Title: A Dangerous Man
Author: Anne Brooke
Cover artist: Scot D. Ryersson
Publisher: Bristlecone Pine
Buy Link: A Dangerous Man
Genre: Contemporary, Psychological Drama, Gay Fiction
Length: 97,063 words
Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
A guest review by Val Kovalin
Summary Review: Not a gay romance with a traditional happy ending, but a compelling and intense work of gay fiction.
THE BLURB:
Michael Jones, a young gay artist and part-time prostitute, will do anything to stage his first exhibition. When he falls in love with rich financier, Jack Hutchinson, he seems set to achieve his goal. But a net of antagonistic relationships and inner battles encroaches upon him, so that the consequences of Michael’s pursuit emerge in tragedy, leaving him having to fight for all he holds dear, and in the only way he knows how.
THE REVIEW:
A Dangerous Man is a gripping psychological thriller told in first-person viewpoint by Michael, whom the title describes. Michael is a volatile mixture of traits: he’s highly attractive, he experiences wild mood swings, and he has a tendency to get obsessed. Despite his complete lack of self-esteem, others like him and admire his talent.
He sketches constantly to escape the reality of his life. Unfortunately, his preferred style is unpopular with most art galleries, which sell traditional oil paintings of the British countryside. Michael specializes in edgy and surrealistic still-life arrangements done in pencil and charcoal.
The novel opens with Michael sharing a flat in London with his landlords Joe and Paul, who are a gay couple. Joe frequently travels on business trips related to the art gallery that he owns. When Joe is away, Paul demands sex from Michael as part of the rent.
Some intriguing reasons compel Michael to tolerate this awful situation. He’s tired of drifting on to a new flat where his life gets even worse. He hopes that Joe will one day decide to show his art. He needs to be desired. Finally, through complicated past circumstances, he has come to see himself as a prostitute.
Joe tries to help Michael by getting him an interview with a London firm, which needs some edgy modern art for its lobby. If Michael can make a good impression, the job will be his. Michael rushes off to meet the manager whom he will need to charm.
Jack is handsome, ten years older than Michael is, and from a wealthy family. Michael thinks Jack’s accent is “… a thousand notches above mine on the social scale.” Jack and Michael experience a mutual attraction, which sets into motion a complex plot with some tragic consequences.
A Dangerous Man is not a gay romance with a traditional happy ending, but it is a compelling work of gay fiction and a real page-turner. Things to praise include the flawless writing and the subtlety with which Michael’s tragic past is revealed. The London setting is vivid and three-dimensional, and the author has a perfect ear for dialogue.
Sounds like a good book but if I was reading the blurb, I would have passed right over. I got bored and stopped reading it half-way through and skipped to your review. It seemed like it was trying to hard or I got the impression it was trying to impress me with it’s high browness (not a word). When a net of antagonistic relationships and inner battles encroaches upon him Really? Who talks that way?
*
It appears to be no reflection on the quality of the story itself but one of those things where a blurb that doesn’t appeal to a reader (and this one must appeal to others – JMHO) can make or break a decision to buy a book regardless of its content.
Hi, Tam! Thanks for the good feedback on that blurb. I’m kind of fascinated by why blurbs work and why they don’t. I mean, they’re supposed to sell, not work against the book! And they’re so hard to write. The main thing that tanks a blurb for me is when it gets vague and centers on abstract emotions and concepts and it’s hard to figure out what the premise of the story is. On the other hand, I don’t want a big plot-spoiler! And short is good. Long blurbs make me impatient. Blurb-writing is a difficult skill, I think.
Thanks so much, Val – glad you enjoyed ADM!
And I’m sorry the blurb is a bit intense, Tam – if it’s any consolation, it’s probably a zillion times better than my own attempted blurb was – I’m rubbish at them!!
Axxx
You’re very welcome!
Great review Val. I’ve been and looked at this book several times after reading Maloney’s Law. It sounded quite dark and I wasn’t sure it would be to my taste, but your review has convinced me that I should give it a go. Thanks
Hi, Jenre! It’s dark, no question. But it’s such a good read! I hope you enjoy it.
Val
This seems to be really intense. I would have to read this when I had the time because the story sounds really interesting. Is the book available in ebook format?
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Tam is right about the blurb – very high brow. I did a poll several months ago about blurbs and excerpts; maybe it’s time I resurrected it to see if the readers still feel the same.
Hi, Wave, I totally forgot but I’m afraid it’s not available as an ebook. Most of the author’s print books are also available through Amazon.com Kindle, but not this one, and the publisher Flame Books does print books only. So at least at this point in time, it’s only available in paperback.
Yes, sorry, Wave – no ebook for this one at the moment. But it’s on my list of things to try for later in the year, and depending on what luck I have with trying to get an eBook going for Maloney’s Law …
Here’s hoping!
Axxx
Great review Val…
I have been eyeing Brooke’s for a while – but I must admit I was also turned off by the blurb…
I am getting this one today – I love your thoughts on the book…
E.H>
Hi, E.H., I’m glad I could help. That’s fascinating that the blurb is such a turn-off that it’s actually working against the book! I guess blurbs are more important than I thought …
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