Come Unto These Yellow Sands

I've read quite a lot of Josh Lanyon's works and enjoyed pretty much every one of them. I couldn’t begin to pick a favorite. Addiction is a major theme in this story, but it doesn't distract from the murder mystery. Swift’s honesty about his addiction, and Max's support gave the story a meaning that I wasn’t expecting. The protagonists aren't perfect. There was a point where the whole relationship between Swift and Max could have gone into the wind...and I was surprised that it didn't. As usual Josh Lanyon delivers a story that entertains. Her characters make you care for them and wish them happiness and love always.

Third read, Oct. 3, 2017:

I adore this book. Absolutely--the lyricism; the imagery, the breaks spread throughout the story where some beautiful piece of the scenery or some feeling is beautifully, lyrically explored; the nostalgic and limned feel to the entire town, Swift's house, his past and present, his relationship with Max, and the cover; the many literary references and inclusion of literary works--this all felt perfectly like being inside a (in)famous poet's head. Still one of my favorite books, these few years and hundreds of books later.

Somewhere in 2016:

Reread this a while back, and want to reread it again soon. I just love this book.

Original review, Feb. 11, 2014:

It's brilliant. A little different from the others I've read by show more him, and very well done. I don't know why specifically, but this is probably going to be one of my favorites. The timing of things, especially between Swift and Max, took me surprise (in a happy, endearing way). The story was more laid back, not too much action, but a lot of emotion, some nostalgia, and Swift trying to be strong through the persisting effects of an old drug addiction and a painful past. The characters are in their forties, so it is a more mature take on the relationship, which was a refreshing change from all the crazy angst books. Swift and Max were strong characters, well developed, very honest with each other, and just really made me happy by being together and willing to endure (after a few unsure days of course). Swift was a very interesting character, and the more I learned through his eyes, the more I fell for him. The way little snatches of his memories were revealed painted a masterful portrait of his life up to the current point, showing his idyllic childhood and public demise, leading him clearly to his concentrated and contained self at present. The other characters took a backseat, but were still each distinct and active.

Every single detail added to the book--from his house (very inventive and perfect), to his job (generally seen as lonely and dark), to his narrow focus on life (borne from his past), to the mystery (somewhat mirroring Swift's own past and spurring him on to heal)--it all created the atmosphere that is so realistic as to how our minds actually do work, selectively portraying things for us. It was all put together so perfectly, that the feel of his life permeates everything. Overall, it was just a very nice and steady story that gets a surprisingly strong grip on you very early on, and manages to burrow into your mind without you even realizing. As always with Lanyon's work, it's well worth the read, five full stars, and I recommend it to all. Read now and enjoy.

P.S. All of the poetry in there was beautiful; perfect little philosophical and/or depressive bits that completely matched the tone of Swift's mindset and past.

P.P.S. I love the cover! The model is very handsome, and the pose and coloring also mirror the tone of the book. I could tell from just looking at it that it was going to be a contemplative and moody book. I actually just bought this book from the description, cover, and title, without reading the sample first [I trust in Lanyon! :)]. Also...great title, it really fit. show less

Swift is a sweet humble oblivious hero - I loved his inate vulnerability. Max is strong; black and white as a good Police Chief should be. It takes quite a bit of fancy footwork by Max to sort out manipulations performed on Swift's acts of kindnesses. Great little cozy mystery (set in Stone Coast, Maine) with heaps of atmosphere.

Rating: 3* of five

The Publisher Says: Once a bad boy, the only lines Professor Sebastian Swift does these days are Browning, Frost and Cummings. When a student he helped to disappear becomes a suspect in a murder, he races to find the boy and convince him to give himself up before his police chief lover figures out he’s involved.

Max likes being lied to even less than he likes sonnets. Yet his instincts—and his heart—tell him his lover is being played. Max can forgive lies and deception, but a dangerous enemy may not stop until Swift is heading up his own dead poet’s society.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Wow. More lies and relationship fakery...the one who allegedly puts up the barriers show more and resists the relationship deepening is suddenly the first to utter The Big Three? Hm. The idea of these two being together is, uhhh, unlikely; but the reason they get together does support the connection forming. Again, it's the banter that keeps me going in the book. This time the mystery is one I got invested in. show less

We have yet another murder-mystery here, involving college professor, ex-drug addict and ex-poet-genius-kid - Sebastian Swift, and his on-off-friend-with-benefits Max Prescott, resident eye-candy, health-nut, and most importantly commitment phobic chief of police. Yes, that is one HELL of a run-on sentence. And YES, I do enjoy torturing readers with it.

Josh Lanyon's unmistakable writing style is still well and alive, but the story itself didn't feel sufficiently thought out. Granted, everything is recounted from Swift's perspective, who clearly doesn't understand the "big picture", but things felt much too dumbed down for the reader.
eg: Swift's adamant refusal to "involve" himself in solving the murder, while at the same time doing his show more damnest to contact the main suspect just to talk... was just plain ludicrous from the beginning.

I did appreciate the lack of lengthy separation between the main characters, due to a misunderstanding. I also liked the dynamic between these two, once they've opened up to each other. On the other hand, all this opening up came suspiciously quickly, or so we are led to believe given Swift's take on things.

Unlike Fair Game, where I felt that the murder mystery seemed to have been treated rather superficially, this was not the case here, but Swift's sudden inspiration about the real culprit did seem to come completely out of left field.

It was a pleasant read, but something seems to have been missing. There just didn't seem to be enough time to flesh out Swift and Prescott's relationship properly. Also, the bit about Swift's mother ended up feeling more like filler information, instead of adding anything else to Swift's character.

Kind of disappointed in this book, 2.3/5 stars. I've been so looking forward to a heart-fluttering read, only to be tripped up by various plot holes. show less

m/m mystery, professor, small-town, students, law-enforcement, family-dynamics, friendship, murder, misunderstanding, romance, erotica*****

I really missed the humor characteristic of Lanyon's other books.
Swift is a poet, a professor, on the constant battle with C addiction with six years clean, and not-quite-partner with the very attractive (but rigidly judgmental) police chief of their small town in Maine. A student comes to him bearing signs of a very recent beating and asks for help, but the top cop is furious out of proportion when Swift finally reveals how he helped the student. That's because said student is the prime suspect for murder. Let the misunderstandings and sleuthing begin.
Pretty well written, and definitely a good show more whodunit by one of my favorite authors!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you! show less

This book came backed by solid praise; the author is surrounded by a glow of admiration. Also, the book comes from Samhain Press, and I have had really good luck with almost everything I've found there. Even the smut has been pretty well written.

And this isn't smut. For anyone who might be bothered by such things, there are a couple of explicit scenes – but they aren't the point of the book.

Anyway, any book which intentionally melds poetry and Choose Your Own Adventure novels is bound to find favor with me. I'm not sure I'd put Josh Lanyon in my top tier of Most Favorite Writers, but he is very, very good.