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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Third in the Adrien English mystery series about an author/bookseller and the fixes in which he finds himself.
My Take
I do enjoy Adrien's sense of humor. He cracks me up as he struggles to get through his encounters with Dauten's girls.
I love and hate what Jake does to him. On one level, they're great together and Jake is certainly a life line for Adrien! On the other hand, Jake has such disrespect for Adrien. I hate when Chan shows up to break the news and says Jake has forbidden Adrien from seeing him at the hospital. Then Lisa's offer of the house...it's just so impossible even if Adrien wanted it. And the prospect of who he'll be spending Christmas with…
It's so cute when he-man Jake calls Adrien baby.
Looks like Natalie may be working for Adrien.
Adrien is a good sport, putting up with all the bonding Lisa wants him to do with Bill, spending Christmas with the family. All the while we get to read Adrien's snarky comments about the whole thing. The Dautens do seem like a nice, wholesome family.
Such a contrast to what's happening in the rest of his life! Nothing is what it seems and, yes, there are things that go bump in the night and there are monsters under the bed. And behind the door and right in front of your face!
The Story
Angus, Adrien's employee at the bookstore, is terrified and under siege. Crank phone calls threaten his every step, but Angus refuses to talk to Jake. Meanwhile, Jake is up to his neck in his own problems: bodies are being found, ritual killings all over L.A., and his girlfriend is pregnant. It was difficult enough for Adrien before with Jake denying his sexuality, but this news and the escalation of the Satanic threats against Adrien and the bookstore simply make things worse.
Then Lisa drops the engagement bomb. After all these years, she's going to re-marry. But is it love or part of a Satanic cult…?
The Characters
Adrien English owns Cloak and Dagger Books, a shop that specializes in mysteries. Lisa is Adrien's mother.
Angus Gordon is Adrian's heterosexual employee with a fascination for magic; he's even pursuing a major in an undergraduate program on magic at UCLA. Wanda is his flaky girlfriend.
Detective Jake Riordan is a homicide detective. Kate Keegan, a fellow cop, is his girlfriend. Detective Paul Chan was Jake's partner on the case where Jake and Adrien met. Now he's coming to the weekly writing group, Partners in Crime, which Adrien hosts at his bookstore. Jean Finch gets caught following Adrien, using his activities to fuel her and Ted's next book. Selene Wolfe is normal by day and a specialist in the occult by night.
Gabriel Savant has reinvented his writing style with the subsequent books taking off. He's a cocky poser with a huge secret. Bob Friedlander is Savant's handler from the publisher. With a huge share in the secret.
Councilman Bill Dauten is the man Lisa intends to marry. His daughters, while Barbies, seem very nice: Lauren is married to a jerk, Beavis; Emma is twelve and a cheeky sweetheart; and, Natalie needs a job.
Professor Guy Snowden is Angus' teacher on the occult at UCLA. He's also interested in Adrien. Peter Verlane is an ex-student of the professor's and, supposedly, out of the country.
Claude's restaurant has been replaced by the Dragonwyck, a shop specializing in the occult. Ariel and Cassandra can only give Adrien a start on learning about the inverted pentagram found on his doorstep. Velvet White is the snoopy woman who turns up out of the blue. Kinsey Perone and the Betty Sansone threaten Adrien in the bookstore. Oliver Garibaldi is an expert on the occult, albeit one with a very scary house. Or two. Martin Grosser is a celebrity lawyer donating his efforts to Angus' defense. Seems he's also a member of the club. Dr. Ava Wilding is Oliver's fiancée and as deep in it as he.
The Cover
It's Christmas and the cover is all Christmas ball ornaments but one. One is a red, leering devil's face.
The title covers several possibilities from Jake dropping the bomb to Angus' culpability to the revelations about the demonic. Well, to Hell You Say!
My Take
I do enjoy Adrien's sense of humor. He cracks me up as he struggles to get through his encounters with Dauten's girls.
I love and hate what Jake does to him. On one level, they're great together and Jake is certainly a life line for Adrien! On the other hand, Jake has such disrespect for Adrien. I hate when Chan shows up to break the news and says Jake has forbidden Adrien from seeing him at the hospital. Then Lisa's offer of the house...it's just so impossible even if Adrien wanted it. And the prospect of who he'll be spending Christmas with…
It's so cute when he-man Jake calls Adrien baby.
Looks like Natalie may be working for Adrien.
Adrien is a good sport, putting up with all the bonding Lisa wants him to do with Bill, spending Christmas with the family. All the while we get to read Adrien's snarky comments about the whole thing. The Dautens do seem like a nice, wholesome family.
Such a contrast to what's happening in the rest of his life! Nothing is what it seems and, yes, there are things that go bump in the night and there are monsters under the bed. And behind the door and right in front of your face!
The Story
Angus, Adrien's employee at the bookstore, is terrified and under siege. Crank phone calls threaten his every step, but Angus refuses to talk to Jake. Meanwhile, Jake is up to his neck in his own problems: bodies are being found, ritual killings all over L.A., and his girlfriend is pregnant. It was difficult enough for Adrien before with Jake denying his sexuality, but this news and the escalation of the Satanic threats against Adrien and the bookstore simply make things worse.
Then Lisa drops the engagement bomb. After all these years, she's going to re-marry. But is it love or part of a Satanic cult…?
The Characters
Adrien English owns Cloak and Dagger Books, a shop that specializes in mysteries. Lisa is Adrien's mother.
Angus Gordon is Adrian's heterosexual employee with a fascination for magic; he's even pursuing a major in an undergraduate program on magic at UCLA. Wanda is his flaky girlfriend.
Detective Jake Riordan is a homicide detective. Kate Keegan, a fellow cop, is his girlfriend. Detective Paul Chan was Jake's partner on the case where Jake and Adrien met. Now he's coming to the weekly writing group, Partners in Crime, which Adrien hosts at his bookstore. Jean Finch gets caught following Adrien, using his activities to fuel her and Ted's next book. Selene Wolfe is normal by day and a specialist in the occult by night.
Gabriel Savant has reinvented his writing style with the subsequent books taking off. He's a cocky poser with a huge secret. Bob Friedlander is Savant's handler from the publisher. With a huge share in the secret.
Councilman Bill Dauten is the man Lisa intends to marry. His daughters, while Barbies, seem very nice: Lauren is married to a jerk, Beavis; Emma is twelve and a cheeky sweetheart; and, Natalie needs a job.
Professor Guy Snowden is Angus' teacher on the occult at UCLA. He's also interested in Adrien. Peter Verlane is an ex-student of the professor's and, supposedly, out of the country.
Claude's restaurant has been replaced by the Dragonwyck, a shop specializing in the occult. Ariel and Cassandra can only give Adrien a start on learning about the inverted pentagram found on his doorstep. Velvet White is the snoopy woman who turns up out of the blue. Kinsey Perone and the Betty Sansone threaten Adrien in the bookstore. Oliver Garibaldi is an expert on the occult, albeit one with a very scary house. Or two. Martin Grosser is a celebrity lawyer donating his efforts to Angus' defense. Seems he's also a member of the club. Dr. Ava Wilding is Oliver's fiancée and as deep in it as he.
The Cover
It's Christmas and the cover is all Christmas ball ornaments but one. One is a red, leering devil's face.
The title covers several possibilities from Jake dropping the bomb to Angus' culpability to the revelations about the demonic. Well, to Hell You Say!
a_reader_obsessed's review
4.0
As expected this installment did hurt. I know a lot of readers abhor Jake and his actions
I think most of us want this as a romance but at its core it's a mystery series. I find too that I always want more relationship development in all of the Lanyon books I've read, but that is probably not the point of the main story here. I will say this - Lanyon definitely has a gift. The word choice is often genius, the observations appropos. It's like you're having a private joke with the author - the many references and spot on wit quite charming and impressive. The experience is in the details with no unnecessary words wasted. Perfectly sublime.
Spoiler
and I was none too thrilled with his violence. Though I don't condone cheating and it's depressing that he feels he can't live honestly, I still can empathize with his fears and desires. And of course, I mostly hurt for Adrien because there is nothing he can do about it.I think most of us want this as a romance but at its core it's a mystery series. I find too that I always want more relationship development in all of the Lanyon books I've read, but that is probably not the point of the main story here. I will say this - Lanyon definitely has a gift. The word choice is often genius, the observations appropos. It's like you're having a private joke with the author - the many references and spot on wit quite charming and impressive. The experience is in the details with no unnecessary words wasted. Perfectly sublime.
sarah_fodots's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
gryvon's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Murder, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, and Kidnapping
kp_khera's review
4.0
I plan on reviewing the series later when I've completed it (on a pretty good roll so far, 3 books in two days)
But I just have to get this out: Jake! You are a fucking imbecile of magnificent proportion. The guys is seriously so deep in that closet it's not even funny (never actually is) but with him I kinda just want to find that key to his closet - lock it for good measure and burn it or something (anything to keep the idiot there so Adrien can move on)
He's going to have to a complete 180° turn to get even remotely in my good book.
Because frankly, I love Adrien's character, the only flaw really is that I wish he'd just properly push Jake to the curb
But I just have to get this out: Jake! You are a fucking imbecile of magnificent proportion. The guys is seriously so deep in that closet it's not even funny (never actually is) but with him I kinda just want to find that key to his closet - lock it for good measure and burn it or something (anything to keep the idiot there so Adrien can move on)
He's going to have to a complete 180° turn to get even remotely in my good book.
Because frankly, I love Adrien's character, the only flaw really is that I wish he'd just properly push Jake to the curb
Spoiler
and go with Guy - seeing that ending though, hope it's a real possibility and Jake does not come back into the picture. it's technically over between them, but come on I really hope he doesn't take Jake back (because I can kind of already see Jake being an epic douche and trying to weasel back into Adrien's life after realising he's a fucking moron for having let him go in the first place)meatloafqueen's review
5.0
Oof! My feelings are hurt! I felt more anxiety than I’ve felt in actual tumultuous relationships. I loved it!
layla87's review
3.0
Can anyone tell me why I'm still reading this infruriating series? WHY?
I freaking HATE Jake. He's such an asshole.
Adrien is basically a doormat.
My dude.... you're in your thirties. Can you please stand up for yourself? WTF.
That last scene with them made me RAGE. That was assualt.
And apparently.... I'm still gonna continue because I want to see if these two doorknobs get their heads out of their asses.
Good Day.
Btw: 3 stars solely for the writing.
0 stars for the characters. I'm mad ok?
I freaking HATE Jake. He's such an asshole.
Adrien is basically a doormat.
My dude.... you're in your thirties. Can you please stand up for yourself? WTF.
That last scene with them made me RAGE. That was assualt.
And apparently.... I'm still gonna continue because I want to see if these two doorknobs get their heads out of their asses.
Good Day.
Btw: 3 stars solely for the writing.
0 stars for the characters. I'm mad ok?
scarletcat13's review against another edition
4.0
Best humor:
"We're watching you," Whispered the voice on the other end [of the phone].
"Yeah? Did you see what I did with my keys?"
Silence. Then dial tone.
Other than the humor, which gets me every time, I like how real the relationships feel.
On to the next book!
"We're watching you," Whispered the voice on the other end [of the phone].
"Yeah? Did you see what I did with my keys?"
Silence. Then dial tone.
Other than the humor, which gets me every time, I like how real the relationships feel.
Spoiler
On that note, full thumbs up for Adrien pushing the asshole out of his life. He knew from the second book that he wasn't going to get what he wanted out of the relationship. In this book, it became increasingly clear that he was being treated like a dirty little secret. So good for Adrien, I almost clapped when Adrien chose not to make it easy by keeping calm when the other wanted to argue. Also while I'm in the spoil zone, what a dick for getting physical at the end.On to the next book!
scarletcat13's review against another edition
4.0
Best humor:
"We're watching you," Whispered the voice on the other end [of the phone].
"Yeah? Did you see what I did with my keys?"
Silence. Then dial tone.
Other than the humor, which gets me every time, I like how real the relationships feel.
On to the next book!
"We're watching you," Whispered the voice on the other end [of the phone].
"Yeah? Did you see what I did with my keys?"
Silence. Then dial tone.
Other than the humor, which gets me every time, I like how real the relationships feel.
Spoiler
On that note, full thumbs up for Adrien pushing the asshole out of his life. He knew from the second book that he wasn't going to get what he wanted out of the relationship. In this book, it became increasingly clear that he was being treated like a dirty little secret. So good for Adrien, I almost clapped when Adrien chose not to make it easy by keeping calm when the other wanted to argue. Also while I'm in the spoil zone, what a dick for getting physical at the end.On to the next book!
patti_pinguin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.5