ABOUT THE BOOK

Heather Wendell had heard the shot and then seen a light coming from her son's room. She went to investigate because Rick Wendell should have been at work and found a young man, stark naked, wiping off a revolver with Rick lying dead at his feet. Rick was part owner of a gay bar, The Hang ten, with ex boxer, Ace Kegan. The accused man, Larry Johns, had no defence.

Had Johns killed Rick? Dave Brandstetter had to find out not only to do his job as a claims investigator for Medallion Life Insurance but also because he didn't like pat answers.

Dave's investigation led him through the local gay community and into the world of arts and architecture, while the police and other interested parties pursued different avenues to the truth and what they uncovered, none of them could have anticipated.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

"The Brandstetter stories develop strongly with a striking quality of measured calm" - London Sunday Times

"After 40 years Hammett has a worthy successor" - London Times

'Unusual in two respects. One is that the insurance investigator, though ruggedly masculine, is thoroughly and contentedly homosexual. the other is that Hansen is an excellent craftsmen, a compelling writer.' - New Yorker

'The most exciting and effective writer of the classic private-eye novel working today.' - L.A.Times

'Spare and stylish' - London Financial Times

'Hansen is to gay detective fiction what Sara Paretsky is to feminist sleuthing.' - Pink Paper