Book Review: Name Games

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Name Games     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Michael Craft
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Gay / Lesbian
Series: Mark Manning
St. Martin’s, Jun 2000, $23.95, 320 pp.

After winning all the highest honors and accolades from fans and peers for his national news-breaking stories, reporter Mark Manning retires from the prestigious Chicago Journal. e moves to Dumont, Wisconsin to take on the job of publisher-editor of the Dumont Daily Register. Mark’s significant other, architect Neil Waite, has landed a job at the local printing plant. The two men remain together in domestic bliss while raising Mark’s teenage cousin.

Dumont is the scene of the Midwest Miniatures Society hosted by Grace Lord, proprietor of a local shop that specializes in miniatures. Grace scores a major coup when she entices Carrol “the King of Miniatures” Cantrell to judge the convention’s main event. However, someone kills Cantrell with the suspicion falling on the man’s lover Sheriff Doug Pierce, a closeted gay. Neither Mark nor Neil believe Doug is the killer and begin making inquiries so justice can be served.

Mark Manning is a sensitive and erudite character. Though the series is labeled a gay mystery, Michael’s sleuthing will appeal to fans of cerebral mysteries because of his intelligence and willingness to risk everything for a just cause. His relationship with his lover is compassionate and serves to endear him further to his audience. The entertaining who-done it that is NAME GAMES is well crafted and very complex with many viable suspects. Michael Craft is a gifted storyteller born to weave tales of entertainment.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner