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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Adam, an FBI agent, finds himself in the middle of a small town assisting the local sheriff's office with a sudden influx of murder investigations.
This was solid character development, romance and mystery. I really liked Rob and Adam as characters. I liked that this book used a one night stand that turns into more trope. This had a very intricate mystery and I have to admit I got a little lost in all the names of the suspects and side characters towards the end (but that’s pretty typical for me). However, it was well crafted. The scene in the cellar was creepy! (Josh Lanyon has some spooky books and this made me excited to read more by him) A well rounded solid read. Ends with a HFN.
Gomez Pugh did pretty good with the audio.
This was solid character development, romance and mystery. I really liked Rob and Adam as characters. I liked that this book used a one night stand that turns into more trope. This had a very intricate mystery and I have to admit I got a little lost in all the names of the suspects and side characters towards the end (but that’s pretty typical for me). However, it was well crafted. The scene in the cellar was creepy! (Josh Lanyon has some spooky books and this made me excited to read more by him) A well rounded solid read. Ends with a HFN.
Gomez Pugh did pretty good with the audio.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Murder
Winter Kill is a little hard to rate. I really enjoyed the story, it kept my interest, I liked the main characters and their romance…I just felt like it could have been…more. It seemed like it wasn’t sure if it wanted to be a crime drama/mystery or a romance and consequently didn’t provide a satisfactory amount of either.
Deputy Rob Haskell gave up the bustle of Portland Oregon for the peace, quiet and wide open spaces of the tiny, rural town of Nearby – where everybody knows your name. Nothing resembling a crime ever happens in Nearby – apparently if one just doesn’t look too closely at disappearances and reports of strange men in war paint trying to abduct drunk college tourists. Then a skeleton is found off the beaten path, buried under a pile of rocks and the Sheriff – suspecting that more is going on in Nearby than meets the eye – invites the FBI in to determine if the victim is connected to the high profile Roadside Ripper case.
Easy going, fun loving Deputy Haskell may be the only gay man in the town of Nearby – but he doesn’t want for company between tourist season and his friend with benefits a town over. He’s never felt the need to get serious and settle down; he enjoys small town life and the scenic opportunity it presents to hone his amateur photography skills. While he’s not happy to be dealing with the FBI; he is however happy to see the attractive – and also giving off the gay vibe – Special Agent Adam Darling. Adam is a serious, by the book agent; licking his wounds after some negative publicity on his last case dropped him back down to morgue duty – looking for Roadside Ripper vics. Both guys are really likable, they have some decent chemistry – although more details and time spent together would not be remiss – and their casual hook up turns into thoughts of something with the potential to be more serious.
Then the mystery heats up and before you know it we have more dead bodies, and missing persons and cold cases and the little town of Nearby is suddenly vying for the title of Serial Killer Capital of the Northwest. Unfortunately, for a book that seems to relegate the romance to secondary plot status – it feels like there are a lot of details missing from the mystery as well. I find serial killers fascinating; and if we weren’t going to have more romance – I would have at least liked to have gotten in the killer(s) head (s)– more psychological profiling and details around their evolution and development.
Still I enjoyed the story – although I would have liked it to have been longer with more time spent on both aspects of the story. There is a HEA for our main characters; although the epilogue felt like it could use an epilogue.
Deputy Rob Haskell gave up the bustle of Portland Oregon for the peace, quiet and wide open spaces of the tiny, rural town of Nearby – where everybody knows your name. Nothing resembling a crime ever happens in Nearby – apparently if one just doesn’t look too closely at disappearances and reports of strange men in war paint trying to abduct drunk college tourists. Then a skeleton is found off the beaten path, buried under a pile of rocks and the Sheriff – suspecting that more is going on in Nearby than meets the eye – invites the FBI in to determine if the victim is connected to the high profile Roadside Ripper case.
Easy going, fun loving Deputy Haskell may be the only gay man in the town of Nearby – but he doesn’t want for company between tourist season and his friend with benefits a town over. He’s never felt the need to get serious and settle down; he enjoys small town life and the scenic opportunity it presents to hone his amateur photography skills. While he’s not happy to be dealing with the FBI; he is however happy to see the attractive – and also giving off the gay vibe – Special Agent Adam Darling. Adam is a serious, by the book agent; licking his wounds after some negative publicity on his last case dropped him back down to morgue duty – looking for Roadside Ripper vics. Both guys are really likable, they have some decent chemistry – although more details and time spent together would not be remiss – and their casual hook up turns into thoughts of something with the potential to be more serious.
Then the mystery heats up and before you know it we have more dead bodies, and missing persons and cold cases and the little town of Nearby is suddenly vying for the title of Serial Killer Capital of the Northwest. Unfortunately, for a book that seems to relegate the romance to secondary plot status – it feels like there are a lot of details missing from the mystery as well. I find serial killers fascinating; and if we weren’t going to have more romance – I would have at least liked to have gotten in the killer(s) head (s)– more psychological profiling and details around their evolution and development.
Still I enjoyed the story – although I would have liked it to have been longer with more time spent on both aspects of the story. There is a HEA for our main characters; although the epilogue felt like it could use an epilogue.
Wonderful Murder Mystery
I love a good murder mystery wrapped up in a love story. I especially enjoyed how the murder mystery was as active part of the plot and not something thrown in last minute. I’m excited to read more books by this author.
I love a good murder mystery wrapped up in a love story. I especially enjoyed how the murder mystery was as active part of the plot and not something thrown in last minute. I’m excited to read more books by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read a fair share of romance novels, and don't consider myself a prude.
It would be nice if synopses were upfront about sexual content- here it took about 10% before that first graphic scene hits.
The detective storylines were interesting, but the main characters constantly pining after each other really took the excitement out of the thriller portion.
I read a fair share of romance novels, and don't consider myself a prude.
It would be nice if synopses were upfront about sexual content- here it took about 10% before that first graphic scene hits.
The detective storylines were interesting, but the main characters constantly pining after each other really took the excitement out of the thriller portion.
Liked the suspense. Hearing it the second time I thought the narration was a little dry. I get that Adam is dry but just seemed even more so.
4.5 stars.
The murder mystery aspect of this book was easily 5 stars. The story involves a cold case with 20 and 30 year old deaths, and contemporaneous murders in Or. A very small sheriffs station in calls in help from the FBI and the investigation ensues.
The romance aspect of the book I give 4 stars. There wasn't really enough interaction between Adam and Rob to warrant the ending, or the feelings between them.
I would be very interested in reading a sequel, but this book is from 2015 and as far as I can tell is a standalone.
*I was honored to be provided with a copy of this book by Netgalley.
The murder mystery aspect of this book was easily 5 stars. The story involves a cold case with 20 and 30 year old deaths, and contemporaneous murders in Or. A very small sheriffs station in calls in help from the FBI and the investigation ensues.
The romance aspect of the book I give 4 stars. There wasn't really enough interaction between Adam and Rob to warrant the ending, or the feelings between them.
I would be very interested in reading a sequel, but this book is from 2015 and as far as I can tell is a standalone.
*I was honored to be provided with a copy of this book by Netgalley.
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a really fascinating police mystery involving a hunt for a serial killer in a small Oregon town. Adam is FBI called into the small town to seek out a murder victim. Rob is a local sheriff, the two partners work together. As the mystery progresses so do the relationship between Rob and Adam.
I liked Rob and Adam’s relationship, despite how short it was. I don’t usually love instalove, but this worked well for me.
I do have a little complaint however, the ending was a bit abrupt and quick. But that’s all. Good book.
I liked Rob and Adam’s relationship, despite how short it was. I don’t usually love instalove, but this worked well for me.
I do have a little complaint however, the ending was a bit abrupt and quick. But that’s all. Good book.