3.5 starsThere

Another solid story, though the mystery felt like it was hanging together by frayed threads. Dave is developing into an interesting character who sometimes gets overwhelmed by the events in his life, like we all do. ( )

I am loving the Dave Brandstetter mysteries right now. This is the third of three titles that are being re-released in January, 2022. After this, it's one title a month through October. Joseph Hansen's Dave Brandstetter is a wonderful character—a gay man in the 1960s and 1970s (when the books were originally published) who is genuinely comfortable with his identity, despite the stereotypes and derision he encounters on a daily basis.

Of the three mysteries I've read thus far, Troublemaker is the only one in which I've been able to confidently guess who the killer was before the big reveal. Nonetheless, the plot is complex, with plenty of interesting characters with a variety of motivations: the architect with broken legs who's currently bed-bound, his new drifter/lover, his sister and niece, a pair of bar owners, a sleezey lawyer and the drifter's ex-wife he's working for/taking advantage of, a recently reunited husband and wife, and a whole stable full of rescue horses. The mystery takes place as a group of gay bars are putting on their annual Mr. Marvelous competition, which makes for a enjoyable side story.

This really is a series to look out for—both for its value as a breakthrough in detective fiction, but even more so because Hansen is a gifted writer whose plots and prose are consistently engrossing.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss+; the opinions are my own. ( )

Enjoyable mystery as long as you're aware it was originally written in 1975. There is animal harm in the form of the death of a dog during the climax of the story. ( )

Rating: 4* of five

The Book Description: Who killed gay bar owner and all-around nice guy Rick Wendell? Was it Larry Johns, the attractive young man found wiping his prints off the still-smoking gun mere moments after the murder? If so, why was Johns naked? And what happened to the large sum of money Wendell had just withdrawn from the bar's bank account? Hard-boiled, openly gay insurance claims investigator Dave Brandstetter aims to find out in Troublemaker, the third volume in Joseph Hansen's legendary and critically acclaimed Brandstetter mystery series.

My Review: It's always risky to read or perhaps especially re-read an entire series back-to-back. Fortunately for me, the noir tropes overlaid (!) with gay tropes whisked me past any potential eyerolling and gusty sighing over the flaws present in any book.

I've heard tell that some folks don't find Hansen's descriptive passages all that much fun. I don't understand this opinion. I can see, hear, feel along with Dave...and Hansen's words cause that. Since I experience Brandstetterworld so viscerally, I am verschmeckeled by reports others can't.

This story is a real downer for family-oriented types. Dave neglects his man Doug, the families of exactly no one in the story are anything other than vile, venal, and grasping...sounds like the real world to me. At least it accords with my own experience of family life. The mystery of who kills the victim is more easily solved than the mystery of why any of these people aren't dead at each others' hand. And frankly, good riddance!

Dave, of course, solves the crime and Justice prevails. The idea that someone would kill for $25,000 doubtless made more sense forty years ago. Now that's not enough to buy a decent new car.

What a wonderful treat it was to immerse myself in this series again. Now it needs to be made into a TV series. Who knows someone who could make that happen? Anyone? ( )

http://moloch981.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/troublemaker/ ( )