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L.A. Boneyard (L.A. #3)

by P.A. Brown (Goodreads Author)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 215 ratings · 21 reviews

From a shallow grave in Griffith Park, to the bucolic streets of West Hollywood into the dark heart of the gang-infested streets of East L.A, evil is pursued in this dark story of passion and redemption. Detective David Eric Laine is no stranger to violence and brutality, but even he is taken aback at the sheer viciousness of the murder of two pregnant Ukrainian women. Thi...more

Paperback, 352 pages

Published November 26th 2009 by MLR Press (first published 2009)

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Oct 24, 2010 SA rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a really creepy murder mystery, on par with any CSI episode. I was surprised at how strong the forensic science is in this and the subsequent book--Brown really gets her stuff.

I was a bit sketch about the whole David and Jairo on the d/l part, not because I didn't believe that someone wouldn't make a move on David but more that the whole married bi smoking hot detective that just happens to show up as David's partner and won't take no for an answer was just a little too pat. And Chris...more

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Apr 23, 2010 B.K. Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bk-s-library

L.A. Boneyard by P.A. Brown is absolutely astounding! If you're a murder and mystery fan you are surely going to love this book! Captivating from start to finish, it's a must read!

David Eric Laine is a homicide detective of the Northeast Community Police Department in Los Angeles. When two bodies turn up in a local park, Detective Laine begins his pursuit to find the killer, with his new homicide partner Jairo Hernandez.

With no clues as to who these women are, and a new partner, this case proves...more

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Apr 17, 2010 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. L.A. Boneyard

by P.A. Brown
MLR Press
352 Pages
5 KISSES

Blurb:
From a shallow grave in Griffith Park, to the bucolic streets of West Hollywood into the dark heart of the gang-infested streets of East L.A, evil is pursued in this dark story of passion and redemption.

Detective David Eric Laine is no stranger to violence and brutality, but even he is taken aback at the sheer viciousness of the murder of two pregnant Ukrainian women. This is just the beginning of a baffling case which leads from their sh...more

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Feb 09, 2010 Kassa rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a fan of the first book, LA Heat, I’m very happy with the sequel and the fact there will be a third book coming out. While not perfect, LA Boneyard concentrates on the author’s strength in writing an interesting, complicated mystery with thorough but never boring police work. Police procedural aspects are kept current and engaging, carrying the intricate plot. The relationship between David and Chris is a nice addition and adds more complexity to both men, although clearly taking the backseat...more As a fan of the first book, LA Heat, I’m very happy with the sequel and the fact there will be a third book coming out. While not perfect, LA Boneyard concentrates on the author’s strength in writing an interesting, complicated mystery with thorough but never boring police work. Police procedural aspects are kept current and engaging, carrying the intricate plot. The relationship between David and Chris is a nice addition and adds more complexity to both men, although clearly taking the backseat to the murder mystery. The resolution to the murder is well crafted, yet the emotional pay off is too easy and short after dragging on for so long. Not without its problems, LA Boneyard remains a great, entertaining read for those that like the hard boiled, detail driven cop books.

Detective David Laine is called in to investigate a half buried body in Griffith Park. He discovers not just the one body but another as well. The burial site causes immediate problems sending David working overtime as a rift starts to appear between him and Chris. Unfortunately that’s not the only problem David has as his sexy new partner, Jairo, has made it clear he wants David and has no problems getting in the way of David and Chris’ relationship. As if all of this wasn’t enough, more bodies seem to be piling up and David struggles to find the common thread while clinging to his relationship with Chris despite temptation and horribly bad choices.

The plot is rather complicated as it weaves four almost separate murders together into a large, complex mystery involving slave trading, black market gun running, baby selling, prostitution, and child pornography. Given the numerous elements, Brown does a superb job keeping the plot moving with a minimum of confusion. There are perhaps too many aspects that keep getting thrown in and the book/plot didn’t need quite so many tangents to create a compelling mystery. This is a minor detail as there are very few dropped threads, but there are several elements that could have been dropped without adversely affecting the story. For the most part, the skillful weaving of details and careful, thorough police work creates an interesting story even as body after body and a plethora of seemingly random connections are introduced.

Since the murder mystery is the real focus of the book, the narrator is David’s third person point of view. There are a handful of scenes from Chris’ point of view and a few awkward view shifts mid-scene, but this is really David’s book. Following step by step as he works to solve the murders while simultaneously trying to save his relationship with Chris. David’s struggle with temptation, his annoyance with Chris’ bitchy behavior, and later his fear of losing his lover all present a very nice contrast to the day to day detail of police life. This helps humanize David and shows the personal side of his personality, a side that is rarely ever shown during his investigation. Although the relationship drama and fidelity test are welcome and very nicely drawn, none of these scenes really offer in depth characterization. All of the characters introduced are given enough outline to be recognized, but nothing goes further than at best a two dimensional characterization. Chris is especially absent and deserved more than the few scenes he’s given.

Part of this problem ties into the too easy resolution for the relationship aspect. Since the murder mystery is drawn out and includes a lengthy gun/chase scene at the end, the lesser back story of David’s relationship drama is resolved in about a paragraph. The quick and easy resolution had me wondering why that didn’t happen 200 pages ago when the issue was first brought up. Here Chris’ character is contradictory as he waffles from moment to moment and ultimately capitulates without any real prompting. Given this happened after 350 pages of police drama, I can understand wanting to wrap up the remaining emotional issue nice and easy, but it lacked any real romantic satisfaction. Hopefully the next book will even the focus on both men and give both men the additional depth and characterization they deserve.

The pace is mostly even with a lot of action and prolonging suspense. Some of these scenes are over the top slightly and didn’t necessarily need to be added as there is a sense of the plot getting chaotic at one point. However stick with it as the book evens out and the murders slowly start to form a common thread. The additional fourth murder and its implications could have been dropped entirely in my opinion and I would have rather seen David deal with all the problems without such an easy out but this is definitely a personal preference. Most readers won’t mind the added element and it does eventually weave itself into the main plot. There are a few too many rhetorical questions asked which have a tendency to annoy and a few too many random slang words thrown in that don’t really match the dialogue. However, these minor qualms do not take away from the book.

Overall this is another solid installment in the police procedural series and I look forward to the next one. Even if the story gets slightly confusing, stay with it and the plot will weave itself together very well. This sequel stands well on its own and does not need to be read with the first book; in fact there are a few erroneous details about the timeline that don’t match the previous book. So this is a great one to pick up on its own if you’re looking for a solid, engaging detail orientated book.
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Jan 02, 2010 Ami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-mystery-suspense-thriller, 4-and-half-stars_rating

4.5 Stars

I must say that I'm very impressed of this book. P.A. Brown writes crime and police procedure very well, that this should be classified more than just "gay mystery". It's as good as other detective/mystery books I've read that involve non-gay heroes. The issue with human trafficking, molestation, force of prostitution is very good. The answer of the murder is a very good twist. And the last scene with the bad guy feels like an action movie.

And now ont the relationship part ... I'd like...more

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Dec 13, 2009 thelastaerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Jul 02, 2012 Smith rated it 4 of 5 stars

After the mess of the second book, L.A. Mischief which was more porn than anything, the author is finally back to writing. This 3rd book is a mystery which also includes developments in the main characters relationship. The blatant useless no plot moving sex of the second book is not here. And that is all for the good. Any sex that does occur moves the plot along instead of being a "Lets have a quick shag because I have XX pages to fill"

The plot is fairly well developed and the relationship has...more

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Feb 01, 2010 Elisa Ramblings added it

Sometime author and readers wonder what could happen “after” an happily ever after, when the passion maybe becomes routine, or when maybe you realize that what probably you thought was something without future, could well be your forever and ever, and well, it scares you.

David and Chris are 4 years old partners and really, everything seems perfect: they love each other, they desire each other, they even commit privately and David is wearing Chris’s ring, even if it’s not legal, it’s binding for...more Sometime author and readers wonder what could happen “after” an happily ever after, when the passion maybe becomes routine, or when maybe you realize that what probably you thought was something without future, could well be your forever and ever, and well, it scares you.

David and Chris are 4 years old partners and really, everything seems perfect: they love each other, they desire each other, they even commit privately and David is wearing Chris’s ring, even if it’s not legal, it’s binding for them. So, no trouble in Paradise? Apparently, but then Jairo enters David’s life.

Jairo is a young detective and David will have to train him. Jairo is not only beautiful, but also someone who shares way more with David than Chris. I don’t know but I feel like David shelters Chris from his ugly life, and in doing so he is cutting him out. Instead with Jairo he can talk of everything, he can share everything. And when Jairo makes a move on him, at first David is tempted, who will not be? David is stronger than temptation, but he feels guilty all the same, even for a “mental” cheat.

On the other side there is Chris and his clear love for David, a love that pushes him maybe to have an irrational behaviour, like a magnet he attracts and drives back David according to his mood. He has all the right to be angry, and has all the right to question David, but after that, I don’t know, probably he should have been more willing to understand David’s reason, and not maybe the words of a jealous man.

Last Jairo, the third man, the villain in the old romances formula. At first I didn’t like him, but then I started to think, maybe he is really interested in David, it’s not only a question of sex. True Jairo is married and with sons, he is not exactly behaving like a good man, but maybe he had no choice, maybe he is only a former young boy who did what his family, all people around him, expected from him. For sure he can’t be the hero of this novel, and I didn’t expect for Chris to like him, but maybe I understood and comprehended why David likes him.

I like the intake of the author in this story, I like her courage to put in question her pair of heroes, to give us a glimpse of what reality and routing can do to a perfect romance, it made the romance more real. Even in the previous book David and Chris were not an ordinary couple, and their was not a whirlwind romance, au contraire, I think David put on stake a lot for being with Chris, and so it would have been not realistic if everything went smooth like oil between them.

A last note on the cops themed set: it’s not a big boom bam type of story, the crimes David is involved with are dirty and awful, but the author didn’t linger on the awfulness, she just gave you enough details to understand that these are not some unlikely fictional crimes, these are the day-to-day horror of metropolis chronicles.

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May 08, 2010 Matthew Vandrew rated it 3 of 5 stars

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Dec 12, 2010 OkayKim rated it 4 of 5 stars

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Apr 28, 2013 jules0623 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: asshat-friends-or-relatives, blackmail-and-bribery, break-up-and-make-up, casual-sex-booty-call-drunk-sex, cops-firemen-and-paramedics, criminals-or-jail-birds, engagements-and-wedding-bells, established-couple, fabulous-friends-or-relatives, genre-aaaangst, genre-crime, genre-suspense, homophobia, hot-computer-geeks, illness-or-injury-strikes, in-the-closet, infidelity-or-temptation, kidnapped-hijacked-or-held-hostage, kids-or-animals, love-triangle, lying-liar-that-lies, married-or-committed-men, mc-is-a-buttmunch, missing-condom-or-lube, relationship-m-m, series, unrequited-or-obsessive-crush-love, violence-or-torture, character-death

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Apr 11, 2011 Lori rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011challenge, e-books, mysteries, romance-crossg, gbltq

Brown just gets better as she goes. This one's gruesome, with a nasty twist for the characters. I felt bad that David Laine's new partner, Jairo Hernandez, bought it in a way that was just a little too obvious, I wanted him gone from the picture, just not that way.

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Nov 02, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in2012, part-of-series, m-m

Best book of the series so far. Although, I did want to hurt David for the first half of the book.

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Mar 09, 2011 Minne rated it 5 of 5 stars

simply brilliant - the entire series is as good.

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Jan 03, 2012 R.B. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, with-some-romance, mystery-crime-suspense, glbt-fiction, contemporary, series, angst-lot-of, favorites

The crime investigation was somewhat lengthy in this book but I love those guys, so 5* rating is for them *lol*

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Feb 26, 2013 Okidli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-cops-security-guards-p-i-s

3.5

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Sep 28, 2010 Tj rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was a good read. The characters were solid and real. I thought the conflict that developed actually helped their relationship and finally pushed David into total commitment. He always seemed to hang on to that little bit of shame. The plot was well written. The twists and turns of the case were unexpected. I felt for David even while calling him an idiot, to me this marks a well executed character. A very enjoyable read:)

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Jun 04, 2010 Betryal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Wow a 4 year time frame jump from the last book. Be ready for it.

This isn't the first book and not the last so if you've read out of sync/order and reading this first it's plain it's simple that you're whacked.

All I can say here is: DAVID IS A BLOODY WANKER!

Other than... it's an amazing story and must keep going which means... LA Bytes here I come!

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Aug 03, 2010 Juli rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-fictionwise

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 25, 2011 Miriki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, m-m-genre-contemporary, m-m-profession-law-enforcement, m-m-theme-established-couples, m-m-theme-mystery-suspense, pure-romance-little-to-no-sex

I'm surprised at the details of the forensic works. Sadly the romance was lacking something. After the rollercoster the ending was a meh for me.

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Jul 31, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, gay, ebook, mystery, done

Very good gay mystery with a titch of romance in which I wanted to smack David for 90% of the book; for the other 10%, I wanted to smack Chris.

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May 06, 2013 Tʀɪsʜᴀ Hᴀʀʀɪɴɢᴛᴏɴ rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: cops-pis-bodyguards, cheating, biggest-mistakes-of-my-life, i-hate-myself-for-reading-this

Doesn't get one because I liked the next two a bit more... I hate cheating though.

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May 23, 2013 Tasha Croome marked it as to-read

May 20, 2013 Mas rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 18, 2013 Kimberly marked it as to-read

May 19, 2013 Shahreen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

May 04, 2013 Taniajels rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 29, 2013 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 26, 2013 Alex rated it 3 of 5 stars

Apr 24, 2013 Kenzi Bond rated it 5 of 5 stars

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About P.A. Brown

Pat Brown, writing as P.A. Brown, is the author of the Chris and David police procedural novels featuring LAPD homicide detective David Eric Laine and his lover, computer network engineer Christopher Bellamere. In L. A. Heat the first in the series, David is an uptight, in the closet cop living a life of denial and dark secrets he will protect at all costs. Then his life becomes entwined with Chri...more

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Books by P.A. Brown

The Geography Of Murder (Geography of Murder, #1)

A Forest of Corpses (Geography of Murder, #2)

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L.A. Boneyard (L.A. #3)

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