Killed in Escrow by Jennifer L. Jordan

Killed in Escrow by Jennifer L. Jordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Two reviews for the price of one, or something like that - first review on here is the one I originally wrote. Then, for reasons, I wrote a new review (no I didn't reread the book immediately after completing it, I just wrote a new review).

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Before a certain year, 90% of what I read fell into some category I'll call 'not-a-romance' book. Oh, there might be a romance sub-plot somewhere in there, but the book didn't focus on the romance, but on other things (like mystery, science fiction, fantasy, etc.). I'd read somewhere around 15 romances in the 20th century, and, roughly, a billion other books that weren't romances. Then somewhere around 2010, I started switching the percentages to the point wherein I now probably read about 90% romances.

I mention all of that above because my rating for this book may be impacted by my reading history. For it was quite satisfying to dive into a book in which something other than romance was the focus, and there wasn't even a romance sub-plot. And, to top things off nicely, the lead character is my own age (give or take a few months), and a lesbian.

So - as the author's note indicates, the author wrote this book in 2004 when the real estate was booming, though there were signs of stress for those in the know. But she didn't publish the book until a long time after the fact when someone pulled the manuscript out of the dust, dusted it off, and published it in 2014. To a certain extent that information is important because the real estate industry isn't the same now in 2017, nor in 2014, as it went all bust like, and the technology in use today isn't the same as in 2004 (one of the big things in the story is a victims PDA - and how the lead character didn't know what that was, but teenage assistant did and . . . are PDA's still even around? I think smart-phones have taken all the functions that you could get through PDA's (music, spreadsheets, notes, etc. etc.) plus more). So if you read the book, and I strongly recommend people reading the book, a reader would need to know they are reading something set and written in a particular era that isn't 'today'.

Lauren Vellequette has spent 20 plus years working in real estate - as an agent. She's 42 bored and dislikes how corrupt it is/has become in the real estate business, and has turned to a new career as a private investigator (while still working as a real estate agent - since that pays for stuff). She's working several cases, both real estate cases (as in, selling places), and private investigator cases. There's the hit-and-run victim who the cops haven't invested a lot of time in (since it's a low priority case), and the employee embezzlement case, and the hole-in-one case. All quite interesting to read, though the hit-and-run case is the front-and-center plot-line, the 'A' story.

But first I need to note: The story opens with Lauren in front of a class-room giving a speech about working in real estate. It's quite negative and strongly suggests people not work in real estate. This is important as it gives an idea of the character, but, even more importantly, adds a second character. One of the teenagers in that classroom turns up at Lauren's office offering to work for her, for free. And no, not for her real estate stuff, but for her private eye stuff (that came up briefly in Lauren's Q&A section). Lauren's deeply reluctant but let's the young woman, Sasha Fuller, work for her.

As the book unfolds we learn more about Lauren, Sasha, and the corrupt world of real estate. Oh, and about the various cases unfold as well. There's mystery, family dynamics (Sasha's biological family are assholes), the rotten nature of the foster situation (Sasha's foster family are religious assholes), bits of humor, and more. It was really fun to watch both Lauren and Sasha morph over the course of the book. And no, the 42 year old doesn't date the 17 year old - in case anyone was either a) worried, b) hoping for that. Neither character dates anyone over the course of the book (one, because of reasons, other because . . . of reasons). Though we do learn something about the various relationships Lauren has had in the past.

I'm going to dive into the sequel shortly. Won't be next work I read since I've already read a short story in between the end of this book and . . . this review here.

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The author note indicates that the author had originally written the book in 2004, stuffed it away somewhere, only to have it dusted off and published in 2014. That's important to note as both the real estate market and the level of technology seen in the book seems to reflect more 2004 than 2014.

Lauren Vellequette is a 42 year old real estate agent with 20 plus years in the business. But is tired of the business, both the corruption, and the boom/bust cycle. The death of her parents, and her own brush with a life-threatening illness pushes her to try something new with her life. So, as the book opens, Lauren is still a real estate agent (it pays the bills), but also a, relatively, newly licensed private investigator with a lot of hours of studying and training under a fella Lauren refers to, a lot, as 'that SOB'.

The book opens with Lauren giving a speech in front of a room full of students at a high school. She's basically quite negative of the business and suggests people not pursue a real estate career. Somewhere around the question and answer time, Lauren mentions that she's also a private investigator. Important because later that same day one of the students in that classroom turns up in Lauren's office. Pleading for the opportunity to work for Lauren, for free, specifically for the private investigation side of things. Very reluctantly Lauren takes on the 17 year old Sasha Fuller.

The book is a single point of view book that follows Lauren on several cases, several real estate gigs, and attempting to manage a teenager. That teenager in question has a case of her own to pursue, given to her by Lauren (after much pleading). The reader doesn't directly watch the 'hole-in-one' case, but does get kept up to date through Sasha's reporting to Lauren.

Lauren, meanwhile, has many cases. Two are larger than the others, while a third is a request from an old girlfriend that fell through before Lauren had to do anything. The first two cases involve: 1) the mother of a young woman wishes Lauren to investigate the fatal hit-and-run accident that left her daughter dead on a jogging path (only now does it hit me that I read this book at the same time that, just a few blocks away from me in real life, a man ran over several people on a bike path - both instances involved an automobile moving off the road and onto a pedestrian path) - the police 'did their job' but it's a low priority case and haven't gone out of their way to find the driver of the vehicle; 2) Rollie Austin, Lauren's 65 year old friend (or, as is mentioned in the book, a woman who has celebrated her 45 birthday 20 times), mentor, and real estate client, has Lauren work on a case for her, or more exactly, for her own private investigator firm - a businessman has noticed that various items have gone missing and suspects that one or more of his employees have been robbing him - Lauren's on the case.

I indicated three cases, so I'll note the third involves someone robbing open houses while real estate agents are distracted. An old girlfriend asked Lauren to look in on it, but as noted, that's case that solved itself.

In terms of girlfriends and the like - I can't say that no one in this book dates, since one of the cases involves girlfriends/boyfriends, but I can say that none of the important characters - as in Lauren, Sasha, and Rollie, are shown dating. Each other or anyone else. Over the course of the book, though, the reader learns both why Lauren is not currently dating anyone, and a little something about her various past relationships.

The mystery, and the various plot-lines, are quite enjoyable and satisfying. I rated the book a rather high mark of 4.45 stars, though I noted in the spoiler-ed review - I might be overrating the book due to sheer happiness to actually be reading a book that did not focus on or include romance. Which is something I've accidentally spent a lot of time reading recently - romance.

Rating: 4.45

November 2 2017



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Sin in the City of Angels: A Noir Choose Your Own Erotic Story by Callista J. Hawkes

Sin in the City of Angels: A Noir Choose Your Own Erotic Story by Callista J. Hawkes

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


As might be expected for a erotic noir private eye book set in the 1940s, the 'you' of the story is: a) a private detective; b) male.

Stop me if you've heard this before: A 'classy broad' walks a private dicks office. He's half-way to drunk. She's disdainful of her surroundings, richly dressed, and flashing more skin than you'd expect. She bluntly states that she believes her husband is plotting to murder her. The dick is skeptical, but is willing to hear her out (she does look rich, and he is a seedy private eye).

Classic opening, eye? Well, that's how the story opens. The opening can then go one of two ways (and I'm not talking about a choose your adventure book, I mean this type of plot): detective hired to find evidence of the husband trying to murder the wife; detective hired to act as a body guard; or the third way - detective either hired or lured into 'taking out' the husband before he can 'get' the wife (less often a private eye story line, the third, than a 'random stranger' or 'boyfriend/neighbor-on-the-side' story line). Nothing new yet, nor any decisions to be made.

heh. First decision is 'Take the case or turn the case down'. Sooo . . I know! I'll turn the case down! *clicks* She begs. I'm offered a choice again. I'm mean! I turn her down again! And . . . . 'The End', of course. hehe. Shesh, and this is the first decision point? Obviously 'turn it down' leads to 'the end'.

*goes back to begging, 'takes the case' then snorts at what "I" say when I take it*

"I'm a sucker for a nice pair of legs."

Strangely the comment doesn't lead to the woman to hurriedly strip off her dress and leap across the desk. So, it's going to be harder work, eh?

Hmm. So "my" first name is "Sam". Gee, where'd I hear a private dick with the first name of Sam before? Or, for that matter, a private eye with the last name of "Marlowe". So . . . I'm Sam Marlowe, eh? Sam 'Philip' Marlowe 'Spade'.

(one of my confusions, going in, is why this is set in the 1940s instead of the 1930s or 1920s. Shouldn't a 'real man' like this Marlowe dude be in the army? (or other military branch), there is a war on afterall)

Ah, my second decision point (well, after restarting) - fuck my assistant or tell her to do what I asked and go investigate the public records. Naturally I . . ..

hmm, admittedly having the 'classy broad' return 'during the act' and having to push th assistant beneath your desk and then finding her continue her actions while the client talked is both cliche and interesting.

Not sure it matters but: client is 26; assistant is early-ish twenties. Sam Spade, I mean Philip . . . Sam Marlowe is ... older.

'put to use the undercover training you'd learned working for the OSS during the war.' Oh, post war then. I saw '1940s' and got the wrong impression then.

Hmm, after making my private dick be mean and refuse the case, I'm now making him super horny. And kinda a bad detective. hehe. But but . . . women! (I was going to say attractive women, but the next one up Sam makes a point of noting is 'plain').

Super super horny. Ooh! See! I'm gathering clues as I . . . act super horny. I got clues I did! *humps woman, notices stuff* I not bad detective!

"So big."
"I bet you say that to all the guys."
Slap. Caress of dick's dick.

Wait, no, the only part from the book is "So big." Then 'Magnificient".

Of all the sex acts in all the book, the one with the client is kind of . . . boring, frankly. *boredly reads; sees has to make decision about what sex act to perform next. Pulls out gun. Removes all but one bullet. Spins gun. Remembers don't have that gun. or a gun. Flips coin and presses "slip inside her" (too bad 'drink whiskey and get the fuck out of there already' isn't an option).

Dames. Compliement your big magnificient dick and make you use it. mmphs.

And . . . wha? See, problem with choose your own adventure stories - the parts don't always align right. Ah well. I mean, yeah, I'm about to 'slip into her', but . . . the wording implies something else had occurred prior. Which didn't occur. Because I went a different path. Having me direct the sex action certainly is a spin on 'you choose' book.

Most books seem to be:
A) you stab the man in the butt;
B) you shot him in the head;
C) you drink your flask.

results:
A) He was a vampire. You're dead now.
B) Good job! How'd you know he was a zombie?
C) Instead of your anticipated whiskey, you drink pure undiluted holy water. The man attempts to bite you. Explodes.

Instead, here in this book, I get:
A) tell her to put it in her mouth;
B) bend her over.

And then:
A) sixty-nine her or
B) stick it in her.

hmms. There seems to be more description about the man, the 'you' , than the women. All this talk about big magnificient thick dicks. Bulging and stuff. Less about the mousy plain women. Odd, that.

Oh god, stop that already. I get it already. You are stroking the man's ego by talking about how super huge his dick is. "You're so much bigger than my husband. I've felt so full!" - gah. I get it already. Stop with all the massive cock talk already. I fear I've overused the word 'already".

Okay, now the book is just fucking with me. NOw my decision is to come in her or, OR, come on her breasts. I'm so aroused, so exited, this book, ooh ooh. gah. I think I'm going to fall asleep.

I have a suspicion this might be more exciting for a man to read. Well, maybe depending on the paths chosen. Then again, even so, it is still a man who is 'you' so . . . ..

Shesh, private dick-me is such a smirking smug prick. gah.

Yes . . . of course the woman enjoyed you erupting onto her breasts. I fear that deciding to make my detective horny . . . I've rapidly grown tired of him. I should have continued the 'must solve case' trejectory I had initially gone down. pfft. When the bloody hell is this particular scene going to be over so I can redirect things back to the mystery?

Oh for fuck sake - yes, after fucking the man's wife, why don't you drop her off at her house gate? Nothing at all strange or odd about some strange man dropping off the wife like that. None. NONE!

heh. I can tell it's after midnight. I've gone batty.

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Well, first man visited in this book. Wonder if there's some way I can turn it erotic, eh? heh. Then there'd be no one I'd be sexually interested in! Yay!

Hmm. Well, that . . .. hmm.

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Good grief. I think the book just had me have my *counts* 12th whiskey. shesh.
---

And now, without me able to make any decisions one way or another (shesh, before I was directing the sex, now I can't go anywhere but here, watching . . . I feel slimy and ill - yeah, now "I'm" a slimy fake talent agent about to take advantage of a woman. eek).

Gah. Why did I have a choice for every bloody woman before now? Now that I've finally grown weary of all this horny detective stuff, I can't dodge a woman. When I finally get choices again, it's how to fuck her. shesh. And the choices! FUck her feet, fuck her ass, or have her stroke you while licking your ass. I'm . . I'm fuck me, why am I reading this again? That's right, got tired of dying every choice I made in that zombie book. So . . . let's read a noir erotica! I probably won't die there! Except from all the gross sex (well, and yes, gross. I have no choice here I"m comfortable with. NO FEET SEX! . . . NO RIMMING! . . . . NO ANAL PLAY . . and I'm left with . . . no fucking thing. oh, if I turned the page I could have avoided all this. Though still sex, though it's 'traditional'). Yay?

hehehe - so, 'traditional' I hope you aren't too straight laced to enjoy a blowjob? Sister, you know nothing, nothing! Why, what I've done today . . .. But no, fuck that, no blowjob from you! I don't know where your mouth has been! So . . I'll . . um . . slip it inside you. *Nods*.

Bloody hell. Now "I" am all about how big my dick is. shesh. for fuck sake.

At least I get to read the response, is good response. *nods*

"Uh huh, you've ruined me for al other men," she replied dryly.

And quickly, that mood, leaves.

Ah, the choices I'm given. The Choices! Now it's back to 'come inside' or 'come on breasts'. That's it. 'Run screaming in other direction' isn't even in the cards. pfft.

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I'm getting tired of all the 'choices' that consist of nothing but a 'continue' button to click. shesh.
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For a guy who spent time parachuting around Europe during the war, 'you' sure have a lot of height/vertigo issues.
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Well, first mistake I've noticed. For some reason the author acidentally used 'Vandergraaf as Valentina D'Abruzzo's last name at 23% into the story. *shrugs*
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Bloody hell, this became a romance in the end. heh.

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This was actually rather entertaining. Well written but for that one mistaken name.

Rating: 3.75

May 31 2017


ETA: I did notice how the book seemed to develop - the mystery answer but chose not to comment on it (view spoiler)[of course it's because of 'evil' lesbians. pfft (hide spoiler)]



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The Girl on the Edge of Summer by J.M. Redmann

The Girl on the Edge of Summer
by J.M. Redmann
Pages: 288
Publication Date: April 1 2017 (Bold Strokes Books website); April 18 2017
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Micky Knight (Ninth in Series)

Review
Rating: 4.45
Read: March 16-17 2017

*I received this book from NetGalley, and Bold Strokes Books in return for a fair review.*

First: Nature of Book, i.e., can it be read as a stand-alone?
As a series book, ninth book at that, a question of 'can I read this book without having read the prior books?' is something like the standard first question. There are series wherein characters and story grow from book to book, and therefore reading order is quite important; and others where a certain growth occurs, but the main difference, book to book, is the mystery contained in the book - and therefore reading order isn't strictly important.

So, what's up with this book, eh?

In theory you could read this book as a stand-alone. There are blanks that someone who read the series would be able to fill quickly, while those who enter this book ‘fresh’ would have a harder time filling. Though clues to help fill those blanks are there. Blanks include such things like: who is this Alex person who called? Why does Micky seem to know this Joanne cop person? Why does she keep trying to call this ‘Danny’ person? Just who is this ‘Cordelia’ woman that gets mentioned in passing? To those fresh to the series, there are clues, as mentioned.

For the most part, someone could, as I said, in theory read this book as a stand-alone. I believe it is better advised to read this book 9th after the previous 8 books. Micky and friends do change over time. They are not locked into a holding pattern – they are not the same age from book 1 to book 9, and their relationships are not the same either (to a certain extent).

So – can this be read by itself? Yes. Is it recommended? No. But readers’ preferences differ.

Second: Publish Date
The book will be available to be purchased directly from the publishers website starting April 1 2017, and 'everywhere' April 18 2017.

Mystery
The story has three main mysteries, though the third could probably better be mentioned in the section below titled ‘Romance’.

First Mystery: Shortly after Mardi Gras is over, two people, separately, meet up with Micky Knight in her office. One is woman who desires to hire Micky to look for the guy who drove her daughter to suicide. For various reasons, Micky is reluctant to take the case but believes she might be best able to handle it rather than some other scum ball detective who might not care much and would just milk the mother for money.

Second Mystery: And shortly after that a man dressed expensively turns up. He has another death he wants investigated, by Micky. That of his great-grandfather – who was murdered in . . . I think it was 1906.

Third Mystery: Micky is confused by the antics of her friends and relatives. All appear busy at the same time on the same weekend, but refuse to elaborate on what’s going on.

Romance

Torbin, Micky’s drag-queen cousin, suggests that Micky try internet dating. Micky does. During the course of the book she goes on, if I recall correctly, three dates. Micky is not impressed with the internet dating world (or, at least, not after the first date.

Overall

I mentioned in the first status update I did for the book on GoodReads that this book opened sad. Well, it did. And continued that way. It is kind of expected with the book opens with Micky investigating a suicide, and a murder (albeit a long ago murder). Mix in her relationship situation – which I cannot elaborate on as this is the ninth book in a series and there’s a ton of spoiler that could be given away there – and this is a sad book.

Being a teenager in the age of instant communication, easy internet access, where mistakes are hard to hide – is very difficult. A completely different world from the one Micky grew up in (and her own situation wasn’t exactly great), and from my own. And one wherein ‘simple’ mistakes can be costly.

On several levels Micky gets pulled into both mysteries (well the non-romance ones I mean by ‘both’). Trying to help a distraught mother/brother and the high school students who knew the dead girl. The ‘scum ball’ was surprisingly easy to track down. But every time Micky thought she was done with that specific case, she kept getting pulled in. And then she became a murder suspect.

The first mystery showed how tough it is to be a woman, a young one, in today’s world. The second mystery showed how tough it was to be a woman, regardless of age, in the world of the early 1900s. Somewhere along the line, Micky ended up finding a diary of a police officer from that time period – and the information contained within it was quite interesting and intriguing.

While a sad book in many ways, it was also an enjoyable book. (Though there was that one occasion when Micky did that one stupid thing late at night .. . . then there was that other time Micky did that stupid thing – albeit if she hadn’t done it . . . right, sorry, spoilers and stuff).

Rating: 4.45

March 17 2017

Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann

Deaths of Jocasta by J.M. Redmann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Note: those with issues/problems with reading depictions of rape/rape-like/torture/abuse/etc. should not read this book.

Sex. Something of the main theme of my review for the first book in this series. I think I must have forgotten that this book here was a lot more 'drenched in' sex than the first. Plus - cheating. This is a messed up group of friends in a lot of ways. I think that two of the, I believe, six friends are borderline 99.9% sane, while the other four border on being . . . oh, kind of messed up - (I might be under or over counting -> in the 'messed up column': Danny, Micky, Joanne, Cordelia (least 'messed up'); 'sane-ish' - Elly (I think that's her name), Alex (again, think that's her name).

Danny spent a good deal of time in the first book, and a lot of time in this book taking every opportunity to make snide, smearing, awful comments about and to Micky (who, unless she's drunk, takes it as her due, because she knows she's garbage (which doesn't mean she won't lash back) (view spoiler)[Not exactly sure how 'I occasionally 'faked it' with you' is loads worse than 'you are a slutty slutty worthless whore' but, whatever (hide spoiler)]). Due entirely to the fact that the two women were lovers 8 years ago, and Micky freaked out when the relationship went super serious (what with Danny using the L word), and did everything she could to kill the relationship that would make herself look bad (i.e., fucking everything around her that was female, while drinking enough to selflessly keep several alcohol business in operation).

Micky – well, she’s the main character. Messed up childhood (I’d be more explicit, but spoilers), messed up relationships with her family (including abuse – both physical and mental), messed up adulthood – what with thinking of herself as garbage (bayou trash), drinking away her pain, and fucking everyone around her (I think there’s only one female friend Micky hasn’t slept with – of the six already listed, which I note since I’m leaving people like Emma off this specific list, for reasons). Well, of course the book starts with Micky attempting to better herself (two months sober and celibate), which isn’t helped by Danny still beating her up, and the others expecting Micky to be Micky – a drunken player.

Joanne has her own messed up childhood, has very . . . odd ideas about the word ‘love’ and the word ‘relationships’, as can be seen by her moving from being among the few women Micky hadn’t slept with to the thousands who have ((view spoiler)[then tries to rape her while drunk; one of those ‘I’m fucking you, you said yes at some point, so that means you gave consent even if you don’t now’ type of actions; but that’s a different story (hide spoiler)]).

I do not really want to say why Cordelia is messed up for . . . reasons but . . .. She fools around with Micky (this occurring in the prior book), but then says she isn’t sure she can be with Micky, but give her time and she’ll be more definite yes or no . . . later. She’ll call. That was two months before the start of this story, and the first time Micky and Cordelia actually see each other again is at a party and Cordelia appears to arrive with a date (still without, you know, having ever let Micky know where she stands relationship wise with Cordelia). Cordelia plays a lot of games, creates a lot of drama, even though she gives off the vibe of being super serious and not being a drama-queen while at the same time leaping to conclusions – always going for the negative interpretation when Micky is involved.

Ah well. Weird mix of messed up adults.

The mystery? Quite an interesting mystery. Two part – someone is killing women through botched abortions – is it a sloppy doctor? Serial killer? Something else? The police, because of evidence so far gathered, strongly suspect Cordelia; second part – everyone at the shared clinic/community building Cordelia works at are being harassed by letter and/or phone (this is where Micky comes in – she’s hired to investigate part two; she looks into part one of the mystery because of the chief suspect and her lack of belief that Cordelia could be a murderer).

The romance? The Joanne-Micky-Alex triangle reads like it could fit in perfectly in a lesbian pulp book of the 1950s/60s. Heck, I think I even read this specific story-line in a book from then. First book didn’t really have a romance, and wasn’t a ‘romance’ but a mystery (other than the pursuit of Cordelia by Micky); second book, this one, is also a mystery not a romance. Though there was that love triangle mentioned, plus further pursuit of Cordelia by Micky. On a side note, I never really liked the Micky/Cordelia thingie, but whatever.

Mystery, romance, hmms . . . what else . . .. Family – you can’t choose your blood relatives, but you can chose your ‘family’ or something like that. That little saying doesn’t work here – her horrible family, i.e. Aunt Greta and Baynard aren’t actually blood relatives; and the chosen family, i.e., the Danny/Elly/Joanne/Cordelia/Alex/Micky friendship, is bloody messed up. Hell, even Torbin got on my last nerve in this book, and he was barely in it (the one ‘good’ ‘not-really-a-relative’ of Micky’s, a cousin).

As a mystery, I really enjoyed this book. As a ‘slice of life’, ‘people have fucked up lives’ . . . I also enjoyed this book. So, 4 instead of 5? Well, enjoyed, not loved. It’s hard to push this into a ‘love’ column when so many people are fucked up in this book.

Last point, tied into review for first book –once again I started a book roughly corresponding to previous read, as in Feb 18 2014 vs. Feb 19 2017. Again unplanned, that. Heh, just noticed it took me longer to read this book this time – just one day in 2014, 4 days this time. Though there was a three-day weekend that occurred – I read less on weekends. Let me see, using this as a theme, book three reread will occur . . . oh – I should have already read book three, what with how I appear to have read the book February 19 2014. Hmm. Oops.

February 22 2017



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Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

Death by the Riverside by J.M. Redmann

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I had not planned to start this book almost exactly 3 years after I first read it. A trick of fate, in a way, had me start the reread on February 13 2017. I had started reading the book the first time February 12 2014 – and ended it on the same day, different year (February 14 2014 vs. February 14 2017). Weird how things like that can happen.

I initially rated this book something near 3.75 out of 5.00. It’s been three years, but I’ve a vague idea why – all that sex. Coming from a history of reading Robert B. Parker, Dick Francis, Lillian Jackson Braun, Agatha Christie, Beverly Connor, Aaron Elkins, Erle Stanley Gardner, Dashiell Hammett, Peter Lovesey, Carol O'Connell, and others, I was used to a certain type of mystery – it could be cozy, it could be hard hitting/violent (and some downright abusive to their lead characters (looking at you Connor)), but it hadn’t exactly been drenched with sex (with sexual innuendo, yes, but not actual sex). It’s not that I hadn’t read that type of work, or that I didn’t have some ‘favorites’ that were ‘drenched with sex’, but not in my mysteries. So, in its way, I was confronted with a book that seemed quite well written, right along the line of some of the better written mysteries I’d read, but for two differences – the graphic sex, and the lesbian (or bisexual) nature of many of the characters. And no, I did not down-rate the book because of the lesbian nature (though I was aware that its existence among the traits of the characters would cut down on the readership), no, it was for the sex.

Imagine my surprise, in its way, when I reread the book. Yes the book has much sex in it, but it was handled a lot ‘better’ than I had recalled. I never thought it was the main theme, reason for the books existence, or other, more that I’d initially saw it as a distraction. But it isn’t really. It’s important to the story.

Ah, but I’m just babbling here. You want to know about the book? The story involves a rich family with an older dying grandfather type. And some kids running around trying to keep themselves in the will. Against the backdrop of a rather conservative grandfather. So no gay stuff. There are three main contenders for the money, one already took herself out of the running by bluntly telling her grandfather that she was a lesbian (this would be Cordelia), while the other two lied and tried to play it straight while secretly living a much . . . gayer life. So that’s how the story starts off – someone hires Micky to search for a runaway fiancé; some pictures are taken, some wills are changed; and other such stuff occurs along this plot line.

Meanwhile, somewhere along the way a detective sergeant friend adds Micky to go undercover to investigate a company that is suspected as having big ties to drug running (as in, they a drug dealers) – which leads to some connections to the earlier plotline and others.

Meanwhile – Micky drinks a lot, is a dick to her friends, has some emotional issues based on her disrupted early life, and some old history resurfaces. Oh, and she has sex. And solves mysteries. Also spends a lot of time accidentally destroying clothing.

Long and short, this was altogether a very interesting and good book. My only regret is that I initially gave this book such a low rating.

Rating: 5.0

ETA: Micky ages from 29 to 30 during the course of the book (no, the book isn't a year in Micky's life, she was just close to 30 when the book started) - I mention because the book is on both the age-20s and age-30s shelf.

February 14 2017



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Eye to Eye by Caroline Shaw

Eye to Eye
by Caroline Shaw
Pages: 314
Date: 2000
Publisher: Bantam Books
Series: Lenny Aaron (2nd in the series)

Review
Rating: 4.5
Read: October 19 to 21 2016

The second and last book in this series (and, apparently, by this author).

Lenny continues 1) her cat-catching work, 2) seeing that Japanese psychiatrist, 3) finding herself investigating more than cats, 4) cleaning obsessively, and 5) popping pills.

Lenny, for those who are coming to this cold (I digress to note that this series is probably better to be read in order, and this is the second book in that series), is an ex-police officer. 'Forced' out by a case that caused her to be severally scarred on her arm, and mentally fragile. It's one of the reasons she went into cat-catching work - the cats might claw her up, but they are not likely to kill her - unlike what she might find in human investigations.

She's both further along her progression to 'getting better' (whatever that might mean), and further down the path to self-destruction (see: popping pills). The 'further along' references the fact that more and more of her cases involve human investigation. And this specific book is about a case at a film school - wherein Lenny goes undercover as a film student to investigate theft and vandalism. A month before she arrives, one of the students is murdered - but she isn't there to investigate that crime (though, of course, she does look into it).

I made several status updates (I think) referencing such issues like: is Lenny a lesbian? Am I reading lesbian fiction? Partly because it had been a while since I'd read the first book in the series, and it took me a little while to regain my understanding of the character. Long and short - it's not 100% certain one way or another. Lenny appears to be closer to being asexual or demisexual ('sexual orientation in which someone feels sexual attraction only to people with whom they have an emotional bond' - reading that definition makes me think she isn't really demisexual). Why do I say this? Because Lenny has very little in the way of sexual desires (close to zero, if possible, some negative number), while at the same time - in this and in the prior book, she does indicate tiny vibrations of desire - all of which are towards other women. There are several occasions wherein in the thought process occurs, and/or she is asked point blank if she's a lesbian, but she always seems to dodge the question (while still allowing herself to realize certain vague attractions to women). So - is Lenny a lesbian? I'll let someone else decide. **(I allowed myself to indulge in this 'lesbian/asexual/not lesbian' diversion because lesbianism comes up a lot in this book - from the downstairs 'about to be married' lesbian couple, to the lesbian affair at the film school, to the negative attitudes of various people to the concept of lesbianism)**

The book is set in Melbourne Australia. Was neat to see the story unfold - and there were neat little bits here and there of Melbourne and what it means to be there (one such scene saw Lenny driving down a specific street, whereupon she thought to herself about how three streets dive in and out of Melbourne - are the major arteries - and what can be found on all three).

I liked the mystery plot - was solid. Several mysteries - some involving cats, some involving theft and vandalism at a film school, and one involving murder.

For those looking for romance - look elsewhere.

I am happy that I was able to read this series, and sad that it is already over - after two books.

I would rate this book somewhere around 4.45 stars.

October 21 2016

Split City Waltz by Ada Redmond

Split City Waltz
by Ada Redmond
Pages: unknown
Date: September 21 2016
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Series: None

Review
Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
Read: August 8 to 9 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Less than Three Press in return for a fair review.*

This story here, my first one that I have read by this author, is a quite neat look at a futuristic London. It is a story involving three characters, the main one being the private investigator Allyn Morgan, a hacker who lives in the undercity (Terminal), and Allyn's former girlfriend (Danny (I'm fairly certain that I recall her name correctly)).

Danny stops by Allyn's place to ask for a favor - she wants some help investigating one of her coworkers for possible theft, so she hopes that Allyn can go to the undercity (the area of London where the old underground railway system existed before it was closed for the new above ground advanced solar powered tramway (well, I think it's solar powered, I just recall it being advanced and using clean energy)) and drop off something that will help someone she has hired down there to figure out if this theft is actually occurring.

Allyn, somewhat reluctantly, agrees. She's to drop off an item with a hacker named 'Terminal'.

This was a quite neat (I think I said that already) story all the way around, seeing an a future possible version of London, seeing a mystery unfold, interacting with Terminal, Allyn, and the like. Fun.

I hope that there are more stories set in this universe so that we could see more of Allyn and Terminal interacting.

August 9 2016

Station of Shards by Aimee Villarine

Station of Shards
by Aimee Villarine
Pages: unknown
Date: September 28 2016
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
Series: None

Review
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
Read: August 7 2016

*I received this book from NetGalley and Less than Three Press in return for a fair review.*

This is the first story I’ve read by this author.

When I saw the description, well part of it, I knew I wanted to read this story. I mean, private eye in space! Okay, I’ve read that before, but it still is a genre I both like and also somewhat rarely see. I’ve read children’s books just to be able to read a series in that mixed genre (okay, they were young adult novels, I think; actually, I do not know what they were since none of the characters were young adult – I’m referring to a Timothy Zahn series, and there the guy was more of a spy than a PI).

Considering the cover, I kind of expected a Sam Spade type on a space station working cases. Instead I got a guy who didn’t exactly vibrate noir vibes (there’s a private eye in shadows on the cover, in the background there is a science fiction-y scene – hence my belief I’d get noir in space).

A lot of time passes in this story. Too much time. And a lot of it with nothing really is happening (traveling mostly). And when action finally arrived, Kelley, the space PI, was asked for help more because he was being asked by his friend. It was less a case than a favor to see what the strange noise in the dark was (specifically to see why people were acting strange down in a lower level of the space station). And Kelley didn’t investigate so much as stumble along following, then running away.

Despite saying the above, it was an interesting enough story, and I do see that there’s an interesting universe here. I see myself reading something more in this universe. Hopefully if such a thing occurs, more stories, something more of a mystery and or case to solve would be nice. Something to show that there might be some reason to believe that this guy has something going on within his brain. At the moment he kind of gives off a vaguely dim vibe.

August 8 2016

Cat Catcher by Caroline Shaw

Cat Catcher
by Caroline Shaw
Pages: 330
Date: February 24 2000 (originally 1999)
Publisher: Serpent's Tail
Series: Lenny Aaron (1st in series)

Review
Rating: 4.40 out of 5.0
Read: April 19 to 22 2016

‘Cat Catcher’ is my first book by this author.

As I mentioned in my last review, the one for ‘Slingshot’ by Carsen Taite, I’d accidentally left ‘Cat Catcher’ at home one day and had to find something else to read. Which I mention because I then accidentally read another lesbian mystery book. Instead of doing the smart thing and reading something else, like, say, a nonfiction book.

I mention all that because there are similarities between the two situations in the two different books written roughly 13 years apart that will make writing a review more difficult than it should have been. In short – two young women who work in non-traditional areas of private investigation, with L first names, both ex-cops who left the police force after incidents that caused them injury, and when both found police work just too tough, and . . . um, I believe there were other similarities but I forget them now. Just recalled another similarity – both have addictions – Luca to gambling, Lenny to pain killers.

Characters
Helena ‘Lenny’ Aaron: Lenny is 27 and is an ex-cop. The story of why she is an ex-cop unfolds in little snippets throughout the book. Important as that story is to the development of Lenny’s character, it all boils down to: she was on a case to catch someone of some prominence. They couldn’t get him for the illegal crimes he committed (drugs? I forget now), so they were going to get him for tax fraud. They found evidence. People died. Lenny got viciously injured, and lost her nerve. And now she works as a cat detective, sees a shrink weekly (I rather dislike that psychologist, several reasons, but the most important one is one he even admitted – he just says things just to get rid of his patients), and is addicted to pain killers.

Plot/Mystery
Throughout the book, Lenny hunts down various missing cats. Some she finds dead, some alive. Oh, and that’s something I was going to mention – for a book about someone who hunts cats, there sure were a lot of dead cats in this book. Right. Plot/mystery.

A Kimberly Talbot contacts Lenny. Lenny ducks her twice, but eventually Kimberly forces herself inside Lenny’s office. I pause for a moment – Lenny sure is judgmental, throughout the book Lenny makes disparaging remarks about almost everyone she encounters – Kimberly has great legs, great breasts, and horrible bull-dog face, therefore she’s ugly.

Right. Kimberly wants her missing cat found. Oh, and her mother has received some horrible letters threatening to kill her (the mother). Lenny notes that she doesn’t do that kind of investigation, though she’ll look for the cat.

One thing leads to another, and Lenny does in fact do that kind of investigation – she ends up living in the Talbot home to look for the cat, and while there, investigate the threatening letters.

The investigation and mystery are all rather well done.

Romance
There’s something of a lovely romance in this book. Between Lenny and Cleo. They go from being bitchy towards each other, to trying to dump each other, to a growing attachment. Quite nice. *nods*. That relationship between Lenny and Cleo. I might or might not have mentioned this point yet, but Cleo is a Siamese kitty cat.

Oh, between Lenny and other humans? Well, she does have flirtations with a man (the next door porn shop owner – more that man wishing to be with Lenny, and Lenny wishing that man would leave her alone), and several women (both Vivien Talbot and Kimberly Talbot); but flirtations are all that occurs.

Overall
I do not know Australian noir. I’ve seen one or two films that may or may not be in that genre, and are from Australia, but otherwise I do not know Australia’s version of that noir genre. I say this because this book stresses that it is noir. It even has Noir written on the book’s spine.

I’ve a certain awareness of American noir. Having read several of the popular books of the genre, by such authors as Dashiell Hammett (The Thin Man, The Maltese Falcon), Mickey Spillane, and Raymond Chandler. They involve grim private dicks. Who have addictions, mostly to drink and to women. And dames in specific type of dresses. And everyone carries guns all the time. And smoking, lots of smoking. And the lead character, who is a private dick, has a kind of grim depressing view of the world around him (yes, almost always him).

Well, if I was going to label this book a cozy mystery, of which I’ve read a fair number, or a noir, I’d probably lean towards noir. Even with a private dick who hunts cats for a living. Way too much violence, addition, depressing thoughts, and the rest for this to be a cozy.

I do not wish to give a wrong impression here – I rather enjoyed the book. Lenny is somewhat hard to take, but overall an enjoyable experience had by me. Unfortunate that there are only two books in the series, and something like only 8 or so people have read them.

Pressed, I’d probably give the book a rating of roughly 4.35 to 4.45 stars.

April 22, 2016

A Simple Suburban Murder by Mark Richard Zubro

A Simple Suburban Murder
by Mark Richard Zubro
Pages: 224
Date: December 31 2003 (originally published 1988)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Series: Tom Mason and Scott Carpenter (First book)
Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men's Mystery (1989)

Review
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read: January 11 to January 12 2015

I'd have to check to make sure, but I believe this is the first M-M book I've read that I've been able to give as much as 4 stars to.  It's not the first non-sexual/erotic M-M book I've read, that would probably be that China Mountain Zhang book.  I believe it's the first M-M mystery I've read, though.

The book is fairly straight forward as far as plot/story.  As in as far as an amateur detective type book. It did include the lead having a partner. That doesn't always happen in amateur detective stories.  Mostly tends to be a secretary or the like in those other stories. Actually, those wouldn't be amateur detective stories.  Hmms.  Well, at least in this case it's an amateur detective and his gay lover who just happens to be a star baseball player.  One who 1) had thrown two no-hitters in the World Series, and 2) has a name I recognize as a real life baseball player. That part I found vaguely odd (looked the name up. Guess I was wrong as there's no listing of a baseball player having that name).

I also looked up the books on my gay shelf. I was wrong there as well. I have one previous book rated 4 stars that involves a main character who happens to be gay.  The other three 4 star books on that shelf are only there because the writer won and or was nominated for the Lambda award.  May or may not be gay characters in those three Steven Saylor books, but none main characters. So the long and short of it is that this is the second four star book I've read that includes main character gay men.  The other is Fogtown.  And, judging by its average rating of 2.91, I might be the only one who liked that book.

Right. Distracted myself there. I was mentioning the plot/story.  Teacher arrives at school to begin his daily teacher chores. Notices a person sitting way in the back. Goes to investigate. Finds a dead body, that of a man, a fellow teacher he barely knew.  One thing leads to another and the teacher who found the dead body begins investigating and searching for the murderer.  Twists and turns lead to gay bars, prostitution rings, and porno films.  Strong plot.

Stronger characterization than I was lead to believe.  Yes, I did something I rarely do - looked at other reviews before reading this book. Lead me to believe the characters were lacking. Were paper thin.  I found them fully formed. From lead characters down to the kids. The only ones who appeared paper thin, for the most part, where the cops, and they didn't really play that big of a role in the book.

In terms of relationships - you could tell that Scott and Tom were a couple, and were romantically involved.  But most action occurred off the page.  Beyond some kissing and massaging.

One of the things that normally drive me insane with gay books, and I do not know if it's just the books I previously chose to try, or if it is a common theme in gay books, and I've lost this sentence. A common theme I've found in gay books is an overly emotional group of people, filled with angst. I don't care who the characters are, I don't particularly like reading that.  And, fortunately, that didn't occur in this book.

I like and would recommend this book.

Shadows & Dreams by Alexis Hall

Shadows & Dreams
by Alexis Hall
Pages: 362
Date: June 16 2014
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Series: Kate Kane (book 2)

Review
Rating: 2.0 out of 5
Read: June 17 to June 18 2014

There was humor, a few snickers here and there, and the plot wasn't too horrible.  On the other hand I've lost any and all liking for the characters that I might have developed from the first book.

Depending on various factors, I will probably not try a third book in this series (though I almost always seem to do so when I write something like that).  Maybe I'll go back to trying to convince myself to read Glitterland.

The Shoal of Time by J.M. Redmann

The Shoal of Time
by J.M. Redmann
Pages: 284
Published Date: December 15 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Micky Knight (8th book)

Review:
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Read: February 25 2014

My main reason for rating this 3 instead of anything higher was the funny little odd ball fact that I knew what was happening before it happened. Well, at least knew who the good guys were. Knew which were the bad. Watching someone I had grown to like through seven books make a fool of themselves in the eighth isn't fun.