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Product Details
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Product Description
Product Description
Henry has relocated to Los Angeles, where he now lives with Josh, who has been diagnosed HIV-positive. The mystery involves Henry’s defense of a child molester accused of murdering a child pornographer. It is in Howtown that the series becomes deeply entrenched in the cultural and social conflicts of Los Angeles, and the relationship between Henry and Josh faces wrenching developments.
About the Author
Michael Nava is the author of seven Henry Rios novels, five of which (Goldenboy, Howtown, The Hidden Law, The Death of Friends, and Rag and Bone) have been Lambda Literary Award winners. He is an attorney in private practice in San Francisco.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Had me until the end.,
By
This review is from: Howtown (Paperback)
Henry Rios returns to his hometown to defend a man accused of murdering a child pornographer. Since his client remains ever elusive, Henry calls in every favor he can get. And the clues eventually help him believe his client. Michael Nava presents this good mystery that will make the readers think about laws and how twisted they become depending on the circumstances. I think that Henry Rios is finally alive in this book--maybe it has to do with the challenge of the case...or that he finally begins dealing with his past. The Spanish dialogue slows 'How Town' down a bit because there are no 'subtitles'. I wish the ending was better developed, though. A big scene occurs, then Henry is explaining the aftermath. Feels like a cheap shot to me.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great weekend read,
By A Customer
This review is from: How Town (Mass Market Paperback)
Just finished How Town. I enjoyed it and recommend it. The only criticism of the book is that I never felt satisfied about two things: 1) Why on earth did he take this case? At every turn the defendant, defendants wife, sister, police, DA,etc were on his back. Nava should have better articulated what was motivating Rios to take this case because I never got why he felt obliged to. Giving Rios a stronger motivation would have at least left me feeling content with the characterization. 2)I think Nava could have challenged the 'pedophilia is a harmless sexual orientation' rationalization shown by the defendant a little more than he did. In particular, with his dramatic ending there was a golden opportunity for a showdown with Mr. Windsor saying - look at what pedophilia has done to all these lives. It ain't pretty.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Real men seek marriage counseling...,
By A Customer
This review is from: How Town (Mass Market Paperback)
Someone has murdered homophobic State Senator Gus Pena. Could it be Henry Rios' client, a troubled Hispanic youth? A political opponent? A member of the radical gay organization which Josh, Henry's HIV-positive lover now belongs to? A loving family member? Gee...it's a tough one. As usual the mystery in incidental in Michael Nava's fourth Henry Rios mystery. The real story here, the emotional meat of the novel, is Henry's breakup with Josh. And don't get me wrong, this breakup is rending. If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time Henry queues up Suor Angelica you must have a heart of stone. In fact the whole laying asunder bit is so very poignant that it feels calculated. And one thing I resent as a reader is having my emotions manipulated. Having established Henry and Josh as intelligent, sensitive, "exemplary" men who truly love each other, Nava needs to supply them with better motivation than (it boils down to) "I'm dying and you're not." A lot of people are dying these days. They don't all cheat on their spouses and run off with Aids-infected lovers. For me the breakup of Henry and Josh felt like a literary contrivance. Or convenience. Or both. But that's not what really dismays me about this novel. In HOW TOWN Josh says to Henry, "I want to marry you." Henry answers, "Them or us, it's all the same." In THE HIDDEN LAW Henry refers to his "marital discord." he buys How-to Save-Your-Marriage books. Nava has established a gay marriage between two "exemplary" lovers. Nava is a writer who has crossed into mainstream acceptance. So why does he play right into Middle America's worst stereotypes, especially concerning gay marriage? For crying out loud (because all gay men do), what is the message here if not gay men are emotionally fragile, unstable and incapable of monogamy? Shouldn't Henry and Josh work to save their marriage at least as hard as their typical straight counterparts would? Whatever happened to for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part? Reading Michael Nava I always feel like the little kid in THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES. I've read all the panegyric reviews, and I can see for myself the man is an excellent writer/stylist, but I keep wanting to point my finger and cry, "But he isn't SAYING anything..."
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