Books like The less-dead by April Lurie
Noah Nordstrom rebuffs his Christian‑radio‑show‑hosting father and blames him for spreading hate. When two local gay teenagers are murdered, Noah escalates his anti‑evangelism, convinced the killer is a caller on his dad’s show. He meets Will Reed—an attractive, openly gay teen—and becomes unsettled when Will shows interest in him. Despite Noah’s cool demeanor, the murderer continues to strike, next targeting Will. Guilt-ridden, Noah begins his own investigation, realizing the killer specifically preys on gay teens from foster homes—those he deems the "less‑dead." Armed with Will’s journal, filled with clues, Noah confronts a danger far beyond his expectations.
The novel explores adolescent identity, faith conflicts, and the prejudice faced by gay youth, set against the grim backdrop of a serial homicide case.
First publish date: 2010
Genre: Mystery & Detective/Private Investigator
Authors: April Lurie
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