The Butcher's Son

Rating:
Summary: Strong enough to make me want to read more
Review: I enjoyed this book, but it lacks focus with two plots. The police chief is campaigning to become governor, and someone is burning down gay bars. And the story basically is this overlong prologue explaining how Dick Hardesty (the narrator) decides to make a major change in his life. I figured out the plot twist three pages ahead of time, and was pleased that Dorien Grey (the author) kept the sex to a minimum. As the first book in a series, it is just strong enough to make me want to read more.

Rating:
Summary: Grabber
Review: There aren't many books I can truthfully say I couldn't put down, but Dorien Grey's "The Butcher's Son" is one of them. The story of identical twins, a homophobic tyrant of a police chief, a series of arson fires in gay bars, and protagonist Dick Hardesty's attempts to put all the pieces of the puzzle together grabs you from the first page and doesn't let you go until the final sentence. It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, if you like to be kept on the edge of your seat by a good mystery, this is it!

Rating:
Summary: A Keeper
Review: When a book moves me enough to make me cry, I know it's a keeper. Author Grey had me from the first page: a deceptively casual writing style, lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, an eminently likeable protagonist, characters you're sure you've run into in real life, and a plot with enough action and throat-grabbing drama to pick you up and carry you along wherever Grey wants you to go. The ending will leave you reeling.

I think there are currently seven or eight books in the series. If you haven't read them yet, I suggest you do--and The Butcher's Son is a great place to start.

Tom F.