3rd in the Scotty mysteries. This one takes place at Mardi Gras. Scott learns that he has an uncle with ties to the Russian mob. ( )

My favorite book in the series so far! ( )

Not my usual fare but I was in need of something silly and this actually fit the bill. This has been making the rounds of my family after my father had picked it up (please see cover for reasons my middle aged, straight, conservative father's choice of book was curious). I’m going to spoil the plot for you now because it will amuse me.

Former stripper Scotty Bradley and his two lovers, one a PI and the other former FBI agent, now all working for the PI agency (Scotty is particularly good at this as he has true visions given to him by the Goddess when he does his tarot cards) have decided to take some Ecstasy for Mardi Gras (“Hello! Ecstasy at Mardi Gras is practically guaranteed in the Gay Bill of Rights!” so the back cover tells me). Cut to Scotty’s Russian E dealer turning up dead with him as a suspect until he finds the dealer very much alive and married to his Aunt, but wait! That’s the dealer’s straight twin. But then why is he at one of the gay clubs later that night, oh wait again! That’s the triplet. All former KGB of course. And related to Scotty. It continues on in this fashion.

Poorly written, terribly plotted, and not sufficiently steamy - Scotty keeps telling me how hot these boyfriends are but then all the sexy stuff keeps happening off screen. But it was silly and ridiculous enough to distract me from other things. Cannot recommend. I received the sequel from my father for Christmas. ( )

A bit of a mess with a bunch of inconsistencies, i.e. people commenting on things they couldn't possibly know anything about, random characters (who there's been no hint of) appear, the Russian mob is interested in some random pornstar/drugdealer, the main character falls into trances at the drop of a hat and "the Goddess" speakes to him (mumbojumbo by the way), and a rouge Mossad agent is suddenly the bad guy - even though he was in the room when he apparently shoots a guy from outside the window. It was indeed fast-moving though, and I must admit I enjoyed seeing where it would all end up. I picked this up because of its descriptions of New Orleans and Mardi Gras and those parts are excellent! It's obvious that the writer is a native - in some parts it can even be read as a guide to Mardi Gras! I might take it out from the library when I head to New Orleans next time! ( )