Ninth Square

by Gorman Bechard

When a man’s body is discovered in one of New Haven, Connecticut’s sleazier motels, it appears to be a simple case of a prostitute killing a john. A case that’s quick, clean, and easy—just what the police chief likes. But, as William Shute and his fellow detectives investigate, it becomes clear that appearances are deceiving. This case will be anything but quick and easy.

The pressure’s on to wrap it up before the arrival of the Sons of God, a large religious group that will soon descend 60,000-strong upon New Haven for a rally at the Yale Bowl. But the dead man refuses to cooperate, and Shute finds himself in a race to identify the murder suspect and prove her innocence before the trigger-happy Federal agents find her.

Quick, clean, and easy. Right?

Genres: Mystery

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Gorman Bechard is the author of seven novels: THE SECOND GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD, UNWOUND (under the pseudonym Jonathan Baine), NINTH SQUARE, THE HAZMAT DIARY, GOOD NEIGHBORS, BALLS and the upcoming NOT SO PRETTY.

He directed/wrote the indie features FRIENDS (WITH BENEFITS) (2009) and YOU ARE ALONE (2006), the horror comedy cult-classic PSYCHOS IN LOVE (1986), as well as the award winning shorts OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE FURTHER THAN THEY APPEAR (2003) and THE PRETTY GIRL (2000), and most recently completed COLOR ME OBSESSED, A FILM ABOUT THE REPLACEMENTS, which Rolling Stone named one of the seven best music docs of the year.

Bechard is in pre-production on ONE NIGHT STAND, a psycho-sexual horror film, and BROKEN SIDE OF TIME, a dark drama set in the world of internet modeling, which are parts two and three of his planned ALONE trilogy, and PIZZA, A LOVE STORY, a documentary on the holy trinity of pizza joints, Sally’s, Pepe’s, and Modern in New Haven, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Susan Dennis]

This guy wrote one of my favorite books ever - Balls. He's written a couple of others but now he's writing mysteries!! I was excited to hear it and not at all disappointed in his effort. This has great components - porn, hookers, a promise keepers like organization, police corruption… I mean it's got it all and it all works together to make a great tale.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was hoping for more New Haven description, but it was entertaining.

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The New Haven police department has a nightmare of epic proportions on its hands. A highly respected officer in the "Sons of God" religious movement has been found in a sleazy motel room with his throat slashed and it is obvious that the gentleman was engaged in a sexual encounter. When another of the group is found murdered in a similar manner a few days later it looks like someone wants to keep the religious group from moving their headquarters to New Haven's ninth square. Detective William Shute doesn't believe that the group is being targeted but, rather, the first man was killed by an escort in self-defense and the second man is a copy-cat murder. His theory is unpopular among the New Haven police brass, the mayor and local businessmen who will certainly make a good deal of money should the Sons of God move to their city. Shute is stripped of his badge and gun when he refuses to back down but he doesn't stop his investigation. Searching within the darker side of New Haven, Shute finds his own life in danger as he comes closer and closer to the truth.

I really didn't like this book at all. The only thing that saved it from being a 1 star rating is that I had no idea who the murderer was so that, at least, was a surprise. The characters are horrible people, the subject matter is distasteful, and the author's choppy sentences (i.e. "Another crash. Another explosion of flames. Turning. The case. Snatching it up. That was all.) made for a difficult read. Stay far, far away from this one.

[T. Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took an interest in this book because it mentions several times the town of East Haven, the town in which I reside. The book is fast paced end enjoyable although at times I had to go back and reread due to the amount of characters. The city of New Haven would never be the same if the Sons of God were to locate there. The city would end up in worse shape than it is now with the "don't do as I do, do as I say" Sons of God running things. This book hints at how religious fanatics can make life worse than better.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

A death of unknown man in New Haven, CT opens a pandora's box of troubles for a detective that ties together greed, sex and religion. A good detective mystery with a likable main character. Author is a screen writer and I could see book as a film someday.

[Rina · Rating 2 out of 5]

fairly good mystery. sentences a bit choppy. characters nondescript.