REVIEW: Winter Kill by Josh Lanyon
Clever and ambitious, Special Agent Adam Darling (yeah, he’s heard all the jokes before) was on the fast track to promotion and success until his mishandling of a high profile operation left one person dead and Adam “On the Beach.” Now he’s got a new partner, a new case, and a new chance to resurrect his career, hunting a cruel and cunning serial killer in a remote mountain resort in Oregon.
Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell may seem laid-back, but he’s a tough and efficient cop — and he’s none too thrilled to see feebs on his turf — even when one of the agents is smart, handsome, and probably gay. But a butchered body in a Native American museum is out of his small town department’s league. For that matter, icy, uptight Adam Darling is out of Rob’s league, but that doesn’t mean Rob won’t take his best shot.
Dear Josh Lanyon,
I have been looking forward to this book. I preordered it the moment I saw it available on Amazon, but once again I was worried. Recently, worrying about whether I will like new books by favorite authors is something I seem to be doing a lot.
After I finished the book I have to admit that I find the blurb to be “interesting”. Oh there are no lies in there, there are pretty much no facts except basic setup, but I get it – it *is* mystery after all. No, I just feel that the blurb wants the reader to think that the romance is the main storyline of the book. It is there, but I thought that the book was mostly a mystery with a secondary romantic storyline exploring the beginning of a relationship. Do not get me wrong, I liked it that way and I thought that both guys’ personalities were explored pretty well throughout the investigation, I just do not want anybody to go into the book thinking that they will be getting a romance with the mystery as window dressing for it. On the other hand, I doubt many readers familiar with Lanyon’s work will think that, so maybe I am overthinking it.
Adam and his partner Jonnie arrive at the mountain resort of Nearby because the local sheriff thinks that their murder victim is connected to a serial killer investigation FBI is working on. The local law enforcement team can’t remember having a homicide case on their hands before, but very soon they have enough murders to last them a lifetime. It turns out that this murder is not connected to their investigation, though, so Adam and his partner leave Nearby. Several months later, they are back, or should I say Adam is back with a new and annoying partner, because another murder has taken place and the local sheriff, Frankie, called for help and specifically mentioned Adam.
Oh and during their first visit Adam and Rob (the deputy sheriff) managed to have a one night stand – I got the impression that neither was in the closet, but also not loud about being out, I guess? I was very pleased to see how it was handled – neither of the characters seemed to be pining over their one night stand. However, when they have to work together on this string of new murders and search for new serial killer/s, the attraction between them heats up very fast – within several days really. I guess it was a fast attraction, but I believed that they had potential, and it was not melodramatic. Both men seemed to realize that they did not really know each other, but they are willing to see where things go, and of course constant danger probably makes whatever they feel for each other get stronger much faster. I was selfishly pleased that neither of the guys had BIG ANGSTY ISSUES (so many of romantic leads seem to have those these days) which they had to deal with. Adam did have some relationship issues and work-related issues, but they seemed real. It made sense to me that two people in highly stress-prone jobs could not make a long distance relationship work. I do wonder whether Adam’s previous lover was somebody we already knew, or was it just they had the same name? I was too lazy to go and reread that book to find out to be honest. If he was who I think he was, I thought it was amusing.
Adam also messed up one of his previous cases, but once again the way it was described it made perfect sense to me – I don’t see how any conscientious law enforcement officer could have worked it any other way, but at the same time I can see why the echoes of that case still hunt Adam. I just did not feel that Adam behaved as a drama queen, if that makes sense.
I really liked Rob. I thought he was a good fit for his job, was a genuinely nice guy, and despite what the blurb says he really did not resent Adam’s help except in the first hour or so of his first visit. I thought Rob took the words “protect and serve” really seriously: he felt that he personally let the people of his town down, even though that was 100% in his head.
I thought he and Adam had all the potential in the world to be very good for each other. I hope they will work out. So I keep talking about romance, which as I mentioned above I thought was a secondary storyline. Let me talk a little about the mystery – I thought it was very well done. I was very proud of myself that I managed not to look at the last page, because that does not happen too often, but the killer was not really revealed on the last page. It was more like the investigation zeroed in on the killer.
Spoiler: Show
I also really liked Frankie, the competent and tough female sheriff of Nearby, who had great instincts and who also knew when to ask for help. As an aside, it was very amusing to finally see an acknowledgement that FBI usually arrives because local law enforcement asks for help. I do not know where I learned this bit of information from, but I roll my eyes too often when arrogant FBI officers arrive to shove off the local law enforcement who had no clue and who nurse the resentment against them. Sometimes it makes for a great “from enemies to lovers” read, but I still think of it as silliness. I’m glad to see this book did not go that route.
Grade: B/B+
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A book from Josh Lanyon where the mystery is front and center? I’m all over that. I have enjoyed every book I’ve read from this author and this one sounds perfect for me. Thanks!
@Darlynne: I now have read reviews (after I submitted my review) where some things did not work for different people, but I just disagree. I mean I can see that the ending for romance can be considered lukewarm (they are together, not to worry), but I viewed it only as the beginning so for me it worked very well. Mystery though? For me it came as close to perfect as it could – I liked seeing gradual process of investigation a lot.
I was really disappointed in this one and I love his books usually. The writing felt amateurish, overly stilted with more contractions needed to make it flow and too many grammatical errors to overlook (including a left in editorial note; an [x] miles to somewhere with the X still there not a number).
And the ending was implausible and rushed. The book needed editing and it lacked his distinctive voice for me.
@Jane Davitt: I completely disagree about the ending :-). I mean, as I said, I can see how the ending of romance storyline can feel rushed, yes, but for me as beginning it worked. I loved the ending of the mystery, loved it.
Re: writing, well as much as I loathe to repeat it about myself – I am a reviewer with defect. I note horrible writing, but certainly lack the ability to see that usually good writing was worse than usual. I have not noticed, which really means nothing and you are probably right.
@Sirius:
I liked both men and wanted them to be together but I think it was too much too soon. They barely knew each other and they were making life-altering decisions just like that?
I love mysteries and I enjoyed that aspect of it, but the reveals left me confused and so much was never explained.
I find writers have a flavor to them. Back before the Internet, as a teenager, I read Marion Chesney and thought, this writer is just like M C Beaton! And of course, they were the same person, but there was no way for me to know back then. This didn’t taste like Josh. And I can see I’m in the minority, which is happening to me a lot with popular books so maybe I’m out of step and grouchy, lol. But I really don’t expect this many typos in a Lanyon. A few slip through in every book; it’s inevitable, but sometimes they mount up to the point where I get judgy and disapproving and this came close to that line.
@Jane Davitt: Absolutely, for me whether they will eventually work out or not was up in the air even at the end, but the fact that they were making life altering decisions like that? At least half of m/m romances that I have read does that (hey, at least they did not get married). This is not an attempt to justify, just explaining that I am probably very used to this by now.
I thought everything was explained mystery wise – this aspect was an at least A- grade for me, if I were to grade separate storylines.
I cannot really argue increased amount of typos or stilted writing with you – as I said, I am betting that you are right and I just have not noticed.
@Jane Davitt: Wanted to add something. I remember seeing a review by somebody whose reviews I read and often agree with and she said (I believe she graded it high for mystery) that the men were “not messed up enough” or “not broken enough” as it often happens in Lanyon’s books.
I am not sure if this is why it did not taste like Josh for you. Personally while I like me some hurt/comfort, I wanted to cheer that they were not. Adrien English and Jake are awesome with all their issues, but sometimes I want to see somebody less angsty and I am glad he delivered (for me) in this one.
@Sirius:
No, that wasn’t it; I’m totally with you on being tired of angsty, troubled pasts. It’s hard to explain. It’s the use of a phrase, a rhythm to the words, their cadence, if you like. The same way I can hear a voice on the phone without seeing the speaker and know it’s my mum. This was like a recording of a recording of Lanyon.
And now I sound weird, heh.
@Jane Davitt: No, no I think get it! His voice just did not sound the same to you?
@Sirius:
That’s it! But I do enjoy his writing a lot so this is a bump in the road, not the end of the ride :-)
@Jane Davitt: I hear you :).
Sirius – Just wanted to jump in to affirm your suspicion about Adam’s previous lover. It was Tucker Lance, one of the main characters in the “All’s Fair” series by JL – Fair Game and Fair Play
@Robin Covington: Thanks!
Just chiming in to say I like the cover!
@Jane Davitt: No, not weird. I totally get what you’re saying. That’s why readers talking to each other is so much fun. Because I can see Sirius’s take on it too.
And now the two of you have made me want to read this immediately, just to see where I come down on these issues. It’s in my TBR, of course, but I was putting it off. Not any more. ;)
@Sunita:
Well, I hope that you enjoy it; there certainly was plenty to enjoy despite my quibbles.
Haven’t read this one yet, but if it sounds like there’s more to tell on the romance side, I’m good with that. One of the things I loved about the Adrien English series was that it did take its time with the romance. In a genre buried in instalove, Adrien and Jake built a relationship and eventually came together like real people, and by the end of the fifth book, I was pretty convinced they’d last. That’s not the case in most of the books where the characters meet, fall for each other immediately, and get blissfully married after a week of non-stop sex. That’s really not what love looks like to me, and I like that Lanyon shows characters building their relationships over time, having problems, and eventually working them out. With any luck, that’s what’s going on here, and it’ll stretch out over several more books. [crossed fingers]
Angie
@marjorie ingall: I liked the cover myself :).
@Angie: Absolutely that’s how I felt – that there is more to tell on the romance side despite them ending up in the same place and together – that’s why probably the ending felt rushed to some/many readers (I had seen several reviews which state that).
And I agree with your more general observation – that’s exactly what happens in quite a lot of books. I see slow burn here and there and I jump on most of them, but it is by far not a prevalent scenario in m/m.
@Sunita: Not only fun, but it makes review more balanced, now readers who worry that the writing may not be as good as in his other books may take extra care and read the sample first instead of buying right away. Cant wait to hear what you think.
OK, I read the book, and I have to say I’m closer to Jane on this than to Sirius. I didn’t mind the abrupt ending per se, but I didn’t believe in either the romance or the way the mysteries were resolved. And the epilogue made me roll my eyes. I would say it felt out of character except I never really got a handle on Adam’s character (Rob felt less complicated and therefore he made more sense to me even though he wasn’t that well developed either).
It felt like a Lanyon book, but it also had flaws I don’t expect in a Lanyon book. Simple errors in geography, for example. They may have been typos or someone didn’t spend enough time with Google Maps. Some odd word choices and asides. And some seriously stereotyped small-town characters (along with some well-drawn ones). I think two serial killer stories (including a cold-case one) and a from-scratch romance was a lot for a short novel to bear. Lanyon’s done it before, so if anyone can he can, but it didn’t work for me this time.
The Tucker thing was presumably an easter egg for the Fanyons; they’ve been showing up more in his recent books.