Line #14 Literature/DetectiveLaneMysteries


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3	[[quoteright:313:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/detective_lane_mysteries.jpg]]
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5	Series of [[DetectiveFiction mystery]] novels by Garry Ryan, centering on the investigations of gay Calgary police detective Lane. Supporting characters include Lane's life partner Arthur, his partner on the police force Harper, and an expanding circle of family members, friends, and colleagues as the series progresses. Somewhat unusual within the gay detective subgenre in that the author is straight.
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7	Installments to date include:
8	* ''Queen's Park'' (2004) – Lane tries to determine the whereabouts of a mayor who embezzled millions of dollars from his town and attempted to rape his nephew before disappearing. Establishes Lane's relationship with Arthur and explores his outsider status as the only openly gay man on the police force.
9	* ''The Lucky Elephant Restaurant'' (2006) – Lane and Harper attempt to locate the missing daughter of a local conservative radio personality; the mystery puts them in contact with the Vietnamese immigrant community of Calgary. Arthur's nephew Matt, who has cerebral palsy, comes to live with them. Winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Mystery.
10	* ''A Hummingbird Dance'' (2008) – Investigations into the death of a teen and the disappearance of a cowboy inflame tensions with Calgary's First Nations population, forcing Lane to act as intermediary. Lane's niece Christine joins the household.
11	* ''Smoked'' (2010) – Lane and Harper's efforts to decipher a child abuse case cause them to run afoul of high ranking members of the police force.
12	* ''Malabarista'' (2011) – Arthur struggles with a cancer diagnosis while Lane investigates the death of an Eastern European war criminal who had been living incognito in the city. Introduces a new sidekick for Lane, department whistle blower Keely Saliba.
13	* ''Foxed'' (2013) - The body of a child reported missing a decade earlier is discovered, and the evidence points to a ruthless developer. However, when Lane and Keely investigate, it puts their families in danger.
14	* ''Glycerine'' (2014) - Lane became the head of the department's Major Crimes Unit and gets a new partner, Nigel Li, who is known to be a hotshot. The first case together is a murder of a migrant worker which connects them to a radical religious leader who is responsible for the bombings of oil and gas pipelines. While this is happening, anti-Muslim sentiment is on the rise...
15	* ''Indiana Pulcinella'' (2016) - A pair of serial killers are on the loose, victimizing families which Lane and Li must solve before more families are hurt. Meanwhile, Lane has to deal with the drama in his family when his estranged sister tries to take away Christine's newly born son, Indiana.
16	* ''Matanzas'' (2017) - Lane and his family celebrate Christine's wedding in Cuba which is nearly derailed by the murder of a Canadian tourist, forcing Lane to help out with the local police. After the wedding, Lane and Li find out that the murder is connected to the deaths of local elderly pensioners which draw them into a conspiracy within the law enforcement.
17	* ''Sea of Cortez'' (2018) - Lane and Arthur are tasked to go undercover in Mexico to investigate the Mexican cartel that had ties with the Canadian criminal underworld. One of the ringleaders of the Canadian gang wants Lane to pay for the death of his brother. While this case has put his family in danger, this may be one of Lane's last cases.
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20	!!This series includes examples of:
21	* AbusiveParents:
22	** Lane's parents are extremely abusive and homophobic to him. Lane even remembers how his mother tells him that she wished he shouldn't be born because of his sexuality.
23	** [[spoiler: Bobbie Reddie is to be very controlling to the point of using her daughter to gain clout in her radio show. Same goes with Dr. Joseph Jones who sexually abuses his oldest daughter and lets his buddies take advantage of her.]]
24	%%* AssholeVictim: Numerous times, including an embezzler/rapist, a hit-and-run driver, and a war criminal.
25	%%* CorruptCop: Calvin Smoke.
26	%%* CrimeOfSelfDefense: [[spoiler: Ernie in ''Queen’s Park'']]
27	%%* {{Cult}}: Christine escapes from one.
28	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Most of the main cast have terrible childhood histories:
29	** Lane witnessed a neighbor burying her dead baby when he was six. His parents and siblings are extremely abusive and homophobic. He was also bullied in school because of his sexuality.
30	** Arthur tried to kill himself until his sister stopped him. His brother-in-law abandoned his family because of his son's cerebral palsy, leaving him to take care of him while his sister suffered from cancer.
31	** Christine grew up in a polygamy cult and was discriminated against for her skin color. Her mother neglected her, causing Christine to flee from the cult.
32	** Nigel Li found his mother dead and his father got arrested for her murder.
33	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Harper's nephew's name changes from Chris to Glenn between the first and second books.
34	* FamilyOfChoice: Lane and Arthur gradually assemble one, taking in Arthur's nephew Matt and Lane's niece Christine.
35	%%* KickTheDog: A couple of literal and very brutal instances in ''The Lucky Elephant Restaurant'' and another in ''A Hummingbird Dance''.
36	%%* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler:Ernie's Nanny, to Les and Marv.]] In a moving car, no less.
37	* LastNameBasis: Lane is usually referred to by his last name including his partner, niece, and nephew. It's because he hates his first name as he is named after St. Paul who condemned homosexuality in his writings.
38	%%* NoSocialSkills: Dr. Fibre, again.
39	* ParentalNeglect: Matt's father left him because of his cerebral palsy while Christine's mother let her daughter get excommunicated from the cult thinking that it's God's work.
40	%%* PuppetShows: In-universe, performed by Aidan in ''A Hummingbird Dance''.
41	* ReallyGetsAround: [[spoiler:Arthur and Lane's nosy next-door neighbor, Mrs. Smallway, turns out to be a swinger.]]
42	%%* StepfordSmiler: Bobbie Reddie.
43	* StraightGay: Detective Lane. Arthur not so much, although on occasion he will dial his stereotypical gay mannerisms down (or up) if he thinks the situation calls for it.
44	* SuddenlyEthnicity: Not played for the usual comic or {{anvilicious}} effects, but Arthur's Middle Eastern heritage isn't mentioned until several books into the series.
45	* UncertainDoom: ''Sea of Cortez'' ends [[spoiler:with Lane getting shot after killing Stan Pike. He's eventually sent to the hospital in critical condition, leaving his fate unknown]].

Context Literature / DetectiveLaneMysteries