Bleeding Hearts [Paperback]

Josh Aterovis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2003

When Killian's new friend Seth is brutally murdered and he is seriously injured in the process the police think it's just a random mugging. Killian thinks there may have been a darker motive and, with Seth's father, sets out to uncover the truth behind the possible hate crime. Before his investigation is over he will uncover hatred and corruption in small town America.

Bleeding Hearts takes a different approach to the traditional mystery. Blending gay romance, mystery and suspense with a powerful coming of age story, Josh Aterovis has created characters and a story that readers everywhere will love.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"(A)n excellent tale, ably told, and certain to be just the first of many novels from a talented new author." -- Midwest Book Review, August 2002 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Josh Aterovis, a twenty-something artist-author, was born and bred on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and lives there with his husband, Jon. Aterovis is a Latin pseudonym meaning "black sheep."

Whenever anyone asked Josh what he wanted to be when he grew up, he always said an author. It got him plenty of strange looks, but he never really expected it to come true; it was just one of those things a kid says. In 1999, Josh’s wishful dream became reality when he began to write a story and post it on the Internet. Bleeding Hearts resonated deeply with readers, who encouraged him to seek publication. In 2001, the story was published by Renaissance Alliance Publishing, Inc. Named the Best Whodunit of 2002 by the Stonewall Society, Bleeding Hearts became the first book in the Killian Kendall mystery series.

Reap the Whirlwind, his second book featuring amateur sleuth Killian Kendall, was published in May of 2003 and the Stonewall Society promptly awarded it the Best Whodunit of the year. Josh has completed four books in the series and is currently working on the fifth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises (December 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932300198
• ISBN-13: 978-1932300192
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,823,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Josh Aterovis has published four books in the Killian Kendall mystery series. His first book, Bleeding Hearts, introduced gay teen sleuth Killian Kendall, and won several awards, including the Whodunit Award from the StoneWall Society. He followed up by winning the Whodunit Award again the following year for Reap the Whirlwind. The third book in the series, All Lost Things, was a finalist for the 2010 Lambda Literary Awards for Gay Mystery. The Truth of Yesterday is fourth in the series.

Aterovis was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where his books are set. He now lives in Baltimore, MD.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read, September 28, 2002

By 

"blissengine" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bleeding Hearts (Paperback)

Killian lives in a small town along the Eastern Shore of the US, and after he meets the new kid in town, Seth, he starts wondering whether he might be gay. After Seth is murdered and Killian barely survives the attack, he struggles to recuperate and to come to terms with his new awareness. He begins to come out to family and friends, and his father quickly kicks him out of the house, so he ends up living with Seth's dad. Killian tries to figure out the whole dating thing after two of his friends also come out as gay and express interest in dating him, and all along Killian is determined to find out who killed Seth. When another of Killian's friends is murdered, he finds that not only is his life in danger, but also those of his friends. And the assailant might be closer to home than he thought. In spite of the tendency toward melodrama and some plot contrivances, "Bleeding Hearts" is a strong and heartfelt story about a young man coming to terms with himself. It reminded me a bit of "Brain and Body" by Richard Frost and "Outcast" by Stuart Thorogood.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Writing, Good Tone, Good Story, September 21, 2002

By 

"dreamreader58" (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bleeding Hearts (Paperback)

The main character in this story, Killian, is such a gentle and thoughtful soul. He reminded me of the younger brother played by Timothy Hutton in that old movie, Ordinary People. He's having a hard enough time growing up without having to deal with being gay. His friends don't seem at all supportive, he's not sure about his parents, and it all scares him, and then a new kid at school who is gay is murdered. Killian nearly gets it, too, but despite being stabbed manages to survive.

The book takes another turn at this point. Killian grows close to the other young guy's father, and it is with that support that he is able to work to find out who killed his friend.

A lot was happening in this book with the coming out and the mystery and the high school stuff. It's not a light book, but it is very gripping in parts with a sort of noirish feel to it. Young guys and girls will both like this, and I recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please let his other books be published soon!, October 1, 2002

By 

"exoticlaura" (Norfolk VA/ Berlin MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bleeding Hearts (Paperback)

Okay, so I was a little apprehensive about this book at first, since the words "gay romance" raise a red flag for lesbians everywhere...but what I found in the pages as they quickly and excitedly turned was a wonderful story that transcends age, gender, orientation, and geographical location. It inspired me so that I found his other novels online and practically went blind tearing through them on my computer screen! I loved "Reap the Whirlwind" and the slightly longer "All Lost Things"... but I can honestly say that I hope they come into print soon, the purist that I am. Thank you, Josh Aterovis, for giving me a reason to give gay-themed fiction another chance!!!