James Lear is the nom de plume of a prolific and acclaimed novelist. As James Lear he is the author of The Back Passage The Secret Tunnel Hot Valley The Low Road and The Palace of Varieties. He lives in London.

Best friends and sometimes lovers Edward "Mitch" Mitchell and Harry "Boy" Morgan have been in terrible jams before -- their adventures of murder, mystery, and unstoppable sex have made "The Back Passage" and "The Secret Tunnel" international bestellers. In "A Sticky End, " Mitch must face the possibility that Boy is involved in the chain of events that led to the suicide of his own colleague and secret paramour, Frank Bartlett. To absolve Boy, Mitch races around London finding clues while bedding the many men eager to lend a hand -- or more. The policemen, working class gigolos, steam room bathers, embezzlers, and blackmailers that Mitch comes across create a tasty mystery and satisfying erotic romp.