Boy Toy (Mark Manning Series) [Hardcover]

Michael Craft (Author)

Book Description

Series: Mark Manning Mysteries (St. Martin's Hardcover) | Publication Date: June 13, 2001

Mark Manning gave up a career as a prominent journalist at a major daily newspaper in Chicago to take over as the owner and publisher of the Dumont Daily Register, the daily newspaper in a small Wisconsin town. Living there with his lover, architect Neil Waite, and his nephew and ward Thad Quatrain, Mark's life in Dumont is usually quiet.

At the moment, the biggest news is the forthcoming production of a new play by the local community theater group. Two local teenage boys are alternating in the lead role - one is Jason Thrush, a gregarious and somewhat egotistical athlete, and the other is Thad Quatrain. When Jason and Thad have a verbal clash during rehearsal, it is quickly forgotten by almost everyone involved. But when Jason turns up dead on opening night - leaving Thad to take over the lead role - the local gossip turns against Thad. Jason's death is soon proved to be murder and, even though he has not been charged, opinion about town has all but convicted Thad of the crime.

Sure that Thad is innocent, Mark, with the help of his lover and friends, is determined to publicly clear Thad's name. But that means finding out exactly what happened to Jason Thrush on that fatal day and Manning's investigation may place him and his loved ones in mortal danger.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

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 Toy is 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

From Publishers Weekly

In his fifth gay mystery (after 2000's Name Games) featuring Mark Manning, editor and publisher of the Dumont Daily Register, Craft does a better job than usual of portraying the people of Dumont, Wis., as real and sympathetic human beings. Thad Quatrain, Mark's 17-year-old nephew and ward, is coming out of a difficult adolescence. His recently discovered talent for acting is now being put to use in his role as the alternating lead with fellow teenager Jason Thursh in the Dumont Players Guild's summer production of a new play by the theater's director. Mark and his lover, architect Neil Waite, who's moved his business from Chicago to Dumont, are eagerly awaiting opening night. However, when Jason suddenly and mysteriously dies, suspicions point directly to Thad. With the help of Neil, the Daily Register's engaging staff members and good friends like Douglas Pierce, the gay sheriff of Dumont County, Mark sets out to discover the truth behind Jason's untimely death. Strong characterization, vivid descriptions of a Wisconsin summer and a well-developed mystery with a surprising conclusion combine with a sensitive portrayal of two older men creating a family for a teenage boy. The only flaw in the otherwise warm tone of the narrative is the explicit sex between Mark and Neil; it just doesn't fit.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (June 13, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031226917X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312269173
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,923,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps Getting Better!, September 15, 2001

By 

Louis Herrera (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boy Toy (Mark Manning Series) (Hardcover)

"Boy Toy" is the second book I've read in the Mark Manning mystery series and they keep getting better. I consider myself a fairly new fan to the Gay Mystery genre and with authors like Michael Craft, Im sure Ill be a fan for a long time to come.

Boy Toy is written so well that it would allow for a first time reader of the series to pick up this one and fit right into the story line. The first one I read was "Name Games", which is the 4th addition to the Mark Manning series. Initially, I was worried that I'd feel like there was a disconnection with the characters since I started midway through the series. However it was quite the opposite. All the pieces of the puzzle were there to hook me into the story line and conjure up my anticipation for more. This 5th addition to the series would easily keep a first time reader spellbound. Id go as far to say that it would convert a non-fan of this genre into a returning fan.

This new story is woven closely around Mark Manning, his partner Neil and their nephew Thad who is more like their son. Thad has been living with the couple since his mother past away. We also get to visit some of our other favorite characters from past volumes and even get introduced a few fun, new ones. This is definitely a mystery that hits close to the Manning household. Since I felt connected to a lot of the characters from reading Name Games, I found Boy Toy was difficult to put down until I had completed it. I couldnt wait to find out what was going to happen next with these endearing personae.

Michael Craft has me anxiously waiting for the 6th addition to his Mark Manning mysteries. I may have to go back and get some further background on Mr. Manning and his past mystery exploits. Consider it done.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Serie's Best, May 21, 2001

By 

M. H. SMITH "mykelsf" (SACRAMENTO, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Boy Toy (Mark Manning Series) (Hardcover)

"Boy Toy" is the latest effort in the continuing Mark Manning series, and is the best yet. Mark, his lover Neil and Thad, his nephew are developing into a stable and loving family. Their close knit circle of family also includes their housekeeper, the local sheriff and an assortment of friends and co-workers.

This seems to be an honest and honourable portrayal of a family headed by a gay couple. It also allows an erotic glimpse into the relationship of Mark and Neil. Those scenes offer a great deal of character development, and make them more realistic. These are all people that the reader comes to actually care about.

The story line is a simple one; set against the backdrop of local theater, and the midwestern passion for "mushrooming". A young man dies on the night of his theatrical debut as the star of a new play. His co-lead is none other than Thad; who in a moment of teen bravado had threatened the young man, and becomes a suspect. Soon there are a number of other possible suspects, and Mark does his usual succint job of running down leads and narrowing down the field.

The plotting is slick and highly readable. And while I was sure I had it figured out, I found myself surprised by the ending. That's a sure sign that you've got a great book on your hands.

The series gets better and better.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This one takes the prize, August 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Boy Toy (Mark Manning Series) (Hardcover)

Having just finished reading "Boy Toy" during a hot summer in Wisconsin, I was struck by the author's uncanny accuracy in describing the story's setting. But my enthusiasm for this book runs much deeper. While I had an inkling which way the mystery was heading (sort of), I had no idea WHY until Mark Manning put everything together at the end. Page by page, I was led along, missing all the most important clues, which is exactly how a great mystery should trip you. I've read Michael Craft's earlier books and enjoyed them all, but "Boy Toy" takes the prize. More, please!