As you can probably tell, I love to read and write mysteries. In the course of trying to market Māhū, I compiled a list of mysteries featuring gay detectives, and I decided to present it here for others who may be interested. Each title is followed by its hardcover and then softcover publication dates. Where I've read the book I've included some information about it.

As the list has grown, I've struggled for a way to make it more user-friendly. The current scheme divides the books between "classics," those written by authors who are no longer writing in the genre, and "contemporaries," those authors whose books are more recent.

As I'm always reading, this section is always going to be under construction. Happy reading!

Here's a list of all the Lambda Literary Award winners in the gay men's mystery category.

Many of the books listed on these pages are available through Amazon.com. For your convenience, I have set up links next to the books so that you can order them directly. If you use these links, Amazon.com will pay me a commission, and I'll be able to buy more books.

Here's the boilerplate they've asked me to post:

    "Amazon.com is pleased to have Māhū Books in the family of Amazon.com associates. We've agreed to ship books and provide customer service for orders we receive through special links at Māhū Books.

    "Amazon.com associates list selected books in an editorial context that helps you choose the right books. We encourage you to visit Māhū Books often to see what new books they've selected for you."

Contemporary Abramson, Mark Anable, Stephen Aterovis, Josh Bidulka, Anthony Bloch, Jon P. Boyd, Randy Brown, P.A. Copp, Rick Craft, Michael Craig, Daniel Edward Grey, Dorien Hartman, Keith Herren, Greg Hunter, Fred Lanyon, Josh Lilly, Greg Nelson, Casey Outland, Orland Raphael, Lev Rice, Christopher Ryan, Garry Scott, Phillip Serah, Tonne Sherman, Scott Soles, Caro Stevenson, Richard Stukas, David Wilson, John Morgan Wood, Nick Zimmerman, R.D. Zito, Chuck Zubro, Mark Richard

Classic Adams, Derek Aldyne, Nathan Baxt, George Beadle, Jeremy Brown, Russell Cooke, John Peyton Cutler, Stan Dewitt, Ben Fennelly, Tony Gilbert, W. Stephen Hansen, Joseph Johnson, Steve Keegan, Mel Kraus, Krandall Michaels, Grant Nava, Michael Phillips, Edward Ricardo, Jack

A writer you should know about but who doesn't quite fit this category is Steven Saylor, who writes mysteries set in ancient Rome. Though his detective, Gordianus the Finder, isn't gay, lots of the supporting characters are, and their treatment is usually humane and multi-dimensional. You don't have to read them in order, but I suggest it, as the characters grow and change with each book. The books are:

Last Seen in Massilia
Rubicon
The House of the Vestals: Investigations of Gordianus the Finder
Roman Blood
Arms of Nemesis
Catilina's Riddle
Murder on the Appian Way
The Venus Throw

Here are some more recommendations, direct from Amazon.com