Reviewers' Comments:
Dorien Grey has been proving his talent for some years now, faithfully narrating
the chronicles of his protagonist, Dick Hardesty, as he battles a variety
of villains ranging from homophobic policemen through to gay civilians. Dick,
a hero likely to appeal to gay and straight readers alike, has grimly fought
his way through a professional life that began with him working as a Public
Relations Officer but quickly changed to a career as a Private Investigator.
Readers who have followed the entire series would first have made his
acquaintance in his relationship with Chris, but that evanesced.
Dick then rattled around in his 'slut phase' but most
fans would be happy that the investigator is once more in a happy relationship,
now with Jonathan Quinlan, the lad who, on his introduction to the anonymous
mid-west town, thought to make a precarious living as a hustler.
Despite his years and sexual orientation Jonathan has
expressed a wish to become a parent. Dick, contrary to his usual habit of
indulging Jonathan's whims, inwardly shudders at this notion. He is happy
when Carlene moves into the apartment above theirs with her young son Kelly
who attends a day care centre run by the Bronson sisters. Dick feels that
Jonathan, who eagerly becomes the friend of Carlene and Kelly, will see that
parenthood is not all joy.
Jonathan's brother Samuel (who seduced his younger brother
when Jonathan was a pre-teen) and Samuel's wife Sheryl want to go on holidays,
but they wish to do so without their four year-old son Joshua. Despite internal
reservations, Dick accedes to Jonathan's enthusiastic pleas that they should
care for the boy while his parents are away. After all, it will only be for
a short period.
Joshua and Kelly become firm friends and Joshua is placed
in the same day-care centre as his friend. Then disaster strikes. Carlene
is killed by a hit and run driver.
Prior to her death, Carlene had confided part of her
life story to Dick, together with the fact that she had been receiving threats
and felt she was being watched, possibly on behalf of a vengeful ex-partner.
Dick, therefore, thinks there is something beyond a mere hit and run involved
in her death and sets out to investigate.
Grey plots his mystery with his usual deft hand and in
his customary idiosyncratic style. I have to admit that, contrary to my
experience with some of this author's earlier books, I did not spot the villain
before Dick's realisation of that identity. To my mind, the portrayal of
the child characters in the novel outshines even the excellent plot. The
writing, beautifully sensitive, displays an intimate knowledge of a young
child's behaviour and excellent strategies to deal with children's stubbornness
without provoking tantrums.
Whether readers are new to the series or dedicated followers
of Dick Hardesty, there is no doubt they will enjoy this veritable lollypop
of a book.
--- Denise Pickles, Australia
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