DRAMA KING (the 18th Nicky and Noah mystery)
a comedy/mystery/romance novel by JOE COSENTINO
E-book and Paperback: 230 pages
Language: English
Genre: MM, contemporary, mystery, comedy, romance, theatre, musical theater, college, Camelot, King Arthur, Lancelot, Knights of the Round Table, deaf, CODA
Heat Level: 2
Cover Art: Jesús Da Silva
Release date: October 1, 2023
Purchase Links:
Universal Buy Link | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble
It’s summertime at Treemeadow College and the living isn’t easy. Theatre professors and adorable couple Nicky, Noah, and their thespian troupe stage an original musical adaptation of the King Arthur Legends entitled, Knights in Tights. Queens blissfully shout, “King me,” until critics drop like their scathing reviews. Once again in this novel, our favorite thespians will need to use their drama skills to catch the killer before their crowns spin—around their throats. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny, edge-of-your-seat entertaining eighteenth mystery in this delightful series. It’s a royal riot! So hurry to your seat. The stage lights are coming up in Camelot on a king on the down low who pulls his long sword out of a tight stone, knights of the roundtable craving a circle jerk, a half-fairy son with a daddy complex, more men in tights than in a Promise Keepers’ convention, and murder!
Praise for the Nicky and Noah mysteries:
“Joe Cosentino has a unique and fabulous gift. His writing is flawless, and his plot-lines will have you guessing until the very last page, which makes his books a joy to read. His books are worth their weight in gold, and if you haven’t discovered them yet you are in for a rare treat.” Divine Magazine
“a combination of Laurel and Hardy mixed with Hitchcock and Murder She Wrote…
Loaded with puns and one-liners…Right to the end, you are kept guessing, and the conclusion still has a surprise in store for you…the best modern Sherlock and Watson in books today…I highly recommend this book and the entire series, it’s a pure pleasure, full of fun and love, written with talent and brio…fabulous…brilliant” Optimumm Book Reviews
“adventure, mystery, and romance with every page….Funny, clever, and sweet….I can’t find anything not to love about this series….This read had me laughing and falling in love….Nicky and Noah are my favorite gay couple.” Urban Book Reviews
“For fans of Joe Cosentino’s hilarious mysteries, this is another vintage story with more cheeky asides and sub plots right left and centre….The story is fast paced, funny and sassy. The writing is very witty with lots of tongue-in-cheek humour….Highly recommended.” Boy Meets Boy Reviews
“Every entry of the Nicky and Noah mystery series is rife with intrigue, calamity, and hilarity…Cosentino keeps us guessing – and laughing – until the end, as well as leaving us breathlessly anticipating the next Nicky and Noah thriller.” Edge Media Network
“A laugh and a murder, done in the style we have all come to love….This had me from the first paragraph….Another wonderful story with characters you know and love!” Crystals Many Reviewers
“These two are so entertaining….Their tactics in finding clues and the crazy funny interactions between characters keeps the pages turning. For most of the book if I wasn’t laughing I was grinning.” Jo and Isa Love Books
“Superb fun from start to finish, for me this series gets stronger with every book and that’s saying something because the benchmark was set so very high with book 1.” Three Books Over the Rainbow
“The Nicky and Noah Mysteries series are perfect for fans of the Cozy Mystery sub-genre. They mix tongue-in-cheek humor, over-the-top characters, a wee bit of political commentary, and suspense into a sweet little mystery solved by Nicky and Noah, theatre professors for whom all the world’s a stage.” Prism Book Alliance
“This is one hilarious series with a heart and it just keeps getting better. I highly recommend them all, and please read them in the order they were written for full blown laugh out loud reading pleasure!” Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Interview with Joe Cosentino, author of the novel, Drama King,
the 18th Nicky and Noah mystery/comedy/romance
Joe Cosentino, welcome on the release of the eighteenth book in your award-winning and popular Nicky and Noah gay cozy comedy mystery series, Drama King.
Thank you. I feel like royalty!
Is this the last novel in the Nicky and Noah mysteries series?
As they say, all good things come to an end. At this point, I believe this is the end of the series. And what a great ending!
You have many other series too. What do you like about writing this series?
As Nicky might say, I’m happier than a conservative politician engaging in voter suppression when I write this series. It’s been such great fun watching Nicky and Noah’s relationship grow as their son grows, laughing at the antics of their best friends Martin and Ruben, visiting cozy Treemeadow College over the seasons, traveling all over the world, and of course reveling in the exciting murder mysteries. The settings have become like home. The characters are my friends and family. Best of all, I can combine my love for theatre and cozy mysteries.
Why Drama King as the eighteenth mystery?
As a kid, I loved reading the King Arthur Legends. I also listened to Broadway show albums around the clock. (That should have been a clue to my parents.) Not surprisingly, one of my favorites was Camelot, the story of Merlin the magician’s student King Arthur, Arthur’s favorite knight Lancelot, and Guinevere, the woman who came between them. While I loved the music, colorful period costumes, royal sets, and chorus of knights, I didn’t buy the story. To me it seemed like King Arthur and his stud knight Lancelot should be the couple, and the Knights of the Round Table should be sharing more than their goodness.
I notice this novel is set back at Treemeadow College.
Many of the novels, like this one, take place in Vermont, a cozy state with green pastures, white church steeples, glowing lakes, and friendly and accepting people. Fictitious Treemeadow College (named after its gay founders, couple Tree and Meadow) is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery with its white Edwardian buildings, low white stone fences, lake and mountain views, and cherry wood offices with tall leather chairs and fireplaces.
Tell us a bit about the plot—no spoilers.
In the novel, Nicky, Noah, and their theatrical troupe at Treemeadow College stage an original musical production of the King Arthur legends entitled, Knights in Tights.
It’s great to see our favorite characters back.
Of course! In the show within the novel, King Arthur (Nicky) and the gorgeous knight Lancelot (Noah) are star-crossed lovers due to Arthur’s mail-order bride Guinevere (played by their best friend and department chair Martin). Martin’s long-suffering husband, Ruben, is Merlin who in the final moments of the show sets all right (or left), and King Arthur marries his beloved Lancelot. Nicky and Noah’s son, Taavi, is cast as Young Arthur. His wife Sloane, a transexual, plays the mysterious Lady of the Lake. Martin and Ruben’s son, Ty, is Arthur’s bastard (pun intended) son Mordred, and Martin’s sassy office assistant, Shayla, is cast as the cunning Morgan le Fay. Detective Manuello comes along for the ride as Pellinore, the knight with the Holy Grail (he found at a gay bar). Noah’s niece from Scotland, Lairie, plays the scheming Isolde. Nicky and Noah’s dog, Asterisk, and his husband, Tag, are cast as King Arthur’s dogs Cavall and Glassic. Ty’s girlfriend, Shinelle, is also back as stage manager.
Who are the new characters/suspects/victims for mystery eighteen?
The Knights of the Roundtable are played by hunky newcomers to the series. Associate Professor of Musical Theatre Bernardo Anita is cast as Knight Perceval. The Latino’s muscular body, dark hair and eyes, and olive skin set his adorable graduate assistant Wang Fong’s heart aflutter. Wang (Knight Kay), a deaf performer, also enjoys the fact that Bernardo is a CODA (child of deaf adults). Theatre majors bodybuilder Nathan Masterson (Knight Tristan), wealthy Tevye Perchik (Knight Gawain), and Dracula lookalike Beau Babcock (Knight Bedivere) form an interesting love triangle. When play reviewers drop like knights’ tights, there are plenty of suspects—not to mention sweet romance. As Nicky would say, if you read this novel, you’ll have more fun than a Republican-appointed Supreme Court member taking away LGBT, workers’, environmental, women’s, and voting rights. You’ll also get to see how this popular series ends!
Why do you think there aren’t many other gay cozy mystery series out there?
Most MM novels are erotica, young adult, dark thrillers, or supernatural. While that’s fine, I think we’re missing a whole spectrum of fiction. In the case of the Nicky and Noah mysteries, they include romance, humor, mystery, adventure, and quaint and loveable characters in uncanny situations. The settings are warm and cozy with lots of hot cocoa by the fireplace. The clues and red herrings are there for the perfect whodunit. So are the plot twists and turns and a surprise ending to keep the pages turning over faster (as Nicky would say) a priest teaching an altar boy how to genuflect in front of him. No matter what is thrown in their path, Nicky and Noah always end up on top. At least Nicky ends up on top, which is just fine with Noah.
You and your spouse have travelled to Alaska, Hawaii, and Scotland, just like Nicky and Noah. Did those trips inform those novels in the series?
Since my spouse and I have travelled extensively to gorgeous locations, those situations often pop up in my books. I hear other things pop up as well when the readers read Nicky and Noah’s love scenes. (smile)
When you wrote Drama Queen and it was voted Favorite LGBT Mystery Novel of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine, did you envision this as a series?
Totally. Though each book has its own complete story and ending, I wrote the first three books together. When they were so popular, I kept writing.
For anyone unfortunate enough not to have read them, tell us the titles of the series.
Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry, Drama Daddy (novelette), and now Drama King.
They are all available as e-books and paperbacks. Are they all also available as audiobooks?”
Many of the novels are available now as audiobooks. The others should be joining them soon—if the audiobook gods agree.
How can your readers get their hands on Drama King and how can they contact you?
The purchase links are below, as are my contact links, including my web site. I love to hear from readers! So do Nicky and Noah. I tell them everything!
Thank you, Joe, for interviewing today.
It was my pleasure. As a past professional actor and current college theatre professor/department chair, I know first-hand the hysterically funny antics, sweet romance, and captivating mystery in the worlds of theatre and academia. The Nicky and Noah mysteries are full of them! I know you’ll laugh, cry, feel romantic, and love delving into this crackling new mystery (as Nicky would say) with more plot twists and turns than a Mormon with five wives. I’m more excited (as Nicky would say) than a Catholic adoption agency discriminating against gay families to share this eighteenth mystery in the series with you. So put on your cape and crown, and head to the magical land of Camelot for murder, mayhem, and of course a happy ending (no pun intended)!
And drop me a line. I’ll share it with Nicky and Noah! http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Excerpt of Drama King, the 18th Nicky and Noah mystery novel, by Joe Cosentino:
I discreetly raced down the hallway and booked it into Noah’s dressing room, where I found my wonderful husband sitting at his makeup table. “I laid out lunch for you on the end table, Nicky.”
I gazed at Noah’s culinary creation: warm beet and farro salad with a blackberry vinaigrette, carrot ricotta tart with pesto and pine nuts, pheasant chestnut zucchini skewers, and peach banana cocoa souffle for dessert. “Noah, you outdid yourself!” I gave him a kiss on the cheek, sat on the (appropriately) pink loveseat across from the end table, and began devouring lunch with a pear plum kiwi smoothie chaser. I garbled between bites, “This is delicious.”
“Just like you.” Noah sat next to me, resting his head on my shoulder. The room was full of the scent of his luscious strawberry shampoo.
After we shared a kiss full of pesto, I said, “I hope you didn’t eat the pine nuts.” Noah is allergic to all nuts—except mine.
“Of course not.”
“Good.”
“But thank you for worrying about me.”
“Always.”
We kissed again.
I asked, “Have Taavi, Sloane, Asterisk, and Tag eaten?”
“They’re finishing up their lunches in Sloane’s dressing room. When I left, Nicky Jr. was on Sloane’s lap with Asterisk and Tag holding the bottle to Nicky Jr.’s lips. Our dogs wouldn’t leave the baby’s side until he drank all of his formula.” Noah kissed one of my sideburns as I chewed. “So, what did you find out?”
“About what?”
“Our cast members—while you were spying on them.”
“I told you, Noah, I don’t spy. I observe.”
“Potato potahto.”
“Don’t make me skewer you with my skewer, Noah.”
“Later.” He kissed my nose. “Tell me the scoop.”
After I swallowed a mouthful of pheasant, I said, “Ty and Shinelle seem to like our niece Lairie.”
Noah clapped his hands. “I’m so glad Lairie is making friends.”
“They may be more than friends.”
“What do you mean?”
“I could be wrong—”
“My own Sherlock Holmes? Never.” Noah giggled.
“Can it, Watson.” I slapped his bubble butt. “Ty and Shinelle seem to be attracted to Lairie.”
“Lairie is probably a novelty to them. They’ve probably never met anyone from Scotland.”
“I guess so.”
Noah fed me a tart. “What else did you discover about our merry troupe?”
“Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Bernardo Anita and his graduate assistant Wang Fong seem to be at war.”
“That isn’t good.”
I nodded and avocado dribbled onto my plate. “And our students aren’t fairing any better.”
“Do tell.”
“Nathan Masterson is interested in Tevye Perchik who is interested in Beau Babcock who is interested in Nathan Masterson.”
Noah gasped. “Nicky, we have our own soap opera!”
“Let’s hope the drama stays on the stage during our press conference in the greenroom tomorrow.”
“Who’s coming?”
I replied between bites, “The theatre reviewers from the Vermont Victory: Albert and Rose McAfee, their sons Hugo and Conrad, and Rose’s mother Mae.”
Noah grinned. “The family that reviews together stays together.”
“They can be tough reviewers, but they review every show in Vermont. So I’m hoping some wining, dining, and press interviews tomorrow evening will soften them up before opening night.”
Noah nodded. “I made gourmet finger foods and stored them in our refrigerator. We can bring them to the theatre tomorrow. Taavi, Sloane, and Lairie agreed to help set up.”
Shinelle knocked on the open door. “We’re back from lunch, professors.”
“Thank you, Shinelle,” Noah said.
I mumbled the same with my mouth full. After Shinelle was gone, I wiped my mouth with the pink silk napkin Noah had placed on my knee. Then I handed him my empty pink china plate. “Thank you for the wonderful lunch, Noah. See you on stage, Lancelot.”
“I’m right behind you, Arthur.”
“That’s a switch.”
We shared a chuckle.
As I headed out of Noah’s dressing room, I thought about our cast and crew—wondering if one of them was a murderer.
About the Author:
Joe Cosentino was voted Favorite MM Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Author of the Year by the readers of Divine Magazine for Drama Queen, the first Nicky and Noah mystery novel. He is also the author of the remaining Nicky and Noah mysteries: Drama Muscle, Drama Cruise, Drama Luau, Drama Detective, Drama Fraternity, Drama Castle, Drama Dance, Drama Faerie, Drama Runway, Drama Christmas, Drama Pan, Drama TV, Drama Oz, Drama Prince, Drama Merry; the Player Piano Mysteries: The Player and The Player’s Encore; the Jana Lane Mysteries: Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, Rag Doll; the Cozzi Cove series: Cozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Moving Forward, Stepping Out, New Beginnings, Happy Endings; the In My Heart Anthology: An Infatuation & A Shooting Star; the Tales from Fairyland Anthology: The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland and Holiday Tales from Fairyland; the Bobby and Paolo Holiday Stories Anthology: A Home for the Holidays, The Perfect Gift, The First Noel; and the Found At Last Anthology: Finding Giorgio and Finding Armando. His books have won numerous Book of the Month awards and Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions. As an actor, Joe appeared in principal roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Jason Robards, and Holland Taylor. He received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Goddard College, Master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz, and is currently a happily married college theatre professor/department chair residing in New York State.
http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Web site: http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoeCosentinoauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeCosen
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4071647.Joe_Cosentino
Amazon: Author.to/JoeCosentino
Giveaway: Post a comment about why you love knights in tights. The one that tickles us under the tunic the most will win your choice of one of the first three Nicky and Noah mystery audiobooks: Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, or Drama Cruise!
Don’t forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win!
Bayou Book Junkie 