Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Samhain Publishing (2012), Paperback, 208 pages
Description
Sometimes the adventure chooses you. Lover of fine poetry and lousy choose-your-own-adventure novels, Professor Sebastian Swift was once the bad-boy darling of the literati. The only lines he does these days are Browning, Frost, and Cummings. Even his relationship with the hot, handsome Wolfe Neck Police Chief Max Prescott is healthy. When one of his most talented students comes to him bruised and begging for help, Swift hands over the keys to his Orson Island cabin - only to find out that the boy's father is dead and the police are suspicious. In an instant, the stable life Swift has built for himself hangs on finding the boy and convincing him to give himself up before Max figures out Swift's involvement in the case. Max enjoys splitting an infinitive or two with his favorite nutty professor, but he's not much for sonnets or Shakespeare. He likes being lied to even less. 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.… (more)
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl
On an emotional level, this book was made a lot of sense. I enjoyed watching Swift continue to grow as a person and struggle with his choices and their consequences, in terms of his relationship, his career and his addiction recovery. In that sense, the plotting of the story worked for me, and I
On a mystery level, this worked for me about as well as a Jayne Ann Krentz novel, by which I mean that it was kind of entertaining in a Scooby-Doo sort of way, but left me wishing more time had been spent on the romance than on the goofy mystery. I would much rather have learned more about Swift's police chief boyfriend than about the cast of B-movie villains. (But I'm not a big mystery/suspense fan, so ymmv.)
On a writing level, that's where I knocked this down from 4 stars to 3. I don't think the writing would have bothered me so much if the main character hadn't been an internationally-known poet and a writing teacher, but after the third "Now days" instead of "Nowadays" I was... cranky. It made me cranky in a way I associate with much worse writing than this (which was perfectly fine in many ways). I think because of the characters and the storyline, I was unconsciously comparing the writing in this book with what I would expect to find in a more literary work, and I was disappointed by the gap.
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enjoyed the author's use of the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure device.On a mystery level, this worked for me about as well as a Jayne Ann Krentz novel, by which I mean that it was kind of entertaining in a Scooby-Doo sort of way, but left me wishing more time had been spent on the romance than on the goofy mystery. I would much rather have learned more about Swift's police chief boyfriend than about the cast of B-movie villains. (But I'm not a big mystery/suspense fan, so ymmv.)
On a writing level, that's where I knocked this down from 4 stars to 3. I don't think the writing would have bothered me so much if the main character hadn't been an internationally-known poet and a writing teacher, but after the third "Now days" instead of "Nowadays" I was... cranky. It made me cranky in a way I associate with much worse writing than this (which was perfectly fine in many ways). I think because of the characters and the storyline, I was unconsciously comparing the writing in this book with what I would expect to find in a more literary work, and I was disappointed by the gap.
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LibraryThing member Kaysbooks
Life isn´t easy being gay, living in a small town in Maine and being in ex-junkie, too, who happens to be in love with the chief of police, but doesn´t feel loved back. To make things even more complicated, one of his students turns to Sebastian Swift, asking for help. Later on Swift finds out
A very good read with a typical Lanyon plot: two hot man, one being the apparently strong copper while the other suffers from something, although this weakness always turns out to be a strength. O, and Lanyon never minds a happy end, bless him!!
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that the student is wanted for murder. All of a sudden Swift is involved in a murder crime, has to deal not only with his lover, mate, friend or whatever but also with the demons of his own past.A very good read with a typical Lanyon plot: two hot man, one being the apparently strong copper while the other suffers from something, although this weakness always turns out to be a strength. O, and Lanyon never minds a happy end, bless him!!
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LibraryThing member JDRuskin1184
Swift was really interesting character and like how his descriptions matched his poetic view. The mystery wasn't the most clever, but I liked watching Swift solve it. My concrit is that I wasn't clear on Max's character in terms of what he looked like or his motivations. He didn't come alive for me
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until the ending of the book and I would have liked to see more hints along the way. Show Less
LibraryThing member Stewartry
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
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.
And this isn't smut. For anyone who might be
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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.
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LibraryThing member jetangen4571
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
Pretty well written, and definitely a good whodunit by one of my favorite authors!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you!
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
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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 whodunit by one of my favorite authors!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you!
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LibraryThing member Carol420
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
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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. Show Less
Language
Original publication date
2011
Physical description
208 p.; 5.51 x 0.47 inches
ISBN
1609285980 / 9781609285982