Know that this was written in 1991- and therefore some of the info regarding AIDS, as well as attitudes, reflect that time frame. Still, it's a unique tale of a man- Crang- hunting for the man responsible for the death of his lover. I liked Toronto settings as well as the characters.

This is a twisted story that kept me entertained. I enjoyed the depth of the characters and how the plot flowed smoothly. My first story from this author and I would enjoy reading more. This story is one that will stick with you and make you think!
3.5 stars

I am not sure what to think about this book. On the one side, I DID want to know how it would end, I WANTED to finish it, even if I wasn't THAT hooked on the story to forget my sleeping time.
(It is already a little achievement, considering my lack of patience at a lack of interest).

On the other side, this book irritated me: the way the author presented the early nineties, at the height of the AIDS crisis, was strange, because his view on the events was...rather adventurous than realistic. And I, while reading, couldn't get rid of the feeling that the author didn't do a proper research in this field, that his approach to the AIDS topic was rather perfunctory.

But then I saw that this novel was first published in 1991 and it changed my viewpoint on it completely.

Jack Batten has an entertaining writing style, and I would have probably enjoyed Blood Count more if I had found the main character more appealing. Maybe I lack a background information about Crang, to be more invented in his figure, after all, it is the forth installment in A Crang Mystery, though I doubt it.

Crang, a criminal lawyer by profession, does nothing as a criminal lawyer normally does. There is a lot of wandering around, drinking, talking with suspects, his girl friend, eyewitnesses and so on.. and the easiness he obtains access to all kind of information is record-breaking.

It took me a whole week to finish it, but I still haven't toyed with the idea to DNF it.

I thought this was a great start to a new series,Crang is an interesting character and the book was pacy and kept me page turning.The story revolved around the gay scene in Toronto at a time not that long ago where the scene was quite hidden and people were not so open about being gay, throw in the Aids crisis in its infancy and you have a scene where secrecy is the norm and people may not be as they seem.It made for an interesting trip down memory lane and was well written and kept me guessing,well worth a read ,thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

DNF @8%. This one is not for me. No review posted.

At the height of the AIDS crisis in the early 1990s, Toronto lawyer Crang helps friend Alex Corcoran. Corcoran has just lost his lover to AIDS and is determined to find the man who infected him. Crang does his own sleuthing to try and find the man to prevent Corcoran from getting himself in trouble. But the gay community is still largely hidden and open persecution was commonplace so several prominent men including a provincial cabinet minister are afraid of being exposed. However, when Corcoran himself is killed, Crang owes both of them to find their killers.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Dundurn Press.

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Alex’s partner, Ian has died of AIDS. He tells his good friends and neighbors Crang and Annie that he is going to find the man who gave Ian AIDS and kill him. The problem is he doesn’t know who he is, just where Ian met him. Crang sets out to find the man and warn him before Alex can find him.

Crang visits gay bars in an effort to find the man, but then Alex is killed. Crang redoubles his efforts to find the man and seek retribution for his two dead friends.

This novel explores the gay scene in Toronto at a time when it wasn’t as accepted as it is today. Gay men and women were still persecuted in a big way and there were many who (like today to some lesser degree), were terrified of coming out to the world. Jack Batten writes about the gay scene and the trials the people underwent in a sensitive and kind way.

The book is both well plotted and written. It is suspenseful and moves along nicely. This is my first Jack Batten novel but it won’t be my last. I truly enjoyed it.

I want to thank Netgalley and Dundurn for forwarding to me a copy of this remarkable book to read.