Book excerpt: In His Eyes Were Dark, He Licked His Lips, a gay murder on Fifth Avenue helps topple President Richard Nixon from the White House. What is the mystery of Kurt James? Wherever he goes, scandal and tragedy follows him. Set against the lush ambiance of the Deep South and the glittering backdrop of Fifth Avenue, Kurt flees North Carolina in 1958 after witnessing the vicious murder of his boyfriend by lawmen. In Manhattan, he nearly drowns in a drug and booze drenched lifestyle as the city's most dazzling callboy. Desperate for stability, he lands a job as tutor/secretary in New York City's most fabulous mansion: Darling Place. He falls in love with both father and son, the ravishing David Darling, powerful Wall Street and confidante to President Richard Nixon, and the swarthy, betroubled Claude. Kurt also battles the psychopathic Mrs. Darling, a would-be feminist whose jealousy borders on insanity. Her violent attempts to physically abuse her adorable little son, Tuffy, are thwarted when Kurt becomes his protector. David is forced to stay in Washington to comfort the President who is embroiled in the Watergate Scandal. Suddenly, the nation is shocked by a grotesque murder in Darling Place and the sensational trial and scandal that follows. It is this astounding scandal—of perverted love gone awry—which helps topple President Nixon from the White House—and brings tragedy to those left in Darling Place.