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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Murder at a Newly Endowed, Gay-Oriented Library, February 1, 2006
This review is from: The Paper Mirror: A Dick Hardesty Mystery (Paperback)
The general set-up is that a wealthy collector of gay-oriented writings, Chester Burrows, died naturally, bequeathing his collection and some money to create a Foundation. The Foundation renovated a closed public school, turning it into a library/research center. Just before the opening ceremony, one of the library's catalogers, Taylor Cates, is found dead from an apparent fall down some stairs near the stacks. The coroner's verdict is accidental death. The Foundation's Board (which includes super-lawyer Glen O'Banyon, a famous author, philanthropists, and others) hires Dick Hardesty to see if there is more to it. When Hardesty digs for secrets, he learns about earlier generations, follows the money, interviews opponents of the project, analyzes writing styles, and tries to come up with something useful. He succeeds.
I have been a big fan of most of the series as it developed. The first eight books showed Dick plying his trade and eventually developing a relationship with the younger Jonathan Quinlan. The settings included the usual gay night life, although there was an increasing sense of domestic contentment. The ninth book, "The Popsicle Tree," included adopting Joshua, a four-year old relative of Jonathan's, after the child's parents died. I did feel the ground shifting on my expectations. While necessary for introducing so centrally located a new character, having seemingly page after page of ooh-ing and ah-ing over what Joshua said, wore, ate, and played with were not what I wanted. Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Dick Hardesty do not deal with these matters. When the new family all went politically correctly off to church (because Joshua was used to it!), I was ready to check out. I didn't, though. Good thing.
In "the Paper Mirror," Dorien Grey cut back on the domestic chronicle and let the mystery take the lead. Dick and Jonathan have smoothly left the world of edgy gay culture and are well on the way to assimilation. They admit they do not see their old friends much, nor do they go out to the bars, baths, and night clubs. (This may increase their appeal to female readers.) The value of this literary experiment is that there is little written about what it is like to be gay parents in a committed, monogamous relationship. While I have some fears of the cliches of child hostage, of Dick's considering a job change, or of Dick or Jonathan becoming a full-time dad, I have some hope that the author's next books in the series will be insightful, will be interesting to the unassimilated gay community, and will center on good mysteries.
3.5 stars.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Libraries, Authors, Murder.. Oh My!, June 29, 2007
This review is from: The Paper Mirror: A Dick Hardesty Mystery (Paperback)
Paper Mirror is the tenth installment in the popular Hardesty Mystery series. Author, Dorien Grey has crafted a fast paced mystery that continues an established and much loved series, yet easily stands alone, welcoming new readers.
Private investigator extraordinaire, Dick Hardesty was settling into the role of family man after adopting Joshua, his partner's orphaned nephew when an invitation to a highly publicized gala leads to the most intriguing case of his career. Once a crotch-tingling playboy, Hardesty had never been particularly fond of black tie functions, he was more of the party persuasion. Jonathan, on the other hand, was always eager to square his bow tie and rub elbows with the wealthy and well to do. The fact that his favorite author, Evan Knight, would be attending this noteworthy event, just added fuel to Jonathan's barely containable excitement.
The Burrows Library had been literally willed into existence by the late Chester Burrows, an eccentric collector of homosexual writings. It was said that his, was the largest private collection of books on the subject. With such a colorful character as the library's benefactor and namesake, it was not surprising that the opening night celebration was slated to be the social event of the season.
At the very moment Jonathan is being introduced to famed author, Evan Knight, the courtesies are interrupted, when Dick is informed the body of a library cataloger had been discovered in the basement. Police surmise Taylor Cate's death was the result of blunt force trauma caused by an accidental fall down the stairs. However, due to lingering doubts among board members, Dick is asked to investigate the incident.
As the story progresses readers are treated to a collage of friendships, romantic entanglements, and secrets among individuals with long shared histories. The twists and unexpected diversions are all part of this skillfully constructed mystery, which in retrospect provide several 'a-ha' moments for the reader. Dorien Grey's strong emphasis on story development and character interaction, as opposed to stereotypical fluff, has almost certainly opened the doors to a wider audience. A well written novel, that showcases our similarities rather than our differences, I recommend Paper Mirror to all who enjoy a good read.
Happy Reading!
RJ
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dick Hardesty Mystery series, May 12, 2007
This review is from: The Paper Mirror: A Dick Hardesty Mystery (Paperback)
The Paper Mirror is the 10th installment in the Dick Hardesty mystery series. A gay mystery series that is so much more, this is a fantastic read and left me wishing I had began the series from the first one. This is the first in the series I have read and the author is talented, writing with such impact, his characters are so finely developed and believable, and the story is one that will have you hooked from the very first page.
The Paper Mirror is a quick read that is highly entertaining, Dick Hardesty is trying to adjust to fatherhood. Dorien Grey has penned a clever mystery one in which you as the reader can become actively involved in trying to solve along with Dick Hardesty. I would suggest starting with the first in the series and reading in order, I will be sure to pick up the other 9 in this series.
I highly recommend this to all who love a good mystery.
Be sure to click on the link below to watch the video for "The Paper Mirror" by Dorien Grey.
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