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crtsjffrsn's review against another edition
2.0
Nathan Doyle knew he would be a potential suspect in the death of Phil Arlen, so he decided to use his investigative reporting skills to try to solve the case on his own and clear his name. But he didn't count on Detective Matt Spain to throw a wrench in that plan. Not only is Matt committed to solving the case but he's also quite attractive--a fact Nathan has a hard time shaking. But when the truth comes out, will Nathan be cleared? And what will he do about his crush on the straight detective who seems like he wouldn't hesitate to lock Nathan up?
I had a hard time getting into this one, and it never really seemed to click for me. The story moves apace but there is very little opportunity to get to know and connect with the characters. I felt like it lacked depth, which was surprising to me since I usually find Josh Lanyon stories a bit more enjoyable.
I had a hard time getting into this one, and it never really seemed to click for me. The story moves apace but there is very little opportunity to get to know and connect with the characters. I felt like it lacked depth, which was surprising to me since I usually find Josh Lanyon stories a bit more enjoyable.
bookcraft's review against another edition
4.0
As usual, Josh Lanyon delivers a great, plotty story. Both Lieutenant Matt Spain and Nathan Doyle are interesting, sympathetic, and real characters, and the evolution of their relationship is believable. Lanyon has obviously done her historical research; the period detail is gorgeous without being overwhelming, and the casual (and not so casual) homophobia of the time is heartbreaking to this modern reader. The mystery is smart, but the clues are sufficient to allow for the solving of it before the reveal if the reader is smart, too.
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
I think that Josh Lanyon can write any type of novel and this is the first noir I read she wrote and loved it. Well plotted, gripping and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
witandsin's review against another edition
5.0
My review cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/recommended-reviews/april-2011-recommended-reads/snowball-in-hell-by-josh-lanyon
Being the guy found face down in La Brea Tar Pits is bad. Being the guy the LAPD thinks might have shot and dumped the vic in the tar pits is no walk in the park either. Especially when you have secrets to hide.
It’s 1943 and reporter Nathan Doyle is back from the war and working the crime beat. Nathan had a good reason for wishing Phil Arlen was dead. That same reason also makes him skittish about having the police poke into his private life. When the police begin questioning him about Arlen’s death, Nathan does what any reporter worth his salt would do: he tries to solve the case himself – before gorgeous Lieutenant Matthew Spain catches wind of what Nathan’s trying to hide.
Matt knows Nathan’s hiding something and he thinks he has a clue as to what. For Matt has the same secret; and it could ruin his entire career. But even though he can’t rid himself of his desire for Nathan, Matt isn’t about to let the other man out maneuver him. Because Matt’s case and Nathan’s quest are about to put the reporter right in the middle of danger.
Just like in the great movies of the era in which it’s set, everyone has something to hide in Snowball in Hell. From the first page, I fell in love with the way Josh Lanyon brought 1940s Los Angeles to life; I felt like I could almost literally step right into the story and walk alongside Nathan and Matt.
Charmed as I was by the world, it’s Matt and Nathan themselves that give Snowball in Hell emotional resonance. The pair live in a time where they have to hide their attraction to one another. That fear, the ever-present threat of discovery, weighs them down, Nathan in particular. Nathan needs to have a connection with another man, even if it’s only physical. But he sees being gay as wrong and there’s such pain in him that it tugs on the heartstrings. Matt, in turn, is aware of the risk his attraction for Nathan presents but he doesn’t see his feelings for Nathan as “wrong.” I was captivated watching desire draw Matt and Nathan ever more closely together. I eagerly turned the pages (so to speak) of Snowball in Hell, wanting to see them try and make a relationship work.
Snowball in Hell is a multifaceted book that works on so many levels – as a romance, historical, whodunit, and it even has a dash of suspense. Like all of Mr. Lanyon’s stories, the different elements of Snowball in Hell weave seamlessly together to provide one hell of a great read. The conclusion of Snowball in Hell is a satisfying one, but I admit I was thrilled to learn that Snowball in Hell is just the beginning of Matt and Nathan’s journey. I loved Nathan and Matt and can’t wait for the next book in Mr. Lanyon’s Doyle & Spain series!
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Being the guy found face down in La Brea Tar Pits is bad. Being the guy the LAPD thinks might have shot and dumped the vic in the tar pits is no walk in the park either. Especially when you have secrets to hide.
It’s 1943 and reporter Nathan Doyle is back from the war and working the crime beat. Nathan had a good reason for wishing Phil Arlen was dead. That same reason also makes him skittish about having the police poke into his private life. When the police begin questioning him about Arlen’s death, Nathan does what any reporter worth his salt would do: he tries to solve the case himself – before gorgeous Lieutenant Matthew Spain catches wind of what Nathan’s trying to hide.
Matt knows Nathan’s hiding something and he thinks he has a clue as to what. For Matt has the same secret; and it could ruin his entire career. But even though he can’t rid himself of his desire for Nathan, Matt isn’t about to let the other man out maneuver him. Because Matt’s case and Nathan’s quest are about to put the reporter right in the middle of danger.
Just like in the great movies of the era in which it’s set, everyone has something to hide in Snowball in Hell. From the first page, I fell in love with the way Josh Lanyon brought 1940s Los Angeles to life; I felt like I could almost literally step right into the story and walk alongside Nathan and Matt.
Charmed as I was by the world, it’s Matt and Nathan themselves that give Snowball in Hell emotional resonance. The pair live in a time where they have to hide their attraction to one another. That fear, the ever-present threat of discovery, weighs them down, Nathan in particular. Nathan needs to have a connection with another man, even if it’s only physical. But he sees being gay as wrong and there’s such pain in him that it tugs on the heartstrings. Matt, in turn, is aware of the risk his attraction for Nathan presents but he doesn’t see his feelings for Nathan as “wrong.” I was captivated watching desire draw Matt and Nathan ever more closely together. I eagerly turned the pages (so to speak) of Snowball in Hell, wanting to see them try and make a relationship work.
Snowball in Hell is a multifaceted book that works on so many levels – as a romance, historical, whodunit, and it even has a dash of suspense. Like all of Mr. Lanyon’s stories, the different elements of Snowball in Hell weave seamlessly together to provide one hell of a great read. The conclusion of Snowball in Hell is a satisfying one, but I admit I was thrilled to learn that Snowball in Hell is just the beginning of Matt and Nathan’s journey. I loved Nathan and Matt and can’t wait for the next book in Mr. Lanyon’s Doyle & Spain series!
Recommended Read. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
lalabristow's review against another edition
4.0
Previously Published on my blog: Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars!
*SPOILER FREE
I LOVE Josh Lanyon! I am a card-caring Lanyon fan and will hunt and devour anything he writes, so when I saw he had a title coming out in April from Carina Press I was stocked and when I saw the book was available on NetGalley I freaked hehe.
Snowball in Hell is not only a great M/M Romantic Thriller, it is a historical one at that and it takes place in the 40’s when coming out of the closet wasn’t something that a police officer or anyone else, would consider doing. In Snowball in Hell, Josh Lanyon was able to deliver a great mystery and gay romance in a very NOT gay-friendly era and he did such a great job with it that you can’t help but feel transported to that time.
How can you write a romance in a time when it wasn’t even conceivable to accept two men falling in love? Lanyon has done it and the frustration of unresolved feeling, urges and wants is as much of a character in this novel as Nathan Doyle and Matthew Spain.
Two men with very different pasts, Matt and Doyle find themselves in midst of a murder investigation, with Doyle being a suspect and Matt trying to catch the bad guy. These two different men have something in common, their immediate magnetic attraction to each other that is so hard to ignore and that both are afraid to deal with.
Snowball in Hell is a Historical Thriller, but first and foremost is a love story that if dependant on the society it takes place, would never happen. However, this story has defied time and beliefs by bringing together two men that needed each other to feel whole in a beautiful tale of murder, fear, prejudice and love.
If I have one complain is that I wanted more! Snowball in Hell could have been longer and I would have been extremely happy. All in all, if the only complaint one has of a book is that you wanted to read more, it definitely should bode well that it is a worthwhile story. I say, it absolutely is and if you are an M/M Romance fan or a Josh Lanyon fan, you should check this one out!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars!
*SPOILER FREE
I LOVE Josh Lanyon! I am a card-caring Lanyon fan and will hunt and devour anything he writes, so when I saw he had a title coming out in April from Carina Press I was stocked and when I saw the book was available on NetGalley I freaked hehe.
Snowball in Hell is not only a great M/M Romantic Thriller, it is a historical one at that and it takes place in the 40’s when coming out of the closet wasn’t something that a police officer or anyone else, would consider doing. In Snowball in Hell, Josh Lanyon was able to deliver a great mystery and gay romance in a very NOT gay-friendly era and he did such a great job with it that you can’t help but feel transported to that time.
How can you write a romance in a time when it wasn’t even conceivable to accept two men falling in love? Lanyon has done it and the frustration of unresolved feeling, urges and wants is as much of a character in this novel as Nathan Doyle and Matthew Spain.
Two men with very different pasts, Matt and Doyle find themselves in midst of a murder investigation, with Doyle being a suspect and Matt trying to catch the bad guy. These two different men have something in common, their immediate magnetic attraction to each other that is so hard to ignore and that both are afraid to deal with.
Snowball in Hell is a Historical Thriller, but first and foremost is a love story that if dependant on the society it takes place, would never happen. However, this story has defied time and beliefs by bringing together two men that needed each other to feel whole in a beautiful tale of murder, fear, prejudice and love.
If I have one complain is that I wanted more! Snowball in Hell could have been longer and I would have been extremely happy. All in all, if the only complaint one has of a book is that you wanted to read more, it definitely should bode well that it is a worthwhile story. I say, it absolutely is and if you are an M/M Romance fan or a Josh Lanyon fan, you should check this one out!
natureofreading's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
The mystery piece to the story was fun to follow, but the romance was lacking. It was just enough to keep me invested, but I wanted so much more.
With that said, Matt and Nathan were two characters you want to find a way to each other. You root for them, even though their love is absolutely not the main focus of the story. The murder mystery is, and I didn't solve it before it was revealed. Josh Lanyon had my brain trying to solve the mystery while also waiting impatiently for Matt and Nathan to figure themselves out.
I liked the story, but again it felt like this could have easily been a 300 page book with in-depth character development and a larger romance plot. But it isn't. So let's just say it's good, but not what I wished it was, and leave it at that.
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!
With that said, Matt and Nathan were two characters you want to find a way to each other. You root for them, even though their love is absolutely not the main focus of the story. The murder mystery is, and I didn't solve it before it was revealed. Josh Lanyon had my brain trying to solve the mystery while also waiting impatiently for Matt and Nathan to figure themselves out.
I liked the story, but again it felt like this could have easily been a 300 page book with in-depth character development and a larger romance plot. But it isn't. So let's just say it's good, but not what I wished it was, and leave it at that.
This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!
suze_1624's review
4.0
Another hit Josh Lanyon book for me - but sad to see no sequel despite this styled as book 1, would love to see their next adventure.
Yes, the two main characters are very Josh Lanyon, but I loved them for it. The setting in 1943 in war-rationed LA made the poignancy even more so. How difficult and dangerous it was to try to be true to oneself and to be so despondent about not being able to have a love life, just meaningless meet ups, how sad for the men who have had to live like that (and indeed do live like that now).
Anyway, the story - very Christie-esque. The main detective, his side kick, a whole host of possible suspects, the unliked victim, the helpful suspect - and the denouement in the library (or drawing room!). Lots of red herrings, including Jonesy and Nathan.
Really enjoyed it.
Yes, the two main characters are very Josh Lanyon, but I loved them for it. The setting in 1943 in war-rationed LA made the poignancy even more so. How difficult and dangerous it was to try to be true to oneself and to be so despondent about not being able to have a love life, just meaningless meet ups, how sad for the men who have had to live like that (and indeed do live like that now).
Anyway, the story - very Christie-esque. The main detective, his side kick, a whole host of possible suspects, the unliked victim, the helpful suspect - and the denouement in the library (or drawing room!). Lots of red herrings, including Jonesy and Nathan.
Really enjoyed it.
thenaptimewriter's review
3.0
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
I’ve seen people recommend Josh Lanyon before & a 1940s, atmospheric read with a murder mystery seemed like a good place to start.
It feels difficult to sum up my feelings on Snowball in Hell but basically: on one hand, the book’s portrayal of how dangerous it was for queer men in the 1940s feels authentic to real life but on the other, from a romance-reading perspective the book is darker than I expected it would be. And while I think this is book 1 in a series, I didn’t totally appreciate how I felt hopeful but not necessarily settled about where the leads are together or separately at the end of this one.
In Snowball in Hell Lieutenant Matt Spain is tasked with finding who murdered the son of a wealthy man & left his body in a tar pit. Also helping him investigate, but on an unofficial level, is reporter Nathan Doyle.
Bringing in some lingering trauma from their respective war experiences, their various perspectives on their sexuality & the shame & in Matt’s case, denial, about some aspects of it, & the homophobia of the time period in general, Snowball in Hell is not a light read.
The murder mystery aspect is fun, & seeing Matt & Nathan connect, particularly while they’re basically cut off from the world on Christmas Eve & Christmas, is touching. I hope that the next books will allow both men to come to some peace in how they view themselves & their sexuality & carve out a space for their relationship that feels safe.
3 ⭐️. Out now!
Additional CWs: “sissy” reference. Wartime injuries. Grief. Violence toward Nathan on page. Fatphobia. Reference to manageress having “goosestepped.” Matt doesn’t see himself as a queer person but as a “regular guy.” Matt slept with men during war while married. Wife died of cancer. Nathan almost had himself voluntarily committed so his homosexuality could be “cured” (I’m using quotation marks there, not the book.) Nathan makes remarks about having wishing he hadn’t “opened his eyes again” & being “unlucky” to have survived war.