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A review by a_reader_obsessed
The Boy with the Painful Tattoo by Josh Lanyon
4.0
4 Stars!
Poor Kit. He just cannot catch a break - a break from finding dead bodies, that is. He and JX have made that ultimate relationship step and have newly moved in together, but a murdered victim found in one of their packing crates is not a great way to start their new life together.
As with this particular series, Kit is ever the neurotic fussy guy, full of insecurities and a tendency toward introversion, all of it marked with sarcastic humor and a fatalistic attitude that lends itself to some very entertaining moments. Though I would've preferred to have more on page JX time, it is actually their relationship that takes center stage this time, in and around the murder shenanigans. Despite their best efforts, these two are still on shaky ground due to Kit’s fears. Though frustrating, I enjoyed seeing him argue with himself and trying to overcome his own personal roadblocks, wanting a happy ending with JX, but not quite sure how to achieve and maintain that. JX in return is solid, but also desperately trying to hang on by any means possible.
Always interesting, smart, and full of that wry and sardonic wit that can be so prominent in a lot of Lanyon’s works, I often found myself suddenly snorting or bursting out in laughter. This was good reading, as yet again, Kit solves the murder whether he wants to or not. He’s quite the unconventional hero, but there’s definitely something there that makes you want to be in on the inside jokes with him; his “brilliant criminal mind” notwithstanding. This series is never overt in the smex, but what little we got quite satisfies (though I will never turn down more), and delved deeper into the romantic and intimate, vulnerable dynamic between these two complete opposites. Luckily we get another entry to this great series, and I’m definitely looking forward to it!
Poor Kit. He just cannot catch a break - a break from finding dead bodies, that is. He and JX have made that ultimate relationship step and have newly moved in together, but a murdered victim found in one of their packing crates is not a great way to start their new life together.
As with this particular series, Kit is ever the neurotic fussy guy, full of insecurities and a tendency toward introversion, all of it marked with sarcastic humor and a fatalistic attitude that lends itself to some very entertaining moments. Though I would've preferred to have more on page JX time, it is actually their relationship that takes center stage this time, in and around the murder shenanigans. Despite their best efforts, these two are still on shaky ground due to Kit’s fears. Though frustrating, I enjoyed seeing him argue with himself and trying to overcome his own personal roadblocks, wanting a happy ending with JX, but not quite sure how to achieve and maintain that. JX in return is solid, but also desperately trying to hang on by any means possible.
Always interesting, smart, and full of that wry and sardonic wit that can be so prominent in a lot of Lanyon’s works, I often found myself suddenly snorting or bursting out in laughter. This was good reading, as yet again, Kit solves the murder whether he wants to or not. He’s quite the unconventional hero, but there’s definitely something there that makes you want to be in on the inside jokes with him; his “brilliant criminal mind” notwithstanding. This series is never overt in the smex, but what little we got quite satisfies (though I will never turn down more), and delved deeper into the romantic and intimate, vulnerable dynamic between these two complete opposites. Luckily we get another entry to this great series, and I’m definitely looking forward to it!