Closet

by R.D. Zimmerman

Book Overview

A Todd Mills Mystery Kicking off with a brutal attack in a posh Minneapolis neighbourhood, Todd Mills, son of polish immigrants and top TV news reporter suddenly finds his secret life uncovered when... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385320043
• ISBN13: 9780385320047
• Release Date: October 1997
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Length: 322 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.2" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

'Closet' helpd me out of mine

I first read this book when I was 95% sure of my sexuality and trying to muster the courage to come out. It was also my first gay novel. This story of a recently outed gay man who is accused of murder gave me my first tiny clues as to what gay life is and how the coming out experience can be handled. Strange, huh? Who'da thunk it? Nevertheless, it made a real impression on me and I hold this book in special place becasue of it.The story is engaing, quickly paced and full of suspence as well as the intcracies of coming out in very public and private ways. I'll always remember the secret meeting that opens the novel as one of the most suspensful things I've read (probaly due to it's gay context and my state of mind at the time). Zimmerman keeps the mystery itslef engaging and quite difficult to solve. Although I was focused on other aspects of the story :) I was kept gussing who the murderer could be until the very end. If you're a fan of the series, you have to read this to see how it all started and if not, well this is a perfect time to get hooked. I give it 4 four stars because my state of mind when first reading it has clouded my critical eye a bit. But no matter, you are in store for a treat, in so many respects.

Good Intro to a Great Series

Although this is the first novel in Zimmerman's Todd Mills Mystery Series, it's the last one I've read. And I must admit that it was wonderful to finally get the introduction to many of the issues Zimmerman brings into the later novels. If you're a fan of "Outburst", "Innuendo" and others, I highly recommend you trying to find a copy of "Closet". It will be worth the effort.Todd Mills is at the pinnacle of his career; he is in negotiations for a major promotion at Channel 7 News. The only problem is the stress in his relationship with his 4-year lover, Michael. You see, Todd is not "out," and has always done his best to keep his professional and private lives as separate as he can. Michael, however, gave him an ultimatum: me or the closet. After a lively fight, and a short time to think about his priorities, Todd decides to choose Michael. But he's too late . . . Michael has been killed. Todd is implicated in the murder, outed to the world, and forced to deal with many thoughts and feelings he's never had before.In my opinion, Zimmerman's keeping the killer's identity hidden until the last few pages is wonderful. Even though I know that all the leads, twists and hints in the novel are meant to mislead me, I always fall for them, and am quite suprised at the end. The key to these books is to suspect everyone and no one. Just as interesting is the struggle Todd faces with being blasted out of the closet all at once. Years of fearing that people will shun and hate him for who he is, the impact on his career, and not fitting into the gay community come to the surface. Not all the questions and issues are answered, but I believe Zimmerman was true to the struggle being faced, and how people learn to lean on their friends and family to help them through it.This is a wonderful book from a wonderful series. Read them one and all.

Compelling from the start...

The Todd Mills series has been a joy to discover, this is the first book in the series. Zimmerman likes to grab you from the very beginning and keep you wondering throughout. I'm normally one to figure out Hollywood plots in moments and then am disappointed as my suspicions are confirmed ... Zimmerman has a few twists and turns that, joyfully, keep me guessing. Try it!

So fast paced it leaves you panting & begging for more!

This is the first of the Todd Mills mysteries and it does a good job of establishing the main characters while keeping the plot tight and racing.Todd, a star reporter at the local T.V. station, is unexpectedly outed when his lover of 4 years is killed. (Within the first 20 pages!) Todd's life crumbles around him and we get to help him pick up the pieces.There is no room for fluffy character study in this tight narrative style. We only grow to love Todd and begin to care for the yummy detective Rawlins who is assigned to his case. The lack of character development could be offputting to some, but I can see the need for keeping the story focused.After the funeral of Todd's lover the story picks up speed and drives for the finish. Our hero unmasks the killer in a terrific blazing finale. (Literally!)This is definately a MUST READ!

Compelling, intriguing and fascinating Gay characters.

R.D. Zimmerman's characters live in the experiences of many a gay man or woman. The same fears and frustrations of balancing one's professional and private life are set to print eloquently in this novel. The mystery begins with the tangled web of deception woven through the life of Star reporter Todd Mills. His life on the edge of greatness tumbles in a pileof rubble forced apart by ill timed outbursts of anger, confusion, and innocence. The characters and plot speak of loss, and of guilt, the twists and turns entrap even the most cautious. To the end you really never suspect the villan. The characters are rich and well established. The representations are genuine and reflect the lives of the majority of gay persons in society. Stereotypes linger, but only as a contrast to the stark nature of the plot. Each chapter will have you yearning to read on to assist in the clean up of a very messy life. A must read