Summer 1973
Dean Cade
Cruising
In Cruising, Lane meets James, someone different like him. Together, they stumble into one of the most horrific crimes in the annals of American history.
Summer in the blue-collar neighborhood of the Heights is a time of partying, muscle cars, and rock music. Working as a gas jockey, Lane spends his time off with his roommate, Kyle, cruising the strip, hanging out in dives, and going on double dates at the drive-in. Lane knows he is different than other guys—gay at a time when it is not cool.
The Heights has a secret too, hinted at by the telltale signs of missing posters, an abandoned car, runaways, and an eerie, dark red '68 Plymouth GTX that prowls the streets.
A chance encounter with James grows into something more for Lane. Dreams become vivid with omens of impending chaos as he crosses boundaries and sees a way to escape his dead-end life on the back of James's BSA Lightning motorcycle. Ignoring the warning signs, he is unaware that a serial killer and his teenage accomplices are stalking them and intend for them to be the next victims.
Lost Boys
In Lost Boys, Lane and James dream of running away. Hiding their secret, they stumble into one of the most horrific crimes in the annals of American history.
Hanging out at swimming pools and dive bars, riding a BSA Lightning motorcycle, partying, muscle cars, and rock music define the summer of '73. Through it all, Lane revels in his connection to James, someone different like him—gay in a time when it is not cool.
In the blue-collar neighborhood of the Heights, an eerie, dark red '68 Plymouth GTX prowls the streets, a man with burning eyes watches from a dirty white Econoline van, and teenage boys disappear.
Held back by a lack of money, Lane deals with his dying mother while James distracts him from ominous feelings of someone following him. Ignoring the warning signs, they are unaware of the danger of a serial killer and his teenage accomplices stalking them with the help of one of their friends.
The Candyman is coming, and in his dark house the torture board awaits.
Shallow Graves
In Shallow Graves, the final in the series, Lane is ready to run away with James on the back of his BSA Lightning motorcycle. Before they can ride off, they stumble into one of the most horrific crimes in the annals of American history.
Summer '73, a time of partying, muscle cars, and rock music, comes to an end for Lane and James when someone discovers their secret. Choosing to stick together, they decide to escape a dead-end life to California, where they can be free to be themselves.
Memories of strangers digging at the beach, an eerie, dark red '68 Plymouth GTX, and ominous visions haunt Lane as they prepare to hit the road. Distracted by his dying mother, his attraction to James, and the need for a final score, he ignores the warning signs of a serial killer stalking them, getting closer by using his two teenage accomplices and one of their friends to set them up.
A dark house lies across town beside a muddy bayou; under the blaring rock music, screams come from the torture board within. This is the Candyman's lair, and he knows where Lane and James live. Time is running out for them in the blue-collar neighborhood of the Heights, where teenage boys disappear into shallow graves.
