Customer Reviews

The Death of Friends: A Henry Rios Mystery (Henry Rios Mysteries)

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This book - without a doubt - has been the best of Nava's works that I have read. I actually wish I could go back and lower the score I gave a few of his other books, if only to make this one stand out.

I was a little worried when I picked this up since I felt The Hidden Law, his previous Rios novel, was disjointed and his weakest work to date. But the four-year hiatus obviously paid off as not only was the mystery substantially better, but Rios' personal struggles were fleshed out with great detail and care.

This was the first book of his I read to deal with the death of a loved one (I didn't read the first novel) and the relationships that get strained are captivating to follow. It also allows the mystery and Rios' personal life to join as one narrative, rather than two separate plots, as in the past. The story manages to keep your attention and throw surprises at you even up to the last page.

Nava also manages to connect you to the protagonist by letting you see all of his internal struggles/demons, but doesn't allow them to become overbearing and have the adverse effect of making Henry seem miserable (a balance I thought was lacking in the previous book).

If there is only one Michael Nava book you pick up, I would strongly recommend it be this one.

Another satisfying Henry Rios mystery in Nava's wonderful legal sleuth series, this book tackles the thorny issue of being gay and commited to a set of human values which include love and honest connections to self and the real world, illustrating the tragedies which can befall us without them.
As usual, Nava's book goes way beyond cheap thrills and leaves the reader reluctantly turning the last page and longing to hear more from him.
I've read the whole series and would recommend every title in it.

There are several story lines coursing through the book, each one alone makes the book and "can't put it down". Nava is gifted in writing a who-done-it, but even better in providing the gay philosophical nuances that give the story its depth. The total authenticity makes the book a great read.

In The Death of Friends, gay Chicano lawyer Henry Rios finds himself defending Zack Bowen, seemingly the most likely suspect in the murder of his old college friend and one time lover but subsequently family man Chris Chandler, recently voted Judge of the Year. But first Henry must Find Zack who it seems as gone into hiding. Despite his disappearance Henry believes Zack, who claims to have been Chris's lover, is innocent, and sets out to prove it even if it means upsetting the a number of people on the way and uncovering a few less palatable facts about his old friend Chris.

At the same time Henry has to come to terms with the failing health of his lover Josh now that the AIDS virus is ravaging his body, realising he must prepare himself for the inevitable.

This is a finely crafted mystery with plenty of clues as to identity the real murdered, although we are kept guessing 'til the very end. Coupled with the tender and moving account of Josh's decline and Henry's efforts to care for him, this makes for another excellent read from Michael Nava.