Mark Richard Zubro

Mark Richard Zubro is an American mystery writer known for authoring two distinct series featuring gay protagonists: the Tom Mason/Scott Carpenter mysteries and the Paul Turner detective series. His work frequently incorporates themes of LGBTQ+ rights and social justice while operating within the traditional police procedural and amateur sleuth formats. The Tom Mason series follows a high school teacher and his partner Scott Carpenter as they investigate murders in Chicago, with the first book "A Simple Suburban Murder" published in 1989. The Paul Turner books center on a gay Chicago police detective solving homicide cases while balancing his work with single parenthood. Zubro worked as a high school teacher for over 30 years while maintaining his writing career, drawing on his educational background to inform the school-based settings in many of his mysteries. His novel "Simple Suburban Murder" won the Lambda Literary Award for Best Gay Men's Mystery. Beyond his mystery series, Zubro has written several standalone novels and young adult books addressing themes of prejudice and acceptance in contemporary society. He continues to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in genre fiction while contributing to the evolution of the modern mystery novel.

Reader reviews highlight Zubro's writing of gay detective novels with two main series - the Tom & Scott mysteries and the Paul Turner mysteries. Readers praise: - Authentic portrayal of gay characters and relationships - Fast-paced plots and engaging mysteries - Strong sense of Chicago settings and culture - Mix of suspense with humor - Character development across series Common criticisms: - Dialog sometimes feels stiff or unrealistic - Later books become formulaic - Some find political/social commentary heavy-handed - Side characters lack depth - Plot resolutions can feel rushed Ratings averages: Goodreads: 3.7/5 across all books Amazon: 4.1/5 average for most titles Notable reader comments: "Provides representation without making sexuality the whole story" -Goodreads "Great beach reads but not particularly deep" -Amazon "The Paul Turner books are stronger than Tom & Scott series" -LibraryThing The books receive steady but modest review volumes, with most titles having 50-200 ratings on major platforms.

Tom Mason & Scott Carpenter Series: A Simple Suburban Murder - A gay high school teacher investigates when a colleague is found dead in the school library.

Why Isn't Becky Twitchell Dead? - Tom and Scott pursue a killer after a despised school secretary survives multiple murder attempts.

The Principal Cause of Death - A homophobic school principal is murdered, leaving Tom to investigate among numerous suspects who had reason to hate him.

An Echo of Death - Tom and Scott search for answers when the body of a former student is found in Lake Michigan.

Sorry Now? - The pair investigate the murder of a teacher who was blackmailing students and fellow faculty members.

Simple Suburban Murder - Tom looks into suspicious deaths at his school while dealing with threats against his own life.

Paul Turner Series: Another Dead Teenager - A gay Chicago police detective investigates a series of murders targeting high school students.

The Only Good Priest - Detective Turner investigates when priests begin dying under suspicious circumstances.

An Ice Cold Paradise - Turner pursues a killer targeting gay men during a bitter Chicago winter.

The Truth Can Get You Killed - A politician's murder leads Turner through Chicago's corrupt political landscape.

Drop Dead - Turner investigates deaths connected to a weight loss clinic.

Mike King Series: File Under Dead - A gay high school teacher becomes involved in solving murders at a science fiction convention.

Everyone's Dead But Us - Mike King investigates when members of his high school reunion begin dying mysteriously.

Are You Nuts? - A murder at a mental health facility draws Mike King into another investigation.