Gil Burgess

Death & Pride Gil Burgess

Publisher Marketing: Death and Pride centers on the frantic search for a serial killer in the weeks prior to the annual Gay Pride Parade in Greenwich Village, NY. All the victims, attractive, young men were found naked and thrown in dumpsters or in alley-ways in the Village. Police have only one clue to go on; fibers found in the beard stubble of the victims. Lead investigator, Alan Barlow's fears intensify as the body count rises and the date of the parade nears. He is no closer to finding the killer than at the beginning of the investigation. At the same time, Todd Winslow meets and falls for Stephan Vogel, a hot leather man he met while serving on the Pride Committee. Todd's ex, Joe warns him to be careful while in the city and with Stephan. At first Todd laughs it off, but when he sees the posters of the suspect he knows he has cause for concern, but not for what he thinks. With only days to the parade, a young man enters the Police Station and relates a horrifying story about a bondage encounter he'd recently had with a man who closely resembled the police composite. After staking out the bars and gym mentioned by the witness, Barlow narrows his search. With a photo from the gym Barlow and his men locate and try to apprehend the suspect, but he disappears in the crowds in the Village. The climax of this twisted tale occurs during the parade, not with an arrest on the street, not with gunfire, not even with the suspect surrendering, but by means that no one could have predicted. The reason for the murders? Just as shocking as the murders themselves.