Fair Game

I really, really like everything this author writes. She could write an instruction manual for installing toilets and I would read every last word. I have read other m/m romance books... and it seems that just when we think things are going well for the new couple something always breaks them apart for a large part of the book and we spend the next 100 or more pages waiting for them to come to their senses and work it out. This doesn't usually happen with most Josh Lanyon's characters.. but then...here we have Elliott and Tucker trying to figure out how to get back together without either losing their pride and at the same time try to catch what appears to be a serial killer. So...when they finally came to their senses their show more relationship was like a breath of fresh air...tender, funny, sexy and real. The mystery was outstanding....well presented with several suspects. I didn't get the right one until almost the last page Can't wait too get to the next two books. show less

Elliot is not an amateur, but he's definitely sleuthing. As an ex-FBI agent he knows the ins and outs of murdersolving. But is there a murder? Or is this just a man missing the thrill of his old job?

Well I don't know about Elliot, but I was indeed missing the thrill. The investigation was dragging a bit. I wanted more excitement. (Rant: And I needed more clues. I hate when I'm totally clueless. There were too many people who could've been the unsub. And my main suspect was killed off, so. It was frustrating, but in a good way.)

And then there's Tucker, Elliot's ex, who is still an FBI agent. They didn't part on the best of terms but this case brings them together again. The chemistry was there from the start even before they met on-page, show more just from Elliot's reminiscing I could feel it. Not surprisingly they go from zero to sixty, then zero again, before they work through their issues. They don't have many things in common and I see a lot of conflict in their future. Mostly about work, coz Elliot is a stubborn sonofabitch. Weirdly enough, out of the two men I pegged Tucker as the more impulsive, that was my initial impression, but he softened in my eyes real quick.

It will be interesting to see how they will fit into each other's lives.
3 stars for a good start show less

The MMC was reckless at times, past the point of what I see as reasonable, but, he had to admit that once or twice, and it wasn't entirely unrealistic for someone with his background, (maybe especially for someone from that background with an injury that gives them a chip on their shoulder/something to prove). So I could live with it without considering him TSTL (too stupid to live). Their relationship also was flawed, but in a believable way. The mystery didn't floor me or anything, but it was enough to hold my attention, and was integrated well with the character's personal relationships and things. Overall I am pleased and looking forward to the next book.

First of all, yay library kindle editions! Very helpful, bugetarily speaking.

I quite liked most of this novel; I wanted to punch Elliot at the end of chapter 23, though he did manage to redeem himself. Tucker's a big ol' cranky sweetheart. I enjoyed all the side characters (particularly the angry black woman, but not Elliot's assessment of her), and the setting, and Elliot's recent disability and the resulting problems. It all felt real in that way that makes reading magic.

I give it 4.75 stars; the final fight has an escape I didn't buy. But I've already checked out book 2.

Not only a good romance but also a good mystery. Having taught in a junior college, I found many of his observations about academics engaged in high learning to be too true as well as funny. His descriptions of the Seattle area definitely make him an avid ambassador for the region. One of the best decisions of this summer was to read through his backlist!

And so, on to Dickens...a la Lanyon.

I'm a fan of Josh Lanyon's murder mysteries. They're always well-written, engaging, and have just enough twists to keep me guessing. Fair Game is certainly no exception. The characters are dynamic and the world they live in is made very real. I found myself enjoying this one, even during those few moments when I wanted to say 'okay, maybe this is a bit more out there than the story needed to go' in terms of realism. I'd recommend picking it up.

I always appreciate stories set in real settings when the author truly does their research and lets it show in the writing. But I'm a bit thrown when there's a miss like there was in this book. At one point it's mentioned that Ballard is ten minutes from Seattle - Ballard is actually in Seattle. show more Small detail but impacted the realism a bit here... show less

4.5 stars

I loved the characters and mystery in this book. Josh writes a great M/M - not too heavy in suspense (ie not a thriller: I DON'T want to read one of them) and not too heavy on sex; just a great balance. My one comment is that I would have liked a bit more back story on the MC's break-up; exactly what went down to create all the misunderstandings. It was explained but I feel like a missed a bit of it.