The Hidden Law
By Michael Nava
4/5
()
Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this ebook
State senator and mayoral hopeful Gus Peña has been gunned down in the parking lot of a restaurant in East Los Angeles. When Chicano teen and ex–gang member Michael Ruiz is arrested for the murder, Henry Rios takes the case. It’s a tough road: As Rios endures a painful break-up with his HIV-positive partner, Josh, Ruiz refuses to help Rios in his defense. But Rios finds inconsistencies in the kid’s story, and is sure Ruiz is covering for the real killer.
Peña had a lot of enemies. As Rios tries to build the case for a different killer, he descends into the dark underbelly of Los Angeles—a hotbed of vice and corruption. Caught between his powerful connection to both suspect and victim, Rios races to prevent a terrible failure of justice.
The Hidden Law is the fourth book in the Henry Rios mystery series, which begins with The Little Death and Goldenboy.
Michael Nava
Michael Nava is the author of an acclaimed series of seven crime novels featuring gay, Mexican-American criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. The Rios novels have won seven Lambda Literary awards and Nava was called by the New York Times, “one of our best.” In 2001, he was awarded the Publishing Triangle’s Bill Whitehead Lifetime Achievement Award in LGBT Literature. A native Californian and the grandson of Mexican immigrants, he divides his time between San Francisco and Palm Springs.
Read more from Michael Nava
Created Equal: Why Gay Rights Matter to America Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The City of Palaces Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Hidden Law
Related ebooks
5 45: English Version Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDon't Shoot: One Man, a Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-City America Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brotherhood of Corruption: A Cop Breaks the Silence on Police Abuse, Brutality, and Racial Profiling Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Eeny Meeny Mynie Murder Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAPB: Artists against Police Brutality Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMargin of Error Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Repent! The End of Capitalism is Nigh! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsToo Pretty to Live: The Catfishing Murders of East Tennessee Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beyond Innocence: The Life Sentence of Darryl Hunt Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNobody: Casualties of America's War on the Vulnerable, from Ferguson to Flint and Beyond Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bad Choices Make Good Stories: The Strange True Story of the First Influencer: The Complete Trilogy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Ripper's Children: Inside the World of Modern Serial Killers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAffirmations and Essays for Melanoid People Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime, and the Making of Modern Urban America, With a New Preface Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Injustice in America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHome At The Edge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat Killed Jane Creba: Rap, Race, and the Invention of a Gang War Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Legal Defense: Contemporary Accounts of Mississippi Lynchings 1835 - 1964 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDeadly Geezer: Transcendent, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLeaning on Thin Air: A Novel of Boston, 1969 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Monkey Handlers Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dark Motive: A Carson Brand Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMilo March #19: Green Grow the Graves Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAbove the Law: How “Qualified Immunity” Protects Violent Police Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Blood Trails Across Texas: True Crime Stories as Told by the Men Who Lived Them Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsU.nited S.tates S.ocialist R.epublic: The Liberal / Marxist Machine And The Men, Method and Means to Fundamentally Transform America Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5John Wayne Gacy: Defending a Monster Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Crime Thriller For You
The Silent Wife: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone: A Murdery Mystery Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5False Witness: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Girl Who Was Taken: A Gripping Psychological Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 120 Days of Sodom (Rediscovered Books): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Eight Perfect Murders: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Summit Lake Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The ABC Murders: A Hercule Poirot Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Nurse: A gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Kept Woman: A Will Trent Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Word Is Murder: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Thirteen: The Serial Killer Isn't on Trial. He's on the Jury. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Sydney Rye Mysteries Box Set Books 10-12: Sydney Rye Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJustine: Good Conduct Well Chastised Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5One of Us Is Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Appeal: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pieces of Her: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Club: A Reese's Book Club Pick Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5These Silent Woods: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lost Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Notes on an Execution: An Edgar Award Winner Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Woman in the Library: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Murder at the Book Club: A Gripping Crime Mystery that Will Keep You Guessing Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Trust Me When I Lie: A True Crime-Inspired Thriller Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Butcher Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Pale Blue Eye: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last Widow: A Will Trent Thriller Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Razorblade Tears: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for The Hidden Law
34 ratings4 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Los Angeles lawyer Henry Rios is thoroughly connected in the Hispanic and gay communities. When a prominent Hispanic politician is murdered, Henry, a recovering alcoholic, becomes involved through a rehab program. Police quickly identify a suspect, a member of the program who had threatened the politician. Henry works with the suspect, who says he committed the crime, and looks for another answer. At the same time he is dealing with the breakup of his relationship with his lover, whose self-image is being taken over by his HIV-positive status. We learn more about Henry's past through the rather tired but well handled depiction of psychotherapy sessions.Overall a pretty good mystery. Henry interacts credibly and with apparent integrity. The book can stand on its own; I didn't realize it was part of a series till after I had read it. Some readers might be put off by a couple of scenes of gay sex, but they're depicted very much the same way straight sex is shown in many other books, and they add to our picture of Henry.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Henry Rios is a very human public defender working in California. Loved the whole series. (Karen)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5When State Senator Gus Pena is murdered the pressure is on the LAPD to find the murderer, so when they learn that a young drug addict Michael Ruiz, the son of friends of the Pena family, had previously threatened Pena's life they are quick to act. However Michael has gone into hiding but soon gives himself up, yet gay Chicano lawyer Henry Rios is not convinced that Michael is the killer despite his confession. While the case is otherwise weak against Michael, Henry's only real hope of clearing Michael is to find the real killer, but the facts point to an even more unlikely suspect.In fighting Michael's case Henry finds himself battling against the politicians who want a speedy resolution. However Henry is also under even greater pressure in his personal life. His lover Josh, now slowly succumbing to AIDS is about to leave him having found someone else.In trying to come to terms with the situation Henry must also face his own personal demons.Hidden Law, the fourth Henry Rios mystery is yet another finely crafted and well written suspense story from Californian lawyer Michael Nava. Fine characterisation, crisp succinct prose and careful attention to detail, along with a most likeable hero who is courageous and yet self effacing and compassionate make these novels compelling reading.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Pretty good mystery. There's a huge separation between Rios' personal life and his work life, but that may actually add to the credibility of his character - and he's a lot more human in this book than Howtown. The plot is good, and the whodunnit and the howdunnit makes it worth the while.