Customer Reviews

Ice In His Veins (The Nicky D'Amico Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As in all great series, it's all about the characters. And in Zito's second installment of the Nicky D'Amico series, he has fully delivered on my desire for more insight into my new favorite characters: Nicky, Paolo and Roger. With all due respect to Nicky, who remains the one with whom I can identify (even more so in this book, due to the unabashed sharing of his fantasies and vulnerabilities), I was dying for the return of Paolo, whose unbridled passion, energy and opinionated attitude often offends people and gets him into trouble, but earns him a lot of my respect (and my envy) for his ability to unapologetically be himself. If you're looking for some excitement, I highly recommend these books. Think you're not a mystery fan? You'll fall in love with the characters and you won't even notice!

Who knew gay mystery was a genre? I didn't until I happened upon Zito's Habit for Death and then waited, and waited for his second act, Ice in His Veins. Bravo! It was defintely worth the wait. As a playwright, I was bowled over by his lethal perceptions of theater people, and his characterizations of the crazy, the obsessed and the downright normal infused with dry wit, humor and a spot on instinct for delicious dialogue. Not to mention the excellent foils Zito created between his characters and Shakespeare's misadventurers. In addition, it was more than refreshing to read a gay novel where the gayness of the characters isn't under a microscope, but it just the average, everyday machinations of a theater and a community. This is a must have novel for anyone who is interested in theater, a splendid mystery that holds until the reveal, or someone looking for a fantastic read.

I really loved the first Nicky D'Amico book, so I was looking forward to Ice In His Veins. This book did not disappoint. It's just as funny as the first and the characters are even more complex.

Zito has a real ear for dialog and an eye for setting. The thing about these books that always draws me in is the theater angle. Zito writes it like he's lived it, putting his characters in one funny but completely believable scene after another. Take it to the beach and enjoy!

ICE IN HIS VEINS is the second Nicky D'Amico mystery from Chuck Zito. Theatrical stage manager Nicky has returned to New York City and been roped into stage-managing for a group of college friends who are putting on an all-male production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."

When one of his oldest friends turns up dead, with an icicle protruding from a bloody wound, Nicky has to figure out who dunnit in order to keep the show going on-- and to clear his two potential suitors from suspicion. Zito's in control of both his plot and his humor here, which is often laugh-out-loud funny.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

Just got back last night from a weekend at the beach. I'm so glad I brought "Ice in His Veins." This and the previous Nicky D'Amico are both the best, most fun beach reads in a long time. Zito has one of the sharpest wits and some of the funniest characterizations I've read in a long time. The mystery is actually really good, and, I didn't figure it out until the big reveal. But most of all I just loved reading it. It is filled with characters who resemble people we all know and love to hate in our own lives. It's not going to change your life, but it will keep you smiling. Zito puts the happy back in Gay!

I thought this was a great second book. Perfect quick summer read, that kept me going back for more and guessing until the very end. I think the author did some good character development making me feel much more connected and part of what was going on. As I was reading, I felt as if I were often there. I also really enjoyed getting to know Nicky; this second book really let us into his thoughts more than the first. Zito's two books remind me of relationships. At first we are casual and somewhat guarded as but as we get to know each other we tend to open up and let our true selves show. Habit for Death was a fun read, but with Ice In His Veins, Zito let go and brought us into the world of Micky D'Amico, who became much more three dimensional.

As in his first novel, Habit For Death: A Nicky D'Amico Mystery, Zito has combined his years of theater experience to create a wonderful backdrop for Nicky's latest mystery. The author's clever humor is present throughout the colorful dialogue. With the many twists and turns in the plot and character relationships, I didn't know "who dunnit" until Zito was ready to reveal. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this novel!

Nicky D'Amico is again acting as stage manager for an amateur theatre production, this one an all-male remake of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by a theatre company made up primarily of his friends from his college days. Among them are Marcus, his former boyfriend, who has reported reformed from his earlier substance abuse problems, and Alex, Marcus' best friend and confidant. When one of the troupe is found dead in the alley adjoining the theatre, with an icicle jabbed into his neck, the remaining members of the company try to reconcile their grief with the tradition that "The show must go on", leaving some nerves rather raw, with the realization that the murderer is likely among them.

With many of my former gay mystery novelists retired or cutting back, I want very much to find a new series to which I can develop a loyalty. This is the second installment in the "Nicky D'Amico" series for Zito, and, although well written and entertaining, it is a bit different from most in the genre. They are definitely more character (than event) driven, with the numerous, detailed characterizations off-putting to some readers, but I happen to like his style, though it took some getting used to. Of course, NYC amateur theatre being what it is, some of the characters are a bit peculiar, but you don't ever get the impression that some are there strictly for comic relief, although there are indeed numerous funny moments. Being a former NYer, I also think he captured the reality of living in a small apartment surrounded by "colorful" neighbors quite well, though I think his portrayal of NYPD's detectives is a bit unrealistic.

Overall, a fast-paced light read, which I recommend. Looking forward to the third in his series, which has a preview at the end of this book. Four stars out of five.

The first book in this series, 'A Habit For Death' was a decent summer read. So, I tried the second in the series. Too many characters, too poorly drawn to remember and it drags. I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't the fun it should've been.

I like Nicky and hope to see more of him. I hope Mr. Zito decides to write another mystery with a Christmas holiday setting. Where is "Deck the Halls"? Anyone else curious???