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The Henry Rios Mysteries #2
Goldenboy
In his latest case, Henry Rios may have something few defense attorneys ever experience: a truly innocent client
It’s a cause Henry Rios can’t resist: defending a young gay man on trial for killing the coworker who threatened to out him. Jim Pears is charged with first-degree murder; Pears says he’s innocent but the evidence is damning. Pears was found covered in the victim’s blood and with the murder weapon in his hand. But nothing about the People v. Jim Pears is what it seems.
Rios is asked to join the case because he knows first-hand the pressures and threats that come with being gay in 1980s California. In the midst of one of the most complex trials of his career, Rios meets and falls in love with Josh Mandel, the prosecutor’s star witness. For this defense attorney, fighting for justice has never been more personal. And the stakes are no less than life and death.
It’s a cause Henry Rios can’t resist: defending a young gay man on trial for killing the coworker who threatened to out him. Jim Pears is charged with first-degree murder; Pears says he’s innocent but the evidence is damning. Pears was found covered in the victim’s blood and with the murder weapon in his hand. But nothing about the People v. Jim Pears is what it seems.
Rios is asked to join the case because he knows first-hand the pressures and threats that come with being gay in 1980s California. In the midst of one of the most complex trials of his career, Rios meets and falls in love with Josh Mandel, the prosecutor’s star witness. For this defense attorney, fighting for justice has never been more personal. And the stakes are no less than life and death.
215 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
10 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Michael Nava
33 books340 followersMichael Nava is the author of a groundbreaking series of crime novels featuring a gay, Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Nava is a six-time recipient of the Lambda Literary Award in the mystery category, as well as the Bill Whitehead Lifetime Achievement Award for gay and lesbian literature.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 21, 2019
3.5 stars
The air was clearer in the valley but there was decay here, too; but with none of the fallen-angel glamour of Hollywood. Rather, it lay in the crumbling foundations of jerry-built condominium complexes, condemned drive-ins and bowling alleys, paint blistering from shops on the verge of bankruptcy. The detritus of the good life. It was easy to feel the ghost town just beneath the facade of affluence.
I am hooked!
The writing in this series is raw,bold, no nonsense and in your face. Sometimes it is hard to get through but totally worth it. It is also sad and depressing, DC comics brody type. This one was first published in 1988, it has that authentic feel of that period.
Here Henry Rios is representing a young guy accused of murder. The courtroom scenes felt so real, the interactions between Henry and the accused were Very heartbreaking. The mystery of it all was engaging and had some twists and turns that kept me glued to the end. It is Law & Order SVU on steroids. The story also gives us a glimpse of the AIDS crisis, homophobia which was really heartbreaking to read.
I still don't really know Henry Rios, his character is still not developed. We are slowly getting a glimpse of who he is, i hope as the series continues, His character will also grow. The same goes for the other characters, they are not well developed and they often get thrown into the story without proper introduction. I like to believe that this will eventually be improved in the newer versions.
Overall it was a good story, MN knows how to write an entertaining mystery, but as a result of that some parts remained underdeveloped. I am not buying the Josh and Henry story, where did all that come from?
Looking forward to the next one.
The air was clearer in the valley but there was decay here, too; but with none of the fallen-angel glamour of Hollywood. Rather, it lay in the crumbling foundations of jerry-built condominium complexes, condemned drive-ins and bowling alleys, paint blistering from shops on the verge of bankruptcy. The detritus of the good life. It was easy to feel the ghost town just beneath the facade of affluence.
I am hooked!
The writing in this series is raw,bold, no nonsense and in your face. Sometimes it is hard to get through but totally worth it. It is also sad and depressing, DC comics brody type. This one was first published in 1988, it has that authentic feel of that period.
Here Henry Rios is representing a young guy accused of murder. The courtroom scenes felt so real, the interactions between Henry and the accused were Very heartbreaking. The mystery of it all was engaging and had some twists and turns that kept me glued to the end. It is Law & Order SVU on steroids. The story also gives us a glimpse of the AIDS crisis, homophobia which was really heartbreaking to read.
I still don't really know Henry Rios, his character is still not developed. We are slowly getting a glimpse of who he is, i hope as the series continues, His character will also grow. The same goes for the other characters, they are not well developed and they often get thrown into the story without proper introduction. I like to believe that this will eventually be improved in the newer versions.
Overall it was a good story, MN knows how to write an entertaining mystery, but as a result of that some parts remained underdeveloped. I am not buying the Josh and Henry story, where did all that come from?
Looking forward to the next one.
August 10, 2016
4,6 stars!
Since I know that a lot of readers browse through reviews to decide if they pick up a book or skip it, it became increasingly difficult for me to review my books. Because when I like a book, I want to share my enthusiasm but at the same time not to give a lot of away.
It is why I want to warn you:
Henry Rios Mystery series is a MUST READ in the first place for all fans of the gay mystery genre of a high quality.
Goldenboy is the second book in the series and I liked it even more than the first book.
The plot:
When Henry Rios, a gay lawyer in S.Francisco, received a telephone call from his friend and a gay lawyer in L.A Larry Ross, asking for defending a young gay man on trial who was accused of a first-degree murder, he said yes. Not because there war a slight hope of any success. The case was from the beginning hopeless, the evidence against Jim Pears seemed overwhelming. But Henry owned Larry and Larry saw in this case a chance to show the society all threats that came with being gay in 1980s California.
So. I expected a very good made courtroom drama.
I WAS WRONG.
All at once the story took a totally different course that I didn't see coming at all! From a courtroom drama, that suddenly ended with taking my breath away, it faced the artistic circle, cream of Hollywood society, that from the first sight seemed have nothing in common with the previous story.
I WAS WRONG.
The next turn and I found myself in the middle of an enthralling cat and mouse game-play that suddenly burst into an action thriller.
As a bonus, there is a bit more of a romance in the second book.
Though I didn't find the romance part particularly convincing.
But let me repeat it again, it is not a romance book.
I'm hooked. I want to read more of Michael Nava and his protagonist, Henry Rios.
If you like an excellent written gay mystery and can appreciate a superb writing - this book is for you!
March 6, 2020
I was going to gif the bejesus out of this thing but I'm tired and, honestly, this book isn't worth that much effort so here goes nothing!
Goldenboy is not Nava's best effort nor did not WOW me. I still thoroughly enjoy Nava's writing, though, and if my hunch is correct he's likely re-working this. Trust me, Goldenboy needs it since the end of Carved in Bone didn't sync with how Goldenboy began or unfolded nor is it as clean as Lay Your Sleeping Head and/or Carved in Bone.
I maybe, probably will read the re-worked edition but, like I said, I didn't love this one for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I probably have seen one too many episodes of Dexter but I kept coming back to the blood splatter and how that couldn't possibly have been consistent with literally EVERYONE'S conclusion, though I'm not sure when that technology came along and I did *try* to bear that in mind. Try being the operative word. Second, Henry and slew of other people pissed me off with their utter and complete lack of working from a position of a presumption of innocence!
Damn, people! 🤬🤬🤬 Do better.
The action sequence was edge of your seat suspenseful and I enjoyed that along with how the plot unfolded. Nava is unbelievably good at making these California cities as well as the AIDS epidemic part of the narrative in a seamless and integrated way that brings an extra layer of authenticity and poignancy.
There are a good number of secondary characters in this story that aren't as well developed as previous characters or maybe I just wasn't as moved by them? Especially Josh Mandel. I'm still stumped as to the who, what, when, where and, most importantly, why of his relationship with Henry. I don't get it. There's really nothing between them and I know that's not the focus of this series but nevertheless I'm still scratching my head as to what Henry sees in this kid, though it does not help that I'm not a fan of Josh. Undoubtedly as I continue on with the series Nava will weave his magic spell and change my mind about his moody, bratty ass but as it stands I kinda want to tell him we're playing the quiet game and he's "it" until further notice.
However, YMMV.
Goldenboy is not Nava's best effort nor did not WOW me. I still thoroughly enjoy Nava's writing, though, and if my hunch is correct he's likely re-working this. Trust me, Goldenboy needs it since the end of Carved in Bone didn't sync with how Goldenboy began or unfolded nor is it as clean as Lay Your Sleeping Head and/or Carved in Bone.
I maybe, probably will read the re-worked edition but, like I said, I didn't love this one for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I probably have seen one too many episodes of Dexter but I kept coming back to the blood splatter and how that couldn't possibly have been consistent with literally EVERYONE'S conclusion, though I'm not sure when that technology came along and I did *try* to bear that in mind. Try being the operative word. Second, Henry and slew of other people pissed me off with their utter and complete lack of working from a position of a presumption of innocence!
Damn, people! 🤬🤬🤬 Do better.
The action sequence was edge of your seat suspenseful and I enjoyed that along with how the plot unfolded. Nava is unbelievably good at making these California cities as well as the AIDS epidemic part of the narrative in a seamless and integrated way that brings an extra layer of authenticity and poignancy.
There are a good number of secondary characters in this story that aren't as well developed as previous characters or maybe I just wasn't as moved by them? Especially Josh Mandel. I'm still stumped as to the who, what, when, where and, most importantly, why of his relationship with Henry. I don't get it. There's really nothing between them and I know that's not the focus of this series but nevertheless I'm still scratching my head as to what Henry sees in this kid, though it does not help that I'm not a fan of Josh. Undoubtedly as I continue on with the series Nava will weave his magic spell and change my mind about his moody, bratty ass but as it stands I kinda want to tell him we're playing the quiet game and he's "it" until further notice.
However, YMMV.
July 30, 2014
3.5 Stars
Henry Rios is in Los Angeles trying a case at the urging of an old friend. Murder, legal twists & turns, loneliness, greed, and perhaps innocence swirl through the Hollywood air. Is Henry’s client actually innocent? And can he prove it?
Michael Nava writes beautifully. I can’t tell you how many times I stopped and read a line out loud just to hear it roll off my tongue. Gorgeous! The way he describes the seasons, weather and the city pulls me right into the mood and tone of the story. But this will be my last Henry Rios book.
I can’t seem to get a‘hold of some of the emotions here with Henry. His intelligence dazzles me. I love to hear how his mind works in the courtroom and out. It’s his heart that gives me problems. I was really surprised how enamored Henry was with the beautiful people--Tom Zane and Irene Gentry. I did not feel that attraction and charm at all. And really, Henry? Come on! Out of all the people in LA, you fall for….
My favorite part of this book was the time period. A couple of books recently have pushed me back into the research arena. My research muscles needed a workout! I want to know more about the early 1980s and the battle with AIDS. There is so much I don’t know about that time. The legal, medical, and political worlds were all shook up. Scared. The fear caused so many heartbreaking decisions and pain. Some of what I’ve learned so far has stunned me. I’ve been in study mode for months now and I love it! The rush of digging out and into the history! Ah, the smell of research in the morning. :D It makes me giddy.
So….Goldenboy is a wonderful read and mystery. The energy and words flow—making it very easy to read and enjoy. It did inspire me to read more, but not more with Henry. I hope Henry finds what he’s looking for in law and life and love though.
September 30, 2024
The writing is still great and Henry is really starting to show his layers here. He's cynical, but a bit of a romantic at the same time. And way too quick to fall in love with the guys he sleeps with, lol. At least this one fared better than the last.
This case is a bit meandering. It starts off with Henry getting a call from his friend Larry calling him up and asking him to take on the defense of what appears to be a slam dunk for the prosecution. Everyone, including Henry, thinks the defendant, Jim Pears, is guilty, despite Jim saying otherwise. But he has no memory of the night of the murder he's being accused of, and there are no other witnesses to the crime.
And then it becomes about Hollywood and actors and producers and a bunch of humdrum over a lot of unpleasant people that I couldn't really care about, and it takes way too long for all the threads to connect. Add in a few too many references to the title, and I did start to lose my patience with this one, no matter how good the writing was.
It does have a couple of decent plot twists, and I really started to remember even more why Henry is such an endearing character. Make no mistake, this book can be grim in its starkness at times, and while the truth is eventually found, its hard to say who, if anyone, is really a winner.
Keeping this at three stars. It's good, but it's not the best indicator of the heights this series will achieve. And of course now this book and The Little Death don't exist in the lineup anymore. The Little Death became Lay Your Sleeping Head. The great mystery is how does a certain character here get incorporated into the new lineup, since he's pretty important, and it'd be weird if he just came out of nowhere once Howtown comes around.
This case is a bit meandering. It starts off with Henry getting a call from his friend Larry calling him up and asking him to take on the defense of what appears to be a slam dunk for the prosecution. Everyone, including Henry, thinks the defendant, Jim Pears, is guilty, despite Jim saying otherwise. But he has no memory of the night of the murder he's being accused of, and there are no other witnesses to the crime.
And then it becomes about Hollywood and actors and producers and a bunch of humdrum over a lot of unpleasant people that I couldn't really care about, and it takes way too long for all the threads to connect. Add in a few too many references to the title, and I did start to lose my patience with this one, no matter how good the writing was.
It does have a couple of decent plot twists, and I really started to remember even more why Henry is such an endearing character. Make no mistake, this book can be grim in its starkness at times, and while the truth is eventually found, its hard to say who, if anyone, is really a winner.
Keeping this at three stars. It's good, but it's not the best indicator of the heights this series will achieve. And of course now this book and The Little Death don't exist in the lineup anymore. The Little Death became Lay Your Sleeping Head. The great mystery is how does a certain character here get incorporated into the new lineup, since he's pretty important, and it'd be weird if he just came out of nowhere once Howtown comes around.
May 30, 2015
Awesome, this book has everything I like!
Dry wit:
“I was raised Catholic, Mrs. Pears,” I said, “so I know all about Catholics like you who can’t take a shit without consulting a priest.”
Pop references:
“Don’t tell me,” Freeman said. “He’s in the shower just like Bobby Ewing.”
High references:
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day", was written to another man."
Beautiful writing:
"His slightly battered nose — it looked like it had been broken, then inexpertly set — and firmly molded jaw gave his face a toughness that kept him from being a pretty boy. But there was prettiness, too, in the shape of his mouth, the long-lashed eyes. At second glance, though, the parts fit together with a kind of masculine elegance that reminded me of dim images from my childhood of an earlier period of male stars, Tyrone Power or John Garfield."
And a very engaging mystery plot.
Dry wit:
“I was raised Catholic, Mrs. Pears,” I said, “so I know all about Catholics like you who can’t take a shit without consulting a priest.”
Pop references:
“Don’t tell me,” Freeman said. “He’s in the shower just like Bobby Ewing.”
High references:
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day", was written to another man."
Beautiful writing:
"His slightly battered nose — it looked like it had been broken, then inexpertly set — and firmly molded jaw gave his face a toughness that kept him from being a pretty boy. But there was prettiness, too, in the shape of his mouth, the long-lashed eyes. At second glance, though, the parts fit together with a kind of masculine elegance that reminded me of dim images from my childhood of an earlier period of male stars, Tyrone Power or John Garfield."
And a very engaging mystery plot.
March 19, 2020
It really makes me feel old to tag a book set in the 80's as "historical" but...IIWII.
January 18, 2018
Goldenboy
By Michael Nava
Open Road Integrated Media, 2013 (Originally 1988)
Five stars
It’s hard to know what to say about Michael Nava’s Henry Rios mysteries. They’re wonderful; terse, wry, smart, a little dark. Rather sad. Not romantic. On the other hand, in these stories love matters; and in this particular book, matters a lot, both in a sad way and in a happy way. Love thwarted; love denied; love endangered; love fulfilled.
Henry is a self-made Chicano boy from the Central Valley, a lawyer and an outspoken advocate for the disenfranchised (which, in the late 1980s setting of these books, includes gay folks). He is fearless, but not heartless, although his own emotionally parched childhood has left him more detached emotionally than he might otherwise have been.
A longtime lawyer friend from Los Angeles convinces Henry to take on a seemingly open-and-shut murder case involving a teenaged boy and his homophobic tormentor. I won’t say more about this; just that it’s painful all around, and serves as a reminder of how hard gay teens had it (and still have it) in the supposed land of freedom in which we live. Rios is dragged into the shiny, sleazy world of Hollywood, and both he and the reader get a carefully choreographed tour of the money-crazed hypocrisy that embodies Hollywood even today. Nava manipulates his readers skillfully, using every detail to build tension, stir up anxiety, and turns a sordid tale of murder and broken sexuality into the story of an unheroic hero who is willing to break his own heart to bring justice to the unloved. He pretty much stole my heart.
Nava’s series leaves me with terribly mixed emotions. But they must be positive, since I’m already on book 3, “How Town.”
By Michael Nava
Open Road Integrated Media, 2013 (Originally 1988)
Five stars
It’s hard to know what to say about Michael Nava’s Henry Rios mysteries. They’re wonderful; terse, wry, smart, a little dark. Rather sad. Not romantic. On the other hand, in these stories love matters; and in this particular book, matters a lot, both in a sad way and in a happy way. Love thwarted; love denied; love endangered; love fulfilled.
Henry is a self-made Chicano boy from the Central Valley, a lawyer and an outspoken advocate for the disenfranchised (which, in the late 1980s setting of these books, includes gay folks). He is fearless, but not heartless, although his own emotionally parched childhood has left him more detached emotionally than he might otherwise have been.
A longtime lawyer friend from Los Angeles convinces Henry to take on a seemingly open-and-shut murder case involving a teenaged boy and his homophobic tormentor. I won’t say more about this; just that it’s painful all around, and serves as a reminder of how hard gay teens had it (and still have it) in the supposed land of freedom in which we live. Rios is dragged into the shiny, sleazy world of Hollywood, and both he and the reader get a carefully choreographed tour of the money-crazed hypocrisy that embodies Hollywood even today. Nava manipulates his readers skillfully, using every detail to build tension, stir up anxiety, and turns a sordid tale of murder and broken sexuality into the story of an unheroic hero who is willing to break his own heart to bring justice to the unloved. He pretty much stole my heart.
Nava’s series leaves me with terribly mixed emotions. But they must be positive, since I’m already on book 3, “How Town.”
December 20, 2009
In this 2nd book of the series, Henry Rios was asked by a friend to defend a gay-teenager accused of killing another teenager. In the course of the book, the kid claimed his innocence, and he ended up with suicide attempt in jail -- which dismissed the case. This happened, like, on the first half of the book. However, it turned out that there were more to it because the actual killer was still out there and closer to Henry that he might know it. I enjoythis book very much; there is still this moodiness with the book that I really love from the 1st one. It's a thoughtful story as well, dealing with gay acceptance in society and AIDS -- this book was first released in the 80's. I'm also glad to see Henry finding a younger lover (though their attraction seemed to instant, too quick) while dealing with this case. I'd love to see what happens in the next book
May 17, 2022
By the value of Sturgeon's Law, queer mysteries are rarely perfect: in my experience, they can suffer frequently from weak writing and clichéd situations, a tiring overabundance of campy humour, and just general datedness that can become off-putting. But the ones that stand out are the ones that don't dwell on their weaknesses by being entertaining enough to shoot past them. Goldenboy is one of them; far from the worst gay crime novel I've read, for sure not the best, but a pretty great experience all around once the final page has been turned.
The story is brisk and engaging, doesn't linger on its plot incredulities, but also has the balls to be set in the ghostly shadow of the always-present spectre of AIDS: the most villainous and indiscriminate killer that could ever be in a crime novel, and which gives the murder plot at the heart of the story a strangely canny irony of futility, all things considered. Judging by other Goodreads reviews I'm glad I'm not the only one disappointed by the jarringly random and unconvincing love subplot, but I'm inclined to give it a pass because its dynamic leads to a pretty spectacular climax. This author is obviously someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and there are worse things that have happened in these kinds of books than ill-conceived romance.
The story is brisk and engaging, doesn't linger on its plot incredulities, but also has the balls to be set in the ghostly shadow of the always-present spectre of AIDS: the most villainous and indiscriminate killer that could ever be in a crime novel, and which gives the murder plot at the heart of the story a strangely canny irony of futility, all things considered. Judging by other Goodreads reviews I'm glad I'm not the only one disappointed by the jarringly random and unconvincing love subplot, but I'm inclined to give it a pass because its dynamic leads to a pretty spectacular climax. This author is obviously someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and there are worse things that have happened in these kinds of books than ill-conceived romance.
May 4, 2020
Nava’s novel is filled with some well-done character beats and peppered with fascinating people. Also, the paranoia and fear of the time, of the AIDS crisis runs rampant. On top of that, his images are wonderfully noir-ish, wonderfully evocative.
The mystery itself is bland, however. I stopped caring about it halfway through but I think it’s because Nava stopped caring about it too. He doesn’t really play fair with the final revelations and sort of lets the plot get away from him.
The mystery itself is bland, however. I stopped caring about it halfway through but I think it’s because Nava stopped caring about it too. He doesn’t really play fair with the final revelations and sort of lets the plot get away from him.
April 30, 2020
Once again his prose is magnificent. Henry is so complex and fascinating. I can't wait to read more.
May 5, 2022
henry rios is a bitch and i love him so much
March 12, 2019
4.0 of 5 stars – Good, Entertaining Continuation of a Classic Series.
I love gay mysteries and this is the second of the Henry Rios series I’ve read, and I continue to be entertained. Published inn 1988, it took me back in time to 26 years ago, this time set in LA.
I really liked Michael Nava’s crisp style. As opposed to a few who thought it was too spare or lacked emotion, I liked the no-nonsense, at times gritty approach, appropriately reflecting the somewhat depressive and desperate situation of the characters, and thus giving the reader the same feel. And I appreciated that it was mainly a mystery, secondarily portraying a gay character and life, which I think made it a bit of a departure from some of the other gay-themed novels at the time. The mystery itself was good but could have been stronger – it seemed a little too predictable and straightforward to me. But I still kept engaged – with seeing how it all would work out, along with the descriptions of the locales, settings, events and behaviors. And I enjoyed reading the little details that took me back in time – such as, phone booths, Siddhartha, a Victorian B&B with claw-foot bathtubs, a gay bar with couples dancing the Texas two-step.
I also liked the MC (Henry) being a gay, latino 30-something (not YA). As such, Nava depicted Henry’s struggling with personal and professional issues. As part of that, while I believed in the love at first sight and budding romance, I do feel as others that it seemed rather sudden to me; in my thinking, because Nava didn’t fully develop it, or maybe to reflect the state of Henry’s emotional disconnect. Along the way Nava threw in many common aspects of the gay experience, mostly successfully with only a little stereotyping: gay slurs, gay bashing, bullying, abuse, parental rejection, self-loathing, suicide, achohol/drug use and addiction, coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation, coming out, one-nighters, meeting former lovers, falling in love, fighting for gay rights, and early days of HIV/AIDS.
Throughout were interesting observations in Henry’s narration – as an example, his description of the psychology behind one’s denying being gay: “…his childish insult would have been comical except for what it revealed about the state of his self-awareness. He told me he wasn’t gay with the desperation of someone who could not allow himself to believe anything else. His panic had calcified and become brittle. He was on the verge of shattering.”
For those so inclined, this can work well as a stand-alone; or for those like me, it leads nicely into whatever happens next in Henry’s life in Howtown.
[Gay Men’s Book Group-Chicago monthly selection]
I love gay mysteries and this is the second of the Henry Rios series I’ve read, and I continue to be entertained. Published inn 1988, it took me back in time to 26 years ago, this time set in LA.
I really liked Michael Nava’s crisp style. As opposed to a few who thought it was too spare or lacked emotion, I liked the no-nonsense, at times gritty approach, appropriately reflecting the somewhat depressive and desperate situation of the characters, and thus giving the reader the same feel. And I appreciated that it was mainly a mystery, secondarily portraying a gay character and life, which I think made it a bit of a departure from some of the other gay-themed novels at the time. The mystery itself was good but could have been stronger – it seemed a little too predictable and straightforward to me. But I still kept engaged – with seeing how it all would work out, along with the descriptions of the locales, settings, events and behaviors. And I enjoyed reading the little details that took me back in time – such as, phone booths, Siddhartha, a Victorian B&B with claw-foot bathtubs, a gay bar with couples dancing the Texas two-step.
I also liked the MC (Henry) being a gay, latino 30-something (not YA). As such, Nava depicted Henry’s struggling with personal and professional issues. As part of that, while I believed in the love at first sight and budding romance, I do feel as others that it seemed rather sudden to me; in my thinking, because Nava didn’t fully develop it, or maybe to reflect the state of Henry’s emotional disconnect. Along the way Nava threw in many common aspects of the gay experience, mostly successfully with only a little stereotyping: gay slurs, gay bashing, bullying, abuse, parental rejection, self-loathing, suicide, achohol/drug use and addiction, coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation, coming out, one-nighters, meeting former lovers, falling in love, fighting for gay rights, and early days of HIV/AIDS.
Throughout were interesting observations in Henry’s narration – as an example, his description of the psychology behind one’s denying being gay: “…his childish insult would have been comical except for what it revealed about the state of his self-awareness. He told me he wasn’t gay with the desperation of someone who could not allow himself to believe anything else. His panic had calcified and become brittle. He was on the verge of shattering.”
For those so inclined, this can work well as a stand-alone; or for those like me, it leads nicely into whatever happens next in Henry’s life in Howtown.
[Gay Men’s Book Group-Chicago monthly selection]
September 29, 2014
These books end so suddenly! Due to the Kindle edition having three chapters of the next book at the end, you're at 87% and think you still have a while to go and the book ends!
I liked the book a lot, more than the first in the series, but at the same time was a little disappointed. The story RACES along for the first 40% or so, easily getting a 5 star review, and then the perspective shifts totally and it takes a little while to pick it back up. Also I think it never really matches the intensity of the original arc.
There's a lot of instant love in these books and I suppose I thought of it previously as a literary device but now I'm wondering if it's for real. It seems the mark of insecure gay men to fall into this instant love which usually doesn't last long, I wonder if it was more prevalent in the 1970's and 80's where little weight was put on gay relationships by society anyway. Don't know.
Nava continues to impress with his writing style and vocabulary, words like "lachrymose" and
"burghers of Calais" I had no idea about.
Does everyone in this book have custom licence plates?
I liked the book a lot, more than the first in the series, but at the same time was a little disappointed. The story RACES along for the first 40% or so, easily getting a 5 star review, and then the perspective shifts totally and it takes a little while to pick it back up. Also I think it never really matches the intensity of the original arc.
There's a lot of instant love in these books and I suppose I thought of it previously as a literary device but now I'm wondering if it's for real. It seems the mark of insecure gay men to fall into this instant love which usually doesn't last long, I wonder if it was more prevalent in the 1970's and 80's where little weight was put on gay relationships by society anyway. Don't know.
Nava continues to impress with his writing style and vocabulary, words like "lachrymose" and
"burghers of Calais" I had no idea about.
Does everyone in this book have custom licence plates?
October 15, 2018
I had trouble deciding the rating for this book. During most of the first half of the book, I was ready to give it five stars. I liked Henry Rios, the writing was great and the actual mystery around the crime was good. The story was engaging and pleasantly fast-paced.
That's when I found myself slightly disappointed and by the end, I was veering towards 3 stars. I felt like the second half of the book was just slower with a rushed ending. It also got darker and more depressing. I think the overall tone of the book is intentional as it touched on homophobia, self-hatred and denial, AIDS, death, and sexual assault. I also think it tried to counter the dark parts of the book by giving Henry Rios a lover. It managed that somewhat as the two shared some wonderful scenes.
I was hoping for justice to be served and that there would be a more satisfying and happy ending, but I still enjoyed the book a lot and am interested in continuing with the series.
May 11, 2019
I like how this series moves forward through years, rather than just months or weeks between books. It allows for a sense of growth and the passage of time.
In this story, it's been three years since The Little Death, and my favorite attorney, Henry, is about to take on a hopeless case in which the suspect maintains his innocence while the real killer moves around in the background.
Henry also meets Joshua, a young man who's already living with HIV, but will light up Henry's life. Josh's parents aren't too keen on their relationship, but are supportive in the end.
In this story, it's been three years since The Little Death, and my favorite attorney, Henry, is about to take on a hopeless case in which the suspect maintains his innocence while the real killer moves around in the background.
Henry also meets Joshua, a young man who's already living with HIV, but will light up Henry's life. Josh's parents aren't too keen on their relationship, but are supportive in the end.
March 24, 2021
Henry Rios, an openly gay lawyer in San Francisco in the early 80's, is asked by an old friend in LA to take over the case of a young closeted gay man who is found standing over the body of a co-worker who harassed him for being gay, with the murder weapon in hand. Rios's friend wants him to go for acquittal but the young man will not help much with his own defense, claiming amnesia for the time. Rios has to investigate if his client even committed the murder and why he may have done it. Lots of twists and Rios is a likable protagonist.
September 10, 2010
Better than I remember it. Michael Nava is by far my favorite mystery author. He takes time to develop characters over the course of the series rather than simply revealing plot point after plot point.
February 12, 2013
better than the first book of this mystery series, although, you don't need to read the first to follow... if you like dashiell hammett, and you are gay, this is the book for you! similar writing styles, full of romance, sex, homophobia, and MURDER!
May 3, 2014
4.5
The missing half star in this perfect gay mystery is because of the .
The missing half star in this perfect gay mystery is because of the .
September 18, 2025
Wahrscheinlich der schlechteste aller Henry-Rios-Krimis, noch falscher konstruiert als der erste. Was doch immerhin heißt, dass es von hier her nur besser wird! Schon hier wechselt der Strafverteidiger für den größten Teil der Geschichte von San Francisco nach Los Angeles und macht Bekanntschaft mit den düsteren Seiten des Filmgeschäfts in Hollywood. Was dann im sechsten und dicksten Roman, „Verbrannte Erde“, zum spannendsten und ergreifendsten Abenteuer führt.
Der Mordfallplot war offenkundig zu simpel und durchschaubar, sodass sich der Autor mehrere Schikanen und denkbare Alternativ-Handlungen dazu ausdenken musste, die jetzt allerdings kaum noch stimmig in „die Kiste“ des Romans hinein wollen. Das sieht nach Durcheinander aus, auch wenn es das zum Schluss vielleicht gar nicht war.
Ein alter Freund Rios' aus gemeinsamen Aktivistentagen ruft ihn zur Hilfe, weil ein schwuler 19-Jähriger, ein Kellner, angeklagt ist, einen ebenso jungen Kollegen im Keller des Lokals erstochen zu haben, damit dieser nichts über seine gelegentlichen Kontakte zu Parkplatzfreiern berichten kann. Der Junge behauptet, unschuldig zu sein, sich aber an nichts mehr erinnern zu können. Man hat ihm mit einem Motiv und dem Messer in der Hand erwischt. Sonst gibt es keine Verdächtigen. Henrys Freund, der sich bald als AIDS-Kranker im finalen Stadium offenbaren wird, auch dies etwas ruckartig, möchte einen armen Jungen retten vor seinem Tod, egal, ob dieser getötet hat oder nicht. Er hätte sich verzweifelt vor der gesellschaftlichen Diskriminierung zu schützen versucht.
Erscheint schon dies etwas fragwürdig, man könnte jede Abwehr von Erpressung von Schwulen als Statement gegen gesellschaftliche Diskriminierung lesen, aber auch die Verquickung von Teenagersex mit den letzten Tagen eines AIDS-Kranken kann einem gewollt vorkommen (für Rios reicht es zum Fall, wenn er gegen die Welt voller Feinde antreten kann), wird es bald zu dicke mit den überraschenden Brüchen wie auch den herbei befohlenen Neu-Verbindungen. Am Ende wird man es dann auch verstehen können, aber wieso zum Teufel muss der arme Junge nach der Hälfte der Geschichte in ein Dauerkoma versenkt werden? Der, um den es sich drehen sollte, ist unansprechbares Gemüse! Dafür, wie der Springteufel aus der Box, wird Henry mit einer guten Freundin, einer Schauspielerin versorgt. Plötzlich scheint die Sache irgendwas mit Hollywood zu tun zu haben. Die Schauspielerin ist zwar heterosexuell, ihr Ehemann aber spielt den Normalen nur auf der Bühne und im Film, ansonsten ist er proletarischen Jungs vor ihrem Coming-out hinterher. Wie aber sein Agent gleich auch noch, eine dicke, tückische Tunte. Und der als Schauspieler zwar wesentlich weniger schöne, aber bessere Ensemblekollege. Ein wenig viele Schwule jetzt überall und alle wollen sie was von Henry, der aber nie was will, wenn er nicht ehrlich liebt. Darum trifft er erstmals seinen Josh, den Partner für die nachfolgenden Fälle. Der ist noch fast so jung, so schön, so verwirrt wie der Tote, den sie Goldenboy nannten. Und er arbeitet auch noch in derselben Kneipe. Eine Gaststätte mit überraschend vielen Schwulen. Soll's ja geben.
Wieso unternimmt bei so viel Andrang und Not Henry jetzt erst einmal Freizeitausflüge mit einer Hetero-Frau, die ihm Ehrfurcht einflößt?
Und warum, wenn am Ende, als in West Hollywood dem Mörder eine Falle gestellt wird, wenn er nachts am Straßenstrich sein nächstes Opfer auflesen will, aber der Motor säuft ab von dem Polizisten, der ein Freund von dem schwarzen Ex-Cop ist, den Henry Rios als seinen Ermittler eingestellt hat und der, um ihm eine Freude zu machen, zu einem Treffen in einer Schwulenbar einen rosa Chinchilla-Pullover getragen hat, warum, - und man hat noch gesehen, wie das Mörderauto eine Querstraße weiter unten in eine menschenleere Fabrikstraße eingebogen ist, warum kann man ihn dort unten dann auch tatsächlich finden, jedenfalls das vergewaltige Opfer, nachdem er doch noch entkommen ist, das Opfer sagt, bevor es losging, ist er herumgefahren mit mir, hat groß einen auf Liebe gemacht, mich abgeküsst, wir haben eine Haschzigarette geraucht. Ähm ja, dann aber ist er immerhin zu der Straße zurück, in die Henry und der Ermittler ihn hatten einbiegen sehen.
Der Autor Michael Nava, der die ganzen Jahre doch immer weiter als Jurist gearbeitet und Geld verdient hat, er muss schon ein recht hartnäckiger Zeitgenosse sein, hat 1999 (im höchst empfehlenswerten Interviewband „Something Inside – Gay Fiction Writers“) angegeben, jeden seiner Romane habe er mehrfach komplett neu verfasst, bevor er ihn dem Verlag zeigte. Es sind jedes Mal zwei Jahre zwischen seinen (ersten sieben) Romanen vergangen. Im Jahr 2019 hat er dann eine Neufassung dieses Abenteuers unter dem Titel „Carved in Bone“ nachgelegt, wie er zuvor das erste Buch auch noch mal neu geschrieben hatte. Ich habe allerdings nur das Buch von 1988 gelesen. Möge es 30 danach besser geworden sein! Goodreads tut leider so, als wären beide Versionen dasselbe Buch, sind sie aber nicht.
Der Mordfallplot war offenkundig zu simpel und durchschaubar, sodass sich der Autor mehrere Schikanen und denkbare Alternativ-Handlungen dazu ausdenken musste, die jetzt allerdings kaum noch stimmig in „die Kiste“ des Romans hinein wollen. Das sieht nach Durcheinander aus, auch wenn es das zum Schluss vielleicht gar nicht war.
Ein alter Freund Rios' aus gemeinsamen Aktivistentagen ruft ihn zur Hilfe, weil ein schwuler 19-Jähriger, ein Kellner, angeklagt ist, einen ebenso jungen Kollegen im Keller des Lokals erstochen zu haben, damit dieser nichts über seine gelegentlichen Kontakte zu Parkplatzfreiern berichten kann. Der Junge behauptet, unschuldig zu sein, sich aber an nichts mehr erinnern zu können. Man hat ihm mit einem Motiv und dem Messer in der Hand erwischt. Sonst gibt es keine Verdächtigen. Henrys Freund, der sich bald als AIDS-Kranker im finalen Stadium offenbaren wird, auch dies etwas ruckartig, möchte einen armen Jungen retten vor seinem Tod, egal, ob dieser getötet hat oder nicht. Er hätte sich verzweifelt vor der gesellschaftlichen Diskriminierung zu schützen versucht.
Erscheint schon dies etwas fragwürdig, man könnte jede Abwehr von Erpressung von Schwulen als Statement gegen gesellschaftliche Diskriminierung lesen, aber auch die Verquickung von Teenagersex mit den letzten Tagen eines AIDS-Kranken kann einem gewollt vorkommen (für Rios reicht es zum Fall, wenn er gegen die Welt voller Feinde antreten kann), wird es bald zu dicke mit den überraschenden Brüchen wie auch den herbei befohlenen Neu-Verbindungen. Am Ende wird man es dann auch verstehen können, aber wieso zum Teufel muss der arme Junge nach der Hälfte der Geschichte in ein Dauerkoma versenkt werden? Der, um den es sich drehen sollte, ist unansprechbares Gemüse! Dafür, wie der Springteufel aus der Box, wird Henry mit einer guten Freundin, einer Schauspielerin versorgt. Plötzlich scheint die Sache irgendwas mit Hollywood zu tun zu haben. Die Schauspielerin ist zwar heterosexuell, ihr Ehemann aber spielt den Normalen nur auf der Bühne und im Film, ansonsten ist er proletarischen Jungs vor ihrem Coming-out hinterher. Wie aber sein Agent gleich auch noch, eine dicke, tückische Tunte. Und der als Schauspieler zwar wesentlich weniger schöne, aber bessere Ensemblekollege. Ein wenig viele Schwule jetzt überall und alle wollen sie was von Henry, der aber nie was will, wenn er nicht ehrlich liebt. Darum trifft er erstmals seinen Josh, den Partner für die nachfolgenden Fälle. Der ist noch fast so jung, so schön, so verwirrt wie der Tote, den sie Goldenboy nannten. Und er arbeitet auch noch in derselben Kneipe. Eine Gaststätte mit überraschend vielen Schwulen. Soll's ja geben.
Wieso unternimmt bei so viel Andrang und Not Henry jetzt erst einmal Freizeitausflüge mit einer Hetero-Frau, die ihm Ehrfurcht einflößt?
Und warum, wenn am Ende, als in West Hollywood dem Mörder eine Falle gestellt wird, wenn er nachts am Straßenstrich sein nächstes Opfer auflesen will, aber der Motor säuft ab von dem Polizisten, der ein Freund von dem schwarzen Ex-Cop ist, den Henry Rios als seinen Ermittler eingestellt hat und der, um ihm eine Freude zu machen, zu einem Treffen in einer Schwulenbar einen rosa Chinchilla-Pullover getragen hat, warum, - und man hat noch gesehen, wie das Mörderauto eine Querstraße weiter unten in eine menschenleere Fabrikstraße eingebogen ist, warum kann man ihn dort unten dann auch tatsächlich finden, jedenfalls das vergewaltige Opfer, nachdem er doch noch entkommen ist, das Opfer sagt, bevor es losging, ist er herumgefahren mit mir, hat groß einen auf Liebe gemacht, mich abgeküsst, wir haben eine Haschzigarette geraucht. Ähm ja, dann aber ist er immerhin zu der Straße zurück, in die Henry und der Ermittler ihn hatten einbiegen sehen.
Der Autor Michael Nava, der die ganzen Jahre doch immer weiter als Jurist gearbeitet und Geld verdient hat, er muss schon ein recht hartnäckiger Zeitgenosse sein, hat 1999 (im höchst empfehlenswerten Interviewband „Something Inside – Gay Fiction Writers“) angegeben, jeden seiner Romane habe er mehrfach komplett neu verfasst, bevor er ihn dem Verlag zeigte. Es sind jedes Mal zwei Jahre zwischen seinen (ersten sieben) Romanen vergangen. Im Jahr 2019 hat er dann eine Neufassung dieses Abenteuers unter dem Titel „Carved in Bone“ nachgelegt, wie er zuvor das erste Buch auch noch mal neu geschrieben hatte. Ich habe allerdings nur das Buch von 1988 gelesen. Möge es 30 danach besser geworden sein! Goodreads tut leider so, als wären beide Versionen dasselbe Buch, sind sie aber nicht.
February 9, 2022
Sono qui, nascosta dietro l’angolo di una strada, forse sto sognando o, forse, l’universo mi ha permesso di fare un viaggio nel lontano 1971, perché, dalla posizione in cui mi trovo, riesco a vedere benissimo la paura nello sguardo di Bill Rhyan. É appena arrivato a San Francisco, si guarda intorno spaesato ma, allo stesso tempo è anche affascinato da ciò che vede. La vita conosciuta fino a qualche settimana prima sembra ormai lontana, gli è sfuggita dalle mani come se l’avesse lasciata cadere nelle acque di un fiume che ha portato tutto via. La famiglia lo ha scacciato con un biglietto di solo andata quando ha scoperto il suo orientamento sessuale, si sente fragile, solo, ma è anche affascinato da ciò che vede, ora ha davanti a sé una nuova vita, una in cui forse potrà sentirsi più a suo agio o, forse, quello che gli è stato inculcato fin dalla nascita gli impedirà di farlo. E io? Io vorrei rimanere qui, accompagnarlo lungo il cammino, forse, mi dico, potrei dargli una mano per cambiare le cose, per fargli capire che non c’è nulla di sbagliato in lui. E, invece, il mio sogno o questo strano universo mi portano in un altro tempo ma sempre nello stesso luogo. Questa volta è il 1984, io sono sempre nascosta dietro un muro, è un angolo diverso rispetto all’altro ma mi permette di vedere Henry mentre esce da una chiesa dove si è svolta un’altra delle riunioni degli Alcolisti anonimi a cui si reca da quasi un anno. Vi ricordate? Lo avevamo lasciato distrutto da quello che aveva scoperto sulla morte dell’unico uomo che aveva amato, quel giovane che per la prima volta gli aveva fatto capire in modo indissolubile che non c’è nulla di sbagliato in lui. Ora sta rimettendo in moto la sua vita, ci sta provando sul serio cercando di rimanere sobrio e di capire cosa veramente vuole e chi è realmente Henry Rios. E mentre fa chiarezza in se stesso si ritrova a far chiarezza anche nella vita di quel Bill Ryan che guardavo qualche minuto fa. Quell’uomo che negli ultimi 15 anni era cambiato tanto dal ragazzino giunto a San Francisco solo e spaventato diventando un uomo di successo finito poi tragicamente.
Così, in una sorta di parallelismo, mi sono ritrovata coinvolta nelle vite di due uomini seguendone le vicende in due momenti diversi dello spazio e del tempo. Ho vissuto la vita di Bill dal suo arrivo a San Francisco, i suoi sforzi per migliorarsi e sentirsi degno, fino ad arrivare alla morte e poi ho vissuto anche quella di Henry che cerca se stesso mentre tenta di scoprire cosa sia accaduto davvero a quest’ultimo. Ho fatto con loro un viaggio affascinante, misterioso percorrendo una strada che all’inizio sembrava essere dritta, senza ostacoli e che, invece, si è rivelata piena di insidie. Un viaggio nelle esperienze di vita di due uomini che non si sono mai incrociati ma che sotto moltissimi aspetti erano uguali. Rifiutati da chi avrebbe dovuto amarli al di là di tutto, disgustati da quello che sono, impotenti di fronte alle paure che sentono come acido che li corrode e, a sovrastare il tutto, la “Bestia Nera” di quegli anni, l’AIDS. Ecco, qui la capacità dell’autore di mostrarci il dolore di quegli anni, la paura angosciante vissuta dalla comunità LGBT nei confronti di un male oscuro è davvero incredibile, chi ha vissuto sulla propria pelle quel periodo leggendo questa storia potrebbe piangere, io non mi vergogno a dirlo, ho pianto, pur essendo stata una spettatrice lontana di quegli anni. La presa di coscienza dei gay che tutte le mete che avevano raggiunto negli ultimi dieci anni stavano per crollare l’una dopo l’altra. Perché, ora che molti di loro avevano iniziato ad accettarsi, ad amarsi per quello che erano, l’AIDS faceva di loro nuovamente dei peccatori che non avevano diritto a nulla.
Non ho parole per esprimere la bellezza di questo libro, Micheal Nava è riuscito a trasportarmi nuovamente al centro della vicenda, facendomi sentire in prima persona lo smarrimento dei protagonisti, l’odio che nutrono per quello che sono e che non possono cambiare nonostante tutto l’impegno messo nel provarci, la loro lotta continua nel migliorarsi per poter essere accettati da chi non li ha voluti senza riuscire a capire che devono essere loro i primi ad accettarsi, che chi non ci ama non è degno di camminare accanto a noi. Fatevi un favore, prendetevi un po’ di tempo per voi e leggete questa storia, piangete per le cose perse, arrabbiatevi per le ingiustizie e siate pronti a farvi investire da una luce in fondo al tunnel, è fioca, è ancora ammantata di tristezza ma è lì e forse Henry troverà la forza in se stesso per raggiungerla e ravvivarne la forza.
Così, in una sorta di parallelismo, mi sono ritrovata coinvolta nelle vite di due uomini seguendone le vicende in due momenti diversi dello spazio e del tempo. Ho vissuto la vita di Bill dal suo arrivo a San Francisco, i suoi sforzi per migliorarsi e sentirsi degno, fino ad arrivare alla morte e poi ho vissuto anche quella di Henry che cerca se stesso mentre tenta di scoprire cosa sia accaduto davvero a quest’ultimo. Ho fatto con loro un viaggio affascinante, misterioso percorrendo una strada che all’inizio sembrava essere dritta, senza ostacoli e che, invece, si è rivelata piena di insidie. Un viaggio nelle esperienze di vita di due uomini che non si sono mai incrociati ma che sotto moltissimi aspetti erano uguali. Rifiutati da chi avrebbe dovuto amarli al di là di tutto, disgustati da quello che sono, impotenti di fronte alle paure che sentono come acido che li corrode e, a sovrastare il tutto, la “Bestia Nera” di quegli anni, l’AIDS. Ecco, qui la capacità dell’autore di mostrarci il dolore di quegli anni, la paura angosciante vissuta dalla comunità LGBT nei confronti di un male oscuro è davvero incredibile, chi ha vissuto sulla propria pelle quel periodo leggendo questa storia potrebbe piangere, io non mi vergogno a dirlo, ho pianto, pur essendo stata una spettatrice lontana di quegli anni. La presa di coscienza dei gay che tutte le mete che avevano raggiunto negli ultimi dieci anni stavano per crollare l’una dopo l’altra. Perché, ora che molti di loro avevano iniziato ad accettarsi, ad amarsi per quello che erano, l’AIDS faceva di loro nuovamente dei peccatori che non avevano diritto a nulla.
Non ho parole per esprimere la bellezza di questo libro, Micheal Nava è riuscito a trasportarmi nuovamente al centro della vicenda, facendomi sentire in prima persona lo smarrimento dei protagonisti, l’odio che nutrono per quello che sono e che non possono cambiare nonostante tutto l’impegno messo nel provarci, la loro lotta continua nel migliorarsi per poter essere accettati da chi non li ha voluti senza riuscire a capire che devono essere loro i primi ad accettarsi, che chi non ci ama non è degno di camminare accanto a noi. Fatevi un favore, prendetevi un po’ di tempo per voi e leggete questa storia, piangete per le cose perse, arrabbiatevi per le ingiustizie e siate pronti a farvi investire da una luce in fondo al tunnel, è fioca, è ancora ammantata di tristezza ma è lì e forse Henry troverà la forza in se stesso per raggiungerla e ravvivarne la forza.
August 9, 2023
Michael Nava's Goldenboy left me with mixed feelings. While I had high hopes after thoroughly enjoying his previous work, The Little Death, I found this installment to be somewhat disappointing.
One of the main aspects that fell short for me was the portrayal of the "romance" between Henry Rios and Josh Mandel. Unlike the compelling and believable relationships in Nava's previous novel, this particular romance felt forced and unconvincing. The chemistry between the characters seemed lacking, and their interactions often felt contrived. It was difficult to invest in their relationship, which ultimately detracted from the overall enjoyment of the story.
That being said, Nava's writing style remains a strong point in Goldenboy. His prose is still engaging and evocative, capturing the essence of the settings and the emotions of the characters. The exploration of themes such as justice, identity, and personal growth is thought-provoking and adds depth to the narrative.
Additionally, the plot itself is intriguing, delving into the complexities of a high-profile murder case and the challenges faced by the protagonist, Henry Rios. Nava's ability to create suspense and maintain a sense of mystery throughout the story is commendable.
While Goldenboy may not have lived up to the high standards set by The Little Death, it still has its merits. Fans of Nava's writing style and those interested in legal thrillers may find enjoyment in this novel. However, if you're seeking a captivating and believable romance, you may be left wanting.
In conclusion, Goldenboy is a decent read, but it falls short in comparison to Nava's previous work. The unconvincing romance between Henry Rios and Josh Mandel detracts from the overall experience, despite the strengths of Nava's writing style and the intriguing plot.
One of the main aspects that fell short for me was the portrayal of the "romance" between Henry Rios and Josh Mandel. Unlike the compelling and believable relationships in Nava's previous novel, this particular romance felt forced and unconvincing. The chemistry between the characters seemed lacking, and their interactions often felt contrived. It was difficult to invest in their relationship, which ultimately detracted from the overall enjoyment of the story.
That being said, Nava's writing style remains a strong point in Goldenboy. His prose is still engaging and evocative, capturing the essence of the settings and the emotions of the characters. The exploration of themes such as justice, identity, and personal growth is thought-provoking and adds depth to the narrative.
Additionally, the plot itself is intriguing, delving into the complexities of a high-profile murder case and the challenges faced by the protagonist, Henry Rios. Nava's ability to create suspense and maintain a sense of mystery throughout the story is commendable.
While Goldenboy may not have lived up to the high standards set by The Little Death, it still has its merits. Fans of Nava's writing style and those interested in legal thrillers may find enjoyment in this novel. However, if you're seeking a captivating and believable romance, you may be left wanting.
In conclusion, Goldenboy is a decent read, but it falls short in comparison to Nava's previous work. The unconvincing romance between Henry Rios and Josh Mandel detracts from the overall experience, despite the strengths of Nava's writing style and the intriguing plot.
April 11, 2025
El chico de oro me pareció un libro entretenido, con una trama que logró mantenerme enganchado de principio a fin. El ritmo es ágil y el personaje principal está bien construido, lo que hace que la historia fluya de forma natural. En general, lo disfruté.
Sin embargo, hubo un par de detalles que me incomodaron. Por un lado, en una parte se menciona a “la criada con rasgos mexicanos”, y esa frase me pareció bastante clasista. Creo que hay formas más respetuosas de describir a los personajes sin recurrir a ese tipo de etiquetas.
Otro punto que me parece importante mencionar es la forma en que se habla del VIH. En el libro, uno de los personajes dice tener sida, pero por el contexto, más bien parece que se refiere a tener VIH. Hay que recordar que el sida es la etapa avanzada del virus, y no todas las personas con VIH llegan a esa fase. Me preocupa que este tipo de confusiones contribuyan a la desinformación sobre un tema tan delicado, aunque también entiendo que este libro fue publicado hace varios años donde probablemente aún existía mucha desinformación sobre el tema.
A pesar de estos aspectos, considero que la historia tiene valor y puede ser una buena lectura, pero también creo que es importante hacer una lectura crítica y no pasar por alto ciertos detalles que pueden reforzar prejuicios o malinformar.
Sin embargo, hubo un par de detalles que me incomodaron. Por un lado, en una parte se menciona a “la criada con rasgos mexicanos”, y esa frase me pareció bastante clasista. Creo que hay formas más respetuosas de describir a los personajes sin recurrir a ese tipo de etiquetas.
Otro punto que me parece importante mencionar es la forma en que se habla del VIH. En el libro, uno de los personajes dice tener sida, pero por el contexto, más bien parece que se refiere a tener VIH. Hay que recordar que el sida es la etapa avanzada del virus, y no todas las personas con VIH llegan a esa fase. Me preocupa que este tipo de confusiones contribuyan a la desinformación sobre un tema tan delicado, aunque también entiendo que este libro fue publicado hace varios años donde probablemente aún existía mucha desinformación sobre el tema.
A pesar de estos aspectos, considero que la historia tiene valor y puede ser una buena lectura, pero también creo que es importante hacer una lectura crítica y no pasar por alto ciertos detalles que pueden reforzar prejuicios o malinformar.
February 16, 2020
Michael Nava is a hell of a writer, and that is in plain display in this book. The story is dry, sad, hard to read for moments, but utterly engaging.
And I'm not talking only about the mystery, here. It's everything: the portrait of the times, with AIDS playing a big role in the lives of gay men; Jim's sorrowful life and his subdue death; love, in all his ways: wistful and bleak, rejected and embraced...
We get to know a bit more of Henry, but he is still a mystery to me, I still don't understand how his heart works. I love his mind, he is smart and fully dedicated to protecting those who are oppressed. But at the same time, he is emotionally detached, and it's hard to empathize with him at an emotional level.
I don't understand his relationship with Josh. Is it really love? Or it's just a reaction to Larry's death sentence and leaving? To Josh's need? I don't know...
So, if you are looking for romance, this is not for you. But if what you want is a great story, fantastically written, dealing with loss and love, with sickness and homophobia, with greed and lost innocence? Then, go ahead, you have the right book.
And I'm not talking only about the mystery, here. It's everything: the portrait of the times, with AIDS playing a big role in the lives of gay men; Jim's sorrowful life and his subdue death; love, in all his ways: wistful and bleak, rejected and embraced...
We get to know a bit more of Henry, but he is still a mystery to me, I still don't understand how his heart works. I love his mind, he is smart and fully dedicated to protecting those who are oppressed. But at the same time, he is emotionally detached, and it's hard to empathize with him at an emotional level.
I don't understand his relationship with Josh. Is it really love? Or it's just a reaction to Larry's death sentence and leaving? To Josh's need? I don't know...
So, if you are looking for romance, this is not for you. But if what you want is a great story, fantastically written, dealing with loss and love, with sickness and homophobia, with greed and lost innocence? Then, go ahead, you have the right book.
April 9, 2018
The characters in this book play a game called "Kitsch or Classic." When I first read this book on its publication in the 80s, I definitely thought it was kitsch - although well-written and a marked step up from the first Rios mystery. Now... classic may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I think it's awfully good.
The weakness is the actual mystery. There are two sets of characters - handsome sexually confused busboys and waiters, and Hollywood elite stars and agents. The coincidence of their overlap is less than convincing and the mystery is a bit muddled as a result.
But Nava's writing is quite good. He really nails the California noir writing style without ever slipping into parody. The characters are strong and their dilemmas are moving (sometimes frustratingly so). The queer politics is really on point, as is the obvious affection Nava and Rios have for gay men and gay culture.
I'd absolutely recommend this one.
*For the record, All About Eve -which is debated in the book - is clearly a classic.
The weakness is the actual mystery. There are two sets of characters - handsome sexually confused busboys and waiters, and Hollywood elite stars and agents. The coincidence of their overlap is less than convincing and the mystery is a bit muddled as a result.
But Nava's writing is quite good. He really nails the California noir writing style without ever slipping into parody. The characters are strong and their dilemmas are moving (sometimes frustratingly so). The queer politics is really on point, as is the obvious affection Nava and Rios have for gay men and gay culture.
I'd absolutely recommend this one.
*For the record, All About Eve -which is debated in the book - is clearly a classic.
October 29, 2019
Michael Nava's style is wonderful; I love his descriptions of people and places. His set up was exquisite -- a young man is found holding a bloody knife over the body of another young man who'd threatened to out him to his parents, and even though he says he's innocent, everyone just knows he's guilty. Even Henry Rios, who is coerced into defending him, setting the stage for an epic murder mystery.
Well...while the first 90 pages were engrossing and kept you wondering how it could possibly turn out well for the accused, then the thread of the story got lost and it sort of meandered about, with the mystery in the background until the last 30 pages, when it got slapped back into place...and rather sloppily.
Seriously, I felt rather cheated by the reveal and how it played out. Then the story just...stopped. Too many threads were left dangling, and I flat out didn't really buy it...even for 1988.
I've got a copy of "Bag and Bone" so will give that a try, hoping for the best. But with "Goldenboy"it's 3 stars for Nava's way of telling; what he's telling would only get two.
Well...while the first 90 pages were engrossing and kept you wondering how it could possibly turn out well for the accused, then the thread of the story got lost and it sort of meandered about, with the mystery in the background until the last 30 pages, when it got slapped back into place...and rather sloppily.
Seriously, I felt rather cheated by the reveal and how it played out. Then the story just...stopped. Too many threads were left dangling, and I flat out didn't really buy it...even for 1988.
I've got a copy of "Bag and Bone" so will give that a try, hoping for the best. But with "Goldenboy"it's 3 stars for Nava's way of telling; what he's telling would only get two.
January 2, 2018
When I decided it was time to reread the Henry Rios books, I realized I hadn't actually read all of them, so I'm catching up.
This series stands up a lot better than other LGBT mystery series written around this time. Because Henry, Josh, Freeman, et al. are such complex and interesting characters, the books don't feel dated, even though some of the language is cringe-inducing and the conversation around queer issues is very different than the one we're having now. Unfortunately, a gay Latino attorney dealing with homophobia and racism in America will always be timely.
Also, there's a murder, and a suspect, and because Henry Rios is very good at what he does, watching the actual, you know, plot aspects of the book play out provides a highly entertaining balance to the deeper social issues.
This series stands up a lot better than other LGBT mystery series written around this time. Because Henry, Josh, Freeman, et al. are such complex and interesting characters, the books don't feel dated, even though some of the language is cringe-inducing and the conversation around queer issues is very different than the one we're having now. Unfortunately, a gay Latino attorney dealing with homophobia and racism in America will always be timely.
Also, there's a murder, and a suspect, and because Henry Rios is very good at what he does, watching the actual, you know, plot aspects of the book play out provides a highly entertaining balance to the deeper social issues.
August 31, 2021
Amazing!
I am now officially addicted to Henry Rios adventures. I'll give the author, Michael Nava, an A+ in all the books I have read so far.
The story is entertaining, highly engaging. It's a mystery. This episode in Henry Rios life, there's more blood and murders that I typically like. Most of them, innocent, young and beautiful men.
THAT is the attraction. What makes the stories so unique. All characters are imperfect; because real life where we live is perfect. I found a number of relatable instances; there are periods of comedy and I laugh. You Mr. Rios, are funny too.
The story evolves and keeps you in the thrill of figuring things out BEFORE Henry Rios. But he's smart. A total catch, if you're into brainy men.
Easy prose. Well written. Printed Editorial mistakes that make the book even more unique.
I am now officially addicted to Henry Rios adventures. I'll give the author, Michael Nava, an A+ in all the books I have read so far.
The story is entertaining, highly engaging. It's a mystery. This episode in Henry Rios life, there's more blood and murders that I typically like. Most of them, innocent, young and beautiful men.
THAT is the attraction. What makes the stories so unique. All characters are imperfect; because real life where we live is perfect. I found a number of relatable instances; there are periods of comedy and I laugh. You Mr. Rios, are funny too.
The story evolves and keeps you in the thrill of figuring things out BEFORE Henry Rios. But he's smart. A total catch, if you're into brainy men.
Easy prose. Well written. Printed Editorial mistakes that make the book even more unique.
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