The Role Players [Paperback]

Dorien Grey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2004

Dick and his lover, Jonathan, finally manage to take a holiday, and it is, to some extent, a sentimental journey for Dick - it is to New York City, the site of former adventures, and where his former lover is now settled in with a new lover, Max, who happens to be involved in a theatre company. So Dick and Jonathan fly in for opening night, but also arrive soon after one of the original cast is murdered - gunned down with a shot in the back, and ending up face down in a car park. It seems Dick can't even have a holiday without playing his usual role of sleuth, and there is also a different kind of role playing as well...

Editorial Reviews

Review

A dash of Nick and Nora Charles plus hint of "All About Eve," equals flavour of "The Role Players." -- Ralph Higgins, Wayves

Grey demonstrates mastery of pure fiction, not just a whodunit but well-crafted slice of history, finest novel yet. -- Jay A. Hartman, Knowbetter.com

About the Author

Dorien Grey a former book and magazine editor for a large publishing house in Los Angeles, was instrumental in establishing a division exclusively for the publication of gay paperbacks and magazines. He moved on to edit a leading international gay men's magazine, and is the author of the acclaimed gay mysteries series including The Butcher's Son, The 9th Man and The Dirt Peddler (all available from Turnaround).

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: GLB Publishers (June 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 187919449X
• ISBN-13: 978-1879194496
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,139 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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well done P.I. novel, May 6, 2006

By 

Josh Lanyon (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Role Players (Paperback)

Small town P.I. Dick Hardesty is vacationing in the Big Apple with his young lover Jonathan when he's asked by an ex-lover to investigate the murder of the leading actor in the play "Impartial Observer."

There are a number of strengths in this Lambda-nominated series. Grey writes clean, unaffected and very readable prose--and he's set his series in the 1980s, which makes for an interesting perspective (I'm not sure if it should be categorized as "historical" or not).

The best thing about the series, in my opionion, is that Hardesty really does investigate. He behaves like a professional detective. That may sound odd, but too often in mystery series--and worst of all, in P.I. series'--the main character doesn't do any real tracking down and deciphering of leads. There's no professionalism. Not the case here. Hardesty (or Grey, really) proceeds logically step by step to a satisfying conclusion.

I haven't read other books in the series, but I didn't find it at all difficult to pick up with THE ROLE PLAYERS.

4.0 out of 5 stars Detecting In The Big Apple, May 23, 2008

By 

British Bulldog - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Role Players (Paperback)

Book 8 sees Dick and Jonathan go to New York City to visit Chris and Max. Surprise, surprise, Dick stumbles upon a case. So we have the luxury of a traveller's guide to the Big Apple, as well as more romantic interplay between the totally adorable Jonathan and the dependable and upstanding Dick. Lastly there's the murder to solve, which up until the last seems unsolvable.

Rod, a beautiful, talented actor with the morals of an alley cat is shot dead in the not inappropriate location of an alley. There are any number of people who could have done it. Rod had made plenty of enemies among the cast and stage crew at the theatre where he had been given the leading role in a new play. Lots of suspects and about as many motives.

It was fascinating how Dick dealt with the issue of BDSM, a gay subculture of which he is both unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Dick's views resonated with my own.

Just in the nick of time before their vacation (and the book) ends, someone let's something slip, and a significant piece of the jigsaw falls into place. I was on the edge of my seat as the final scene, where Dick talks with the killer, played out. Though I didn't think the man who'd done it would do it again (to Dick) I couldn't be certain. I'm not giving anything away by saying my fears for his safety were groundless. A good job given there's at least three more books in the series.