows, Kate Sherwood, Riptide Publishing
Love is Heartless, Kim Fielding, Dreamspinner Press
The Mystery of the Curiosities, C. S. Poe, DSP Publications
Night Drop, Marshall Thornton, Kenmore Books
Ring of Silence, Mark Zubro, MLR Press
Street People, Michael Nava, Korima Press
Tramps and Thieves, Rhys Ford, Dreamspinner Press



4,5 stars


What a crazy genre's cocktail!



Mystery, drama, comedy and fun.



Marshall Thornton’s new novel is without any doubt a historical fiction, set in LA in the early 90s. Here I have to confess (to my shame) I mistaken it first for a apocalyptic fantasy (not my preferable genre, BTW).

Because:

1) I knew NOTHING about the riot in Los Angeles in 1992 .

2) I googled and couldn’t believe what I read: a situation close to civil war, an outbreak of violence and bloodshed that cost 63 people their lives!


Aside from the atmosphere during the riot, there is a great feeling of the 90s. Absolutely phenomenal how the author with his writing and myriad elaborate details manages to transfer his readers in this era.

Night Drop OF COURSE is a murder mystery, with a dead body (-ies). I don’t mean those who lost their lives in the riot BECAUSE of it. But just imagine, that someone in this chaos might have seen a good possibility to suppress uncomfortable truth and even to get rid of some inconvenient person(s). Fortunately our main character, Noah Valentine, as an owner of a video rental shop, has watched enough mystery movies in his life to be able to become a skillful sleuth when the circumstances required it.

At the late on the page 10 you’ll want this novel to be a movie. The focal point of life in this story is an apartment of Noah’s neighbors downstairs, Marc and Louis, a gay couple who takes care of Noah. In their small apartment they have lunch, dinners and long after-dinner conversation, here their friends come together, events and cases are discussed and opinions are shared. An enjoyable microcosm in Silver Lake, a wonderful world to escape to (with a glass of chardonnay). I pretty much enjoyed the language play and the interactions of different characters.

But what kind of movie it should become? A delicious soap opera? (it is supposed to become a series, after all). Or a sitcom? Yes, a sitcom, because there are so many situations that are hilarious. The borders between SERIOUS and lighthearted are blurred. Yes, it is funny, campy, very easy breeze-y and cruisy reading. The characters are wonderful, the dialogues are extremely good and it has THIS WOW-effect at the end. When you think you know everything, lean back and are prepared to get your quiet sweet ending, the author dropped that bombshell.

Don’t worry, it is not a cliffhanger, it is just a decent change of the genre. Again.

Now I would like to know how Marshall Thornton is going to resolve the situation he put himself into…

One more reason to looking forward to the next book!

VERY recommended.




***Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Daniel.
1,029 reviews92 followers
June 25, 2021
Marshall Thornton's been on my radar for a long time. I've even bought a few of his books. But I'd avoided actually reading any until now for the same reasons I've largely avoided "gay lit" for my entire life. Real life is awful enough, I don't need gay tragedy and AIDS etc, in my escapism thank you very much.

I finally gave this a shot though, and I'm glad I did. This is set in LA in 1992, the riots play a role in the plot, and yes, AIDS is lurking nearby. But it's not the depressing, grief stricken atmosphere that forever tainted mainstream gay fiction for me. The characters here are delightful, (even if their clothing is sometimes appalling), enjoying life and making the best of things. I liked the whole gang, Noah and his nosy neighbors. He really ought to give Mikey more responsibility at the shop also.

The star though has to be the mystery itself. First rate. When I read m/m with a mystery subplot the mystery often feels tacked on or fails to satisfy in some aspect, but this is a mystery first and superbly done. Even the main character's involvement is believable and justified, which is often a problem with mysteries that don't center on law enforcement.

My only quibble would be with the prose, and that's not to say it's bad in any way, on the contrary the writing is quite clear. There's more description than I personally am interested in, but I could say that about 99% of books. I'm not a visual reader, I hear the text in my head I don't visualize it. (Ironically, no I don't get on with audiobooks.) So any visual detail that isn't significant to the story is basically wasted words for me.

But given that I basically hear everything I read as a sort of audiobook in my head, cadence and rhythm are important for me. Not to say I always notice it or pay attention to it, more often than not I really only notice when it's unusually good, or unusually bad. But here, at least in the first couple chapters, what I noticed was its absence. The prose felt a bit... flat, or monotone maybe? Of course, I can't know what intonation the author imagined when he was writing, but words and sentences have rhythms of their own, outside of tone and pitch.

In any case I stopped noticing it after a bit and got into the story, the final two-thirds of which I read in a single sitting.

I'll probably read the next one fairly soon.
Profile Image for Laura.
1,520 reviews253 followers
September 11, 2024
Dead bodies, blackmail, riots, and secrets! And this is just book one. :)

Our story is set in 1992 Los Angeles during a few infamous days in LA's history. The city is burning! Riots erupt after the officers on trial for the beating of Rodney King were acquitted. Our amateur sleuth-er and hero, Noah Valentine (aka Nora Balentine), is the owner of a small video store in Los Angeles and apparently a magnet for trouble. When a local camera store burns down with the owner inside, Noah dives into the investigation with questions, doubts, and connections. Is the fire really connected to the riots or is something else going on? His digging has definitely nabbed the attention of the police and maybe the killer or killers as well. Can Noah stay alive, avoid prison, and solve the mystery of the murdered camera Guy? Drop by the store and see!

The setting of this story really intrigued me. 1992 shined bright in the shout outs to VJs, movies (Cape Fear and The Addams Family) and technology. It was fun! AND scary. In a city out of control, truth and justice feel impossible to find. Who do you turn to for help? Is there anybody? I kept asking, why? Why is Noah doing all of this? Thankfully Noah asked himself the very same question and came up with…”No one else was.” An unsettling answer for sure. Those rioting days were filled with fire, fear, and death. And so much uncertainty. You’ll feel that in Noah’s hesitation to trust the police and his conversations with his circle of friends.

Which I have to mention! Mr. Thornton introduces a full cast. From his hysterical neighbors Marc and Louis; to his overprotective employee Mikey; to the tall, dark and menacing (but sexy) Detective Javier O’Shea. There are a lot faces to track and learn. It took me awhile (like half the book) to get into the tone and personalities of everyone. Mainly because I kept confusing Marc, Louis, and Leon. Once their voices became clearer and settled in though, I saw and liked everyone. Well, truth be told….I’m not sure I like Noah. That very fact is going to keep me reading though. I’m curious and want more.

I’m looking forward to book two and learning more about our hero’s past and future.

Recommended read.

Profile Image for CrabbyPatty.
1,712 reviews195 followers
September 8, 2017
Night Drop is a departure from the gritty heartbreak of Thornton's extraordinary Boystown Mysteries, set in Chicago at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. This first book in the Pinx Video Mysteries series is set in the Silver Lake area of Los Angeles at the start of the riots in 1992 in response to the Rodney King trial. We meet 28-year-old Noah Valentine, the owner of Pinx Video:
At twenty-five, I was a businessman, a homeowner and a devoted partner. Life was perfect. For about a year.

At times I felt like a ghost. I think I hadn’t had enough time to become myself before I met Jeffer, and then I was part of Noah and Jeffer, Jeffer and Noah. We went to a party once and I overheard someone saying about me, “It’s like he has no personality when Jeffer leaves the room.” It was a cruel thing to say, mostly because it felt true.
When Noah learns of the death of an acquaintance Guy Peterson, dead in an apparent riot-related fire at Guy's Camera, something just doesn't feel right and he begins nosing around. The murder / mystery plot unfolds beautifully as Noah and his neighbors Marc and Louis plus their friend Leon uncover possible police corruption and hints of blackmail; the story kept my interest every page of the way.

Thornton does a marvelous job of developing his characters, even minor characters whom he fleshes out with just a few sentences, and although Noah isn't flashy or quirky like Lionel in Femme or tormented and pragmatic like Nick in the Boystown Mysteries, as the book unwinds, Noah really touched my heart. I loved his obstinence in pursuing the mystery, his tender heart and as his history with Jeffer is slowly revealed, I felt gut-punched with the information given in the last chapter. Noah is a character I want to read more about, and I want to know if a certain attractive detective continues to pursue him. 4.5 stars!

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
Profile Image for fleurette.
1,534 reviews161 followers
March 1, 2021
It is a very nice book, nothing overly spectacular, but it was exactly what I expected and needed at this point.

The strong point of this book is the main character, who is very easy to like immediately. Although he himself claims that there is nothing special about him and that he is colorless and devoid of personality, this is not entirely true. Noah definitely works well as the main character. I don't normally like first-person narration, but being in Noah's head is kind of fun. If we add the well-constructed and lovable supporting characters to this, we get a pretty good mix in terms of characters. I really like the interaction between them, you can see that they really like each other.

But these well-written characters are just an addition to a very good storyline that is much more complex than I expected. And that's really great. There are several threads that are intertwined with each other and we do not know what is really going on and who is behind it. I like that Noah is intelligent and doesn't put himself into dangerous situations most of the time (or at least he realizes when he does it). The action is fast and full of twists, after all, it's not a long book.

This book also turned out to be much more fun than I expected. I really did laugh a couple of times, and it's not easy to make me laugh. There are some really well-written dialogues here.

Reading this book was like an afternoon under a blanket on a frosty day, it was pleasantly warm. I will definitely read another book in this series. I liked the main character and am very curious if O'Shea will be back. I will not hide that I hope for it. But I also wonder what other trouble Noah can get into.
Profile Image for ⚣Michaelle⚣.
3,662 reviews233 followers
October 8, 2017
4.2 Stars

First of all, I can't believe I'm shelving this as "historical" since it takes place in the early 90's. I feel so old right now.

Second, this book will not appeal to everyone...especially since it's not a typical romance. It's definitely intriguing though, and I definitely want to read more from this series to see if Noah ever gets a HEA. Hell, even a HFN considering what he's dealing with. (No details, this deserves to be read unspoiled.) Also, I want more of detective O'Shea.

Third, I don't know what it is about completely unqualified MCs trying to solve crimes (particularly murders) that I just can't turn down; it's a trope that might as well be crack because I'm addicted. And this one delivers on all of the initially accidental but eventually insightful investigation with a side of "oh fuck."

Fourth, did I mention the era it's set? Right, 90's...but in LA, during and after the riots. And I loved all the social commentary that we get in this book. Snarky, observant and spot-on. I hope all of the installments stay during this time frame...if for no other reason than urging me to drag out my playlists and listen to the music mentioned. It really does bring back memories, ya know?

I'm really glad I read this because I've got some of the Boystown series to read for challenges and I don't think I'd ever read anything by Marshall Thornton before...I certainly won't shy away now that I'm familiar with - and like - his style!
Profile Image for Ulysses Dietz.
Author 15 books716 followers
March 20, 2018
Night Drop (Pinx #1)
Marshall Thornton
Kenmore Books, 2017
Five stars

It is so exciting to see Marshall Thornton starting off on a new series. Here we’re in Los Angeles in 1992—literally as the city burns in the aftermath of the Rodney King trial.

Noah Valentine runs Pinx Video, which is nostalgic in itself, because I remember when every town had several competing video stores, both local businesses and national chains. But right from the start we know that Noah, who is 28, has some baggage that never quite gets unpacked. Little by little, as he searches for clues to a mysterious murder in his Silverlake community, bits of Noah’s past fall into place. The video store seems to be all that anchors Noah to Los Angeles. Other than Pinx, Noah is adrift in his life, and we’re not entirely sure why.

Noah’s a good guy. He cares. He’s curious. He’s honest. But he is also stubborn and refuses to let go when the things he witnesses and the stories he’s told by others don’t add up. In a city decimated by AIDS and torn by racial strife, who do you trust? Who is your community?

Noah has to deal with the motley staff at Pinx, who depend on him for their income. He also has a circle of acquaintances who are not really friends, in that he doesn’t seem to be particularly tied to them. The closest to real friends are the middle-aged gay couple downstairs, Louis and Marc. They fuss over Noah and take care of him. He is fond of them in an oddly detached way, but it rather feels like they’re closer to parents than friends. Of course, there’s Noah’s mother, whose random phone calls add a note of wry, sitcom comedy to a plot that is both lighthearted and eerily dark. Her concerned self-absorption is almost as detached as Noah’s emotional distance from most of the people he knows.

“Oh, God, I thought. A dead body and a blind date on the same day. It was giving me a headache.”

This low-key deadpan humor infuses what could become a grim narrative with a gentle grace that lulls us into almost expecting a happy ending. Then Marshall stabs us in the back, as it were. Maybe the gut. It’s not a big knife. Nothing life-threatening. A little, exquisitely sharp scalpel, slipped into a place that won’t kill us, but hurts more than we expect.

Because, of course, Marshall Thornton needs Noah. Noah has more to do. And, while Noah might not be aware of it, there are people who very much want to see what he does next.
Profile Image for Saimi Vasquez.
1,955 reviews93 followers
October 26, 2024
Entretenido, divertido, interesante

Noah es dueño de una tienda de alquiler de videos en los Ángeles. Está soltero y vive tranquilo. Pero cuando un conocido muere en extrañas circunstancias, el decide que tiene que averiguar al paso realmente. Pero serás capaz de descubrir que paso? Podrá salir vivo de todo esto?

Es un libro que no esperaba para nada. Es divertido, entretenido y bastante nostálgico para mí (ya que está ubicado en los años 80). Me gustó mucho el prota, la forma sincera con las que investiga, habla y se relaciona con los demás es quizás lo que más me gustó del libro.
Además, el misterio fue bastante original y la forma como se manejo todo fue totalmente lógica.
Ahora, es seguro que leeré los próximos libros de esta serie más adelante.
Profile Image for Melissa.
1,414 reviews95 followers
February 11, 2018
I have to start not with the story but with the editing. Really? I wasn't prepared for so many editing mistakes -this is a Marshall Thornton book! It really made me mad that this book was published as it was.

As for the story I really enjoyed it. This is NOT a romance, but I do see the potential for something developing. Noah is investigating the death of a sort of friend (and date disaster). Things are very crazy but I really had fun reading this. I don't want to give away anything of what happens, because it's best if you know nothing in advance. I loved the characters, the plot, the writing (if you can ignore the editing mistakes). I do recommend this and I can't wait to read book 2.
Profile Image for Calila.
1,178 reviews102 followers
October 11, 2017
Great mystery. Glad I went in knowing that romance was NOT a major aspect. There's not much of it, just a hint/set up. I enjoyed the setting and era. It's nice reading something that isn't set in the now. I liked Noah a lot, and his little group of crime solving friends were fun. Tall Dark and Menacing shows some promise for the future. The ending with TDM and Noah both surprised and didn't surprise me. But I look forward to how it plays out in the future.
Profile Image for George.
628 reviews71 followers
February 1, 2022
4.75 Stars

While I wouldn’t classify Night Drop, the first volume in Marshall Thornton’s ‘Pinx Video Mystery’ series, as a romance novel, it is nonetheless a fantastic read!

To be fair, the book is filled with characters many of whom, including the main character, either have been or currently are in gay relationships.

Filled with laugh-out-loud moments, Thornton brings his characters alive in this wonderful work of murder, mayhem, and mystery.

Set in Los Angeles in the early 1990’s, at the time of the riots protesting the police killing of Rodney King, Thornton’s prose reminds readers of the style of Mickey Spillane or Dashiell Hammett, mystery writers whose works were truly evocative of a specific era.

Noah Valentine, the owner of Pinx Video, a video rental store, describes himself by saying, “I felt too old to be a twink, too vanilla to be leather, too thin to be a bear. I wasn’t fashionable or chic like the guys in West Hollywood, nor as offbeat and alternative as the guys in Silver Lake. I was sort of a nothing. A generic gay gay, if such a thing even existed.”

The truth is, Valentine is anything but generic. He’s a man with a secret of his own; a man whose husband had died; a man with a mother who is still trying to run his life; a man who is trying to run a business; a man who quickly becomes the prime suspect of a murder investigation - well, multiple murders as it turns out; and a man sought after by several members of the LAPD for quite a variety of reasons.

Along with his neighbors, Marc and Louis, he attempts to unravel the identities of the murder victims; the identities of the murderers themselves; the motive(s) behind the murders; and what members of the Trailblazers, a program of the Frontier Scouts, might have to do with it all.

Night Drop is a highly recommended, truly engaging read - and it's just the first book in what I expect is another great series from Marshall Thornton.
Profile Image for Philip.
489 reviews57 followers
December 30, 2018
Loved this new mystery novel from Three Nick Nowak Mysteries creator Marshall Thornton. Felt nostalgic over the video store setting. And melancholy over the AIDS era time period. Protagonist Noah showed gumption, humor and hope which made the reading zoom by. Looking forward to #2 in this series!
Profile Image for Caipi.
1,243 reviews33 followers
June 7, 2025
Excellent murder mystery, with interesting, quirky characters!

Despite the sad historical setting during the riots in LA, this story didn't get too depressing thanks to the funny, sarcastic dialogues throughout the book.
Honestly, I devoured it!

4.5 stars
Profile Image for JR.
875 reviews33 followers
March 14, 2018
Absolutely Fabulous

This has everything you could want in a mystery. It is populated with great characters, a who dunnit that kept me guessing. What more can I say? Marshall Thornton is an amazing writer.
Profile Image for Annika.
1,374 reviews94 followers
September 30, 2017


Noah has been deeply hurt in the past and is now licking his wounds. Hiding away from everyone, including himself. Hiding in plain sight that is. He's not a loner, he has both friends and family, but he keeps his distance and never truly engaging with anyone. There are a few sparks here and there where he tries to re-engage with the world, but it feels like he's forgotten how to. And he's not ready just yet. But there's possibility there, hope that someday he might move forward.

Night Drop was my first Thornton book. And in the beginning I didn't really like it. I couldn't put my finger as to why, but there were a few things that kept bugging me. The pacing of the book. The fact that Noah investigates Guy's murder, but having no clue what he's doing or why he is doing it. He really has no business investigating anything, let alone a murder. One that get's more and more dangerous the more he uncovers. This has never really bothered me before so I can't say why it did this time.

Then about halfway in, something changed. I really started to enjoy the book and was more invested in the characters and the outcome. This book was a bit raw and gritty, almost harsh in some ways, but at the same time it gave the illusion of being light. Never sweet mind you, but not a heavy read.

For me this book was a bit of a mindfuck at times. I don't often read books set in the early 90's, if I did I probably wouldn't question things that much. But now I was constantly finding myself thinking; where's the security? He shouldn't be able to just do that. And did we really have cordless phones then? So yeah, I'll admit to googling a few things here and there (don't tell anyone) ;)
And yes I did live through that time, but I can't say I was all that aware about the world around me - so be nice ;)

Pretty early in this book I was thinking that this series might not be for me. That I'd read this book and then just leave it at that. Then the ending happened. And now I just want to find out more. And if you are thinking cliffhanger, then you are wrong. No cliffhanger in sight. Just life. And I want to know more about it. I hope the wait for the next instalment isn't too long.

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review

Profile Image for Lulu.
1,138 reviews21 followers
August 23, 2020
“Now, now,” Louis interrupted. “Don’t speak ill of the dead. Not when there are living people you can speak ill of.” And then he did just that, taking a few swipes at the president, who I found too bland to be worth insulting, or Pat Robertson or the mayor.

Story: 9
First MC: 9
Second MC: who?
Secondary characters: 6
Mystery: 7
Sexual tension: 1
Humor: 4
Hotness: 0
Product placement: 5
Ridiculousness: 4
Annoying: 3
Audiobook: 9 (5hr 1min)
To re-read: 9

this author loves the 80's and the 90's not sure why, I mean people didn't have mobile phone, I'm thinking the fashion and the movies sucked. I wonder if because he wants to address the AIDS issue that was kind of news back then.

Loved the mystery, it had an old fashion feel to it and it was intriguing to watch unravel. There is Noah, his quirky friends and other characters. We don't have a second MC per-se maybe it will be in the second book.

good god just go out on a date and stop being weird!

sex clubs, busy bodies, shoulder pads, nudes, and lots meals
Profile Image for Leanne.
358 reviews34 followers
October 2, 2017
4.5 stars with the potential to increase as the series continues

I liked the slow reveal of MC Noah - he's such an interesting character. I have a feeling there are many more layers to him. Loving the dry, black humour (his neighbour friends are hilarious) but I have a feeling the angst will ratchet up a notch or two in the next book. Excellent start to a series that promises to be every bit as good as Boystown.
Profile Image for DeeNeez.
2,004 reviews13 followers
April 11, 2025
Excellent mystery! Noah has found himself drawn into investigating the murder as the result of the LA riots. Or was it? This book it all about the mystery and the introduction of all the characters in Noah’s life. And the introduction of his future love interest. I don’t want to give away the story here, it’s a must read with an ending that leaves you wanting more! I anticipate a great series and looking forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Aimee Nicole Walker.
Author 71 books2,006 followers
July 30, 2023
I’m really excited for this series. I love this author’s writing style and unique voice. There’s an undeniable realness to Thornton’s work that I don’t always find elsewhere. There’s a deeper connection between writer and character; a palpable thing I feel when I read his books. Technically speaking, I admire his pacing. He thrusts you right into the character’s world but doesn’t skimp on the pertinent details. He’s wonderful at describing locations and people but without bogging down the flow. Each detail seems important. The tone of this series doesn’t seem as heavy as Boystown, but the subject matter is similar and just as important. Again, Thornton’s passion for these injustices shines. I expect to grow more intrigued with each installment as these characters burrow deeper into my heart.
Profile Image for Angie Engles.
372 reviews41 followers
October 24, 2018
This took me by surprise in that I liked it way more than I ever could have imagined and closed the book having absolutely loved the main character, his friends and the detective who goes from leaving you a bit on edge to being a very endearing man. I raved about this to a friend outside of Good Reads who ending up feeling the same way...and both of us are looking forward to starting the next one in the series.
Profile Image for Lara Di Iorio.
477 reviews10 followers
May 31, 2020
3.5🌟🌟🌟✨ a breve la recensione per il blog
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,078 reviews518 followers
October 9, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars


Before this, I had not read any books by Marshall Thornton and the idea of a mystery set in the nostalgic era of the 90s appealed to me. The story had promise as it opened and we are in Noah’s first person perspective. The LA riots are recounted in a brief overview and while Noah’s business is a little outside of the more violent areas, the whole area is feeling the effects. There are a few details of life in the 90s, such as the video store, menthol cigarettes, and cordless phones, but I was expecting there to be even more detail and to feel like I was immersed in the era and that did not happen for me.

Noah thought he had a great life. He was in love with Jeffer for many years and they were successful and owned their own house by the time Noah was 25. We learn early on that Jeffer died and they were somewhat estranged at that point, but what exactly happened is not gone into in depth until the end of the book. However, as Noah set the scene of where he and Jeffer were in the relationship at the time of Jeffer’s death, I knew immediately what was going on so what was supposed to be the big reveal at the end truly did not have the intended impact for me. I can’t say that everyone will catch on as quickly, but it was clearly obvious to me early in the book.

The entire story revolves around Guy, who owned the local camera shop, and what may have happened to him. This storyline did not appeal to me or hold my attention. Guy was not an on page character, his story was just not compelling to me, and the mystery did not engage me enough to want to put all the pieces together. Being that it is a mystery, there’s not much I can discuss in detail, but I kept waiting for something to happen to reel me, and by the halfway mark of the story, I realized that wasn’t going to happen.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

Profile Image for Jess.
451 reviews12 followers
September 13, 2021
This cosy mystery set in the 1990s is definitely something I did not expect myself to enjoy so much. The author deserves every bit of kudos for the way the story unwind. This doesn't really have much romance and surrounds mainly in finding out what happened to Guy. Usually, I find such series a teaser and I got pretty frustrated in the middle if I don't see roses blossoming. But this, wow, I was enjoying the show the whole way and will definitely continue the series.
Profile Image for ⚓Dan⚓.
500 reviews102 followers
December 25, 2017
Loved this one...of course I've never read a bad Marshall Thornton book.
Profile Image for Shelba.
2,696 reviews99 followers
April 20, 2019
This was excellent. I haven't enjoyed a mystery this much since the Adrien English series.
Profile Image for Trio.
3,615 reviews207 followers
June 16, 2025
Night Drop was a fun little mystery, I see why Marshall Thornton's Pinx Video Mystery series is popular.

Not sure why, but I literally couldn't stop thinking about Guy Pierce whenever they said Guy Peterson. Poor Guy Pierce lol.

The audiobook series is nicely performed by Jack Meloche. Meloche has an interesting and unusual voice and it suits the characters in this story.
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