The Hired Man

GAY MYSTERY NOVELS

# 4 OF THE DICK HARDESTY SERIES

THE HIRED MAN

By Dorien Grey

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Reviewers' Comments:

THE HIRED MAN, the fourth book in the Dick Hardesty series, finds Dick now working as a private investigator. Stuart Anderson asks Dick to investigate people, one of whom he is thinking of placing in a managerial position in his chain of gourmet kitchen supply shops.
He and Dick meet for dinner at Napoleon's, a very discreet, high-class restaurant that caters to gays. Anderson had told Hardesty that a mutual friend introduced them. Imagine Dick's surprise when the mutual friend turns out to be Phil Stark, mutated from rough trade to elegant male model.
Dick takes the job and makes an appointment to meet Anderson first thing Monday morning. But when Dick gets to Anderson's hotel, he finds that Anderson has been murdered. On meeting with Phil, Dick gets the lowdown on the transformation. Phil has been taken on by ModelMen, a modeling and escort agency run by a husband and wife team, Arnold and Iris Glick. Anderson was a bisexual, who played when he was away from his wife and children. The Glicks hire Hardesty to protect their interests.
Before too long, one of the ModelMen escorts is killed and then a prostitute is murdered in a similar manner. Suspicion falls on the owners and remaining escorts at ModelMen but Dick perseveres to find the true murderer.
The book is about relationships. Dick plays matchmaker, fixing up friends of his with each other. There is also the relationship between Arnold and Iris, and Iris and her brother, and Dick and any one of several men he goes to bed with. Hardesty has many friends and acquaintances, and he seems to go to bed with almost all of them. I worry about him. He needs a steady boyfriend. But all the characters are well delineated, and the ending comes as a big surprise. I look forward to reading more of Dick Hardesty's adventures.
—Barbara Franchi, www.reviewingtheevidence.com, August 2004

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I have long been a mystery fan. I cut my teeth on Agatha Christies and Dorothy L. Sayers. I love long winding corridors leading to a body in the library, like nothing better than following amateur sleuths across university grounds, listening to old ladies question suspects and check alibis while placidly knitting booties for their grandchildren, or holding on to my hat in the back seat of a speeding car driven by an American gumshoe in pursuit of a villian. Death by poison or rapier, a suspicious fall from a balcony, the anonymous letter, all these set my heart racing with excitement. So, when I opened "The Hired Man" by Dorien Grey, it was with a keen sense of anticipation.
The requirements of a good mystery story are basic: engaging characters, an intriguing plot line with a few twists and turns to keep the reader just slightly off balance but with enough facts to at least give the illusion that he can solve the crime before the fictional detective, and writing skill so that the journey from dead body to mystery solved will hold the reader's interest.
THE HIRED MAN ably satisfies on all counts.
Dick Hardesty (yep, that's his name) is hired to look into the death of a bisexual businessman, and in the course of his investigation becomes well acquainted with the world of male hustlers and escorts. In a world where secrecy is a must and discretion a way of life, nothing is more disturbing than a dead client. Dick must navigate through the murky waters of money, power, and sex, all the while ignoring the siren call of the gorgeous, erotically-talented men on all sides, one of whom may well be an equally-skilled killer.
And Hardesty is not very good at resisting temptation. In fact one of the weaknesses of the story is the idea that every man he meets wants to go to bed with him. No one is that good-looking or lucky, especially since the sexy sleuth seems to eat nothing but starch, coffee, and greasy fried foods and never goes to the gym. Lots of reasons to hate him.
And yet, we like Hardesty. We get won over by his dry wit and self-deprecating humor. More importantly we get caught up in the lives of the characters. Grey's greatest skill is in making us care about people who inhabit these pages and make them seem alive and real. Even Phil, the prime suspect and the gay version of the hooker with a heart of gold, begins to feel like someone we really know and like. I read the book in big chunks, hoping my favorites would be exonerated, intrigued by the naughty ones and rooting for Dick to save the day.
I even forgave him for getting to the solution before I did.
--- Ralph Higgins, Wayves

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Grey's protagonist Dick Hardesty finds himself up to his keister in trouble while investigating the death of a bisexual business man. In the process of investigating the murder, Hardesty discovers the sometimes-shadowy world of the male escort business. THE HIRED MAN stands as a testament to what good mystery writing should be about: engaging characters, a well-crafted storyline and sheer unadulterated TALENT.

— J. A. Hartman, www.knowbetter.com

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THE HIRED MAN by Dorien Grey will appeal to a vast audience. Lovers of murder mysteries will find the complex twists and turns fascinating. Readers open to questions of sexuality and the prejudice that follows will likewise delight in Grey's novel. Indeed, it breaks new ground by being the first mystery novel to make bisexuality an issue in solving a crime. An entirely satisfying read, THE HIRED MAN comes very highly recommended.

— Cindy Penn, www.wordweaving.com

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From an Amazon reader/reviewer:
Not really a mystery, just a great story with wonderful characters and real life drama. I read it straight through after setting aside the vast and soporific Cinatis by Donaghe. The quality of the writing and story reminds me of the early Patrica Nell Warren and Ronald Donaghe novels.

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*READ THIS BOOK*
*RATING:* Four Stars

When a bisexual male client ends up dead after hiring Dick for a routine
assignment, Dick finds himself entering the unfamiliar world of the male
escort and the wealthy men who utilize their services.
The fourth and longest of the Dick Hardesty Mysteries so far sees our hero
once again embroiled in the more unpleasant aspects of the gay community.
The subject of bisexuality (and Dick's lack of understanding of it) all
helps to create the most complex of the mysteries thus far.
As always, Grey gives us some delightful descriptions of the players. My
favourite this time was when he first went to visit his client "jet black
hair almost to her waist, and eyeliner that reminded me of Cleopatra. She
wore a gold lame tank top and black leather toreador pants. Probably not the
maid, I decided."
Some old friends from previous stories reappear. I was especially pleased to
see Jared and Phil again. I can't decide which is hotter. I don't think Dick
can, either.
Alas Dick is still going through his "slut phase." This story sees him sleep
with a number of the escorts he interviews. I feel as though I should
condemn him for his lack of professionalism, but I can't. I'm old-fashioned
and am a strong proponent of monogamy, but somehow Grey makes it all right.
I think it's because deep down, Dick is looking for Mr Right. His search
leads him to encounter some very attractive and eligible candidates.

*Review by *British Bull Dog*
Andrew Hunt

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