The Death of Friends (1996)

In The Death of Friends, gay Chicano lawyer Henry Rios finds himself defending Zack Bowen, seemingly the most likely suspect in the murder of his old college friend and one time lover but subsequently family man Chris Chandler, recently voted Judge of the Year. But first Henry must Find Zack who it seems as gone into hiding. Despite his disappearance Henry believes Zack, who claims to have been Chris's lover, is innocent, and sets out to prove it even if it means upsetting the a number of people on the way and uncovering a few less palatable facts about his old friend Chris.

At the same time Henry has to come to terms with the failing health of his lover Josh now that the AIDS virus is ravaging his body, realising he must prepare himself for the inevitable.

This is a finely crafted mystery with plenty of clues as to identity the real murdered, although we are kept guessing 'til the very end. Coupled with the tender and moving account of Josh's decline and Henry's efforts to care for him, this makes for another excellent read from Michael Nava. ( )

A very easy good read....i love books that are hard to put down, and this was one.....constant shifts in the revealed facts that make it suspenseful, and the courtroom portions are just a s good as the rest....i think i enjoyed this the most of Nava's books so far. ( )

This is easily the most suspenseful of the Michae Nava mysteries I've read. The crime is good, the whodunnit is good, but the path to clearing Rios' client's name is nearly brilliant. You know you're reading a good book when you want to reach into the pages and punch one of the characters (that flippen Detective-woman - growl)...!! Good page-turner indeed!! ( )