Ice In His Veins

Nicky D'Amico Mystery #2

by Chuck Zito

After a disastrous stint as stage manager at a Catholic college, Nicky D'Amico moves back to New York to get his life in order. The good Company's all-male production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is a little unorthodox, but he's thrilled about working with some of his old college friends.

This midwinter production of Dream soon becomes a nightmare when one of the actors is found dead behind the theater. It's clear that the murderer is someone with the production–one of them!

The show must go on, but with someone hiding liquor bottles all over the set, more than one diva with an untrustworthy entourage, and two cute guys vying for his affections, Nicky has his hands full. Everyone is a suspect, and Nicky must figure out who the killer is–before it's curtains for another cast member.

Genres: Fiction, Theatre, Gay

Paperback

First published June 8, 2007

About the author

Chuck Zito is a theater director and author of the Nicky D'Amico mysteries.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story kept me guessing until the very end. This is the first book...of course it’s #2...that I have read by this author. I do plan to find book #1 and hope that it is just as good. I really liked the characters, especially Nicky. The reader is made to feel connected and a part of everything that is happening. Nicky is quite a character, and I was really glad that Mr. Zito allowed us to venture into his thoughts and get to know him and what drives him. If you are interested in theater, like a well written mystery that holds your interest until the reveal or are just looking for a really good read...you’ll like meeting Nicky and his friends.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book. I enjoyed the mystery--it wasn't anything too tough to figure out but there were enough twists and turns that it kept me turning the pages until the end. Zito is obviously at home in the theater and the side story of trying to put on an all male cast of Midsummer's Nights Dream is full of detail, funny and interesting. I also enjoyed all of the back stories that Nicky tells about how he met all of his close friends, who are putting on the play as the Good Company.

I see that only two Nicky D'Amico mysteries were written which is a shame. I would have kept reading the series.

I would recommend for theater buffs, those who like some humor with their stories, those who like lighter mysteries, and those who like stories with gay characters, however,this is definitely not erotica.

[Buck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zito manages to give the "cozy mystery" a good gay twist in his follow-up to A Habit for Death. Nicky D'amico the itinterant stage manager finds himself working with a group of his college friends, "the Classmates" at a rundown theater in New York.

An all male production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is in the offing and seeing his old friends from his college days brings up all sorts of complicated feelings. His college boyfriend whom was a drunk and drug abuser back then has sobered up and Nicky must deal with his reawakened attraction. Meanwhile, the perfect "nice guy" seems to have taken a shine to Nicky after all these years too.

Things get rough when an old friend is murdered just outside the stage door during the costume parade just days before the show. Nicky joins forces with his sidekicks Paolo and Roger to unravel the mystery before anyone else dies.

Dealing with surly lighting directors, a strange menage a trois his formerly straight classmate is in with two guys, drag queens with more attitude than talent, and his ex-boyfriend director whose idea of creative staging is lots of bare skin muscles - Nicky manages to keep the show going and solve the mystery at the same time.

Zito delivers great chuckles in his books. They are enjoyable reads and this one is no different. The bizarre but somehow completely imaginable characters draw the reader into the story. The dialogue is witty and sharp and always reads nearly like a script.

This is excellent light reading and perfectly suited for an afternoon lazing about with a cup of tea.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zito's previous book showed some promise, but was too cluttered and confusing overall. Decided to give the series a second chance, but gave up on this book partway through - most of the characters had been friends since college; as a reader, I felt like an intruder.

[Jeff Fightmaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every theatre person should read this book especially stage managers since the crime solver is an aspiring stage manager.