Rehearsed to Death

Domestic Partners in Crime #2

by Frank Anthony Polito

Award-winning author and playwright Frank Anthony Polito continues his debut cozy mystery series featuring a gay couple who solve crimes while renovating houses as part of their hit reality show Domestic Partners. Set in suburban Detroit, it's Hart to Hart via HGTV! The perfect combination for fans of home repair and cozy mysteries.

Peter’s first play is having its world premiere at Pleasant Woods’s community theater. His handsome one and only, JP, has the lead. Rehearsals have begun. And New York City’s award-winning, hotshot helmer, Xander Sherwood Deva, is directing. Unfortunately the controlling, arrogant, poison-barbed, egomaniacal diva has everyone on edge. No wonder he finallypushes someone over it . . .
 
Xander is found strangled to death in the same extra-long, imported cashmere scarf he’s been brandishing like a boa ever since he arrived. In the name of making art he’s burned a lot of bridges and made a lot of enemies but which one wanted to bring down the curtain on him?
 
As they say in the the show must go on. But not before amateur sleuths Peter and JP become Domestic Partners in Crime and try to solve this deadly real-life drama ahead of opening night.
 
 
Praise for Renovated to Death
 
“Quirky [and] humorous.” —Kirkus Reviews
 
“A fast, fun read—with bonus renovating tips!”
--Laura Levine, author of Death by Smoothie

Genres: Mystery, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, LGBT, Contemporary, Fiction, M M Romance

290 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2023

About the author

Frank Anthony Polito is an award-winning author and playwright. His published novels include Band Fags (2008 “Best Fiction” – InsightOut Book Club) and Drama Queers (2009 Lambda Literary Award), and the novella “A Christmas to Remember” (the sequel to BAND FAGS!) as featured in the collection Remembering Christmas, and The Spirit of Detroit.

In April 2012, Frank published his first Young Adult novel, Lost in the 90s under his own imprint, Woodward Avenue Books.

Frank grew up in the Detroit suburb of Hazel Park. He received his BFA in Theatre from Wayne State University and his MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon. He resides in Pleasant Ridge, MI with his partner, Craig Bentley, and their two dogs, Jack and Clyde. He is currently writing a new cozy mystery, Rehearsed to Death, to be published by Kensington Cozies in June 2023.

Reviews

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I had a great time with this book! I liked the first book in this series quite a bit so I was eager to see what might happen in this second installment. When I noticed that the audiobook was available from my local library, I decided to grab a copy and spent much of my time with this book listening to the audio while following along in the book. I found this installment to be incredibly entertaining.

PJ (Peter) and JP are involved in a play that Peter wrote and JP will act in. They have a known director signed on so things look promising. Unfortunately, that director proves to be incredibly difficult to work with. After the director is found dead, Peter and JP decide to try to find out if it was an accident or if someone could be responsible for his death. I thought that the mystery was very done and while I figured out a few things, some things kept me guessing until the very end.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that the author did a great job of reading this story. He easily bought this wonderful cast of characters to life and I thought that he added just the right amount of emotion and excitement to his reading. He definitely knows the story and turned out to be the perfect choice for the narrator. I do believe that his performance added to my enjoyment of the story.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I thought that it was a fun cozy and I love that it featured LGBT+ characters. This is the second book in the Domestic Partners in Crime series but could easily work as a stand-alone. I can’t wait to read more of this entertaining series!

I received a review copy of this book from Kensington Books.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as a Goodreads giveaway. !! A fun romp at the theater. I really like the setting since I haven’t been to Detroit . I don’t like things that are set on stages, but this was fun.

[Andrew Klumpp · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is disappointing. I read the first in this series, and can say it’s much improved but ultimately, I still can’t recommend it.

It’s best, I think, to consider this book like a gay murder mystery episode of Scooby Doo. The tone and characters behave in ways that you’d expect in the cartoon and with that perspective the book is much more palatable. At the end, it even includes the line, “and I would have gotten away with it… if it weren’t for you pesky Domestic Partners in Crime.” (242) It made me wonder if the author was intentionally trying to get us to connect it with the show. (This is conceivable since the underlying premise is largely lifted from HGTV’s Bargain Block.)

The character names also suggest this very cartoonish tone. Wanda Clothier owns a clothing shop or the attractive teacher is Mr. Goodbody. The naming conventions are clearly a choice by the author. It’s not one I care for, even if set in a Scooby Doo world, but I can respect that is was a conscious decision.

Major issues do persist from the first book. Constant repetition of characters’ traits or identities suggests a fundamental lack of trust in or respect for readers. Why must we be reminded over a dozen times that two women are lesbians? Or why is the word partner constantly forced into the prose? It creates distance between the narrator and reader.

The writing also needed a good editor. Phrases like “the mystery of the mysterious death” should have been caught, and it’s embarrassing that they weren’t.

Finally, Polito appears to still struggle with the conventions of the genre. The murder doesn’t show up for 80 pages!! And then he has the audacity to comment to the reader (by way of a contrived conversation between the protagonists) on the decision to wait to reveal the murder (pg. 81)! Talk about taking you out of a story. The author is clearly very confident in his decisions, and that’s admirable, but it really cuts against the standards of the genre and the rest of the book isn’t strong enough to make breaking such norms excusable. There is a random chapter at a movie theatre that isn’t from the narrator’s point of view and was learned about later that’s squeezed in the early chapters which is so peculiar and disrupts the flow.

As an editor by trade, I found this read interesting to consider the decisions that were made and the mistakes that were missed, but aside from being professionally intriguing, the second installment of this series wasn’t substantially improved enough for me to recommend it or consider reading a third, should it ever be written…

[Kelsey Riggs]

I felt insulted as a reader with every page. I can't even give 1 star for this book

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you liked the first in the series, you will enjoy this one. I love a mystery set in the theatre. Frank Anthony Polito knows the theatre world and that comes through in this quozy.

[Lori Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short: This book features a gay couple who solve crimes while renovating houses in suburban Detroit as part of their hit reality show Domestic Partners. In this installment they are rehearsing for a play at the local theatre when the director is found dead.

What I liked:
🎭 Mystery set against the backdrop of a theatre.
🎭The victim was so unlikeable, this made for a lot of suspects.
🎭The characters PJ and JP. They compliment each other so well. Pete, aka PJ, is such a vivid character!
🎭Home renovation tips
🎭The rescue dogs
🎭That is was told in First person. I loved the narrators voice and the few shifts in focus.

Final thoughts: This was one of my most anticipated cozy mysteries this year and it didn’t disappoint! I love these characters so much, their community, drag Queen queeraoke, the dogs, all of it! The mystery was well plotted and with a victim few liked, it was fun to read along and follow the clues. I had a few guesses but never saw the final twist.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars! This was a mixture of a mystery and a romantic comedy, with PJ and JP trying to solve the murder at a playhouse. It was cute, but it lacked depth. It wasn't bad; simply average. I felt like I forgot a lot of the story fairly quickly after finishing it.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

PJ, the narrator, and his partner-in-life and detection, actor JP, have completed the second season of their home renovation show and are trying to find a house to use for their third season. Meanwhile, they are thrilled when a little theater agrees to do PJ's serious play "Blue Tuesday," and JP is cast in the leading role. The bad news in their happy life is the director of the play has antagonized everyone, from the elderly woman who discovered the play and was ousted as director, to PJ himself. When the director is found dead, the police think it's an accident, but the dead man's much younger boyfriend persuades PJ and JP to investigate. Alert readers will be annoyed that the two sleuths don't realize who is behind the death--until the author provides one last twist to show readers have guessed wrong.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I liked the storyline.
I'm not sure if I will continue to read more by this author, however, I do recommend the book.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

PJ’s play is finally being produced and a big(wish)name director has agreed to direct gratis. Little did PJ and JP realize what a nightmare the production would become with the director becoming quite a tyrant. But it was the murder of the murder of the director that really plunged things into the dark. Can the play survive the fallout? Will the guys be able to solve the case? The show must go on, so therefore, so will PJ and JP’s sleuthing.

What’s not to love about PJ and JP? These two are adorable together and I love how they sleuth, being able to silently communicate while interrogating a suspect or just picking up on a new clue that someone drops on them. I’ve read both entries in this series and cannot wait for hen next book..as I’m assuming it’s going to focus on season 2 of their fix it upper show.

[Beaumont · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concept: 5 stars
Execution/editing: 1.5-2 stars
Enjoyment: 3.5 stars
Would I read the next installment? Very likely.

In short, this is a fabulous idea for a cozy mystery series that includes some much-needed queerness in the genre, but is suffers from needing extensive editing. Please be aware it’s one of the very campy/cartoony cozy mysteries (similar to the ones where cats solve mysteries or something), like Scooby Doo.

This story is about PJ, a cis white gay 32 year old gay man, and his fiancée JP, a cis white gay 34 year old man. PJ is a YA mystery novelist and new playwright, and JP is an actor. They also both have a reality show flipping houses. They’ve been engaged for three years but PJ isn’t sure he’s ready to get married yet (I’m not sure we ever find out why), and JP is patiently waiting for him to be ready. The live in a small Michigan town with their dogs Clyde and Jackson, and tend to trip across murders. The mystery element is definitely present, but not terribly solvable for the reader. The MCs also do little actual sleuthing other than speaking to suspects who then almost honestly just tell them if they killed the victim or not. Sometimes there’s a little doubt that throws them off though.

I liked a lot of stuff about this book:
— Actually and openly queer leads. This is very rare in cozy mysteries and I think it’s an enormous shame. I love mysteries and much like every other genre the percentage of available books with queer leads is dismal. It actually feels worse than a lot of other genres. If I want a queer fantasy or romance or something I can find one. With things like action or mystery or westerns it’s very hard to locate.
—The main couple has a TV renovation show. I don’t watch a lot of these shows but I read a long and fun fanfiction that was similar once and it was lot of fun, so I was happy to see something vaguely similar here.
—The small town setting. I frequently like the idea of a cute small town setting. This one was nice, though not terribly memorable, but this is typical of small town settings - it’s rare it’s a super memorable place. Still, the general vibe came across.
—Clyde, of course! And now Jack! 🐕
—Often in mysteries when it’s a couple investigating, I end up hating the husband because he’s both useless and yet the author bends over backwards to make him the “man of the house and the investigation,” which often hinders the woman sleuth’s work yet is treated as romantic. Or if the sleuth is a man with a wife, she’s often so mild as to be overlooked entirely, which is easier because it doesn’t hinder the mystery. This is a long way to say that I don’t hate JP (even though he’s not PJ’s husband he’s the romantic partner of the lead), he doesn’t hinder the mystery or PJ’s work, and he’s not so mild he may as well not be there. That in itself is amazing! It’s a low bar, but almost no one clears it.
—I laughed when poor PJ couldn’t muster up the energy to defend Bob’s “heterosexual tendencies” again. Although I don’t agree that no women want to date a man who comes across as gay - I know plenty of them who would love that. It’s not as common as men wanting to date a lesbian, but plenty of straight and bi women would and do adore feeling like a man’s “one exception” and the one he chose to marry. It’s weird but it happens.
—

I struggled at times with the writing and most of the time with the editing. I know it’s silly and a bit campy (very common with cozy mysteries), but several things were written very strangely throughout the book.
—Way too many epithets (“the guy with the ginger hair,” “the man from Indonesia,” “the southeast Asian man,” etc etc etc.)
— Like saying “(quote unquote)” instead of just italicizing something or what have you (parentheses used and everything). Or using “A-sap” instead of ASAP. Even using “TBH” during the internal thoughts of a character.
—I also struggled with race and nationality of birth only being used for POC. The white characters were just assumed to be white (except for one millennial couple that were described as capital-W “White” for some reason). Also, Xander was described as “the man from Indonesia” more than once as an epithet, and Tony as “the Black man”, and it was weird. Also food terms were used for POC skin descriptions - yuck. I am happy there was more than one POC side character (which is rare), but it needs to be done appropriately.
— A lot of stuff was explained in exposition that simply did not need to be explained because it was something so very common.
— What really threw me was the POV changes in the middle of some chapters with zero notice. Like chapter 11 having both a first person POV from PJ and a third person POV from Bob. It happens in several other chapters two, sometimes with dual perspectives in the same paragraph. I was very confused.
— Way, way too many exclamation points and italicized sentences.
—Way too many contractions. Like “outta here” and “gotta” in dialogue. This happened with all characters so they all sounded very samey and kind of odd. Also, “duh” used too much.
— Very little distinction between the voice and actions of any of the characters.

I thought the writing was actually easier to follow in this book vs the last one, though, and I still really love the premise. In these situations it comes down to if the story, characters, and setting are enjoyable enough to outweigh the terrible editing.

Other
—multiple POV. It’s wild. Mainly first person POV from PJ, but there are sentences, paragraphs, or chunks for chapters from third person POVs (Hunter, JP, Bob,

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always insisted I don’t read fantasy novels, but I actually do, because I read cozy mysteries. While the stories themselves are set in more than recognizable places, the behavior of the amateur sleuths in most of them enters the realm of the fantastical. I could care less. The world is a hard cold place, and a cozy novel provides respite, comfort, and very often laughs. Sign me up! The best of them have characters that have emotional truth and often seem very much like our own friends and neighbors, with the added super power of solving crimes.

Frank Polito’s delectable series features two as yet unmarried partners, JP Broadway and PJ Penwell, who star together on an “HDTV” show called – Domestic Partners. Like everything in this book, this is all reality adjacent – while the book is set in Royal Heights, Michigan, it sounds awfully like Royal Oak; Meadow Lark playhouse might be recognizable to the southeast Michigander as Meadow Brook; and of course, the TV show described sounds very much like one of my favorite HGTV shows, Bargain Block.

There are so many fun southeast Michigan references, from bumpy cake to Creamora to the perfectly named Detective Paczki (the treat consumed by Michiganders on Fat Tuesday) that I was at first having a hard time focusing on the plot, but one of the great things about cozy mysteries are – stories! Cozy writers are wonderful storytellers, and Polito is no exception.

The set up: PJ’s first play is being produced at the Royal Heights playhouse. He’s thrilled but, following Murphy’s Law, everything that can go wrong, does. The director, who has something of a “name” in the theater world (or at least the Southeast Michigan theater world) turns out to be an unbearable diva, so unpleasant that one of the leading men quits the show a mere two weeks before opening night. The other great thing about cozies: if one of the characters is completely awful, you can bet they are going to be murdered, and that is indeed what happens to the ill-fated director.

The domestic partners jump into sleuthing mode, interviewing everyone they can think of and coming up with many dead ends while also uncovering a few facts that begin to form a clear picture of how the director met his end. The domestic partners themselves are also looking for a new house to renovate for their TV show while play rehearsals are going on, as well as adopting a new dog and trying to integrate him into their already one dog household. They are nice men who truly seem to care for one another, and I feel like PJ’s mom, who has already bought a dress: plan your wedding, guys!

This was a really fun, fast paced read. I loved the characters, I loved the theater setting as well as the home reno tips, and the dogs are adorable. As a southeast Michigan girl, I loved the nicely detailed Detroit area setting. This is a terrific new series.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Review: Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

In Rehearsed to Death, the second installment of the exciting new “Domestic Partners” series by Frank Anthony Polito, readers are introduced to a delightful blend of mystery and cozy charm. Set in suburban Detroit, this queer cozy mystery follows a gay couple who find themselves entangled in a murder investigation while renovating houses for their hit reality show, Domestic Partners. As they venture into the world of community theater, their lives take an unexpected turn as deadly secrets unravel on and off the stage.

The story revolves around Peter, a playwright whose debut play is premiering at Pleasant Woods’ community theater. His partner, the handsome JP, takes on the lead role, and with the addition of New York City’s renowned director, Xander Sherwood Deva, the excitement is palpable. However, Xander’s controlling and egomaniacal nature quickly turns rehearsals into a tense environment. When he is found strangled to death with his own luxurious scarf, Peter and JP become amateur sleuths determined to solve the crime before opening night.

One of the standout features of this book is its unique setting. The author vividly captures the essence of Detroit, providing readers with a refreshing backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The local theater setting adds an extra layer of intrigue and charm, making it an engaging read for theater enthusiasts. Additionally, the character of Fairway Bob brings delightful quirkiness to the story, adding depth and humor to the narrative.

While Rehearsed to Death presents an intriguing premise and captivating setting, there were aspects that hindered my overall enjoyment of the book. Firstly, the writing style did not resonate with me. I found it somewhat lacking in terms of pacing and flow, which made the reading experience feel slow at times. However, this is subjective, and others may find the writing style more appealing.

Despite my reservations about the writing style, I appreciate the author’s attempt to venture beyond the traditional cozy mystery formula. By introducing representation within the genre, Polito offers a fresh perspective that is both inclusive and diverse. This book serves as a welcome addition to the mystery genre.

In conclusion, Rehearsed to Death by Frank Anthony Polito is a mixed bag but still worth exploring for fans of cozy mysteries looking for something different. The colorful and eye-catching cover immediately draws attention to this unique cozy series. While the writing style may not work for everyone, the Detroit setting and theatrical backdrop add an intriguing twist to the story. With its fair share of strengths and weaknesses, this book opens up new possibilities for future queer cozy mysteries and offers readers a chance to delve into an unexplored niche within the genre.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to get back to this fun cozy mystery series for a while, and I’m glad I finally did! The marketing blurb called this book “ Hart to Hart via HGTV,” and of course, it made me think about how I used to love that show! (You youngsters reading this review, the 80s were fun years of TV.)

Peter (PJ) and JP return, but their home renovation show, Domestic Partners , is on hiatus. Instead, they’re focused on the theater. Peter’s first play, Blue Tuesday , is going to be produced, and JP will be the star.

There are hopes that the play might even make it to Broadway, so a big-deal director is brought in to up the ante. And Xander Sherwood Deva is the biggest of big deals—especially in his own mind. It’s not long before this overly affected, egotistical, spiteful, scarf-wearing tyrant drives everyone to anger. Given all of the enemies he’s made in his career, it’s not entirely surprising when he’s found dead, but who sent Xander for his final curtain call?

JP and Peter are determined that Blue Tuesday will go on as planned, regardless of Xander’s murder. But before the curtain can rise, they’ll need to slip into their detective roles and figure out who killed their director.

Will they unmask the killer before it’s too late? Will the show go on? Will anyone else wind up in danger? And will the play be a success? So much is riding on the couple, including the realization of their own dreams.

I think this series really is a delight. The characters make me laugh and the whole plot had a fun, farcical tone to it. I loved seeing them solving crimes together. I’ll definitely pick up the third book in the series a bit quicker!

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/getbookedwithlarry/.

[L.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

PJ and JP are back! With their Domestic Partners reality show on hiatus, the men are focusing on the production of PJ's play, Blue Tuesday, at a local theater. With hopes of taking the show to Broadway, the theater has brought in an outsider to direct. Xander Sherwood Deva turns out to be more of a liability than an asset and when they walk into the theater late one night to find him dead they don't believe the police when they say it was an accident.

I loved the first book in this series. I love the characters, I love the setting, but I didn't feel that this book was as polished as the first. While the story was great and seeing the behind-the-scenes drama of a local play production was interesting, it didn't quite hit me the same way as the first did. There were a few shifts in focus that just didn't quite work with the first person perspective. I also found the ending a bit confusing because it's told in the fashion of the movie Clue (which is fun, but hard to follow). While I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, I definitely enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the series.

Overall, I will say this: based on a lot of the reviews that I've read for this book and for the first book in this series, I think people picked it up thinking it's a LGBTQ+ book. It is, but it's not. More accurately it's a cozy mystery with LGBTQ+ characters. If you don't like cozy mysteries, you won't like this book. If you're looking for some deep, moving fiction novel, you won't find it here because that's not what cozy mysteries are all about. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this book. If you're not a fan of cozy mysteries, don't read this (and certainly don't read it and then leave it a scathing review because you expected it to be something it's not, that wouldn't be fair).

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the years my reading choices have often been books that surprise me, that teach me something new. I picked up "Rehearsed to Death", because it was about theatre, an HGTV hit reality show, and Detroit. It was a fun quozy mystery mixed with romance, rescued dogs, and Mini Coopers.

FIRST LINE: "As cohost of a popular home renovation show, I had a few principles to which I prescribed:
If you're going to do something, do it right.
Don't pay someone to do a project you can do yourself.
Every project ultimately takes longer than you estimate it will."

THE STORY: Partners JP and Peter created 'Domestic Partners' (think 'Bargain Block'). During a break between seasons, playwright Peter has an opportunity to see his play produced locally with JP starring and directed by a first rate (and terribly unpleasant) director, Xander Sherwood Deva. Shortly before the show is to open, Deva is found strangled by his own elaborate neck scarf. Was it an accident or murder?

WHAT I THOUGHT: Frank Anthony Pollito has created a series that will be a favorite of many readers. Peter is the narrator and scattered throughout are mentions of special things (from Michigan and beyond) like Sanders Bumpy Cake, Creamora, and Carnegie Mellon University. It made the book lots of fun even though the plot construction was uneven. Some characters are more fully developed than others but the description of clothing especially on the well-dressed is great.

BOTTOM LINE: This is the second title in the Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery and has gathered a lot of interest from cozy/quozy readers. The author reads the audiobook version which has gotten some nice comments too.

DISCLAIMER: A copy of was provided to me by Kensington Books/Net Galley for an honest review.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was provided an ARC by the author and publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved Rehearsed to Death, the second entry in Frank Anthony Polito’s Domestic Partners in Crime cozy mystery series. The characters were vivid and felt like dealt people I know in my life, and I’m sure most folks know people like these characters in their lives too. The scenery is well-described so that you feel like you’re there with the characters. If you’re from Michigan or are familiar with it in any way, this book will be even more fun for you.

The mystery at the heart of the story focuses on the death of the outrageous, honestly very-much-full-of-himself director of PJ’s play that is being produced at the local professional playhouse. This director mires in his own self-supposed important and brilliance and manages to absolutely rub every single character the wrong way. Mr. Deva (pronounced Day-Va, not Diva, though he is very much the latter) also has they annoyingly long scary that he just LOVES to flip around like he’s some kind of 1940s screen star with a boa. With so many enemies, it is easy to see how any single person connected with the play could be the murderer when Mr. Deva is found dead in the theatre… it’s now up to Domestic Partners in Crime PJ and JP to solve this mystery and keep the play on track!

I really enjoyed this whodunnit, and I do feel slightly guilty in that I was cheering on this man’s perishing as much as many of the characters seemed to be. I semi-solved the mystery right before the end, though I didn’t get ALL of the details/steps.

I definitely recommend this book, and I eagerly await the next entry!

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This story revolves around a play the narrating MC wrote. He explains the play and it’s horrendous. A terrible and unlikely tragedy. I liked the previous setting of home renovation better. It was far more interesting that they had their own show. This are the same MCs and a couple of extra characters but very little else in common.

The crime didn’t occur until more than a quarter in but that was better than the last book. The motives weren’t that great but when one MC is jokingly accused of something, the other actually thought about it. Speaking from his own perspective when he wasn’t there, the narrating MC was really chipper describing how his fiancé would have pretended to be attracted to the man and if not for the first MC, he might be interested. I don’t like how it sounded, that the MC was trying to convince himself of something. It made me suspicious of everything the rest of the way through.

The director who they couldn’t stand was overweight and the narrator didn’t miss any opportunity to comment on his size. The author loved to describe people, but mostly their clothes but the fat man was constantly described by fat parts of his body.

The crime was mostly solved an hour out of eight before the end. At least there was no villain info dump. The explanation was as dictated to the detective.

[One line I just have to question: “He joked seriously.” Huh?]

The dog subplot was the most interesting part. I wanted more of that no matter how irrelevant.

The author read the audiobook and did a very good job, especially considering it’s not his profession. It was much better than the last time with the alternative voices not so screechy.

[Victoria Hamel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is the first paragraph of the description of Rehearsed To Death:

"Hart to Hart via HGTV, this fabulous new quozy (queer cozy) mystery series by award-winning author and playwright Frank Anthony Polito’s features a gay couple who solve crimes while renovating houses in suburban Detroit as part of their hit reality show Domestic Partners. Now, their foray into community theater proves a major risk thanks to some deadly improvisation . . ."

When I was a wee lass, I LOVED Hart to Hart, the best detectives on TV! So it's no wonder I enjoy this new series by Mr. Polito. This is the second book in his series, and it's rare in two ways. 1. Instead of one amateur slueth we have an engaged couple--fun! I like having a couple instead of someone all on their own. 2. The couple in question is gay, there aren't very many cozy mysteries that have gay characters.

In this book, the action and drama takes place on and off the stage as PJ's play Blue Tuesday is being produced and JP is the male lead. I really enjoyed that in book one the focus was on their HDTV show and now in this book we have a focus on the play and the theater, a change of venue, really fun.

The story is told from PJ's point of view, almost as if we are reading his diary and I like this style. If you read this book, keep in mind that this is going to be filled with humor alongside the more serious themes of murder and whatnot!

4 Stars for Rehearsed To Death

Thank you Net Galley for the electronic ARC, all opinions are my own!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter is a playwright and his play is being produced at the local community theater. The timing is good because the home renovation tv series he and his partner star in is on break and JP has the lead in the play. Needless to say they are eager for the show to go on. Things turn sour when the obnoxious, oh so full of himself director shows up. He is mean, nasty...just about everything he does and says rubs the cast the wrong way. Even his name is imposing - Xander Sherwood Deva which he pronounces Day-vah but everyone thinks "DIVA" and that cashmere scarf he wears, flinging it around for emphasis. If I saw on stage with him I'd be itching to grab it and wring his neck with it. It then comes as no surprise when he is found dead and the cast immediately thinks murder. The list of suspects is as long as the list of the cast and crew but so is the list of possible motives. Time for Peter and JP to, once again, track down the killer.
This series is one in the new cozy sub genres known as quozy (queer cozy). If you are not a fan of cozies or of LGBTQIA themes and characters then this series should be a miss for you. For myself, I enjoy cozies and I'm glad to see it evolving. The mystery was complex enough to keep me engaged and the partners in crime Peter and JP are a pair I really like. They have earned their spot on my TBR list.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reality TV co-stars and life partners Peter and JP are ready for another advenutre (murder mystery) whil they are working together to bring Peter's play to the stage at a local theater. The play, which is about a gay couple and how their lives changed on 9/11, is believed to be good enought that it will make it Broadway, particularly with famed directer Xander Sherwood Deva at the help. Sadly, Deva (pronounced day-va) is quite the dive, and no one likes him, which means no one is really surprised when he is found dead in the theater before the play's opening night.

Peter and JP promise Xander's boyfriend to get to the crux of what happeed to Xander since the police believes Xander died an accidental death of strangulation by scarf meeting fan. They are going to work on the case while still trying to keep the play's rehearsal going and while looking for a third home to renovate for the third season of the home



Xander is found strangled to death in the same extra-long, imported cashmere scarf he’s been brandishing like a boa ever since he arrived. In the name of making art he’s burned a lot of bridges and made a lot of enemies but which one wanted to bring down the curtain on him?

As they say in the the show must go on. But not before amateur sleuths Peter and JP become Domestic Partners in Crime and try to solve this deadly real-life drama ahead of opening night.

[Kathryn Fucella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love cozy mysteries and I know they're supposed to be trite and a little bit silly. However, this book was beyond my ability to suspend belief. The narrator is a successful YA author, an HGTV reality TV star, and a playwright with his first play set to for a world premier, while continuously telling you how lazy he is.

There are maybe two straight characters in the whole book while being set in the suburbs of Detroit? Granted, I'm not from Michigan but I wasn't aware there was such a proliferation of successful older gay couples taking over the Detroit 'burbs. Every male character, other than the narrator and his partner, was the extreme epitome of a "bitchy queen" and they're all really mean to each other.

Then, on top of all that, the way the "murder" happened was beyond unbelievable. Strangling takes several minutes, you can't yank someone's scarf and accidentally strangle them to death. It was all bonkers.

They unnecessarily shoveled the word "queer" into everything (e.g. queer-oke, instead just called it karaoke, which is already pretty damn gay). Even as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was put off by how much they had to overemphasize the "gay-ness" of everything.

Even if you are gay and love cozy mystery books, this is one to skip. It's just not good.

[Cuppa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rehearsed to Death is the second entry in the Domestic Partners cozy mystery series. This series also fits under the newly formed "quozy" subgenre, which is, as far as I understand it, a cozy mystery that features main characters on the LGBTQIA spectrum. The main characters, a romantic couple, are JP and Pete. JP is an actor and Pete is a writer. Together they star on a reality TV show on home renovation. As queer characters are finally being allowed into the mainstream, some of us are meeting characters with life experiences outside our own. If you would like a little more diversity in your reading but don't want anything too far out of your comfort zone, I would say the Domestic Partner Mysteries and other quozies are a good place to start. Cozy mysteries are known for their gentler depiction of the world. And this is true for Rehearsed to Death. The characters are great, the mystery is solid and there is very minimal description of violence or sexual situations. Pete and JP are a very solid couple together and apart they are both characters you feel like you'd want to know in real life. The reader can't help but root for them and look forward to their next adventures.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Rehearsed to Death" by Frank Anthony Polito is book two to the "A Domestic Partners in Crime Mystery" series. The series is progressing and at least reiterating background info in a way that is helpful rather than overkill. A couple continuity issues that are minor or could be due to a poorly established time line. The characters ages and why the dog was able to be adopted after all, that one I feel had continuity issues within the book it happened.

The mystery happened much earlier in this book and was a bit more difficult to figure out. Thank you. There was less character detail build up, partly due to the book being a second one I think. I appreciated that too. I prefer to grow through the series getting to know a character rather than it thrown at me in the first half of a book then the story happens.

A great add to the growing lgbtq+ cozy mystery genre. I appreciate the lack of intimate scenes. True
cozy mysteries keep it tame on the romance and I find a lot of books trying to claim cozy status that are also claim lgbtq+ try to be a bit more saucy. Thank you for keeping it tame for those who aren't here for the steamy scenes.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read the first book in this series but didn't think I needed to. Overall, a fun story although there was a little too bit much at the end and sometimes the language was a bit stilted. I did enjoy PJ as the narrator and really thought he seemed like a nice guy (and a real person) -- except that he was a little TSTL (the S in this case being stupid.) I get fairly annoyed when amateur detectives not only don't call the police, they actively hide evidence.
I wish we had gotten to know some of the suspects a bit more but, while we really got to know some of them, others were just sketches. It made it hard to be invested in finding the murderer.
PJ's play is going to be performed at the local theater but, rather than having the usual director, Violet the mayor's wife, there is a Big Name, Xander Sherwood Deva who comes in. And, for being in town such a short time, he manages to piss off a large number of people. So it's not a big surprise that he ends up dead, strangled with the fancy scarf he was so proud of throwing around.
JP and PJ aren't just a playwright and actor, they also star on a home renovation show. Oh, and they're going to tackle this murder.

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book because I (a) adore reality TV and (b) love theatre - and this book certainly does not disappoint on either! And bonus, (c) cozy mystery comfort read!

But what I really loved is the author's voice! Main character Pete (PJ) is such a vivid, vibrant character! This story made me want to chase down book one, just to read more in Polito's signature tone!

Did I mention Pete's also a writer? Such a delicious character!

"The catty queer in me went to a dark place... Dangled like a carrot over a hungry rabbit in a cage, it killed me, the hold Xander Sherwood Deva held with regards to my artistic future. To many, I appeared mild mannered and easygoing. But as a Scorpio born on the cusp of Sagittarius (with a Leo rising and an Aries moon), if someone double-crossed me, my sting could be lethal."

Is there a mystery as the main plot device? Yes. Does the main character solve said mystery? Also yes. But would I read this book without it? Obviously, yes.

[Tam Sesto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dog lovers will love this cozy mystery.

Characters with flamboyancy. I kept getting confused, as the lead couple went by PJ and the other JP. I had to keep going back in the story and reminding myself which was PJ and which was JP. I liked the mayor’s wife, she was a feisty thing.

The plot was typical and moved very slow. The author did add a twist to the murder solution. I love that there was a lot of story about the dogs, Clyde and Jack, which I actually found to be the most entertaining in the story. I did enjoy the home renovation tips the author included.

I felt like the author was bogged down at times writing the story. I felt like I was reading a play, and then the author indicated at the end of the book, that the story was based on a play he wrote years ago. That made sense.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter and JP are becoming a favorite couple of amateur sleuth as I love their humour and their personality.
They remind me some friend of mine and I like how this novels describe how a gay couple life is exactly like any other couple and how the LGBTQ+ community is just people regardless of the gender or sexual orientation.
This means that this a good story and there’s a solid mystery. I didn’t like the victim even if he made me think of Oscar Wilde in the XXI century.
There’s a lot of twists, there’s a dog, and there’s an entertaining and compelling plot that kept me guessing.
There’s humour, a lot of witty dialogues, and a cast of fleshed out characters.
I can’t wait to read the next story.
Many thanks to Kensington Cozies for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Fremom3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+ stars

I have really enjoyed this series! I do love a good cozy mystery. Sometimes the main characters aren’t very likable, but I’m happy to say I love both of the Domestic Partners. I think I need a glossary for some terms used, though. (What’s a twink? Thank you, Urban Dictionary! I also had to look up Michigan basement, though, so don’t judge!) Anyway, I think someone needs to be contacting Hallmark. This would make for a great Movies & Mysteries show. Can’t wait for the next one…but no pressure, Mr. Polito.

*I listened to the audiobook, read by the author, and he did a great job. Very enjoyable!

[Zach · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gave this sequel a try to see if it was any better than the first in the series. Short answer: no.

Once again had to put up with the loathsome narrator PJ with his pompous sentence structure and tedious pacing.

What I can't figure out is why the two most annoying characters in the book, the playwright/narrator and the director, both manage to attract partners who should have been running in the opposite direction. Just as incongruous are a host of plot points that range from improbable to ludicrous while there is no sense the author meant any of this to be ironic.

If only the narrator could have been the far more interesting JP or Rusty or Hunter.