The Dirt Peddler (A Dick Hardesty Mystery, #7)

by Dorien Grey

Book Overview

Arrogant and homophobic Tony T. Tunderew, author of a muckraking bestseller, hires Dick Hardesty to look into blackmail threats he's been receiving. When Tunderew and a male hustler die in a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1611878497
• ISBN13: 9781611878493
• Release Date: February 2016
• Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Uncomfortable

I just finished The Dirt Peddler. Having read all of the previous Dick Hardesty's books, I'd have to say I really enjoy the series. Dick, the PI, is an intelligent man who doesn't take himself too seriously. The mysteries are interesting and an provide insight into the gay community as a whole. However, I have a problem with the character, Johnathan. First of all when in a previous book it was mentioned that he had started having sex with, if I'm not mistaken, his brother at the age of 13 it made me uncomfortable. Not only is this an example of incest, it is also pediphilia. In addition to this the brother was providing alcohol to Johnathan thus causing him to become an alcoholic. All of this was handled in very cavalier manner as if this happens between people every day. The only thing that bothered Johnathan about the entire thing was his brother got married and decided not to have sex with him anymore. Next, Johnathan is just a little too naive. For instance, when Johnathan's small fish began disappearing he couldn't figure out that the bigger fish were eating them. What would an older more mature person find in a young man who seems to be emotionally arrested at the age of 12. I could understand the relationship more if Johnathan were mature for his age. I do realize that Dick is probably in his upper twenties to early thirties - certainly not old. However, Johnathan's rather childish personality and the fact that Dick likes to call him "tiger" - something a father might call his son I just can't get comfortable with. So, even though I like the series and would like to read the rest of Hardesty's mysteries, I dislike the addtion of Johnathan so much so that I will probably not continue. The above reviewer wrote about Dick's slut phase being acceptable because he was always looking for Mr. Right. I just which that when he met Mr. Right he would have stuck to his principles, which I thought were admirable, about not dating anyone younger than 21 and he would have been paired with someone a lot more interesting and mature than Johnathan. It gets four star because I still think Mr. Grey can write a interesting mystery. If you have no problem with Johnathan's past and his apparent adolescent desire to please Dick in every way, you'll enjoy this book.

Human interest, humour and labyrinthine mystery, what more do you want?

Il just love Dick Hardesty mysteries. They have the quirky tutrns of an Ellery Queen mystery, the human interest and endearing characters of McBain's 87th Precinct and the wry humour of Westlake. All this makes for a very enjoyable read. Here an obnoxious muckracker is killed, with too many people with reasons to off him. Dick Hardesty will have to walk many blind alleys to find the perpetrator, whilst being involved with a former rogue "colleague" of Johnathan and his problems. A must read for those who love mystery laced with romance and human insight!

The Best One Yet

Book seven in the series sees Dick continuing to live in cosy domesticity with Jonathan. Though one mustn't also forget the growing collection of fish and house plants. Many of my old favourites from previous books popped up, including Jared, who, rather amazingly, finds himself going steady with someone. I gain as much enjoyment from reading the continuing sub-plot of Dick's relationship and friendships, than I do the particular mystery which is at the forefront of each individual book. This brings us neatly to the main plot. I often found myself confusing Tony T Tunderu, the deliciously obnoxious author who initially hires Dick, with Tondelaya O'Tool, a drag queen who appeared in earlier stories. The names are a little too similar. But this is only a small inconvenience. The spotlight of suspicion sweeps across a handful of characters, each has plenty of motive. But none seem to fit exactly. Rearranging things in his head, Dick changes his focus, and wham. The perp is finally illuminated. I particularly enjoyed how we were allowed to solve the case just before hardesty does. It takes a skillful writer to do this, because these stories are told in the first person, so we can only see and hear what Dick sees and hears. Being that one step ahead at the crucial denouement, made for a great ending. Full marks.