Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Alyson Books (2006), Hardcover
Description
When LAPD detective David Laine first encounters hunky party boy Chris Bellamere, it is to interrogate him about the murder of one of Chris' many sexual conquests. When Chris' efforts to prove his innocence mark him as a victim, David steps in to save him and finds himself falling in love with a man who might be a brutal murderer. P.A. Brown's debut is a gritty mystery set in Los Angeles' edgy, less-glamorous East Side, where gangs mingle with gays, gunfire is heard after dark and where a gay cop like David Laine could live undetected. At least until now...
User reviews
LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
LAPD officer David Laine is investigating a series of brutal killings now being attributed to the "Carpet Killer". The investigation is made even more difficult by the fact that it involves that the victims all appear to be homosexual men and David himself is, by necessity of his life and his job,
This story was well written and despite the very gruesome aspects of the rape/murders this story thankfully never went over the top in the graphic description department, both of the violence and of the bedroom scenes. I found the beginning of the story to be a little tedious in the police procedure department as we are slowly brought in to the investigation. The characters were nicely done and I enjoyed both David and Chris' POVs, it gave us a well rounded look at what was going on the parts of the investigator and suspect. I feel that the attraction between them was believable is a very "opposites attract" way because of their personalities. I think the downside was that to me, the book really wasn't fish or fowl. Not really the dramatic murder/mystery and suspense because of the romance, but not really romantic enough (to me) to be a real romance. I often feel this way with the "straight" romances written for the genre as well so I'm sure it is just my personal feeling on it. Where we left the characters you can certainly see they have a tough road ahead of them, particularly from the aspect of David's employment.
Overall this was a good story with likeable characters and a very fast read in the romantic suspense genre.
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a very in the closet man himself. When the investigation focuses on the young computer tech and open playboy Chris Bellamere David finds himself torn between the need to find the killer and his own attraction to the potential suspect.This story was well written and despite the very gruesome aspects of the rape/murders this story thankfully never went over the top in the graphic description department, both of the violence and of the bedroom scenes. I found the beginning of the story to be a little tedious in the police procedure department as we are slowly brought in to the investigation. The characters were nicely done and I enjoyed both David and Chris' POVs, it gave us a well rounded look at what was going on the parts of the investigator and suspect. I feel that the attraction between them was believable is a very "opposites attract" way because of their personalities. I think the downside was that to me, the book really wasn't fish or fowl. Not really the dramatic murder/mystery and suspense because of the romance, but not really romantic enough (to me) to be a real romance. I often feel this way with the "straight" romances written for the genre as well so I'm sure it is just my personal feeling on it. Where we left the characters you can certainly see they have a tough road ahead of them, particularly from the aspect of David's employment.
Overall this was a good story with likeable characters and a very fast read in the romantic suspense genre.
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LibraryThing member maybedog
This was a refreshing change from typical detective mysteries in that there was actual detecting. The officers were smart and asked good questions and interviewed the right witnesses. There were real consequences for inappropriate actions. But like regular police work, sometimes it was a little
I really liked the main detective. He was really a great guy and his motivations were clear cut and made sense. I didn't like Chris at all at first but he grew on me. He changed quite a bit but there wasn't enough reason for him to do so. I mean, it wasn't really talked about. I also wasn't quite clear why Chris liked David at first. He barely knew the man and it was quite clear he was not particularly good-looking. But as the story progressed it made sense, just not as early as he began the attraction. But Chris turned out to be a lot less shallow then he was initial portrayed. Their relationship was sweet and sex was even beautiful.
I think the secondary characters were good, too, although a couple of the jerks were a little too black and white. Martinez was believable and I liked how he was at the end. It was believable to me.
The mystery was very good. I didn't figure it out until about 70-75% of the way in. But then I can be dense about this kind thing because I try not to figure it out. The ending, the big action finale was excellent, lots of peril and pending death.
There were a couple of issues that left me thinking that this wasn't a five star book and yet I can't remember them anymore. So 4.5 rounded up to 5 because of my bad memory.
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dull. I really liked the main detective. He was really a great guy and his motivations were clear cut and made sense. I didn't like Chris at all at first but he grew on me. He changed quite a bit but there wasn't enough reason for him to do so. I mean, it wasn't really talked about. I also wasn't quite clear why Chris liked David at first. He barely knew the man and it was quite clear he was not particularly good-looking. But as the story progressed it made sense, just not as early as he began the attraction. But Chris turned out to be a lot less shallow then he was initial portrayed. Their relationship was sweet and sex was even beautiful.
I think the secondary characters were good, too, although a couple of the jerks were a little too black and white. Martinez was believable and I liked how he was at the end. It was believable to me.
The mystery was very good. I didn't figure it out until about 70-75% of the way in. But then I can be dense about this kind thing because I try not to figure it out. The ending, the big action finale was excellent, lots of peril and pending death.
There were a couple of issues that left me thinking that this wasn't a five star book and yet I can't remember them anymore. So 4.5 rounded up to 5 because of my bad memory.
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LibraryThing member Tam2603
A very well written crime story with interesting characters. It is a serial killer story, not exactly original, but with the gay story line also not too cliched. I liked both MCs, I liked how things developed between them.
The "heat" in the title is a little misleading - it only describes the
Why not 5 stars? Because the suspense was good, but not great. The love story was more in the background, very good, but not favorites-material.
The "heat" in the title is a little misleading - it only describes the
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weather in this case. I didn't miss the step by step accounts here, but just for managing expectations: no explicit descriptions, just hinting. The book was good and entertaining, so I didn't miss this part. Why not 5 stars? Because the suspense was good, but not great. The love story was more in the background, very good, but not favorites-material.
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LibraryThing member JDRuskin1184
Chris and David's relationship is really interesting to watch, but they both have serious issues. David isn’t the traditional dashing hero and Chris is kind of a pretty boy flake. I didn't like the explaining of the police terms, but I admired that the author didn’t shy away from gritty details.
Awards
Rainbow Award (Winner — 2009)
Language
Original publication date
2006-07-01
ISBN
0739470477 / 9780739470473
Local notes
OCLC = 52
0 local
0 local
Other editions
L.A. Heat: A Novel by P.A. Brown (Paperback)