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A review by sarful
An Unnatural Vice by KJ Charles
4.0
4.3 and only because it ended with a TBC!
This is book two in a really wonderfully atmospheric mystery thriller set in Victorian England. In book one we were introduced to sweet and naive Clem, in whom we meet the group of friends at the gay friendly club, the Jack and Knave. One of those guys is the upstanding journalist and former lawyer Nathanial. On a quest to expose spiritualists as frauds, he meets Justin, The Seer of London.
Justin, the man who not only challenges Nathanial mentally but warms his blood sexually. They begin as enemies, never trusting each other’s intentions nor outlook on life. And yet, the two have such massive sexual tension, you could cut it with a knife, that and the dense fog that fills London. Justin is the first man Nathanial has been attracted to since the death of his long time lover. And that he feels this way, makes him hopeful, that it’s Justin upsets him. Justin has had to fight for all he has and doesn’t care who he cons, it’s their choice and he’ll take their money. But, as the story goes on they find in each other peace and I loved their relationship. The two are supremely relatable, which I also adored.
There’s also the mystery of the heir to a dukedom. A dukedom it seems is not who currently owns it, as well as something worth killing, it seems. The plot thickens and I must find out the conclusion in the final book. Which, because it’s KJ Charles, I’m completely fine with. The rightful heir, as we find out at the end, is someone I’m excited to actually meet.
This is book two in a really wonderfully atmospheric mystery thriller set in Victorian England. In book one we were introduced to sweet and naive Clem, in whom we meet the group of friends at the gay friendly club, the Jack and Knave. One of those guys is the upstanding journalist and former lawyer Nathanial. On a quest to expose spiritualists as frauds, he meets Justin, The Seer of London.
Justin, the man who not only challenges Nathanial mentally but warms his blood sexually. They begin as enemies, never trusting each other’s intentions nor outlook on life. And yet, the two have such massive sexual tension, you could cut it with a knife, that and the dense fog that fills London. Justin is the first man Nathanial has been attracted to since the death of his long time lover. And that he feels this way, makes him hopeful, that it’s Justin upsets him. Justin has had to fight for all he has and doesn’t care who he cons, it’s their choice and he’ll take their money. But, as the story goes on they find in each other peace and I loved their relationship. The two are supremely relatable, which I also adored.
There’s also the mystery of the heir to a dukedom. A dukedom it seems is not who currently owns it, as well as something worth killing, it seems. The plot thickens and I must find out the conclusion in the final book. Which, because it’s KJ Charles, I’m completely fine with. The rightful heir, as we find out at the end, is someone I’m excited to actually meet.