Alyson 1986
This first book in the series introduces us to Henry Rios and the college town where he went to school. A friend of Henry's is murdered, and he digs deep into his friend's wealthy and influential family to find the killer. Good characterization and a standard plot that I figured out long before the end, but I still enjoyed it.
Goldenboy
Alyson 1988
Larry Ross, an old friend of Henry's who is dying of AIDS calls him to Los Angeles to defend a young gay man accused of murdering a homophobic co-worker. In the course of digging into the case, Henry meets his lover, Josh.
How Town
Harper & Row, 1990 Alyson 1988, 1996; Ballantine 1991
Henry has moved to LA to be close to Josh, who is HIV positive, but this case pulls him back to the small town in the agricultural valley outside San Francisco where he grew up. His sister asks him to defend the younger brother of a man he once loved, who is an admitted child molester. Henry fights his feelings about his family and his home town, a "little how town" in the words of e. e. cummings.
The Hidden Law
HarperCollins 1992 Ballantine 1994
Henry is asked to defend Michael Ruiz, a hot-tempered young teen accused of murdering State Senator Gus Pena. Henry pursues the case as his relationship with Josh deteriorates. Another step forward for Henry as we get to know him better.
The Death of Friends
Putnam 1996
Michael Nava seems to get better and better with each new book. The Death of Friends begins with an earthquake, a very LA way to start, and the novel is as much about the tremors running through Henry's life as it is about the mystery of who killed his law school friend, Judge Chris Chandler. Chandler, about to come out of the closet, leaves behind a grieving widow, an angry son and a scared lover. Henry pursues the truth while taking care of Josh, his former lover, now dying of AIDS. A strong, moving book, with an interesting mystery and a caring heart.
Finale : Short Stories of Mystery and Suspense
This volume contains eight short stories, including one by Nava.
Alyson 1997
The Burning Plain
This novel has gotten some wonderful reviews. Henry Rios is recovering from his lover Josh's death, struggling to stay sober and maintain his law practice, when a prospective client dies and Henry becomes a suspect. The background is quite atmospheric-- Los Angeles is the "burning plain" of the title, and it is a dark, desperate backdrop to a beautifully written story.
Berkley 1998 Bantam 1999
The last in the Nava's Henry Rios series. Strong and beautifully written, though I'm feeling melancholy to know that there won't be another.
Putnam 2001
