A review by mollyreadsandcrafts
Father Complex by Gregory Ashe

4.0

Two men who are enemies are gunned down in a hotel room. The pressure is on for Hazard and Somers to find the killer and what the killer seems to be searching for before there are more victims - even if it means tangling with religious cults, the Ozark Volunteers, and other political figures. If that wasn't enough, Colt's dad has reached out, leaving Hazard feeling crushed and helpless on how to protect his family and keep them together. 

Oh boy. Remember how I said the last few books seem very Somers oriented? Well that's fixed because this was all Hazard, unfortunately. We've seen how Hazard is struggling with raising a teen without really knowing where all his reactions are coming from, until now. He's a protector at heart with a lot of trauma from his own childhood, and he is willing to do anything to protect his children from the same fate. But kids are their own beings and it's impossible to micromanage their entire lives without push back. Hazard feels absolutely helpless and scared and it comes across as angry and strict. As a result his relationship with Colt is very rocky throughout most of the book. Some lessons Colt has to learn on his own, and Hazard needs to give him the freedom to do that. I loved seeing Hazard go back to his parent's house and share some of his upbringing and with Colt, showing why he feels the way he does. This vulnerability from both of them just brings them that much closer, and maybe I cried a little.  

Hazard and Somers, the dynamic duo, are back in action. I love them working as a team because after so much time together, first as work partners and now married, they are on a level all their own. Somers knows Hazard and what he needs and gives him that support and love when he is flailing in his loss of control. They are imperfect but they are unconditionally there for one another through thick and thin. 

The case had a lot of moving parts which kept it somewhat intriguing. Though if Hazard and Somers were women, they would've figured out about Naomi a lot sooner given all the clues. I don't feel sorry for her because she's a neo-Nazi and horrible person, but I do feel sorry for 20 year old Naomi who didn't find what she was looking for. I feel like something is building with Somers and his work, because even though he's managing there is still a lot of difficulties he's sorting through. 

Okay the best part - North and Shaw. Just everything about them (mostly Shaw, sorry North but you will continue to be on my shit list) brings so much fun to the story. Shaw's quest to make Hazard his best friend is probably my favorite random sub, sub plot of the entire Hazardverse. Dulac is still going through a vague something, Nico is still going through a less vague something, and Theo and Auggie are slowly working their way into Hazard and Somers hearts. 

"Daddy Issues" should be the subtitle of everything Hazard and Somers. The actual book title, Father Complex, is very fitting as all the issues in the book stem from these relationships. I'm not sure where the series will take us in the finale, but I'm hoping by the end we have one big happy family (please Ashe, I'm begging you). 

Read if you like: 

• romantic suspense     

• private investigator/police      

• family drama     

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