Marco Fontana is a private investigator, not a porn star, as his name might imply. Based in Philadelphia’s gayborhood, he also owns a company of male strippers called StripGuyz. Thirty-two, 5’11”, sexy Marco has no glaring faults, although his integrity and deep caring for people can cause unforeseen conflicts in his work. He surrounds himself with people he can trust, such as Olga, his wise-cracking secretary (what P.I. doesn’t have one?), and Anton, StripGuyz’ hot manager, who would marry Marco in a minute if he would commit.
When Helmut Brandt, a writer who believed that Pope John Paul I had been assassinated, is murdered, Marco is stunned. A decade before, Marco had seen Brandt at a book signing at Giovanni’s Room. Impressed with Brandt’s enormous charisma and self-acceptance, Marco had gathered the courage to come out. He has a personal interest in finding Brandt’s killer.
Marco’s investigation takes him from a sleazy hustler bar near City Hall to the top story of the Archdiocesan headquarters. Since Marco holds the principle that “subterfuge to solve a case is one thing but games between friends or potential friends or lovers is not how I work,’ he almost overlooks something important that could link a love interest of his to Brandt’s murder.
This fast-moving mystery, the first in a series, has interesting Philadelphia locations, wonderfully rendered dialogue, many colorful characters—and, uniquely, lots of heart. Murder on Camac is highly recommended for libraries with large mystery collections.
Reviewed by, W. Stephen Breedlove
Reference and Interlibrary Loan Librarian
La Salle University Library
