MURDER BETWEEN THE PAGES by Josh Lanyon

Publisher:    JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. (October 28, 2016)

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BLURB

Felix Day, author of the Constantine Sphinx mysteries, and Leonard Fuller, author of the Inspector Fez mysteries, are bitter rivals and the best of enemies. Both happen to present when a notorious author of roman à clef is shot by an invisible assailant during a signing at historic Marlborough Bookstore.

Even if they weren’t both suspects, it’s the perfect opportunity to match wits and sleuthing skills.

If only the murderer was equally amused.

Review written by Christopher Hawthorne Moss

This is a satisfying murder mystery that takes place in the late 40s and involves a number of mystery writers and critics in the Los Angeles area. It is a tongue-in-cheek effort by prolific and well respected “gay” novelist Josh Lanyon, one of my favorite authors. That I found out while reading this book that Josh is a lady came as a shock, but since I used to be one of those two I will accept when in fact she always was.

The first thing you learn about these mystery writers is that they were all in World War II and that that informs their work as much as the time. Felix and Leonard have known each other for a while, and they also know the murdered novelist who is at the Marlborough bookstore where most of the action takes place. In typical fashion, the novelists have a jaundiced view of one another, but that doesn’t stop Felix and Leonard from finding their way into each other’s beds.   Lanyon is very good at characterizing the novelists with their combination of admiration for and distaste for the characters in their mystery novels. So go ahead and read this one, enjoy it and see if you can detect the distaff influence.