The Popsicle Tree (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) [Paperback]

Dorien Grey (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dick Hardesty Mysteries | Publication Date: January 2005

Dick and Jonathan are left with Jonathan's nephew to raise when the boy's parents are killed in an accident. This is happening when a woman with a small son living in their building is also killed and Dick goes after the villain, especially after someone cuts his brakes lines. It is a time of conflict between awakening parental instincts and Dick's investigative talents.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dick and Jonathan are forced to confront the possibility of parenthood in this great mystery series. -- Ralph Higgins, Wayves

Great mystery with lots of unexpected twists and turns, written by one of today's most talented authors. -- Beth Anderson

Plotted with Grey's usual deft hand and idiosyncratic style, a veritable lollypop of a book. -- Denise Pickles

Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: GLB Publishers (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879194554
• ISBN-13: 978-1879194557
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,267,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always resented reality. It is far too capricious and too often unkind and unfair. I avoid reflective surfaces whenever possible. Being a writer allows me to create my own reality, and worlds over which I have some degree of control.

I'm an incurable romantic. I believe strongly in things which reality views too often with contempt, such as happy endings, true love, and the baic goodness of people.

The one personal characteristic in which I take great pride, and which has been my rock throughout life is that I never, ever, take myself too seriously. If one has a choice between positive and negative, why would anyone (though too many people do) opt for the negative? Life is not always kind, but it is a gift beyond measure, and one which must all too soon be given back. I really try to enjoy and be thankful for ever single day allotted to me.

For most people, children are their posterity. For me, as a gay man, it is my words which will, I hope, stand as evidence that I was here (albeit, no matter how long I may live, never long enough to suit me).

And because written words are nothing unless someone reads them, I am heavily reliant on my readers. I sincerely look on every reader as a partner and traveling companion on every journey my writing embarks on.

I invite you, individually and personally, to join me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully rich and compelling mystery, January 23, 2005

By 

Jay Moseley (Abilene, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Popsicle Tree (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

The ninth installment in the Dick Hardesty mysteries is a wonder to read. Although I have enjoyed all of the previous titles, I would have to say that the very early stories occasionally exhibited some thin spots in the plotting and the editing was at times lacking. However, as the series has matured, these shortcomings have been addressed and this latest addition should be considered "must read".

Mr. Grey's mysteries are compelling because of the richness of the plots. He always provides a large complement of fully developed secondary characters, which allows for several equally probable potential suspects to emerge naturally. I was especially appreciative of the careful attention to details in _The Popsicle Tree_ regarding the behavior of Joshua, Jonathan's nephew, who has come to stay with Dick and Jonathan as the child undergoes changes in his care providers.

I can only hope that Mr. Grey will continue to add to this series as I look forward to seeing how Dick and Jonathan will develop as their relationship matures further.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Popsicle Tree, A Dick Hardesty Mystery, by Dorien Grey, May 2, 2011

By 

Elisa (Italy) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Popsicle Tree (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

I'm too lazy too read all the Dick Hardesty Mystery and so I asked for the books where the relationship between Dick and Jonathan first started and then developed into a family with the addition of Joshua, Jonathan's little nephew.

At the beginning of this novel, Dick and Jonathan are having a pretty good "bachelor" life together: they travel, they work, they have enough money to spare and enjoy the life; nothing apparently bad, if not that Dick is not really still convinced this is the life he really wants. You can understand his indecision in the way he ogles all the pretty boys he comes upon to, even if he has a good fine boy, Jonathan, at home all for himself. Dick in a way would like to play the field, and the "ifs" are still plenty in his day-to-day routing, even if he doesn't actually follow any of them.

Then suddenly Jonathan is appointed guardian for his nephew Joshua, a four years old baby; to Jonathan, aside for the pain of losing his brother, is like the realization of his dream: he has always wanted kids, but he was not expecting for his dream to come true, and above all not so soon. But Jonathan also knows that, even if he was joking with Dirk on building a 2.5 kids family in the suburbs, Dirk is not ready, or willing, to be the other half of that dreams.

Dick in a way surprised me: I was not expecting for him to put his feelings for Jonathan in front of his own personal desire. Actually both of them do that, Jonathan not wanting to force Dick, and Dick realizing that Jonathan and Joshua are an item and that if he wants one he has to take also the other. But Dick was even more surprising in "really" accepting Joshua: for Dick is not only doing a favour to Jonathan, he really likes the kid and while it's clear that Joshua is Jonathan's responsibility, it's also clear that Dick is more than willing to share the burden.

In the end, I think that Joshua, instead of destabilizing Dick and Jonathan's relationship like the most common plot would have implied, helped on the contrary to make it stronger, giving it a chance to last that without Joshua was probably less likely; as in an old fashioned romance, the kid in question worked as cement to the relationship.

Again, the personal subplot for me was more interesting than the mystery main theme; and again I'm not really able to summarize it without spoiling the fun for the mystery lovers. Enough to say that Dorien Grey put together a good numbers of possible suspects and that me, like him, until the end were not sure of who really was the one who killed Jonathan and Dick's single mom neighbour.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Glass Mirror, June 6, 2006

By 

Bruce Foulkes (Santa Ana, California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Popsicle Tree (Dick Hardesty Mysteries) (Paperback)

If you are into murder mysteries, you HAVE to read these excellent books. I was hooked from the first chapter. Dorien Grey's characters have depth, humor, and LOTS of sex appeal!! Whether you are gay or straight, these are a fantastic read!!!!!