What do You think about Early Graves (2002)?
Early Graves is one of the better volumes in Hansen's Dave Brandstetter series. The twists and turns in Brandstetter's investigation into a series of murders of AIDS victims kept me guessing till the end. As usual, Hansen introduces a number of memorable characters and revisits characters from previous volumes in this book. And his evocation of southern California is spot on, as usual. Brandstetter's relationship with his boyfriend, Cecil, has hit a hard patch because Cecil went more than a little overboard by marrying a girl he thought he could help no other way. This problem was apparently resolved in a deus ex machina authorial move at the end of the book (the primary reason why I could not give this book 5 stars). For me, however, what sets this volume apart from the other Brandstetter mysteries is Hansen's laconic and directly to the point evocation of the panic, dread and resultant compounding of the human tragedy of the AIDS epidemic in the mid eighties, which Hansen wrote in 1987 - not with the advantage of hindsight. Joseph, if you can read this, kudos !!!
—Steve
Good mystery (serial killer targeting gay males who have AIDS). It is heartbreaking. The mystery and the romance. Dave and Cecil have broken up... temporarily, or forever, Dave is not so sure. He is a cynical, cold and tough guy, and he's not into menage or open relationship, he is kind of possessive and with Cecil, he has a all or nothing kind of relationship (Like his relationship with Rod, his first lover who died of cancer and with whom he lived 22 years. But unlike his relationship with Doug, the guy he used to try to contain his grief after Rod's death. He didn't care enough to fight for Doug).By the end of the book, (the very last pages), the problem with Cecil is solved and we suppose they'll get back together.
—Edina Rose
3.5 stars. This book left me bemused. (view spoiler)[On the one hand, I found the look at AIDS in the late 80s interesting - the different perspectives Hansen chose to write. On the other hand, this is a repeat of a technique he's used in the past - taking one aspect of a character (suspect/dead person) and using it to expand upon gay issues. More often than not, these diversions are just that - red herrings. Still not sure what I think about this as they take up a significant chunk of the book. Here, too, we have two cases which are closed rather strangely by two young men essentially ranting into the void and providing answers too conveniently. Parallels in character lines everywhere. (hide spoiler)]
—Lil' Grogan
