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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
4.5 for me. No insta-love. Lots of tea drinking. And even with the psychic element thrown in, it felt pretty realistic. The ending was a little abrupt...hopefully that means more to come.
This book was fairly alright. I mean, it bothered me how much some of the characters were like caricatures rather than real people, as well as the convenient exposition in the last ten pages, a huge deus ex machina that required zero thought on behalf of the writer. It's almost as though they wanted to write a cozy murder mystery with a gay bent, and then realized they needed a climax and denouement right as they were writing it.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was, simply put, perfect.
January has just begun and I'm already dealing out boatloads of five stars' ratings, but this book deserves them all, and more. I already know I'm going to have to re-read this one, and probably the entire series once I'm finished with it, because I completely loved it, start to finish.
I'm on a murder-mystery-with-paranormal-undertones binge read at the moment but this one was, by far, my favourite. Everything in this book, from its characters and plot to the completely hilarious and realistic prose, seemed to be tailored to my tastes. I LOVED IT.
Tom was, frankly, the perfect MC. He's so different from any other protagonist I've read about (and adored) these last few years and I think he might end up on my favourite MC list. He's a plumber, a blue-collar worker, a middle-to-lower-class 29yo man from rural England who has the slang and the attitude to show for it, and he's the complete opposite of the stereotype of the manly-down-to-earth-alpha-man you usually find in a romance novel when an MC has a menial job, but also, in some ways, the embodiment of it too. Tom's down-to-earth, straight-forward, hard-working, responsible, but also the cheekiest, flirtiest, lovable charmer you'll ever find. He was, simply put, so nice you'll end up swooning at his feat by the end of the first chapter, like all the "yummy mummies and old dears" he fixes their plumbing for. I loved him so much. I also found him completely believable, not only as an English plumber with the slang and endearments to show for it (everytime he called one of his clients "love" I kept having flashbacks to when plumbers used to come round to my Nana South-East England house), but also, in general, his attitude and the way he spoke about, and to, the other other characters in this book. I've read tons of books by British authors, and tons of books by American ones in British settings, but none of the ones I can think of were quite so precise in their rendering of the way the middle and lower classes speak, or in general, how some British people speak (if they even tried to do it! I hate it when authors are forced to americanize their characters's slang because American audiences are the majority of their reader base and "it's easier for them" *silentely seethes* the rest of the world outside the USA manages, right? ). So I applaud J.L. Merrow for this. The prose was completely realistic, Tom's voice so authentic and hilarious that my face muscles started aching from my non-stop grinning.
My only minor complaint was Tom's love interest Phil, AKA his former school bully, now-openly-gay-PI with a few secrets and surprises up his sleeve. I did like him, quite a bit if I'm being honest: he was protective of Tom (and I'm a sucker for bigger, muscly alpha types being protective of their "short-arsed" lovers) and his grumpy attitude was endearing as hell, but well, he WAS his old bully and I kind of wished that was addressed a bit better, especially considering the mental and physical consequences of that bullying. Hopefully it will be addressed in the next novels, because I really feel like there should be a bit more atoning and apologizing from Phil.
The murder mystery plot was utterly riveting and really well-done: it left me guessing the whole time and the undercurrent of non-stop tension had me on the edge of my seat, physically uncapable of putting my Kindle down. The other characters were quirky, weird, suspicious or totally endearing (and I especially loved Gary!), and the setting, the small-rural-town atmosphere, was so vivid and, well, British, it left me feeling homesick.
I'll be jumping into the next book RIGHT NOW. I'm hooked.
January has just begun and I'm already dealing out boatloads of five stars' ratings, but this book deserves them all, and more. I already know I'm going to have to re-read this one, and probably the entire series once I'm finished with it, because I completely loved it, start to finish.
I'm on a murder-mystery-with-paranormal-undertones binge read at the moment but this one was, by far, my favourite. Everything in this book, from its characters and plot to the completely hilarious and realistic prose, seemed to be tailored to my tastes. I LOVED IT.
Tom was, frankly, the perfect MC. He's so different from any other protagonist I've read about (and adored) these last few years and I think he might end up on my favourite MC list. He's a plumber, a blue-collar worker, a middle-to-lower-class 29yo man from rural England who has the slang and the attitude to show for it, and he's the complete opposite of the stereotype of the manly-down-to-earth-alpha-man you usually find in a romance novel when an MC has a menial job, but also, in some ways, the embodiment of it too. Tom's down-to-earth, straight-forward, hard-working, responsible, but also the cheekiest, flirtiest, lovable charmer you'll ever find. He was, simply put, so nice you'll end up swooning at his feat by the end of the first chapter, like all the "yummy mummies and old dears" he fixes their plumbing for. I loved him so much. I also found him completely believable, not only as an English plumber with the slang and endearments to show for it (everytime he called one of his clients "love" I kept having flashbacks to when plumbers used to come round to my Nana South-East England house), but also, in general, his attitude and the way he spoke about, and to, the other other characters in this book. I've read tons of books by British authors, and tons of books by American ones in British settings, but none of the ones I can think of were quite so precise in their rendering of the way the middle and lower classes speak, or in general, how some British people speak (if they even tried to do it! I hate it when authors are forced to americanize their characters's slang because American audiences are the majority of their reader base and "it's easier for them" *silentely seethes* the rest of the world outside the USA manages, right? ). So I applaud J.L. Merrow for this. The prose was completely realistic, Tom's voice so authentic and hilarious that my face muscles started aching from my non-stop grinning.
My only minor complaint was Tom's love interest Phil, AKA his former school bully, now-openly-gay-PI with a few secrets and surprises up his sleeve. I did like him, quite a bit if I'm being honest: he was protective of Tom (and I'm a sucker for bigger, muscly alpha types being protective of their "short-arsed" lovers) and his grumpy attitude was endearing as hell, but well, he WAS his old bully and I kind of wished that was addressed a bit better, especially considering the mental and physical consequences of that bullying. Hopefully it will be addressed in the next novels, because I really feel like there should be a bit more atoning and apologizing from Phil.
The murder mystery plot was utterly riveting and really well-done: it left me guessing the whole time and the undercurrent of non-stop tension had me on the edge of my seat, physically uncapable of putting my Kindle down. The other characters were quirky, weird, suspicious or totally endearing (and I especially loved Gary!), and the setting, the small-rural-town atmosphere, was so vivid and, well, British, it left me feeling homesick.
I'll be jumping into the next book RIGHT NOW. I'm hooked.
maybe i need a bigger break between gay mysteries? maybe? this feels far too familiar
This still remains one of my favorite reads! And I love this cover!
I’ll say upfront I read this story years ago when it was previously published. It’s been close to five years or more, and honestly, my memory faded quite a bit as to everything that happened—not because the story itself wasn’t memorable but because shortly after this one came out a lot happened in my life, and, unfortunately, a lot of books I read before that time were kind of pushed back in favor of dealing with my new normal. When I saw it was up and being republished, I immediately snapped it up because though I couldn’t remember everything that happened, what I did remember was absolutely loving it. I am so glad I did, because reading this one again was such an absolute pleasure for me in reexperiencing the wonderfully crafted tale.
How much do I love this book? Let me count the ways….
The plot. How amazing is it to have a plumber by trade who has this knack for finding things; a gift of divination, if you will? Utterly brilliant. Or at least the way this carefully crafted tale is delivered. Mind you, they aren’t usually lost things. They are hidden things. And water. And sometimes people. Tom can sense secrets people don’t want others to find or know about, and in his unique case, water, which makes him a pretty fabulous plumber to have come around. Mostly what he senses is more or less harmless. Water leaks (of course), porn stashes, expensive jewelry, love letters… But sometimes his gift can be used under more dire circumstances. Like finding dead bodies. In this case, after his pal in the police requests his services in finding a dead body, Tom’s path ends up converging with Phil’s—Tom’s former bully and a now out-and-proud, gorgeous private investigator who thinks Tom’s particular talent can help him track down the murderer and, in turn, save Phil’s friend from falsely taking the fall.
Tom has got to be one of my favorite characters. He is perfectly fashioned and, in my opinion, an amazing choice in narration. He carries the story with his keen observations wrapped in witty humor and life experiences. He’s relatable and an average guy (mostly), with a peculiar gift. People can’t help but be drawn to his outgoing personality and charm. I love how he is so expressive with his emotions. He is quirky, endearing, and intelligent, though not in a bookish or educational sense. He has great logic and instincts and is an observer of the human character.
Now, a wee bit about Phil, a source of both angst and passion to Tom. He is far more subdued, and his emotions are often hard to read, often keeping himself wrapped in a blank mask, only allowing bits and pieces of emotion to leak through. Generally, when he does reveal something, it is expressed in anger, though it’s clear more is going on underneath. The waiting for it to finally reach its breaking point was oh-so-sweet torture. He is not as developed as Tom, but as this is the beginning of a series, this is not altogether unexpected. We get just enough to be intrigued by what happens next with him.
What about the romance? Tom and Phil’s past and current interactions together create a wonderful push and pull, and keeps you wondering when and what will finally give the final push to make them both face their feelings. Their attraction is vivid but mixed with so many other emotions to wade through: guilt, doubt, anger, suspicion, and sadness. They share humor, but it is often tinged with uncertainty as they try to navigate their history and truly see who they are in the present. What I found so amazing is that despite the slow-burn and romance being a main plot point, somehow it didn’t detract the focus from the mystery, yet it didn’t take a backseat either. It’s expertly woven in with just the right amount of tension, and producing a fantastically balanced romantic suspense, but don’t expect a ton of sexy times. This is just their beginning, and they have a lot of crap to get through before they finally give in to that attraction, which is something this particular reader is all for, especially when I know there are more books in a series to explore the relationship.
As for the mystery—top notch delivery. So many possibilities are thrown out there that it was difficult to make my own theories on who was the actual murderer. This was seriously imaginative, and I truly enjoyed following the two as they ran around trying to uncover the truth through what was hidden for the people in Melanie Porter’s life. The amount of shenanigans Tom gets himself into trying to sneak around and find what hidden truths, and what to do when things went awry, keeps things interesting and gives it an almost believable feel. Tom has no idea what he is doing, is clearly uncomfortable poking his nose around people’s houses and searching for their shame, and is completely hysterical in his thoughts. Reading Tom think on his feet, and make excuses, and explain his odd behavior had me cracking up constantly.
If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this entire story to pieces. Pressure Head is a cozy little mystery wrapped in an amazingly humorous and intriguing little package, and is highly recommended!
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
How much do I love this book? Let me count the ways….
The plot. How amazing is it to have a plumber by trade who has this knack for finding things; a gift of divination, if you will? Utterly brilliant. Or at least the way this carefully crafted tale is delivered. Mind you, they aren’t usually lost things. They are hidden things. And water. And sometimes people. Tom can sense secrets people don’t want others to find or know about, and in his unique case, water, which makes him a pretty fabulous plumber to have come around. Mostly what he senses is more or less harmless. Water leaks (of course), porn stashes, expensive jewelry, love letters… But sometimes his gift can be used under more dire circumstances. Like finding dead bodies. In this case, after his pal in the police requests his services in finding a dead body, Tom’s path ends up converging with Phil’s—Tom’s former bully and a now out-and-proud, gorgeous private investigator who thinks Tom’s particular talent can help him track down the murderer and, in turn, save Phil’s friend from falsely taking the fall.
Tom has got to be one of my favorite characters. He is perfectly fashioned and, in my opinion, an amazing choice in narration. He carries the story with his keen observations wrapped in witty humor and life experiences. He’s relatable and an average guy (mostly), with a peculiar gift. People can’t help but be drawn to his outgoing personality and charm. I love how he is so expressive with his emotions. He is quirky, endearing, and intelligent, though not in a bookish or educational sense. He has great logic and instincts and is an observer of the human character.
Now, a wee bit about Phil, a source of both angst and passion to Tom. He is far more subdued, and his emotions are often hard to read, often keeping himself wrapped in a blank mask, only allowing bits and pieces of emotion to leak through. Generally, when he does reveal something, it is expressed in anger, though it’s clear more is going on underneath. The waiting for it to finally reach its breaking point was oh-so-sweet torture. He is not as developed as Tom, but as this is the beginning of a series, this is not altogether unexpected. We get just enough to be intrigued by what happens next with him.
What about the romance? Tom and Phil’s past and current interactions together create a wonderful push and pull, and keeps you wondering when and what will finally give the final push to make them both face their feelings. Their attraction is vivid but mixed with so many other emotions to wade through: guilt, doubt, anger, suspicion, and sadness. They share humor, but it is often tinged with uncertainty as they try to navigate their history and truly see who they are in the present. What I found so amazing is that despite the slow-burn and romance being a main plot point, somehow it didn’t detract the focus from the mystery, yet it didn’t take a backseat either. It’s expertly woven in with just the right amount of tension, and producing a fantastically balanced romantic suspense, but don’t expect a ton of sexy times. This is just their beginning, and they have a lot of crap to get through before they finally give in to that attraction, which is something this particular reader is all for, especially when I know there are more books in a series to explore the relationship.
As for the mystery—top notch delivery. So many possibilities are thrown out there that it was difficult to make my own theories on who was the actual murderer. This was seriously imaginative, and I truly enjoyed following the two as they ran around trying to uncover the truth through what was hidden for the people in Melanie Porter’s life. The amount of shenanigans Tom gets himself into trying to sneak around and find what hidden truths, and what to do when things went awry, keeps things interesting and gives it an almost believable feel. Tom has no idea what he is doing, is clearly uncomfortable poking his nose around people’s houses and searching for their shame, and is completely hysterical in his thoughts. Reading Tom think on his feet, and make excuses, and explain his odd behavior had me cracking up constantly.
If you couldn’t already tell, I loved this entire story to pieces. Pressure Head is a cozy little mystery wrapped in an amazingly humorous and intriguing little package, and is highly recommended!
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
I am an American who married a Brit. We lived in England for several years and there was a longstanding joke among my husband and his family that I was the only one in the household who enjoyed British cozy mysteries. They all used to roll their eyes at me when I watched them. The thing is that they'd been watching them their whole lives in one form or another. I'd had Columbo and Murder She Wrote but Midsummer Murders, Miss Marple, and A touch of Frost were new and exciting for me.
Pressure Head was a bit like that for me. I loved the Britishness of it, but as an outsider I can't tell how much was played up for the camera, so to speak. I liked the investigation that took the character to different communities and to eat in a variety of local pubs. I liked the parking restrictions and footie references. It was an enjoyable environment to sink into for a while.
I also liked the characters. Granted, we were a little limited with just the one POV and I would have loved to know where the stormy Phil was coming from. I felt I knew the guilt and anger they brought out in one another, as well as where it came from, but not that I actually knew them well.
The mystery was a mystery all the way until the end and I appreciated that I couldn't guess. I so often do. I did feel Tom jumped into Phil's investigation with both feet and, as hesitant as he had been previously, that felt a little out of character. Similarly, for being as angry with Phil as he was in the beginning, he sure let it go quickly.
These are all small quibbles though. I have two more book in this series and I'm looking forward to reading them.
Pressure Head was a bit like that for me. I loved the Britishness of it, but as an outsider I can't tell how much was played up for the camera, so to speak. I liked the investigation that took the character to different communities and to eat in a variety of local pubs. I liked the parking restrictions and footie references. It was an enjoyable environment to sink into for a while.
I also liked the characters. Granted, we were a little limited with just the one POV and I would have loved to know where the stormy Phil was coming from. I felt I knew the guilt and anger they brought out in one another, as well as where it came from, but not that I actually knew them well.
The mystery was a mystery all the way until the end and I appreciated that I couldn't guess. I so often do. I did feel Tom jumped into Phil's investigation with both feet and, as hesitant as he had been previously, that felt a little out of character. Similarly, for being as angry with Phil as he was in the beginning, he sure let it go quickly.
These are all small quibbles though. I have two more book in this series and I'm looking forward to reading them.
I was really enjoying this, the writing style and the prose, but at around 47% it stopped holding my attention, things were going round and round with the 2 MCs, without, by the end of the book, things having been hashed out really and resolved, plus Phil keeps secrets that are bound to wound and hurt whatever trust and "relationship" they are building.
The mystery wasn't all that interesting by that point (when I started skimming), the language was crude at times, which I didn't enjoy and there were repeating phrases that tired me, eg "Gary, not the dog, that is".
I think this is were I'll part with the author.
The mystery wasn't all that interesting by that point (when I started skimming), the language was crude at times, which I didn't enjoy and there were repeating phrases that tired me, eg "Gary, not the dog, that is".
I think this is were I'll part with the author.
This was a perfectly nice contemporary gay murder mystery romance, with lots of very British banter and a wholly likeable protagonist. There is a very slight paranormal element, but mostly it's a romantic murder mystery. I'm a sucker for paranormal / fantastic fiction, though, so I might have liked this better if it had been a little more in that neighbourhood. Still, it's well written, great dialogue, good pacing. The ending is a HFN, seeing as this is part one of a series.