Rating: 
Summary: Adrien English Is Back And Beter Than Ever!
Review: Adrien English is different. He's not your ordinary run of the mill murder mystery sleuth. He's the proprietor of Cloak and Dagger Books, a small mystery bookstore in Los Angeles, and the soon-to-be-published author of Murder Will Out, a mystery novel featuring gay sleuth and Shakespearean actor Jason Leland. As a sleuth Adrien is hardly the rough and tumble action hero that you expect to see portrayed in the movies by Harrison Ford or Steven Seagal. As a matter of fact he has a bad heart, and any time he gets involved in a situation that results in any physical exertion both he and the reader fear that his old ticker will finally go tock. He's also gay, and his diva of choice is not Babs, Donna or Dion but Andrea Bocelli. Finally, he's madly in love with James Patrick Riordan (Jake), a strapping (in more ways than one) LA police detective who is so far in the closet that he can't get past the pores on Adrien's nose to kiss him on the lips.And that's what sets up Adrien second murder mystery adventure. He's suffering from writer's block on his second Jason Leland mystery Death For A Deadly Deed, which is loosely based on Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus. (See I told you Adrien was different.) And his affair with Jake isn't really percolating. So he decides to get away from LA and head out to his granny's old place Pine Shadow Ranch thinking the fresh smog free air will clear away his problems. Rest assured that Adrien is equally as adept at finding dead bodies on a ranch as he is on the mean streets of LA. So before long he and Jake end up getting involved not only with dead bodies, but also a lost gold mine, Indian rituals, and things that go bump in the night. With A Dangerous Thing Josh Lanyon has again crafted a refreshing and witty mystery adventure for his hero. And in Adrien he has developed a very believable character, who is complex, winning and totally involves you in his ups, downs and exploits. I enjoyed this book as much as I did Fatal Shadows the first in this series, and I recommend it highly. I'm also looking forward to the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: Should Please Old Fans and New Readers
Review: As I mentioned in my review of Lanyon's first Adrien English book, Fatal Shadows, I usually don't like mystery novels. But some of them are both witty and exciting, focusing on character development more than the actual crimes. A Dangerous Thing provides a good example of that. Adrien's thoughts in response to the other characters often differ from what he really says; otherwise, he would find himself in even more trouble! He is a sarcastic individual, but still lovable! As with the first novel in this series, Adrien's passion for writing and for mystery books tie in with the plot. And homophobia again complicates that plot. When this murder investigation begins, he's in love with a closeted and obviously self-loathing cop, and surrounded by bigoted local law enforcement. Adrien's health problems make matters worse, along with the fact that he has been accused of murder before. While I loved Fatal Shadows, I think Lanyon has matured even more as a writer. His prose breezes by, never allowing readers to slow down, but also making them not want to slow down. He describes scenes in intricate details when needed, without boring readers with unneeded details. Also, his knowledge of his genre works smoothly into Adrien's character, helping Adrien solve the mystery. This novel should please fans of Fatal Shadows, while also winning Lanyon new readers! (Duane Simolke's books include The Acorn Stories, Degranon, and New Readings of Winesburg, Ohio.)
Rating:
Summary: Josh Lanyon Does It Again
Review: Bookseller Adrien English escapes to his ranch to try to relax and to get over writer's block (he is working on his second novel), as well as to get away from Detective Jake Riordan and their unusual "relationship". As you can well imagine, relaxing is the last thing Adrien does as murder follows. (The man is becoming a virtual Jessica Fletcher - people should run for their lives when they see him coming!). When Adrien gets whacked on the head by an unknown assailant, Detective Riordan come to the rescue. And although Adrien at one point quips that Riordan is "buried so deep in the closet he didn't know where to look for himself", there may still be hope for a relationship (or maybe not). The story is fast-paced, involving a complex plot and colorful set of characters, with a drug connection, a suspicious archeological dig, and ancient Native American secrets. Although I really enjoyed the first book in the series, "Fatal Shadows", I liked this one even more. I am really looking forward to the third book, and hope that we don't have to wait a couple of years for it. Maybe Mr. Lanyon can recluse himself in a ranch somewhere in the hills where he can work undisturbed.......
Rating:
Summary: A series which is proving to be a gem
Review: I read this right after I finished "Fatal Shadows". "Fatal Shadows" is great but "A Dangerous Thing" is even better. The mystery races along like a thrilling roller coaster ride without a boring moment and Adrien is as witty, smart, endearing and sensitive as ever. One just loves to solve the mystery along with him. This book definitely has more depth as Lanyon also expands on the emotional side of Adrien's life. I found myself caring that Adrien's love for the "close-up" Jake is reciprocated. Let's hope it is as the series continues because Adrien certainly deserves a lover who will not leave him. At the end of the book, I just have to admit that I like the series because of the great character Mr Lanyon has created in Adrien English. Let's hope Adrien's 3rd book is not too far away.
Rating:
Summary: It only gets better
Review: Josh Lanyon is onto something. The second book in the series is, again, a great read but the book as a whole is much better than the first. The characters, especially Jake, are growing and developing. The writing is wonderful and witty. A worthy addition to your collection of gay mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: It only gets better
Review: Josh Lanyon is onto something. The second book in the series is, again, a great read but the book as a whole is much better than the first. The characters, especially Jake, are growing and developing. The writing is wonderful and witty. A worthy addition to your collection of gay mysteries.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the Wait
Review: The first Adrien English mystery, FATAL SHADOWS, was published in 2000 and was a truly auspicious debut for its author, who gave us a lead character of enormous charm and complexity not always encountered in the pages of pop literature. Imagine the frustration of those of us who gobbled up this little confection and were anxiously awaiting the second entry! Well, A DANGEROUS THING is here, and it was well worth the wait. Aside from the book's breathless pace, its near non-stop action, and the well-woven mystery, we get a second glimpse into the developing relationship between Adrien, a bookseller-mystery novelist, and Jake Riordon, the deeply closeted police detective who saved Adrien's neck in the first novel. Riordon is plenty adventurous sexually, but he isn't quite ready to make an emotional committment to another man, while Adrien seems ready enough. Their interplay provides as much excitement and drama as does the mystery itself, which involves two dead bodies and an excavation site with a long, bloody history. Adrien is a witty narrator, self-conscious but in an entertaining way. You cannot help but like him. And A DANGEROUS THING is an ambitious novel worth your time. Now, Mr. Lanyon, where is Number Three? Hmmmmm?
Rating: 
Summary: Nice follow up
Review: to the first book. This had more focus on the relationship between Adrien and Jake, than the mysterious happenings around them, or more specifically around Adrien. It was a nice balance, though. I didn't get quite as good a look at all the character's, so it was harder to pick out who was a likely suspect. That didn't detract from the enjoyment in reading it, though. I have to admit in the final chapter, the perpetrator was not the one that 'seemed' more obvious.
The only thing I didn't really like was the ending went way too fast. It was there and done before I even knew it was happening. It was an ending but left me thinking 'you're ending this...here?!' Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it, and I'm looking forward to the next. If you like to read for enjoyment and relaxation, his books so far have been well worth it. I look forward to the next.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Fast-Paced Murder Mystery!
Review: Used bookseller Adrien English had had it! He was tired of LAPD Detective Jake Riordan waffling back and forth between wanting to have a relationship with him and being too scared to admit that he could have feelings for another guy that didn't involve S&M and bondage. So Adrien threw some stuff in his car, left his beloved store in the hands of his less-than-able assistant, and headed out to his grandmother's Pine Shadow Ranch, which she left to him when she died. Adrien hadn't been to the ranch since he was a little kid and he was looking forward to the peace and quiet so that he could work on his latest guy-whodunit, which wasn't going so well. However, running into a dead body in his driveway was not the best way to start a vacation. By the time Adrien had contacted the sheriff and explained the situation, the body was gone. Vanished. The sheriff was sure that Adrien was just imagining things and saw a drunk trying to sleep it off and Adrien let himself be persuaded for the time being. Unfortunately, things didn't look too much better in the morning. Adrien soon discovers that his supposed "caretaker" was growing marijuana on his property and he had forged Adrien's name to give permission to the local university to run an archaeological dig on his land. Too bad he is missing and Adrien can't find him. Before Adrien can do much else, Jake shows up on his porch demanding to know why the police are calling to ask questions about Adrien. When Jake hears that Adrien is involved in another murder mystery, he tries his best to persuade Adrien to go back to Hollywood where he belongs. But Adrien is positive that the dead body he saw that first night was the body of his caretaker and is determined to get to the bottom of the many mysteries in the sleepy, small town. This is the second book starring Adrien English, following Fatal Shadows, and it was just as good, if not better than the first. This one is much longer and has a more fleshed out and fully developed story. All of the characters are fun to get to know and it is amusing to watch Adrien and Jake try to get along together and figure out what they are going to do about their supposed "relationship." I also really enjoyed the mystery(s). The plot was fast paced and very interesting. I sat down and read the book in a couple of hours, it was that good. The fact that the main character is gay may put some readers off, but this is a fine mystery in its own right. Give it a try.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Fast-Paced Murder Mystery!
Review: Used bookseller Adrien English had had it! He was tired of LAPD Detective Jake Riordan waffling back and forth between wanting to have a relationship with him and being too scared to admit that he could have feelings for another guy that didn't involve S&M and bondage. So Adrien threw some stuff in his car, left his beloved store in the hands of his less-than-able assistant, and headed out to his grandmother's Pine Shadow Ranch, which she left to him when she died. Adrien hadn't been to the ranch since he was a little kid and he was looking forward to the peace and quiet so that he could work on his latest guy-whodunit, which wasn't going so well. However, running into a dead body in his driveway was not the best way to start a vacation. By the time Adrien had contacted the sheriff and explained the situation, the body was gone. Vanished. The sheriff was sure that Adrien was just imagining things and saw a drunk trying to sleep it off and Adrien let himself be persuaded for the time being. Unfortunately, things didn't look too much better in the morning. Adrien soon discovers that his supposed "caretaker" was growing marijuana on his property and he had forged Adrien's name to give permission to the local university to run an archaeological dig on his land. Too bad he is missing and Adrien can't find him. Before Adrien can do much else, Jake shows up on his porch demanding to know why the police are calling to ask questions about Adrien. When Jake hears that Adrien is involved in another murder mystery, he tries his best to persuade Adrien to go back to Hollywood where he belongs. But Adrien is positive that the dead body he saw that first night was the body of his caretaker and is determined to get to the bottom of the many mysteries in the sleepy, small town. This is the second book starring Adrien English, following Fatal Shadows, and it was just as good, if not better than the first. This one is much longer and has a more fleshed out and fully developed story. All of the characters are fun to get to know and it is amusing to watch Adrien and Jake try to get along together and figure out what they are going to do about their supposed "relationship." I also really enjoyed the mystery(s). The plot was fast paced and very interesting. I sat down and read the book in a couple of hours, it was that good. The fact that the main character is gay may put some readers off, but this is a fine mystery in its own right. Give it a try.
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