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The Man Everybody Was Afraid Of

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"The Man Everybody Was Afraid Of" is the fourth novel in a series of mystery novels by Joseph Hansen featuring gay insurance investigator Dave Brandstetter. Hansen wrote 12 of these novels from 1970-1992, and they are among some of the best written books in mystery fiction. The gay issue is handled matter-of-factly and these novels are mysteries that just happen to feature a gay detective. The man in the title is Ben Orton, police chief of La Caleta, California. This man made a lot of ememies, especially hippies, homosexuals, and blacks. Ben Orton is found dead having his head bashed in by a flower pot. Gay activist Cliff Kerlee is charged with the murder, but Dave feels he did not do it. Before he can give Mrs. Orton an insurance check, he must find out who really murdered Ben Orton. Dave finds a lot of resistance in La Caleta as he tries to find the real killer. This novel is not my favorite in the series, but is important to the series as it introduces readers to Cecil Harris who becomes Dave's partner in subsequent books. It is another good novel in this ground breaking series.

The fourth entry in Hansen's Brandstetter series finds Dave investigating the murder of a small town sheriff,Ben Orton, hated by many and feared by all. On the face of it, it appears rabid gay activist Cliff Kurlee is responsible for Orton's death, but Brandstetter's continuing probe leads him to other ideas.

This isn't as compelling as the four previous books in the series, but compared to the competition in the gay mystery field, it is pure champagne. All the trademarks are there: scalpel-sharp characterization and dialogue, perfect renderings of place and atmosphere, and Dave Brandstetter himself, of course, a solid character by any standard of detective fiction. This book also introduces Dave's new love interest, Cecil Harris, a young black student and TV newsworker who helps Dave crack the case.

Brandstetter, a gay middle-aged insurance investigator, doesn't believe a gay activist in Southern California killed a "red-neck" sheriff. Turning over stones, he tracks down the real murderer.

Dave Brandstetter, now familiar insurance claims investigator of several previous novels, is looking into the murder of a local chief of police. He is not happy with the hasty arrest of a local gay activist, and suspects the culprit may be found closer to home. With the victim's son also a police officer he gets less than cooperation from the local police, but finds assistance in the Cecil, a slim, young black student gaining work-experience at the local TV station, whose assistance extends at his own invitation even to bedroom.

At the same time Dave's private life is not going to well, in addition to concerns over his father's health, the appearance of Cecil surprisingly failing to cause any tantrums on the home front with Doug, who seems to have his own diversions. The Man Everybody Was Afraid Of makes an interesting change as we find Dave working against a seemingly corrupt police force in this investigation.

Dave Brandstetter, now familiar insurance claims investigator of several previous novels, is looking into the murder of a local chief of police. He is not happy with the hasty arrest of a local gay activist, and suspects the culprit may be found closer to home. With the victim's son also a police officer he gets less than cooperation from the local police, but finds assistance in the Cecil, a slim, young black student gaining work-experience at the local TV station, whose assistance extends at his own invitation even to bedroom.

At the same time Dave's private life is not going to well, in addition to concerns over his father's health, the appearance of Cecil surprisingly failing to cause any tantrums on the home front with Doug, who seems to have his own diversions. The Man Everybody Was Afraid Of makes an interesting change as we find Dave working against a seemingly corrupt police force in this investigation.

Once described by the Los Angeles Times as "the most exciting and effective writer of the classic California private-eye novel working today," Joseph Hansen writes smart, smooth PI novels in the hard-boiled tradition--with one difference. Insurance investigator David Brandstetter is homosexual. Not so amazing these days, but something of a shocker in the 1970's when the first Brandstetter novel appeared. In book four of the critically aclaimed series, Brandstetter is investigating the murder of Police Chief Ben Orton, a man who seemed to hate everybody, and whom everybody seemed to hate. Gay activist Cliff Kerlee has been arrested, but Brandstetter isn't so sure, and if he can't be convinced, he may have to be killed...