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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
Standalone M/M romance mystery thriller novel about FBI and local police working together to find a serial killer in rural Oregon.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, one of my favorites of the standalone novels by Josh Lanyon. I recommend it. I got it on Hoopla on audiobook for free using my Sac library account.
Has a couple mature scenes.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, one of my favorites of the standalone novels by Josh Lanyon. I recommend it. I got it on Hoopla on audiobook for free using my Sac library account.
Has a couple mature scenes.
Could have done with being 50-100 pages longer as it wrapped up too quickly. Some scary parts.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed this. The mystery is compelling and I liked the characters. The romance is more of a subplot than a main plot, but it ends with an optimistic HFN. This was my first time listening to Gomez Pugh’s narration and I will definitely listen to him again. I now regret not buying the Psycop series (by Jordan Castillo Price) during the recent site-wide Audible sale.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexual content, Murder
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder
2.5 stars rounded up.
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed in this one, and the only reason I'm rounding up, instead of down, is because technically speaking, the writing is still really good. The rest of it however...
As far as the mystery plot goes, Lanyon tried to do way too much at once, with the result that none of the threads were really well done. The whole thing felt messy, and the ending was really abrupt. More than that, I was just bored. I was never pulled into the mysteries at all. I didn't know who the bad guys were, but I think that honestly had more to do with the fact that I wasn't even engaged enough to try and puzzle it out myself, which isn't a good sign.
Unfortunately, I was also pretty underwhelmed with the romance storyline. It felt like Adam and Rob never really got much story time together, which I don't always need - sometimes it's nice to read a book with the m/m part being secondary. But the mystery was so weak, that I really needed a strong romance to get me engaged, and this wasn't it. While I did enjoy their interactions, I was never really sold on them. I didn't feel overly invested in their relationship, and I honestly didn't feel like the escalation of their feelings felt organic.
TBH, the most interesting thing in the novel was when I realized that this actually takes place in Lanyon's "All's Fair" universe, which was the last series I'd read. Adam Darling is Tucker's ex, who's mentioned briefly (not by name) in the series. I thought it was kind of cool, but not a good sign that that was my most compelling reason to continue reading...
Not enough to put me off Lanyon, but I'm not sure I'd continue reading if this turned into a series...(which apparently, it won't)
Honestly, I was pretty disappointed in this one, and the only reason I'm rounding up, instead of down, is because technically speaking, the writing is still really good. The rest of it however...
As far as the mystery plot goes, Lanyon tried to do way too much at once, with the result that none of the threads were really well done. The whole thing felt messy, and the ending was really abrupt. More than that, I was just bored. I was never pulled into the mysteries at all. I didn't know who the bad guys were, but I think that honestly had more to do with the fact that I wasn't even engaged enough to try and puzzle it out myself, which isn't a good sign.
Unfortunately, I was also pretty underwhelmed with the romance storyline. It felt like Adam and Rob never really got much story time together, which I don't always need - sometimes it's nice to read a book with the m/m part being secondary. But the mystery was so weak, that I really needed a strong romance to get me engaged, and this wasn't it. While I did enjoy their interactions, I was never really sold on them. I didn't feel overly invested in their relationship, and I honestly didn't feel like the escalation of their feelings felt organic.
TBH, the most interesting thing in the novel was when I realized that this actually takes place in Lanyon's "All's Fair" universe, which was the last series I'd read. Adam Darling is Tucker's ex, who's mentioned briefly (not by name) in the series. I thought it was kind of cool, but not a good sign that that was my most compelling reason to continue reading...
Not enough to put me off Lanyon, but I'm not sure I'd continue reading if this turned into a series...(which apparently, it won't)
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This novel worked very well for me, both the romance and the murder(s) mystery.
I've read a few of the low-star reviews for this one. My experience pays off; I've known couples who had conflict but chemistry, so those reviewers for whom that didn't work, that's a you thing, not a storytelling problem. The conflicts were the kinds where I get to wonder how the author's gonna pull this off.
The cold case that starts this story gets complicated by a current murder not long after, and off we go on one of the more enjoyable murder(s) mysteries I've read. I liked how the author used each guy's perspective to illustrate where they were connecting and where the conflicts inherent in their roles got worse.
Whoever helped edit this gets high marks from me. There aren't even very many typos.
I've read a few of the low-star reviews for this one. My experience pays off; I've known couples who had conflict but chemistry, so those reviewers for whom that didn't work, that's a you thing, not a storytelling problem. The conflicts were the kinds where I get to wonder how the author's gonna pull this off.
The cold case that starts this story gets complicated by a current murder not long after, and off we go on one of the more enjoyable murder(s) mysteries I've read. I liked how the author used each guy's perspective to illustrate where they were connecting and where the conflicts inherent in their roles got worse.
Whoever helped edit this gets high marks from me. There aren't even very many typos.
Another great Josh Lanyon book. The mystery in this one was involved, twisting cases of old deaths, serial killings and new horrific murders. The main characters were lonely souls who reached out for each for a quick and fun time and found a whole lot more as they were drawn into their investigations.
Rob is one of the deputy sheriffs in Nearby, Oregon, a small village. He’s a light-hearted guy who moved to the country to get away from the city. He’d rather spend time up in the mountains with his camera than anything else.
The discovery of decades-old bones brings Special Agent Adam Darling to town. He and his partner are a part of the FBI task force, investing the Roadside Ripper serial murder cases. Professional and serious, Adam dismisses a connection to their cases, but he doesn’t dismiss his attraction to Rob. Knowing that there would be no professional relationship, he and Rob spend a great night together before Adam and his partner leave for LA in the morning.
Months later, the discovery of a murder on federal land prompts Rob’s boss to ask for Adam’s help again. He and his new partner, who is ambitious and constantly questioning Adam’s authority, go to Nearby. Adam can feel there is more to the murder than what the investigation is showing.
Together, Adam and Rob search out leads, and all the while, either of them can fight the attraction they feel for each other. More bodies, both old and new, are discovered, and the resulting investigation had such wonderful twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and kept me from getting anything done today because I just couldn't put this book down.
(I LOVE it when I can’t figure out “whodunit.”)
Rob is one of the deputy sheriffs in Nearby, Oregon, a small village. He’s a light-hearted guy who moved to the country to get away from the city. He’d rather spend time up in the mountains with his camera than anything else.
The discovery of decades-old bones brings Special Agent Adam Darling to town. He and his partner are a part of the FBI task force, investing the Roadside Ripper serial murder cases. Professional and serious, Adam dismisses a connection to their cases, but he doesn’t dismiss his attraction to Rob. Knowing that there would be no professional relationship, he and Rob spend a great night together before Adam and his partner leave for LA in the morning.
Months later, the discovery of a murder on federal land prompts Rob’s boss to ask for Adam’s help again. He and his new partner, who is ambitious and constantly questioning Adam’s authority, go to Nearby. Adam can feel there is more to the murder than what the investigation is showing.
Together, Adam and Rob search out leads, and all the while, either of them can fight the attraction they feel for each other. More bodies, both old and new, are discovered, and the resulting investigation had such wonderful twists and turns. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and kept me from getting anything done today because I just couldn't put this book down.
(I LOVE it when I can’t figure out “whodunit.”)
This was addictive. I could have read it all in one sitting (didn't due to time constraints but I was completely hooked). The investigative part of the story was really interesting and I only wish we could have had a little bit more development of the relationship between Adam (Darling) and Rob. These two seemed like a great fit and have good chemistry but I felt like we were watching them fall over the surface, that is, I missed some more in depth insight into their individual stories and the development of their connection. However, the investigation plot line more that compensated for that and this was a quite solid 4 star read for me. I really hope this author will be releasing more stories about these two.
*E-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
*E-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Great start to a new series (well new for me). I love the location and the small town vibes. Both of our hero's were well rounded and felt very real. Looking forward to the rest of this series now.