A Simple Mistake

A homicide detective must hunt down a serial killer who kidnapped his partner, but there's a twist - he's a killer himself who will stop at nothing to save the one he loves.
I have to wonder a bit about myself...of course there are many folks that also do:) But I found that this murdering, sarcastic serial killer, who is also a homicide detective, has now become one of my favorite people.

The story is a lot "darker" than this authors usually writes, but the awesome "morally gray" Liam, makes it work. Liam doesn't discriminate...he hates everybody, and he's not at all shy, about letting them know. You'll quicky meet Donna...poor Donna... I don’t know what she had ever done to him, probably just blinked or breathed! Liam is very good at show more his job, even if he does make his fellow officers want to cry, fume and grit their teeth, they can’t do without him. However, changes are coming, and Liam’s whole life is about to change. It's the day that his new partner, Gabriel, walks into the office and straight into Liam's heart. Liam falls hard and fast for this sweet man. That could, maybe should, have changed the day Gabriel unexpectedly finds Liam disposing of his latest very dead...body. Liam has to leave the department and swear to Gabriel, on everything he holds dear and holy, that he will not kill again. We all know how this is going to turn out.

Liam really does try. He does as Gabriel asked...but all bets are off when he finds that a serial killer has kidnapped his "heart and soul"...his loveable, sweet Gabriel. The killer has no idea what he has unleashed...and the predator has now become the prey!

The story seems to have everything. There's murder, lots of twists and turns, sweet, hot, sexy romance... humor... and a sassy "murder cat", named "Lucille Pawl", but Liam calls her "Lucy Fur", (cute play on the names "Lucifer" as well as "Lucille Ball"). The cat hates Liam just as much as he hates her, but Gabriel loves his sweet "fur baby", so Liam puts up with being regularly glared at, mauled and regularly having "cat butt" in his face!

There were lots of tension and emotion and I really liked how Alice Winters conveyed the absolute terror that Gabriel was suffering as the serial killer kept stalking him, as well as his heartfelt plea to Liam.

This came out as a new series in January of this year and book 2 in the series, A Forgotten Mistake, came out in May...so I have a new Liam & Gabriel book. I look forward meeting up with the two guys and "Lucy Fur", again. The two guys still have a lot to work out, especially Gabriel who has to come to terms with Liam and the biggest change in his life. show less

Liam Paige has been bored since he left his job as a detective and started a diner. But his last partner, Detective Gabriel Hyde, made him promise to pack up and leave after finding him standing over a dead body of the last suspect they were investigating and had to let walk. So he's been good, no murderers or anything - but bored. Then he hears that Gabriel has been kidnapped and all bets are off.

I think the funniest thing about this book is that the main reason I read it - the romance, was the very part that let it down. The plot was strong and I adored Liam. Gabriel - not so much. To be fair, he probably had more of a normal reaction to finding your maybe crush is a serial killer but I hated it. I wanted him to jump in to the show more relationship. Or at least be slightly less standoffish. Even when he was kidnapped and suffered trauma he was still dragging his feet and I didn't rate it.

On the other hand Liam was incredible and I adored all of his coworkers. I didn't like that he clearly had years on the job and he leaves it for Gabriel. I feel like it might've been a bit more believable if there was less of a time gap? A whole year later felt problematic. But I did like that he just pushes his way back in. Or you know, blackmail. I loved his blackmailing, it was just so funny. His investigating skills were fantastic and I loved how easy he made everything look.

Honestly apart from the romance I adored the plot and the characters and the humour. Gabriel's happy go lucky attitude was amusing, I loved the banter between them all and the plot had me hooked. The mystery was really well plotted and had some great twists and reveals. Even a few that had me genuinely surprised.

I'm not sure it was quite a 5 star - the romance just didn't work but it was definitely higher than 4. So I'm splitting the difference with 4.5 stars. Can't wait to read the next installment. show less