Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Big Easy Gay, May 25, 2005
This review is from: Murder in the Rue Dauphine: A Mystery (Paperback)
This review is for the Alyson Publications trade paperback first edition, January 2002.
Chanse MacLeod was a New Orleans cop for a couple years, but in the narrative present, he is a private detective without much experience. The story begins when Mike Hansen hires Chanse on behalf of Mike's wealthy, in-the-closet partner who is being blackmailed. But before Chanse can get the particulars, Mike is murdered. Although Chanse "doesn't do murders," he eventually untangles a conspiracy and solves the case.
The plot is murder mystery light. There are no convoluted twists, embedded clues or clever deductions. Indeed, this story is mostly a look inside the New Orleans' gay community where muscles bulge, stomachs ripple and all shirts are one size too small. Of the twenty-nine named males in this book, twenty-five are gay. The seven named females, however, appear to be straight.
Greg Herren tends to write in short, choppy sentences, which although not annoying, I did wish for some rhythm and variety. And there are some startling inconsistencies. Chanse leaves the airport at 7:00 AM and drives straight to the gym, then goes home and tosses his gym bag on the bed, happy that he had turned on the air conditioner that morning. Later he bemoans the unpacked suitcases on his bed. Paul, Chanse's partner, leaves a phone message that he will call from Dallas that night, but later we learn his last flight that night ends in Chicago. Interesting that one-half of all three inconsistencies occurs on page 14.
Although I am hopelessly heterosexual, I found the story interesting. New Orleans is one of my favorite cities, I visit there frequently, and it is perhaps useful to have an apparently authoritative insight into Big Easy Gay.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Didn't he edit is own book???, December 30, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Murder in the Rue Dauphine: A Mystery (Paperback)
I bought Murder in the Rue Dauphine, because I had recently visited New Orleans and thought it would be fun to read something set there. I looked forward to recognizing places I had gone while there. I am also a big mystery fan and was hoping for a fun new author. I was not disappointed in the setting of the book coming alive. Mr. Herren does a very good job of taking the reader to New Orleans. Chanse is a pretty fun character, if a little too "gay perfect," at times. I really liked his "Grace," Paige. I felt he was a bit too steroetypical with his villian, though. The plot, while predictable at times, was fun enough to keep me interested and, in the end, I was surprised at who the actual killer was. My biggest problem was with the editing. It seems Mr. Herren, who edits other people's work for anthologies, didn't edit his own. For instance, Chanse and another character are talking about Paul, Chanse's maybe boyfriend, and Herren refers to one of the characters talking as Paul. There are other such instances of the editor not paying attention here and there that, while distracting, didn't take away from the book as a whole. Also, while I am sure it is just one of Mr. Herren's fetishes, from what I saw when there,not every hot guy in New Orleans walks around in "white tank tops a size too small." Over all a pleasant little mystery and I would probably pick up another if this becomes a series.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chances are.., April 24, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Murder in the Rue Dauphine: A Mystery (Paperback)
Great Characters, Greaeat Plot, Great Atmosphere. Mr Herren takes us for a Romp through the city of New Orleans, and along the way we experience, bullets, break ins and bad driving. What a fun ride! Chanse, one of my new favorite detectives, is a world wise cynic- and while he falls into the stereotypical "hard boiled" detective catagory, I am sure that more will be revealed about his nature in future books ( I am hoping for a series) Best friend Paige is a scream, and one does not know what to expect from olice officer Venus. It is a largely character driven novel, rich in detail ... in fact the City of New Orleans becomes a character itself. This book is well written, clips along at a good pace, and is devilishly funny. I cant wait for more from Mr Herren
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
