Dead on Your Feet: A Mystery (Stonewall Inn Mysteries) [Paperback]

Grant Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stonewall Inn Mysteries | Publication Date: October 15, 1994

The founder of a ballet company is discovered murdered and the conductor is the prime suspect. Seduced by the choreographer, a hairdresser sets out to prove the conductor's innocence. Among many suspects, including the lover, the hairdresser discovers life is more complex--and deadly--than art.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Michaels (Love You to Death) hands another murder case to out-of-the-closet, loud and proud Boston hairdresser Stan Kraychik in this witty, fast-moving romp. Skilled in conversation and adept at mining clues from gossip, Stan is an able amateur sleuth. When his lover Rafik ("rhymes with technique") Panosian asks him to investigate the murder of the Boston City Ballet's director, Stan complies, in part for reasons of his own. He worries that fantasy-come-true Rafik, a physically flawless dancer who rides a motorcycle, wears lots of leather and speaks with a French accent, may be a philanderer or even the killer. Interrogations of the catty, egocentric members of the ballet company help Stan narrow the list of suspects and determine Rafik's true feelings. A controlled, self-mocking tone and some campy humor keep things moving at a rapid clip, while steamy (safe-sex) scenes of light bondage balance the overall levity. Although the finale holds few surprises and the denouement slips into the sentimental, this agreeable mystery draws readers into Stan and Rafik's tumultuous professional and personal lives.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

A third appearance for Boston hairdresser/amateur sleuth Stan Kraychik (Love You to Death, 1992, etc.), who's all a-dither at committing to a relationship with Nureyev-like choreographer Rafik Panossian, now working on a new ballet for controversial director Max Harkey. When Max is messily dispatched, Stan, on a first-name basis with members of the ballet set, is given the green light to investigate by his former nemesis, rugged Officer Branco. Among his interviewees: a wealthy benefactor; a ballet mistress with a Russian accent; a conductor; and a homophobic homosexual ballet star. A cute guy is killed; an unappealing one makes advances; and Stan and Rafik spat and make up (in love scenes that may be a tad too graphic for mainstream tastes). Then, in a fabulous penthouse surrounded by balconies, Stan and the killer meet up one last time.... Much here for gay balletomanes, but others may have less interest in Stan's romantic soul-searching, his bumbling detective work, and his clientele back at Snips. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 4th edition (October 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312114575
• ISBN-13: 978-0312114572
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,406,392 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another GREAT read from Grant Michaels!!, April 26, 1998

By 

Greg Olsen ([e-mail]) (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead on Your Feet: A Mystery (Stonewall Inn Mysteries) (Paperback)

Stan Kraychik is one hell of an amateur sleuth. And Grant Michaels is one hell of a writer!! The Kraychik novels will surely define the best of gay writing for a generation.

Stan solves murders much like a Jessica Flecher would: dogged determination and a mind which can focus on details. Read ALL the Kraychik mysteries in order: A BODY TO DIE FOR, LOVE YOU TO DEATH, DEAD ON YOUR FEET, MASK FOR A DIVA, TIME TO CHECK OUT, and his latest, DEAD AS A DOORNAIL. You will fall in love with the characters in the books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agatha Christie like mystery., October 5, 2000

By 

Walter Landesman (Uruguay) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead on Your Feet: A Mystery (Stonewall Inn Mysteries) (Paperback)

Stani is a Gay Poirot, a funny, smart, flesh & blood character. Nice mystery plus gay erotica makes a good mix. Very moving "grand finale". A very enjoyable novel.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Major Disappointment, August 2, 2000

By 

brat-e-boy "boybrat" (SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead on Your Feet: A Mystery (Stonewall Inn Mysteries) (Paperback)

I had always been impressed by this whole hairdresser turned sleuth thingummyjig. However, I'm afraid I cannot say the same for this sorry excuse of a mystery novel. Don't get me wrong. I had read all of the other books written by Grant Michaels (they were FABULOUS!), and this one somehow .....just plain stinks.

The whole story dwelled way too much between the love affair between Stan and Rafik. What the hell happened to the lovable sassy hairdresser we all knew and loved in A Body To Die For and Love You To Death? Stan was reduced to an insecure,lovelorn bumbling idiot. ALL of us know that yeah yeah Stan loves Rafik blablabla. It became sickening when Stan began spouting flowery prose about Rafik's beauty, their love for each other, etc etc etc every few pages or so. Like ENOUGH ALREADY!

Moreover, the ending was so lame that it needed crutches. Whoopde doo. Like I was SO surprised when the killer was revealed in the end. So much for intrigue.

Honestly, I am glad that the author decided to kill Rafik off in the later books. Good riddance, I'll say.