Reviewers' Comments:
The Paper Mirror by Dorien Grey is the tenth in the gay mystery
series. This time Hardesty Investigations is asked to look into a suspicious
death at the newly opened library specializing in queer culture. With a list
of suspects that include a dishonest author with a taste for debauchery,
a prominent businessman whose family secrets may destroy his social position,
and an over-ambitious cataloguer with a flair for blackmail, Dick has to
hit the books to discover the killer before someone else gets taken out of
circulation.
--- Ralph Higgins, Wayves
------------------------
With 10 novels in five years, author Dorien Grey has practically made a cottage
industry
out of the whodunit. Sleth Dick Hardesty tackles one of his most interesting
and novel
cases yet in The Paper Mirror, a tale that leads you by the
nose to a solution so
"obvious," you have to laugh when he pulls the rug out from under your feet
and
delivers an investigative coup that would do Poirot proud. Since getting
hitched,
Hardesty has lost much of his hardnosed charm that first attracted me to
him,
but Grey backpedals a bit on the cloying cuteness in this tale, and comes
up with
one of his best titles yet.
--- Ken Furtado, ECHO Magazine
-----------------------
The Chester Burrows Foundation, which includes a valuable gay literature
collection, has moved
to a new location, purchased per the contents of the late Burrows' will,
which allocated a million dollars for the move. Dick and his lover, Jonathan,
are invited to the grand opening, which promises to be the gay event of the
year. Jonathan, who loves to read, is particularly anxious to go because
Evan Knight, a famous author, will be there.
At the party, the newly dead body of one of the cataloguers,
Taylor Cates, is discovered in the basement. At first the police think it's
just an accident, since he was found at the bottom of some stairs. But the
board is not so sure. Glen O'Banyon, a close friend of Dick's, and who sits
on the board, asks Dick to investigate the murder. Thus begins Hardesty's
most difficult case to date, which leads to more murder, a family vendetta,
blackmail, disappearing old manuscripts, and missing letters between two
gay lovers.
Jonathan, who unexpectedly arrived on the scene a couple
of books ago, is beginning to mature and is doing so nicely; he's outgrown
his wide-eyed kid phase and has turned into a stable, wise young man.
Jonathan's nephew, Jason, adopted by Jonathan and Dick in an earlier book,
is adorable as ever,
although not enough to annoy anyone who doesn't live with children--or even
those who have and are glad they no longer do. (NOTE: That would be me ;-)
I couldn't help thinking, as I began to read the first
few paragraphs, how reassuring it is to settle into a new Dick Hardesty mystery.
It's very much like sitting around listening to old friends tell a new story.
All of Grey's characterization touches are deft and low key; they're always
just enough, combined with an impeccably drawn plot which has enough twists
and turns to satisfy any mystery buff anywhere. We're treated to an unexpectedly
fascinating look into the workings of a reference library as we watch Dick
solve yet another murder mystery while still learning to cope with his new
home life situation. This book also includes a return visit with Tondelaya
O'Toole, one of my favorite Dick Hardesty characters; I was happy to see
him again and always thought Dorien should write an entire book around him
because he's so sweet and funny and wonderful. And I'd love to know where
I can find one of those nifty and unusual drink stirrers described within
the chapters of this book.
Grey's characters are real and loveable, his plotting
is terrific--it doesn't let up anywhere, and the twist very close to the
end even fooled me. This is Dorien Grey's best novel yet. Don't miss it.
--- Beth Anderson, www.bethanderson-hotclue.com
--------------------------
It is good to see another novel in Dorien Grey's Dick Hardesty series appearing
on the crime fiction shelves of bookshops throughout the world. Grey has
been steadily augmenting his audience for the mysteries featuring gay private
investigator Dick Hardesty. This tenth outing displays the development of
the author as his plotting and writing become increasingly skilled.
Dick and his young lover Jonathan are settling well into
their role of parents to Jonathan's nephew Joshua. Jonathan, who was the
more determined of the senior duo to become a parent, is chafing somewhat
at the restrictions imposed by their aping a 'straight' family but on the
whole, they comprise a happy household. Then the pair are invited to the
opening of a new Library housing an important accumulation of papers known
as the Burrows Collection. Tragedy strikes during the celebration when one
of the cataloguers of the Collection is found dead at the bottom of some
stairs. The police are inclined to pass the death off as the result of an
accidental fall but the Board of the Library determines to hire Hardesty
to investigate—just in case.
In the meantime, Jonathan, a voracious reader who is
pleasantly overwhelmed at the opportunity to meet his favourite author at
the Library opening, becomes the object of unusual interest for that writer,
Evan Knight. For a time, Dick must muffle feelings of jealousy when Jonathan
admits that he finds the writer attractive in more than literary matters.
Dick pursues his investigations which lead him to seek the help of an old
friend who grew up with the dead cataloguer.
Dorien Grey, while setting out all the clues to the mystery
quite fairly, is not above dragging a few small fish of an interesting hue
across the path of the reader. The plot is well constructed and intriguing.
His characters are, as ever, skillfully drawn. No doubt readers of Hardesty's
early adventures will welcome the return of Teddy Wilson, aka the flamboyantly
colourful drag queen, Tondalaya O'Tool. It is interesting to see how the
character of Jonathan is developing, losing some of that naivete which may
initially have astonished readers who perhaps wondered how a man who had
been through ordeals such as those suffered by Dick's lover could have retained
quite so much apparent innocence in his character. Joshua, too, is
growing up though his development is not yet so apparent as Jonathan's.
It will be interesting in future tales to observe the
further growth of both the writer of the stories and those people who inhabit
them.
---Denise Pickles, www.marymartin.com.au
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/review.html?id=5331
---------------------
The Paper Mirror opens with a ringing telephone.
Private Investigator Dick Hardesty is working on a crossword. Before long
his thoughts turn to incidents covering the previous months. Dick and his
partner have become parents to Jonathan's
orphaned four-year-old nephew. Plus Dick has just worked with the police
to solve a puzzling series of murders at the newly established Burrows library
housing both eccentric Chester Butler's extensive
collection of papers and books centering on homosexuality, as well as the
Gay Archives which have
heretofore been housed in a small storefront.
Chester Burrows, reclusive gay, wealthy and dead at 89
collected every thing written bearing the word homosexual. His companion
of later years was noted writer Evan Knight who has a grasp of the nuances
of the 20s and 30s not often found in modern authors. Knight was hired to
by Burrows to get his collection in order, catalogue and protect. Evan devoted
a good bit of his effort to the extensive 'Butler' papers. During the 20s
and 30s Jerromy Butler was a brimstone and hellfire despiser of
homosexuality.
Upon Burrows' death a million dollar bequest provides
that the Burrows Foundation be set into place. It is at the celebratory
party announcing the opening of the Burrows Library that a body is found
in the basement. How cataloguer Taylor Cates died is apparent; blunt trauma
to the back of his head. He has fallen down the stairs. Attorney Glenn O'Banyon,
Burrows Foundation Board Member arranges for Dick Hardesty to begin an
investigation. The police call the death an accident, O'Banion and others
on the board think perhaps not. Hardesty is convinced that Cates' death is
murder. But, how to prove it, and why will take all of Hardesty's skill as
a detective.
As he continues his writing; Writer Dorien Grey just
gets better. In this reviewer's opinion The Paper Mirror is
the best to date. As is found in other writings offered by writer Grey characters
are clever, often conniving, excellently masterminded and thoroughly developed.
From the disdainful Evan Knight, sneering Butler nephew Zach Clanton, and
contemptuous Butler grandson Collin, to young, sixteen year old Craig Richman,
a fellow we have met before and who is coming to grips with his own gender
identity, to Craig's patient father, Mark Richman, each is credible and engaging.
They are not all agreeable or likeable.
Characters we have come to know and enjoy from reading
previous Dorien Grey:Attorney Glen O'Banyon, police officers Mark Richman
and Marty Gresham, Bob Allen and his partner Mario, assistant Medical Examiner
Tim and his partner model Phil, Tondelaya O'toole - Teddy Wilson well known
drag queen who appears at a fundraiser at the dance bar Steamroller are all
included in the tale. Teddy knew one murder victim, Taylor Cates, they were
neighbors when Taylor was younger.
Zestful energy, appealing perplexity and potent dialog
are offered in this tale filled with profuse strife in this well written,
fast paced tale. The Paper Mirror: a Dick Hardesty Mystery
by Dorien Grey, reveals a razor sharp account with wit and eclat. I particularly
enjoyed the repartee between Hardesty and Jonathan as they settle into their
roles as new parents to an energetic youngster.
Not for everyone, while no explicit sexual scenes there is some oblique reference
to sexual activity. Those who are unable to get beyond their own bias will
not see beyond the references to the gay community. On the other hand
The Paper Mirror is an excellent choice for any who enjoy a
good mystery, excellent presentation, and fine writing.
Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend The Paper
Mirror: a Dick Hardesty Mystery by Dorien Grey for the home pleasure
reading library.
---Reviewed by: molly martin, www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
------------------------
As always, Dorien Grey offers splendid entertainment and enough plot twists
for the book to qualify as rotini. It's hard to decide which is more fun,
working with Hardesty to solve the riddle or watching him adjust to
parenthood.
— Elizabeth Burton, author of Dreams of Darkness and Shadow
of the Scorpion
-------------------------------
Paper Mirror is the tenth installment in the popular Hardesty Mystery series.
Author, Dorien Grey has crafted a fast paced mystery that continues an
established and much loved series, yet easily stands alone, welcoming new
readers.
Private investigator extraordinaire, Dick Hardesty was
settling into the role of family man after adopting Joshua, his partner's
orphaned nephew when an invitation to a highly publicized gala leads to the
most intriguing case of his career. Once a crotch-tingling playboy, Hardesty
had never been particularly fond of black tie functions, he was more of the
party persuasion. Jonathan, on the other hand, was always eager to square
his bow tie and rub elbows with the wealthy and well to do. The fact that
his favorite author, Evan Knight, would be attending this noteworthy event,
just added fuel to Jonathan's barely containable excitement.
The Burrows Library had been literally willed into existence
by the late Chester Burrows, an eccentric collector of homosexual writings.
It was said that his, was the largest private collection of books on the
subject. With such a colorful character as the library's
benefactor and namesake, it was not surprising that the opening night celebration
was slated to be the social event of the season.
At the very moment Jonathan is being introduced to famed
author, Evan Knight, the courtesies are interrupted, when Dick is informed
the body of a library cataloger had been discovered in the basement. Police
surmise Taylor Cate's death was the result of blunt force trauma caused by
an accidental fall down the stairs. However, due to
lingering doubts among board members, Dick is asked to investigate the
incident.
As the story progresses readers are treated to a collage
of friendships, romantic entanglements, and secrets among individuals with
long shared histories. The twists and unexpected diversions are all part
of this skillfully constructed mystery, which in retrospect provide several
'a-ha' moments for the reader. Dorien Grey's strong emphasis on story
development and character interaction, as opposed to stereotypical fluff,
has almost certainly opened the doors to a wider audience. A well written
novel, that showcases our similarities rather than our differences, I recommend
Paper Mirror to all who enjoy a good read.
--R.J.
---------------------------
Death in a research library sets Dick on a convoluted trail of fathers and
sons, suicide,
a closeted writer, and a tragic love.
The tenth in the Dick Hardesty mysteries presents us
with a more mature Jonathan.
Though still sweet and adorable, he isn't quite as naive as once he was.
I think parenthood
is good for him, though I can't help missing the person he used to
be.
During a party, someone makes unkind and insensitive
references to an occasion when he'd
had sex with Jonathan during the latter's hustler days. Dick leaps in and
punches the guy,
causing me to cheer.
I particularly enjoyed Dick's mixture of empathy and
frustration with the long dead Morgan Burrows,
a man who found himself trapped in the closet by both family and the times
he lived in. Dick
is reminded of how much easier life is for him and Jonathan.
Gray's writing seems to have grown, Not that I had any
problem with it before. The murder-mystery
plot is complex and seems to have more twists. However, I had no problem
in keeping up.
There aren't as many suspects this time, and those paying very close attention
will be able
to spot whodunit, though I defy anyone to be totally sure until close to
the end.
I definitely recommend this story.
--Review by British Bull Dog in Rainbow Reviews
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