The Hired Man (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) [Paperback]

Dorien Grey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dick Hardesty Mysteries | Publication Date: June 2002

In the continuing saga of Dick Hardesty, gay PI, he is hired to protect the interests of a gay/bisexual escort service when a client is murdered. Lovers of murder mysteries will find the complex twists and turns fascinating. This book breaks new ground by being the first mystery novel to make bisexuality an issue in solving a crime.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Grey's powerful writing style brings all his characters vibrantly to life, lending each a surprising depth and complexity. -- Cindy Penn, WordWeaving.com

Investigating a murder, Hardesty discovers the sometimes-shadowy world of the male escort business. A well-crafted storyline. -- J. A. Hartman, Knowbetter.com

About the Author

Dorien Grey is the pen-name and alter ego of a former book and magazine editor now living in a remote and time-warped area of the upper mid-west. While working for a large publishing house in Los Angeles, Dorien was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines, of which he became editor. He moved on to edit a leading L.A. based international gay men's magazine.

Dorien left Los Angeles for the mid-west to pursue his dream of opening a bed and breakfast and starting a literary service to work with writers through the mail. ("Beware of your dreams," he cautions.) He currently devotes his energies to writing. This is his fourth book in the Dick Hardesty mystery series, and he has recently released a chapbook, "Roger Margason's The Poems of Dorien Grey."

Product Details

• Paperback: 271 pages
• Publisher: GLB Publishers; 1 edition (June 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879194767
• ISBN-13: 978-1879194762
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,232,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always resented reality. It is far too capricious and too often unkind and unfair. I avoid reflective surfaces whenever possible. Being a writer allows me to create my own reality, and worlds over which I have some degree of control.

I'm an incurable romantic. I believe strongly in things which reality views too often with contempt, such as happy endings, true love, and the baic goodness of people.

The one personal characteristic in which I take great pride, and which has been my rock throughout life is that I never, ever, take myself too seriously. If one has a choice between positive and negative, why would anyone (though too many people do) opt for the negative? Life is not always kind, but it is a gift beyond measure, and one which must all too soon be given back. I really try to enjoy and be thankful for ever single day allotted to me.

For most people, children are their posterity. For me, as a gay man, it is my words which will, I hope, stand as evidence that I was here (albeit, no matter how long I may live, never long enough to suit me).

And because written words are nothing unless someone reads them, I am heavily reliant on my readers. I sincerely look on every reader as a partner and traveling companion on every journey my writing embarks on.

I invite you, individually and personally, to join me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Escorting trouble, November 26, 2008

By 

Ventura Angelo (Brescia, Lombardia Italy) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hired Man (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

Dick Hardesty investigates a series of mysterious murders somewhat connected with a model and escort agency. In the process he manages to interrogate many good-loking guys, and sometimes a more close investigation he finds desirable, if not strictly necessary (here his professionalism clasches with his pheromones in an humorous manner). But such distractions and the intricacies of a complex mystery won't deter our gay sleuth from finding the solution, in a chilling final scene, Well written, with poignant as well as humorous passages, this is one of the best mysteries of Dick Hardesty's series.

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic series by Dorien Gray, February 3, 2010

By 

Sarah E. Bewley "See my book reviews on Live ... (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hired Man (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

In THE HIRED MAN, Dick gets a referral of a businessman from out of town who is looking for an investigator to do background checks on some potential management employees. It turns out that an old friend, Phil, has been seeing the businessman on a regular basis. Phil is a professional escort and the businessman is a very closeted bi-sexual.

When the businessman ends up murdered, Dick finds himself being called upon by both the police and the escort service to try to answer some questions about the man's death. A short time later, one of the escorts, Billy, turns up dead. Billy was Phil's roommate, a really sweet guy, and Dick finds himself even more involved now that Phil's lost his best friend.

Are the murders connected? If so, how and why?

When a third murder takes place, a woman who is stabbed to death with a knife stolen from the room of the businessman during his murder, the path to solution becomes incredibly convoluted.
There is family intrigue - the owners of the escort service are a couple and one of the escorts is her "brother," who is actually her "son." The beautiful men who work for the service, and one who was fired from the service, may all be involved in the murders - or they may be potential victims.

It's pretty much up to Dick to unravel the links between the murders and the people, and solve the cases.

Both of these books are a lot of fun to read, and the personalities of the characters are incredibly different. Dick is brash and bright, while Elliot is classy and intellectual. The mysteries are intricate and fascinating. I was really surprised by the solution to THE HIRED MAN, and loved the fact that I hadn't figured it out, despite all the clues being laid out for me.

4.0 out of 5 stars Longer and More Complex, April 6, 2008

By 

British Bulldog - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hired Man (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

The fourth and longest of the Dick Hardesty Mysteries so far sees our hero once again embroiled in the more unpleasant aspects of the gay community. The subject of bisexuality (and Dick's lack of understanding of it) all helps to create the most complex of the mysteries thus far.

As always, Grey gives us some delightful descriptions of the players. My favourite this time was when he first went to visit his client "jet black hair almost to her waist, and eyeliner that reminded me of Cleopatra. She wore a gold lame tank top and black leather toreador pants. Probably not the maid, I decided."

Some old friends from previous stories reappear. I was especially please to see Jared and Phil again. I can't decide which is hotter. I don't think Dik can, either.

Alas Dick is still going through his "slut phase." This story sees him sleep with a number of the escorts he interviews. I feel as though I should condemn him for his lack of professionalism, but I can't. I'm old-fashioned and am a strong proponent of monogamy, but somehow Grey makes it all right. I think it's because deep down, Dick is looking for Mr Right, and his search leads him to encounter some very attractive and eligible candidates.