This is very literary. In my heart of hearts I know it's a romance, so it has to end happily but my god it's so gritty and realistic that it could havThis is very literary. In my heart of hearts I know it's a romance, so it has to end happily but my god it's so gritty and realistic that it could have just as easily ended tragically. I've never felt more anxious reading about a missing person like that. Ordinarily I don't have a problem with instalove. I have enough disbelief to suspend for any happy ending. But Nash and Glen are the kind of OTP that has an instant connection that is so goddamn believable my heart is still racing....more
Travel had taught me that the world was something to engage with, not take shelter from.
What's a young man to do when his fiancee just du
Travel had taught me that the world was something to engage with, not take shelter from.
What's a young man to do when his fiancee just dumped him and he doesn't know how to tell his parents that he doesn't want to end up working at their architectural firm, even after they'd paid for a full ride through an architecture degree? He takes a trip using Esquire's guide to Europe from the 50s.
[image] 19th Century oil painting of people on the Rue de la Paix, Place Vendome, Paris by Henri Dulac
It's a straightforward story at this point. Jefferson Blythe, of the blithely oblivious, hops on a plane from Washington to London ready to face all of Europe. When he arrives, a young eccentric woman approaches him demanding "an egg". Flummoxed, Blythe lies to get away from her because why would a rando just show up asking for something you have never heard of?
Blythe plans to stay at his aunt and uncle's house but when he gets there, his cousin is already occupying the house and demands--through the rules of bro code--that Blythe let him stay undisturbed because he was trying to win back his ex. Blythe, stranded, decides to call George, a childhood friend who has a murky history with him. Blythe doesn't want to impose, still smarting from their fallout but they're all grown up now. There's no reason why they can't get along for a few nights until he can get to stay at his aunt's house, right? Unfortunately, as he's waiting for George to pick him up, the lady from the airport materialises, like a ghost of annoyance present, threatening him this time. What on earth is going on?
So begins a delightful tale of misadventure, comedy, travel, intrigue and romance? This isn't a traditional mystery. There are no dead bodies to be uncovered and while Blythe does come across bodies, he finds it discomfitting, People dying reduced the entertainment value to nil. I beg to differ, I subscribe to the Drowning Pool school of thought, Let the bodies hit the floor. But Blythe is of a softer disposition, getting caught in the middle of a conspiracy where he is being accused of being someone he isn't and stealing something he doesn't know of, places him in great distress. But of bigger distress, is the realisation that what he did when he was a teenager has damn near destroyed anything he could hope to pursue with George.
The book follows Blythe haplessly escaping danger through sheer dumb luck and the intervention of another Josh Lanyon character whom I adore. Colin from The French Have a Word for It makes an appearance and it's clear this is before the events from the short story. You, the reader, are rooting for Blythe to come to Jesus and finally embrace life wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, sometimes your happiness lies in the hands of others. While I am opposed to the idea of romantic love being a source of happiness, I can't deny that being in a relationship had been a source of great comfort when things were good. Blythe wants to be happy and the key to his happiness won't even go in the door. George was infuriatingly reticent, giving me whiplash with how he blew hot and cold. But his state of being was understandable. There are times he showed up rather conveniently and I felt cheated but then I remembered this book suffers from the limitations of genre. If it had been a full on espionage thriller, I'd have gotten more escapades, more sleuthing, more spying. But its an amuse bouche of a bildungsroman set in Paris, Rome, London.
I docked a star because while I did love the whole book, I read it a few years ago and didn't remember much (I'm turning 310 in 10 days, my memory is half what it ever was), I was disappointed by the "grand gesture" where the couple comes to be. This being an mm romance means that the two main love interests have to end up together, unless it's a series. For all the yearning I experienced, I expected some catharsis with a run to the train or a confession in the rain. It ended in Lanyon fashion where they say something that seems open-ended but it's clear they'll be together. But in this one it wasn't open-ended as much as truncated. Did Lanyon run out of ink on her typewriter? I don't know. But I do hope I get to go on another adventure with Blythe, Jefferson.
PS. This book would be great for fans of Less....more
Yes, yes, I read a Christmas story in the middle of the year. Bring your shackles and prods and take me to hell. I reread this over the weekend becausYes, yes, I read a Christmas story in the middle of the year. Bring your shackles and prods and take me to hell. I reread this over the weekend because I was trying to stave off anxiety. The anxiety stalemated the battle and I think I will win the war. Hopefully.
This book is about James, a young man recently down on his luck being sent off to acquire an unreleased Dickens, The Christmas Cake, from a seller to whom he must remain anonymous. James would so love to tell Mr Stephanopoulos to go shove his entire being up his ass but he has few choices these days. He was recently involved in a conspiracy that led to the death of a forger. Unfortunately, James' reputation preceded him and his well-earned arrogance has led him to an ill-deserved fate.
When he meets the owner of The Christmas Cake, Sedgwick Crisparkle, James has the oddest evening of his life. One involving an ocelot, two arguments, great sex, and a cocktail the colour of stardusted sky. This book is an ode to book collectors. When I first read it, years ago, I had no appreciation for rare books (I now follow perhaps 10 rare books bookstores on Instagram) and I didn't have a curated book collection (We're at 300 and counting).
The book has a signature Lanyon flare where we have angst because James is catching feelings for Sedgwick, alarmingly fast. But James is hiding the fact that it's Mr Stephanopoulos who wants the book. When James hits rock bottom, again, he's selling mindless books to last minute book shoppers, working at the cashier at Barnes and Noble after rubbing shoulders with people who'd view first folios of Emily Dickinson and handling handwritten letters of James Joyce. We are on the edge of our seats waiting to see if Sedwick will figure out about Mr S. James takes it upon himself to inflate the amount Sedgwick could get for the book, a misguided attempt to get Sedgwick more money. Does it all come crashing down or will he miraculously get away with it all? Like snowfall in Los Angeles. This book is charming, heartwarming, delightful and beautiful. It still has a Lanyonism I am beginning to resent where prequel worthy events are explained rather than getting a full flashback or even a full on novella. But still I love it. And the monster that is my anxiety is hibernating, like a bear....more
This is an imagined interview between Josh Lanyon and mwana, inspired by LCJ.
mwana [unable to withhold her enthusiasm]: I worship the ground that you This is an imagined interview between Josh Lanyon and mwana, inspired by LCJ.
mwana [unable to withhold her enthusiasm]: I worship the ground that you walk on.
JL [visibly uncomfortable]: um, thanks.
JL turns her body and crosses her leg. Her torso rests against the tabletop of the Parisian cafe mwana selected because of the love affair JL has with all things Parisian. There is a chalkboard menu above the counter, a display window filled with all kinds of confectionaries mwana only sees in books and movies. Her repertoire of baked goods only extends to differentiating whether something is a biscuit, a cake or bread. She calls for a server, maybe food will make JL more comfortable. It works. Once she's had a coffee and some flaky chewy thing, she visibly relaxes. Her legs are still facing the general direction of the exit. mwana is having a foamy coffee, her favourite, but she regrets the moustache she'll have to keep wiping.
[image] Baker Oostwaert and his wife by Jan Steen
mwana: So, let's talk about The Lemon Drop Kid.
JL [wipes her hands on a napkin and leans back, smiles. It's brighter.]: Yes, let's.
mwana: Is there a reason you released a winter romance in spring? Spring is in March, right?
JL [smiles tightly, it's the one she wore when she spotted mwana in the cafe]: Um. Yes, Spring starts in March. I wrote it to be a winter romance but it's not a particularly festive story. It was originally a Patreon story.
mwana: I'm glad it was availed to the rest of us.
JL: uh yes.
mwana: why was it so different from your usual cozies?
JL: well, my friend and I had a discussion about what a loved one could do that you would struggle to forgive and I wanted to explore that.
mwana: I don't much care for forgiveness.
JL: Uh...
mwana: my father kicked me out and I "forgave" him, you know? Acted like it didn't hurt me to my core. I mean, don't get me wrong. I cried when he announced that he no longer wanted to house me. I had two jobs at the time and I was barely surviving. He then gave me a grace period to find a new house then changed his mind and two weeks before the end of his rental agreement he told me he won't be extending grace any further. But I acted like it was all ok. All fine.
JL [sips coffee]: yes well, this is about lovers who were happy and then one of them does the unthinkable but what does that look like and how do you come back from such a betrayal? A misjudgement of character, of choosing protocol over intuition. How do you come back from accusing the person you love most of something they know they would never do.
mwana, slurps coffee: that's another thing. At the same time daddy kicked me out, my ex who I'd been with for ten years accused me of sabotaging his relationship. He even threatened me! Me! I raised that man and he acted like I would even care that he'd moved on. I didn't even know he'd been macking on my neighbour...
JL: I see. In my book, Raleigh isn't like my usual law enforcement love interests...
mwana, wipes foam moustache: and then this year, the company I work for lost its funding so we closed operations. I lost my job then my dad says he won't support me. He refused to help me. Who the fuck does that?
JL: look, I think you need to process...
mwana: what's there to process Josh? You wrote a book about a man who made the biggest mistake of his life and was forgiven.
JL: Well, yes.
mwana, wipes foam again: this is why I don't care for forgiveness, because the people who wronged me showed no remorse. I was left high and dry and was just supposed to take it on the chin. You write unrealistic men Lanyon.
JL: they're not meant for your reality Gloria.
mwana: but there are parallels and let's not use our government names.
JL: sips coffee.
mwana, slurps foam: I do appreciate how different this book is. Casper is a lot more bitter than your usual protagonists, especially lately.
JL: what does that mean?
mwana: You used to write cheaters, toxic lovers, pained men, bitter assholes. Nowadays they're rather sanitised. I still enjoy them but you haven't written about another cat burglar since Icecapade, or a murderous theatre director since A Little Engagement, Jake Riordan deserves a whole thesis. You no longer write such protagonists.
JL: I see. Well, authors evolve too and they have to evolve with what the market wants. MM readers are unlikely to want cheating protagonists every book.
mwana, licks her upper lip repeatedly: Who cares about them? This is about me. I want the old Josh back.
JL, visibly distressed: Um
mwana: I also loved how atmospheric the book is. In one moment you describe Casper's mental state ever since leaving county jail. the clock in the living room striking some magic hour when everything would be alright again, go back to normal. Do you think this book can be used as a gateway to getting more people on the side of abolishing the carceral justice system?
JL: Do you ever think sometimes you read too much into books?
mwana: No.
JL: I-
mwana, slurps coffee: I find the theme of forgiveness interesting but I'm not interested in treatises of repairing relationships that are best left for dead. I also clocked the baddie almost immediately. Why couldn't you make this a full-length novel? I wanted more.
JL: sometimes a story calls for a novella. This story was always going to be a novella.
I haven't read a romance novel in a while that didn't make me want to gag, choke and do bloody murder on whoever invented the idea of love. But since I haven't read a romance novel in a while that didn't make me want to gag, choke and do bloody murder on whoever invented the idea of love. But since coming to terms with a lot of my issues, some of the joy I used to find in characters finding romantic happiness has returned to me.
This book is about Skylar, a criminology professor who also moonlights as a true crime podcaster. His pocasting career has mostly focused on the disappearance of Deirdre who went missing in 2004 after crashing her car then was never heard from again. Skylar decides to attend a vigil for Deirdre, held at the small town, Woodlark, New Hamsphire (that's what NH stands for, right?). But what's even more disturbing about Sky's visit is that he's been receiving credible death threats, and one particularly ominous email with the subject line reading, 44.1644° North. Could this be Deirdre's final resting place?
[image]
Sky has his theories about what happened to Deirdre but some of his podcasting peers don't agree with most of them. Even a celebrated, according to himself, Peter Weber who wore a fedora hat that was too big for his allegedly big head. Weber had all sorts of theories about what happened to Deirdre, some more cuckoo than the rest. He's in a bit of an envy streak when he finds out that Pat, Deirdre's father, was willing to give Sky an interview when he was denied multiple times. The lion, the witch and the audacity of this bitch in thinking he'd get an interview when he'd once wrongfully accused Pat of sexually assaulting his daughter.
Other podcasters aren't pleased to see Sky around but he's not really sure why. At one point he is even stalked outside a bar, on his first night since his arrival. The book has two mysteries playing in tandem. A nice little tango and our partner in dance is FBI BAU analyst Rory, who also works with Jason (from The Mermaid Murders). Rory was sent to bumfuck, Snow Everywhere because of the threats Sky had shared and when I say they are cute. I absolutely mean it.
On their first friendly interaction, Sky's drink has been spiked by his unknown fan. Sky wanders out to get to his room then gets turned around in the woods.
...I couldn't remember which of the dark cabins was supposed to be mine. They all looked alike when they were asleep. Which started me laughing so hard, I had to grab the nearest tree to stay upright. "Can I have this dance?" ... A hand landed on my shoulder, "May I cut in?"
It was Rory to the rescue. By that point, Sky had yet to learn Rory's name and my god this was adorable, attempted drugging notwithstanding.
"My name is Rory Torr," he said crisply, "Special Agent Rory Torr to you." After a moment, I asked suspiciously, "Why just to me?"
This book has me believing in meet cutes again.
Rory and Sky combine forces to uncover more details about Deirdre's disappearance and who would want to hurt Sky. But as the pages left kept dwindling, I was hit with a pang that this was a novella. None of my favourite parts of mysteries made lasting cameos such as interviewing the suspects, canvassing for witnesses, exploring the scene of the crime, gathering all the involved people in a room to unfold the detective's findings and finally point to the murderer. Aha! But this is no Poirot caper. And that's not a bad thing. Rory does connect the dots by the end of the book and there is enough action to make me pause. The resolution may not be the most satisfying to readers but I still felt abject relief when it ended. This book was extremely lovely, something that reminded the cold dead cockles of my heart that it still beats.
This arc was provided in exchange for an honest review....more
The more fool's errands you go on, the more cases you solve.
Once more we are back in Nihonbashi with my new favourite detective Kyoichiro
The more fool's errands you go on, the more cases you solve.
Once more we are back in Nihonbashi with my new favourite detective Kyoichiro Kaga. This time we are investigating the death of a man who was stabbed in one location but managed to walk, dagger in chest to a kirin statue at the famous Edobashi Bridge-Kilometre Zero.
We also get to dig a little deeper into Kaga's life. He's being pressured by his father's former nurse to organise a memorial for his father's death anniversary. Now, I can't be certain but I think that maybe this relationship is explored in the other books not yet translated to English because while the book does explain Kaga's reticence, it felt like being dropped in the middle of an episode. While at the dinner with the nurse, Kaga spots an elderly woman about to make a horrible mistake. He walks up to her, tall, handsome, gently demanding attention and asks her to make a confirmation before doing something a caller had asked her to do. When she does as Kaga recommended, he ends up saving her a great deal of grief. It allows us a glimpse into how Kaga's mind works. Tokiko, the nurse, even comments, "You've got a real nose for crime," to which Kaga responds,
"It's what they call professional deformation—a condition for which, sadly, there is no cure."
The French call it déformation professionnelle, where people look at the world with the point of view of expertise rather than a humane perspective. The detective's greatest curse, crime's worst nightmare.
Thankfully, depending on who you ask, Kaga is rescued from the painful meeting with a call about the death. It's not a straightforward death though. The victim, Takeake Aoyagi, was found sans wallet. And a young man who had worked for his company and recently retrenched following a company conspiracy is found with Aoyagi's belongings. Could he be the killer? The police want it to be him but Kaga's gut tells him there's a lot more to the story. He refuses to settle for the simplest explanation. Occam's razor didn't fit the shoe.
We also meet Kaga's cousin, another detective Matsumiya. He wasn't in Newcomer so I assume he joins the force in the books that haven't been translated yet. But he and Kaga bounce off each other delightfully. Often a time Matsumiya would think he's gotten a breakthrough and Kaga would just smile and affably show him that he already did the thing. We see Kaga from the view of other police officers, seeing how they react to him. Kaga has a distant relationship with his fellow detectives. Some of them respect his deductive reasoning but also resent it because his gut always leads them to more work.
One other thing I really appreciated was an in-depth look at day-to-day Japanese culture. It's just such a privilege to get a glimpse to a way of life thousands of kilometres away from me without the dramatised filter of the Western gaze. Now more than ever it's important for readers to step outside of their bubbles and find a more global canon to better empathise with the world rather than constantly seeking relatability and representation. While these things are important and will always have their place in literature, there needs to be a much bigger investment in translated literature and Macmillan need to get off their asses and—
Kaga does eventually join the dots, helping repair the relationship between some characters and their bereaved. Imperfect though they were, they needed more grace, more time to be listened to perhaps. There is a deeply disturbing tragedy within these pages that broke my heart and Kaga's work helps start a journey to reformation. Or at least, as much reformation that can be done with such damage having already been done. There is also commentary on Japan's societal worship of capitalism and how companies will take the most ridiculous shortcuts for a pointless bottom line. This book is rich, has heart, compelling characters and a mystery that kept me guessing. But there will be a death in Nairobi if Macmillan don't stop twiddling their thumbs and get the rest of the series transla—
If any of you have been with me for the past few years, you will remember my rambling love for Ellery. Five books later, only one thing has changed: IIf any of you have been with me for the past few years, you will remember my rambling love for Ellery. Five books later, only one thing has changed: I love him more. We are back with the world's most reluctant sleuth and failed actor, Ellery.
The story begins when he and police chief of Pirate's Cove Jack Carson go diving. Jack is also Ellery's eh man friend? They are romantically involved but there are no labels. Yet. Thus far, I'm just glad that Jack cares about Ellery enough to give him orgasms. Implied. This is a cosy after all.
As Jack and Ellery are enjoying the sights, they spot a great white shark. It's always nice to be introduced to a new phobia.
Until now, he hadn't realized he was afraid of sharks. Theater critics, spiders, financial ruin sure. But a Great White put the hairiest of spiders—and theater critics—into a whole diferrent perspective.
In a bid to escape the shark's sights, they discover a vintage diving suit. And in it, is a body. This of course puts the entirety of Pirate's Cove on Ellery's tail. He has uncovered yet another body. Ellery tries to remind people that Jack was with him. But some people saw fit to remind him Jack has been diving for years but the first time he goes diving with his trouble magnet future spouse, he finds a body? Ellery needs to get real.
He also needs to understand that he is just a beacon for the latest conspiracies of Pirate's Cove. He has also been getting letters from a stalker. This is an ongoing mystery, it's unsolved by the end of this book.
I once observed that this series serves as subliminal advertising for Lanyon's other books. The deep sea diving reminded me of Plenty of Fish and there's a mention of Kit from Somebody Killed His Editor (this is book 1 of the series). Be sure to read those if you haven't. Perhaps you need to read the latter to be aware of who Kit is should he ever make a cameo.
This book also serves us a lot more human drama. Nora isn't fond of the new attendant at the Crow's Nest. At one point she even believes Kingston to be behind some unsavoury events happening on Buck Island.
"Could this person have been Kingston?" Ellery did a double take. "Could it have been Kingston? Nora nodded excitedly, "Is it possible?" "No, it's not possible...That guy was three times the size of Kingston." Nora looked disappointed, "That's a shame."
But aside from the animosity of Ellery's workers, there is yet another mystery.
A wealthy madam with a temperament as pleasant as the Witch of the Waste's, finds herself at the Crow's Nest. Lanyon's utilisation of description couldn't help but make me chuckle,
A petite woman of perhaps forty cautiously entered the bookshop. She wore an expensive but not particularly flattering beige pantsuit. Her stiffly styled blonde hair was as shiny and untouchable as a doll's. Her eyes were also doll-like, being round and blue and rather blank.. "Good morning!" Ellery and Nora chorused. The woman studied them, blinked under her false eyelashes, and said, "Mary Daheim." Ellery resisted the temptation to reply, Merry Daheim to you too.
Odette Wallace is a widow of ten years and a bit of a uh socialite. She's also in a pickle. She's completely convinced that someone is trying to murder her and so hires Ellery to catch the killer. Her high-handedness irritated Ellery but he needed the cash. He needed to catch her would-be murderer and he needed her to stay alive, Ultimately, Ellery wanted Odette not to be murdered so he could in good conscience keep his fee.
While it may feel like there were too many moving parts in this tiny book, they're all interconnected. The characters have as much heart as ever and there was a lot more scrabble in this book. I do wish we'd gotten to spend more time with the Wallaces, if only to solidify our feelings for them. I was left adrift when the cases were solved and I hadn't put my finger on where they land. Were they good people? Bad people? Weird people? Crazy people? The only thing I had any reaction to was their attitude towards Odette. Perhaps if it was a full length mystery novel there'd have been space for this.
Jack and Ellery's relationship does hit new "troubled" waters. And they stand on opposite sides of Buck Island's latest mystery. Will love prevail? For once I didn't care. This isn't because I am a shell of a woman I once was and now have a charred broken ember for a heart, but because there's never a dull moment on Buck Island. The next book in the series just came out and if you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for? Jesus?
Many heartfelt thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review....more
Amateur sleuthing turned out to be a hazardous hobby.
Once more, professional trouble magnet Ellery finds himself dragged into another myst
Amateur sleuthing turned out to be a hazardous hobby.
Once more, professional trouble magnet Ellery finds himself dragged into another mystery on the chaotic Pirate's Cove. And this time, he didn't go seeking trouble. Honest. His business neighbour, Libby, comes to him 100% certain that someone is sneaking into the Salty Dog (the titular bed and breakfast). It's tourist season in Pirate's Cove, so it could be anyone. But if it's a stranger wandering and pilfering through the kitchens of the Salty Dog, how are they evading the security cameras?
Further down the road, at the Blackwell Estate, the eccentric old lady Ms Juliet Blackwell suffers an injury, having fallen from her bed in a fright. Ellery, who had gone to deliver her order of books, finds her in a state of shock. Dazed and confused and insisting she'd seen the ghost of Rufus Blackwell.
Naturally, this makes Ellery, er... curious. He asks resident busybody and all-around encyclopedia, Nora,
"What do you know about the ghost of Rufus Blackwell?" Ellery asked Nora over coffee that morning. Nora's face lit up with enthusiasm, "It's one of our best ghost stories!"
Well, if it's one of your best...
However, there is a mystery afoot. An old lady falls mysteriously in her home and is claimed to be attacked for the ghost of her ancestor. A young lady insists that someone is stealing from their kitchens. Is the ghost of seafarer Rufus Blackwell back for revenge and feeling peckish as he seeks to wreak havoc in Pirate's Cove? No, it's not a ghost because this isn't a ghost story.
But as ever, the best thing about these stories isn't just the beguiling Ellery, his soft romance with police chief Jack... it's the colourful cast of characters in Ellery's periphery. His main shop assistant, Felix (Libby's on-again-off-again boyfriend) is leaving for college and Ellery needs to replace him. All kinds of interesting people show up to get interviewed, including an unfortunately named man Dick Dix.
Watson is adorable. Ellery is amazing. The mystery is dual, cozy and fun. I can't wait to devour the rest of the series.
Thanks to Negalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review....more
I want to move to Pirate's Cove to join the Monday Night Scrabblers, browse the Crow's Nest book store, visit Captain's Seat and have tea with Ellery.I want to move to Pirate's Cove to join the Monday Night Scrabblers, browse the Crow's Nest book store, visit Captain's Seat and have tea with Ellery. And not just because I fucking love his name Elle... Er... Rrry Tongue against teeth, rolling your Rs. He is an experience and so is saying his name. *shudders pleasantly*
We return to the Cove in this third (of possibly 8) installment whereby there's a new misadventure to be had. Police Chief Jack Carson (diet Jake) has a case. There's burglary afoot, a string of them that have been hitting the high end homes with security systems that rely on the decency of neighbors to dissuade any ill-gotten gaining.
As the police are dealing with the string of home break-ins, a murder occurs at the town's masquerade party. And once more, Ellery finds himself caught up in his side gig as an amateur sleuth.
We also get more details about why Jack is Jakeing the way he is. It's a sweet development between the two leads and part of what he says leaves my heart smiling.
“It’s like living with a bullet in your heart. You figure it will kill you eventually— hell, you rely on that— but until then you go through the motions of pretending you’re still alive. And that’s how it is and how you figure it will always be. But then one day you notice the sunrise is beautiful. And one day you enjoy your cup of coffee. And one day something makes you laugh. And finally one evening you look across the room and see a guy having dinner and think, I wonder what he’s like.”
This book just hits you right in the feelings. And it's a cozy!? How dare it make me cry.
“The problem with that thinking is you’re choosing equilibrium over joy.”
There was also a lot of fun to be had from Ellery's assistant and professional town gossip Nora. Ellery finally stands up to the small town human answer to the Daily Mail, Sue, in a scene that was well overdue. I'm just sad she didn't fall in a steaming heap of manure. For science, of course. Ellery's rambunctious puppy, Watson, is also cool I guess. I don't know all the hypupperactivity just made me hyperaware of just how much I prefer cats.
But I digress, I can't wait for Ellery's next adventure. I most certainly can't wait to see if the residents of Pirate's Cove will finally figure out that his play Murder Mansion wasn't actually a comedy.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Did I finish this short book, scroll back to page 1 and read it all over again? Yes, yes I did.
Nearly everything I would like to say about it feels liDid I finish this short book, scroll back to page 1 and read it all over again? Yes, yes I did.
Nearly everything I would like to say about it feels like a spoiler. I'd recommend everyone read this without looking at the blurb. It has everything: a cozy mystery, second chance romance, and feels that kick you right in the chest.
Take all the stars you beautiful amalgamation of the alphabet.
Once more we return to Pirate's Cove where we follow reluctant amateur sleuth Ellery (best character name, seriously) who can't help, like John McClanOnce more we return to Pirate's Cove where we follow reluctant amateur sleuth Ellery (best character name, seriously) who can't help, like John McClane, but ask himself— "How does the same shit happen to the same guy twice?"
The stakes are slightly higher than last time because a new detective is on the case and he seems less eager to seek truth than throwing out accusations. As if Ellery's problems aren't enough, local tabloid editor Rita Skeeter Sue Lewis has reignited her vendetta against Ellery because she appears to imagine that there's a contest between them for Police Chief Jack Carson's affections. It was all I could do not to shake her and yell at her with an amplified megaphone HE'S NOT THAT INTO YOU. And in any case, if she thinks writing trash about the person Carson may like is the best way to make him re-like (if he ever did) her, then she is quite plainly: stupid.
Of course that is not the last of Ellery's conflicts. There is a secret on the cove. We learn more about its origins, how it was created by the founding pirates, how there are tunnels. But we also learn that while the townsfolk are eager to gossip and gush about the history of the island, they clam up when it comes to Skull House.
Ellery confronts his almost outsider status but every time he tries to find out about whatever tragedies occurred at Skull House, he gets ominous warnings. Sometimes even threats. Just what is this secret at Skull House? And why is Ellery so certain that this latest murder he is accused of has everything to do with that decades old murder?
This book was just as charming as the first one. The way Lanyon makes the cove's residents interact with each other tells us so much. As economical as Lanyon is with the dialog and descriptions, the story is still immersive, evocative, suspenseful. Of course there isn't any real sense of peril because it's a cozy but that's covered because once more, I think this book is subliminal advertising for Lanyon's other books. This time I was reminded of my personal favourite Stranger on the Shore.
And lastly, the romance in this book posed yet another mystery. Just what is going on with Police Chief Jack Carson?
It was kind of hard to define their relationship. Friends with possibilities?
This book was just what I needed to get away from this increasingly chaotic world. A slice of escapist heaven from one of my favourite authors. Ellery has even gone on to become one of my favorite protagonists, his innate strength, his subtle self worth. I am glad and grateful for it all. I can't wait for book 3.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review....more
There are times when I let my cat on the balcony on a sunny morning, and he stretches out, as though elasticising his skin for maximum sunbathing. TheThere are times when I let my cat on the balcony on a sunny morning, and he stretches out, as though elasticising his skin for maximum sunbathing. Then he sits there, lounging like an Egyptian princess in a Hollywood production flicking his tail as he is unimpressed by his surroundings. When suddenly, he rolls onto his back, curls himself into a ball and rolls over and over again. Making little chuffing noises that make me simultaneously heart eyed and worried. But one thing's for sure, I can see how much he's enjoying his rolling around on the sun baked warm floor.
I felt exactly like him rolling in the sun reading this book.
It’s no secret that I love Josh Lanyon’s work. But her older books do a hell of a job reminding me why I fell in love with her in the first place.
CarIt’s no secret that I love Josh Lanyon’s work. But her older books do a hell of a job reminding me why I fell in love with her in the first place.
Cards on The Table follows the story of Timothy North, former journalist and author who is working on a book covering the tragically short life and unsolved brutal death of old Hollywood princess Eva Aldrich (unrelated but (view spoiler)[Eva’s brief story is lightyears better than that Evelyn Hugo drivel (hide spoiler)]). Aldrich died at 24 having being stabbed multiple times and with a Tarot card left on her body.
Inasmuch as Aldrich died 50 years prior, there seems to be a conspiracy afoot as Timmy tries to research what happened to her. Even worse, the last person to try and investigate her death met a tragic end as well. So far, the odds of the amateur sleuths investigating Aldrich’s death surviving were zero. It also didn’t help that the only police officer Timmy could reach out to was former one night stand Jack and – more awkwardly – neighbour who seems to want little to do with Timmy.
This is one of my favourite Lanyon stand alones. But that is almost worthless at this point as I do adore Lanyon’s worst work *cough* Slay Ride *cough*. Although what stood out to me, other than the appeal of Old Hollywood, was Timmy’s personality. He dabbles in that angsty denial that makes this book just that much more delicious and is a wound up ball of sarcasm that gets loosened by butt rubs.
I mean look at how he describes the son of one his suspects for Eva’s murder.
He was in his late forties, slim and gray and tired-looking… he had none of Tony’s ugly heaviness— or raw power. In fact, he looked like any worn-out corporate executive after a long, hard day of mismanaging employee retirement funds. Tony the Cock’s son, Frankie the Weenie.
The thing about Lanyon’s stories too is how the murder victim is also someone you’re forced to care about. Her prose just sucks you into a vortex of curiosity. That minimalist poetry sprinkled through dialogue, monologues is just the best spice for every mystery. Eva is described by an old friend as someone who was rather young, and so I must care because *points frantically*
"She was very young. We all were. We just didn’t know it, you see? The young never recognize how truly inexperienced they are. Eva was not a great actress. She was not an intellectual giant. But she was funny. Very charming. And so incredibly lovely. It was simply a pleasure to look at her, listen to her. I laughed with Eva like I laughed with no one before or since… No doubt the cocktails had something to do with it."
This is just the pick-me-up I needed. Highly recommended for all fans of mysteries with mild angst slow burn romance side plots. Find more of my work here: Blog...more
I needed an escapist read that was superbly written and this was perfect. The only qualms I have with it are that:
a) It's short. b) It left me wanting I needed an escapist read that was superbly written and this was perfect. The only qualms I have with it are that:
a) It's short. b) It left me wanting a whole 1000+ page book on the exploits of diamond thief Noel and the stern faced fed who is after him, and ends up with him. swoons c) It's set in Christmas. And I just hate Christmas....more
Come to bed, my wicked witch, and I'll show you how much I love you.
We are back with Cosmo and John Galbraith and this time, shit gets re
Come to bed, my wicked witch, and I'll show you how much I love you.
We are back with Cosmo and John Galbraith and this time, shit gets real. Well, as real as it can get in a mm mystery with paranormal elements.
I liked this one. I did love that it answers all the questions I had in book 2.
However, the mystery was kind of all over the place and hard to follow. There were times I wondered if I had opened a different book. Because as from book one, we wanted to know who ran over Rex and why. But then suddenly there's an extortion racket that is targeting the elites of the Craft universe that would make Charles Augustus Milverton chortle at the amateurish blackmail display.
I do appreciate how meticulously the mystery is written. However, there was a conspiracy of coincidences that tied things a little too neatly. It got frustrating because I barely had a chance to try and unravel things for myself using Cosmo's clues before someone hands Cosmo the answers we've been looking for.
I also love that you can tell Lanyon was really enjoying herself with this one, I just wish it was more tangible and jumped off page to embrace me. There was also too much going on that got resolved too quickly. This book needed to be longer. So while the mystery was at best tepid, the best thing about this book-- aside from Lanyon's impeccable writing-- is Cosmo fucking Saville.
My god did I love this neurotic little witch and the relationship he had with his beloved police commissioner John Galbraith, his mother, his kinda sort sister-in-law Andi, his sister-in-law Jinx, his apprentice Ambrose etc. Cosmo is snarky, sarcastic, pragmatic and with a nose for amateur sleuthing his spouse would have loved to wring out of him. He's also delightfully self-aware.
It's so annoying when people who disagree with you are right.
He was a mean girl and I was here for it.
"Speaking of your mother, I saw Phelon on Tuesday. He was having dinner at Gary Danko's." Phelon Penn is one of Maman's Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I'm sorry. Did I say that aloud? Phelon Penn is my mother's former companion. Like the other Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, he was the perfect lapdog and cost a fortune in grooming supplies.
I absolutely loved how he would fluster John's former lovers, much to John's amusement and embarrassment. When a server learns that John got married,
"Husband?" he repeated. "Gosh. I didn't see that coming." "Oh, are you psychic?" I inquired. John cleared his throat. "Hm?" Lance spared me another distracted look--he was having trouble tearing his gaze from John. I opened my mouth, but John spoke over me in that fake-hearty voice, "But come he did!" I smiled at him. "Many times," I said. "Many, many times." John turned the color of his beloved Pinot Noir.
I could read about Cosmo and John forever. They've really come a long way and I love how affectionate John was with Cos. I'm a sucker for mushy men.
"...I guess you just have truly terrible taste in men, ma belle." I wrinkled my nose at the feminine noun. "You do know belle is for women." "I guess. It means beautiful, right?" "Yes." "Then I think it's the right word."
There's a lot of human interest drama to be mined here like John's Practitioner best friend who decided not to marry a human because of her history. There was also a lot of goings-on with the royalty of the Craft and those political machinations would have been a delight to get into. I did love the French-ness of the whole thing and the ambience that Lanyon always delivers.
I don't know whether this is because I've been really loving thicc books lately that I'm asking for more but I do know I want a full course meal accompanied by a buffet of this world. There will be a secondary trilogy with a lot of hints being dropped at a further story and you can bet your children I will be devouring it. I just hope Lanyon makes it really long.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review....more
I wanna move to Pirate's Cove. Simply for the delight of meeting Ellery. What a lovely name. It just rolls right off the tongue. Ellery... Elle.. Er.I wanna move to Pirate's Cove. Simply for the delight of meeting Ellery. What a lovely name. It just rolls right off the tongue. Ellery... Elle.. Er... Rrrry...
My god Josh Lanyon is back! Well, she never left but she has stopped rushing endings. I'm still not over the conflict resolution in Slay Ride. But what a delight this book is! A piping hot cup of comfort tea... A warm hug from a teddy bear... A kiss on the forehead... I am such a pile of goo. Yes from a locked room murder mystery where 2.5 people died.
Ellery Page moves to Pirate Cove after inheriting a book store and a cool castle from a great great great great aunt Eudora. An old eccentric he didn't even know existed until the opportune time. After his ex cheats on him, and his acting career fades like my attention when I see a kitten he decides to take on the timely escape provided by great great great aunt Eudora.
Things aren't smooth sailing. The house is in need of endless repairs and the bookshop is in the red. I actually don't really get what that is but I know it's commerce speak for the business is broke?? (I got a D in econ). Ellery is facing pressure from a mayoral election candidate local wannabe Drumpf but he won't sell. He won't give up his new reason to live so easily. And soon enough, after he finds a dead body in the bookshop, he can't sell anyway.
Ellery is thrust into a world of intrigue, mayhem and amateur investigations when he finds out that "Murder seems like something that happens to other people" is a belief best left to people who don't find dead bodies in their shops.
This book is so charming. I was getting my hair done as I was reading it and Lanyon's witticisms gave me such a severe case of the smiles my hairdresser had to wonder whether she wasn't yanking my scalp hard enough (trust me, box braids are a pain). But I was in no pain. How could I when the endorphins were being released by such lines:
The pup yawned in his ear and tucked his head more comfortably beneath Ellery's chin. "Isn't he adorable?" the mayor said in the polite tone of a cat person.
I'm displeased that the sequel will take so long to come (It's coming in April 2020) and as we all know, Lanyon's series always leave you panting and pining for more. This book is very formulaic of a Lanyon book. It is also a very subliminal ad for Lanyon's other books. I can't tell whether it was so genius it was unwittingly deliberate but I don't care. This book reminded me of Adrien, perhaps because of how aggressively lovable Ellery is.
Ugh, just read the book.
This book was provided for me by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
What are you supposed to do when the man you love has announced that he is marrying someone else? A sane person would wish him well and move on with tWhat are you supposed to do when the man you love has announced that he is marrying someone else? A sane person would wish him well and move on with their life. A desperate person would try to reach their loved one and convince them to reconsider. But Adam? Adam blows up the fucking world.
After his detonation, he goes to wait for Ross at his cabin where, in a fit of rage, Ross attacks him. Adam and Ross then have a heart to heart where Ross tries to convince Adam that his naivete and youth aren't excuse enough to go making such bold decisions for others.
But Adam felt that because he loved Ross, the least he could do was open Ross' eyes to what could be. This short story is uncomfortable. It twists your emotions in ways that are hard to articulate. Toxic, flawed, passionate.... this is how you centre a story around people who do bad things. I still absolutely loved it.
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