Boy Toy (Mark Manning Series)
There are so many red herrings in the fifth Mark Manning mystery that you want to look around for some lemon and some thinly sliced red onion. There's hardly a resident of little Dumont, Wisconsin, who doesn't stand to benefit from the death of the handsome Jason Thrush, a high school athlete and amateur actor whose debut as the lead in a local play was spoiled by his mysterious death that very afternoon. His father's failing business would also have gotten a boost from the ten million dollar life insurance settlement, and even his creepy sister had taken out a policy, betting on Jason's early demise. When suspicion settles on his theatrical rival, Thad Quatrain, journalist Mark Manning's ward, Mark and his buff boyfriend Neil must find out who the real killer is before Thad is condemned by public opinion, and before Jason's grieving football buddies can exact their own form of justice. Despite its satisfying plot twists and its surprising conclusion,Boy Toyis driven by character, rather than plot, and is as much about Mark's curious household, his love life, and his tasteful wardrobe as about his sleuthing skills. A gay adventure, by any definition.--Regina Marler