Customer Reviews

Innuendo (Todd Mills Mysteries)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have read nearly all of Zimmerman's books. I am a TV Anchor/reporter, who happens to be gay. I can't put any of Zimmerman's books down! They are a fantastic read! I recommend you not read this book in bed when you know you have to get up early. At the end of each chapter you are always saying, "oh, I'll just read one more chapter, and then I'll go to sleep." Please. Pretty soon it'll be time to get up. The book IS that good!

My biggest complaint is that Zimmerman is inaccurate when it comes to how things work in the TV business. I've done it all... from floor directing... to producing... to what I'm currently doing, Anchoring in Market 5, San Francisco for the last 12 years. TV news veterans will quickly see that Zimmerman tried to understand the TV business, but didn't completly get it. Especially when it comes to tv terminology. For example, never in my life, nor in the lives of my fellow journalists (who also can't put the book down) has any reporter done a VOSOT in 20 seconds, as was the case in INNUENDO. Not that it's impossible, just ridiculous. (You tv folks will know what I mean) There are a few other cases, but you get my drift.

But if you're not a TV News person like myself, you will find this book and all his others facinating reads! Don't NOT buy the book. Just don't believe every word he has to say about the TV business. Listen to me rant and rave. I'm a TV reporter for God's sake. Who believes us anyway.

One of Hollywood's leading actors Tim Chase is haunted by rumors that he is gay even though he is married to the beautiful Gwen Owens. Tim happens to be in Minneapolis shooting a film. Local TV news reporter Todd Mills figures he would be a natural to interview the movie screen giant, as he himself is gay.

However, Todd receives bad news from his lover, police detective Steve Rawlins. Someone killed a gay teenager they recently met. Todd soon learns that his lover may have also cheated on him with the teen. Steve and Todd's relationship appears over. Meanwhile, Todd meets Tim, who invites him over for an exclusive. Steve sees his lover and the superstar in a heated embrace even as the cop accuses the actor of murder.

INNUENDO is a great contrasting of a Midwest gay lifestyle against Hollywood glamour inside of a well-designed murder mystery. The who-done-it is entertaining and Minneapolis is always a joy to visit. However, this novel belongs to the strong characters who seem genuine in their efforts to either live their life to the fullest or hide inside the closet. R.D. Zimmerman has written his best Todd Mills tale to date because his sympathetic cast brings to life problems confronting the gay community, but in an interesting non-preaching story line.

Harriet Klausner

R.D. Zimmerman's latest Todd Mills mystery is intelligent, sexy, and amazingly credible. Zimmerman's social commentary on Hollywood, a very real Never-Never-Land where truth has always been sacrificed to keep audiences comfortable with their prejudices, is right on the money. Believe me, this is a fun and fast-pased pot boiler you won't be able to put down. I couldn't recommend it more highly!

Superb writing and plot development as well as characterization. Then why not 5 stars? Maybe I'm being too snooty about my stars, but I have to reserve them for something truly wonderful, and there are just a couple hitches with this book.

But that by no means should dissuade you from reading it. Zimmerman is a superb writer and crafter of detail. And while this book may be filed in the murder mystery section, it is more about love, trust and fidelity than it is about who done it.

No finer work have I read that delves into the issues of what makes relationships work, and the rocky road that Todd Mills and Steve Rawlins travel is realistically and lovingly portrayed.

Like any true murder mystery, we have a dead body by the second page. And we know that something is afoot by the end of the first chapter. If you have ever struggled through issues of fidelity and trust in your relationship, you will read nothing truer than the doubt and tricks the mind plays Zimmerman pens in these pages. And there's an excellent murder mystery mixed in to boot.

So why just four instead of five stars? Without giving it all away, let's just say I think Zimmerman didn't tie up all the loose ends as neatly as he should have. There is still one thing left unexplained, significant in my view. And the other problem is mere careless editing I think. And that is when we read the first chapter from Todd's point of view, we realize he is curious about Tim Chase: is the actor gay or straight? Good enough. But then we get to the chapter about Tim Chase and we get the same unnecessary information, or rather, the question is posed in a very bothersome and redundant manner. Minor yes, but with a writer of Zimmerman's caliber, I think he should have caught that.

this book is easily one of the best book he's ever written if not the best and though the facts may be inaccuarte this book is absolutly captavating, definit alnighter (after all your after a brillient read not the a-z of tv reporting) couldn't put the book down much to my mums enduring amusment, i would encourage everyone to read this book.

Clearly, when R. D. Zimmerman finished the final book of the five-part "Todd Mills" series, he could have kept going. I wish he had...but given that the last book appeared in the 1990s, it's unlikely.

The five-part Todd Mills series all focuses on the central character of a well-known Minneapolis TV news journalist - whose own harrowing coming out story makes up the first book, "Closet." The final book, "Innuendo" is about the closet again; the celebrity closet, a topic with much currency in Hollywood today...Zimmerman handles it in his usual savvy way,a master of misdirection, writing a fast-paced, page-turning mystery that is often upsetting and never romantic in the least. Monogamy, gay relationships, gay teens at risk, HIV and the cost of fame are themes that swirl around a heartbreaking, tragic murder. There is only a partial happy ending, almost a cliffhanger...but that single ray of sunshine was gratefully received by this reviewer, because ultimately Zimmerman's view of life in the 1990s as a gay man was a dark vision. However, within that darkness one can find riches of strength, personal growth, emotional maturing, and the vivid expression of characters with world-views that allow the reader to understand and accept them as flawed, human, and ultimately admirable.

Zimmerman is not the smoothest writer in the world, in spite of his apparent success with non-gay fiction (which I am unlikely to read). But his work is distinctive within its genre - both general mystery fiction and gay genre fiction - and very much worth the effort. I am glad to have discovered his voice, even fifteen years after the fact.

This is one of Zimmerman's best books! I've read one other of his Kindle format books before and a number of his paperbacks in the past-- this certainly rates 5-stars!

A well-told crime story involving a gay television reporter, his policeman BF, a Hollywood film legend and a murdered teenager. The present open debates over gay marriage and "don't ask don't tell" trending toward a serious liberalization of public policy on these issues makes the closeted environment that characterizes the backdrop for this book seem pretty dated. Nevertheless, "Innuendo" moves along at a good clip, includes some authentic sounding descriptions of television news production and ends with a plausible resolution to the murder mystery. A little creaky in 2010, but not a bad read overall.

Todd Mills is an investigative news reporter for a local Minneapolis TV station WLAK, his partner of a few years is Steve Rawlins, a homicide detective sergeant. When Andrew Lyman, a seventeen year old gay runaway farm boy is found murdered, and it seems likely that mega film star Tim Chase who is in town working on his latest film is implicated, Todd and Rawlins both become deeply involved, but not just professionally.
Exactly what was the relationship between Rawlins and the handsome and physically perfectly formed under-age Andrew prior to his death? Is Todd interested in more than just a story as he seeks a rare interview with Time Chase, irresistible handsome and charming, whom he believes is a closet gay? Will Todd and Rawlins' relationship, which already appears to have reached a crossroads, survive the secrets and doubts thrown up as they pursue their investigations?
This is a fairly gripping story, well told, and with enough clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end. The troubled relationship between the two lovers, Todd and Rawlins, adds to its charm.

This is R.D. Zimmerman's most crafty work to date. I have read all of his books, and INNUENDO was a very interesting read. This is one book you will have a hard time putting down. Mr. Zimmerman puts in a few situations from his previous mysteries (i.e. CLOSET, TRIBE, HOSTAGE-his best in the series), and he still produces his suspenseful charisma. Many questions fill the reader's head: Who committed the murder, is Tom Chase gay, and will Todd and Steve break up? The climax was surprising, and everything gets resolved at the end. If you haven't head anything from the Todd Mills series, I urge you to read all of them. Perfect writing, and exciting stories. Mr. Zimmerman has written another great book. I can't wait for the next Todd Mills book next year.