REVIEWS
FIRST YOU FALL
Gary M. Kramer, Philadelphia Gay News
Sherman’s witty novel is full of clever pop-culture references (“CSI,” “Charlie’s Angels” and the films of Barbra Streisand) and many amusing one-liners. The wacky characters, which include Kevin’s BFF, Freddy, an African-American gay guy adopted by a Jewish family (who peppers his flirty comments with Yiddish), and Kevin’s mom, who comes to live with him, are immensely enjoyable. There is a laugh-out-loud funny encounter involving Kevin’s mother... and Freddy’s banter is hilarious. Sherman has announced plans for a next installment in the series, and gay-mystery fans who read “First You Fall” will be anxiously anticipating Kevin’s continued adventures. Read the full review.
J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels mysteries
Funny, intriguing, and exciting---everything a great mystery should be. There's also a warmth, a passion, a sexiness here rarely found in novels of this genre. Kevin Conner is a terrific hero, and I'm looking forward to his next adventure. Scott Sherman is the gay Janet Evanovich.
Megan Hart, author of Tempted
Wow! Fast paced, sexy read with a hero I adored. I picked it up to read while my computer backed up and devoured it in a few hours. Kevin Connor, male hustler, was cute, sweet, sexy and I loved being inside his head! Oh, and Tony? Super yum. First You Fall is a great, fun read and I look forward to the next Kevin Conner Mystery!
Drewey Wayne Gunn, author: The Gay Male Sleuth in Print and Film
It's a light read, it's a pleasant read, it is in fact one of the best reads I've had this year. Though Kevin says that he has "about as much business solving a murder as Sherlock Holmes did turning tricks," with a little help from Freddie, Marc, and Tony, he turns out to be pretty skillful. One closes the book hoping that it’s not just author hype when Scott Sherman insists in his afterword that "Kevin Connor is coming back soon.” Read the full review at Reviewing the Evidence, the premier mystery review website.
Amos Lassen, Amazon.com Top 500 Reviewer
Outstanding first novel features realistic, likable characters and great wit. With several major gay mystery series having wrapped in the past five years, there is definitely a need for some fresh ideas in that genre, especially utilizing characters that are likeable, relatable, intelligent and realistic. First time novelist Sherman hits on all four cylinders there, and infuses just enough humor in his book to keep the reader smiling as well as enthralled, making it hard to put the book down even for a minute. Looking forward to his announced sequel, and hopefully much more after that. Absolutely recommended highly, with five hustling stars out of five!!
Mary M. Garavaglia, Amazon.com Reviewer
Lawrence Block + David Sedaris = Scott Sherman: If you like surprise endings and hilarious repartee, you'll love "First You Fall" by Scott Sherman. This is one of those mysteries you can't put down and keeps you guessing until the last page. Combine this with the added bonus that it is laugh out loud funny throughout and you've got a real winner. The two main characters, gay "sleuth" Kevin Connor and his best friend Freddy are very likable and keep the dialogue (and the action) moving along flawlessly. This is a strong first novel for Mr. Sherman. I hope he continues to beguile us with his talent.
SECOND YOU SIN
Kirkus Reviews
Someone is killing the most beautiful male prostitutes in New York.
Generally speaking, Kevin Connor (First You Fall, 2008) is very comfortable with who he is. He’s deeply in love with his conflicted boyfriend, Officer Tony Rinaldi; he’s recently turned to the Unitarian Universalist Church; he volunteers at Sunday school. In fact, he confides, “if I weren’t making such easy money as a hustler, I could see being a teacher.”
(SNIP)
Sherman offers a priceless sequence bringing together Kevin’s hairdresser mother with her idol, talk-show host Yvonne Rivera; a first-person narrative by turns catty and brightly didactic; and a heaping helping of sex in every flavor, including vanilla (though not the vanilla you think).
Think of Frank Capra with fag-baiters, and you'll have a sense of Kevin's New York. Read whole review here.
Christopher Verleger, Atlanta Edge News
Author Scott Sherman first introduced amateur sleuth and professional escort, Kevin Connor, in his 2009 Lambda Award-winning debut mystery, "First You Fall." In his clever follow up, "Second You Sin," Kevin crosses paths with two public figures, a presidential candidate and a beloved talk show host, while investigating the recent and seemingly connected deaths of three of New York City’s hottest male prostitutes.
(SNIP)
Aside from being young, attractive and mostly proud of his non-traditional career path, as well as his remarkable skill as an investigator, Kevin also does volunteer work and teaches Sunday school. Too much? Perhaps. But that doesn’t make him any less witty, entertaining or likeable. The murder mystery is certainly intriguing, but it’s the earnest, ever-present voice bestowed upon Kevin by the author that keeps the pages turning.
At the conclusion, Sherman leaves us with plenty to anticipate in the next entry of the mystery series, as Kevin’s relationship with Tony turns a significant corner and the sexual tension between him and Freddy doesn’t go unnoticed. Read the whole review here.
Amos Lassen, Reviews by Amos Lassen
I wondered if we would hear from Scott Sherman again after his successful Kevin Connor novel, “First You Fall” and then that very same day I got his new book, “Second You Sin” and Kevin Connor is back. In this novel someone who is killing the hottest of New York’s hustlers and Connor is determined to find out who is doing so. Kevin himself is not only a part time detective; he is a full time call boy. Now Kevin Connor is a hot looking guy with quick wits and he can take on any situation and act it to the hilt. Now he has a rough job and that is to catch and stop a killer. He has plenty suspects and motives and as he closes in on the truth, he is trapped in a web of secrets where everything becomes a blur.
Sherman won the Lambda award with his first book so he already had a challenge when he sat down to write but he succeeds in making this book every bit as good if not better than its predecessor. When we let Kevin in the first book, he was with his friend, Tony, a New York City cop and was still hustling. However we get the sense that those days will soon be over and he seems to really care about Tony. Obviously a novel with the theme of sex for hire could be very dark but Sherman keeps it funny and fun as well as has a strong message about gay family values and while some of you may think that the novel is a bit “fluffy”, you will have to agree that the fluff is very well written. Check out Amos’s invaluable site here.
