Kirjahaku

On the eve of the first miniatures show in Dumont, Wisconsin, the world's most prominent expert on miniatures is brutally murdered. Local newspaper man Mark Manning decides to get involved in the case to help defend the closeted town sheriff, a friend of Manning's and a main suspect. But Manning soon learns he must uncover many of the town's dark and deeply hidden secrets to find the real murderer.

Mark Manning gave up a career as a prominent journalist at a major daily newspaper in Chicago to take over as the owner and publisher of the Dumont Daily Register, the daily newspaper in a small Wisconsin town. Living there with his lover, architect Neil Waite, and his nephew and ward Thad Quatrain, Mark's life in Dumont is usually quiet. At the moment, the biggest news is the forthcoming production of a new play by the local community theater group. Two local teenage boys are alternating in the lead role - one is Jason Thrush, a gregarious and somewhat egotistical athlete, and the other is Thad Quatrain. When Jason and Thad have a verbal clash during rehearsal, it is quickly forgotten by almost everyone involved. But when Jason turns up dead on opening night - leaving Thad to take over the lead role - the local gossip turns against Thad. Jason's death is soon proved to be murder and, even though he has not been charged, opinion about town has all but convicted Thad of the crime. Sure that Thad is innocent, Mark, with the help of his lover and friends, is determined to publicly clear Thad's name. But that means finding out exactly what happened to Jason Thrush on that fatal day and Manning's investigation may place him and his loved ones in mortal danger.

Mark Manning and his lover, Neil Waite, investigate when a proposed merger between the family newspaper, The Dumont Daily Register, and a local paper company leads to a fracas between society reporter Glee Savage and the other company's manager, who later turns up murdered, and the discovery of some questionable actions on the part of the paper company. Reprint. 10,000 first printing.

A marriage of convenience ... a crisis of faith ... a talking cat.What could possibly go wrong?In idyllic little Dumont, Wisconsin, the historic but financially troubled St. Alban's Episcopal Church has a new rector who plans to turn things around, a woman named Joyce Hibbard. Local architect Marson Miles puts two and two together and figures out that Mother Hibbard's husband is none other than his long-ago college friend, Curtis Hibbard, who is now a prominent New York attorney. And unless Marson is mistaken, Curtis and Joyce must have a marriage of convenience.Mother Hibbard wants to build a fabulous new church to replace the crumbling St. Alban's. Local philanthropist Mary Questman wants her friend Marson to design it. And Mother Hibbard's husband really wants the hunky young choir director, David Lovell. But then, in a god-awful development, someone turns up dead.It was murder, all right, and suspects abound. Once again, Marson's dashing husband, Brody Norris, steps into the role of amateur sleuth and sidekick to Sheriff Thomas Simms. And once again, Brody himself gets a bit of help-from Mary Questman's exotic cat, a chatty Abyssinian named Mister Puss.

A sentimental journey. A shot at stardom. A talking cat. What could possibly go wrong? The idyllic little town of Dumont, Wisconsin, is atwitter with the news that its favorite son, actor Thad Manning, is returning from Hollywood to try his hand as director of a film recalling his youth. A test scene is scheduled, right there on the town commons, with a cast and crew from Tinseltown. Locals are needed as extras. And there's even a role for a cat. Enter Mister Puss. When the big day arrives, though, something goes terribly haywire. The test footage looks fabulous, but in a shocking development, someone ends up dead. It was murder, all right, and suspects abound. Architect Brody Norris and his husband, Marson Miles, have been busy preparing to move into a new house they are building. But now Brody is called to reprise his role as amateur sleuth and sidekick to Sheriff Thomas Simms. And once again, Brody himself gets a bit of help-from that chatty Abyssinian, Mister Puss. HomeComing is the third book in the Mister Puss series.

A weight-loss miracle ... a dashing gay architect ... a talking cat. What could possibly go wrong? In the idyllic little town of Dumont, Wisconsin, wealthy widow Mary Questman adopts an exotic stray cat, Mister Puss, who begins to talk to her. At least she thinks so. Mary's young friend, gay architect Brody Norris, soon finds another reason to worry about Mary's judgment when she decides to help finance a bizarre weight-loss enterprise called FlabberGas, the invention of a flamboyant local dermatologist, Dr. Francis Frumpkin. Brody's skepticism is partially overcome when Dr. Frumpkin commissions him to design the first of a planned chain of FlabberGas clinics. But then, during a public demonstration of Frumpkin's gimmicky new treatment, a volunteer is gassed to death in a hideous mishap that turns out to be no accident. It was murder, all right. Suspects abound. And Brody is drawn into the role of amateur sleuth, assisting Sheriff Thomas Simms. Funny and tender, thoroughly tangled, with a chilling motive at its core, the mystery comes to a jolting conclusion when Brody pieces together tiny, overlooked details and helps Sheriff Simms name the killer. Along the way, though, Brody himself gets a little help-or so it seems-from the chatty Mister Puss.

A weight-loss miracle. A dashing gay architect. A talking cat. What could possibly go wrong? In the idyllic little town of Dumont, Wisconsin, wealthy widow Mary Questman adopts an exotic stray cat, Mister Puss, who begins to talk to her. At least she thinks so. Mary's young friend, gay architect Brody Norris, soon finds another reason to worry about Mary's judgment when she decides to help finance a bizarre weight-loss enterprise called FlabberGas, the invention of a flamboyant local dermatologist, Dr. Francis Frumpkin.Brody's skepticism is partially overcome when Dr. Frumpkin commissions him to design the first of a planned chain of FlabberGas clinics. But then, during a public demonstration of Frumpkin's gimmicky new treatment, a volunteer is gassed to death in a hideous mishap that turns out to be no accident. It was murder, all right. Suspects abound. And Brody is drawn into the role of amateur sleuth, assisting Sheriff Thomas Simms.Funny and tender, thoroughly tangled, with a chilling motive at its core, the mystery comes to a jolting conclusion when Brody pieces together tiny, overlooked details and helps Sheriff Simms name the killer. Along the way, though, Brody himself gets a little help--or so it seems--from the chatty Mister Puss.

"A wild romp through Palm Springs' glittery underbelly. Fast, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable. An instant classic." Tod Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author of The Low Desert Dante O'Donnell is white, gay and getting older every day. He has wasted his better years on starstruck dreams and the wrong men, so now he's working as a concierge for a vacation-rental outfit in Palm Springs, where the guests have far more baggage than what's packed in their suitcases. But when he finds a dead body floating in the swimming pool at one of his rentals, his own troubled past comes back to haunt him. So he turns for help to Jazz Friendly, a Black woman who, when she was a Palm Springs cop, nearly arrested him for murdering his husband, which he didn't do...not that he knows who did. Now Jazz is a struggling PI, her career derailed by racism. And with her marriage broken by booze, she's desperate to get custody of her kid. Dante and Jazz need each other to solve this murder...and to save themselves from personal and professional disaster. ""Michael Craft is bound to nab accolades for his new novel...one that weds the shadowy mystique of noir and the sunny beauty of the desert to winning ends." The Desert Sun "Michael Craft delivers an irresistible high camp twist to the classic detective mystery. A fast-paced and captivating opening to a promising new series." J.D. Horn, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Line "A quick-witted, entertaining mystery loaded with Palm Springs atmosphere. Smart, sophisticated, and ingeniously plotted. I loved it." Ellen Byron, USA Today bestselling author of the Cajun Country Mysteries "One can practically see John Waters in the background clapping with glee." Los Angeles Times "The author injects a lot of humour, campy wit and nuance into the proceedings, and keeps the plot stirring at a brisk pace." Thrilling Detective