A Body to Dye For: A Mystery (Stonewall Inn Mystery) - Softcover

Michaels, Grant

Softcover

ISBN 10: 031205825X ISBN 13: 9780312058258

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, 1991

Synopsis

Hot water is nothing new for Stan Kraychik, a smart-mouthed Boston hairdresser who gave up a career in psychology to "shrink 'em at the sink" instead. When a vacationing National Park ranger turns up dead in Boston, Stan is implicated in the murder, and must find the killer to clear his own name. With an eye for detail and a mettlesome spirit, Stan finds plenty of clues, but he also confronts the police lieutenant assigned to the case, a man with little tolerance for the world of fashion and style, or for Stan's cheeky attitude.

With a sharp tongue as his best defense, a most unlikely detective uses even more unlikely techniques to close the loop and get the killer.

About this title

Review

"A delightful debut with a gay hairdresser-investigator who gets his fingers into a lot more things than hair. It's a promising start to what looks to be a successful series." --George Baxt, author of The Dorothy Parker Murder Case

"What a pleasure to come across a new kind of amateur sleuth to tickle the jaded reader! Here is a genuinely original book-a breathless read with no side trips of rest stops, filled with intriguing complexities and an excellently satisfying conclusion. I like Stan Kraychik a lot better than Dave Brandstetter, and would willingly be arrested by Lieutenant Branco..." --Samuel M. Steward/Phil Andros, author of Murder Is Murder Is Murder

"Surprisingly light-hearted, A Body to Dye For is full to overflowing with threatening phone calls, possible suspects and most of all...titillation. Michaels cleverly escorts his readers on a merry spin through straight and gay Boston, an overnight stay in San Francisco and several days' journey through Yosemite National Park. So kick back and escape from your all-too-real world with some kooky characters, feats of bravery and a happy ending." --San Francisco Bay Times

From Publishers Weekly

Michaels's debut sinks under a load of leaden quips and the inexorable whimsy of the narrator, Stan Kraychik. A gay hairdresser at a chic Boston salon, Stan is attracted to Roger Fayerbrock, a forest ranger from Yosemite National Park visiting wealthy, flamboyant Calvin Redding. Invited to Calvin's posh apartment for drinks, Stan arrives to find his host hysterical and the handsome visitor murdered. Calvin accuses Stan of the crime, fueling the latter's determination to prove his rival guilty and, incidentally, to impress the macho detective in charge of the investigation. The self-imposed task takes Stan to California, where he learns that Roger came to Boston on a secret government assignment, suggesting the real motive for his murder. Back home, Stan solves the mystery and fastens his romantic hopes on the homicide lieutenant despite his slim chances. This story is likely to offend many, especially gay readers, as Stan represents a homosexual stereotype rejected by most years ago.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Publication date: 1991
• ISBN 10: 031205825X
• ISBN 13: 9780312058258
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 241