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strigine's review
4.0
Good book, although I felt the last ~50 pages or so were rushed, and the whodunit reveal rather forced. But the main/viewpoint character is likable and sympathetic, and his evolving relationship with his ex was engaging.
kaity_b's review
4.0
3.5-4 stars
okay i enjoyed this, the mystery was good, but the romance left a lot to be desired.
I will say compared to the last book I read this romance was so much better. I wanted to throttle Elliot sometimes for being an ex FBI agent, you seem to not be able to read how much Tucker is trying and wanting to be with you...... I was about to lose my mind at the end. Luckily I was very much invested in the crime that I didn't care too much... haha
I am still debating on if i am going to read the second book, probably will but who knows, I hope that Elliot actually will get his head out from the sand and see that Tucker is actually being the bigger man and moving on from the past giving them a fresh start *insert Other Guys Febreeze Brothers Quote*
okay i enjoyed this, the mystery was good, but the romance left a lot to be desired.
I will say compared to the last book I read this romance was so much better. I wanted to throttle Elliot sometimes for being an ex FBI agent, you seem to not be able to read how much Tucker is trying and wanting to be with you...... I was about to lose my mind at the end. Luckily I was very much invested in the crime that I didn't care too much... haha
Spoiler
Also Tucker saying I love you at the end was so out of the blue that it didn't go also felt wayyyy to rushed. I would have enjoyed him saying that he would like to be a couple or something along those lines. It was they hated each other from miscommunication seventeen months ago, and then started a case together, then started to try at a relationship again, and then bam after a week of living together Tucker is love... no that is not how I enjoy a romance, especially since Elliot didn't seem to say it back or show Tucker he is at that level yet..I am still debating on if i am going to read the second book, probably will but who knows, I hope that Elliot actually will get his head out from the sand and see that Tucker is actually being the bigger man and moving on from the past giving them a fresh start *insert Other Guys Febreeze Brothers Quote*
hallehamilton's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
First in the All’s Fair LGBTQ suspense series and revolving around Professor Elliot Mills. The focus is on students going missing.
In 2014, Fair Game was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Mystery and in 2011 won the DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best GLBT Romance.
My Take
Fair Game opens on a lecture of the hideous treatment suffered by POWs during the Civil War, contrasting with the disinterested students daydreaming and Elliot’s dreaming back to his hotshot days with the FBI and his current social life.
Ooh, there’s conflict right away. Between Elliot being ex-FBI AND inserting himself into the missing boy case and Tucker totally against his being involved, the re-hashing of their break-up . . . whew, then there’s the contrast between Elliot supporting the Establishment and his anarchistic father. Add in that Tom Baker is angry about his son, Terry, being gay.
There is the usual antagonism between FBI and the local police, the police and their attitude about gays AND ex-law enforcement interference, not to mention their belief that everyone is a suspect.
We learn all this through Lanyon’s use of third person protagonist point-of-view from Elliot’s perspective. It’s interesting that Elliot is angry, resigned, and accepting of his situation. Lanyon does a great job of conveying all of this.
It’s a fascinating read within a cozy setting and a combination of character and action.
The Story
A crippling knee injury forced Elliot Mills to trade in his FBI badge for dusty chalkboards and bored college students. Now a history professor at Puget Sound university, the former agent has put his old life behind him — but it seems his old life isn't finished with him.
A young man has gone missing from campus—and as a favor to a family friend, Elliot agrees to do a little sniffing around. His investigations bring him face-to-face with his former lover, Tucker Lance, the special agent handling the case.
Things ended badly with Tucker, and neither man is ready to back down on the fight that drove them apart. But they have to figure out a way to move beyond their past and work together as more men go missing and Elliot becomes the target in a killer's obsessive game . . .
The Characters
Seventeen months ago, Elliot Mills had been with the FBI, specializing in civil rights violations and hate crimes. Now he’s a history professor who had once loved rock climbing and still loves miniature war-gaming and cooking. The militant, anarchistic Roland Mills is his father and also a professor, currently working on Memoirs of a Militant. Jesse Mills had been Roland’s third wife and Elliot’s mother. Grandpa Mills had been an ex-Marine.
FBI
Special Agent Tucker Lance, is Mills’ former lover who loved sailing and poker nights, and in charge of the missing boy’s case. Special-Agent-in-Charge Theresa Montgomery leads the Seattle Division and is Mills’ former boss.
Tacoma PD
Detectives Lawrence, Pine, and Anderson are suspicious and investigating. Everyone.
Ira Kane was the shooter.
Puget Sound University (PSU)
Mills’ class includes Leslie Mrachek, Schrader, and John Sandusky. Kyle Kanza is Mills’ teaching assistant. Gordie Lyle, a Black art student, is another missing student, one with a chip on his shoulder. The antagonistic Zahra Lyle is Gordie’s worried aunt. Tetley Hall is Terry’s dorm. Denny. Ray is a janitor. The man-eating Anne Gold is a fellow professor, of art history. Dr Charlotte Oppenheimer is the university president. Sandie is Oppenheimer’s assistant. Andrew Corian is a popular, bombastic professor. Andrea Collins teaches ceramics.
The anti-gay Tom and accepting Pauline Baker are friends of Roland’s — he is a lawyer now and she was the second Mrs Mills. Their son, Terry, is an architecture student at PSU, but is now missing. Terry had been seeing Jim Feder, a fellow student studying law. Patricia had been Tom’s first wife.
I think Ray and Faye Copeland and Robert Dale Segee had been victims. Ray Mandat is ex-military and lives with his mom. Steven Roche, a true crime writer and mooch, is Elliot’s closest neighbor on Goose Island. Augie is Elliot’s physical therapist.
The Cover and Title
The cover is enpurpled from the sky to the water in the background — with Elliot’s face huge in that sky. In the left lower forefront is Elliott in a winter jacket, black with purple overtones. The author’s name is in a distressed font in white with a black outline while the title is on the bottom left in a gradation of purple.
The title refers to the victims and Elliot, they’re all Fair Game to too many.
In 2014, Fair Game was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Mystery and in 2011 won the DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best GLBT Romance.
My Take
Fair Game opens on a lecture of the hideous treatment suffered by POWs during the Civil War, contrasting with the disinterested students daydreaming and Elliot’s dreaming back to his hotshot days with the FBI and his current social life.
Ooh, there’s conflict right away. Between Elliot being ex-FBI AND inserting himself into the missing boy case and Tucker totally against his being involved, the re-hashing of their break-up . . . whew, then there’s the contrast between Elliot supporting the Establishment and his anarchistic father. Add in that Tom Baker is angry about his son, Terry, being gay.
There is the usual antagonism between FBI and the local police, the police and their attitude about gays AND ex-law enforcement interference, not to mention their belief that everyone is a suspect.
We learn all this through Lanyon’s use of third person protagonist point-of-view from Elliot’s perspective. It’s interesting that Elliot is angry, resigned, and accepting of his situation. Lanyon does a great job of conveying all of this.
It’s a fascinating read within a cozy setting and a combination of character and action.
The Story
A crippling knee injury forced Elliot Mills to trade in his FBI badge for dusty chalkboards and bored college students. Now a history professor at Puget Sound university, the former agent has put his old life behind him — but it seems his old life isn't finished with him.
A young man has gone missing from campus—and as a favor to a family friend, Elliot agrees to do a little sniffing around. His investigations bring him face-to-face with his former lover, Tucker Lance, the special agent handling the case.
Things ended badly with Tucker, and neither man is ready to back down on the fight that drove them apart. But they have to figure out a way to move beyond their past and work together as more men go missing and Elliot becomes the target in a killer's obsessive game . . .
The Characters
Seventeen months ago, Elliot Mills had been with the FBI, specializing in civil rights violations and hate crimes. Now he’s a history professor who had once loved rock climbing and still loves miniature war-gaming and cooking. The militant, anarchistic Roland Mills is his father and also a professor, currently working on Memoirs of a Militant. Jesse Mills had been Roland’s third wife and Elliot’s mother. Grandpa Mills had been an ex-Marine.
FBI
Special Agent Tucker Lance, is Mills’ former lover who loved sailing and poker nights, and in charge of the missing boy’s case. Special-Agent-in-Charge Theresa Montgomery leads the Seattle Division and is Mills’ former boss.
Tacoma PD
Detectives Lawrence, Pine, and Anderson are suspicious and investigating. Everyone.
Ira Kane was the shooter.
Puget Sound University (PSU)
Mills’ class includes Leslie Mrachek, Schrader, and John Sandusky. Kyle Kanza is Mills’ teaching assistant. Gordie Lyle, a Black art student, is another missing student, one with a chip on his shoulder. The antagonistic Zahra Lyle is Gordie’s worried aunt. Tetley Hall is Terry’s dorm. Denny. Ray is a janitor. The man-eating Anne Gold is a fellow professor, of art history. Dr Charlotte Oppenheimer is the university president. Sandie is Oppenheimer’s assistant. Andrew Corian is a popular, bombastic professor. Andrea Collins teaches ceramics.
The anti-gay Tom and accepting Pauline Baker are friends of Roland’s — he is a lawyer now and she was the second Mrs Mills. Their son, Terry, is an architecture student at PSU, but is now missing. Terry had been seeing Jim Feder, a fellow student studying law. Patricia had been Tom’s first wife.
I think Ray and Faye Copeland and Robert Dale Segee had been victims. Ray Mandat is ex-military and lives with his mom. Steven Roche, a true crime writer and mooch, is Elliot’s closest neighbor on Goose Island. Augie is Elliot’s physical therapist.
The Cover and Title
The cover is enpurpled from the sky to the water in the background — with Elliot’s face huge in that sky. In the left lower forefront is Elliott in a winter jacket, black with purple overtones. The author’s name is in a distressed font in white with a black outline while the title is on the bottom left in a gradation of purple.
The title refers to the victims and Elliot, they’re all Fair Game to too many.
vale_leah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
cutenanya's review against another edition
4.0
This is very typical Josh Lanyon, with the two protagonists battling their wits while trying to solve a murder. The story though is simple and yet well crafted. I like the fact that though Elliot is physically weaker due to his injuries, mentally, he is more in control and leading the investigations. I am not convinced of the plausibility of this story because practically the police in the story is not doing their work properly, and is leaving all the thinking to an outsider. This is even more unbelievable considering the fact that Tucker has more experience investigating homicide. Also, the back story between Elliot and Tucker is inadequate and still purely on the sexual basis. This is why the Adrien English series is better because it has more time for character development. Overall a solid read but I think it will be great once in a while for Lanyon to venture out of his formula and create something different or he will end up like Holmes in his other series.
yazaleea's review against another edition
3.0
Solid 3.5 stars!
Elliot, an ex-FBI agent turned university history Professor after a career ending injury, is thrown back into his old world when he asked to investigate a student disappearance. The case quickly has him running into his... ex? FBI Special Agent Tucker Lance. Things have not ended well between the two, but as the case turns dangerous, they put old wounds and bitterness aside to solve it.
The mystery was fun, nothing crazy with a definitely rushed resolution and ending (the reveal happened in the last chapter??).
The romance was cute but so rushed. They broke things off based on miscommunication after Elliot’s injury and Tucker being an incredible asshole. They got back together sooo quickly, they were so damn horny lmfao. They went from maybe fuck buddies to ugly breakup and 2 years of radio silence to moving together in a week. Like. Give them (and me!) time to BREATHE! But they were cute, and Elliot did say he needs to take things slowly. And they were cute!
So yep, not life changing but def a good time!
Elliot, an ex-FBI agent turned university history Professor after a career ending injury, is thrown back into his old world when he asked to investigate a student disappearance. The case quickly has him running into his... ex? FBI Special Agent Tucker Lance. Things have not ended well between the two, but as the case turns dangerous, they put old wounds and bitterness aside to solve it.
The mystery was fun, nothing crazy with a definitely rushed resolution and ending (the reveal happened in the last chapter??).
The romance was cute but so rushed. They broke things off based on miscommunication after Elliot’s injury and Tucker being an incredible asshole. They got back together sooo quickly, they were so damn horny lmfao. They went from maybe fuck buddies to ugly breakup and 2 years of radio silence to moving together in a week. Like. Give them (and me!) time to BREATHE! But they were cute, and Elliot did say he needs to take things slowly. And they were cute!
So yep, not life changing but def a good time!
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
What is it about 2 manly men unable to voice their true feelings or show their vulnerable emotions that provides such good angst?? I don't know either but this book had it in spades.
There's really not much to complain about a Josh Lanyon book. You've got intricate, researched details. There's also witty, charming, self deprecating humor - the conversations interesting and intriguing. Also a well set up mystery and slow burn romance is present too.
Elliot - G man turned professor trying to get on with his life after being permanently injured in the field. He's a bit lonely, a bit bitter - missing the explosive chemistry he had with fellow coworker Tucker.
Tucker - kinda gruff, tough - surprisingly willing to put his heart on the line once Elliot comes back into his life after 17 months. Had these boys talked initially, they could have not missed out on months of getting it on.
Sooo like I said before, there's great mystery, wonderful feels, all mixed in with a love story and smex. I'm just glad I don't have to wait four years for the sequel.
There's really not much to complain about a Josh Lanyon book. You've got intricate, researched details. There's also witty, charming, self deprecating humor - the conversations interesting and intriguing. Also a well set up mystery and slow burn romance is present too.
Elliot - G man turned professor trying to get on with his life after being permanently injured in the field. He's a bit lonely, a bit bitter - missing the explosive chemistry he had with fellow coworker Tucker.
Tucker - kinda gruff, tough - surprisingly willing to put his heart on the line once Elliot comes back into his life after 17 months. Had these boys talked initially, they could have not missed out on months of getting it on.
Sooo like I said before, there's great mystery, wonderful feels, all mixed in with a love story and smex. I'm just glad I don't have to wait four years for the sequel.