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Murder By Design

by Jon P. Bloch

For anyone to write as knowledgeably about the scene in West Hollywood and Hollywood, California, as Jon P. Bloch, it must be surmised that at one point Mr. Bloch lived there himself. Hopefully, by moving to the East Coast Mr. Bloch also divested his persona from the phoniness and backstabbing so prevalent in that location! Jon P. Bloch makes no bones about the fact that he's gay himself as well as his protagonist in this new mystery series, and his insights into the urban Hollywood world are both penetrating and sagacious.

Murder By Design is number two in the Rick Domino murder mystery series. While it's probably not award material, it does have the distinction of being distributed by major book club organizations rather than being limited to strictly homosexual ones. Murder By Design is a good mystery tale, and fully demonstrates the paucity of honesty and truth in TV, public personalities, and Hollywood in general.

Rick Domino is the main character in Murder By Design. Rick is a gossip columnist, obviously gay, and as bitchy as the best West Hollywood inhabitant can be. Rick is not only well-known in the glitziest circles, his word has definite influence. His drawback seems to be his inability to live within his four figure income. His producer informs him of his 'suggestion' that Rick appear on a TV reality decorating program – 'My House, Your House.' The premise of the show is that two couples exchange houses and do over a room of the owner's choice, using one of the show's designers while there. Since Rick has become bored with his living room and his finances also need reupholstering, he agrees.

Rick hopes to choose the designer for his own living room, but his plans are foiled, and he's stuck with one of the worst designers on tap. In addition, as part of the faked couple he's intended to represent, Rick is given the nasty co-host of his own TV program, Mitzi McGuire. The other couple is no less fortunate. The designers Rick had hoped to use aren't available, so he and Mitzi are to do over a bedroom with the impossible Helena Godiva, who always uses a 'theme' and has chosen to decorate using a police background – complete with a cell for the bed.

The other couple are Terry Zane, a gay cop, and his ex-wife, the unsophisticated, unpleasant Darla Sue. Terry is someone Rick has been mentoring in an attempt to put some color into Terry's rather drab life (as Rick sees it). It's Terry's bedroom that Rick, Mitzi and Helena will be working on. Then Helena is found murdered halfway through the decorating process. Everyone involved in the show is under suspicion, especially Ann-Margaret Wochinsky, a butch carpenter. She was supposedly the last one to see Helena alive.

Beside Ann-Margaret, we're introduced to others who may have had equal reason to get rid of Helena: Curtsy Ann is a former Miss Texas and seems unable to forget it. Then there's Shirtless Bill, who always finds time and reason to remove his shirt and display his physique while working; Aunt Fern, the designer for Rick's living room, who loves to crochet and do over everything with a country look; Fernando, a TV cop sidekick with a penchant for secret S&M; Tippi, an X-rated comedienne, plus Basil and his wife Tarragon, with their Hollywood marriage of convenience – both going their own way with the other's tacit consent.

This mélange of characters all have a part to play while Rick attempts to root out the murderer with Terry. And Jon P. Bloch manages to pin every member of this unlikely cast down with relish. Perhaps he spends too much time on each personality rather than the plot – or maybe it simply adds to the suspense. Either way, you're likely to get so immersed in the characters of the story that when the murderer is finally revealed it comes as a complete surprise, whether you suspected that particular character or not.

Jon P. Bloch teaches Sociology, so it's
small wonder that his character descriptions are so apt. Mr. Bloch is also very aware of the wide range of gay traits – as wide as those of the heterosexual community. Jon P. Bloch's decision to use the rather effervescent, stiletto-tongued gay type so evocative of the Hollywood community as his protagonist allows for humor throughout. Murder By Design may not make it to the top of the Who Dunnit list as the best published murder mystery, but it's a fun read!

Alan Paul Curtis

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