What do you think?
Rate this book
All he remembered was the furtive encounter, the terror of discovery, the burning cigarette. . . and the voyeur on the fire escape plummeting to his death. For twenty years, Todd Mills was safe, closeted, building his career as a two-time Emmy Award-winning TV reporter. He had it all--until his double life became front-page news. Since his lover's murder, Todd hadn't worked. It was the first pause in his professional life.
Now he's out, warily beginning a romance with police detective Steve Rawlins, when an old friend, an ex-girlfriend, calls for help. The son she gave up for adoption years before has found her--and left his baby. Now she and the baby are being stalked by a cult of zealots who will stop at nothing to reclaim the child. But as Todd steps into the firing range of The Congregation, he's forced to face the nightmare of his own buried past, as murderous secrets return to kill again. . . .
Now he's out, warily beginning a romance with police detective Steve Rawlins, when an old friend, an ex-girlfriend, calls for help. The son she gave up for adoption years before has found her--and left his baby. Now she and the baby are being stalked by a cult of zealots who will stop at nothing to reclaim the child. But as Todd steps into the firing range of The Congregation, he's forced to face the nightmare of his own buried past, as murderous secrets return to kill again. . . .
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
R.D. Zimmerman
22 books19 followersA pseudonym used by Robert Alexander
Award-winning author R.D. Zimmerman has been nominated for two Edgars, two Lambda Literary Awards, and an Anthony. He has written ten previous novels, including Tribe and Closet (1996 Lambda Literary Award winner) in the Todd Mills series, six children's books, and created six bestselling mystery jigsaw puzzles. Raised in Chicago, he now lives in Minneapolis.
Award-winning author R.D. Zimmerman has been nominated for two Edgars, two Lambda Literary Awards, and an Anthony. He has written ten previous novels, including Tribe and Closet (1996 Lambda Literary Award winner) in the Todd Mills series, six children's books, and created six bestselling mystery jigsaw puzzles. Raised in Chicago, he now lives in Minneapolis.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 28, 2013
This so-called "mystery" dragged enormously. It really bored me to tears, although I honestly had some hopes for it.
The storytelling was way too detailed and seemed to concentrate in quite an amazing fashion on the most uninteresting and unimportant bits, while, at the same time, I got an overall impression of reading an vastly superficial plot.
All this conservative and extremely annoying Bible talk certainly didn't help matters either. Yes, the Jehovah cult in this story is in the centre of the plot, which makes all that aforementioned Bible talk a necessity, I guess. But nevertheless, this biblical God-praising and talking about devilish sins and being possessed by demons just isn't my cup of tea. Especially not when told in that tiring way. This is supposed to be a mystery, gripping at that, and yes, there actually are guns and kidnappings and the aspect where the bad guys try to hunt down Zeb and his "little baby daughter" (I'll come to the "" shortly). And there are juicy secrets. (Or juicy they try to be.) All the stuff of a good thrillig mystery, one would think. Think again. Unfortunately, it managed to be anything but gripping, which really is an acomplishment all on its own.
Furthermore, I honestly didn't like all this POV switching. There aren't just one or two MCs here, instead ALL the characters seem to be a main character on their own. Well, except Jeff, maybe. I just couldn't get into the story, couldn't feel or bond with the "MCs". In fact, I really didn't care for any of them at all. Which is even more disappointing considering the fact that this is the 2nd book of a series, which is to say I already knew and liked the characters from the first book.
On another note, what's with all these "baby girl", "baby doll", "little girl", "baby daughter", "little Ribka"'s?? Why the hell not call her just "Ribka" or "his daughter" or "his baby"?? All those awful terms of endearment really bugged the hell out of me...
I really couldn't decide whether to give this book 1 or 2 stars. I've read worse books, of course. So it's not a total disaster or anything. It was, though, disappointingly boring and I honestly didn't like it. So, 1 star.
The storytelling was way too detailed and seemed to concentrate in quite an amazing fashion on the most uninteresting and unimportant bits, while, at the same time, I got an overall impression of reading an vastly superficial plot.
All this conservative and extremely annoying Bible talk certainly didn't help matters either. Yes, the Jehovah cult in this story is in the centre of the plot, which makes all that aforementioned Bible talk a necessity, I guess. But nevertheless, this biblical God-praising and talking about devilish sins and being possessed by demons just isn't my cup of tea. Especially not when told in that tiring way. This is supposed to be a mystery, gripping at that, and yes, there actually are guns and kidnappings and the aspect where the bad guys try to hunt down Zeb and his "little baby daughter" (I'll come to the "" shortly). And there are juicy secrets. (Or juicy they try to be.) All the stuff of a good thrillig mystery, one would think. Think again. Unfortunately, it managed to be anything but gripping, which really is an acomplishment all on its own.
Furthermore, I honestly didn't like all this POV switching. There aren't just one or two MCs here, instead ALL the characters seem to be a main character on their own. Well, except Jeff, maybe. I just couldn't get into the story, couldn't feel or bond with the "MCs". In fact, I really didn't care for any of them at all. Which is even more disappointing considering the fact that this is the 2nd book of a series, which is to say I already knew and liked the characters from the first book.
On another note, what's with all these "baby girl", "baby doll", "little girl", "baby daughter", "little Ribka"'s?? Why the hell not call her just "Ribka" or "his daughter" or "his baby"?? All those awful terms of endearment really bugged the hell out of me...
I really couldn't decide whether to give this book 1 or 2 stars. I've read worse books, of course. So it's not a total disaster or anything. It was, though, disappointingly boring and I honestly didn't like it. So, 1 star.
December 18, 2014
I had real problems with this second in the series.
Jeff: I love Jeff but please considering his actions in the first book, should not someoneeeeeee had explained why he was not in jail and if he was on probabion. He could not have still had his job. Just some info please.
Janice: Strong woman in the first book, but what a let down in this one. Her decisions upon the eve of her college semester in Europe where ridiculous even considering her age at the time. Her time with the . I can not believe she would have made the decision she did before returning to school. Her stupidity throughout this book irritated me to no end.
Rawlings: Not enough of him and Todd together.
I will go back to this series again and visit with these two guys again, but need a break from the 1990's right now.
Jeff: I love Jeff but please considering his actions in the first book, should not someoneeeeeee had explained why he was not in jail and if he was on probabion. He could not have still had his job. Just some info please.
Janice: Strong woman in the first book, but what a let down in this one. Her decisions upon the eve of her college semester in Europe where ridiculous even considering her age at the time. Her time with the . I can not believe she would have made the decision she did before returning to school. Her stupidity throughout this book irritated me to no end.
Rawlings: Not enough of him and Todd together.
I will go back to this series again and visit with these two guys again, but need a break from the 1990's right now.
October 10, 2011
This is just too soap opera-ish, with ex-lovers, secret/adopted son, kidnapped granddaughter, and whole thing with Jehovah Witness and Congregation. I am never such a fan of any LGBT story with religious theme. So this one, who's focusing on the bad guy being "evil" because of the Jehovah scriptures, that just doesn't sit well with me. It makes me feel uncomfortable and I think downplay the evilness of the guy (not because he's evil but because he's based on everything he's done due to his religion).
Oh, and by the way, it is said at first that Janice is type B, and then suddenly in the end, her blood type is A? How's that?!?
Oh, and by the way, it is said at first that Janice is type B, and then suddenly in the end, her blood type is A? How's that?!?
July 15, 2017
Another 3.5* read, again enjoyable with lots of twists and turns.
This one is all about fathers and children - Zeb and Ribka in particular, and Zeb's hope to escape the clutches of a cult he was brought up in. We also see Zeb's wife Suzanne's relationship with her father, the cult leader and the effects of parenthood on Todd and his family of friends.
With lots of snow about in a Minneapolis winter, it is not so much speedy car chases as slip and slide.
I did feel the menace of Rick and Paul, always just half a step away from success.
Jeff adds a bit of humour, wanted more.
Rawlins and Todd are more partners in crime solving here, though working together well and not getting caught up on the history of all the intertwining of lives.
Enjoyed generally, perhaps some questions still left but got the next book to see what happens!
This one is all about fathers and children - Zeb and Ribka in particular, and Zeb's hope to escape the clutches of a cult he was brought up in. We also see Zeb's wife Suzanne's relationship with her father, the cult leader and the effects of parenthood on Todd and his family of friends.
With lots of snow about in a Minneapolis winter, it is not so much speedy car chases as slip and slide.
I did feel the menace of Rick and Paul, always just half a step away from success.
Jeff adds a bit of humour, wanted more.
Rawlins and Todd are more partners in crime solving here, though working together well and not getting caught up on the history of all the intertwining of lives.
Enjoyed generally, perhaps some questions still left but got the next book to see what happens!
April 12, 2019
Quick read. I haven't read the other in series. But i feel like some characters i didn't really get to know. Is it still a mystery if you kinda know halfway thru what's up? Still kept me interested enough to finish it.
March 26, 2018
Another fast, suspenseful read.
July 3, 2018
Just a big misfire.
May 21, 2012
I guess it wasn't the best one of he series, though I have only read the first two so far.
But still I liked it.
I agree that it was too soap-opera-ish. It was just too much for one book; and then on the other hand there were passages that were telling the same thing over and over for pages. I think it wouldn't have been a bad idea to split it in two shorter books. I guess that would have made it a more pleasant read because it was hard to follow the plot.
But as I said I still liked it and I really start to love the characters! I definitely found another series AND another great author with these books :)
But still I liked it.
I agree that it was too soap-opera-ish. It was just too much for one book; and then on the other hand there were passages that were telling the same thing over and over for pages. I think it wouldn't have been a bad idea to split it in two shorter books. I guess that would have made it a more pleasant read because it was hard to follow the plot.
But as I said I still liked it and I really start to love the characters! I definitely found another series AND another great author with these books :)
February 21, 2016
Wow! This book is filled with convoluted relationships, unexpected baby (and grand baby), a cult, and all sorts of inter-connections with the past.
OK now that I've let the story settle a bit. I did skim the cult crazies parts a bit.
Also the ending needed to be 3 more hours of story time. There was a vital conversation that was about to happen which ... DIDN'T HAPPEN! I hope some of the resolution comes out in the next book, which I've already started. Obviously it didn't slow me down at all.
OK now that I've let the story settle a bit. I did skim the cult crazies parts a bit.
Also the ending needed to be 3 more hours of story time. There was a vital conversation that was about to happen which ... DIDN'T HAPPEN! I hope some of the resolution comes out in the next book, which I've already started. Obviously it didn't slow me down at all.
August 8, 2012
#2 of Todd Mills series. Interesting flashbacks of gay journalist Todd Mils in his college days, attempting to deny his feelings and convince himself he is straight.
Todd Mills is taken by surprise when college sexual encounters reemerge to disrupt both his life and that of his best friend, lesbian attorney Janice Gray. Janice, it turns out, had a son either by Todd or by another classmate, who also had an affair with Todd. Now that son, Zeb, appears, desperate to protect his own baby daughter from the religious cult of his adoptive father.
Todd Mills is taken by surprise when college sexual encounters reemerge to disrupt both his life and that of his best friend, lesbian attorney Janice Gray. Janice, it turns out, had a son either by Todd or by another classmate, who also had an affair with Todd. Now that son, Zeb, appears, desperate to protect his own baby daughter from the religious cult of his adoptive father.
December 1, 2011
Pretty good gay mystery in which an old friend of Todd's reveals secrets kept since their college days as some creepy fundamentalists with nefarious intent close in. I didn't like this as much as I liked the first book - way too much time spent with the creepy fundamentalists.
January 23, 2016
Great couldn't put book down
Loved it kept me guessing all through who was the father and best was what happened on the fire escape I saw possibilities and . One was right but I never knew until end for sure.
Loved it kept me guessing all through who was the father and best was what happened on the fire escape I saw possibilities and . One was right but I never knew until end for sure.
January 18, 2010
This was the worst of the Todd Mills stories, but still a pretty good read.
It was kind of soap opera-ish with long lost children and ex-lovers.
It was kind of soap opera-ish with long lost children and ex-lovers.
September 26, 2010
The entire series is a great. I wish there were more!
September 12, 2012
This is the second in the Todd Mills series and really not the best ....
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews