A Body to Dye for

Michaels's debut sinks under a load of leaden quips and the inexorable whimsy of the narrator, Stan Kraychik. A gay hairdresser at a chic Boston salon, Stan is attracted to Roger Fayerbrock, a forest ranger from Yosemite National Park visiting wealthy, flamboyant Calvin Redding. Invited to Calvin's posh apartment for drinks, Stan arrives to find his host hysterical and the handsome visitor murdered. Calvin accuses Stan of the crime, fueling the latter's determination to prove his rival guilty and, incidentally, to impress the macho detective in charge of the investigation. The self-imposed task takes Stan to California, where he learns that Roger came to Boston on a secret government assignment, suggesting the real motive for his murder. Back home, Stan solves the mystery and fastens his romantic hopes on the homicide lieutenant despite his slim chances. This story is likely to offend many, especially gay readers, as Stan represents a homosexual stereotype rejected by most years ago. (June)