Light Before Day

Before I come down too hard on this book, I have to admit that I have read the first two novels written by Christopher Rice, and I didn't love them either, but I still am reading everything of his that comes out.

Rice, the son of Ann Rice, wrote this third novel and this time has grown up a bit. The characters are older and more mature, and it is a whole new gay world he writes about. It is a murder mystery set in West Hollywood (and other more rural parts of California).

I won't get into the crazy convoluted plot too much (it gets complicated) but it deals with meth, gay men, huslters, child pornography, and lots of other stuff that is the "underbelly" of gay culture.

And just like his first two books, the writing is a bit obvious and over the top. Rice is not going to be winning the pulitizer any time soon, but it is a good guilty pleasure. I am embarassed for him at times, but then again, I know I couldn't produce much better if I tried to write a novel. I keep hoping for each book to get bettter, but they don't and you can be sure you will see me buying his next novel again.

Grade: C+


This is Christopher - maybe he gets a B, just for being cute.