crime fiction, adrien english, mysteries, gay fiction, pbk ( )

Two years have passed since writer and mystery book store owner Adrien has seen his ex-lover, closeted homicide detective Jake. They meet again when a murder occurs at the dinner party Adrien was attending, a murder that amateur detective Adrien begins to attempt to solve. Despite the fact that Adrien is dating another man, it becomes apparent that he's still obsessed with Jake, and this case can't help but bring them together.
This is the 4th Adrien English mystery but it's the one I've read first. Going by some of the previous events described in this book I'm actually glad I started with this, but I enjoyed it a lot and want to read the others.

Wow. I mean, wow! I enjoyed the first three books in this mystery series a lot. And I read the original printings before they were revised and expanded. This installment blows them away!

Adrien (with an “e”) English is a book store owner who has the ill luck to find himself involved in a murder mystery yet again. His first published novel has been optioned for a film – unfortunately the financial backer drops dead of not so natural causes right next to him at the dinner party. Even more unfortunately, his ex-lover Jake Riordan arrives on the scene to investigate, with a new homophobic partner in tow who targets Adrien right from the start. The man who optioned the film, Paul Kane, asks Adrien to investigate and Jake surprisingly agrees. But both men have ulterior motives for doing so, which doesn’t bode well for Adrien.

What took this novel to the next level was the intricate plot paralleled by a romantic crisis, and family drama. Adrien has been dating the sexy professor Guy for the last 2 years, but he still has feelings for Jake. Jake is nothing but heartache since he’s not only in the closet, but also married. They can’t stop themselves from getting involved (and the sex is pretty hot!), but Adrien knows he’ll just end up hurt. As if that weren’t enough, Adrien has a bad heart made worse by pneumonia, an interfering mother and a sudden family who is far too interested in his personal life! In short, Adrien is REAL. He’s more than a character because Lanyon gives him actual depth. He’s got a life, such as it is, and all the everyday crap we all deal with. Oh, and murder.

The writing here is superb. Adrien has just the right amount of self-deprecation to make him sympathetic, and make a reader identify with him. Most of us know what it’s like to be in love with Mr. Wrong. The mystery is also better developed than the previous books, and the dialog realistic and engaging. I thought I knew who did it, changed my mind, and then changed it again. Lanyon carefully leads a reader down one path, only to throw out a decoy, and then slap you in the face with a dynamic ending. Add to that a near perfect mix of fast-paced action, a cast of suspects and the humor that comes from a neurotic family and you won’t be able to put this book down. I know I couldn’t. Highly recommended, and I hope Adrien has many, many adventures to come. Are you listening, Josh? ( )

There are many of things I have enjoyed about this series. The clever dialog, interesting characters and always a murder to boot! I am a total mystery geek and adored watching the incomparable Joan Hickson play Miss Marple when I was younger. She is simply not to be missed! So clever and smart. I think that this series has that subtle wit too. For that more puerile part of me there is some seriously hot smex, judicious misuse of sunscreen, hot cops and one mans passion for Tab.

Adrien rocks with his bravery, strength of character and honesty. He cares for those around him, even his delightful mother and newly acquired family. I’ve sniggered away at Adrien’s snippy, clever comebacks and internal dialog. He is just so droll, I love it! Finally, his love for Jake. I know, Jake does not deserve him! But, I hold out hope that this love has not completely gone.

What has had me coming back for more in this series of books though, is Jake. If I am reading a book my favorite characters are often the ones that everyone else thinks is a bit of a shit. I guess I like that whole redemption thing and the broken hero. I also firmly believe that nothing worth having is easy, which is certainly the case for Jake. You should fight for what you want and it should be worth it and involve a bit of self discovery. Nothing wrong with a bit of navel gazing! For Jake, nothing about his whole life is easy. He is a closeted gay cop, a man used to being in charge and so sure of himself and where he is going. At times he seems rigid and uncompromising. But, how hard is it to go against the path you’ve always blindly just followed? When you know that if you do something unexpected, or away from that path that you’re going to probably loose people you love? It’s not easy and it would be ridiculous to think that in reality it ever would be. Hello, therapy! This is the heart of the series that gets me every time and invariably makes me think. Is love worth it? Or is it about more than that, more being true to who you really are and how difficult is that? His journey for me is compelling.

Jake’s feelings for Adrien are apparent from the start. Maybe it is just a strong attraction initially but there is caring there also. When he notices Adrien’s scraped knuckles after the murder of a friend, in that very first book, and he offers his coat to him to keep him warm. Or when he calls him baby, big sigh there.

Jake planted his hand on my shoulder. It was like having a brick dropped on my chest.
My head dropped back on the spongy pillow, pain thudding in dizzy time with my pulse beat.
“Simmer down, baby.” He traced my collarbone with his thumb. I couldn’t have moved if I had wanted to; I was too surprised to try. “Just relax.”
The feel of his callused thumb on my sensitized skin was weirdly hypnotic.

Most of the time he is pretty crap at showing it, lets be honest the man can be a bear. But, there are those moments when he is so gruffly sweet, it just made me melt. He’s also a guy who does not seem to have had physical intimacy with another man. I know he’s fucked a lot of guys but there is a difference between fucking and intimacy.(not saying that the former isn’t a good thing!) It is intimacy that he shares with Adrien. Maybe one of the hardest and easiest things for Jake is loving Adrien? I don’t know.
The last book, I have just read, in the series was a heartbreaker. There is so much of Jake in this book that just made me wild but on the other hand I understood. If it had been any different I wouldn’t have enjoyed it as much or been put through the wringer. Isn’t that what good books do? Make you think, justify, decide, ponder and read into the small hours when all the other lights are out? And, Jake on that last page, it does mean something - I have to believe that.
I have throughly enjoyed all 4 books, they’re thoughtful, smart and excellent reading.
Check out my reviews, interviews and other assorted stuff at my blog. ( )

The fourth Adrien English Mystery is a very satisfying read. Adrien, writer, mystery book store owner and amateur sleuth, attends a Hollywood party because a big-wig optioned movie rights for his book. Then someone dies in front of him over lunch and not by natural causes. Old-flame, cop Jake Riordan walks in to solve the crime and Adrien is once again entangled-- physically and emotionally.

Lanyon did a wonderful job of pushing Adrien into yet another murder investigation and plotting out a moving story. This latest adventure built very nicely on the series, taking bits and characters from the previous mysteries, expanding and strengthening all.

Most importantly, I feel Lanyon's writing is honest. The characters don't apologize for being bastards and there is no false reconciliation explaining how he wasn't really a bastard, just misunderstood. Nope. He was a bastard. He admits it. In fact, there are several bastards in the story who make significant mistakes. Then they move on. It's a realistically refreshing take on relationships, which I really enjoyed reading. ( )