"Little Boy Dead: A Boystown Prequel"

Review - "Little Boy Dead: A Boystown Prequel" by Marshall Thornton

Fun, engaging prequel

Highly Recommended

Things better look up soon for Nick Nowak.  He's not on the Chicago Police Force anymore, money's running out, and his Private Investigator license is almost there.  It's 1979 and there's no room for gay cops on the force.

When he gets a part time temp gig for the Film Fest as a driver, it also leads to his being security.  But what he didn't count on?  Getting hit on by a hot actor, and being involved in a finding a critic's stolen wallet.  Then murder.  Never a good thing.

But that's how Nick gets his feet wet in the the business.

Marshall Thornton has released this as a prequel to his "Boystown" series, which is up to four volumes now.  And. It's. A. Blast!

Mr. Thornton has a snappy and dry writing style that suits the period and characters like a glove.  His Nick is a smartass man's man who's just broken up with his boyfriend.  In the series, he's outed and has to leave the force, gets his PI license and solves crimes in Chicago in the 1980s.

This is a terrific addition to the series, and we get to see a younger, less wise and edgy Nick, and he's a ton of fun.  The mystery unfolds in a crisp manner that allows us to enjoy the action as well as the character.  There's only hook ups for this Nick, no relationship to worry about, and the character is there for us to savor.

Read this one, then go buy the "Boystown" books - you'll love them.  Mr. Thornton is as good as any big-name mystery writer out there, and Nick is a revelation.

Enjoy!

Tom