The Glory Hole Murders — Tony Fennelly

After a slightly grisly startthe victim was slowly murdered by mutilationthis first novel quickly turns into a solid, fast-moving mystery with a very cleverly disguised villain. H. R. Loomis, suburban family man, very public Mr. Nice Guy and possible rising political star, is found dead in the restroom of a New Orleans gay bar. Lt. Washington of the NOPD suborns narrator Matty Sinclair into helping him. Former assistant DA Sinclair, gay owner of a chic shop catering to ``fags and their hags,'' is to probe the gay community in the French Quarter. Sinclair soon discovers that Loomis was a nasty, omnisexual opportunist, and many people are not at all unhappy about his death. More murders follow, raising plenty of suspects, spirited repartee is exchanged and we learn some interesting New Orleans social history. Sinclair is in dire peril a couple of times, but he still wins this caper in style. November 10