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_isabel_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
5.0
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
"Madison Square Murders" is, possibily, one of my favourite reads of the year. I've said this time and time again, but it's worth repeating: C.S. Poe is a gem of a writer and her stories just keep getting better and grittier, more unforgettable and thrilling.
I managed to finish this in less than 48 hours and I'm literally restraing myself from starting it all over again.
This first book is the riveting start to a new mystery series I'd literally sell my soul for so I could have the sequels all available on my kindle.
It's protagonist, Everett Larkin, is a highly intelligent, neurodivergent detective in the NYPD's Cold Case Squad that gets assigned a twenty-year-old murder to investigate, a murder that seems to be connected to death masks. Enter: Ira Doyle, detective and brilliant forensic artist, with a penchant for flirting and for surprising the hell out of Larkin.
I adored them both, so so much. Larkin is a wonderful protagonist: he's smart and he knows it, but he's also broken and traumatized and unsure and spinning out of control and God, I wanted to reach inside the book and whisk him away to somewhere safe and warm. The book is told entirely from his point of view and what an unique point of view it was: C.S. Poe has really outdone herself here. Larkin's words and feelings, his thought-process, his brain's inner workings... it's all sketched out in such a vivid and brilliant way. I literally had to stop and catch my breath at times: his inner world is poetic and overwhelming and I never wanted to leave. Ira Doyle was such a wonderful counterpart to Larkin: sunny and flirty, capable and respectful, with hidden depths and heartaches and I cannot wait to see what else the author has in mind for these two.
Their banter was top-notch and hilarious and heartwarming, their more intimate and softer scenes together stirring and lovely.
And the murder plot? It was brilliant and dark and gritty. I gasped and shouted and had a literal nightmare about some of it (it was worth it, though). It was also creative and well-constructed and unexpected and, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out who was the bad guy and what was going to happen next. And that ending? Well, I'm now ready to sell my soul (and also my kidney) to have the second book in my hands.
This book is out on the 28th of September and if you love dark, angst-y mystery novels with a touch of romance (and heartbreak), go and buy it. I'll buy it for you otherwise.
"Madison Square Murders" is, possibily, one of my favourite reads of the year. I've said this time and time again, but it's worth repeating: C.S. Poe is a gem of a writer and her stories just keep getting better and grittier, more unforgettable and thrilling.
I managed to finish this in less than 48 hours and I'm literally restraing myself from starting it all over again.
This first book is the riveting start to a new mystery series I'd literally sell my soul for so I could have the sequels all available on my kindle.
It's protagonist, Everett Larkin, is a highly intelligent, neurodivergent detective in the NYPD's Cold Case Squad that gets assigned a twenty-year-old murder to investigate, a murder that seems to be connected to death masks. Enter: Ira Doyle, detective and brilliant forensic artist, with a penchant for flirting and for surprising the hell out of Larkin.
I adored them both, so so much. Larkin is a wonderful protagonist: he's smart and he knows it, but he's also broken and traumatized and unsure and spinning out of control and God, I wanted to reach inside the book and whisk him away to somewhere safe and warm. The book is told entirely from his point of view and what an unique point of view it was: C.S. Poe has really outdone herself here. Larkin's words and feelings, his thought-process, his brain's inner workings... it's all sketched out in such a vivid and brilliant way. I literally had to stop and catch my breath at times: his inner world is poetic and overwhelming and I never wanted to leave. Ira Doyle was such a wonderful counterpart to Larkin: sunny and flirty, capable and respectful, with hidden depths and heartaches and I cannot wait to see what else the author has in mind for these two.
Their banter was top-notch and hilarious and heartwarming, their more intimate and softer scenes together stirring and lovely.
And the murder plot? It was brilliant and dark and gritty. I gasped and shouted and had a literal nightmare about some of it (it was worth it, though). It was also creative and well-constructed and unexpected and, for the life of me, I couldn't figure out who was the bad guy and what was going to happen next. And that ending? Well, I'm now ready to sell my soul (and also my kidney) to have the second book in my hands.
This book is out on the 28th of September and if you love dark, angst-y mystery novels with a touch of romance (and heartbreak), go and buy it. I'll buy it for you otherwise.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Grief
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