Given its status as a self-published novel, Mark Roeder's SOMEONE IS KILLING THE GAY BOYS OF VERONA (a terrible title) is at a bit of a disadvantage. Thanks to vanity presses, the publishing landscape is littered with far too many badly-written examples of literary hubris that should never have seen the light of day. However, as with most of Mark Roeder's efforts, this generalization doesn't apply here. While nowhere near perfect, this gothic installment in Roeder's series of "Gay Youth Chronicles" manages to overcome its grandest faults (repetitiveness and a desperate need for editing) with an ambitious plot that straddles romantic, paranormal, and sociopolitical themes. It also boasts a harrowing, cinematic climax likely to thrill most readers. And while the voice of the teenage protagonist, Sean, doesn't always feel completely authentic (he's a 16-year-old gay boy who often refers to sex as "making love" and doesn't seem torn up *quite* enough about his friends' deaths), there's enough warmth and sincerity to the story to pull it all together nonetheless. ( )