Customer Reviews

First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Skimming a few reviews posted here on Amazon for this book, I noted that several handled the summary portion quite nicely. I'll skip the summary, then, and speak directly to the merits of the book.

I've read several historical mysteries (medieval mysteries by Sharon Kay Penman, The Alienest by Carr, Deanna Raybourn's excellent Lady Julia Grey mysteries, and others), but rarely a modern mystery or thriller, and never a gay mystery, the reason for the latter being that I simply don't know much about that sub-genre of gay fiction. Given that, I wasn't sure what to expect, so was cautious in setting my expectations.

Within the first few pages, I knew that I was in the hands of an author I could trust. His prose was controlled and solid, and never over the top. That's significant because there were a few improbable situations. One example is that the lead detective on the case is his ex from high school (others have commented on that, so this isn't really a spoiler...I hope!). Good writing, though, almost always makes the improbable, and even implausible, perfectly believable. While I stumbled on that for a moment, Scott Sherman's steady hand kept me grounded.

The main character, Kevin, is immensely likable, and again it is Sherman's handling that makes us adore Kevin. When your main character is a hustler there's always the chance that some readers won't respond to him/her because of the profession. I'd be willing to bet that even those who aren't receptive to his profession would find Kevin agreeable, and perhaps could even see him being a friend. It helps that aside from fussing over his appearance (a necessity for him), he's responsible, thinks of his future and plans on going back to school, has boy-next-door sensibilities, doesn't take himself too seriously, and has a great sense of humor about himself that isn't self-deprecating. I'm excited and anxious to see Kevin grow as a character. Does he go to college eventually? Does he ever find himself at odds with his profession, and how does he handle it? (That question was addressed in this book, but the question is a far-reaching one, and there's quite a bit more to mine from it.)

While it's a cliché to say it, when I finished the book I was immensely sad - I didn't want it to end. I had grown to like Kevin, had felt that rare sense of comfort you find when reading a book and find yourself so drawn into the world that the author has created that it's difficult to reorient yourself when moving on to another book. When I did move on, it almost felt like cheating. Almost.

I'm confident that anyone remotely interested in gay mysteries will find themselves drawn to this one, and, I hope, its many sequels.

Kevin Connor is a 23 year old blonde, twinkish high-priced "call boy"/gay escort who loves his work and friends, but is reluctant to allow himself to fall in love, still smarting from his breakup with Tony, his first love in high school. Kevin also suffers from a touch of Adult Attention Deficit Disorder, and complex emotional situations can sometime overwhelm him to the point he passes out. So, when he goes to visit his friend and mentor, Allen, and finds the man's body on the sidewalk in front of his high-rise NYC apartment building, and is told to step back by the officer on duty - who turns out to be his long-lost ex, Tony - Kevin soon joins his friend lying on the sidewalk. Ultimately, Kevin teams with his flamboyant best friend, Freddy, with some help from his computer-hacker friend/client Marc, and - despite distractions from a myriad of kinky clients and an unexpected visit by his overbearing mother - vows to prove wrong the police's finding that Allen committed suicide. It's a journey that uncovers secrets about the dead man's adult children, a sinister "gay conversion" program, revelations about people you thought you knew well, and agonizing over trying to reconcile with his (now married) ex.

With several major gay mystery series having wrapped in the past five years, there is definitely a need for some fresh ideas in that genre, especially utilizing characters that are likeable, relatable, intelligent and realistic. First time novelist Sherman hits on all four cylinders there, and infuses just enough humor in his book to keep the reader smiling as well as enthralled, making it hard to put the book down even for a minute. Looking forward to his announced sequel, and hopefully much more after that. Absolutely recommended highly, with five hustling stars out of five!

Did you ever start reading a book right before going to bed? And then you couldn't put it down even though you're staying up half the night and know that you're going to be exhausted the next day but it's so good that you keep saying just one more chapter until you realize you've got no choice but to read to the end to find out whodunnit and what happens to the cute main character? Well, I'm happy to report that Scott Sherman had me up half the night . . . and now I can't wait until the next "Kevin Connor Mystery" comes out!

I just finished FIRST YOU FALL, and I have to agree with JA Konrath's blurb, "Scott Sherman may be the gay Janet Evanovich." The book was a hoot, particularly in the interaction between the hero and his mother. It's also a solid mystery.

Kevin Connor is small, blond and cute, attributes which serve him well
as an on-call prostitute. I love the careful way in which his physical
attributes work into the story-- he has learned to defend himself
because he looks vulnerable, and we learn about his self-defense
training and the fact that he carries Mace with him-- all of which are
necessary, both for his work and his sleuthing.

Kevin has befriended a successful, older man who treats him like a son,
and when this friend's death is ruled a suicide, Kevin is determined to
prove the police wrong. He turns out to be a resourceful, determined
sleuth, and I hope we'll see more of him in the future.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Fire: A Hawaiian Mystery

I took this book on vacation with me, and I highly recommend it as a great airplane or beach read. There's nothing too heavy here, just an easy, breezy read that's a heck of alotta fun! I laughed out loud continually during my flight. The main character, Kevin, is a male escort, but he's a hooker with a heart of gold. As with any good mystery, there are lots of twists and turns here, but nothing too confusing. What makes "First You Fall" stand out from other gay mystery novels I've read, however, are its fully fleshed-out characters. Kevin could very easily have been a cookie-cutter protagonist or stereotype, but author Scott Sherman really makes the reader care about Kevin and his decisions. I, for one, was rooting for him throughout the novel...not only that he would solve the mystery, but that he would find happiness. The secondary characters are equally engaging, especially Kevin's hysterical mother and Mrs. Cherry, the head of Kevin's escort agency. And, of course, there are some very sexy scenes thrown in for good measure...nothing too pornographic, but definitely hot. In his dedication of the book, Sherman even warns that this isn't the type of book one dedicates to his parents, and he instructs his kids not to read the book until they're 21. Sherman has a great sense of humor and is wonderful at writing witty banter and interesting characters. "First You Fall" is a sexy, fun page-turner, and I hope to encounter cute Kevin again in many sequels to come.
-Salvatore Sapienza, author of Seventy Times Seven: A Novel

Wow. I came across Scott Sherman's book via the wonders of Amazon.com. I picked it up to read while my computer backed up and devoured it in a few hours. Kevin Connor, male hustler, was cute, sweet, sexy and I loved being inside his head! Oh, and Tony? Super yum!

But this book isn't a romance -- it's a mystery with romantic elements and a lot of humor. Lest you think the perils of a playboy prostitute can't be funny, think again. Sherman's light hand with subjects that in other stories could easily turn dark make this book a treat. This isn't to say the mystery isn't...mysterious, because it is. It had me guessing almost to the very end, with a couple of neat twists I thoroughly enjoyed.

Secondary characters provided an additional splash of sex and humor -- and I loved that Kevin's relationship with his mom wasn't as cliched as you think it's going to be.

First You Fall is a great, fun read and I look forward to the next Kevin Conner Mystery!

M

If you like surprise endings and hilarious repartee, you'll love "First You Fall" by Scott Sherman. This is one of those mysteries you can't put down and keeps you guessing until the last page. Combine this with the added bonus that it is laugh out loud funny throughout and you've got a real winner. The two main characters, gay "sleuth" Kevin Connor and his best friend Freddy are very likeable and keep the dialogue (and the action) moving along flawlessly. This is a strong first novel for Mr. Sherman. I hope he continues to beguile us with his talent.

First You Fall was an interesting read. The characters were as unique as the mystery, and I found the story bringing out many emotions.

I personally liked the dry and oftentimes, sarcastic humor at the expense of others in this book. Let's face it folks, that's just the way some people truly are.

I like Scott Sherman's style, and can't wait to read more from him.

Kevin Connor, the hustler hero of Scott Sherman's new novel "First You Fall" is a classic: he's got the proverbial heart of gold. But he's also horny as hell. Setting tricks aside, by the end of the book Connor has four solid men to choose from (and yet he can't make a choice - wait for the sequel).

But the love that grounds this novel's mystery is Platonic. In the opening pages, Connor finds that his mature, gray-haired mentor has apparently thrown himself from his Manhattan apartment's ample balcony. Connor sets out to prove that his mentor was murdered.

Was the perp a fellow steroid-amped hustler? His mentor's sons, one of whom runs a psycho-pop ex-gay ministry? Or was it just plain suicide? Between tricks, Connor must put together the pieces, all the while juggling handsome men with whom he is in love, or who are in love with him, and his mother's sudden appearance on his doorstep fleeing from Connor's apparently cheating father.

The book takes on some heavy themes - ex-gay ministries, bondage scenes gone disastrously wrong, suicide, emotional adultery - but Sherman's hero radiates a redeeming youth, inventiveness, frankness and naivete. He is immensely appealing, susceptible to being charmed both by a foot in his crotch and the brainy nerdiness of one of his regular tricks. Connor's mother, too, is a comic, blunt foil. She shows up without warning on her son's doorstep, persuades the super to let her into his apartment, quickly discovers Connor's stash of porn, makes indelicate inquiries about Connor's day job, refuses to go back to her husband until properly romanced, and is soon hanging curtains and insisting that the refrigerator contain actual food and not merely protein shakes.

Set in contemporary New York City, the book is shockingly current: texting, cell phones, caller ID, data mining, podcasts, and other heralds of the Internet era permeate its pages. For all the familiar tropes Sherman employs, however, "First You Fall" has a distinct freshness, and the mystery endures until the end. I never guessed who done it, though in retrospect the portents were heavy indeed. Best of all, we sense that Sherman hasn't even begun to wring all the fun and mystery from his cast of characters, and I, for one, am looking forward to the next Kevin Connor mystery. Sure beats the heck out of the Hardy Boys.

Amazon reviewers nailed this one. I bought the book based on the consistently high marks that "First You Fall" were given on this site, and I wasn't disappointed. Author Scott Sherman has created an original and very appealing protagonist in Kevin Connor--a hustler by trade and sleuth by devotion to a murdered friend. Sherman has cobbled together a plausible mystery plot, a touching romantic sub-story, characters you care about and a lot of snappy and humorous dialogue.

This is an all-too-rare winner in gay genre writing. Let's hope that Scott Sherman has a sequel or two in the works.