Adrien English Mystery Series #2 Suffering from writer's block and frustrated with his tentative relationship with hot but closeted L.A.P.D. Homici...
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Aug 11, 2011
Tara
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This is the second book in the Adrien English mystery. Again, another great mystery. A true mystery, one that I didn't figure out until the end.
In this book Adrien runs away from his ambiguous non-relationship with Jake. He decides to go visit the house left to him by his grandmother. When he arrives there is a dead body in his driveway. Of course by the time he drives to safety and calls the police, the body is gone. He spends so time looking for the body and trying to figure More...
In this book Adrien runs away from his ambiguous non-relationship with Jake. He decides to go visit the house left to him by his grandmother. When he arrives there is a dead body in his driveway. Of course by the time he drives to safety and calls the police, the body is gone. He spends so time looking for the body and trying to figure More...
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May 13, 2010
DarkHeart "Vehngeance"
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Another enjoyable Adrien English mystery. Adrien's wit was back, as was his innate ability to find trouble. The change of venue to his ranch house was an entertaining setting - there's nothing like small town America for colorful (read: small minded and homophobic) characters. It takes some time, but the relationship between Adrien and Jake finally heats up. I'm still on the fence about Jake, but there was some improvement in his character - I still think Adrien is a saint to put up with him
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Jul 06, 2011
Trix
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What can I say? I'm becoming addicted. The second book of the Adrien English mysteries was even better than the first.
Perhaps, this time I wasn't expecting a romance atmosphere to be included in the plot or perhaps I had an easier time tracking the characters and the range of events taking place in the book but I was hooked from start to finish.
I was again surprised by the author of the killings. I didn't figure out who it was (I suspected Shoup) but it was relatively clo More...
Perhaps, this time I wasn't expecting a romance atmosphere to be included in the plot or perhaps I had an easier time tracking the characters and the range of events taking place in the book but I was hooked from start to finish.
I was again surprised by the author of the killings. I didn't figure out who it was (I suspected Shoup) but it was relatively clo More...
Apr 07, 2011
ALPHAreader
rated it:
This is the second book in Josh Lanyon’s ‘Adrien English’ series, which just gets better and better…
In this second installment Adrien escapes LA and his maybe-but-not-really-boyfriend, Detective Jake Riordan, and his yo-yoing affections. Adrien travels eight hours to the ranch he inherited from his deceased grandmother. Adrien has every intention of squeezing in some writing time for his second novel, and to forget about closeted homosexual, Jake.
Before he even gets through the fr More...
In this second installment Adrien escapes LA and his maybe-but-not-really-boyfriend, Detective Jake Riordan, and his yo-yoing affections. Adrien travels eight hours to the ranch he inherited from his deceased grandmother. Adrien has every intention of squeezing in some writing time for his second novel, and to forget about closeted homosexual, Jake.
Before he even gets through the fr More...
Jan 31, 2011
lovely
rated it: 
I had to get this book through inter library loan and I wish it was more worth the wait. Josh Lanyon is a good writer,but I found a few to many clichés in the book. Dumb small town cops, closeted gay cops, mysterious indian lady, lesbian librarians ect.
The small town cops were both racist and dumb. There were instances where I was like really? What kind of cops are these. This book was published well into the hillbilly crack phase in rual areas also known as meth. You’d figure the c More...
The small town cops were both racist and dumb. There were instances where I was like really? What kind of cops are these. This book was published well into the hillbilly crack phase in rual areas also known as meth. You’d figure the c More...
Jun 04, 2010
Nikki
rated it:
I enjoyed the second Adrien English book rather more than the first, probably because I already feel a connection to the main characters, Jake Riordan and Adrien himself. The tension between them is strong, and the chemistry too. The two sex scenes are pretty well-written, and some of the descriptions of emotions are quite good.
The mystery itself is a little... routine. Some of the background stuff is pretty interesting -- all the references to old mystery novels, for example. It's k More...
The mystery itself is a little... routine. Some of the background stuff is pretty interesting -- all the references to old mystery novels, for example. It's k More...
May 27, 2011
Bee
rated it:
Second book in the series. Two months have passed and Adrien is sick and tired of his "relationship" with Jake Riordan. The relationship that consists of Jake scheduling and then bailing on dates, refusing to touch Adrien but still assuring him he wants to have sex, and being twitchy as soon as they are in public together. As Jake once again bails on him Adrien decides on a whim to go to his Grandma's old ranch out in the country to get some peace and quiet to work on his novel. Unfort
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Apr 03, 2011
Alicia
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I enjoyed this second addition to the Adrien English series just as much as I enjoyed the first novel. I do absolutely love the tension and tenderness in Adrien and Jake's complicated relationship. I'm reading this series more for the characters, their relationships and their subsequent sexytimes than for the mystery. Still, I personally found the mystery aspect of the plot to be engaging enough and I did not find it predictable at all, despite predictability being a common complaint amongst
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Aug 24, 2010
Luna
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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May 13, 2009
Matimate
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Why I picked the second volume of the standard detective story, which tried to be spicy by having some gay themes in it. Main hero and narrator of the story Adrian English had strange talent to fall in to the troubles like proper damsel in distress even if he is gay man. The inherited ranch could be a source of income but also trouble if there is abandoned caves and mine. Yes, there were plenty of corpses and Adrian found the first one and screamed literaly for help and his knight on white horse
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May 16, 2010
Lisa
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Josh Lanyon, you are a mad genius and I lurve you.
Another fun and fantastic mystery in the Adrien English series, set in the Northern California gold rush country. This installment mixes a modern day mystery with the days of the mid-19th century gold fever era, then adds a little Native American folklore to boot. It all adds up to a suspenseful joy ride.
As Jake and Adrien slowly :scowls: begin to work through their issues...well, mostly Jake...I confess to being a little More...
Another fun and fantastic mystery in the Adrien English series, set in the Northern California gold rush country. This installment mixes a modern day mystery with the days of the mid-19th century gold fever era, then adds a little Native American folklore to boot. It all adds up to a suspenseful joy ride.
As Jake and Adrien slowly :scowls: begin to work through their issues...well, mostly Jake...I confess to being a little More...
Apr 08, 2011
Kathryn
rated it:
I enjoyed Adrien and Jake spending time together and this book was not as predictable as the first in the series but I did becomet a little lost in the story, mostly involving the historical aspects. It's not that I had difficulty following the story. I just felt a little bogged down with the history as a plot device.
Adrien was once again great fun to read about. I love his inner voice. I also liked Jake, except for when he would spout off with some self-loathing BS. I am nervous ab More...
Adrien was once again great fun to read about. I love his inner voice. I also liked Jake, except for when he would spout off with some self-loathing BS. I am nervous ab More...
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Mar 02, 2010
JPerceval
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Suffering from a combination of writer's block and frustration over his relationship (or lack thereof) with closeted detective Jake Riordan, mystery bookstore owner, author, and reluctant amateur sleuth Adrien English decides to get away from it all by going to the Sonoran ranch he inherited from his grandmother. He hasn't been there since he was a child, but it can't be worse than LA, right?
Wrong, of course. First there's the dead body he finds in his driveway, a body that disappear More...
Wrong, of course. First there's the dead body he finds in his driveway, a body that disappear More...
Dec 06, 2011
L-D
rated it:
In the second book of this series, Jake and Adrien have started a somewhat bizarre relationship. They hang out and whatnot, but Jake still can't touch Adrien in a sexual way. Jake is used to being sexual with women and being sexual with men in his BDSM club, but he has never been in a relationship with a man, so he doesn't feel comfortable. Okay, I admit it, I just hate Jake. Why would anyone get involved with a gay homophobe? It just boggles my mind. Adrien is an idiot.
Let's More...
Let's More...
Jul 31, 2011
Angel
rated it:
I've made my way through all the Adrien (that's Adrien with an e) novels and have to say this remains at the top of the list for several reasons.
First, there's a darn good mystery here - a murder that seems to have a simple explanation slowly evolves into something much more complex. Stir in hostile local law enforcement, a great cast of secondary characters with their own agendas, our man Jake riding to the rescue, and Adrien refusing to listen to his good advice, and you have the More...
First, there's a darn good mystery here - a murder that seems to have a simple explanation slowly evolves into something much more complex. Stir in hostile local law enforcement, a great cast of secondary characters with their own agendas, our man Jake riding to the rescue, and Adrien refusing to listen to his good advice, and you have the More...
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Jun 13, 2011
Valentina
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It's strange how just one sentence from Jake can make me seriously dislike him. But then he hugs Adrien and it's 15 time sweeter than a hug from any other character in any other book. He's such a conflicting guy and the little of his personality that I did see in the books makes him terribly interesting.
Adrien on the other hand, while adorable to a point is very boring to me. His ramblings annoy me and while I do like characters who can't seem to avoid trouble, I still can't find muc More...
Adrien on the other hand, while adorable to a point is very boring to me. His ramblings annoy me and while I do like characters who can't seem to avoid trouble, I still can't find muc More...
Jul 02, 2011
Paola
rated it:
It's official: I've fallen in love with this series :)
Adrien “with-an-E” is such an endearing character, with (and especially because of) his flaws, but mainly because of his wry, often sardonic humour and his uncanny capability of getting himself into trouble and danger. He never takes himself too seriously (which, together with his easy charm, makes him a very attractive character to me), and his innate sense of curiosity often translates into stubbornness, while he’s playing detecti More...
Adrien “with-an-E” is such an endearing character, with (and especially because of) his flaws, but mainly because of his wry, often sardonic humour and his uncanny capability of getting himself into trouble and danger. He never takes himself too seriously (which, together with his easy charm, makes him a very attractive character to me), and his innate sense of curiosity often translates into stubbornness, while he’s playing detecti More...
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Sep 23, 2011
Emanuela ~plastic duck~
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Review written after re-reading it.
I was hooked with the first book in the series and last year I read the five installments back to back. I enjoyed this book, but with time its memory sort of faded in my mind, because what happens in book 3 is shocking and you just HAVE TO read #4 to keep your sanity. Poor #2 seemed almost light in comparison to the darker story in Fatal Shadows and the shock (I don't have another word) of The Hell You Say. I was a bit surprised and very delighted t More...
I was hooked with the first book in the series and last year I read the five installments back to back. I enjoyed this book, but with time its memory sort of faded in my mind, because what happens in book 3 is shocking and you just HAVE TO read #4 to keep your sanity. Poor #2 seemed almost light in comparison to the darker story in Fatal Shadows and the shock (I don't have another word) of The Hell You Say. I was a bit surprised and very delighted t More...
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Mar 09, 2011
Merith
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Despite his attempts at understanding Jake, Adrien finds that after one too many broken 'dates', he cannot take any more - at least for the moment. He decides a long overdue visit to the ranch his grandmother left him is in order... but he's not running away, not issuing a challenge to Jake, not at all. Adrien just needs time to think, and maybe the fresh air and new locale will inspire him to write more on his latest novel.
The body in the driveway was more than just a roadblock. Its More...
The body in the driveway was more than just a roadblock. Its More...
Oct 05, 2010
Hilcia
rated it:
This series is getting better. A Dangerous Thing, the second book in the Adrien English Mysteries series, has excellent balance between the mystery/suspense and Adrien and Jake's developing relationship. I love how well Lanyon almost seamlessly integrates the two. The mystery is full of great twists and turns with multiple murders, suspects and red herrings thrown into the mix. I didn't really guess who the murderer was until almost the end; just the way I like my mysteries.
Adrien wa More...
Adrien wa More...
Dec 19, 2010
ElaineY
rated it:
A solid 5-star read this time. No TSTL antics to make me wince even though the supposed paranormal goings-on have a predictable basis. I did, at times, feel as if I was reading one of those Enid Blyton Famous Five books I loved when I was a kid but rather than detracting from my enjoyment, I think it rather enhanced it.
Adrien, again, is his irrepressible, appealing self but I'm still not getting a good understanding of Jake. The few remarks thrown in about him from Adrien's POV leave m More...
Adrien, again, is his irrepressible, appealing self but I'm still not getting a good understanding of Jake. The few remarks thrown in about him from Adrien's POV leave m More...
Oct 02, 2008
Erfan
rated it:
Josh Lanyon is apparently taking part in the Mary Renault lj book group that is doing a chapter at a time of 'The Persian Boy'
I was not surprised to hear that his participation is intelligent and funny and friendly. His books are like that and I am happily pleased by his plots, characters, settings, humour, dark touches and the relationship.
This is not heavy or pretentious literature. They are a well-written and absorbing series of mysteries. (He is currently writing his four More...
I was not surprised to hear that his participation is intelligent and funny and friendly. His books are like that and I am happily pleased by his plots, characters, settings, humour, dark touches and the relationship.
This is not heavy or pretentious literature. They are a well-written and absorbing series of mysteries. (He is currently writing his four More...
May 01, 2008
4 points for first half, 0 points for second one. I'd bet my life on Josh Lanyon being a woman. I enjoyed the beginning of this book, witty and fast moving, but while any worry about love-interest Riordan's S&M preference were unnecessary, I became increasingly uneasy about the "hero" Adrien falling too neatly into the female amateur sleuth role of countless cozies. He is actually being told to keep his pretty little head out of things, and the repeated statements of how Riordan is so
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May 24, 2009
Ami
rated it:
The second book of Adrien English mystery is better and so much yummier than the first one. The murder mystery is wrapped up nicely and Mr. Lanyon keeps us guessing until the very last pages. The relationship between Adrien and his "possible lover" the very closeted gay L.A.P.D. homicide detective, Jake Riordan, develops smoothly and charmingly. The only let down of this story is the fact that I should've bought the 3rd and 4th book with this book because now I am craving for more of A
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Apr 18, 2011
Sheila
rated it:
I am really enjoying this series, especially the character of Adrien. He is wonderfully smart and witty. I like his relationship with Jake too. As messed up as it is it feels more realistic than when characters fall immediately in love with each other and live happily ever after. Relationships, like people, aren't perfect and I think Adrien and Jake are a good example of that. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to smack Jake in the head most of the time, because I really do.
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Feb 13, 2010
Janna
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I enjoyed this second book of the Adrien English series a little bit more than the first one, because the romance between Adrien and Jake finally started. It's all still a little bit reluctantly but the time away from LA that they spent on the ranch together was nice for their relationship building. The mystery in this book was okay, I couldn't help but to laugh about the remark that's made about Murder She Wrote...
I'm still loving Adrien's voice and I'm starting to really like him!
C More...
I'm still loving Adrien's voice and I'm starting to really like him!
C More...
Sep 21, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
Relationships can be murder. Bookseller and mystery author Adrien English is looking for love in all the wrong places -- and, according to hot and handsome LAPD detective Jake Riordan, it's liable to get him killed.
Once again I enjoyed reading an Adrien English mystery ~ and for all the same reasons. Adrien is, I find, a very likable person. He wants to have a forever someone of his own, but he's not having much luck. While I have called these stories "romances" the More...
Once again I enjoyed reading an Adrien English mystery ~ and for all the same reasons. Adrien is, I find, a very likable person. He wants to have a forever someone of his own, but he's not having much luck. While I have called these stories "romances" the More...
Dec 07, 2011
Stacey
rated it:
If Josh Lanyon is the mothership of the mm genre, then abduct me. I don't want or need to come home ever again. I really enjoyed Fatal Shadows, but loved A Dangerous Thing. The mystery in this book is less predictable than the first, the relationship dynamics between Jake and Adrien are intriguing to watch, and Adrien's inner dialogue just gets better and better. He is one witty bastard. His humor so dry and pointed that at times I found myself laughing out loud. A guaranteed good read, especial
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Mar 05, 2011
Julia
rated it:
Thriller/mystery side of this Adrien English book worked better for me than the first of the series. The concept of being alone out on a ranch with dead bodies and drug trafficking really creeped me out. Adrien's relationship with Jake was interesting and well drawn, and I was delighted to find that the cheesy line, "You're so tight" is as entertaining in a gay romance as it is in the straight variety.
Dec 22, 2011
Sweetp-1
rated it:
Book #2 of an entertaining fun series. I read #1 and #2 in an afternoon so they are very quick reads. Mysteries are not my usual but I am really enjoying these for something a little different. The romance element is explored further in this book - a little frustrating at times with the cliche in the closet cop boyfriend/are we- aren't we/love interest, but overall another fun read.
