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A Dick Hardesty Mystery #1
The Butcher's Son
Gay mystery novel, number one of the series, featuring Dick Hardesty, is pressed into service when someone starts burning down gay bars all over town and the police chief (nicknamed "the butcher") shrugs the whole thing off. Then drag queens and female impersonators get into the act and Dick is required to sleuth out who is hot and who is not.
197 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
271 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 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 20, 2016
Dorien Grey (the first Dick Hardesty mystery)
The Butcher’s Son
Untreed Reads Publishing, 2015 (first published, 2000)
Cover designed by Ginny Glass
ISBN 1-879194-86-4
Four stars
This was my first book by Dorien Grey, the nom-de-plume of the late Roger Margason. I remember his death in 2015, and how it rocked the world of fellow gay fiction writers and aficionados who knew and admired him. I had somehow missed his books, and when I came across “The Butcher’s Son” in my various ramblings through Goodreads, I decided it was time to read one. Margason was a generation older than myself, and as such should represent the first great wave of gay fiction writers. But Margason didn't start writing fiction until his career was behind him. Dorien Grey was the alter ego that let him step outside his daily life and write what was in his head.
This is the book that gave birth to Dick Hardesty, a gay detective in the 1970s, born of the frustration and anger of the early post-Stonewall era. In it, Dick is working in a marketing firm he hates, and his five-year relationship with his boyfriend Chris is dying a slow death. Dick is assigned to handle all the publicity around the campaign for the local police Chief, a blatant homophobe and friend of Dick’s boss. His work on the Rourke campaign, and his presence at a horrific fire at a local gay bar, become the twin threads of the mystery that will transform Dick from ad-man to private eye.
Grey’s writing was, not surprisingly for his generation, literate and accomplished. He had been the chief editor of The Advocate, America’s major gay news magazine, and brought his editorial skills to fiction writing. Dick Hardesty is an out gay man – but only as out as he comfortably can be in the 1970s. This is the era I came out, and I remember that constant tension between being comfortable in your own skin, and being hesitant when confronted with the straight world. Grey beautifully demonstrates this tension as Dick confronts his idiot boss, the homophobic and charmless police chief, and the chief’s tall, handsome, ordained son Kevin.
The quiet dissolution of Dick’s longterm relationship with his college boyfriend Chris is portrayed with gentle sadness as a backdrop to the main events. It is the first time I’ve encountered such a sympathetic, wistful portrait of a failed relationship, in which no blame is given, no fingers pointed. The emergence of Dick Hardesty as a private eye is as much part of this personal event as it is tied to the larger political events in the outside world.
Most of all, Dick Hardesty is presented to the reader as part of a community of gay men who are not only friends, but also a support network in a world that is still by-and-large hostile to them. This is something that was very much a part of Roger Margason’s life, as it was for mine. Reading Dorien Grey’s books is not just a lesson in good fiction writing, it is also a lesson in gay history.
The Butcher’s Son
Untreed Reads Publishing, 2015 (first published, 2000)
Cover designed by Ginny Glass
ISBN 1-879194-86-4
Four stars
This was my first book by Dorien Grey, the nom-de-plume of the late Roger Margason. I remember his death in 2015, and how it rocked the world of fellow gay fiction writers and aficionados who knew and admired him. I had somehow missed his books, and when I came across “The Butcher’s Son” in my various ramblings through Goodreads, I decided it was time to read one. Margason was a generation older than myself, and as such should represent the first great wave of gay fiction writers. But Margason didn't start writing fiction until his career was behind him. Dorien Grey was the alter ego that let him step outside his daily life and write what was in his head.
This is the book that gave birth to Dick Hardesty, a gay detective in the 1970s, born of the frustration and anger of the early post-Stonewall era. In it, Dick is working in a marketing firm he hates, and his five-year relationship with his boyfriend Chris is dying a slow death. Dick is assigned to handle all the publicity around the campaign for the local police Chief, a blatant homophobe and friend of Dick’s boss. His work on the Rourke campaign, and his presence at a horrific fire at a local gay bar, become the twin threads of the mystery that will transform Dick from ad-man to private eye.
Grey’s writing was, not surprisingly for his generation, literate and accomplished. He had been the chief editor of The Advocate, America’s major gay news magazine, and brought his editorial skills to fiction writing. Dick Hardesty is an out gay man – but only as out as he comfortably can be in the 1970s. This is the era I came out, and I remember that constant tension between being comfortable in your own skin, and being hesitant when confronted with the straight world. Grey beautifully demonstrates this tension as Dick confronts his idiot boss, the homophobic and charmless police chief, and the chief’s tall, handsome, ordained son Kevin.
The quiet dissolution of Dick’s longterm relationship with his college boyfriend Chris is portrayed with gentle sadness as a backdrop to the main events. It is the first time I’ve encountered such a sympathetic, wistful portrait of a failed relationship, in which no blame is given, no fingers pointed. The emergence of Dick Hardesty as a private eye is as much part of this personal event as it is tied to the larger political events in the outside world.
Most of all, Dick Hardesty is presented to the reader as part of a community of gay men who are not only friends, but also a support network in a world that is still by-and-large hostile to them. This is something that was very much a part of Roger Margason’s life, as it was for mine. Reading Dorien Grey’s books is not just a lesson in good fiction writing, it is also a lesson in gay history.
February 25, 2015
I knew it!! I had an inkling about the crime and I was right!!
But that is only because I am a mystery nerd and read far too many crime stories and this is a really good one. I enjoyed the story and I really like Dick Hardesty.
And to all my mystery reading ladeez - another series for the to - read pile!! We shall never surrender!!
This is the beginning of another great series. When I come across a good mystery I am always so happy. I am even happier when it is the first in a long series and the author has a back list!!
Dorien Grey (author) I don't know you but I love you. xxxx
Happy reading days ahead!!
Dick Hardesty is a PR professional who hates his job and really dislikes his boss (don't we all?). BUT he has a chance to do some detective work when an arsonist starts setting fire to local gay bars, leading to a devastating tragedy. Combine this with the local homophobic police chief's campaign to be elected state governor and the ghastly skeletons that abound in his life and Dick is on the case!
And does he solve it?
Yes he does with his insight, droll humour and ability to piece things together bit by bit.
Unfortunately there is a weird religious person in this book (my pet hate since I am religious myself and see no reason why people should use religion as a cloak for their homophobia but that is another story). Fortunately the weird person does not detract from the story but enriches it.
Dick Hardesty with his investigative skills, manages to solve the mystery arson case and throw light into some of the darker corners of the Chief's life.
Justice has the day!!
Dick solves the case and thus begins another great series.
And I am in murder mystery book heaven. 2015 is shaping up to be a great reading year.
But that is only because I am a mystery nerd and read far too many crime stories and this is a really good one. I enjoyed the story and I really like Dick Hardesty.
And to all my mystery reading ladeez - another series for the to - read pile!! We shall never surrender!!
This is the beginning of another great series. When I come across a good mystery I am always so happy. I am even happier when it is the first in a long series and the author has a back list!!
Dorien Grey (author) I don't know you but I love you. xxxx
Happy reading days ahead!!
Dick Hardesty is a PR professional who hates his job and really dislikes his boss (don't we all?). BUT he has a chance to do some detective work when an arsonist starts setting fire to local gay bars, leading to a devastating tragedy. Combine this with the local homophobic police chief's campaign to be elected state governor and the ghastly skeletons that abound in his life and Dick is on the case!
And does he solve it?
Yes he does with his insight, droll humour and ability to piece things together bit by bit.
Unfortunately there is a weird religious person in this book (my pet hate since I am religious myself and see no reason why people should use religion as a cloak for their homophobia but that is another story). Fortunately the weird person does not detract from the story but enriches it.
Dick Hardesty with his investigative skills, manages to solve the mystery arson case and throw light into some of the darker corners of the Chief's life.
Justice has the day!!
Dick solves the case and thus begins another great series.
And I am in murder mystery book heaven. 2015 is shaping up to be a great reading year.
February 6, 2021
3.5 stars
The first book in the Dick Hardesty mystery series and it's a doozy. There were a couple of twists in the mystery. I thought I had at least one part of it figured out early on, and I sort of did but sort of didn't, so at least it kept me sort of guessing. I do still think it took Dick way too long to start to figure things out though, and I'm not sure why his friends thought he'd be such a good private investigator when he really didn't do any investigating. (It should be noted he's not actually an investigator in this book.) Then the whole thing was resolved in one big rush. The pacing could've been much better than it was. The resolution was a little too neat and tidy, and while I don't disagree with what Dick and the others decide to do about the arsonist, I'm a little uncomfortable that the other victims of the fires didn't get a vote.
We meet Dick as he's breaking up with his long-time partner Chris. We also meet Bob and Ramon, their friends, and Tom, an old boyfriend of Dick's, and Don, an old boyfriend of Bob's. Unfortunately, we don't really get to know much about them, as there's a lot of telling about how Dick spends his time with them but not a whole lot of showing.
Dick's boss, Carlson Carlton, is a real piece of work. He makes my boss look like America's Sweetheart, and she's an evil witch lady. CC runs a public relations office and is running the campaign for the police chief Rourke, known as the Butcher for his tough on crime (and everything else) approach to civil service. Dick gets the thankless job of handling the campaign thanks to the chief's eldest son Kevin, who's a pastor running the local homeless shelter. We do get to see a lot of these characters, rather than just be told about them.
This shows a lot of promise. I'm definitely interested enough to read the next book.
The first book in the Dick Hardesty mystery series and it's a doozy. There were a couple of twists in the mystery. I thought I had at least one part of it figured out early on, and I sort of did but sort of didn't, so at least it kept me sort of guessing. I do still think it took Dick way too long to start to figure things out though, and I'm not sure why his friends thought he'd be such a good private investigator when he really didn't do any investigating. (It should be noted he's not actually an investigator in this book.) Then the whole thing was resolved in one big rush. The pacing could've been much better than it was. The resolution was a little too neat and tidy, and while I don't disagree with what Dick and the others decide to do about the arsonist, I'm a little uncomfortable that the other victims of the fires didn't get a vote.
We meet Dick as he's breaking up with his long-time partner Chris. We also meet Bob and Ramon, their friends, and Tom, an old boyfriend of Dick's, and Don, an old boyfriend of Bob's. Unfortunately, we don't really get to know much about them, as there's a lot of telling about how Dick spends his time with them but not a whole lot of showing.
Dick's boss, Carlson Carlton, is a real piece of work. He makes my boss look like America's Sweetheart, and she's an evil witch lady. CC runs a public relations office and is running the campaign for the police chief Rourke, known as the Butcher for his tough on crime (and everything else) approach to civil service. Dick gets the thankless job of handling the campaign thanks to the chief's eldest son Kevin, who's a pastor running the local homeless shelter. We do get to see a lot of these characters, rather than just be told about them.
This shows a lot of promise. I'm definitely interested enough to read the next book.
July 1, 2016
The Butcher’s Son – Audio Version
Written by Dorien Grey – Narration by Jeff Frez-Albrecht
Review by Jon Michaelsen
Over the past few weeks I’ve been introduced to Audible Books, unabridged audio versions of print novels, and in my case gay genre. Years ago, I’d purchased or rented “books on tape” as they were known back in the day, typically multiple cassette tapes of unabridged versions of print books by often more popular writer's whose publishers had the funds to produce and release novels due to said authors’ popularity. Impractical at the time, the only opportunity to listen to the “tapes” was when traveling alone in a car or aboard a plane most often renting tapes since purchasing had proved financially unsustainable. Alas, the GLBT genre I preferred was sorely underrepresented, and I preferred reading opposed to listening.
So along came ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), whose author-friendly processes have attracted many writers of GLBT literature to release new and backlisted works in audio book. Wow, have I hit pay-dirt, since many of my favorite authors are releasing older, out-of-print novels in this new format for today’s audiences, often complimented with e-book and print versions. Shortly after, I learned of a new Facebook page dedicated to GLBT audio books and immediately “liked” the page to stay informed. Created in April this year by popular writer, Dorien Grey, the Facebook page is Audio Books: Now Hear This - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Now-He....
I’ve listened to several audiobooks from many favorite authors lately, including the first in Dorien Grey’s infamous Dick Hardesty detective/mystery series, “The Butcher’s Son”. The blurb alerts listeners that “…someone is torching the city’s gay bars…”, thus sets the tone for Grey’s multi Lammy Award nominated, long-running Hardesty mysteries, fourteen books over eleven years and counting.
More exciting for those of us who have been waiting – hoping! – for the earlier novels in the series to be reissued, listening to the recently released audio version “The Butcher’s Son” provides yet another medium for readers to enjoy. The plot is deftly written, exhibiting plenty of cleverly spaced twists and turns to provide not only a satisfying read (I read the e-book version last year, so I know what I'm talking about), but a pleasing listening experience aimed to challenge even the best amateur armchair sleuth.
What I found vastly different listening to the audio book versus reading the e-book version was experiencing narrator, Jeff Frez-Albrecht’s, dead-pan interpretation of Grey’s crisp prose, a new experience altogether exciting and chilling, like reading, err listening, to the story for the first time. The mysterious, suspenseful aspect of the novel is significantly enhanced with perfect timing enunciation, not to mention offering the opportunity to kick back, close your eyes and get lost in Grey’s skillfully crafted fictional character’s lives, especially the never perfect, oft complicated Dick Hardesty.
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?...
http://www.doriengrey.com/
Written by Dorien Grey – Narration by Jeff Frez-Albrecht
Review by Jon Michaelsen
Over the past few weeks I’ve been introduced to Audible Books, unabridged audio versions of print novels, and in my case gay genre. Years ago, I’d purchased or rented “books on tape” as they were known back in the day, typically multiple cassette tapes of unabridged versions of print books by often more popular writer's whose publishers had the funds to produce and release novels due to said authors’ popularity. Impractical at the time, the only opportunity to listen to the “tapes” was when traveling alone in a car or aboard a plane most often renting tapes since purchasing had proved financially unsustainable. Alas, the GLBT genre I preferred was sorely underrepresented, and I preferred reading opposed to listening.
So along came ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), whose author-friendly processes have attracted many writers of GLBT literature to release new and backlisted works in audio book. Wow, have I hit pay-dirt, since many of my favorite authors are releasing older, out-of-print novels in this new format for today’s audiences, often complimented with e-book and print versions. Shortly after, I learned of a new Facebook page dedicated to GLBT audio books and immediately “liked” the page to stay informed. Created in April this year by popular writer, Dorien Grey, the Facebook page is Audio Books: Now Hear This - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Now-He....
I’ve listened to several audiobooks from many favorite authors lately, including the first in Dorien Grey’s infamous Dick Hardesty detective/mystery series, “The Butcher’s Son”. The blurb alerts listeners that “…someone is torching the city’s gay bars…”, thus sets the tone for Grey’s multi Lammy Award nominated, long-running Hardesty mysteries, fourteen books over eleven years and counting.
More exciting for those of us who have been waiting – hoping! – for the earlier novels in the series to be reissued, listening to the recently released audio version “The Butcher’s Son” provides yet another medium for readers to enjoy. The plot is deftly written, exhibiting plenty of cleverly spaced twists and turns to provide not only a satisfying read (I read the e-book version last year, so I know what I'm talking about), but a pleasing listening experience aimed to challenge even the best amateur armchair sleuth.
What I found vastly different listening to the audio book versus reading the e-book version was experiencing narrator, Jeff Frez-Albrecht’s, dead-pan interpretation of Grey’s crisp prose, a new experience altogether exciting and chilling, like reading, err listening, to the story for the first time. The mysterious, suspenseful aspect of the novel is significantly enhanced with perfect timing enunciation, not to mention offering the opportunity to kick back, close your eyes and get lost in Grey’s skillfully crafted fictional character’s lives, especially the never perfect, oft complicated Dick Hardesty.
http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_1?...
http://www.doriengrey.com/
September 13, 2012
After reading Dorien Grey's Elliot Smith stories I started to look for his Dick Hardesty mysteries--I was hooked!
The Butcher's Son was riveting and I started looking for the rest of the stories in the series before I was even finished the first one. I was a fan. I'm the kind of person who, when I discover an author and / or series I enjoy as much as I have Dorien Grey's books, I want it all, and I'm well on my way to achieving this.
In this, the first of Grey's Dick Hardesty Mysteries, the character of Dick Hardesty grabbed hold of my imagination. For me he's become one of my favourite contemporary detectives. Grey excels at building finely-wrought tension, at carrying the reader through each scene, each chapter. I found myself virulently disliking 'the butcher', and getting totally caught up in what was happening; there was laughter, anger, and even heartbreak.
By the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat which, for a mystery fan, is always a great place to be. The ending was extremely satisfying and I was on the hunt for more from this very talented author.
The Butcher's Son was riveting and I started looking for the rest of the stories in the series before I was even finished the first one. I was a fan. I'm the kind of person who, when I discover an author and / or series I enjoy as much as I have Dorien Grey's books, I want it all, and I'm well on my way to achieving this.
In this, the first of Grey's Dick Hardesty Mysteries, the character of Dick Hardesty grabbed hold of my imagination. For me he's become one of my favourite contemporary detectives. Grey excels at building finely-wrought tension, at carrying the reader through each scene, each chapter. I found myself virulently disliking 'the butcher', and getting totally caught up in what was happening; there was laughter, anger, and even heartbreak.
By the end of the book I was on the edge of my seat which, for a mystery fan, is always a great place to be. The ending was extremely satisfying and I was on the hunt for more from this very talented author.
May 18, 2020
I enjoyed the mystery, it kept me on my toes.
I don't feel like I got to see much of Dick's personality, so I hope to see more of that continuing. I don't think his appearance was ever described, and while I'm not great as visualizing anyway, it would have been nice to have some idea of what he looked like.
I don't feel like I got to see much of Dick's personality, so I hope to see more of that continuing. I don't think his appearance was ever described, and while I'm not great as visualizing anyway, it would have been nice to have some idea of what he looked like.
April 2, 2017
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; MARCH 1, 2017
Narrator: Jeff Frez-Albrecht
It's been awhile since I enjoyed a gay audiobook this much so 5 stars it is!
I may be late in discovering this series compared to my friends, FloJ and Dl (Deb) but as they say, better late than...
If I had known beforehand the story involved Christian homophobia and reverends I would have shoved it in my "Avoid Like The Plague" shelf. As it was, I went in blissfully unaware and when the dreaded "homosexuals go to hell" hit, I was already so into the book and so loving Jeff's narrative skills that I couldn't tear off my earbuds.
I'm not a fan of cozy mysteries as I find them too slow and always bogged down with inconsequential details about some old biddy's life (generalizing, I know) and The Butcher's Son, to me, was like a gay cozy mystery in that I get Hardesty's day-to-day life, no blood and gore (ie mutilated bodies and/or serial killers, necrophiliac or otherwise) and rather normal goings-on in my MC's life. He's no washed-up supercop with a ripped body but an ordinary man going about his life, dealing with ordinary things like a quiet, friendly end of a 5-year relationship and suffering under a pig of a boss.
Or perhaps it's just Jeff Frez-Albrecht's narration that brought Hardesty to life for me. Jeff has a rich, deep voice yet a quietness to its quality that set me at ease immediately and had me focusing on the story and characters rather than his narration. There are some well-respected A-List narrators that I may like but can still only take in measured doses - like Scott Brick or Richard Ferrone, George Guidall, etc, but very few who I can do marathon listens. Jeff is now one of them, the others being Peter Hermann who narrates Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas series, Jay Snyder, who does Mark Greaney's Gray Man series, or Rob Shapiro who does Tom Woods'Victor the Assassin.
While there is a mystery to solve and an arsonist to catch, I know I would ordinarily find a book like this boring but this wasn't and I believe it's due to Grey's protagonist. I like him. Very much. And because of Jeff's narration I went and bought every Hardesty audiobook he did. There are two by a different narrator and I did not like him so I'll skip those. More titles are being produced in audio and I've put myself down on the mailing list for updates.
Narrator: Jeff Frez-Albrecht
It's been awhile since I enjoyed a gay audiobook this much so 5 stars it is!
I may be late in discovering this series compared to my friends, FloJ and Dl (Deb) but as they say, better late than...If I had known beforehand the story involved Christian homophobia and reverends I would have shoved it in my "Avoid Like The Plague" shelf. As it was, I went in blissfully unaware and when the dreaded "homosexuals go to hell" hit, I was already so into the book and so loving Jeff's narrative skills that I couldn't tear off my earbuds.
I'm not a fan of cozy mysteries as I find them too slow and always bogged down with inconsequential details about some old biddy's life (generalizing, I know) and The Butcher's Son, to me, was like a gay cozy mystery in that I get Hardesty's day-to-day life, no blood and gore (ie mutilated bodies and/or serial killers, necrophiliac or otherwise) and rather normal goings-on in my MC's life. He's no washed-up supercop with a ripped body but an ordinary man going about his life, dealing with ordinary things like a quiet, friendly end of a 5-year relationship and suffering under a pig of a boss.
Or perhaps it's just Jeff Frez-Albrecht's narration that brought Hardesty to life for me. Jeff has a rich, deep voice yet a quietness to its quality that set me at ease immediately and had me focusing on the story and characters rather than his narration. There are some well-respected A-List narrators that I may like but can still only take in measured doses - like Scott Brick or Richard Ferrone, George Guidall, etc, but very few who I can do marathon listens. Jeff is now one of them, the others being Peter Hermann who narrates Ben Coes' Dewey Andreas series, Jay Snyder, who does Mark Greaney's Gray Man series, or Rob Shapiro who does Tom Woods'Victor the Assassin.
While there is a mystery to solve and an arsonist to catch, I know I would ordinarily find a book like this boring but this wasn't and I believe it's due to Grey's protagonist. I like him. Very much. And because of Jeff's narration I went and bought every Hardesty audiobook he did. There are two by a different narrator and I did not like him so I'll skip those. More titles are being produced in audio and I've put myself down on the mailing list for updates.
February 9, 2016
This first book in the series introduces us to Dick Hardesty, who's working in publicity for a boss he despises, and whose long term relationship with his boyfriend, Chris, is wearing down to casual friendship. The big issue around town is the upcoming Governor's political contest, with the candidacy of "The Butcher" - the local police chief. Dick is supposed to be promoting the Chief's cause, and he tries to do so on the surface only, while subtly undermining him, (since, in a trend that has not really changed in 40 years, the candidate is playing up to the conservative homophobic law-and-order vote.) When there are several related incidents of arson in gay bars around town, the authorities in this early 1970s era are less than sympathetic.
Dick is a man of dry wit, observant tendencies, and enough intelligence to love a puzzle. He's wonderfully written - the author has a great turn for the descriptive phrase. (Or had - we lost Dorien Grey this fall, far too soon.) As the mystery unravels, complete with an incident that echoes the far-too-poorly-known Upstairs Lounge event of 1973, Dick is caught between his duties in his job, the needs of his friends, his caution about people he knows who are deeply closeted, and one new maybe-friend with a lot of issues - the surviving son of the police chief.
The mystery is twisty, and the solution not obvious at the start. But the real joy of this book is the writing and the character of Dick. There's great 1970's flavor and a lot of realism here. I loved that Dick's relationship with his boyfriend Chris is fading with more wistfulness than angst. So rare to see, in this genre, the end of a relationship that isn't overdramatized, (although the mystery plot leans a bit to melodrama at the end.) I look forward to picking up the next in the series soon.
Dick is a man of dry wit, observant tendencies, and enough intelligence to love a puzzle. He's wonderfully written - the author has a great turn for the descriptive phrase. (Or had - we lost Dorien Grey this fall, far too soon.) As the mystery unravels, complete with an incident that echoes the far-too-poorly-known Upstairs Lounge event of 1973, Dick is caught between his duties in his job, the needs of his friends, his caution about people he knows who are deeply closeted, and one new maybe-friend with a lot of issues - the surviving son of the police chief.
The mystery is twisty, and the solution not obvious at the start. But the real joy of this book is the writing and the character of Dick. There's great 1970's flavor and a lot of realism here. I loved that Dick's relationship with his boyfriend Chris is fading with more wistfulness than angst. So rare to see, in this genre, the end of a relationship that isn't overdramatized, (although the mystery plot leans a bit to melodrama at the end.) I look forward to picking up the next in the series soon.
January 11, 2014
Enthralling, well-written mystery! I couldn’t put it down. What a delightful read! Dorien Grey’s witty characterizations, indictment of right-wing politics and beautifully written story made this quite a page-turner. I was pleasantly blind-sided by the ending and couldn’t stop thinking of the characters for weeks after reading it.
A couple of phrases that exemplify Grey’s style: When speaking about a conservative on the campaign trail, “His message was a puff pastry of political correctness, but the filling was pure stormtrooper.” And then a description of a man he spoke to, “The voice was warm, sincere, and confident – the kind of voice that makes me want to check and see if my wallet’s still there.” I laughed out loud at a number of these. It’s the little details in Grey’s descriptions and the very natural dialogue that take this book to the next level and make you feel like you’re there.
I’m not gay, nor am I a man, so this was a trip into a world with which I’m not familiar: Drag clubs, very casual sex, being a liberal working for a firm that supports the worst sort of conservative blowhards – oh, actually I am familiar with that last one . This book is for anyone who enjoys a good yarn. Buy it now; you won’t regret it.
A couple of phrases that exemplify Grey’s style: When speaking about a conservative on the campaign trail, “His message was a puff pastry of political correctness, but the filling was pure stormtrooper.” And then a description of a man he spoke to, “The voice was warm, sincere, and confident – the kind of voice that makes me want to check and see if my wallet’s still there.” I laughed out loud at a number of these. It’s the little details in Grey’s descriptions and the very natural dialogue that take this book to the next level and make you feel like you’re there.
I’m not gay, nor am I a man, so this was a trip into a world with which I’m not familiar: Drag clubs, very casual sex, being a liberal working for a firm that supports the worst sort of conservative blowhards – oh, actually I am familiar with that last one . This book is for anyone who enjoys a good yarn. Buy it now; you won’t regret it.
September 6, 2009
Oh dear, now I have got myself hooked on this series. It is going to cost me a bomb.
Incidentally the GLB Publishers website is pretty archaic. I could be wrong but it seems as though a human being is at the other end sending out the ebook as an email attachment.
Their catalogue is presented as an excel file.
I see it is for sale.....
Incidentally the GLB Publishers website is pretty archaic. I could be wrong but it seems as though a human being is at the other end sending out the ebook as an email attachment.
Their catalogue is presented as an excel file.
I see it is for sale.....
September 5, 2019
I've once again fallen in love with a book that I was not expecting. Beautifully written, with such gentle leading to the obvious place that's somehow also unexpected. I look forward to many more hours with Dick Hardesty.
March 20, 2014
'To those who led the way'
These are the words at the beginning of this, the first of the ‘Dick Hardesty Mysteries’, and they are exactly the right words to introduce you to this era in history. I didn’t want to tag this story as ‘historical’ as that tends to conjure visions of ruffled shirts and breeches. There is nothing wrong with that sub genre, but it is the wrong image for this series.
This is an American city just after ‘Stonewall’, which has its place in history but is not the history of ruffles and horses. It is a modern history that is very important to everyone in and around the LGBTQ world and Dorien Grey conjures it up perfectly in this novel.
'I should point out that this was after Stonewall but not by all that much, and the community hadn’t gotten it’s act together…Blatant homophobia was the attitude of choice for most police forces, and ours was particularly noted for its less-than-tolerant methods…bust a gay bar, haul in thirty or forty gays too scared or too poor to fight it, charge them with “lewd and lascivious conduct”, drop the charges down to “disturbing the peace” and slap them with $350 fine for a no contest plea.'
This added to the city’s income of course meant everyone was happy except for the gay men ‘…but who cared?’ The author weaves history seamlessly with fiction. This means when gay bars start being burned down and drama starts affecting Dick, by his proximity to the action, his job and his friends; the line between history and fiction is gone and there is just the story.
This is a proper mystery with a personal voice. The writing is refreshingly good and flows without jarring plot holes, typos or grammatical inaccuracies. Dick Hardesty is a little cynical but with a gentle, slightly sarcastic and humorous nature. He is coming to the natural end of his relationship with, Chris,
'…my lover of five years, was getting the seven-year itch two years early.'
and when Chris is offered a fabulous job in New York their permanent separation is accepted between them and is very amicable if sad. They continue their routine of work and evenings in and out, throughout their last weeks together and become embroiled in the firing of gay bars, which has everyone a little wary,
'…I asked for one [table] close to an exit, as usual…
and he was lead to one,
'…by a lesbian in full male drag, a nice touch of equality, I thought…'
The story is full of wonderful quips, humour and sarcastic descriptions and with the twists and turns in the plot this is an enjoyable page turner.
I can’t really give much of the plot away or the twists and surprises will become apparent and it is so worth reading this story free from spoilers. There is a romantic element and there are some sex scenes, which are sensual and low key or implied and absolutely part of the story.
I can’t believe I have left it so long before reading one of Dorien’s novels and although I was given this review copy by the author, immediately after finishing it I bought and downloaded the next in this series ‘The Ninth Man’and then ’The Bar Watcher’. I am officially hooked.
Review from www.prismbookalliance.com
These are the words at the beginning of this, the first of the ‘Dick Hardesty Mysteries’, and they are exactly the right words to introduce you to this era in history. I didn’t want to tag this story as ‘historical’ as that tends to conjure visions of ruffled shirts and breeches. There is nothing wrong with that sub genre, but it is the wrong image for this series.
This is an American city just after ‘Stonewall’, which has its place in history but is not the history of ruffles and horses. It is a modern history that is very important to everyone in and around the LGBTQ world and Dorien Grey conjures it up perfectly in this novel.
'I should point out that this was after Stonewall but not by all that much, and the community hadn’t gotten it’s act together…Blatant homophobia was the attitude of choice for most police forces, and ours was particularly noted for its less-than-tolerant methods…bust a gay bar, haul in thirty or forty gays too scared or too poor to fight it, charge them with “lewd and lascivious conduct”, drop the charges down to “disturbing the peace” and slap them with $350 fine for a no contest plea.'
This added to the city’s income of course meant everyone was happy except for the gay men ‘…but who cared?’ The author weaves history seamlessly with fiction. This means when gay bars start being burned down and drama starts affecting Dick, by his proximity to the action, his job and his friends; the line between history and fiction is gone and there is just the story.
This is a proper mystery with a personal voice. The writing is refreshingly good and flows without jarring plot holes, typos or grammatical inaccuracies. Dick Hardesty is a little cynical but with a gentle, slightly sarcastic and humorous nature. He is coming to the natural end of his relationship with, Chris,
'…my lover of five years, was getting the seven-year itch two years early.'
and when Chris is offered a fabulous job in New York their permanent separation is accepted between them and is very amicable if sad. They continue their routine of work and evenings in and out, throughout their last weeks together and become embroiled in the firing of gay bars, which has everyone a little wary,
'…I asked for one [table] close to an exit, as usual…
and he was lead to one,
'…by a lesbian in full male drag, a nice touch of equality, I thought…'
The story is full of wonderful quips, humour and sarcastic descriptions and with the twists and turns in the plot this is an enjoyable page turner.
I can’t really give much of the plot away or the twists and surprises will become apparent and it is so worth reading this story free from spoilers. There is a romantic element and there are some sex scenes, which are sensual and low key or implied and absolutely part of the story.
I can’t believe I have left it so long before reading one of Dorien’s novels and although I was given this review copy by the author, immediately after finishing it I bought and downloaded the next in this series ‘The Ninth Man’and then ’The Bar Watcher’. I am officially hooked.
Review from www.prismbookalliance.com
June 18, 2017
Editing was fine but ....
The editing, grammar, spelling, and lack of typos was impressive. The rest of the book had glaring timeline issues, and plenty of blatant anachronisms.
The author, both, says and infers that this story takes place around the time of Stonewall. Then it's supposed to happen a year later. And still again there is reference to it happening about 4 years after that. All very confusing. The most blatant anachronism happens when the author constantly says his characters all have answering machines. NOBODY had an answering machine untill the 80's! I was almost waiting for one of the characters to pull out a cell phone.
After these problems I wasnt sure the author really had much of a grasp of his subject matter. It seemed obvious this author did way too many drugs in his youth to make this many mistakes in his book. To say the ending was rushed and unbelieveable would be an understatement.
I cant recommend this book because of all the errors in judgement the author made with the plot and timeline. 2 stars is a realistic rating.
The editing, grammar, spelling, and lack of typos was impressive. The rest of the book had glaring timeline issues, and plenty of blatant anachronisms.
The author, both, says and infers that this story takes place around the time of Stonewall. Then it's supposed to happen a year later. And still again there is reference to it happening about 4 years after that. All very confusing. The most blatant anachronism happens when the author constantly says his characters all have answering machines. NOBODY had an answering machine untill the 80's! I was almost waiting for one of the characters to pull out a cell phone.
After these problems I wasnt sure the author really had much of a grasp of his subject matter. It seemed obvious this author did way too many drugs in his youth to make this many mistakes in his book. To say the ending was rushed and unbelieveable would be an understatement.
I cant recommend this book because of all the errors in judgement the author made with the plot and timeline. 2 stars is a realistic rating.
July 11, 2008
As posted in [http://www.amazon.com}:
*The Butcher's Son* is my first read of anything that's penned by Dorien Grey. I found it to be a good read.
Dick Hardesty is going through a gradual break-up from his boyfriend. The break-up is made a reality when the boyfriend gets offered a new job far away.
Meanwhile, there's a series of arsons against the gay bars in town, eventually resulting in deaths. In the midst of his investigation, Dick encounters twins (one's gay and the other's allegedly disappeared), the homophobic police chief and drag queens.
If you liked Michael Nava's Henry Rios series, then you should like Grey's Dick Hardesty series.
*The Butcher's Son* is my first read of anything that's penned by Dorien Grey. I found it to be a good read.
Dick Hardesty is going through a gradual break-up from his boyfriend. The break-up is made a reality when the boyfriend gets offered a new job far away.
Meanwhile, there's a series of arsons against the gay bars in town, eventually resulting in deaths. In the midst of his investigation, Dick encounters twins (one's gay and the other's allegedly disappeared), the homophobic police chief and drag queens.
If you liked Michael Nava's Henry Rios series, then you should like Grey's Dick Hardesty series.
February 25, 2014
Terrific read! The story is riveting, well-written, and with a sense of humour. The characters drew me in right from the start - the romantic relationship between Dick and Chris, which is slowly coming to an end, was so well done, i was feeling the sadness and hope and love right along with them. The mystery - which is the main storyline - is very good too and it was interesting to get a glimpse of social politics in the 70s in LA right after Stonewall. I highly recommend this book.
February 15, 2015
This was a great, if not a little predictable, read that I blew through quickly. the story was definitely not a romance though there was some sex description. Someone is setting popular gay bars on fire and the main character is Dick Hardesty. He's not a pi (at least, in this book) as he works for a PR company campaigning for a homophobic police chief. I will definitely continue with this series but I would have liked a little more romance from the men.
December 29, 2013
Some of the reviews for this book warn you that if you start reading this book you are going to be hooked on the series and they're right. I get the feeling that Dick's adventures are going to give me reading pleasure for quite a while to come.
April 15, 2024
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; APRIL 16, 2024
Narrator: Jeff Frez-Albrecht
The mystery is who is setting fires to the gay bars, it's what really happened to Patrick. It's whether Dick and Kevin, the pastor and son of the Police Chief 'the Butcher' become a couple now that Dick's relationship with Chris has undergone a change from lovers to friends. I came in thinking the mystery was a dead body, aka whodunit.
It wasn't. But I still loved every minute of it. I admit I was totally fooled right up to the end. I was engrossed, pausing only to attend a funeral, the returned home to resume. Since DG passed away there won't be anymore Dick Hardesty books. I bought a handful of audiobooks several years ago and yesterday bought the rest that are available at Audible. Books 6-8 aren't but I hope they do become available.
One weak spot was the ending where Dick, now freed from his job, and open to new opportunities has his friends suggest becoming a private investigating. Seeing as there was zilch investigating done by Dick other than to phone a friend in the fire department I thought this was a rather weak ploy to set Dick up for the rest of the series where he does become a PI.
Narration was great! Very smooth, no weird pronunciations. There is a little sex but all mostly fade to black. Nothing explicit.
Narrator: Jeff Frez-Albrecht
The mystery is who is setting fires to the gay bars, it's what really happened to Patrick. It's whether Dick and Kevin, the pastor and son of the Police Chief 'the Butcher' become a couple now that Dick's relationship with Chris has undergone a change from lovers to friends. I came in thinking the mystery was a dead body, aka whodunit.
It wasn't. But I still loved every minute of it. I admit I was totally fooled right up to the end. I was engrossed, pausing only to attend a funeral, the returned home to resume. Since DG passed away there won't be anymore Dick Hardesty books. I bought a handful of audiobooks several years ago and yesterday bought the rest that are available at Audible. Books 6-8 aren't but I hope they do become available.
One weak spot was the ending where Dick, now freed from his job, and open to new opportunities has his friends suggest becoming a private investigating. Seeing as there was zilch investigating done by Dick other than to phone a friend in the fire department I thought this was a rather weak ploy to set Dick up for the rest of the series where he does become a PI.
Narration was great! Very smooth, no weird pronunciations. There is a little sex but all mostly fade to black. Nothing explicit.
December 22, 2023
Okay so this is super interesting.
I went to the last few hours of a public library book sale and I was looking for lgbt books. I spotted Dorien Grey’s books all over that sale. I had never heard of the author but of course I recognized the reference to the beloved Oscar Wilde. So I was grabbing all the ones that I saw because by this point in the day, the books were now “free to a good home.” I ended up with several double and triple copies. and after I got home to look through them, i ordered the Dick Hardesty (amazing name lol) novels I didn’t manage to pick up in person.
Now, I was about five years old when The Butcher’s Son was originally published. And I was sad to realize I had discovered this series after the author had passed away.
As a millennial queer, I have really treasured reading this novel. It’s fiction, granted. But for one queer person, this artistic expression is sort of a time capsule. I just feel overjoyed to be able to read a book written by another lgbtq person, who was one of millions of people who has been on this planet and told lgbtq stories for us.
So given, I have a serendipitous and sentimental attachment to this novel, it makes sense that I enjoyed it.
I went to the last few hours of a public library book sale and I was looking for lgbt books. I spotted Dorien Grey’s books all over that sale. I had never heard of the author but of course I recognized the reference to the beloved Oscar Wilde. So I was grabbing all the ones that I saw because by this point in the day, the books were now “free to a good home.” I ended up with several double and triple copies. and after I got home to look through them, i ordered the Dick Hardesty (amazing name lol) novels I didn’t manage to pick up in person.
Now, I was about five years old when The Butcher’s Son was originally published. And I was sad to realize I had discovered this series after the author had passed away.
As a millennial queer, I have really treasured reading this novel. It’s fiction, granted. But for one queer person, this artistic expression is sort of a time capsule. I just feel overjoyed to be able to read a book written by another lgbtq person, who was one of millions of people who has been on this planet and told lgbtq stories for us.
So given, I have a serendipitous and sentimental attachment to this novel, it makes sense that I enjoyed it.
June 7, 2025
With bad cover art and an obvious author pseudonym, I had such low expectations for this book that I questioned my own sanity for buying it. WOW was I wrong. A little digging around before writing this review revealed that the author had a successful career in the publishing industry and this book won the Lambda Literary Award for best mystery in 2001.
Set in an indeterminate time - after the Stonewall riots and before AIDS - and in an indeterminate location - no state or city names are mentioned - the narrator and main protagonist is Dick Hardesty, is an approaching 30 - no actual age is mentioned - senior associate in a public relations firm. The novel has a ‘hard-boiled’ tone which, in my mind at least, would have been better matched to someone a little older. Dick’s 5-year relationship is fading apart (love but no longer in love) at the start and he hates his boss and job so the hard-boiled tone works. The use of proper grammar and modestly complex sentence structure was a refreshing change for me … [minor rant about the lack of such in modern books-or maybe it is just the algorithm]
I am really looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
Set in an indeterminate time - after the Stonewall riots and before AIDS - and in an indeterminate location - no state or city names are mentioned - the narrator and main protagonist is Dick Hardesty, is an approaching 30 - no actual age is mentioned - senior associate in a public relations firm. The novel has a ‘hard-boiled’ tone which, in my mind at least, would have been better matched to someone a little older. Dick’s 5-year relationship is fading apart (love but no longer in love) at the start and he hates his boss and job so the hard-boiled tone works. The use of proper grammar and modestly complex sentence structure was a refreshing change for me … [minor rant about the lack of such in modern books-or maybe it is just the algorithm]
I am really looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series.
March 15, 2024
A rather chilling story of mental instability. Kevin is the surviving twin of a very twisted family. His police chief father is running for governor. Growing up Kevin's father was openly homophobic to his twin, Patrick, as a result Kevin has done everything to be the ‘good’ son. His mental state has become unstable. Dick has been tasked with the PR campaign for the governors race but finds himself investigating a series of attacks on local gay bars and how they tie into the campaign when the most recent attack causes multiple deaths.
February 19, 2023
Is this a perfect book? No. Too many anachronism that pulled me from the story one too many times. BUT - this was so well written I am willing to forgive just about anything!
I loved Dick! He was sarcastic but caring. He was out for a good time but only if no one was getting hurt. The slow breakdown of his relationship with Chris was handled expertly and was so sweet. Reading about the fires at Dog Collar was harrowing.
The ending was a bit rushed but again, Dorien is forgiven. On to book 2.
I loved Dick! He was sarcastic but caring. He was out for a good time but only if no one was getting hurt. The slow breakdown of his relationship with Chris was handled expertly and was so sweet. Reading about the fires at Dog Collar was harrowing.
The ending was a bit rushed but again, Dorien is forgiven. On to book 2.
November 19, 2022
2.5 scooby snacks. He yadda yaddad through the best parts! I liked the overall story but the timeline was a bit clunky. I think the book deserves an updated rewrite, something with current attitudes and actual sex!
June 6, 2023
Good read!
I read this in one day: couldn’t put it down. I liked the gay characters and related to their life style. The story was engrossing and I felt I liked the life details about people. Gay people being people
I read this in one day: couldn’t put it down. I liked the gay characters and related to their life style. The story was engrossing and I felt I liked the life details about people. Gay people being people
August 4, 2017
I like them there quick dime store mystery novels that have an old school feel that I like. Don't be super discouraged by the cover which is just so so bad
September 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this read. I didn’t expect the twists until just before they happened which I quite like. Would definitely recommend this to others
January 10, 2016
This is the first in the Dick Hadesty mystery series that take place I would say several years after the time after the Stonewall riot.We are introduced to Dick Hardesty, a man of unspecified age ( I would gues mid-twenties) who is working at a PR firm , a job that he's increasingly dissatisfied with and also has a relationship that he's been in that he has been in for several years that seems to be coming to an end.Dick still loves Chris, they have been together since after they graduated from college,and they like spending time with each other, but they both realize they are better friends than lovers.Dick is doing PR for a bigoted and homophobic police chief who intends to announce his running for governor. During the same time there have been a series of gay club burnings.Dave is asked by a friend to find out how the fire investigation is going from a friend who happen to own one of the clubs that were burned down.Dave realizes he naturally inquisitive and in investigating the fires he finds out some curious things.Also, Dave meets the chief's son Kevin who seems to have secrets of his own. I won't go further, I'll just say that this book has more twists and turns and an ending I never would have guessed.It's not only a good read but a fun read.*****I read this series eons ago in paperback but decided to re-read the whole series again, it's that good.
October 2, 2023
The gay bars are being targeted by an arsonist, the police chief, who is a straight-white-males-might-is-right kind of person is running for governor, and Dick and his boyfriend of 5 years are breaking up. The company that Dick works for is working on PR for the chief, so Dick has to do a lot with the chief and his family. Also a concern is the fact that gay bars are being burned, and no one seems to be doing anything about it. When tragedy strikes and people are actually killed in one of the fires, Dick gets nosy, while trying to figure out what is going on with the chief's son. (Is he straight? Gay? Just wants to play around?
I enjoyed this one, rather. Dick was a little oblivious, and very nosy, but I liked seeing this time and getting to understand what it was like after Stonewall, and how far (or not so far) we've come. (I think it's far, but we can do better.) The mystery was fairly mysterious, although I pegged the perpetrator the first time I met them on page, and pegged the rest of the mystery about halfway through the book. All in all, really entertaining, and I'm definitely going to buy more books in the series.
I enjoyed this one, rather. Dick was a little oblivious, and very nosy, but I liked seeing this time and getting to understand what it was like after Stonewall, and how far (or not so far) we've come. (I think it's far, but we can do better.) The mystery was fairly mysterious, although I pegged the perpetrator the first time I met them on page, and pegged the rest of the mystery about halfway through the book. All in all, really entertaining, and I'm definitely going to buy more books in the series.
Read
September 23, 2014The Butcher’s Son, by Dorien Grey, b-plus, Narrated by Jeff Frez-Albrecht, downloaded from audible.com.
This is the first Dick Hardesty mystery in the series. Hardesty has been hired to provide public relations for a rabid chief of police who wants to run for governor. Hardesty is gay, and despite what he is supposed to be doing on the job, he would rather not see the chief be elected. He hears rumors that one of the chief’s identical twin sons was murdered, and he hears that the chief murdered him for being gay. The remain twiin is a fundamentalist minister and believes, along with his father that gay men should burn in hell. And in fact gay bars are being set on fire. Does this son have something to do with it? Is the twin brother actually dead or is he still alive? A very mixed up dysfunctional family that Hardesty has to pick his way through in order to appear to be helping with the election and yet see that the chief is not elected. Pretty good book.
This is the first Dick Hardesty mystery in the series. Hardesty has been hired to provide public relations for a rabid chief of police who wants to run for governor. Hardesty is gay, and despite what he is supposed to be doing on the job, he would rather not see the chief be elected. He hears rumors that one of the chief’s identical twin sons was murdered, and he hears that the chief murdered him for being gay. The remain twiin is a fundamentalist minister and believes, along with his father that gay men should burn in hell. And in fact gay bars are being set on fire. Does this son have something to do with it? Is the twin brother actually dead or is he still alive? A very mixed up dysfunctional family that Hardesty has to pick his way through in order to appear to be helping with the election and yet see that the chief is not elected. Pretty good book.
September 30, 2015
All the reviews on here are good ones and there's a reason, it's good!
I started the gay mystery series with Alex Rios, then moved on to the Valentine/Lovelace series, then Dan Sharp, and I kind of thought all the books in this genre would be as good. Then I hit a long dry patch and discovered they aren't!
This book has believable characters, likeable characters, an interesting dynamic plot and it's well written. The only slight negative is the reveal, I knew what was coming for a while, some of the hints were dropped a little too hard.
My favourite character in the book was drag queen T/T, he reminded me of the drag in the lesbian series beginning with Red Rover. I was disappointed to hear be moved away at the end of the book, hopefully that can be undone.
Will be reading the next in the series shortly, looking forward to it!
I started the gay mystery series with Alex Rios, then moved on to the Valentine/Lovelace series, then Dan Sharp, and I kind of thought all the books in this genre would be as good. Then I hit a long dry patch and discovered they aren't!
This book has believable characters, likeable characters, an interesting dynamic plot and it's well written. The only slight negative is the reveal, I knew what was coming for a while, some of the hints were dropped a little too hard.
My favourite character in the book was drag queen T/T, he reminded me of the drag in the lesbian series beginning with Red Rover. I was disappointed to hear be moved away at the end of the book, hopefully that can be undone.
Will be reading the next in the series shortly, looking forward to it!
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