The Back Passage is a fab read. It is like Agatha Christie (which I love) with astonishingly frequent sex, some seriously funny moments and a murder mystery to boot.

Our hero Mitch is on holiday at an English country side home with his friend, and soon to be lover, Boy Morgan. While not terribly altruistic, Mitch is a likable rouge and has been dying to get into Morgan’s pants since the first time he met him at Cambridge. He’s set about it in a deliberate manner and has high hopes that the weekend away will be the culmination of months of subtle seduction. Morgan is engaged to be married after all, but not altogether reluctant.

While hiding in a closet with Boy, and doing some rather furious fooling around, a dead body is discovered. Coitus interruptus! Unable to leave well enough alone, Mitch takes it upon himself to investigate the murder when it looks like an innocent man may be jailed. With Boy as his trusty sidekick and a whenever, whoever and wherever attitude (srsly WHENEVER) Mitch looks deeper into the crime and finds all is not as it seems in Drekeham Hall.

There is a little something there for the die hard romantics but I would not class it as a romance as such. But, there are bad cops, voyeuristic house staff, hot groundsmen on horseback, opportunistic chauffeurs and a secret back passage so I think there is a little something for everyone. My one caution, don’t read it in public. Because when you do get snapped by someone who has read it you’re more than likely be up to smex and there is nothing worse than trying to get coffee with a red face! They just know what you’re reading… heh.

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Edward Mitchell is a handsome young American studying towards a postgraduate degree at Cambridge in 1920s. His best friend Morgan has secured him an invite to his fiancé's parents' countryhouse but the party is disturbed by a discovery of a body, and nearly everyone in the house appears to be acting oddly. So Mitchell decides to investigate, which gives him lots of opportunities to have steamy encounters with the men who help him in his enquiries. Pure fluff. ( )

The Back Passage is a historical mystery set in 1925 Norfolk, England. The period feel is refreshing and the mystery aspect plays into it well. The comedy and sex were extremely entertaining. At the risk of sounding trite, I thought it was very heart-warming.

Mitch's character is easy to relate to and easy to love. He's just a Yankee in Britain. He is always optimistic, very sexually driven, and curious of everything. Mitch is a wannabe detective, but often thinks with his cock instead of his head. The reader's ability to suspend disbelief will be tested repeatedly because Mitch has sex with almost all the people he questions; he even plays exhibitionist at one point.

That's not to say that there wasn't any mystery in the book. There are a few shocks near the end and the murderer was unexpected enough. I have the niggling feeling that mystery wasn't the focus of the book.

However, as is typical of mysteries, pieces of the puzzle get solved and hidden relationships are revealed. Although Mitch hitches up with almost everyone he meets, he comes to realize that he wants to share the experience of love with another person. The ending was satisfying and I was glad that characters who had been alone in the past were able to find new love.

The Back Passage flows smoothly and I was able to finish it quickly. It's a real page-turner and would be an enjoyable experience for most, even those that don't usually read mystery. I hear tell of a sequel called The Secret Tunnel, and I will definitely keep my eye out for that one. I love the titles Lear is coming up with for this series. ( )

1925, England. Bostonian Mitch, who is studying at Cambridge, accompanies his friend Boy to a country house mainly to get into said friend's pants. A mystery in the form of a dead body, plenty of m/m sex and a satisfying ending made this romp a fun, if short, read.

It's about to get even better for Mitch, an avid fan of detective novels. Belinda stumbles upon a dead body, and her screams bring everyone in the house running! Sir James summons the police! If he works fast, Mitch might even get to examine a crime-scene!

As he admits, he has two obsessions in life –
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