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A Stan Kraychik Mystery, Book 1 — Stan “Vannos” Kraychik isn’t your everyday Boston hairdresser. Co-owner of Snips Salon with best bud (and occasional nemesis) Nicole, thought this day was an ordinary one. A delivery van backed into the salon’s rear driveway and accidentally spilled gallons of conditioner, leaving Stan (and hunky Roger) embracing in a gooey mess trying to staunch the flow, with little success as they slid and slipped with Nicole watching on with rolling eyes. Later Roger is found murdered.
Stan’s client, Calvin Redding, who owns the apartment where Roger’s body was found, can’t explain why the body is dressed in little more than bowties. Enter Lieutenant Branco, dark, muscular, Italian, (straight) of Boston PD Homicide who immediately suspects everyone, especially Stan. In an attempt to clear his name, Stan travels to California, takes up mountain climbing, eavesdropping, spying, schmoozing, and a little bit of schtupping, all in an attempt to find the truth.
Grant Michaels' zany series of adventures starring Stan Kraychik garnered multiple Lambda Literary Awards including a 1991 nomination for Best Gay Mystery. For this new 2019 edition, Carl Mesrobian reminisces about his brother Grant in an exclusive foreword, and Neil S. Plakcy provides an introduction of appreciation.
Author: Grant Michaels
Paperback Published 15 August 2022 296 pages
“A delightful debut with a gay hairdresser-investigator who gets his fingers into a lot more things than hair. It’s a promising start to what looks to be a successful series.” – George Baxt, The Dorothy Parker Murder Case
“What a pleasure to come across a new kind of amateur sleuth to tickle the jaded reader! Here is a genuinely originalbook – a breathless read with no side trips or rest stops, filled with intriguing complexities and an excellently satisfying conclusion. I like Stan Kraychik a lot better than Dave Brandstetter, and would willingly be arrested by Lieutenant Branco …” – Samuel M. Steward, Murder Is Murder Is Murder
“Surprisingly light-hearted, A Body to Dye For is full to overflowing with threatening phone calls, possible suspects and most of all … titillation. Michaels cleverly escorts his readers on a merry spin through straight and gay Boston, an overnight stay in San Francisco, and several days journey through Yosemite National Park. So kick back and escape from your all-too-real world with some kooky characters, feats of bravery and a happy ending.” – San Francisco Bay Times