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katieinca's review
3.0
As a book, terrific. As a mystery novel... okay. So if you're in it for the characters (particularly Henry and his friend Larry, who's facing down AIDS and a not too distant death) or the lines (e.g. "her face was the color of exhaustion"), then dive on in. But the jacket and genre conventions point strongly at Henry's client's innocence (as does an early interview detail that apparently wasn't even a typo?) but none of the characters are even willing to consider the possibility until halfway through the book and if that is likely to drive you nuts, maybe skip to book 3.
laura_liisa's review
4.0
I had trouble deciding the rating for this book. During most of the first half of the book, I was ready to give it five stars. I liked Henry Rios, the writing was great and the actual mystery around the crime was good. The story was engaging and pleasantly fast-paced.
Spoiler
The flow of the story slowed down after Jim Pears tried to commit suicide about halfway through the book.I was hoping for justice to be served and that there would be a more satisfying and happy ending, but I still enjoyed the book a lot and am interested in continuing with the series.
shile87's review
3.0
3.5 stars
The air was clearer in the valley but there was decay here, too; but with none of the fallen-angel glamour of Hollywood. Rather, it lay in the crumbling foundations of jerry-built condominium complexes, condemned drive-ins and bowling alleys, paint blistering from shops on the verge of bankruptcy. The detritus of the good life. It was easy to feel the ghost town just beneath the facade of affluence.
I am hooked!
The writing in this series is raw,bold, no nonsense and in your face. Sometimes it is hard to get through but totally worth it. It is also sad and depressing, DC comics brody type. This one was first published in 1988, it has that authentic feel of that period.
Here Henry Rios is representing a young guy accused of murder. The courtroom scenes felt so real, the interactions between Henry and the accused were Very heartbreaking. The mystery of it all was engaging and had some twists and turns that kept me glued to the end. It is Law & Order SVU on steroids. The story also gives us a glimpse of the AIDS crisis, homophobia which was really heartbreaking to read.
I still don't really know Henry Rios, his character is still not developed. We are slowly getting a glimpse of who he is, i hope as the series continues, His character will also grow. The same goes for the other characters, they are not well developed and they often get thrown into the story without proper introduction. I like to believe that this will eventually be improved in the newer versions.
Overall it was a good story, MN knows how to write an entertaining mystery, but as a result of that some parts remained underdeveloped. I am not buying the Josh and Henry story, where did all that come from?
Looking forward to the next one.
The air was clearer in the valley but there was decay here, too; but with none of the fallen-angel glamour of Hollywood. Rather, it lay in the crumbling foundations of jerry-built condominium complexes, condemned drive-ins and bowling alleys, paint blistering from shops on the verge of bankruptcy. The detritus of the good life. It was easy to feel the ghost town just beneath the facade of affluence.
I am hooked!
The writing in this series is raw,bold, no nonsense and in your face. Sometimes it is hard to get through but totally worth it. It is also sad and depressing, DC comics brody type. This one was first published in 1988, it has that authentic feel of that period.
Here Henry Rios is representing a young guy accused of murder. The courtroom scenes felt so real, the interactions between Henry and the accused were Very heartbreaking. The mystery of it all was engaging and had some twists and turns that kept me glued to the end. It is Law & Order SVU on steroids. The story also gives us a glimpse of the AIDS crisis, homophobia which was really heartbreaking to read.
I still don't really know Henry Rios, his character is still not developed. We are slowly getting a glimpse of who he is, i hope as the series continues, His character will also grow. The same goes for the other characters, they are not well developed and they often get thrown into the story without proper introduction. I like to believe that this will eventually be improved in the newer versions.
Overall it was a good story, MN knows how to write an entertaining mystery, but as a result of that some parts remained underdeveloped. I am not buying the Josh and Henry story, where did all that come from?
Looking forward to the next one.
kfrench1008's review
4.0
Not quite as good as Lay Your Sleeping Head (a little too much courtroom drama in the first half) but still an excellent crime novel.
lennatheunicorncat's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gore, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Gun violence, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Suicide, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Rape, and Religious bigotry
munchin's review
5.0
Better than I remember it. Michael Nava is by far my favorite mystery author. He takes time to develop characters over the course of the series rather than simply revealing plot point after plot point.
madgirl's review
5.0
Another great book in this series. It brings in issues related to the AIDS epidemic in the early 80s, and continues to be a realistic legal mystery/procedural.
tangleroot_eli's review
4.0
When I decided it was time to reread the Henry Rios books, I realized I hadn't actually read all of them, so I'm catching up.
This series stands up a lot better than other LGBT mystery series written around this time. Because Henry, Josh, Freeman, et al. are such complex and interesting characters, the books don't feel dated, even though some of the language is cringe-inducing and the conversation around queer issues is very different than the one we're having now. Unfortunately, a gay Latino attorney dealing with homophobia and racism in America will always be timely.
Also, there's a murder, and a suspect, and because Henry Rios is very good at what he does, watching the actual, you know, plot aspects of the book play out provides a highly entertaining balance to the deeper social issues.
This series stands up a lot better than other LGBT mystery series written around this time. Because Henry, Josh, Freeman, et al. are such complex and interesting characters, the books don't feel dated, even though some of the language is cringe-inducing and the conversation around queer issues is very different than the one we're having now. Unfortunately, a gay Latino attorney dealing with homophobia and racism in America will always be timely.
Also, there's a murder, and a suspect, and because Henry Rios is very good at what he does, watching the actual, you know, plot aspects of the book play out provides a highly entertaining balance to the deeper social issues.
mattsitstill's review
2.0
Nava’s novel is filled with some well-done character beats and peppered with fascinating people. Also, the paranoia and fear of the time, of the AIDS crisis runs rampant. On top of that, his images are wonderfully noir-ish, wonderfully evocative.
The mystery itself is bland, however. I stopped caring about it halfway through but I think it’s because Nava stopped caring about it too. He doesn’t really play fair with the final revelations and sort of lets the plot get away from him.
The mystery itself is bland, however. I stopped caring about it halfway through but I think it’s because Nava stopped caring about it too. He doesn’t really play fair with the final revelations and sort of lets the plot get away from him.
writerlibrarian's review
3.0
The weakest one of the first three Rios' novel. Less about the characters and more about the plot, the why and who of the case. Which wasn't that interesting in the first place or probably a little too cliché for my taste.
The plot : Rios is asked to defend a young gay man accused to have murdered his tormentor at work by an old friend who is dying of AIDS. This is set late 1980's, there are no tri-therapy here, only death and ostracisms to look forward to.
This is the novel where Rios meets Josh, who becomes his lover. Josh who is mixed up in the murder, who is in his early twenties. Nava plays with the whole Hollywood dark sides here to mixed results for me. The whole Edward II metaphor didn't hook me.
So 3 stars because it sets up Rios' move to LA, his relationship with Josh but the plot is nothing to write home about.
The plot : Rios is asked to defend a young gay man accused to have murdered his tormentor at work by an old friend who is dying of AIDS. This is set late 1980's, there are no tri-therapy here, only death and ostracisms to look forward to.
This is the novel where Rios meets Josh, who becomes his lover. Josh who is mixed up in the murder, who is in his early twenties. Nava plays with the whole Hollywood dark sides here to mixed results for me. The whole Edward II metaphor didn't hook me.
So 3 stars because it sets up Rios' move to LA, his relationship with Josh but the plot is nothing to write home about.