I love Barry Lowe's writing. It's tight (as befitting a guy who is a journalist in real life), he's witty, and he writes great characters who are larger than life.Usually his books are short and they're no sooner getting up steam than they've stopped at the nearest station.As the book was originally released as six short stories, "The Gravy Train" might get up steam and stop at stations, but the whole journey is worth taking.In the bio, we learn that Barry has always loved Whodunits and this is a Whodunit but an adult one. It's definitely not m/m romance although there is enough sex to satisfy and a thoroughly happy ending.Our hero is supposedly the guy on the cover, but I think that's a case of wishful thinking. I pictured Buddy as being a few years older than that. But never mind, the guy depicted is good eye candy and I'm sure Buddy would have fucked him if he got the chance. Especially seeing he got it on with just about everybody else in the book. Most of the gay guys at any rate although his gaydar wasn't always up to scratch.Yeah, there is crime and quite a few dead bodies. At least one a chapter. There are the obligatory number of red herrings and of course we don't learn the truth until the last couple of pages.Some of the facts that escaped our hero are blatantly obvious to the reader, but watching Buddy aka Kaden blunder along in blissful ignorance is part of the fun.And did I mention the recipes? They're there. Not sure I want to make all of them, but there are a couple of good vegan ones.The story makes a welcome change to a lot of of the angsty over emotional m/m stories out there. In the style of James Lear books but funnier and nicer heroes. There are numerous spots where you'll be laughing out loud.Highly recommended if you like m/m and whodunits.
