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The Wyandot County Mysteries #2
A Fabulously Unfabulous Summer for Henry Milch
In the second Wyandot County Mystery, things are still not going well for Henry Milch. While stuck in Northern Lower Michigan helping his Nana Cole recover from a stroke, he learns that her favorite pastor has been killed. When Nana Cole asks him to investigate, he refuses—until she offers him money. Money that will help him get back to real life in West Hollywood. That sets Henry off on a journey that includes: off-key choir rehearsals, pole barns, bad haircuts, a hunky doctor and too many get-well-soon casseroles.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2022
16 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Marshall Thornton
56 books629 followersThree-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 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 9, 2022
Kind of conflicted about this one. In some ways it's good. In some ways it's better than the first. But the problem is still Henry. I just kind of don't like him. Henry's not stealing anyone's meds here. There are significant chunks of the story where he's pleasant enough, if a bit young and empty headed. Long stretches where I was really enjoying the book. But then there will inevitably be something that makes me want to scrape him off the bottom of my shoe. And it's really minor stuff in the grand scheme. An offensive thought about someone, the incredibly shallow and vapid future he fantasizes about, stuff like that. You could have cut less than half a page and removed them all and made no difference to the plot. But they left a disproportionately bad taste in my mouth. And yeah, not 100% ok with that resolution to the mystery. 3.75?
March 30, 2022
Usually I complain about books being too fast paced, or about insta love and relationships that seem to develop out of nowhere. Well here we have the opposite. In the previous book we had to wait literally until the end for the protagonist to finally make a sort of stand on his sexuality as well as realizing his drug addiction problem. In this book we are pretty much back to point zero. The grandma acts like before and he continues to heavily drug himself. So yeah there is definitely a general sense of ossification when reading this story. Outside of the mystery/investigation part nothing seems to evolve. In a way the protagonist still feels like a stranger, he doesn’t really open up or show his emotions. Also It’s cool to have a gay protagonist, but if he never talks about it, if he never seems to be involved with someone romantically and all he actually talks about is doing drugs…. Well than this is definitely not a m-m mystery novel. Maybe that was intentional and my expectations were just miss placed but it’s still disappointing. So yeah well written book but on the relational/emotional side it’s like finding yourself in the sahara. The drugs/addiction pervasive presence is a huge turnoff. The protagonist is pretty much a paragon of humanity’s worse traits (shallow, fat shaming) and completely unemotional. I mean I was waiting the whole book for his walls to crumble down and for him to showcase the types of emotions you would expect from a 24 years old guy that is extremely lonely, with an absolutely detestable mother and grandmother, and no other real relationship, not even with himself. What we get instead is a robot. It’s really strange… this story feelsl like a cold stone slab, like there is no substance in what the protagonist says (since he is always lying and there is very little warmth and genuineness to him). Also I don’t understand why everything needs to happen in the last 15 pages every time instead of being diluted a bit more throughout the story. It’s like things slow to a crawl till the end and then suddenly BAM everything happens. TRIGGER WARNING: the ending is completely immoral and, frankly, quite disgusting. The author came up with his personal set of ethical rules and apparently in his views crimes and punishment can be bartered like candies. The assassin is not brought to justice, an innocent person is arrested for it (because yes not matter how you wanna spin the story he IS innocent), and the protagonist is happy leaving things like that.
June 5, 2022
Twenty-four years old self-confessed twink Henry 'Mooch' Milch has already presented as a less than spectacular MC in the previous book; his myopic self-focus and general disinterest in the life and well-being of others around him. However, my suppressed annoyance with him was slightly alleviated as more and more evidence of his dysfunctional childhood (barely raised an equally self-focused mother) was uncovered in this book. I can see where so much of his 'look after myself first 'cos no-one else is gonna' tendencies came from; why almost every relational connection takes on some sort of financial/transactional quality for Henry.
The murder proved interesting and how Henry went about sleuthing despite not being in law-enforcement was not unbelievable. The outcome of same investigations was not to my satisfaction though and I hope The historical setting of this series is also regularly highlighted by events such as Martha Stewart's incarceration, the rising popularity of an Aussie Christian band called Newsboys and tragically - the returning of Wyandot County's youth in body-bags from that US-led war in the middle east.
By book's end, I had an epiphany that my own growing understanding and care for Henry actually mirrored Henry's own growing understanding and care for prickly conservative Nana Cole with a greater awareness of his own place and connection to the land and people of Wyandot County; all this confirming my prior appreciation of the author's writing skill. A potential romantic figure was introduced in this book
3.5 stars but hopeful the next couple of books in the series would prove to be higher.
The murder proved interesting and how Henry went about sleuthing despite not being in law-enforcement was not unbelievable. The outcome of same investigations was not to my satisfaction though and I hope The historical setting of this series is also regularly highlighted by events such as Martha Stewart's incarceration, the rising popularity of an Aussie Christian band called Newsboys and tragically - the returning of Wyandot County's youth in body-bags from that US-led war in the middle east.
By book's end, I had an epiphany that my own growing understanding and care for Henry actually mirrored Henry's own growing understanding and care for prickly conservative Nana Cole with a greater awareness of his own place and connection to the land and people of Wyandot County; all this confirming my prior appreciation of the author's writing skill. A potential romantic figure was introduced in this book
3.5 stars but hopeful the next couple of books in the series would prove to be higher.
April 11, 2024
Henry Milch is working his way deeper into my heart. He is slowly starting to realize he has a serious drug problem. He has moments of deeper bonding with Nana Cole, and he’s starting to feel a connection to the farm that’s been in his family for 6 generations. Basically, I’m glad he’s not numb to everyone and everything. He’s at least on some level acknowledging when he messes up and expresses remorse. There is growth here, which is what I need. I love a flawed gem, and that’s how I see Henry. I really liked the mystery in this one. It was complicated with some interesting twists at the end. And there’s the yummy Dr. Stewart. Henry isn’t ready for a romantic relationship. He needs to mature like Nana Cole’s beloved cherry trees and heal the wounds that make him reach for the drugs.
I love the way Marshal Thornton doesn’t back down from the hot button issues his characters face. It’s one of his best trademarks. He chooses a decade and throws his characters right into the belly of the beast. You can tell how personally he connects with these social and political issues either through his own lived experiences or those close to him. I’m so excited to read more.
I love the way Marshal Thornton doesn’t back down from the hot button issues his characters face. It’s one of his best trademarks. He chooses a decade and throws his characters right into the belly of the beast. You can tell how personally he connects with these social and political issues either through his own lived experiences or those close to him. I’m so excited to read more.
March 4, 2022
It feels like I’ve been waiting for this for ages, though it’s only been just shy of 2 years since the first book was released, but as is standard with Marshall Thornton, the wait was well worth it.
March 5, 2022
** 3.5 Stars **
Great mystery but Henri is such an uninteresting character. I hope there's some improvement in the next book!
Great mystery but Henri is such an uninteresting character. I hope there's some improvement in the next book!
April 4, 2022
In this second book in the series, we pick up with Henry as his grandmother is recovering from a stroke, there is a new murder in town - a local pastor was killed supposedly during a church robbery/break-in - and Henry continues to ponder how best to get out of small-town Michigan and back to LA where his twink powers can be used to their fullest in WeHo bars.
Despite a childhood where his mother never once considered him in her plans, Henry is heroically well-adjusted. Sure he loves reality TV, and dreams of marrying a doctor who will take him back to Hollywood, become a plastic surgeon to the stars and pay off his debts, but he is smart and tenacious and slowly, ever so slowly, discovering that maybe he does care about someone other than himself. Not to say that the book becomes an after-school special of understanding and personal growth, but I swear Henry is getting there, bit by bit.
The murder mystery is really well-done as Henry tries to earn the $2,000 his grandmother claims she'll pay him if he figures out who murdered Reverend Hessel.
"It's tourist season. It was probably someone from out of town."
"So, you're thinking it's someone who came up planning to hike and buy fudge and go boating, but at the last minute decided to add 'kill a reverend' to their itinerary?"
She gave me a withering look. Seriously, I felt my roots die.
The resolution to the murder is .... interesting .... and I'll just leave it at that. And Henry's eventual realization that maybe he does have a problem with his oxy?
5 stars.
AND ... Henry, sweetie .... trust me, Mooch (Henry's preferred nickname) just isn't happening.
Despite a childhood where his mother never once considered him in her plans, Henry is heroically well-adjusted. Sure he loves reality TV, and dreams of marrying a doctor who will take him back to Hollywood, become a plastic surgeon to the stars and pay off his debts, but he is smart and tenacious and slowly, ever so slowly, discovering that maybe he does care about someone other than himself. Not to say that the book becomes an after-school special of understanding and personal growth, but I swear Henry is getting there, bit by bit.
The murder mystery is really well-done as Henry tries to earn the $2,000 his grandmother claims she'll pay him if he figures out who murdered Reverend Hessel.
"It's tourist season. It was probably someone from out of town."
"So, you're thinking it's someone who came up planning to hike and buy fudge and go boating, but at the last minute decided to add 'kill a reverend' to their itinerary?"
She gave me a withering look. Seriously, I felt my roots die.
The resolution to the murder is .... interesting .... and I'll just leave it at that. And Henry's eventual realization that maybe he does have a problem with his oxy?
5 stars.
AND ... Henry, sweetie .... trust me, Mooch (Henry's preferred nickname) just isn't happening.
March 4, 2022
Hmmm, I hope Mooch stays on the farm.
Read
September 13, 20223,5 ⭐️
March 13, 2022
Henry Milch, who prefers the name Mooch, is fighting hard not to grow up. Between taking care of his grandmother after a heart attack and investigating at her behest when a local pastor is murdered, Henry begins to take on more responsibility than he's accustomed to, and falls back on his relaxation of choice, Oxy. At the same time, he finds he's starting to realize that he may, in fact, be an addict, though he's hanging on to denial as hard as he can.
The mystery is stronger in this story, but in all honesty, I'm reading this series for the main character. Too bad I will have to wait another year to get the next installment of the series. sighs
The mystery is stronger in this story, but in all honesty, I'm reading this series for the main character. Too bad I will have to wait another year to get the next installment of the series. sighs
March 24, 2024
A Fabulously Unfabulous Summer for Henry Milch (Wyandot County mysteries 2)
By Marshall Thornton
Kenmore Books, 2022
Five stars
Marshall Thornton clearly has an attachment to unheroic heroes. If Nick Nowack was the dark and brooding ex-cop in the epic “Boystown” series, set in Chicago in the 1980s; Noah Valentine was a gentle and tragi-comically haunted video store owner in the Pinx Video series, set in Los Angeles in the 1990s. Neither of these men achieved anything like a happy ending, but they both developed a kind of community that gave them support and, ultimately, made them better people. I came to rather love Nick (before he disappeared into yet another series); and always felt fondness for Noah.
On the other hand, Henry Milch, in the first two of the Wyandot County series, is a selfish, 20-something f**kboy from West Hollywood. Banished to the boondocks of northern lower Michigan, Henry (nobody will use his nickname, Mooch) seems aware of but immune to the genuine charm and beauty of small-town life with his grandmother. He is the last family member to experience the heritage of his family’s cherry orchards, and refuses to be touched by it. Henry is the product of his feckless and self-centered mother, yet sees in that truth no reason to break the pattern. Thornton manages to make Henry a truly interesting character, who is far from stupid; while at the same time making him very hard to like. We might chortle at Henry’s snide (but accurate) observations about the proud ignorance and small-minded bigotry of this red-state rural county; but it’s hard to see Henry as much better than all the folks he looks down on.
These books, set in the early 2000s, are both overtly funnier than the other two series are, and also oddly sadder (at least to me). This is because Henry seems resistant to all possible inner growth, obsessed with his own needs and uncaring about anything or anyone else. I say seems, because he in fact shows little flashes of self-awareness, usually against his will, as the oddly farcial murder mysteries play out around him. There’s compassion in there, but he suppresses it because—why?—maybe being a good person or a nice guy are not things that matter in Los Angles, the Emerald City to which he desperately yearns to return (even though he doesn’t seem to have been particularly happy there). Henry Milch is a puzzle that fascinates and frustrates me.
The core of what draws me to these books and makes me a fan is the moral complexity posed by Henry and the other denizens of Wyandot County. I don’t think I’d be any happier living there than Henry is, even if his life in Los Angeles seems barely more appealing. As usual, Thornton makes us work, not to understand his clear, cogent narrative, but to grapple with the characters that fill his pages. What appears to be a slightly silly tale of small-town murder is in fact a kind of starkly real vision of what our country’s heartland is. We are not a nation given to self-reflection or inclined to doubt our own exceptionalism. It is an uncomfortable place to be, and yet I can’t wait for book 3.
By Marshall Thornton
Kenmore Books, 2022
Five stars
Marshall Thornton clearly has an attachment to unheroic heroes. If Nick Nowack was the dark and brooding ex-cop in the epic “Boystown” series, set in Chicago in the 1980s; Noah Valentine was a gentle and tragi-comically haunted video store owner in the Pinx Video series, set in Los Angeles in the 1990s. Neither of these men achieved anything like a happy ending, but they both developed a kind of community that gave them support and, ultimately, made them better people. I came to rather love Nick (before he disappeared into yet another series); and always felt fondness for Noah.
On the other hand, Henry Milch, in the first two of the Wyandot County series, is a selfish, 20-something f**kboy from West Hollywood. Banished to the boondocks of northern lower Michigan, Henry (nobody will use his nickname, Mooch) seems aware of but immune to the genuine charm and beauty of small-town life with his grandmother. He is the last family member to experience the heritage of his family’s cherry orchards, and refuses to be touched by it. Henry is the product of his feckless and self-centered mother, yet sees in that truth no reason to break the pattern. Thornton manages to make Henry a truly interesting character, who is far from stupid; while at the same time making him very hard to like. We might chortle at Henry’s snide (but accurate) observations about the proud ignorance and small-minded bigotry of this red-state rural county; but it’s hard to see Henry as much better than all the folks he looks down on.
These books, set in the early 2000s, are both overtly funnier than the other two series are, and also oddly sadder (at least to me). This is because Henry seems resistant to all possible inner growth, obsessed with his own needs and uncaring about anything or anyone else. I say seems, because he in fact shows little flashes of self-awareness, usually against his will, as the oddly farcial murder mysteries play out around him. There’s compassion in there, but he suppresses it because—why?—maybe being a good person or a nice guy are not things that matter in Los Angles, the Emerald City to which he desperately yearns to return (even though he doesn’t seem to have been particularly happy there). Henry Milch is a puzzle that fascinates and frustrates me.
The core of what draws me to these books and makes me a fan is the moral complexity posed by Henry and the other denizens of Wyandot County. I don’t think I’d be any happier living there than Henry is, even if his life in Los Angeles seems barely more appealing. As usual, Thornton makes us work, not to understand his clear, cogent narrative, but to grapple with the characters that fill his pages. What appears to be a slightly silly tale of small-town murder is in fact a kind of starkly real vision of what our country’s heartland is. We are not a nation given to self-reflection or inclined to doubt our own exceptionalism. It is an uncomfortable place to be, and yet I can’t wait for book 3.
September 10, 2024
Combined review for books 1-3. I had a really good time with this series and think I prefer it to Thornton’s other ongoing mystery series, Pinx Video Mysteries. All three mysteries in this series were fun, with interesting side characters and the right amount of bumbling around – Henry’s far from an expert but not so clueless as to be annoying.
Thornton tends to write protagonists who avoid self-reflection unless forced, and Henry is the perfect fit for Thornton’s writing style. He’s deeply flawed but likable, in denial about his shortcomings but willing enough to engage in self-reflection that he’s slowly growing as a character, and he has a well-defined point of view that’s funny, different from those around him, and reliably gets him in the type of trouble needed to sustain a mystery series. His personal issues are much better integrated into the primary plot than Noah’s issues (in the Pinx Video series), which means that these aspects of the story continually progress and don’t feel sidelined or shortchanged.
I’m assuming the series will continue based on where book 3 ended, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Thornton tends to write protagonists who avoid self-reflection unless forced, and Henry is the perfect fit for Thornton’s writing style. He’s deeply flawed but likable, in denial about his shortcomings but willing enough to engage in self-reflection that he’s slowly growing as a character, and he has a well-defined point of view that’s funny, different from those around him, and reliably gets him in the type of trouble needed to sustain a mystery series. His personal issues are much better integrated into the primary plot than Noah’s issues (in the Pinx Video series), which means that these aspects of the story continually progress and don’t feel sidelined or shortchanged.
I’m assuming the series will continue based on where book 3 ended, and I’m looking forward to the next installment.
March 9, 2024
So... we're back to the beginning *bangs head against wall* Well, maybe that's a bit unfair, at least we got a glimpse into Henry's upbringing and that gives us a better understanding of his character. Buuuut, he's back in the closet and that annoys me to no end.
And still very much focused on how to get drugs albeit somewhat distracted by the murder. That's... good?
Nevertheless, I keep finding myself wanting to slap him more than once but I just need to remember how long it took me to warm up to Nick Nowak (not that there is any possible comparison between these two series!) and well, I'll keep reading *laughs*
I liked the mystery more than the previous one although its resolution was... let's say surprising.
Another 3,75 stars for this one.
And still very much focused on how to get drugs albeit somewhat distracted by the murder. That's... good?
Nevertheless, I keep finding myself wanting to slap him more than once but I just need to remember how long it took me to warm up to Nick Nowak (not that there is any possible comparison between these two series!) and well, I'll keep reading *laughs*
I liked the mystery more than the previous one although its resolution was... let's say surprising.
Another 3,75 stars for this one.
March 22, 2024
Henry is not likable. Very stereotypical 24 year old gay man. With bad taste in music! There a some very funny moments. Nana Cole is a riot. Henry’s relationship with Nana Cole is the best thing in the book. I like that some actual events that happened at the time the book takes place are included in the plot. Henry has a date with a doctor which understandably goes south. The mystery is fun. I hope Henry becomes a better person in the next book. Great writing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2022
Henry (no one calls him by the nickname he prefers) has another murder to solve.
To his dismay, he's turning into a considerate person.
The ending was very moving to me, and suggests that the next book will be a HEA for the series.
If not, I will happily continue to read about his further adventures.
To his dismay, he's turning into a considerate person.
The ending was very moving to me, and suggests that the next book will be a HEA for the series.
If not, I will happily continue to read about his further adventures.
May 15, 2022
Did not see that coming AT ALL and I am torn. Because one hand, yeah, but then on the other hand, whoaa no. Man, that was definitely interesting. As always, I learned a lot, LOL.
Especially with what is ON THE NEWS right now, it's CRAZY.
That ending was definitely the case of I WANT MORE. Definitely looking forward to the next book.
Especially with what is ON THE NEWS right now, it's CRAZY.
That ending was definitely the case of I WANT MORE. Definitely looking forward to the next book.
October 9, 2022
3.5*
Henry continues to cover himself in very little glory - looking after his Gran, plotting his return to LA, sticking his nose into murder again.
In a closed environment, everyone knows everyone’s business so finding out who killed the Rev should be easy, but no.
I was going down the wrong road for a while on the culprit.
But will Henry stay or go?
Henry continues to cover himself in very little glory - looking after his Gran, plotting his return to LA, sticking his nose into murder again.
In a closed environment, everyone knows everyone’s business so finding out who killed the Rev should be easy, but no.
I was going down the wrong road for a while on the culprit.
But will Henry stay or go?
March 21, 2022
Love the story and the quirky characters in this book. The mystery is good, I had no idea who "dun it." The one complaint I have is the ending--I wanted to know what Henry was going to do with his info and the increasing awareness that he is an addict. Recommend reading.
November 28, 2023
I pretty big improvement over the first. I really liked this story arch and I think if you make it through the first book, then you'll be very happy with the direction of the second.
The main character is still not likable BUT there are glimmers of the possibility of liking them in the future.
The main character is still not likable BUT there are glimmers of the possibility of liking them in the future.
March 15, 2022
I enjoyed this more than book one. I really wish the series was completed already so I can binge. I hope there are a lot more books planned as Henry's journey will be a long one
dnf
April 26, 2022I couldn’t deal with the MCs drug use it spoiled the book for me
just-cannot-finish
May 14, 2022DNF 64%. Just not keeping my interest.
November 4, 2022
I loved it. Henry is a very believable character, mostly because he is realistically flawed. His flaws make him funny and entertaining.
Read
January 6, 2026Henry is a little less assholish than book one, let's hope he gets better in the next book
April 24, 2022
I really love the sometimes subtle sometimes overt humor in this book. I love Henry. The writing was really enjoyable and while I was reading it, I can totally imagine myself as that little angel and devil on his shoulders. Henry is a character that needs you to take time to know him to love him. I definitely like this more than the first book.
March 19, 2023
Funny
This is the first book in a long time where I've been laughing. There are some nice thoughts in there. Some insights and since inspired writing.
This is the first book in a long time where I've been laughing. There are some nice thoughts in there. Some insights and since inspired writing.
March 27, 2022
Poor Henry is still stuck in MI, looking after his grandma who had a stroke.
He gets involved in another murder and all the while dreams of going home to LA.
I think if he ever makes it home, he will find it not as he remembers and goes back to the farm.
He gets involved in another murder and all the while dreams of going home to LA.
I think if he ever makes it home, he will find it not as he remembers and goes back to the farm.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews