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e_is_for_emma's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Enjoyed this as much as book 1. Still gritty and very genre-savvy, still full of gratuitous sex. A bit angstier than the first installment, I would say.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Homophobia
shan198025's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Ok. A lot happened. It seems like a lot more is going to happen.
moshimoshimoon's review against another edition
3.0
Still enjoying the story and like the growing pains that Nick is going through. But urgh, was that dubcon scene really necessary? Everyone wanting Nick to fuck them is getting a bit ridiculous too. I'm afraid it's about to become a bit more melodramatic that I'd like it to but that's for the next book to show me.
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
3.5
Okay, I still find the many sex scenes tiresome and too similar to each other, so when we get to the one that should have been particularly telling (the one with Daniel, at the end of the book) it kind of fizzles out, and it let me wanting for some deeper emotional connection.
The cases are still there to move the story along, which is not bad a bad thing per se, just that they are not the focus of the book.
I'm getting a better read on Nick, and although I still don't like him very much I understand from where he's coming.
Aaaaaaaaaand... I know where this is going. With the AIDs epidemic looming over them and Bert's health issues it is not a difficult leap to see that there won't be an easy happy ending for these characters.
Oh, and I need to say that I love Brad Langer's narration, it's the perfect choice for Nick.
The cases are still there to move the story along, which is not bad a bad thing per se, just that they are not the focus of the book.
I'm getting a better read on Nick, and although I still don't like him very much I understand from where he's coming.
Aaaaaaaaaand... I know where this is going. With the AIDs epidemic looming over them and Bert's health issues it is not a difficult leap to see that there won't be an easy happy ending for these characters.
Oh, and I need to say that I love Brad Langer's narration, it's the perfect choice for Nick.
reedkaye's review against another edition
5.0
I’m reviewing the audio version. I just finished these stories and I would advise this series be read/listened to in order. Each mystery is sort of a standalone but the personal part of the story is ongoing. I’m really enjoying these stories and getting a little impatient when it comes to Nick’s personal life. Nick is a P.I. who appears to me to half know what he is doing and half lucks out. As he goes through his daily life he looses his attention because of his personal life. He does get the job done but its entertaining to me his daily routine. I feel he fits the Mickey Spillane feel. He is still being reckless in his sex life. I didn’t feel he was as bed hopping in this part of the series as the last. He does have a few guilt feelings that he may be sort of cheating on Bert. Nick’s sort of in a relationship with Bert and then his ex Daniel reappears. That makes him ready to break up with Bert. Nick is centered on Daniel no matter what else he does. Where the cliffhanger got to me is I’m waiting to find out where he is going to end up relationship wise. Before he can break up with Bert there is a little twist in the story. Now is there more to the detective than I had thought? There are no answers in the story so I have to get to the next to see where this is going. If you are easily offended with cheating and very descriptive sex don’t read/listen to this series. It is meant to be all of that and more. It reflects life in the 80’s and I think the author does a great job of giving a feel for that era. The narrator Brad Langer, does a perfect job. He gives the feel for this story.
lilyrooke's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this instalment of the Boystown Mystery series as much as the first, and I'm trying to figure out why. I think it's partly because the cases didn't interest me as much as the first three, plus there was far less focus on Nick's internal/emotional development. For me, Nick's subtle emotional life is the most interesting thing about him, so once that's stripped away, I'm not as invested in him as a character, and he seems less unique. I didn't like Nick's encounter with the cop in the alley. With that said, I feel quite vindicated to see how Nick's encounter with Daniel was written so differently and with far more tenderness than any of his previous ones, and I definitely called Bert's illness, which makes me so sad.
cw: dubcon/rape, depending on perspective; homophobia
absolutely nothing *~*researchy*~* to see here; an ongoing reading list
1. A Study in Scarlet 2.5/5
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles 5/5
3. The Adventure of the Final Problem 4/5
4. Bath Haus 4.5/5
5. The Forest of Stolen Girls 4/5
6. The Red Palace 2/5
7. The Silence of Bones 1/5
8. Lay Your Sleeping Head 4/5
9. Carved in Bone 5/5
10. Lies with Man 3/5
11. Howtown 2/5
12. The Hidden Law 2/5
13. The Death of Friends 3/5
14. The Burning Plain 3.5/5
15. Rag and Bone 4/5
16. Pretty Pretty Boys 2/5
17. Three Nick Novak Mysteries 5/5
18. Three More Nick Novak Mysteries 3/5
cw: dubcon/rape, depending on perspective; homophobia
absolutely nothing *~*researchy*~* to see here; an ongoing reading list
1. A Study in Scarlet 2.5/5
2. The Hound of the Baskervilles 5/5
3. The Adventure of the Final Problem 4/5
4. Bath Haus 4.5/5
5. The Forest of Stolen Girls 4/5
6. The Red Palace 2/5
7. The Silence of Bones 1/5
8. Lay Your Sleeping Head 4/5
9. Carved in Bone 5/5
10. Lies with Man 3/5
11. Howtown 2/5
12. The Hidden Law 2/5
13. The Death of Friends 3/5
14. The Burning Plain 3.5/5
15. Rag and Bone 4/5
16. Pretty Pretty Boys 2/5
17. Three Nick Novak Mysteries 5/5
18. Three More Nick Novak Mysteries 3/5
shile87's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Long Quotes Alert!
So much better than book 1. Freaking Loved it!! The writing is amazing and addictive.
“I read something interesting in Gay Times this week. A bunch of guys out in Los Angeles have been getting pneumonia, and according to the article, it’s linked to some aspect of the homosexual lifestyle.”
“Some aspect of the homosexual lifestyle? You mean, like colored hankies or moustaches?” Ross asked.
Brian frowned. “I just think people should know. Two of the guys died.”
“If it’s anything serious, I’m sure they’ll figure it out,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. Brian seemed overly panicked about the whole thing. “Los Angeles is a big place. I’m sure it’s not that difficult to find two gay guys who died of the same thing.”
Oh Boy! Nick, Daniel, Ross, Harker, Brian, Earl.....
This was more emotional than book 1. Nick character growth is evident and i am sure this is just the beginning. Nick is still Nick, we get to understand a little bit why he is afraid of getting into a committed monogamous relationship. I have to say, Nick is a very lonely man and i do feel sorry for him. He breaks my little heart. After being rejected by nearly everyone he loves and was counting on, I believe Nick developed a very unhealthy coping mechanism i.e Sex! Lots and Lots Unprotected Sex! it gives me the creeps, but i am dealing with it, because it is the true representation of that era. Ahh!! sexual freedom, the not knowing and all that 80s jazz.
I’d only ever been in love once, with my ex. If I wanted to, I could still touch the feeling I had for him. And it was different from what I felt for Harker. I wanted Harker, I was sure of that. Sometimes I wanted him so much it hurt. But want isn’t the same as love. It’s only part of love.
Oh Nick!
The mysteries in this one are even more interesting and engaging. Like book 1 we got 3 little mysteries for Nick to solve. I have to say, Nick's way of solving mysteries is unconventional and hilarious sometimes.
Mystery 1: LITTLE BOY SILENT - Deals with family greed, lies, murder in the family and some family drama.
Mystery 2: LITTLE BOY BLOND - Deals with the Porn Industry.
Mystery 3: LITTLE BOY LOVED - Deals with missing gay boys and a serial killer.
We got a parade., which was also interesting, there is never a dull moment when it comes to Nick Nowack.
The crowd was middling, definitely a crowd, but middling. The parade would go for about twenty blocks. I did some math in my head and got to around five thousand. But then, I added on two or three thousand. Throw in the queens who’d gotten up late, were still fixing their hair, and would only make it for the tail end, and I wondered if they might actually make it to ten thousand this year.
THAT ENDING!!!! GAWD!
Long Quotes Alert!
So much better than book 1. Freaking Loved it!! The writing is amazing and addictive.
“I read something interesting in Gay Times this week. A bunch of guys out in Los Angeles have been getting pneumonia, and according to the article, it’s linked to some aspect of the homosexual lifestyle.”
“Some aspect of the homosexual lifestyle? You mean, like colored hankies or moustaches?” Ross asked.
Brian frowned. “I just think people should know. Two of the guys died.”
“If it’s anything serious, I’m sure they’ll figure it out,” I said, trying to sound reassuring. Brian seemed overly panicked about the whole thing. “Los Angeles is a big place. I’m sure it’s not that difficult to find two gay guys who died of the same thing.”
Oh Boy! Nick, Daniel, Ross, Harker, Brian, Earl.....
This was more emotional than book 1. Nick character growth is evident and i am sure this is just the beginning. Nick is still Nick, we get to understand a little bit why he is afraid of getting into a committed monogamous relationship. I have to say, Nick is a very lonely man and i do feel sorry for him. He breaks my little heart. After being rejected by nearly everyone he loves and was counting on, I believe Nick developed a very unhealthy coping mechanism i.e Sex! Lots and Lots Unprotected Sex! it gives me the creeps, but i am dealing with it, because it is the true representation of that era. Ahh!! sexual freedom, the not knowing and all that 80s jazz.
I’d only ever been in love once, with my ex. If I wanted to, I could still touch the feeling I had for him. And it was different from what I felt for Harker. I wanted Harker, I was sure of that. Sometimes I wanted him so much it hurt. But want isn’t the same as love. It’s only part of love.
Oh Nick!
The mysteries in this one are even more interesting and engaging. Like book 1 we got 3 little mysteries for Nick to solve. I have to say, Nick's way of solving mysteries is unconventional and hilarious sometimes.
Mystery 1: LITTLE BOY SILENT - Deals with family greed, lies, murder in the family and some family drama.
Mystery 2: LITTLE BOY BLOND - Deals with the Porn Industry.
Mystery 3: LITTLE BOY LOVED - Deals with missing gay boys and a serial killer.
We got a parade., which was also interesting, there is never a dull moment when it comes to Nick Nowack.
The crowd was middling, definitely a crowd, but middling. The parade would go for about twenty blocks. I did some math in my head and got to around five thousand. But then, I added on two or three thousand. Throw in the queens who’d gotten up late, were still fixing their hair, and would only make it for the tail end, and I wondered if they might actually make it to ten thousand this year.
THAT ENDING!!!! GAWD!
sireno8's review against another edition
3.0
Fun way to start the year. Like and can relate to the detective and the story lengths are just right. Thornton surely has me interested in reading the whole series to see where it goes both in story development and structure. Would have liked a little more detail both in story and yes, sex, but hey it's cold in NYC.
iguana_mama's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75