How Town: A Novel of Suspense

by Michael Nava

Book Overview

Gay Los Angeles lawyer Henry Rios has misgivings about defending a known child molester accused of killing a porn peddler, even though the case against him is circumstantial at best. But research into the dead man's past sheds a frightening light on the murky circumstances of the murder -- bringing Rios face-to-face with a cold-blooded killer . . .

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060162074
• ISBN13: 9780060162078
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 244 Pages
• Weight: 1.03 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Just as great as the last one

I picked this up immediately after I finished Goldenboy and was extremely happy with that decision. I'm generally not a fan of mystery novels, but the great thing about this book is that Rios' life/troubles/struggles play such a large part which helps to establish an immediate connection with him. His story is given the same amount of importance and depth as the overall mystery. We even get more information on his background as people from his past (including his sister) play a large role. As far as the actual who-done-it is concerned, the story is interesting and I was genuinely intrigued from start to finish. Nava explores much more taboo topics here (such as pedophilia) but manages to not drift into a tone that becomes uncomfortable. I have absolutely no reservations about recommending this book to anyone.

Great mystery writing

Every once in a while I like to pick up a mystery novel for a change of pace. I remembered the author, Michael Nava, from an anthology I read a few years back about gay writers' childhood experiences and how they shaped the adult writers. I remembered Mr. Nava's recollections as being very well written and inspiring. This is why I picked up How Town. I was not at all disappointed by this book. Mr. Nava is very articulate about place and time. His portrait of the multiple worlds within the nation of California, from the glitz of LA to the trendiness of SF to the decrepitness of Nueces, is very true to life. But even better is his description of the multiple worlds within one small city, Los Robles. In addition, the characters are very well portrayed. I really did care about Henry Rios and worried about the same issues that confronted him. I even felt compassion for Paul, the child molester, although his actions can not be excused. This book is well worth reading. Along with being well written, the book reads quickly. You won't want it to end.

Another Great Story From Our Best Mystery Writer

Michael Nava is simply the best mystery writer I've ever read. His characters arise above stock characters to become people we care about, and his stories reach an emotional depth that many writers who consider them "serious" writers should envy. All the elements for failure are in this novel: incest, child pornography, child molestation, AIDS, national origin discrimination, the stigma of being gay, bigotted police officers. And yet from these diverse topics that would become cliches for a lesser talent, Mr. Nava produces a fine, believable story that rings true both psychogically and from a legal standpoint.As always, Mr. Nava doesn't waste words. A detective who drinks too much is described as "Gimlet-eyed." Enough said. And Mr. Nava's observations are too true: in the words of our old friend, Henry Rios, the gay Hispanic lawyer in this series of mysteries: "Society is a conspiracy and everyone who's different is its target."I read that this writer has written his last Henry Rios novel. Let's hope he is working on more good fiction.

A great weekend read

Just finished How Town. I enjoyed it and recommend it. The only criticism of the book is that I never felt satisfied about two things: 1) Why on earth did he take this case? At every turn the defendant, defendants wife, sister, police, DA,etc were on his back. Nava should have better articulated what was motivating Rios to take this case because I never got why he felt obliged to. Giving Rios a stronger motivation would have at least left me feeling content with the characterization. 2)I think Nava could have challenged the 'pedophilia is a harmless sexual orientation' rationalization shown by the defendant a little more than he did. In particular, with his dramatic ending there was a golden opportunity for a showdown with Mr. Windsor saying - look at what pedophilia has done to all these lives. It ain't pretty.

Real men seek marriage counseling...

Someone has murdered homophobic State Senator Gus Pena. Could it be Henry Rios' client, a troubled Hispanic youth? A political opponent? A member of the radical gay organization which Josh, Henry's HIV-positive lover now belongs to? A loving family member? Gee...it's a tough one. As usual the mystery in incidental in Michael Nava's fourth Henry Rios mystery. The real story here, the emotional meat of the novel, is Henry's breakup with Josh. And don't get me wrong, this breakup is rending. If you don't have a lump in your throat by the time Henry queues up Suor Angelica you must have a heart of stone. In fact the whole laying asunder bit is so very poignant that it feels calculated. And one thing I resent as a reader is having my emotions manipulated. Having established Henry and Josh as intelligent, sensitive, "exemplary" men who truly love each other, Nava needs to supply them with better motivation than (it boils down to) "I'm dying and you're not." A lot of people are dying these days. They don't all cheat on their spouses and run off with Aids-infected lovers. For me the breakup of Henry and Josh felt like a literary contrivance. Or convenience. Or both. But that's not what really dismays me about this novel. In HOW TOWN Josh says to Henry, "I want to marry you." Henry answers, "Them or us, it's all the same." In THE HIDDEN LAW Henry refers to his "marital discord." he buys How-to Save-Your-Marriage books. Nava has established a gay marriage between two "exemplary" lovers. Nava is a writer who has crossed into mainstream acceptance. So why does he play right into Middle America's worst stereotypes, especially concerning gay marriage? For crying out loud (because all gay men do), what is the message here if not gay men are emotionally fragile, unstable and incapable of monogamy? Shouldn't Henry and Josh work to save their marriage at least as hard as their typical straight counterparts would? Whatever happened to for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part? Reading Michael Nava I always feel like the little kid in THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES. I've read all the panegyric reviews, and I can see for myself the man is an excellent writer/stylist, but I keep wanting to point my finger and cry, "But he isn't SAYING anything..."