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Doyle and Spain #1
Snowball in Hell
Los Angeles, 1943Reporter Nathan Doyle had his reasons to want Phil Arlen dead, but when he sees the man's body pulled from the La Brea tar pit, he knows he'll be the prime suspect. He also knows that his life won't stand up to intense police scrutiny, so he sets out to crack the case himself.Lieutenant Matthew Spain's official inquiries soon lead him to believe that Nathan knows more than he's saying. But that's not the only reason Matt takes notice of the handsome journalist. Matt's been drawn to men before, but he must hide his true feelings-or risk his entire career.As Nathan digs deeper, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay one step ahead of Matt Spain-and to deny his intense attraction to him. Nathan's secrets may not include murder, but has his hunt put him right in the path of the real killer? Previously published, newly revised by author.44,490 words
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
111 people are currently reading
1340 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
218 books5,407 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 337 reviews
October 17, 2020
3 Stars
Definitely one of the angstier Lanyon’s I’ve read, this is set during WWII where a cop and a journalist are back home from war injuries and cross paths over a murder.
PTSD, in the closet out of necessity, depression, suicidal ideation, extortion, and kidnapping are just some of the topics touched on in this story.
Written approximately 13 years ago, it’s that much harder to bear as no sequel is in sight despite this being billed as a series. I should be used to frustration regarding this author, and most of the time it doesn’t bother me much… but despite superlative writing, this was more keenly felt this time around with such an abrupt unsatisfying ending, and I’m not a happy camper.
Definitely one of the angstier Lanyon’s I’ve read, this is set during WWII where a cop and a journalist are back home from war injuries and cross paths over a murder.
PTSD, in the closet out of necessity, depression, suicidal ideation, extortion, and kidnapping are just some of the topics touched on in this story.
Written approximately 13 years ago, it’s that much harder to bear as no sequel is in sight despite this being billed as a series. I should be used to frustration regarding this author, and most of the time it doesn’t bother me much… but despite superlative writing, this was more keenly felt this time around with such an abrupt unsatisfying ending, and I’m not a happy camper.
April 11, 2014
If every mystery writer wrote like Josh Lanyon, I would be a fan of mysteries. I could go on again about the frustrating issues I have with the genre, but that would be a disservice to this wonderfully compelling book.
The mystery was only slightly transparent. I got the who pretty early on, but the hows and the whys kept me interested, so bravo, Mr. Lanyon.
The romance made me ache. It made me cry. It made me bite off three of my fingernails, dammit I was trying to grow those out. It was breathtaking and unapologetic. It was a tour de force.
I loved it.
The mystery was only slightly transparent. I got the who pretty early on, but the hows and the whys kept me interested, so bravo, Mr. Lanyon.
The romance made me ache. It made me cry. It made me bite off three of my fingernails, dammit I was trying to grow those out. It was breathtaking and unapologetic. It was a tour de force.
I loved it.
March 31, 2016
Review written March 31, 2016
3.3 Stars - A bit noir feeling is always enjoying
Snowball in Hell, a WW2 historical set in USA is written by one of my favorite M/M writers, Josh Lanyon. 4:48 hrs narrated by Alexander Masters, a narrator I already knew I liked with a perfect style and voice for this kind of old fashioned "hard core / noir" detective stories.
*********************************************
Los Angeles, 1943 ~ About police Lieutenant Matthew Spain investigating the kidnapped and later murdered billionaire's son Phil Arlen. Matthew's inquiries soon lead him to believe that the handsome reporter Nathan Doyle, also an old acquainted of the mourning family, knows a lot more than he's saying. — A closeted detective, a just home arrived war journalists and LA in the old times ...
Intriguing and good enough but maybe not a JL story which shaked my world. I just hope there will be a sequel one day, I want to know more about these men.
I LIKE - ...always a JL
3.3 Stars - A bit noir feeling is always enjoying
Snowball in Hell, a WW2 historical set in USA is written by one of my favorite M/M writers, Josh Lanyon. 4:48 hrs narrated by Alexander Masters, a narrator I already knew I liked with a perfect style and voice for this kind of old fashioned "hard core / noir" detective stories.
*********************************************
Los Angeles, 1943 ~ About police Lieutenant Matthew Spain investigating the kidnapped and later murdered billionaire's son Phil Arlen. Matthew's inquiries soon lead him to believe that the handsome reporter Nathan Doyle, also an old acquainted of the mourning family, knows a lot more than he's saying. — A closeted detective, a just home arrived war journalists and LA in the old times ...
Intriguing and good enough but maybe not a JL story which shaked my world. I just hope there will be a sequel one day, I want to know more about these men.
I LIKE - ...always a JL
September 22, 2014
One of Lanyon's strongest and IMO probably most overlooked. There is a real mystery in this book, the time and setting vivid and interesting, and the two main characters Doyle and Spain both flawed in different ways but they find a way to connect in tender and painful ways. This is balanced writing and definitely a favorite.
September 10, 2021
Aaalmost.
I loved the setting, the whole vibe of the book. So so good. I love how the author showed us how a gay man lived in that time, what feelings and thoughts he had, how he managed. It's sad really.
I liked the mystery as well. Though the reveal at the end was similar to how it happened in Somebody Killed his Editor. And I'm not a huge fan of that. ':)
It started going downhill for me when the romance started developing. And it was going way too fast for me, and it didn't help how sweet they were.
But I got used to this from the author. This happened in some of her other series as well. Book 1 ends on a HFN and then there's a bunch of roadblocks in the rest of the series. And I think if the author would've continued the series, my prediction is that I would have ended up loving the relationship development more by the end of the series. Like in the Adrien English series for example.
I hope the couple gets some kind of closure in The Movie-Town Murders. Hopefully a positive one.
I loved the setting, the whole vibe of the book. So so good. I love how the author showed us how a gay man lived in that time, what feelings and thoughts he had, how he managed. It's sad really.
I liked the mystery as well. Though the reveal at the end was similar to how it happened in Somebody Killed his Editor. And I'm not a huge fan of that. ':)
It started going downhill for me when the romance started developing. And it was going way too fast for me, and it didn't help how sweet they were.
But I got used to this from the author. This happened in some of her other series as well. Book 1 ends on a HFN and then there's a bunch of roadblocks in the rest of the series. And I think if the author would've continued the series, my prediction is that I would have ended up loving the relationship development more by the end of the series. Like in the Adrien English series for example.
I hope the couple gets some kind of closure in The Movie-Town Murders. Hopefully a positive one.
March 29, 2013
Adrien and Jake's ride in a time travel machine turned out to be pretty successful.
April 16, 2014
I feel like such a fool for overlooking this one time and time again. Snowball in Hell is most certainly the darkest, and quite possibly, the most powerful work I have ever read from Mr Lanyon.
He styles this novella using all the qualities of noir, and honestly, I have never read anything more visually noir in my life! Talk about an atmosphere! All the elements of classic 1940’s film noir are here: Spain plays the ‘plainclothes policeman’, Doyle plays the ‘victim of circumstance’, a murder is the ‘crime’, ‘cynical attitudes’ and sexual motivations all play out in stylish black & white with smoky backdrops and strong characters haunted by long grey shadows.
Snowball in Hell really stands out among Lanyon’s other works for me not purely for the brilliant styling and darker characterisation that appeals to me on every level, but for the overall impact it had on me. I know it’s cliché to say I felt like I was watching a movie, but I really did. Lanyon always does that to me but here I felt it keenly – the only thing missing was a soundtrack. The dialog and the language of the era really authenticate the experience, and in all honesty, as much as the mood is dark and oppressive I felt thoroughly seduced but it.
The mystery is a great one, fraught with tension that spirals all the way through. Again the elements of noir come in to play as the investigation takes us into smoky piano bars and shady underworld type characters, each with secrets they need to protect. It’s compelling reading and the compulsion only intensifies when we really get to know Nathan Doyle, a man too broken and raw to recognise how close he is to his own destruction. Nathan’s instinct for self-preservation is all burned up along with inhibitions and common sense when he meets Lieutenant Spain. Spain is strong and steadfast but not without his own demons. The romance between Doyle and Spain is slow to build and often diluted with guilt and misgivings but when it snowballs … well, it’s not all loving hearts and roses, it’s more a bittersweet ‘black velvet kiss’ …dark and luxurious. Irresistible and forbidden. Delicious!
This is so well done, so authentic with great writing and a HFN romance that’s fraught with the social challenges of the era to come. Now I have to shake my head and say: tsk tsk Mr Lanyon, this book is 7 years old and still no sequel? If ever there was two characters that deserve to have their story told, it’s these two. It can’t be over; Doyle and Spain have too far to go for it to be over …
He styles this novella using all the qualities of noir, and honestly, I have never read anything more visually noir in my life! Talk about an atmosphere! All the elements of classic 1940’s film noir are here: Spain plays the ‘plainclothes policeman’, Doyle plays the ‘victim of circumstance’, a murder is the ‘crime’, ‘cynical attitudes’ and sexual motivations all play out in stylish black & white with smoky backdrops and strong characters haunted by long grey shadows.
Snowball in Hell really stands out among Lanyon’s other works for me not purely for the brilliant styling and darker characterisation that appeals to me on every level, but for the overall impact it had on me. I know it’s cliché to say I felt like I was watching a movie, but I really did. Lanyon always does that to me but here I felt it keenly – the only thing missing was a soundtrack. The dialog and the language of the era really authenticate the experience, and in all honesty, as much as the mood is dark and oppressive I felt thoroughly seduced but it.
The mystery is a great one, fraught with tension that spirals all the way through. Again the elements of noir come in to play as the investigation takes us into smoky piano bars and shady underworld type characters, each with secrets they need to protect. It’s compelling reading and the compulsion only intensifies when we really get to know Nathan Doyle, a man too broken and raw to recognise how close he is to his own destruction. Nathan’s instinct for self-preservation is all burned up along with inhibitions and common sense when he meets Lieutenant Spain. Spain is strong and steadfast but not without his own demons. The romance between Doyle and Spain is slow to build and often diluted with guilt and misgivings but when it snowballs … well, it’s not all loving hearts and roses, it’s more a bittersweet ‘black velvet kiss’ …dark and luxurious. Irresistible and forbidden. Delicious!
This is so well done, so authentic with great writing and a HFN romance that’s fraught with the social challenges of the era to come. Now I have to shake my head and say: tsk tsk Mr Lanyon, this book is 7 years old and still no sequel? If ever there was two characters that deserve to have their story told, it’s these two. It can’t be over; Doyle and Spain have too far to go for it to be over …
November 4, 2012
Josh Lanyon has done it again! Just a week before Christmas and all through LA, all the creatures were stirring, scurrying, murdering, and causing all sorts of trouble and hubbub for our heroes Doyle and Spain. Mr. Lanyon completely charmed me with a mystery wrapped up in 1943 Los Angeles, kidnappings, alligator farms, fear, love, and an overwhelming bittersweet-make-my-heart-ache emotion. Oh, don’t forget the dead body. :D
A body in the La Brea tar pits sets the town a buzz with gossip, rumors, and possible suspects. LAPD Lt. Matthew Spain is called in to investigate the murder, but soon realizes nothing is easy, straight forward, or clear in this case. A mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. As the theories and suspects pile up, rumors of murder, blackmail and revenge cause some suspects to flee and others to get their stories straight. Once again, Mr. Lanyon captivates with a memorable cast of characters that made me smile and sigh. From floozies, bruisers, and blackmailers—this story has them all and more! Matt Spain has his hands full for sure, but everything in his world tilts and turns when he spots Nathan Doyle across the dark, soggy murder scene. Reporter Nathan Doyle is pulled in to cover the news, but soon finds himself atop the suspect list and just maybe falling in love to boot. Can Spain and Doyle open up their hearts, overcome their fears and solve the case?
I have to confess--Nathan Doyle stole my heart and actually continues to squeeze it to bits days after reading this book. His fear and loneliness haunt these pages, my heart and soul. I longed to reach out, hug, and make him safe. Make him feel safe enough to show his true heart, desire, and needs.
He dreaded the idea of coming back here, of the silence and emptiness of this apartment building at night—just once he’d wanted to spend the night held tight in someone’s arms, safe for a few hours, loved for a few hours—or at least pretending that he was loved.”
Can he find love, safety, and peace with Matt Spain? Readers will be rooting for them from that first locked gaze over the tar pits! Their time on the page was hot, honest, meaningful, sad, and sweet all swirled together with such quiet, emotional force. Please… just go meet them.
As much as I adore Doyle and Spain though, it is Josh Lanyon who owns my whole reading heart. He charms me with words, quiet ways, twists & turns, and atmosphere. Language and descriptions that softly dazzle, paint, and pull me into a feeling of true storytelling magic I want to visit again and again. He makes me feel at home somehow. Snowball in Hell is a wartime world haunted with damaged soldiers, hidden secrets, trench coats, dames, dirty bastards, piano bars, and strong drinks. Beautiful words that turn back time and breath life into scenes where people get bumped off, coppers “flash tins”, and the air turns “blue with smoke”. I loved it all! I could feel and see it all as if I was sitting right there sipping my drink.
Can’t recommend this story and author enough. I will shout it out from the rooftops until I’m blue in the face! :)
So why the 4 stars then?
This Episode’s Favorite Lanyon words: gaggle and floozy
July 26, 2016
I liked this book and actually enjoyed a perfectly created atmosphere of a white-black-movie. A Must read for all Josh Lanyon fans, but I would not recommend this book as an introduction into his works. If you have not read anything of Josh Lanyon, read his Adrien English Mystery series or his stand-alone Come Unto These Yellow Sands before this one.
Snowball in Hell is a well written mystery with an emphasis on MYSTERY, at least for the first half of the book. And to tell the truth, I didn't miss a romance almost at all. Though it is not a reason why the romance part took me by surprise.
Not because I didn't want it or didn't expect it.
The romance between police Lieutenant Matthew and reporter Nathan Doyleit started very slowly-it was almost not present in the first half- but accelerated very rapidly in the second part of the book, for my taste. The development of their feelings was too fast to understand. Maybe it's the reason why I couldn't feel the chemistry between Matthew and Nathan as I supposed to, their relationship felt a bit flat. But it's only my personal impression.
I can understand that the topic was not easy- love between men at the time of WW2 and long after remained a taboo. Homosexuality considered a mental illness or even worse. It is why there is not about outing or closeting, it is about how socially to survive being different. All those angsts, insecurity and shame are so understandable and made me really sad during reading.
Overall a solid historical mystery with a lot of mystery in the first part of the book and a lot of romance in the second part. You just have to be a little bit more patient.
The book could be a perfect draft for a screenplay!
October 24, 2017
This was my third JL's novella and I thought it was well constructed and entertaining. It had an overall sense of melancholic sadness that was heartfelt and convincing. My 2 stars (2.5 with a stretch) are mainly due to the ending - I've found it rather abrupt and unsatisfying. It already happened with some other JL's stories, such as The Dark Farewell, and there I was again, wanting to read more and being disappointed...
Anyway, although the noir atmosphere is unmistakably formulaic (if you've done your homework and read through Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and such, you will be already familiar with the mood, the places, the characters), it was nonetheless enjoyable. I also liked the snappy dialogues - I felt at times they were forced to bring the plot forward, but they usually appeared natural and gave a tense rhythm to the page. The whodunit wasn't unnecessarily obscure and intricate and was tight enough to keep my attention up even after I guessed who the killer was.
But the highlight for me is certainly in the two main characters: Nathan Doyle and Mathew Spain are two intriguing figures, with a much deeper potential, in my personal opinion than the one expressed in this first installment of their story. They're both troubled and fragile, somewhat lost, but also determined and it'd be lovely to discover more about them. I've read here on GR and on Josh Lanyon's blog that she's planning two other books to this series (the titles should be Fools Ruch In and Shadow of the Sun apparently) but that she won't probably be able to start working on them until 2018. Well, I really hope she starts soon for I'd like to read more!
Anyway, although the noir atmosphere is unmistakably formulaic (if you've done your homework and read through Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and such, you will be already familiar with the mood, the places, the characters), it was nonetheless enjoyable. I also liked the snappy dialogues - I felt at times they were forced to bring the plot forward, but they usually appeared natural and gave a tense rhythm to the page. The whodunit wasn't unnecessarily obscure and intricate and was tight enough to keep my attention up even after I guessed who the killer was.
But the highlight for me is certainly in the two main characters: Nathan Doyle and Mathew Spain are two intriguing figures, with a much deeper potential, in my personal opinion than the one expressed in this first installment of their story. They're both troubled and fragile, somewhat lost, but also determined and it'd be lovely to discover more about them. I've read here on GR and on Josh Lanyon's blog that she's planning two other books to this series (the titles should be Fools Ruch In and Shadow of the Sun apparently) but that she won't probably be able to start working on them until 2018. Well, I really hope she starts soon for I'd like to read more!
April 27, 2025
This time I listened to the audio and liked it even better. 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Started reading this but wasn't in the right mood at the time and put it aside. Picked it up again and just finished. This is an historical set in the 40ies. A reporter starts investigate a murder to hide secrets of his own and this is the story of him and the police lieutenant working the case. Really liked it.
Started reading this but wasn't in the right mood at the time and put it aside. Picked it up again and just finished. This is an historical set in the 40ies. A reporter starts investigate a murder to hide secrets of his own and this is the story of him and the police lieutenant working the case. Really liked it.
February 14, 2025
Story: 5 stars
Audio: 4 stars
❤️❤️ Really enjoyed this murder mystery from the 40s. It was complex, melancholy, sweet and heartwarming all at the same time. The relationship between Matt and Nathan was very typical of the times.. and it ended as a HFN. I hope we get more of their story.. more mysteries to solve.. and more relationship to explore
Audio: 4 stars
❤️❤️ Really enjoyed this murder mystery from the 40s. It was complex, melancholy, sweet and heartwarming all at the same time. The relationship between Matt and Nathan was very typical of the times.. and it ended as a HFN. I hope we get more of their story.. more mysteries to solve.. and more relationship to explore
Read
May 24, 2012Snowball in Hell is an m/m mystery set in WWII wartime California. I loved the historical aspects. They felt authentic without being explained, or overexplained. The worldbuilding was very fluid, in other words. I'd like to go back and read this more slowly to savor the detail, like the war rationing, the train ride, and the stuff in Nathan's mom's house. On the first readthrough I was mainly focused on the romance -- how horribly dangerous it seemed, how realistic, how thrilling. Definitely a re-reader!
July 23, 2019
Great story!! Why is there not another book????????? I knew that going in but I didn't know how this would go and I want more. 😊
This is a REAL murder mystery. I didn't know who or what and loved the reveal ending. Just like it should be - it was like the game Clue: the Butler in the library with the candlestick. 😁 nope, not what happened, lol. But just like that.
I highly recommend and this ends with a happy for now. 4 stars.
The narration was super. If you have the chance for the audio, I really liked it. 4.5 stars for narration.
This is a REAL murder mystery. I didn't know who or what and loved the reveal ending. Just like it should be - it was like the game Clue: the Butler in the library with the candlestick. 😁 nope, not what happened, lol. But just like that.
I highly recommend and this ends with a happy for now. 4 stars.
The narration was super. If you have the chance for the audio, I really liked it. 4.5 stars for narration.
June 30, 2013
Snowball in Hell takes place during World War II in 1943 Los Angeles. This story is more than a murder mystery. It is about a man that is in so much pain that death seems like his only option for peace. Nathan is a reporter and a suspect in a murder investigation but all this takes a back seat to his struggle with loneliness, fear, guilt, and depression over his sexuality. During this time, homosexuality was viewed as a sickness or a condition that should be healed and Nathan wanted nothing more than to feel "normal". He was constantly ashamed of his feelings and he was always looking over his shoulder. This struck a chord with me because we're not only talking about fear of not being accepted, but a fear for your safety - a basic human right that many of us take for granted. How sad it is that you can't even embrace someone you care about behind closed doors. It was heartbreaking because all he wanted was to feel safe and loved. I wish I could reach through the pages and protect Nathan.
Lanyon did a beautiful job at bringing the atmosphere and setting alive. I even enjoyed the mystery because of the classic film noir feel. I could see the smoky clubs, the long trench coats, the fedora style hats. It was really like watching a film set in the 40's.
However, the romance felt rushed towards the end especially since it had such a slow build-up.
I liked Matt's character and I hope that Nathan can find his safety in Matt's arms. Everyone deserves this.
Lanyon did a beautiful job at bringing the atmosphere and setting alive. I even enjoyed the mystery because of the classic film noir feel. I could see the smoky clubs, the long trench coats, the fedora style hats. It was really like watching a film set in the 40's.
However, the romance felt rushed towards the end especially since it had such a slow build-up.
I liked Matt's character and I hope that Nathan can find his safety in Matt's arms. Everyone deserves this.
July 28, 2013
I think I have a man-crush for Matthew. <3
Snowball in Hell takes place during WWII, which was a time when being homosexual could lead to prosecution. We have our two characters: Mathew (35 yo; widowed; a cop) and Nathan (32-ish?; journalist). Both characters have their own emotional baggage to carry (both are war veterans in their own way), but are brought together during an investigation.
There is a lot to say, but much have already been mentioned in previous reviews. What I can say is that Snowball in Hell packs a lot of punch in a small bundle: an interesting mystery and a "forbidden" relationship (in the real sense, since there is the legal aspect of it to consider). I would say that the mystery takes place during the first half of the book, and the romance takes a strong hold during the second half. Nathan and Matthew were well defined characters. We get a good glimpse into their personalities, both as individuals and as sprouting lovers. It would be nice to see how much they will develop and how they can make their relationship work in the sequel (which at the time of this review, has not been published yet).
Anyways, if you like Josh Lanyon's characterization in previous works + how he writes mysteries, then you are sure to enjoy this one. If you have never read his previous works before, then this would be a good start as well.
Snowball in Hell takes place during WWII, which was a time when being homosexual could lead to prosecution. We have our two characters: Mathew (35 yo; widowed; a cop) and Nathan (32-ish?; journalist). Both characters have their own emotional baggage to carry (both are war veterans in their own way), but are brought together during an investigation.
There is a lot to say, but much have already been mentioned in previous reviews. What I can say is that Snowball in Hell packs a lot of punch in a small bundle: an interesting mystery and a "forbidden" relationship (in the real sense, since there is the legal aspect of it to consider). I would say that the mystery takes place during the first half of the book, and the romance takes a strong hold during the second half. Nathan and Matthew were well defined characters. We get a good glimpse into their personalities, both as individuals and as sprouting lovers. It would be nice to see how much they will develop and how they can make their relationship work in the sequel (which at the time of this review, has not been published yet).
Anyways, if you like Josh Lanyon's characterization in previous works + how he writes mysteries, then you are sure to enjoy this one. If you have never read his previous works before, then this would be a good start as well.
October 5, 2012
This is probably one of Lanyon’s grittier mysteries. Set during WWII, Snowball in Hell tells the story of Nathan Doyle and Mathew Spain, both injured from the war and are now in Los Angeles, Spain serving as a police lieutenant and Doyle working as a reporter on the police beat. They meet for the first time when a corpse is pulled out from the tar pits, and while tracking down the killer, Spain and Doyle become embroiled into something far deeper and more intimate than they could have imagined.
Tightly written, detail-rich, and with a deep-set noir feel, Lanyon builds the mystery and the growing relationship between Spain and Doyle slowly but steadily, like pushing a snowball up a hill. As the story progresses, that snowball starts to become too big to ignore for the characters, and the momentum it gains too overpowering to stop.
This book doesn’t have the lighter humor that infuses some of Lanyon’s other mysteries, like the Adrien English series. Instead, it’s a taut story thick with tension, and not just for the spiraling murder mystery with its many suspects, but also with the attraction between Spain and Doyle, an attraction deemed so wrong by society that any touch on the arm or long look has to be quickly put in check in case suspicion arises. That unfortunate realism that Lanyon includes makes this read a little more of a downer, but along with that, he slides in that slow building hope of something better, something greater that can be had if the characters deem it worth fighting for, and living for.
Recommended if you’re looking for a very well-written mystery with a nice slow building romance and a shyly tentative but hopeful HFN ending. (And Lanyon has on his website that a sequel is planned.) It’s a wonderful read, highly recommended, and one that can be easily pointed to when explaining why Lanyon is one of the best writers in the genre. It’s not an easy story, but it’s a good one.
(And if you like this one, I also recommend Lanyon's This Rough Magic, which is slightly lighter in tone, but is also an excellent historical mystery romance set in 1930's LA.)
Tightly written, detail-rich, and with a deep-set noir feel, Lanyon builds the mystery and the growing relationship between Spain and Doyle slowly but steadily, like pushing a snowball up a hill. As the story progresses, that snowball starts to become too big to ignore for the characters, and the momentum it gains too overpowering to stop.
This book doesn’t have the lighter humor that infuses some of Lanyon’s other mysteries, like the Adrien English series. Instead, it’s a taut story thick with tension, and not just for the spiraling murder mystery with its many suspects, but also with the attraction between Spain and Doyle, an attraction deemed so wrong by society that any touch on the arm or long look has to be quickly put in check in case suspicion arises. That unfortunate realism that Lanyon includes makes this read a little more of a downer, but along with that, he slides in that slow building hope of something better, something greater that can be had if the characters deem it worth fighting for, and living for.
Recommended if you’re looking for a very well-written mystery with a nice slow building romance and a shyly tentative but hopeful HFN ending. (And Lanyon has on his website that a sequel is planned.) It’s a wonderful read, highly recommended, and one that can be easily pointed to when explaining why Lanyon is one of the best writers in the genre. It’s not an easy story, but it’s a good one.
(And if you like this one, I also recommend Lanyon's This Rough Magic, which is slightly lighter in tone, but is also an excellent historical mystery romance set in 1930's LA.)
May 24, 2012
This is the first “period” novel by Josh that I’ve read. And it’s a gem. A compelling, moving story, in which the authenticity of the time setting (early 1940’s LA) never overshadows the characters’ development, their emotional struggles and the murder mystery they’re both investigating though from different perspectives. All these elements are carefully balanced and help create a story that sensitively re-creates a time period when sex between men was illegal and homosexuality a social and personal stigma, and in a lot of men a source of shame and frustrated desire to be ‘normal’ and to desperately overcome what the medical and psychiatric consensus at the time regarded as a ‘sickness’ or ‘neurosis’. Some of those men who recognised in themselves an attraction for the same gender may have tried to drive societal suspicion away by getting married and mostly repress their true desires, others may have had no choice but resort to clandestine encounters even knowing the huge risks they were taking to satisfy a desperate need for a physical connection no matter how impersonal and fleeting. No matter the protagonists’ choices, they share a kind of quiet dignity and ‘honorability’ that have both a universal quality and are deeply embedded in the culture of that era.
Josh Lanyon captures the gritty atmosphere of that period, the food rationing, the psychological trauma suffered by many young men returning from war, and various other historical details, and portrays the protagonists’ loneliness and despair, and their eventual coming together, in such a vivid and touching way that makes the story hauntingly beautiful and life-affirming despite the depressing and desolate situation both protagonists are trapped in, and highlighting their strength and courage as well as their vulnerability. Snowball in Hell is another example of Mr Lanyon’s stylish, intelligent writing, of his talent for evoking complex, flawed, unforgettable characters and infusing their story with pure, naked emotional truth.
Josh Lanyon captures the gritty atmosphere of that period, the food rationing, the psychological trauma suffered by many young men returning from war, and various other historical details, and portrays the protagonists’ loneliness and despair, and their eventual coming together, in such a vivid and touching way that makes the story hauntingly beautiful and life-affirming despite the depressing and desolate situation both protagonists are trapped in, and highlighting their strength and courage as well as their vulnerability. Snowball in Hell is another example of Mr Lanyon’s stylish, intelligent writing, of his talent for evoking complex, flawed, unforgettable characters and infusing their story with pure, naked emotional truth.
May 24, 2012
Don't get me wrong, I adored Matt, his compassion, support, delicacy, strength, but this is Nathan's book. He came alive in my hands and his struggle became real, his desperation was so raw you could almost touch it. He is depressed, he drinks too much and doesn't eat enough and he has a painful death wish. His sexuality is a burden. He is a good man - everyone in the book says so - but he is lonely, he sets himself apart, he feels flawed.
In this book Nathan is one of the suspects of the murder of a rich man, who was blackmailing him - and many other people. As a reporter on the scene of the discovery of the corpse, he meets Lt. Mathew Spain, who is in charge of the investigation. The two of them exchange a glance and they recognize something in each other's eyes. Matt, who's a widower, is lonely too. His attraction to Nathan goes hand in hand with the extreme compassion he feels for a kindred and too sensitive soul.
They both have a risk to take to be together, but they let themselves live their moment. Matt becomes Nathan's lifeline, the only person that can understand him and help him. In comparison to Nathan, Matt seems almost uncomplicated. He doesn't hide what he feels for the other man, Nathan happens and he embraces him, he embraces it with all the purity of his heart.
Even if, probably because of his religious upbringing, Nathan feels his sexuality is something to be ashamed of, a flaw that should be fixed, what he feels and he needs is somehow pure. That's what I read in Matt and Nathan encounters: the distillation of love and need and desire. They are simply beautiful.
I'm so glad this book will have a sequel. I'm looking forward to what Matt will bring into Nathan's life and to diving into their world again.
In this book Nathan is one of the suspects of the murder of a rich man, who was blackmailing him - and many other people. As a reporter on the scene of the discovery of the corpse, he meets Lt. Mathew Spain, who is in charge of the investigation. The two of them exchange a glance and they recognize something in each other's eyes. Matt, who's a widower, is lonely too. His attraction to Nathan goes hand in hand with the extreme compassion he feels for a kindred and too sensitive soul.
They both have a risk to take to be together, but they let themselves live their moment. Matt becomes Nathan's lifeline, the only person that can understand him and help him. In comparison to Nathan, Matt seems almost uncomplicated. He doesn't hide what he feels for the other man, Nathan happens and he embraces him, he embraces it with all the purity of his heart.
Even if, probably because of his religious upbringing, Nathan feels his sexuality is something to be ashamed of, a flaw that should be fixed, what he feels and he needs is somehow pure. That's what I read in Matt and Nathan encounters: the distillation of love and need and desire. They are simply beautiful.
I'm so glad this book will have a sequel. I'm looking forward to what Matt will bring into Nathan's life and to diving into their world again.
January 3, 2015
Lately I've been finding Josh Lanyon a lot like Thanksgiving turkey.
It looks good - all crispy and juicy and golden - but when it comes down to it, I always find the meat a little too dry and tasteless. (I'm a pork rib kinda girl, ftr. Or better yet, give me dessert.)
The story itself is not bad at all. You've got your tortured souls who find each other in the midst of their respective hopeless loneliness, you've got your glamorous/shady noir feel (with the war an implausibly distant thought), and you've got your requisite dead body.
But when it comes down to it, there's never enough insight, never enough emotion - and definitely a tad too many pages for such a bare-bones story.
It looks good - all crispy and juicy and golden - but when it comes down to it, I always find the meat a little too dry and tasteless. (I'm a pork rib kinda girl, ftr. Or better yet, give me dessert.)
The story itself is not bad at all. You've got your tortured souls who find each other in the midst of their respective hopeless loneliness, you've got your glamorous/shady noir feel (with the war an implausibly distant thought), and you've got your requisite dead body.
But when it comes down to it, there's never enough insight, never enough emotion - and definitely a tad too many pages for such a bare-bones story.
May 24, 2012
I just finished this and I'm still emotionally torn apart. I really, really felt for Matt and Nathan deep down in my heart! Josh's work always does this to me and I know I won't be able to find the words to describe why I loved this book or how it made me feel. It was dark and beautiful and heart-wrenching and the ending left me filled with hope the somehow everything will work out.
I was also really into the mystery. I was pretty sure I had it figured out early on, but the revelation was still shocking.
This had almost everything I love in a Josh Lanyon novel, but now I really need to find some comedy to read.
I was also really into the mystery. I was pretty sure I had it figured out early on, but the revelation was still shocking.
This had almost everything I love in a Josh Lanyon novel, but now I really need to find some comedy to read.
May 24, 2012
[This is a re-edited re-release from Carina] Simply one of the best pieces of Detective Noir fiction I have read. I took a course in college that included some classic Detective Noir pieces, and I have to say that I enjoyed this far more, mainly due to Lanyon's superb characterization skills and careful balance of plot and setting. He keeps the pace crisp while still managing to maintain an authentic atmosphere throughout the story. The police detective/reporter crime solving duo is one of mystery's most popular tropes, yet it doesn't feel cliche here as the backdrop of WWII and the LA setting contribute to the freshness. As does the fact that the reporter and the detective are both men. And you'll notice that it has taken me this long to get to that which is indicative of it being secondary to this being a great story--this isn't a M/M short as much as it's a detective noir short where the main characters happen to be gay men.
Which is another way of saying that I firmly believe that even those who don't read or seek out M/M romance will find a lot to like here. In fact, I recommended it to my mother, a die-hard mystery fan and seeker of the best of the genre. If she ends up reading the whole piece, I'll probably warn her (and other mystery fans) that the love scenes may be a bit more graphic than she typically reads, but there are only two, and while graphic, there is a gentle build-up that gives readers ample time to look away and skip to the scene break without missing out on the great story at work here. For me, the love scenes added tremendously to the emotional impact of the relationship and showed Matthew's gradual acceptance of his feelings for Nathan. Nathan already knows what he is, but is far from accepting of that fact--he's more experienced than Matthew in ways of the flesh, but much less so in ways of the heart. Each complements the other perfectly.
They also complement each other as a crime solving team. Matthew initially follows his gut and labels Nathan as a person of interest but is far from convinced that he is the killer. Matthew gives us a peek into 1940s police procedure--life before CSI and forensics when intuition counted for a lot more. Nathan brings street smarts to the case that open up new avenues. They have a natural balance and camaraderie that transcends their attraction to each other. If you enjoyed the new Sherlock & Holmes on PBS mystery this past fall, you will very much enjoy this story. The fact that Sherlock and Holmes were NOT a "couple" was a running point in the series, but imagine if the other characters' suspicions WERE true? You'd have the tenor of this story. This is part of a two novella series, but I really hope that Lanyon expands it to more "episodes." Had the sequel been available when I finished this story at 1 am, I would have purchased it. Immediately. Highly recommended read for open-minded mystery lovers.
Which is another way of saying that I firmly believe that even those who don't read or seek out M/M romance will find a lot to like here. In fact, I recommended it to my mother, a die-hard mystery fan and seeker of the best of the genre. If she ends up reading the whole piece, I'll probably warn her (and other mystery fans) that the love scenes may be a bit more graphic than she typically reads, but there are only two, and while graphic, there is a gentle build-up that gives readers ample time to look away and skip to the scene break without missing out on the great story at work here. For me, the love scenes added tremendously to the emotional impact of the relationship and showed Matthew's gradual acceptance of his feelings for Nathan. Nathan already knows what he is, but is far from accepting of that fact--he's more experienced than Matthew in ways of the flesh, but much less so in ways of the heart. Each complements the other perfectly.
They also complement each other as a crime solving team. Matthew initially follows his gut and labels Nathan as a person of interest but is far from convinced that he is the killer. Matthew gives us a peek into 1940s police procedure--life before CSI and forensics when intuition counted for a lot more. Nathan brings street smarts to the case that open up new avenues. They have a natural balance and camaraderie that transcends their attraction to each other. If you enjoyed the new Sherlock & Holmes on PBS mystery this past fall, you will very much enjoy this story. The fact that Sherlock and Holmes were NOT a "couple" was a running point in the series, but imagine if the other characters' suspicions WERE true? You'd have the tenor of this story. This is part of a two novella series, but I really hope that Lanyon expands it to more "episodes." Had the sequel been available when I finished this story at 1 am, I would have purchased it. Immediately. Highly recommended read for open-minded mystery lovers.
January 27, 2020
I have a hard time reading about the fate, or god forbid a romance, of gays and lesbians in a time when homosexuality was deemed an abomination and criminalized. The same goes for most parts of the world today.
I know, I know, the world is full of misery, abhorrent injustice, unbearable cruelty .... but somehow this one particular injustice, this one special cruelty - I just can't seem to deal with it. Maybe it is too personal. There is something so hideously poisonous and insidiously devastating about the shame and destruction caused by institutionalized homophobia, it fills me with utterly impotent rage.
So I'm maybe unfairly careful of books about this. If the storyline is positive I'm wary that it glosses over the real pain and hopelessness, if it is tragic I just can't deal with it, see above.
This book straddles the line. For me it is sufficiently painful to honor the age-old suffering, but hopeful enough to not let me want to crawl into a hole and die.
Nathan Doyle is a wonderful character, a man whose fearful and lonely struggle with his sexuality has eaten him up so much, that he deems himself unworthy of self-preservation and continually escalates his attempts at self-destruction. He has a raw, feverish, desperate quality to him that breaks my heart.
I very much look forward to the sequel.
I know, I know, the world is full of misery, abhorrent injustice, unbearable cruelty .... but somehow this one particular injustice, this one special cruelty - I just can't seem to deal with it. Maybe it is too personal. There is something so hideously poisonous and insidiously devastating about the shame and destruction caused by institutionalized homophobia, it fills me with utterly impotent rage.
So I'm maybe unfairly careful of books about this. If the storyline is positive I'm wary that it glosses over the real pain and hopelessness, if it is tragic I just can't deal with it, see above.
This book straddles the line. For me it is sufficiently painful to honor the age-old suffering, but hopeful enough to not let me want to crawl into a hole and die.
Nathan Doyle is a wonderful character, a man whose fearful and lonely struggle with his sexuality has eaten him up so much, that he deems himself unworthy of self-preservation and continually escalates his attempts at self-destruction. He has a raw, feverish, desperate quality to him that breaks my heart.
I very much look forward to the sequel.
May 24, 2012
I don't know what it is about Josh Lanyon's books and yours truly...
Most of his stories are not the "I'll forsake sleep to finish this"- kind of page turners for me. There is a mellowness to the books that keeps me from that. Also: I still wouldn't want to classify mystery as a genre I particularly like. But still: I love his books. The whodunit is interesting but what Lanyon excels at are his characters. They're deep, layered, engaging. And the angst... Love it! Major drama with a subdued quality to it.
Lanyon books just equal guaranteed good reads to me.
Snowball in Hell is one of Lanyon's darker books. The story takes place in Los Angeles during WWII and has a perfect film noir feel.
This is a murder mystery, but the mystery part is not the focus of this story. The characters are. Secrets, war, inner struggles, loneliness... In a time where homosexuality is a disease and the war -though fought in far countries- is ever present in their daily lives, you can imagine police Lieutenant Matthew Spain and journalist Nathan Doyle don't have it easy.
Engaging, sad, endearing, funny... this story had it all (4 stars)
Now, when is the sequel coming out?
Most of his stories are not the "I'll forsake sleep to finish this"- kind of page turners for me. There is a mellowness to the books that keeps me from that. Also: I still wouldn't want to classify mystery as a genre I particularly like. But still: I love his books. The whodunit is interesting but what Lanyon excels at are his characters. They're deep, layered, engaging. And the angst... Love it! Major drama with a subdued quality to it.
Lanyon books just equal guaranteed good reads to me.
Snowball in Hell is one of Lanyon's darker books. The story takes place in Los Angeles during WWII and has a perfect film noir feel.
This is a murder mystery, but the mystery part is not the focus of this story. The characters are. Secrets, war, inner struggles, loneliness... In a time where homosexuality is a disease and the war -though fought in far countries- is ever present in their daily lives, you can imagine police Lieutenant Matthew Spain and journalist Nathan Doyle don't have it easy.
Engaging, sad, endearing, funny... this story had it all (4 stars)
Now, when is the sequel coming out?
May 24, 2012
"I don't know how we're going to work it out. I just know...it's worth working out. It's worth it to me anyway."
What an amazing and beautiful story. Nathan and Matt are such beautifully written characters.
This story is a very pulp noir feeling mystery set during war-time in the 1940's. Nathan is a reporter and Matt is a cop investigating a murder.
I don't think I've met many characters like Nathan. He's dark and broken and beaufiful and he has no idea about any of it. Matt is kind of lost too. He knows things are bad, but he has enough belief in life and happiness to know it has to be get better, has to be ok. We could all use a little Matthew in our lives. :)
Looking forward to a sequel to this for sure.
What an amazing and beautiful story. Nathan and Matt are such beautifully written characters.
This story is a very pulp noir feeling mystery set during war-time in the 1940's. Nathan is a reporter and Matt is a cop investigating a murder.
I don't think I've met many characters like Nathan. He's dark and broken and beaufiful and he has no idea about any of it. Matt is kind of lost too. He knows things are bad, but he has enough belief in life and happiness to know it has to be get better, has to be ok. We could all use a little Matthew in our lives. :)
Looking forward to a sequel to this for sure.
August 15, 2019
This was one of my favorite books in 2016. I apparently read it for the first time in August too ha! Reading Slay Ride yesterday, another book of Josh Lanyon, reminded me of this one. So, I decided to reread it. I noticed that in both books the characters are listening to "I'll be home for Christmas", which I thought was funny.
Anyway, I remember really liking this book, but that's about it. I couldn't remember a single scene while reading it, and I think I'm low key glad for it. It felt like I was reading it for the first time and I'm happy to say that I still like it. It doesn't always happen like that with rereads.
Anyway, I remember really liking this book, but that's about it. I couldn't remember a single scene while reading it, and I think I'm low key glad for it. It felt like I was reading it for the first time and I'm happy to say that I still like it. It doesn't always happen like that with rereads.
April 19, 2025
Want a sequel but Josh Lanyon has it listed as a standalone on her website 🙃
May 24, 2012
On holiday at the moment and loving being lazy bint and doing much reading. The other night I finished Josh Lanyon’s Snowball in Hell at some god-awful hour. I was so engrossed I did not even realise the time and had to make sure I was very quiet and did not wake the other bed occupant.
I really liked this book, a lot. Mind you, thus far I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Josh Lanyon’s work and have given my credit card a work out in the last wee while!
Nathan is kinda lonely and all in his head and just seems to want to make a connection even if it is fleeting and possibly dangerous. Being a homosexual man at this time would have been incredibly difficult. As a result he feels terribly conflicted and lonely. He comes across almost empty at times, shut off but with this underlying desperation.
Matt is also alone, has lost his wife and has served in the war. He seems more sure of himself but is aware of his status as a cop. Homosexuality was illegal, and because of his job you cannot help but feel empathy for the internal struggle that this causes. Matt feels what seems like an instant connection for Nathan. He has had a wife who loved him and who he loved in return, but had he lived in a more contemporary setting you wonder if he would ever have married. How the time is written is also wonderful and made me think of an old film noir. Chinatown?? or The Maltese Falcon which I read with my Dad when I was younger. The mystery was good but my focus was very much on the relationships of the people.
Gorgeous read, one for a quiet late night with rain on the roof.
Check out my other reviews here>>> http://sharrow.wordpress.com
I really liked this book, a lot. Mind you, thus far I have thoroughly enjoyed all of Josh Lanyon’s work and have given my credit card a work out in the last wee while!
Nathan is kinda lonely and all in his head and just seems to want to make a connection even if it is fleeting and possibly dangerous. Being a homosexual man at this time would have been incredibly difficult. As a result he feels terribly conflicted and lonely. He comes across almost empty at times, shut off but with this underlying desperation.
Matt is also alone, has lost his wife and has served in the war. He seems more sure of himself but is aware of his status as a cop. Homosexuality was illegal, and because of his job you cannot help but feel empathy for the internal struggle that this causes. Matt feels what seems like an instant connection for Nathan. He has had a wife who loved him and who he loved in return, but had he lived in a more contemporary setting you wonder if he would ever have married. How the time is written is also wonderful and made me think of an old film noir. Chinatown?? or The Maltese Falcon which I read with my Dad when I was younger. The mystery was good but my focus was very much on the relationships of the people.
Gorgeous read, one for a quiet late night with rain on the roof.
Check out my other reviews here>>> http://sharrow.wordpress.com
May 24, 2012
Wow, oh wow! What a great read!
Review to come later...
Note: I received this eARC from Carina Press via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.
Review to come later...
Note: I received this eARC from Carina Press via NetGalley. That had no influence on my review/rating.
May 17, 2014
Wonderful. Both the mystery and the historical elements were pitch perfect. I was especially impressed by how delicately Lanyon handled the MC's wartime experience--somehow it made it feel all the more real and visceral than the usual, heavy-handed PTSD treatment.
Bottom Line: Anyone who likes Lanyon will like this a lot, and if you haven't read any Lanyon yet, then you need to correct that oversight IMMEDIATELY.
Bottom Line: Anyone who likes Lanyon will like this a lot, and if you haven't read any Lanyon yet, then you need to correct that oversight IMMEDIATELY.
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