The Secret Keeper [Paperback]

The Dorien Grey series of books are set in a slightly earlier time, in an anonymous large (due to the availability of public transport often referred to)city. The Private Eye genre is approached in a low key, calm manner, that makes the instances investigated realistic. Other gay detectives don't seem to worry about paying the bills, of if a client will pay, which is quite charming and a nice change. The detectives home life issues are also woven into the story in the secret keeper,which revolves around the antics of a spoilt,well to do family.

The whole series slowly builds the charachers and their close friends to a likeable crew you would wish to know. Dicks life develops and changes as the series progresses, and he matures from a bar hopper keen on one nite stands to someone who has to act as a 'grown up' at all times around the small child that becomes part of his family.

I have enjoyed these books, and The Secret Keeper: A Dick Hardesty Mysteryreally recommend the series as a whole, but I should advise you that 'sex, drugs and rock and roll' aspects of gay life are not covered here!!

It's been too long since I was last able to sit back and immerse myself in a Dick Hardesty Mystery. However, within a very few pages it was as if I'd never been away. Dick was just as quirky, Jonathan just as sweet and Joshua just as special as I'd remembered. Okay, I possess a good memory, but the main reason for me feeling right at home is Grey's skilful characterisation. Each of the three main players have their own personality and voice that make them unique and believable. .,

St Mary Mead, Cabot Cove and Bayport. These are the main locations where respectively Miss Marple, Jessica Fletcher and the Hardy Boys do most of their sleuthing. I've often thought if I lived in any of these places I'd get the hell out of town because of the high crime rate. I'm therefore in something of a quandary where Dick Hardesty and his unnamed city are concerned. Sure, lots of people meet an untimely end in this place, but I think I could cope with the high body count if I were able to drink a cold one at Hughie's with Dick, or buy a plant from Evergreen Nursery where Jonathan works. Then there's Joshua's favourite restaurant, Cap'n Rooney's Fish Shack. In short, these people are just so nice, kind and decent, I wish I could meet them and interact more with them.

Clarence Bement is an old man who befriends Jonathan, even asks him to do some landscape work for him. However, Clarence dies, Jonathan is convinced he didn't take his own life, and so the mystery begins. Things soon heat up when Jonathan is shot at, so making the mystery personal to Dick and us readers. If I were ever forced to name my favourite character in these books it would be Jonathan. | As the series progresses I've watched Jonathan blossom. Whilst he is now more mature and responsible, he has never quite lost his sense of wonder and innocence. I pray he never will.

Clarence's extended family is horrific. I got lost trying to remember who was who, but thankfully Grey gave us occasional reminders, slipping them in seamlessly, such as the below:

"So, let's see. . . Ah, yes. Uncle Richard's side, there's him, his wife Pauline, who died several years ago, and his three kids, George, Alan and Stuart. They're all crazy as bedbugs, and they all hate one another. A set of winners if there ever was one. Aunt Pauline was the glue that held them all together, but once she died, that was it.

"Uncle Richard is Grandma's favorite, and thanks to her he's never worked a day in his life. She was hell-bent on seeing that he 'married well' and all but arranged his marriage to Pauline, whose family had made a fortune in retail. Aunt Pauline was pretty sensible, and she tried her best not to spoil their kids, but it didn't work. They all took after Uncle Richard in the firm belief that actually working was beneath them, though frankly, I can't imagine anyone hiring them even if they did want to work."

Clarence's missing new will added to the drama and excitement. Those few who knew what was in the new will weren't divulging its contents, making me ever more curious as to what was in it, and who was trying to destroy all known copies of it. Quite late on I guessed where a copy was, or at least directions to its location. I felt quite proud of myself for working this out. This is a feature of Dorien Grey's work. If you pay close enough attention you can solve the mystery. Okay, I could have - should have - done so earlier, the clues were all there. No, I didn't guess ahead of time the identity of the murderer. When reaching the denouement of some whodunits I'm left thinking, "Huh?" Never so with Grey's stories. It's always, "Oh, of course!"

I recommend this book without hesitation. Most stories will only get one reading from me. Not so with this one. Now I know who has done the dastardly deed, I will revisit the plot and find those occasions where clues were given, but I'd not picked up on them. Well done, Mr. Grey for another totally absorbing read.

"The Secret Keeper" was an extra special treat for me. I had been an avid reader of Dorien Grey's blogs for some time. I knew that his creative use of the English language communicated deeply with me all his thoughts and feelings on such a variety of subjects. Becoming such a fan left it obvious I should finally start reading his books. As much as I enjoy reading I have tended to avoid fiction because even with great mastery of English language I usually find that fictional stories leave something to be desired. No amount of education and skill can bring about the wonder that can come from an inspirational story.
I was easily hooked by this thought provoking murder mystery and made up my mind to get myself some real time to read and enjoy it- bathrobe, slippers, and comfortable recliner. I found the characters and story line very compelling and was pleasantly not put off or distracted by the gay elements of the book. The best of books make us forget all else in the quest to find out what happens, and that was the case here.
The one two punch of a fabulous story written with the skill of Dorien Grey's pen left me floored. And the best thing about this for me is I realize this is part of a series, so I have a lot of great reading ahead of me.

John Bidwell

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