Body Language

Rating:
Summary: Craft Scores Another Winner with "Body Language"
Review: The third in the Mark Manning series brings our hero "home" as he juggles with career changes, an inheritance, and his relationship with devoted lover, Neil. As is the case of the two previous books, Manning gets involved in a murder mystery that hits closer to home, however: the death of a relative. He becomes one of the prime suspects and must seek to prove his innocence as well as nab the real killer. Neil, as well as Roxanne, are only for the ride. An interesting blend of new characters are introduced who add humor, pathos, and sexual tension in a truly fascinating work. Another added bonus is the change in narrative sytle; this one is written in the first-person style with Mark "telling" the adventure. Although the killer's identity is moderately easy to detect after the book's first third, it is still a fascinating read. For one thing, the reader will never look at khaki in the same manner. I know that I won't

Rating:
Summary: Keeps Getting Better
Review: This installment of the popular series about gay investigative reporter Mark Manning demonstrates that a new locale and the author's improved writing skills have breathed new life into what could have become another drawn out series. Manning has grown complacent at his job at a prestigious Chicago newspaper. When the opportunity arises to buy a house that once belonged to his deceased uncle, Mark seizes the opportunity and returns to the town where he spent a very enjoyable visit. He also buys the town's newspaper and becomes its publisher. This new title rejuvenates Mark and he is all the more engaging for it.

Upon his return, he reconnects with his cousins Joey and Suzanne, and Suzanne's teenaged son, Thad. Of course, the inevitable death occurs. Surprisingly it's Suzanne, who has designated Mark as custodian for the boy. In addition to anti-gay hate mail, he is now saddled with a seemingly homophobic and belligerent cousin. Thad's custody is called into question by the town's local harpy (and she's quite a character). Throw into the mix that Mark is the prime suspect in Suzanne's murder, and you have a welcomed addition to this series and a main character you can really root for.

Rating:
Summary: The series just keeps getting better....
Review: This is my favorite book of the series. Michael Craft is definitely improving as a writer. This story is much more developed that the previous ones and I enjoyed the move to a new local. But... as much as I enjoyed it, I agree with everything in Drew Brainard's review below. With the exception of Manning, the characters lack depth. I too would love to get inside Neil's head - learn what makes him tick.

Minor criticisms aside, I too had a hard time putting this one down and can't wait till the next in the series. Great mystery - buy it!

Rating:
Summary: Who really did it? It wan't Me!!
Review: This one so far is my favorite. The suspence of getting to the next page was killing me along with the first murdered victim in this well written episode. I thought the writers attempt to rope us into the pages making us walk along side the lead character was a success. At times I felt the blood on my hands. It wasn't me! The characters chosen all had a reason to be a bit guilty of this crime the way he threw hints of hatered and unstable personalities our way. At the moment when you thought you had it solved there was a twist that dragged you into another direction. Brilliant writing I say, just brilliant. He did it, NO, she did it. Well, maybe she did it. Or perhaps he did do it. Nah! I am certain she did it. Who really did do it will be your thoughts all the way through this story until you reach the chapter where everybody sees proof of who did do it only to discover that that person didn't really do it, but the other being you had your eye on who turned out to be the killer was not actually the one you thought it to be at all. Make sence. You will when you read it. And read it you must. I loved it! On to the next.

Rating:
Summary: Body rock
Review: Utterly riveting! I read the entire book in one day because I couldn't put it down. With inspiration from Dame Agatha Christie, Craft has outdone himself in this third mystery in the Mark Manning series. I was slightly disappointed with the previous book, "Eye contact", so I was hesitant to read the third. Am I glad I did! I cannot rave enough about this book. I think it even surpasses "Flight dreams".

Rating:
Summary: Glad Mark Manning's Back
Review: With "Body Language," Michael Craft brings us the third installment of his journalist/crime solver, Mark Manning.

This round, we find Mark at a crossroads in his own professional career at a major Chicago newspaper, and personally chafing at the realization of his approaching mid-life. Mark decides to make a change. Despite the fact that it's only three years since he made the breakthrough in coming to grips with being gay, investing in a serious relationship with Neil Waite -- who's career binds him to a big city environment, Mark toys with the idea of heading for the hills -- or rather more accurately, the bluffs of smalltown life in Wisconsin.

Manning decides he wants to buy a newspaper and run his own shop. It's fairly clear that Neil is reluctant in his support of Mark's goal in it's 'idea stage.' Then, idea suddenly comes to look possible when Mark is notified that his family's homestead is back on the market (which he sold after inheriting it three years earlier) and then discovers that the town's newspaper is also on the market! Manning buys back the house, and then buys the newspaper.

Neil and Mark agree to maintain a relationship whereby each will commute to the other, every other weekend. While Neil obviously tries his best to be supportive, he's not wild about the whole idea. Yet, he's madly in love with Mark and will go through whatever life's adventures Mark needs to, in order to maintain that love.

With Christmas coming right on the heels of his move, Mark and Neil, invite Roxanne Exner, long-time Chicago sidekick for them both, and her boyfriend Carl Creighton to share Chritmas at the new homestead. Added to the Chicago group, Mark invites his only three living relatives -- first cousins, Suzanne and Joey Quatrain, and Suzanne's sixteen year old son, Thad. The party is rounded out by his newly hired editor-in-chief, Parker Trent.

In the midst of the Christmas celebration, Mark's new found journey to paradise is abruptly interupted with the murder of Suzanne, under his own roof. The story becomes a 'whodunit.' Three or four of the guests are immediately cast as suspects and Mark finds himself as the leading suspect when Suzanne's will is read and he discovers that she has left him millions of dollars (in addition to her son Thad to raise.)

The District Attorney believes Mark, the outsider, had the best motive and is hot to trot to have him arrested. Fortunately, Sheriff Douglas Pierce isn't convinved that it was Mark and delays the arrest so some more careful investigation can be conducted.

Manning of course, gets on the murder trail pretty quickly, but leaves a great deal of the investigative work to his new editor, Parker. Suspects abound: Mark, Suzanne's brother Joey, the rebellious son, Thad, as well as the long-time family maid, Hazel -- yes Hazel! -- who also stands to inherit a tidy little sum for her many years of service to the family.

The plot is one of sifting through each character's whereabouts at exactly the time Suzanne was murdered, possible motives, and town, and family history.

The story is well crafted and keeps the reader moving from one suspect to another -- each time being absolutely convinced that "this is the one!" -- only to shift opinion in another direction toward one of the other characters.

As the story pulls together, it's ripe with great small town flavor, a family full of secrets -- held onto for many years and some interesting layers of mystery to be slowly drawn out.

While Mark may delegate a lot of detecting to Parker while he makes himself familiar with the newspaper he's about to take over, Manning is ultimately an excellent detective who relys on instinct, dreams and memories to finally put the puzzle together.

The story is engaging and believable. Excellent new characters, with potential for a lasting place in Mark's life are introduced (hopefully with the first being an exception) in the unlikeable Miriam Westerman, the radical 60's, feminist-male-hater, Sheriff Doug Pierce whom Mark 'just can't quite get a clear read on,' and in the larger than life star reporter, Glee Savage, a 'Brenda Starr' brought to life -- straight from the comic pages!

Michael Craft somewhat effectively changes his writing style to first person narration in "Body Language." I'm don't personally care for it, but, it didn't detract from the story. However, readers often prefer to give their own voice and imagination to characters described in the more passive voice of a neutral third person.

Overall, I really enjoyed the many twists and turns and layers of story beneath story, that were well developed in this clever creation. Mark is a durable character who has broad appeal to a good spectrum of reader."He's a definite keeper!" A fine third round!