Springtime 1985. The Night Stalker murders his way across Los Angeles, but the municipality of Willow Heights isn't too concerned. The 24/7 news coverage of rape and murder is boring compared with the news of fifteen year old Ricardo caught in flagrante delicto with a boy named Steve in the high school parking lot.One by one, relatives, friends, repudiate Ricardo. He'd never been one to feel alone or afraid or be the kind of person who backs down, but when his parents kick him out, Ricardo's not-so-peaceful life is shot to hell.Family is family--Ricardo is too stupid to believe anything otherwise. He means to go back home again, even if he has to bash on a tadpole loser classmate and his God-crazy aunt or be chummy with ruthless gangs. He might even be willing to shed some of his ugly prejudices. Even then, all his determination might not be nearly enough, not when the Night Stalker has dark plans in Willow Heights ....Solace is the first episode of a coming of age suspense serial, featuring amidst the 1980's AIDS scare, a macho gay boy, a tadpole straight boy, and their harrowing encounter with a serial killer. A crazy fish who lives in a mangrove paradise. Daydreamer. Professional Procrastinator. Likes the smell of bees and the buzz of flowers. Claims to be the most interesting author in the world, who has fought against lions in the Serengeti, trekked with penguins across the Antarctica, makes a mean chicken Parmesan. But I digress.
