Pretty Boy Dead

Kendall Parker Mystery

By: Jon Michaelsen

Narrated by: F.C. McAllister

Length: 10 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A murdered male stripper. A missing go-go dancer. A city councilman on the hook. Can Atlanta homicide detective Sergeant Kendall Parker solve the vicious crime while remaining safely hidden behind the closet door?

When the body of a young man is found in a popular midtown park, police and local media are quick to pin the brutal killing on a homeless gay kid with AIDS. But homicide detective Sgt. Kendall Parker isn't so convinced, even when the suspect is accused of assaulting another police detective with a deadly weapon.

City leaders want the murder solved yesterday and jump at the chance to pin the crime on the drug-craving teen. It's an election year, so remaining in office is their top priority, even at the sacrifice of the young man. Sgt. Parker isn't so persuaded and is determined to prove Hopper's innocence, despite the protest of his colleagues and its threat to the deep secret Parker has carefully hidden from his comrades for years.

©2013 Jon Michaelsen (P)2018 Lethe Press

A mystery twister.

The author Jon Michaelsen writes so beautifully that you can feel each of the characters souls with ease, truly talented !

Detective Sargent Parker loosing his ex partner in a car accident which the court declared that it wasn’t his fault but the depression of loosing him was eating him apart now have to solve a complicated crime with a rookie.
The story is written so god with twist after twist that makes it great and hard to put down.

Excellent narration of each of the characters by F. C. McAlister.


Got my full
recommendations !


Oded Ostfeld.

Gripping Novel

Loved it. Could not put it down. Well written, the plot's twists and turns were unexpected and clever.

Great read

Great detective novel with twists and turns

I received a free copy and left my honest review

A solid, good story

Okay, I read this book a while ago, and I didn't like it, not really. But I decided to give it a try as an audiobook, and... well... now, I do like it.

And yes, part of it might be F.C. McAllister's narration, but that wasn't all. I think I probably wasn't in the mood to appreciate this story that first time around.

This is a bitter story, full of bad, ugly people. It was hard for me to like the characters, even the protagonist at times. It took me A LOT to warm to Kendall.

There is so much corruption and hate going on through all the book... The story is very well researched and that is evident. But there is a terrifying homophobic sense to it. The police depatment, his boss, even his partner are really homophobic and everybody is throwing slurs all the time. TBH, the story felt more set in the 80s than the 2010s, particularly with the important part that AIDS plays into some of the events.

And I still didn't enjoy the dialogues. But the thing is, this time around I really enjoyed the story itself.

Yes, it's gritty and dark, and very difficult at times. But it is a good story.

intense

This was brutal, raw, gritty. I empathized with several of the characters in the story and was left dumbfounded by others. Hard to listen to at times, but worth the story. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters and story to life.

Excellent Listen!

This first for me author has quickly become my favorite mystery author! Jon Michaelsen certainly is a talented storyteller. I felt the terror that Jason went through as he tried to out run his assailant. His pain in being beaten to death and left in a drainage ditch. His death hits a certain note with Detective Sargent Kendall Parker. Jason was a young, good looking, gay man. Many in the department think he got what he deserves, just because he's gay. Being in the closet, hating that he can't live his truth in his life, Kendall, a gay cop in the closet, is determined to solve this crime. There's politics, journalists, homophobic cops and other shady characters. But Kendall and a few other characters keep me listening. The narrator is really good and keeps the story flowing. I really enjoyed it.

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Unexpected

I’m reviewing the audio edition. This is a not a romance but is a good mystery and is hard emotionally. The mc Detective Sgt. Kendall Parker is grieving the loss of his partner, Michael. He is living day to day very destructively. He is given a case that is nothing what it seems. There are a multitude of problems that happen while trying to solve the death of a gay former stripper. The secondary characters add a lot to the story. They are not always what they appear to be. I also think the narration by F.C. McAllister contributed a lot to making this story so realistic.

A complex, interesting take on a closeted, gay detective.

This novel covers a lot of ground. A closeted Sargent of Detective finds himself in a case that includes gay clubs, political corruption, homophobia, and murder a few weeks after the death of his lover. It’s an ambitious story that succeeds on many levels without using crutches common in novels in the male to male genre. Highly recommended!

Really terrific

My first thought when I finished this book was "I hope there's a sequel!" because I just loved and enjoyed it so much. The story was gripping, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I cannot wait to start his next book. I know I will not be disappointed.