A Hummingbird Dance [Paperback]

Garry Ryan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2008

Detectives Lane and Harper are back for the third instalment of the "Detective Lane Mystery Series" in this gripping twister of a novel that baffles with its ever increasing body count and suspect list. When Ryan Dudley ventures out on horseback and his horse returns without him, Lane and Harper are summoned to unravel the mystery. Dudley's disappearance marks the first anniversary of a young boy's murder in the same neighbourhood, and evidence indicates the two incidents are connected. When Dudley's roommate also goes missing and mysterious shootings start happening in the area, Harper and Lane are swept into a feud between neighbours, races, and land owners, all in search of a murderer on the loose for much too long.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Garry Ryan was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where he lives today. He received a B.Ed. and a Diploma in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary, and now teaches English and Creative Writing to junior high and high school students. His first Detective Lane mystery, Queen’s Park, sprung from a desire to write a mystery with an emphasis on the rich diversity and unique locations of his hometown. The Lucky Elephant Restaurant was the second title in his Detective Lane Mystery Series and winner of the 2007 Lamda Literary Award for Gay Mystery.

Product Details

• Paperback: 251 pages
• Publisher: NeWest Press (September 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189712631X
• ISBN-13: 978-1897126318
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,110,865 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Garry Ryan

Garry Ryan was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, where he lives today. He received a B.Ed. and a Diploma in Educational Psychology from the University of Calgary, and taught English and Creative Writing to junior high and high school students for several years before retiring in 2009. His first Detective Lane mystery, Queen's Park (2004), sprang from a desire to write a novel with an emphasis on the rich diversity and unique locations of his hometown. The Lucky Elephant Restaurant (2006) is the second title in his Detective Lane series and winner of the 2007 Lambda Literary Award. A Hummingbird Dance, the third book in the Detective Lane Mystery Series, was released in September 2008. The fourth Detective Lane mystery, Smoked, was released May 2010. In 2009, Ryan was awarded the Freedom of Expression Award in Calgary, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the arts community in Calgary.

For more information on Garry Ryan and the Detective Lane Series, visit www.garryryan.ca.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well-written mystery involving a diverse culture and people, November 24, 2008

By 

Bob Lind "camelwest" (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Hummingbird Dance (Paperback)

A young man is reported missing, near the T'suu Tina Nation in rural Calgary. While there is nothing specific to connect this with any other event, it seems far too coincidental that this happened exactly the same date that another young man disappeared the year before, and exactly two years after another young man from the area was struck and killed in a hit-and-run accident by four cowboys, which was never solved. Detectives Lane and Harper learn that all three dead men were housemates, as was a fourth young man whose body is discovered bludgeoned to death four days later. Their investigation takes them to the home of one of the tribe elders, Eva Starchild, who lives with a mentally impaired bear of a man, Norm, who is very protective of her. The last of the housemates tells the detectives that Eva is somehow responsible for the deaths, but this seems unlikely after Lane gets to know the woman. It's a case that gets tougher as it develops, when the detectives become the target of a sniper, and later investigation leads to the surviving housemate as the possible killer, although there doesn't seem to be any motive.

Gary Ryan is back with his third outstanding "Detective Lane Mystery," and it was well worth waiting for. As in the first two, Ryan develops the events of the mystery with as meticulous detail as he does the characters in the book, so that you truly feel you know the people involved. Detective Lane is gay, living with his partner Arthur, plus a niece and nephew who were each essentially tossed away by their parents. His partner Harper is straight, married, and the new father of an infant girl, but also has a nephew (who happens to be gay) living with him. The book goes into the interaction of the families alone and together, and shows that the fear of having a partner in a risky profession is something shared by both of their spouses. This book also provides an interesting perspective into the beliefs and traditions of "First Nations" people, and provides a lesson on how police should behave when dealing with those of a different culture. Loved it, and can hardly wait for #4 in the series. Five hummingbird-kissed stars out of five!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine book, December 28, 2009

By 

Domus (Eugene, OR) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Hummingbird Dance (Paperback)

This is the first Detective Lane volume that I have read, and I look forward to reading his preceding two works. There is a quiet ease in his writing, and a sensitivity that must make him a great teacher. Well-written, thoughtful without being "heavy." A good addition to the increasing number of gay detectives.