Book Review: One Dead Drag Queen

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

One Dead Drag Queen     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Mark Richard Zubro
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Gay / Lesbian   Amateur Sleuth
Series: Tom and Scott Mysteries # 8
St. Martin's, Aug 2000, $22.95, 256 pp.

They have been a happily married, faithful couple for years. Scot Carpenter is a well-known professional baseball pitcher while his spouse Tom Mason is an English teacher. They hid their sexual preference and their relationship out of fear for their careers, especially the athletic Scott. However, unable to hide any longer, they reveal their relationship to the world and to their sock and joy, most everyone supports them.

Tom and Scott begin to openly support gay rights, but soon become symbols and targets of the opponents. Things begin to turn ugly forcing Scott to hire bodyguards. Scott assumed that he, being the more public figure, would be the target if tragedy struck. Instead, while Tom is at the Human Services Clinic, a series of bombs go off destroying a whole block, killing many people. Tom is lucky to survive, but is badly injured. Scott wonders if Tom ultimately was the target. He begins his own investigation that will lead to a dangerous person with a deadly goal who will do anything to attain it.

ONE DEAD DRAG QUEEN is as much a relationship drama as it is an amateur sleuth mystery. The tale stars two heroic, realistic males trying to make the world a better place. Mark Richard Zubro has written a mystery inside the mystery. The technique can slow down a story line, but works extremely well in this plot because the author never loses sight of the main theme and ties the subplot back to it. By providing color and insight, the secondary characters are vital to the beat of the tale and lead to a special treat for readers.

Harriet Klausner

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