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Death Claims (Dave Brandstetter, #2)

Joseph Hansen

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What Members Thought

Jan 30, 2008 Josh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: influential-books

Reading Hansen is like a lesson in superb writing.

11 likes · Like · see review

Oct 26, 2013 Ami rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: lgbtq-fiction

3.5 stars

The second book of Joseph Hansen's "Dave Brandstetter" series brings Dave, claims investigator for Medallion Life Insurance Company, looking for a missing beneficiary. While I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it as much as I did book 1. There was a couple of things that made me feel that way ...

Peter Oats, the missing boy, was 'missing' for almost 2/3 of the book. When he did appear, it wasn't because Dave found him, but because he was coming to the police station himself. In that sense, 3.5 stars

The second book of Joseph Hansen's "Dave Brandstetter" series brings Dave, claims investigator for Medallion Life Insurance Company, looking for a missing beneficiary. While I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it as much as I did book 1. There was a couple of things that made me feel that way ...

Peter Oats, the missing boy, was 'missing' for almost 2/3 of the book. When he did appear, it wasn't because Dave found him, but because he was coming to the police station himself. In that sense, I felt 'cheated' of the mystery as I wanted Dave to be the one discovering him (even if Dave found out where the young man were when he was 'missing').

The ending was VERY abrupt, I got whiplash thinking about it. If it was meant to be a memorable effect, well it worked but not in a good way. I could go with open ending but this one was like hitting a break when you're driving 80 miles/hour, END SCENE.

The book also robbed us from the chance of reading about Dave and Doug (the man he met on a case in the first book) when they were together, since in this book, suddenly we found out they had problems. I think they both had too much baggage and I wasn't sure about them being together in the first place. The discussion-fight was deliciously civil, though, even if the resolution was too quick (and too easy).

Having said all that, I found the mystery quite intriguing. People lying to Dave's face, people keeping secrets, even the dead man wasn't like he was seemed in the beginning. So many possibilities -- and I got my first clue, only after half-book.

Oh, and even if it took time for me to get used to Joseph Hansen's short clipped descriptions, I found his sentences could be very lyrical ...

As he climbed the steep stairs to the street, a mockingbird in one of the shaggy pepper trees spilled song, spilled joy. His hand on the gate at the top, Dave glanced back down. Ingalls stood on the porch edge, peering up, but not at him. He was trying to locate the bird. He looked as if the sound gave him pain... (Chapter 12)

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Aug 20, 2013 Antonella rated it it was amazing

Shelves: brandstetter-series-challenge

I can't understand why Hansen wasn't more known during his lifetime, or now. He is a real master. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 08, 2013 Murphy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reread-often, joseph-hansen, gay-mystery, gay-romantic-suspense, lesbian-mystery, lesbian-romantic-suspense, gay-mystery-series, lesbian-mystery-series, mystery-series, romantic-suspense

Loved Joseph Hansen's Protag, David Brandstetter. He was super cool and insightful. The story was great and the ending satisfying. ...more

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May 27, 2014 Kirsten rated it liked it

Hmm. I think I need a break from this series. They're strong mysteries but suffer a bit from stereotypes. And no one is ever really happy in them. ...more

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