Private investigator Dan Sharp investigates the disappearance of three closeted gay men. When a serial killer stalks downtown Toronto, private investigator Dan Sharp finds an unexpected link between the missing men that even the police are reluctant to investigate. A meeting with the chief of police confirms his suspicions, but does nothing to resolve the problem. Obsessed with uncovering the … Obsessed with uncovering the truth, Dan enlists a small group of friends to delve into illicit goings-on in the local sex industry. It’s only when the next man disappears, however, that Dan finds himself in a race against time to track down an elusive, manipulative killer who is a master of disguise.
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Author Jeffrey Round has written another great mystery featuring gay private investigator Dan Sharp. I found the latest in the series to be deftly-plotted, well-paced and very engaging, hitting close to home for both Sharp and his friends in the gay community as he takes on a case to investigate the suspicious disappearances of seemingly random gay men in the city of Toronto.
It’s (almost) difficult to read the fictional story without harkening back to the terror that besieged Toronto’s Gay Village and community wrought forth by a serial killer from 2010 to 2017 with disappearances that received little attention by police who appeared to lack the interest in pursuing the missing gay men. However, Round makes it very clear via an Author’s Note at the beginning of his fictional account that although the story shares similar parallels with the real-life story — perhaps even influencing parts of the story – he’d submitted his manuscript prior to the arrest of a suspect in the disappearances and subsequent murders of eight gay men in Toronto.
What makes this novel stand out is the connection Sharp has with the local gay community, the camaraderie, and the relationships that abound. Working with his closest friends, Dan follows the leads that send him down a twisty road with Sharp himself is put in grave danger before ultimately coming to a climatic and satisfactory ending.
Peaked my interest from the beginning til the end.
Dan Sharpe is a Private Investigator who is hired by a missing man’s brothers. The police don’t seem to be taking it seriously … the missing man is foreign-born, Muslim, and gay. He also may have had a private life that his brothers were not aware of.
As he investigates, he finds there are several missing men. Their only connection he can find is that they are all gay. Dan and his closest friends join together to see what they can find. They question family, friends, acquaintances leading to a very dangerous place.
They find themselves embroiled in the underbelly of Toronto finding gangsters, drugs, torture, violent movies and assorted criminal types.
Soon Dan himself is in mortal danger in a shocking, terrifying scene where the serial killer reveals himself.
Dan is more than competent in his chosen profession, compassionate, and is like a dog with a bone refusing to let go. He and his friends are cleverly drawn. I loved the dynamics among them all … more family than anything else. The suspense at times is almost tangible and I found myself holding my breath here and there.
Many thanks to the author / Dundurn / Netgalley / Edelweiss for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction featuring a unique main character. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
4 stars
I read the Kindle edition.
Dan Sharpe is a private investigator. Nabil, a gay man, has gone missing. His brothers Amir and Mustafa are urged by Prabin to contact Dan for help in finding him. Joe, a Leatherman and Adam, an exotic dancer, are also missing. Dan interviews family, friends and acquaintances of Nabil’s. He searches Nabil’s room in the home that he shares with his two brothers. Nabil also was interested in Leatherman and was competing in some contests. He picks up a few leads for his efforts.
Prabin, Domingo and Donny, Dan’s closest friends, assist him in his search. They’re seeking Nabil leads them on a twisty road. Interviews lead to more interviews and clues are gleaned. They lead Dan to a sleazy pornographer who specializes in torture of his drugged victims, gangsters, a woman who does (near) violent S & M shows and other unsavory types.
In a tense conclusion, Dan realizes that he met the killer before.
This book is very well written and plotted. I liked Dan and his friends. I appreciated their relationships and how they got along with one another. Dan was competent and confident in this book. It’s just what a PI needs to be. While this was my first Jeffrey Round novel, it won’t be my last. I immediately went to Amazon to look for other books of his.
This timely and contemporary novel is a great read. Well done, Mr. Round.
I want to thank NetGalley and Dundurn for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read, enjoy and review.