The Lyons' Den

Daniel writes murder mysteries but is caught in writer's block, thanks to financial troubles and breaking up with his lover, Tad.

But then the man appears at Daniel's job, begging him to rewrite a couple of his books into a series for cable. If he does, Tad will take him to Bermuda to try and rekindle their love. If not, he loses the guy, forever.

Only part of the deal is Daniel has to do the writing in Tad's summer lodge, even though it's the dead of winter. He must also finish the scripts within seventy-two hours. Daniel reluctantly agrees.

Naturally, a blizzard roars in just as that "isolated lodge" becomes filled with the chaos of mystery, suspense, lies, sex, betrayal, seduction, revenge, murder, fist-fights, confusion, frostbite, nudity, gunfire, predatory females, homophobic males, an obnoxious caretaker, a hot shower with people who don't exist, a blazing fireplace, wistful dreams, bizarre shower curtains, shredded clothes, off-key sit-com music, secrets in shadows, crooked politicians, bribery money, a hermit who hates everything except chipmunks, and romance with the proper stranger.

It doesn't help that Daniel's fictional detective, Ace Shostakovich, is bitching and snarking at everyone as he tells the story, leading Daniel to wonder if what's happening is real...or if he is now trapped in one of his books.