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Name Games: A Mark Manning Mystery (Mark Manning Mysteries) | 
 enlarge | Author: Michael Craft
Publisher: Stonewall Inn Editions
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
Buy Used: $0.62
You Save: $14.33 (96%)
New (19) Used (21) from $0.62
Avg. Customer Rating:  23 reviews
Sales Rank: 843208
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 324
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.6 x 1
ISBN: 0312270798
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312270797
ASIN: 0312270798
Publication Date: May 1, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Mark Manning, once a prominent journalist at a major daily newspaper in Chicago, is now the owner and publisher of the Dumont Daily Register, the daily paper in a small Wisconsin city. Here the biggest news is the impending city council report on a proposed new adult bookstore zoning law, the upcoming election for Sheriff and the upcoming annual exhibition of the Midwest Miniatures Society. In a unique coup for the first-ever miniatures exhibition in Dumont, the "king of miniatures", Mr. Carroll Cantrell has agreed to come and judge the show's main event.
But the exhibition itself is quickly shoved off the front page of the paper when Cantrell is found murdered in his room. To make matters worse, Doug Pierce, the local sheriff, is widely believed to be responsible. Pierce - a closeted gay man and friend of Mark Manning - had been carrying on an affair with Cantrell and was the last person seen leaving his room before the body was discovered. As conservative elements in Dumont attempt to exploit the murder - and the sheriff's association with the deceased - to their own ends, Manning, with the help of his lover, architect Neil Waite, his staff and friends, starts his own investigation of the murder. With Cantrell having led something of a double life with no end of potential enemies and the miniatures world itself being a hot bed of rivalries and closely held resentments, the truth begins to feel very elusive indeed. As public sentiment begins to swing and time running out for Sheriff Pierce, Mark must uncover some of this close-knit town's most deeply held secrets if he's to learn the truth in time.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 18 more reviews...
 One of the Best August 17, 2005
For fans of the Mark Manning series, this will rank high on the favorites list. Craft gives an interesting display of the minature world of hobbies along with a challenging web of mystery. Clues begin popping up in early pages, but most readers will have to stayed glued to the unfolding chapters to find the murderer. A well-researched and plotted mystery.
Dollhouses and Adult Videos May 30, 2005
In NAME GAMES, Michael Craft's fourth novel in this series Mark Manning has settle in in Dumont, Wisconsin, has taken over the reins fo the local newspaper, his lover Neil is in town working as an architect for the local printing company, and the two of them are finding they like being the parents of Thad, the sixteen-year-old they have "inherited" when his mother was brutally murdered in volume three of the series, less than a year ago. The peace and tranquility will not last for long, however. Grace Lord, owner of The Nook, a shop specializing in furniture for dollhouses, has scheduled an annual regional exhibition of the Midwest Miniatures Society for the people who design and collect these dollhouses or "roomboxes." Any writer who can write an interesting story about such an unusual subject-- and that's putting it nicely-- obviously can write about anything. Carroll Cantrell, the outrageously gay and national authority on these little houses, soon after he arrives to judge the competition, is found brutally murdered in Ms. Lord's carriage house. Pierce, the friendly local sheriff whom we know from the previous mystery is outed as a gay man when he turns up as a suspect since he has been sleeping with Cantrell since his arrival in Dumont.
In addition to Neil, Thad and Pierce, Roxanne, Mark's attorney friend; Lucille and Glee, newspaper employees; the local DA Kaiser and Marian of Fem-Snach make return appearances as well.
As usual, Mr. Craft takes on bigotry against gay people and voices his support for free speech. (Kaiser, who is up for reelection, forms an alliance with Marian in an effort to close down the adult bookstores.) Of course we have Mark's erotic dreams to add some spice to the narrative too.
I do not usually figure out "who done it" but I did this time. I'm not sure if that says something good about me or something less than excellent about this novel. At any rate, it's always a pleasure to read Mr. Craft. I'm ready to begin volume five of the series.
 Twists and Turns.... November 5, 2004
NAME GAMES is a fascinating and exciting addition to the Mark Manning Mysteries. The plot lines keep getting better and more complex. This particular book is replete with clues for the "wanna-be" slueth in all of us, and a careful reading will provide the reader with all he or she needs to "figure-it-out". Porn, sex, "outing", and murder all add up to a fun read. Don't miss this one.
Welcome Back, Mark! November 18, 2002
He's back and better than ever. Now firmly ensconsed as publisher a small Wisconsin town's newspaper and as his young cousin's guardian, Mark seems more settled than in past installments, but he's still as perceptive and exciting as ever. With long-time partner, Neil, in town as an architect overseeing the town press's plant, he's more present than ever, and it's nice to see how readily he and Thad (their ward) have formed a relationship, one that Mark's initially a little jealous of. Neil serves as a rock for Mark and Thad.The town's leading miniature proprieter has organized a combo show-and-tell and seminar, and has lured the best in the business to serve as judge. When said judge is found dead, there is the initial shock, and annoying DA Harvey Kaiser looking for someone to convict, whatever the cost. The prime suspect? The town's sheriff, Doug Pierce, Mark's friend and a closeted gay man who was carrying on a torrid affair with the deceased. The town's loyalties soon become divided. Add into the mix an upcoming obscenity trial with many political consequences. Craft has done an excellent job fleshing out these characters. You actually understand them, their insecurities and their strengths. He's also delivered a wide array of possible suspects and does good work making the actual villain NOT obvious. Isn't that nice for a change? Highly recommended.
Absolutely Wonderful! Michael Craft has another winner here November 7, 2001
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Name Games is book four in the Mark Manning Series. Mark Manning is a newspaper publisher. He once again had to come to the rescue and solve a murder. This time, there were many suspects, including the Sheriff, the Sheriff's deputy, the DA and a retired physician, just to mention a few. As always, the book read so well, that I felt I was there, and could actually see everything that was described. The origin of the term Name Games comes out in the story. It is mentioned a couple of times. This book is a winner! You will not regret buying it! Enjoy! By the way, my name would be Rusty LaRue! Now you will have to read the book to find out what that means!
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