An Echo of Death: A Tom & Scott Mystery

Glen Proctor is bad news. Son of a wealthy couple, he was once a teammate of Scott's, and for some reason he has come to them for help. Then he turned up dead in Scott's penthouse apartment. Tom and Scott are taken on a wild ride as they try to figure out what happened to Glen-- and why so many different people want to kill them. Complicated but fast-moving. Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

Mark Richard's fifth installment in the prolific "Tom and Scott" mystery series does not disappoint; and while it may be slightly lacking in character study and development, the suspense is rock solid, and the mystery is actually semi-plausible.Tom Mason, a suburban high school teacher, and Scott Carpenter, a professional baseball player, are lovers, who returning home one night to Scott's luxurious Chicago high rise penthouse, discover the body of Glen Proctor, a former teammate of Scott's. Proctor may have been dealing drugs or participating in other illegal and illicit activities, which could have possibly contributed to his untimely demise. From the very opening pages, Tom and Scott are on the prowl to find the killers. The only complication: the killers are also stalking them. Throughout, there are plentiful high speed chases through downtown Chicago, as our two heroes race against time and possible South American drug lords and relic hunters. I really don't think Zubro gets enough credit. He churns out great books that any true mystery fan will enjoy. Aside from the fact that his two main characters are two gay men in a relationship, this is not exclusively "gay fiction." It's not about the trials and tribulations Tom and Scott face as a gay couple (for the most part), it's not a weepy drama about true love, or coming out. This book is about two men being stalked, shot at, pursued, kidnapped, and a host of other exciting, tension-filled situations. Despite this, I know of no other way than to describe this as a romp. While the suspense escalates, the fates of the two main characters is never doubted, and you know, by the end, the forces of good will have triumphed over evil. In any event, fans of mysteries looking to try something new will rarely go wrong with anything by Zubro.

This is my favorite in the Tom and Scott series. For one thing the picture perfect (think Monette not Monet) couple actually QUARREL. Not just once, but intermittently. There are hints of jealousy, problems with communication--they almost seem human.For another thing, the action never stops, the pace never flags. True, the gun battle with Mexican drug lords is a bit much, but it's entertaining. Imagination is not Zubro's weak point. He shows plenty of invention in the fifth excursion of his very own Hardy Boys.But familiar problems weigh down this novel. Tom and Scott still do not have strong, distinct personalities (Adam Niklewicz's cover says it all), and their relationship continues to seem shallow and unreal. Although they frequently have sex they rarely exchange meaningful dialogue or simple gestures of tenderness. In his effort to stress the manly-man aspects of Tom and Scott, Zubro robs them of personality. They have no interesting flaws or weaknesses. They have no distinguishing marks or characteristics. But to be fair, in ECHO OF DEATH Tom and Scott are their most real. They cry, they bleed, they argue--and I don't remember them working out once. I could get to like these guys