Third You Die

Lambda Award–winner Sherman’s entertaining third Kevin Connor mystery (after 2011’s Second You Sin) finds the former New York City call boy employed as the casting coordinator for his mother’s new TV talk show, Sophie’s Voice. Kevin and one of the show’s guests, male porn actor Brent Havens, take a shine to each another, but Kevin refuses Brent’s offer of a date out of loyalty to his cop boyfriend, Tony Rinaldi. A month later, when Kevin attempts to contact Brent for a follow-up story, Brent’s employers and boyfriends report that he’s MIA. Kevin’s charming, occasionally bitchy narrative will appeal to readers of all gender preferences (“Apparently, I was the only person in the world who thought a pun based on a book about the Holocaust was in bad taste”). In his attempts not to endanger himself, Kevin makes a refreshing change from the usual risk-taking amateur sleuth. Agent: Matthew Carnicelli, Carnicelli Literary Management. (Oct.)