Scan barcode
A review by cspoe
Criminal Past by Gregory Ashe
5.0
All right. This book was, without a doubt, one of the most intense pieces of contemporary fiction I've read. The gamut of human emotions that Ashe is able to evoke surpasses the typical reader-response to brilliant writing. I'm talking physical reactions that were both startling and even, yes, unwelcoming. Because I can honestly say that I can't recall the last time a plot, a scene, a moment, a piece of dialogue, made me dry heave. I know that, on the surface, this doesn't seem like a compliment, but consider the fact that an author was able to twist the English language in such a way that reading his words literally made my stomach check out. That's impressive storytelling.
Criminal Past brings us full-circle to where this wild, terrifying, heartbreaking, and hopeful adventure has been dragging us. Emery Hazard returned to Wahredua at the start of Pretty Pretty Boys to find out what had happened to his high school boyfriend, Jeff. All he knew was that Jeff had committed suicide and left Hazard alone in a world he wasn't welcomed in. And since then, he's grown bigger, smarter, stronger, (and yes) grumpier. He's met John-Henry Somerset again and, despite the at times insurmountable obstacles they faced, fell in love. With the addition of Somers's little girl, Evie, the three are a small and happy family and all they wanted to do was enjoy an outing at the Fourth of July fair. And they were—until they cross paths with old high school bully, Mikey Grames.
And before you can say, "Dirtiest City in Missouri" Wahredua is the scene of another mystery. Someone is after the Mayor, Hazard and Somers are on babysitting duty (despite the fact this man has tried to kill them once before), buildings are exploding, FBI agents are being attacked, Hazard has learned that the truth of Jeff's death isn't so open and closed, and Mikey? Mikey is out for blood.
This book was the hardest of the six to read. Emotionally and mentally: there was tough content, difficult dialogue, serious heartbreak, and like I mentioned before, gut-churning situations. But this book represented all of the hate, fear, pain, and utter frustration that both Hazard and Somers have been carrying since high school and into adulthood. There's been so much devastation they've lived through that I think I would have been disappointed if the intensity of this book was anything less. Despite how difficult it was to read, there was a sensation that the reader's soul had been cleansed.
And the final scene of Criminal Past was everything readers have been striving toward. The perfect, simplistic moment of love and self-acceptance. That minute hand hitting 12:01. Of course, I know Union of Swords will wreck me just like the first season, but I'm so deeply committed to this world that Ashe has created that I trust him with my heart and mind entirely. I know that, eventually... eventually, Hazard and Somerset will be safe and happy.
This is a hell of a series, and Ashe is a hell of an author. Full stop.
Criminal Past brings us full-circle to where this wild, terrifying, heartbreaking, and hopeful adventure has been dragging us. Emery Hazard returned to Wahredua at the start of Pretty Pretty Boys to find out what had happened to his high school boyfriend, Jeff. All he knew was that Jeff had committed suicide and left Hazard alone in a world he wasn't welcomed in. And since then, he's grown bigger, smarter, stronger, (and yes) grumpier. He's met John-Henry Somerset again and, despite the at times insurmountable obstacles they faced, fell in love. With the addition of Somers's little girl, Evie, the three are a small and happy family and all they wanted to do was enjoy an outing at the Fourth of July fair. And they were—until they cross paths with old high school bully, Mikey Grames.
And before you can say, "Dirtiest City in Missouri" Wahredua is the scene of another mystery. Someone is after the Mayor, Hazard and Somers are on babysitting duty (despite the fact this man has tried to kill them once before), buildings are exploding, FBI agents are being attacked, Hazard has learned that the truth of Jeff's death isn't so open and closed, and Mikey? Mikey is out for blood.
This book was the hardest of the six to read. Emotionally and mentally: there was tough content, difficult dialogue, serious heartbreak, and like I mentioned before, gut-churning situations. But this book represented all of the hate, fear, pain, and utter frustration that both Hazard and Somers have been carrying since high school and into adulthood. There's been so much devastation they've lived through that I think I would have been disappointed if the intensity of this book was anything less. Despite how difficult it was to read, there was a sensation that the reader's soul had been cleansed.
And the final scene of Criminal Past was everything readers have been striving toward. The perfect, simplistic moment of love and self-acceptance. That minute hand hitting 12:01. Of course, I know Union of Swords will wreck me just like the first season, but I'm so deeply committed to this world that Ashe has created that I trust him with my heart and mind entirely. I know that, eventually... eventually, Hazard and Somerset will be safe and happy.
This is a hell of a series, and Ashe is a hell of an author. Full stop.