cover image GOING DOWN FOR THE COUNT

GOING DOWN FOR THE COUNT

David Stukas, . . Kensington, $23 (256pp) ISBN 978-0-7582-0039-6

Readers will laugh out loud as Stukas brings his unlikely trio of sleuths back for a second mad romp (after 2001's Someone Killed His Boyfriend). Long-suffering Robert Willsop finally meets the man of his dreams, a rich, handsome German count who shares Robert's ideals of romance. Count Siegfreid von Schmidt sweeps Robert off his feet, despite narcissistic best friend Michael's attempts to win the count's affections (and his libido) for himself. The count proves immune to Michael's advances, and the Cinderella story continues as he takes Robert off to Germany, promising a wedding. Robert's other best friend, the Amazon-like lesbian Monette, provides long-distance advice when Robert finds strange things going on in the count's Berlin mansion. Keeping things totally festive, Michael has turned up to keep an eye on Robert and the count, with his homophobic mother in tow. When the count disappears during the day to manage his business affairs, Robert is lonely (shopping just isn't enough) and soon has Monette flying first-class to Berlin to keep him company. The situation gets dicier when the count is found with a knife in his back during a fabulous party thrown by one of Berlin's most infamous drag queens. Robert shoots to number one on the Suspect Hit Parade, and it's up to the shrewd Monette to save Robert's hide. Though the tone is high camp throughout, Stukas piles the layers of froth onto the sturdy frame of a clever, intricate whodunit. (Aug. 6)