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Paperback
Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK
After a disastrous stint as stage manager at a Catholic college, Nicky D'Amico moves back to New York to get his life in order. The good Company's all-male production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is a little unorthodox, but he's thrilled about working with some of his old college friends.
This midwinter production of Dream soon becomes a nightmare when one of the actors is found dead behind the theater. It's clear that the murderer is someone with the production–one of them!
The show must go on, but with someone hiding liquor bottles all over the set, more than one diva with an untrustworthy entourage, and two cute guys vying for his affections, Nicky has his hands full. Everyone is a suspect, and Nicky must figure out who the killer is–before it's curtains for another cast member.
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| Character-driven entertaining mystery |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Nicky D'Amico is again acting as stage manager for an amateur theatre production, this one an all-male remake of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by a theatre company made up primarily of his friends from his college days. Among them are Marcus, his former boyfriend, who has reported reformed from his earlier substance abuse problems, and Alex, Marcus' best friend and confidant. When one of the troupe is found dead in the alley adjoining the theatre, with an icicle jabbed into his neck, the remaining members of the company try to reconcile their grief with the tradition that "The show must go on", leaving some nerves rather raw, with the realization that the murderer is likely among them.
With many of my former gay mystery novelists retired or cutting back, I want very much to find a new series to which I can develop a loyalty. This is the second installment in the "Nicky D'Amico" series for Zito, and, although well written and entertaining, it is a bit different from most in the genre. They are definitely more character (than event) driven, with the numerous, detailed characterizations off-putting to some readers, but I happen to like his style, though it took some getting used to. Of course, NYC amateur theatre being what it is, some of the characters are a bit peculiar, but you don't ever get the impression that some are there strictly for comic relief, although there are indeed numerous funny moments. Being a former NYer, I also think he captured the reality of living in a small apartment surrounded by "colorful" neighbors quite well, though I think his portrayal of NYPD's detectives is a bit unrealistic.
Overall, a fast-paced light read, which I recommend. Looking forward to the third in his series, which has a preview at the end of this book. Four stars out of five.
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| OK, no more. |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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The first book in this series, 'A Habit For Death' was a decent summer read. So, I tried the second in the series. Too many characters, too poorly drawn to remember and it drags. I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't the fun it should've been.
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| A third book? |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I like Nicky and hope to see more of him. I hope Mr. Zito decides to write another mystery with a Christmas holiday setting. Where is "Deck the Halls"? Anyone else curious???
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| Laugh Out Loud Funny |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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ICE IN HIS VEINS is the second Nicky D'Amico mystery from Chuck Zito. Theatrical stage manager Nicky has returned to New York City and been roped into stage-managing for a group of college friends who are putting on an all-male production of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
When one of his oldest friends turns up dead, with an icicle protruding from a bloody wound, Nicky has to figure out who dunnit in order to keep the show going on-- and to clear his two potential suitors from suspicion. Zito's in control of both his plot and his humor here, which is often laugh-out-loud funny.
Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)
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| LOVED IT!! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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As in all great series, it's all about the characters. And in Zito's second installment of the Nicky D'Amico series, he has fully delivered on my desire for more insight into my new favorite characters: Nicky, Paolo and Roger. With all due respect to Nicky, who remains the one with whom I can identify (even more so in this book, due to the unabashed sharing of his fantasies and vulnerabilities), I was dying for the return of Paolo, whose unbridled passion, energy and opinionated attitude often offends people and gets him into trouble, but earns him a lot of my respect (and my envy) for his ability to unapologetically be himself. If you're looking for some excitement, I highly recommend these books. Think you're not a mystery fan? You'll fall in love with the characters and you won't even notice!
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