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Desert Run

by Marshall Thornton (Goodreads Author)

3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 · rating details · 27 ratings · 16 reviews

Palm Springs, 1973. Don Harris is a piano player on the run after killing a Chicago mobster's son in a bar fight. On the lam, he meets a pretty blonde girl in town for a convention. He lets down his guard and spends the night with her only to discover she's the younger sister of his best friend all grown-up. Foolishly, she tips her brother off to Don's location, and he's o...more

Paperback, 190 pages

Published January 12th 2011 by Torquere Press (first published January 1st 2011)

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Lesser-Known M/M Books

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Sep 26, 2011 A.B. Gayle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-person-pov, gay-fiction, shelf-32

Thanks to a Facebook "share" from Kayla Jameth of a blog he wrote on the difference between m/m romance and gay fiction: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_..., I discovered Marshall Thornton's books.

Impressed by things he said, I bought and read "Desert Run" and am glad I did. The book hit all the right notes of the action, suspense genre. It also includes a "gay for you" scenario (or rather an "out for you", taking into account the POV character's reluctant recognition of his attraction to...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 06, 2013 Monika rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, mm-mystery-or-suspence, mm-bring-on-the-mob

2.5 Stars

Review posted on World of Diversity Fictions!

I looked forward to reading this book. The cover is beautiful, yes I’m one of those that the cover is important it’s what draws me to the story and I thought the blurb was intriguing. I love a good mob story their usually full of suspense and drama by adding in the M/M Romance angle it should be a win win for me.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen with this story. My first uh oh moment was right at the beginning, a good portion was about Don (n...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Charly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Heavy on the action, but it also has a pretty sweet romantic element

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The narration is light, conversational, and easy to read. Don describes life with ties to the Mafia in 1950s Chicago in enough detail to make the story seem plausible, and although he doesn’t avoid the unpleasant aspects of that life entirely, he tells the story with fatalistic acceptance and sardonic humor.
- I enjoyed the plot. Each chapt...more Heavy on the action, but it also has a pretty sweet romantic element

Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.

Rating: 7/10

PROS:
- The narration is light, conversational, and easy to read. Don describes life with ties to the Mafia in 1950s Chicago in enough detail to make the story seem plausible, and although he doesn’t avoid the unpleasant aspects of that life entirely, he tells the story with fatalistic acceptance and sardonic humor.
- I enjoyed the plot. Each chapter ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, which makes it difficult to put the book down because there aren’t very many good stopping points.
- The tone of the storytelling is unusual, but I grew to like it. Some pretty exciting things happen throughout the course of the book, and unlike some action stories which make an obvious effort to draw out suspense by using dramatic language and a lot of description, Don simply tells the story the way it happened, without embellishment, and with a sort of “steadyon” attitude that made the drama seem more intense to me.
- Thornton does a very good job describing the effects of PTSD without relying on many of the commonly cited symptoms of the disorder. It’s obvious that Don is suffering the effects of having fought in Vietnam, but his behaviors are subtle and the effects are largely mental. The weaving together of reality and flashbacks/hallucinations of combat is incredibly well done.

CONS:
- The story stalls a couple of times when Don isn’t doing much and is simply waiting around for something to happen. (However, I admired the fact that Thornton made the story seem more believable by including bursts of action as well as periods of inaction.)
- The sex scenes are more clinical than hot (“I turned this way, he did this with his tongue, we both climaxed, end”). And this next point didn’t bug *me* terribly, but I think it will bother some readers, so here’s a warning: there’s a scene of straight sex at the beginning of the book, and it doesn’t scrimp on details.

Overall comments: I enjoyed this overall. There are some definite parallels between Thornton’s writing style and John Simpson’s (Murder Most Gay, Condor One, etc.). The writing is a little wooden at times because it focuses so much on relating the things that happen rather than the character’s emotional reactions to them, but the plot is quite good. I’m afraid that the book might have a limited audience, though: those looking for gay fiction might be put off by the straight sex, and others might be put off by the gay scenes.(less)

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May 17, 2011 Miz Love rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh, man. Colour me impressed with a capital IM. You hear that? Not just a capital I. No, Desert Run deserves two capital letters to tell the world just how damn impressed I was.

You know when you open a book and the voice just slaps you upside the head and you sit back and think, “Oh yeah, this book is going to suit me!”? Well, this happened to me. The voice is friggin’ great, just as though Don was talking to me. ME, you know what I’m saying? Just me. Like when someone on TV looks at the camera,...more Oh, man. Colour me impressed with a capital IM. You hear that? Not just a capital I. No, Desert Run deserves two capital letters to tell the world just how damn impressed I was.

You know when you open a book and the voice just slaps you upside the head and you sit back and think, “Oh yeah, this book is going to suit me!”? Well, this happened to me. The voice is friggin’ great, just as though Don was talking to me. ME, you know what I’m saying? Just me. Like when someone on TV looks at the camera, but they’re not looking at the camera—they’ve only got eyes for YOU. Oh yeah, Don was telling me his story, letting me into his world, and I followed along right on his heels. If I’m honest, I almost overtook him, that’s how close I got. He got into my heart, my soul, and I LOVED that guy.

Don usually goes with women, so after he’s forced to find somewhere else to hide out and ends up with a guy, as a reader I got absorbed in how he felt about that. He wasn’t gay—at least he didn’t think he was—but he’d enjoyed Harlen’s attentions. Hell, I enjoyed reading about them lol. I got to thinking about all the crappy views people have on being gay, and because Don enjoyed himself, I got one of those moments where I wanted to set myself up on a high box in town and shout at all the people who give gays such a hard time. If you enjoy it with someone of the same sex, so damn what, you know? And Desert Run was the perfect book for me to indulge in nodding, saying “Oh yeah!” and “Bloody good for you!” about Don’s choices.

Harlen is too cool for skool. I loved him too, his devil-may-care attitude shining bright. The pair of them just drew me in, wrapped me in a hug, in their world, and I wanted to follow them everywhere to see what they got up to. The mob looking for Don adds a tense, edge-of-your-seat dimension that runs parallel to the emotions Don’s feeling towards Harlen. Those emotions are enough to deal with on their own, especially with it being in the 70s when being gay certainly wasn’t considered right or “normal” (I won’t even go there on how angry “normal” makes me feel), or whatever the hell term people use in this instance. But he dealt with it all. The fear, the love, the growing attachment.

You know what? I’m giving NOTHING away from now on. You just need to read this book yourself. Sit down, imagine the time and how people perceived others, imagine suddenly finding yourself in bed with someone of the same sex and loving it, and have a good look inside yourself. I suspect you’ll find, just like me, you can maybe imagine yourself doing exactly the same thing as Don. I’m not ashamed to admit I can. Let the voice roll over you. Let this pair take you on their journey. I got on their bus and travelled with them, and even though that journey ended and I had to get off, the memories of that time will stay with me.

I have the feeling of wanting to cry. The book has ended, and I didn’t want it to. I invested a lot of emotions into these people. I don’t regret it, I just wish the trip hadn’t been over so fast. And this is a novel we’re talking about here, people. A novel, and it STILL wasn’t long enough. Thank you, Marshall Thornton, for writing this book. From the bottom of my squishy-wishy heart, thank you.(less)

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Nov 24, 2011 T.A. Webb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Don is an entertainer in a third rate cocktail bar in Palm Springs circa 1973. He's out of the army, single, and doesn't mind picking up the occasional hot woman and having a good time.

When Shelly walks in to the lounge, she is a hot looking blonde, in town for a convention and hot to trot. That she looks oddly familiar raises his red flags, but not enough to keep him from hooking up. After a brief few days and a lot of fun and sex, Don's past shows back up to cause a LOT of trouble.

Seems Don is...more Don is an entertainer in a third rate cocktail bar in Palm Springs circa 1973. He's out of the army, single, and doesn't mind picking up the occasional hot woman and having a good time.

When Shelly walks in to the lounge, she is a hot looking blonde, in town for a convention and hot to trot. That she looks oddly familiar raises his red flags, but not enough to keep him from hooking up. After a brief few days and a lot of fun and sex, Don's past shows back up to cause a LOT of trouble.

Seems Don is really Ricky D'Amico from Chicago, ex-army, and on the run from a terrible situation that has him changing his identity and laying low, unable to contact family or friends. Shelly's revelation of who she is and that she recognizes him stuns and worries him, and then, quickly has him in the run yet again. Then, what starts as Don pool sharking to get money to stay on the run from the troubles chasing him leads to his meeting and falling into a friendship with Harlan, a young man being kept by a middle aged movie start. A male star. And what follows is an action packed, thrill ride of mobsters, movie stars, murder and memories.

This is NOT your average m/m story, and that is a VERY good thing!

This is first and foremost a story about an average guy trapped in a situation anything but average, but out of his control. What happened in Chicago starts a chain of events that has Don constantly looking over his shoulder, reacting and on edge. Shelly's stumbling across him by accident brings all that he has tried to put behind him right back in his face, and drives the action throughout the book.

And this is a great ride of a book. The action fast paced, the fear palpable and Don propelled into reactions designed to keep him safe for one more day. Mr. Thornton has crafted a very believable character in Don - a Vietnam era veteran (this is 1973) who suffers from light PTSD and flashbacks. He is brutally adaptable, able to make quick decisions, but is a man with a conscience. He is used to doing what is necessary to survive, and all of the actions he takes in this well written, excellently paced roller coaster of a book are consistent and believable.

What sets this book apart from merely being a well written action story, however, is the addition of the m/m element to the mix. While on the run, Don is thrown into a situation where he meets Harlan, a young gay man. Don's initial intention is to use him for a place to stay, never intending for anything sexual to occur. Don discovers that he has an initial connection with the guy - or at least to getting off. As he gets to know Harlan, however, he has to question himself as to whether there is something more to his attraction than Harlan's being just an easy way to get off, or if there is an emotional connection.

And that is what makes this such a relevant and exciting book for me. Don is on the run, fighting for his life. And Mr. Thornton works in a nicely told interlude where Don contemplates his sexuality. It fits seamlessly into the tale, and adds texture and depth to the character. I never questioned where Mr. Thornton was taking me or how we were getting there - I just sat back and let this masterful storyteller take me along for a fun, exciting and ultimately satisfying ride.

I wish we had more of this in the genre to choose from - action driven stories where the m/m element was secondary but important. I love me some HEA and hot sex, but there is a place for this type of book in the genre also.

Good work!

Tom(less)

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May 05, 2011 Lee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Boy, there's a lot of dead bodies littering the pages of this book. And it's the MC who's responsible for their demise. Desert Run is the story of a Vietnam Veteran who's on the lamb from his Chicago "Family," laying low in Palm Springs, CA, warming the ivories at a local dive called the Hideaway. The Chicago boys find him and he's forced to make a run for it, but he doesn't get far. Out of money and ideas, he stumbles into a gay bar and tries to hustle a local cutie at pool, only to find that h...more

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May 12, 2012 Erik Orrantia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this at the beginning. It was a unique setting, a sort of tough-guy story, with plenty of action and suspense.

However, it got a bit cliche--the bad guy never getting killed because of the mercy of the good guy and then he'd show up time and time again.

Also, I wonder...if I let a girl suck me off, could I be "turned" straight? I don't think so. Therefore, I was put off by the premise that the main character was turned and had never really been attracted to men before. All of a su...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 04, 2011 Shanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-mystery, m-m, 2011

The author did an excellent job setting the scene, even before clear period markers were presented it was obvious when the story took place. The character development was slow and never fully realized. I did end up liking Don but I didn't really believe his attraction or feelings for Harlan. When the book began Don was a womanizer and even picked up a tourist in the bar he worked with and spent a week with her enjoying a no strings romp. So while the author tried to flash back to other instances...more

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May 13, 2011 Lou Harper rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, gay-fiction

4.5 stars

Desert Run is the most wonderfully angst-free GFY story I've ever read. Not that there's no tension, because that would be hard when the main character is on the run from Chicago mobsters.

The story is equal parts of taut thriller and romance. Marshall Thornton's stories are usually set in the seventies and I came to think of them as period pieces - in a way they are, even if some of us can still remember the period they evoke.

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Apr 09, 2012 Antonella rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the book or I wouldn't have chosen 4 stars. I couldn't put it down once I had started it. But I didn't like the gay-for-you thing (or shall I call it conversion to gayness?): although the author gives us some flashbacks to show there was already something there, I still found it a bit sudden. Another thing that bothers me is that one MC is killing people quite easily IMO. I know he suffers from PTSD, still...

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Mar 08, 2013 World of Diversity Fiction rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewer-monika, author-marshal-thornton, cover-artist-alessia-brio, publisher-torquere-press, genre-mystery-suspense-thriller, pairing-gay, length-novel, heat-rating-3, author-aleksandr-voinov

Title: Desert Run
Author: Marshal Thornton
Cover Artist: Alessia Brio
Publisher: Torquere Press
Reviewer: Monika
Genre: Suspense
Pairing: Gay
Length: Novel
Heat Rating: ♨♨♨
Rating:★★½

Read Full Review Here

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Aug 23, 2012 Paola rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-as-ebook

3.5 stars.
I was engrossed by the compelling, fast-paced plot. the picaresque quality of the storyline and characterization, the blunt sincerity of the main character/first-person narrator's voice, the time setting and flashbacks. However, I found the last third of the book a little rushed and the protagonist's journey not too convincing towards the end. My enjoyment of the story was also marred by copy-editing errors that I hope will be corrected in a new edition. An overall enjoyable, and occas...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Virginia added it

Shelves: 2011, first-reads-wins-d

This was ok. It tried to include a whole lot of things (vietnam, the mob, hollywood, etc), and i wasn't sure it could pull it all off at first, but in the end i think it did. It all could've been more in depth; the whole thing felt a little light, but not too bad. The het sex scene seemed harsh, and like the author was trying to use as many slang words as possible, but the homo sex scenes were better. Not gentle, but more sincere and relaxed. there were also a few typos, which isn't unusual for...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Sylvia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wish there was more of it

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Jul 31, 2012 Nightcolors rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: challenge-debut-author, 2012, ebook, glbt, mystery-suspense-crime, romance

3.5 stars.

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May 20, 2013 Rosie marked it as to-read

May 03, 2013 Shannon marked it as maybe

May 03, 2013 Belea T. Keeney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Feb 28, 2013 jules0623 marked it as to-read

Feb 19, 2013 Mark marked it as to-read

Nov 06, 2012 Aylen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Sep 27, 2012 Helle marked it as to-read

Jul 30, 2012 Alicepeppermint marked it as to-read

Shelves: check-it-out

Jun 01, 2012 Roberta rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 03, 2012 Ijeoma marked it as to-read

Jul 22, 2012 Buda rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 02, 2012 Penny Brandon marked it as to-read

May 02, 2012 Jay marked it as to-read

Shelves: next-sale

May 02, 2012 L'marie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: to-buy

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About Marshall Thornton

Marshall Thornton is an award-winning novelist, playwright and screenwriter living in Long Beach, California. He is best known for the Boystown detective series, which received an honorable mention in the 2011 Rainbow Awards and is a finalist for the 2011 Lambda Award for gay mystery. Other novels include the erotic comedy The Perils of Praline, or the Amorous Adventures of a Southern Gentleman in...more

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