The Magician's Tale

Rating:
Summary: Review from Germany
Review: "Farben der Nacht" nennt David Hunt sein Erstlingswerk, ein Thriller, der dem Leser eine ungewoehnliche Seite der ehemaligen Hippie-Hauptstadt San Francisco zeigt. Die 35jaehrige Kay Farrow leidet an einer besonders schweren Form der Farbenblindheit. Dies fuehrt dazu, dass sie starkes Sonnenlicht meiden muss, und so ist sie - und mit ihr der Leser - hauptsaechlich im naechtlichen oder nebligen San Francisco unterwegs. Doch Kay versucht, aus ihrem Handicap das Beste zu machen: Sie spezialisiert sich auf Schwarz-Weiss-Fotografie. Durch ihr neuestes Projekt, ein Bildband ueber die Stricherszene, lernt sie den jungen Prostituierten Tim Lovsey kennen. Waehrend sie ihn ablichtet, freunden sich die beiden an. Umso schockierter ist Kay, als man Tim auf grausamste Weise ermordet auffindet: Kopf und Gliedmassen vom Rumpf getrennt. Fuer die Polizei ist dies nur ein weiterer Fall fuer die Akten, der Taeter nicht zu ermitteln. Doch davon will Kay nichts hoeren. Obwohl hinter der Tat vielleicht ein irrer Serienkiller steckt, laesst sie nicht locker - schliesslich ist sie die Tochter eines Cops. Mit der Unterstuetzung einer Polizistin, eines Journalisten, eines Obdachlosen und ihres Vaters gelingt Kay die Loesung des komplizierten Falles - trotz aller Einschuechterungsversuche und der Ahnung, dass ihr Vater mehr ueber den Mord weiss, als er ihr sagt. Hunts temporeicher und anspruchsvoller Thriller fesselt den Leser nicht nur durch seine Spannungsmomente, auch seine detailgetreue Beschreibung der Homosexuellen- und Rotlicht-Szene ist fuer den Leser aufschlussreich. Hunt zeigt, dass Solidaritaet innerhalb dieser gesellschaftlichen Randgruppe ebenso anzutreffen ist wie Brutalitaet und Rivalitaet. Aehnlich wie in der "Babycakes"-Reihe von Armistead Maupin wird auch in "Farben der Nacht" das Leben in San Francisco auf eine Weise beschrieben, die den Handlungsort unverwechselbar macht und die Personen liebenswert erscheinen laesst. Man moechte mehr ueber Kay, die sinnliche und mutige Heldin der Geschichte, erfahren. Darauf darf man hoffen, denn der Autor, der unter Pseudonym veroeffentlicht, lebt in San Francisco und arbeitet zur Zeit an einer Fortsetzung. - Anja Froemmin

Rating:
Summary: A thriller that delivers!
Review: A fascinating and macabre tale of a woman and what she discovers as she tries to unravel the horrific death of a street hustler. Kay, a color blind photographer, has grown close to this young male hustler during her forays into "street realism" for her photography. I enjoyed the great character development and the way the author slowly peels away their layers. However, some of the subject material might be offensive to certain right wing types as this book has been banned.

Rating:
Summary: A thriller that delivers!
Review: A fascinating and macabre tale of a woman and what she discovers as she tries to unravel the horrific death of a street hustler. Kay, a color blind photographer, has grown close to this young male hustler during her forays into "street realism" for her photography. I enjoyed the great character development and the way the author slowly peels away their layers. However, some of the subject material might be offensive to certain right wing types as this book has been banned.

Rating:
Summary: A Fun and Entertaining Read
Review: A friend of mine recommended this book to me, and I'm glad she did. It's a compelling tale -- good characters, good plot, and an excellent description of a certain time, place,and culture. It is also very well researched, and I loved learning how some of the magic tricks were done. The is the first book I have read by "David Hunt" and I plan to look into others.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding characters
Review: A really great story. Will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning to finish this one. I'm eager to read the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Can't quit reading
Review: A really great story. Will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning to finish this one. I'm eager to read the sequel.

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: A truly fabulous read! The ultimate San Francisco thriller. The best crime story set in San Francisco since Hitchcock's "Vertigo." I read this book because I heard it won the Lambda literary award. Hunt's protagonist, colorblind photographer Kay Farrow, is truly a woman of our times---tough, savvy, smart, tender. It's remarkable to me that a male author could write in the voice of a female character with such authority. And the San Francisco revealed here is marvelously atmospheric. As a devoted San Franciscan, I believe "everyone's favorite city" has never been depicted better in a novel. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: A truly fabulous read! The ultimate San Francisco thriller. The best crime story set in San Francisco since Hitchcock's "Vertigo." I read this book because I heard it won the Lambda literary award. Hunt's protagonist, colorblind photographer Kay Farrow, is truly a woman of our times---tough, savvy, smart, tender. It's remarkable to me that a male author could write in the voice of a female character with such authority. And the San Francisco revealed here is marvelously atmospheric. As a devoted San Franciscan, I believe "everyone's favorite city" has never been depicted better in a novel. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Knob is so Childish
Review: After finishing the whole book in a day I still wonder why on earth the villian, Knob is so snobbish and easy. He should be tough and street wise but at the end the guy seemed to be so effiminate and easy

Rating:
Summary: hauntingly imaginative
Review: As I was reading through the list of books on this site, I came across this book that I read quite a long time ago, (2 years at the least). I remember being scared to death to sleep with the lights off, and thinking that Kay was just a wonderful antagonist.Hats off to Hunt! Isn't he suppossed to have a new book out? Does anyone have any info on this new sequel book? All that I can say is that this book kept me guessing from beginning to end and it was one of those CAN'T PUT IT DOWN EVEN TO GO TO THE BATHROOM! You need to read this book! (With the lights on, of course)!