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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Hansen's Most Memorable Titles,
By
This review is from: Skinflick (Paperback)
At one time The Los Angels Times described Joseph Hasen (1923-2004) as "the most exciting and effective writer of the classic California private-eye novel working today." Hansen's best-known works are a series of twelve novels written between 1970 and 1992 that feature insurance claims investigator Dave Brandstetter, a tough, no-nonsense detective--who also happens to be homosexual and is utterly unconcerned about that fact.All Hansen novels possess a lean, driving prose, meticulously rendered characters, and plots that are a shade too plausible for comfort, and SKINFLICK is among the best. Originally published in 1979, the book finds Brandstetter investigating the death of Gerald Dawson, a holier-than-thou Christian who doesn't stint at delivering "God's Justice" in vigilante style--and who is found with his neck broken in his own drive way. Pornography store owner Lon Tooker, whose shop was vandalized by Dawson and his cohorts, is the obvious suspect, but Brandstetter has his doubts, and his investigation runs the gamut from pornographers to preachers as he searches for a sixteen year old named Charleen who just might have all the answers. Along the way he receives assistance from a very unlikely source: Randy Van, a sometimes porno performer with a gender-bending style. Hansen's novels are often witty in covert ways, and this may well outrank his other works on that particular score--but its the detective work of this knock-you-flat tough book that keeps the pages turning. Strongly recommended. GFT, Amazon Reviewer
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
a competent and different kind of mystery novel..,
By lazza (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Skinflick (Paperback)
'Skinflick' is my first foray into the world of Joseph Hansen and his Dave Brandstetter series. From the back jacket I expected an L.A.-based crime story with the lead character being an insurance investigator. Yes, I got this. But I didn't realize until I was way into the book that Dave Brandstetter is a gay insurance investigator, a tough guy no less. What I like is the way the author doesn't turn this element of the character into a major element of the story. No stereotypes, nothing cheap or taudry. And the story, about the death of a self-righteous and hypocritical family man, was also quite decent. Enthralling? Well, no. But quite alright, certainly in line with what the more popular authors pump out.Bottom line: a good read. I look forward to reading other installments of the Dave Brandstetter series.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
No 5 of the Brandstetter mysteries,
By
This review is from: Skinflick (Paperback)
Skinflick, the fifth of the Dave Brandstetter mysteries, involves the murder of Gerald Dawson, a church goer with a reputation for zero tolerance of all that he believes wrong. Imprisoned is the accused, the affable owner of a pornshop recently ransacked by Dawson and his cronies. However Dave thinks that the victim's family maybe involved. The cast of characters includes Dawson's business partner who has a penchant for young boys and girls; a maker of films of dubious reputation who has a liking for boys as girls; and a young TV who takes a liking to Dave.One of the charms of these mysteries is the ongoing story of Dave's personal life (so don't read the rest of this paragraph if you haven't read the previous stories and don't want anything revealed) Following the death of his father and chairman of Medallion, the insurance company he worked for, Dave is now freelancing, and he soon finds himself enlisting the help of another recently unemployed claims investigator, Delgado. He also finds himself coming up with a way of helping his widowed and very young step-mother come to terms with her loss at the same time as moving into his new home, having finally parted with Doug. Events climaxes with an even greater life and death situation than perhaps the previous stories, but the rest is as filled with the detailed observation with which we are familiar.
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