Genre: Historical, Gaylit, Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
‘The Dark Hound’ is a suspense-thriller and a man-to-man romance. A cop falls in love with a mysterious detective, tortured by his past, leaving him a changed man for life. It begins with historic events at the end of WWII, when deposed Nazis raided an infamous Air Defense tower in Berlin in May of 1945 to commit one of the most lucrative and secretive art heists in history…
As the story moves to 1950s Los Angeles, the bodies pile up, and it becomes a race against the clock that ends with a chase in empty, sprawling movie studios at night.
This second novel by Morgan David is somewhat of a departure from ‘A House, a Dog, and an Old Truck’ (2021), but it thrills and chills in unexpected way that will keep readers on the virtual edge of their seats.
The Review
1951, Hollywood – Officer Spencer Stevenson, age twenty-five, of the Los Angeles PD, has been given a new assignment by Police Deputy Chief Donahue. He’s taking on the murder of a famous, faded movie star from the pre-talky age, Luigi Antonelli. Antonelli was wealthy and lived in sprawling hills of Santa Monica. For Spencer, this is a difficult cas, as the press is breathing down his neck. Plus there’s not a single clue. Solving it would mean so much for Spencer, completing his probationary period and possibly earning him a promotion to sergeant.
Warren de Vries is thirty-six, an art expert who works for the LAPD as an advisor. He’s edgy, confident, demanding, always seems in control and is very picky about his coffee. He’s also brilliant when it comes to the high-end world of art and history. When he was a young US Army officer at the end of the war in May, 1945, he inspected the ruins and fire destruction of the Flak Towers in Friedrichshain. He was devastated by it, and it made his investigation difficult. The Russians were no help, and he wondered if all the paintings and artifacts were destroyed.
Spencer and Warren rub each other the wrong way, but they somehow manage to make more than just their investigation work. Spencer immerses himself in the case, which involves both murder and and art, and is forced to work with Warren. He learns about the passion of art, the depths of history, and the turmoil of war through the art consultant, and follows him into a world of torture, death, deceit, and evil men who will do anything to profit from stolen art.
Morgan David creates a fascinating story from the 1940’s and 1950’s, melding historical facts and figures with fiction. The Dark Hound is suspenseful, action packed, humorous and has touches of both nostalgia and noir. It’s also heartbreaking, and reflects the hate, greed, homophobia, and blatant cruelty of the Nazis. Villains in the tale include Jurgen Speck, Lewis Florentine, and Renee Switzer.
The relationship between Warren de Vries and Spencer Stephenson gradually turns to trust and heartbreak. Warren always finds a way to make Spencer feel special, but he can’t let his past love go. He lost Leonardt to the evilness of men who used war as a means of destruction.
I commend the author for the in-depth research that went into this novel, including an amazing look into history and art at the end of the war in 1945. There are so many colorful descriptions of paintings, sculptures and decorative art stolen from the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, including:
- The Annunciation
- Saint Matthew and the Angel by Caravaggio
- Madonna and Child Enthroned with two Saints by Ambrogio Brogognone
- Neptune and Amphitrite by Ruben
- The Resurrection of Lazarus
- Christ Mocked by Soldiers by Anthony Van Dyck
The author also takes readers to MGM Studios in Culver City, where so many famous movies were made:
- Gone with the Wind
- A Star is Born
- Since You Went Away
- Spellbound
- Ben Hur
and more. The novel also weaves in many famous names in the entertainment world at that time, from the arts, the music scene, acting and many others during this turbulent time after WW II.
I highly recommend The Dark Hound – this is the second book I’ve read by David, and I love his writing and how he crafts such intriguing novels. I’m looking forward to whatever he writes next.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
