First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery
by Scott Sherman
Our Price: $18.73
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.48 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Scott ShermanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-06-01
ISBN: 1593500599
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Alyson Books
Book Reviews of First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery
Book Review: A dalliance with murder...
Summary: 5 Stars
Skimming a few reviews posted here on Amazon for this book, I noted that several handled the summary portion quite nicely. I'll skip the summary, then, and speak directly to the merits of the book.
I've read several historical mysteries (medieval mysteries by Sharon Kay Penman, The Alienest by Carr, Deanna Raybourn's excellent Lady Julia Grey mysteries, and others), but rarely a modern mystery or thriller, and never a gay mystery, the reason for the latter being that I simply don't know much about that sub-genre of gay fiction. Given that, I wasn't sure what to expect, so was cautious in setting my expectations.
Within the first few pages, I knew that I was in the hands of an author I could trust. His prose was controlled and solid, and never over the top. That's significant because there were a few improbable situations. One example is that the lead detective on the case is his ex from high school (others have commented on that, so this isn't really a spoiler...I hope!). Good writing, though, almost always makes the improbable, and even implausible, perfectly believable. While I stumbled on that for a moment, Scott Sherman's steady hand kept me grounded.
The main character, Kevin, is immensely likable, and again it is Sherman's handling that makes us adore Kevin. When your main character is a hustler there's always the chance that some readers won't respond to him/her because of the profession. I'd be willing to bet that even those who aren't receptive to his profession would find Kevin agreeable, and perhaps could even see him being a friend. It helps that aside from fussing over his appearance (a necessity for him), he's responsible, thinks of his future and plans on going back to school, has boy-next-door sensibilities, doesn't take himself too seriously, and has a great sense of humor about himself that isn't self-deprecating. I'm excited and anxious to see Kevin grow as a character. Does he go to college eventually? Does he ever find himself at odds with his profession, and how does he handle it? (That question was addressed in this book, but the question is a far-reaching one, and there's quite a bit more to mine from it.)
While it's a cliché to say it, when I finished the book I was immensely sad - I didn't want it to end. I had grown to like Kevin, had felt that rare sense of comfort you find when reading a book and find yourself so drawn into the world that the author has created that it's difficult to reorient yourself when moving on to another book. When I did move on, it almost felt like cheating. Almost.
I'm confident that anyone remotely interested in gay mysteries will find themselves drawn to this one, and, I hope, its many sequels.
Summary of First You Fall: A Kevin Connor Mystery
Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Mystery, 2009!
When his friend's death is ruled a suicide, Kevin Connor--a hustler by trade, sleuth by default--sets out to prove a case of murder. It doesn't help matters that the victim's grown children, who disapproved of their father's gay lifestyle, are only concerned about their inheritance. But they are not Kevin's only problem. His high-strung mother has moved in with him--and she knows nothing about his questionable . . . job.
Scott Sherman has written for Newsweek, Genre, Instinct, and The Washington Blade. The follow-up to First You Fall, Second You Sin was released in October, 2011 in trade paperback and for the Kindle.
When his friend's death is ruled a suicide, Kevin Connor--a hustler by trade, sleuth by default--sets out to prove a case of murder. It doesn't help matters that the victim's grown children, who disapproved of their father's gay lifestyle, are only concerned about their inheritance. But they are not Kevin's only problem. His high-strung mother has moved in with him--and she knows nothing about his questionable . . . job.
Scott Sherman has written for Newsweek, Genre, Instinct, and The Washington Blade. The follow-up to First You Fall, Second You Sin was released in October, 2011 in trade paperback and for the Kindle.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.64
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Sleeping Angelby Greg Herren
Bold Strokes Books; Published: 2011-03-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.21
Price in other shops:
Tapas on the Ramblas (Russell Quant Mysteries)by Anthony Bidulka
Insomniac Press; Published: 2000-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.91
Price in other shops:
Mahu: A Hawai'ian Mystery (A Kimo Kanapa Mystery)by Neil S. Plakcy
Alyson Books; Published: 2009-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Price in other shops:
The Christmas Throwawayby R J Scott
Silver Publishing; Published: 2011-01-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops:
Mahu Men: Mysterious and Erotic Storiesby Neil Plakcy
MLR Press; Published: 2010-03-22; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
Three Wrong Turns in the Desertby Neil Plakcy
Loose Id, LLC; Published: 2010-09-16; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.99
Price in other shops:
The Dark Tideby Josh Lanyon
MLR Press; Published: 2010-02-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.91
Price in other shops:
Dancing with the Tideby Neil Plakcy
Loose Id, LLC; Published: 2011-03-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.54
Price in other shops:
Red White Black and Blueby Richard Stevenson
MLR Press; Published: 2011-06-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.78
Price in other shops:
Second You Sin (Kevin Connor Mysteries)by Scott Sherman
Kensington Publishing Corporation; Published: 2011-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.57
Price in other shops: