What do you think?
Rate this book
The Omegaverse Case Files #1
Hammer & Gavel
Hot Fuzz meets shifters, meets buddy cop romance in this sexy, high-stakes M/M omegaverse detective novel.
Detective Constable Oliver Reed enjoys two things in life; tea with biscuits and catching bad guys. For twenty nine years he has walked the tight rope between alpha and omega, but that rope is about to snap, when one chilly January afternoon he crosses paths with the devastatingly handsome alpha, Detective Sergeant Lucas White. Tensions skyrocket as the two are forced to work together to take down an omega sex-trafficking ring that is rapidly drowning the sleepy towns of West Newton & High Enfield. However, when the case starts getting out of hand, so too does their desire for one another.
This is a shifter/omegaverse story, set in an alternative version of England where humans are also wolves, men can get pregnant and everyone has a secondary sex. Your mother will probably judge you for reading this, but who cares? Contains M/M, smut, mpreg, alternative human biology, shifting, Brit-cop humour, sarcasm, a traumatised protagonist, child abuse (implied but never described), and, most importantly, copious amounts of tea drinking. If you're a fan of this genre, you'll know what to expect. Mature audiences only (18+).
Part of a series, but each book follows a different pairing. Book two coming soon!
Detective Constable Oliver Reed enjoys two things in life; tea with biscuits and catching bad guys. For twenty nine years he has walked the tight rope between alpha and omega, but that rope is about to snap, when one chilly January afternoon he crosses paths with the devastatingly handsome alpha, Detective Sergeant Lucas White. Tensions skyrocket as the two are forced to work together to take down an omega sex-trafficking ring that is rapidly drowning the sleepy towns of West Newton & High Enfield. However, when the case starts getting out of hand, so too does their desire for one another.
This is a shifter/omegaverse story, set in an alternative version of England where humans are also wolves, men can get pregnant and everyone has a secondary sex. Your mother will probably judge you for reading this, but who cares? Contains M/M, smut, mpreg, alternative human biology, shifting, Brit-cop humour, sarcasm, a traumatised protagonist, child abuse (implied but never described), and, most importantly, copious amounts of tea drinking. If you're a fan of this genre, you'll know what to expect. Mature audiences only (18+).
Part of a series, but each book follows a different pairing. Book two coming soon!
452 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2024
134 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
C.T. Whistle
2 books98 followersC.T. Whistle is a UK indie author, who is currently running on hopes, dreams and very little sleep. When she isn't typing up a storm and ruining her characters lives, she aspires to take a nap but fails miserably at every turn.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
October 2, 2025
Oh God... sobs... my heart... sobs.
...
Oh dear, tissues... sniff.
So many fat tears.
Oh dear.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in.
I had hoped so much for this ending, but I didn't believe it would actually happen.
Oh, this book is great. I didn't know I really needed it in my life, as I'm always so hesitant with Omegaverse. But it was absolutely perfect. Amazingly well written with a perfectly balanced plot and balance to the development of the relationship between Oliver and Lucas.
The two of them as a couple and how they engage with each other, how much Oliver has to struggle with himself to allow the relationship to happen. It's truly phenomenal. There is a tiny little breakup, just to warn you, but it's short and basically necessary in a way. Otherwise, the relationship develops so harmoniously with the characters' development that it's a real pleasure to read.
But the plot, my goodness. There is so much in it, and so much pain and gruesomeness. Please be aware of the triggers. Even if it is not shown directly on the page, the abused children and everything else related to the case being investigated here are really brutal to read about.
The same goes for Oliver's past and his asshole ex-boyfriend.
“Yes, but you need more than bread and butter to survive, Oliver. Have you finished that list?”
Glancing down at the paper in front of him, Oliver hummed and tapped the pencil against the kitchen table. “Yep. That should be all,” he said, handing Lucas the paper.
“It only says chocolate digestives.”
“Mhm,” Oliver replied, turning back to his toast.
“Reed, are you seriously a functioning adult?”
Oliver glanced up, giving the alpha a quizzical look. “Yeah. I own a dishwasher and everything.” 🤭🤭🤭
“Nose wrinkles when you concentrate. Stamp your foot when you’re angry. Freckles… Fucking freckles.” Then the alpha’s tongue swiped across his skin, and Oliver could feel his self control slipping away. “I want to devour you,” Lucas said. The words felt bottomless. “Consume you. Mine.” 🫠🐾🫠
He needed an anchor. Someone to hold his injured heart and battered body with all the tenderness he struggled to find in himself. He needed someone who would love him just the way he was. He needed his mate. His alpha. He needed Lucas. ♥️♥️♥️
...
Oh dear, tissues... sniff.
So many fat tears.
Oh dear.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in.
I had hoped so much for this ending, but I didn't believe it would actually happen.
Oh, this book is great. I didn't know I really needed it in my life, as I'm always so hesitant with Omegaverse. But it was absolutely perfect. Amazingly well written with a perfectly balanced plot and balance to the development of the relationship between Oliver and Lucas.
The two of them as a couple and how they engage with each other, how much Oliver has to struggle with himself to allow the relationship to happen. It's truly phenomenal. There is a tiny little breakup, just to warn you, but it's short and basically necessary in a way. Otherwise, the relationship develops so harmoniously with the characters' development that it's a real pleasure to read.
But the plot, my goodness. There is so much in it, and so much pain and gruesomeness. Please be aware of the triggers. Even if it is not shown directly on the page, the abused children and everything else related to the case being investigated here are really brutal to read about.
The same goes for Oliver's past and his asshole ex-boyfriend.
“Yes, but you need more than bread and butter to survive, Oliver. Have you finished that list?”
Glancing down at the paper in front of him, Oliver hummed and tapped the pencil against the kitchen table. “Yep. That should be all,” he said, handing Lucas the paper.
“It only says chocolate digestives.”
“Mhm,” Oliver replied, turning back to his toast.
“Reed, are you seriously a functioning adult?”
Oliver glanced up, giving the alpha a quizzical look. “Yeah. I own a dishwasher and everything.” 🤭🤭🤭
“Nose wrinkles when you concentrate. Stamp your foot when you’re angry. Freckles… Fucking freckles.” Then the alpha’s tongue swiped across his skin, and Oliver could feel his self control slipping away. “I want to devour you,” Lucas said. The words felt bottomless. “Consume you. Mine.” 🫠🐾🫠
He needed an anchor. Someone to hold his injured heart and battered body with all the tenderness he struggled to find in himself. He needed someone who would love him just the way he was. He needed his mate. His alpha. He needed Lucas. ♥️♥️♥️
January 28, 2025
So our current timeline might be a depressing hellscape of pain and suffering, but at least we get to see omegaverse transition into published media which is HILARIOUS to me, so we have to take our wins where we can.
Oliver Reed, a countryside detective in the child protection unit, gets bought into an investigation by the Metro police, headed by Lucas White, when it's discovered that there is a child sex trafficking operation happening on their doorstep.
This story started life as an original piece of work on AO3 and is deeply omegaverse. I'm talking the works; A/B/O dynamics, heats, ruts, knots, slick, mpreg....if this was someone's first exposure to this world I can imagine it would be A LOT (the things that come out of fan culture are truly just so fascinating lol).
I found that at times this was a lot of telling instead of showing. Like in one instance during a confrontation early on in the story White literally says “Reed, for once in your life, will you do as I ask?". Which seemed like such a super random thing to say to someone you have known for like three days? Like I can see that the intention of the author is to emphasise that Reeds character is stubborn, obstinent and doesn't take shit, but it seemed like such a out of pocket thing for White to say in given that the context is that this is someone who is not much more than a stranger to you at that point.
Also, weird thing to find myself fixated on, but I'm not sure if the author really considered the logistics of being a big 6"5 dude and how they fit in cars? lol maybe it bothered me so much cause I'm also tall and have found myself sandwiched into some uncomfortable fucking positions so am very aware of the reality. Initially it started off a lot of crossed legs in the passenger seat with an ankle on the knee, which I gave the benefit of the doubt to cause maybe they're big cars. But I call bullshit on a unit of a dude this size being able to fit in the passenger footwell of a citeron c2 and then eating someone out. That just seemed so insanely implausible it kind of spoiled the spice for me lol.
I'm honestly pretty middle of the road on this. There was a lot of potential here but the writing often didn't quite click for me, something about it at times just came off stilted, forced and kind of flat. The sort of spice intensity I'm normally used to with books that incorporate knotting just wasn't really there for me? (Matehub: Legends you just set the bar too high). But this is a debut and I always am pleased to see someone giving a crack at writing something that's out of the box and kind of bonkers. Let's the freak flags fly and all that.
This cover is amazing though. I love the design of it and it's probably my favourite part of the whole package. I know this is meant to be a series but I feel like White and Reeds story is pretty tidily concluded so we'll see how it goes.
CW: implied child abuse and child sex trafficking, grooming, drug use, on page mpreg but no birthing scenes and the MC deals with some past trauma relating to a miscarriages and domestic violence
Oliver Reed, a countryside detective in the child protection unit, gets bought into an investigation by the Metro police, headed by Lucas White, when it's discovered that there is a child sex trafficking operation happening on their doorstep.
This story started life as an original piece of work on AO3 and is deeply omegaverse. I'm talking the works; A/B/O dynamics, heats, ruts, knots, slick, mpreg....if this was someone's first exposure to this world I can imagine it would be A LOT (the things that come out of fan culture are truly just so fascinating lol).
I found that at times this was a lot of telling instead of showing. Like in one instance during a confrontation early on in the story White literally says “Reed, for once in your life, will you do as I ask?". Which seemed like such a super random thing to say to someone you have known for like three days? Like I can see that the intention of the author is to emphasise that Reeds character is stubborn, obstinent and doesn't take shit, but it seemed like such a out of pocket thing for White to say in given that the context is that this is someone who is not much more than a stranger to you at that point.
Also, weird thing to find myself fixated on, but I'm not sure if the author really considered the logistics of being a big 6"5 dude and how they fit in cars? lol maybe it bothered me so much cause I'm also tall and have found myself sandwiched into some uncomfortable fucking positions so am very aware of the reality. Initially it started off a lot of crossed legs in the passenger seat with an ankle on the knee, which I gave the benefit of the doubt to cause maybe they're big cars. But I call bullshit on a unit of a dude this size being able to fit in the passenger footwell of a citeron c2 and then eating someone out. That just seemed so insanely implausible it kind of spoiled the spice for me lol.
I'm honestly pretty middle of the road on this. There was a lot of potential here but the writing often didn't quite click for me, something about it at times just came off stilted, forced and kind of flat. The sort of spice intensity I'm normally used to with books that incorporate knotting just wasn't really there for me? (Matehub: Legends you just set the bar too high). But this is a debut and I always am pleased to see someone giving a crack at writing something that's out of the box and kind of bonkers. Let's the freak flags fly and all that.
This cover is amazing though. I love the design of it and it's probably my favourite part of the whole package. I know this is meant to be a series but I feel like White and Reeds story is pretty tidily concluded so we'll see how it goes.
CW: implied child abuse and child sex trafficking, grooming, drug use, on page mpreg but no birthing scenes and the MC deals with some past trauma relating to a miscarriages and domestic violence
January 9, 2025
Fun and different take on omegaverse and it's a debut!
“I will love you,” he whispered, pushing his face into Oliver’s neck. “God, I will cherish you, if you’ll let me.”
Sigma/alpha pairing, and the sigma has a cute little knot!
“Is this your little knot, Reed?” Lucas said, circling his thumb and forefinger around the base of his shaft.
“Y-Yes,” Oliver moaned, face burning with equal parts embarrassment and desire.
Lucas grinned against his cheek. “It’s adorable.”
Two detectives are investigating an omega sex-trafficking ring, they do get a little frisky quickly and I was wondering how the next 400 pages were going to play out, but it played out nicely.
A couple obvious editing issues in the first chapter or two, but it smoothed out. The sigma secondary sex was interesting, he has some omega-like traits and some alpha-like traits. Sigmas are looked down on, considered inferior and unstable.
Wolf-shifters without any wolf drama, they shift and run whenever they want, and there's a fun chase scene in the woods.
I'd recommend for anyone interested in a new omegaverse spin, detectives (moderate investigative plot), it's on the cuter/lighter side despite having series topics. Lots of tea and biscuits.
Also, lots of scruffing!
Will add more later.
“Is that the dish with offal? Because don’t forget I’m English born and bred. My palate doesn’t extend much beyond beige.” 🤣
Tags: Omegaverse, detective/detective pairing, wolf-shifters, AU England, mpreg (no birth scene), sarcasm, Brit-cop humor, copious amounts of tea, omega sex-trafficking ring, colleagues, alpha/sigma pairing, child abuse (implied but never described), past trauma, investigative, top knot, grey eyes, sparring, small knot (sigma), insta-attraction, height difference (5'9 & 6'5), feeling unworthy, scruffing - back of neck grabbing, washcloth, surprise heat, giant stuffed koala, sweet twin brother, asshole ex
“I will love you,” he whispered, pushing his face into Oliver’s neck. “God, I will cherish you, if you’ll let me.”
Sigma/alpha pairing, and the sigma has a cute little knot!
“Is this your little knot, Reed?” Lucas said, circling his thumb and forefinger around the base of his shaft.
“Y-Yes,” Oliver moaned, face burning with equal parts embarrassment and desire.
Lucas grinned against his cheek. “It’s adorable.”
Two detectives are investigating an omega sex-trafficking ring, they do get a little frisky quickly and I was wondering how the next 400 pages were going to play out, but it played out nicely.
A couple obvious editing issues in the first chapter or two, but it smoothed out. The sigma secondary sex was interesting, he has some omega-like traits and some alpha-like traits. Sigmas are looked down on, considered inferior and unstable.
Wolf-shifters without any wolf drama, they shift and run whenever they want, and there's a fun chase scene in the woods.
I'd recommend for anyone interested in a new omegaverse spin, detectives (moderate investigative plot), it's on the cuter/lighter side despite having series topics. Lots of tea and biscuits.
Also, lots of scruffing!
Will add more later.
“Is that the dish with offal? Because don’t forget I’m English born and bred. My palate doesn’t extend much beyond beige.” 🤣
Tags: Omegaverse, detective/detective pairing, wolf-shifters, AU England, mpreg (no birth scene), sarcasm, Brit-cop humor, copious amounts of tea, omega sex-trafficking ring, colleagues, alpha/sigma pairing, child abuse (implied but never described), past trauma, investigative, top knot, grey eyes, sparring, small knot (sigma), insta-attraction, height difference (5'9 & 6'5), feeling unworthy, scruffing - back of neck grabbing, washcloth, surprise heat, giant stuffed koala, sweet twin brother, asshole ex
November 2, 2025
4.25**** stars
I enjoyed this a whole lot. The mystery part was honestly a bit messy and a bit weak overall if you ask me but the omegaverse romance hit well for me.
And as always when it’s displayed on page I LOOOOVED seeing the characters interact with each other as wolves. It’s always just the fucking cutest!!
*************
Omegaverse Case Files
Book 1 - Hammer & Gavel - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Night Call - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - tbd
I enjoyed this a whole lot. The mystery part was honestly a bit messy and a bit weak overall if you ask me but the omegaverse romance hit well for me.
“Why do you smell like a fucking fever-dream?” Lucas growled low in his belly.
And as always when it’s displayed on page I LOOOOVED seeing the characters interact with each other as wolves. It’s always just the fucking cutest!!
*************
Omegaverse Case Files
Book 1 - Hammer & Gavel - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Night Call - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - tbd
Want to read
October 15, 2025Also dropping this because I'm straight up bored. 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
I've read fucking slappinnnnnnnnnnnng good ABO manga's and some fucking great cop/invetsgator books lately (Helloooooooooooo, Seongjae and Malcom, Doyle and Larkin, Park and Cooper) and these two MC's just like.... don't even enter on my scale enough to try and be interested.
The writing was fine.
The lore was good enough and explained.
No wheel was reinvented but it had good bones.
I'm just finding by 20%, the grumpy character has had a personality transplant into "i really care about you" for no real reason, and they already kissed and I can't understand why.
I've read fucking slappinnnnnnnnnnnng good ABO manga's and some fucking great cop/invetsgator books lately (Helloooooooooooo, Seongjae and Malcom, Doyle and Larkin, Park and Cooper) and these two MC's just like.... don't even enter on my scale enough to try and be interested.
The writing was fine.
The lore was good enough and explained.
No wheel was reinvented but it had good bones.
I'm just finding by 20%, the grumpy character has had a personality transplant into "i really care about you" for no real reason, and they already kissed and I can't understand why.
November 10, 2025
Wow. What a beautiful, intense book. The writing was compelling, the storyline fast-paced, the romance awesome.
The author was able to convince me that Oliver and Lucas not only were mates but fell in love. Their chemistry was believable, their push and pull felt genuine.
I loved the storyline, even if it was gruesome at times. Thankfully for me at least the story's horrific background was left off page. The additional existence of "sigma's" in a omegawerse-world (with all the implied complications) was refreshing.
I adored that throughout the story people shifted into their wolf form, it's not often that authors write wolf shifter romances with parts of the story written from the wolf's pov (I only recall the Green Creek series and the Anton & Leander series, both favourites in the mm wolf shifter genre for me).
And the epilogue.. an epilogue making me tear up is very rare. This one gave me what I silently had hoped for, deep down, but already had dismissed as not possible anymore.
The book wasn't perfect. It needed better editing, there were grammar errors, and Oliver often described his appearance as if he was watching himself in that specific moment, it didn't make sense with the story being told in single pov (Oliver).
Nevertheless, I loved this story. Highly recommended.
But please e aware of content warnings and trigger warnings.
Thanks lovely Drusilla for the rec ♥️
The author was able to convince me that Oliver and Lucas not only were mates but fell in love. Their chemistry was believable, their push and pull felt genuine.
I loved the storyline, even if it was gruesome at times. Thankfully for me at least the story's horrific background was left off page. The additional existence of "sigma's" in a omegawerse-world (with all the implied complications) was refreshing.
I adored that throughout the story people shifted into their wolf form, it's not often that authors write wolf shifter romances with parts of the story written from the wolf's pov (I only recall the Green Creek series and the Anton & Leander series, both favourites in the mm wolf shifter genre for me).
And the epilogue.. an epilogue making me tear up is very rare. This one gave me what I silently had hoped for, deep down, but already had dismissed as not possible anymore.
The book wasn't perfect. It needed better editing, there were grammar errors, and Oliver often described his appearance as if he was watching himself in that specific moment, it didn't make sense with the story being told in single pov (Oliver).
Nevertheless, I loved this story. Highly recommended.
But please e aware of content warnings and trigger warnings.
Thanks lovely Drusilla for the rec ♥️
October 27, 2025
This book had an identity crisis. Check out my reading progress rundown to see where it turned for me. It’s where I start yelling at the characters. Mainly narrator MC Ollie. I considered DNF-ing but ultimately was too invested and kept going.
It started out strong! I loved the unique “sigma” addition to omegaverse, and wow did I *LOVE* the mates element/attraction/feral connection. And these folks shift into wolves, and did it a LOT in the book, which was so much fun.
MC Oliver “Ollie” started out as this strong, appealing narrator who gave no shits and took no crap from anyone. He’s a sigma, a unique sort of alpha-omega new thing with traits of both, can go into heat and get pregnant, though pregnancy is rare, and also has the aura and attitude of an alpha. He owned his place as a detective for child protection, got things done, stood up for himself and for kids…loved it.
MC Lucas is the alpha sergeant from London/the Met who’s come to town with fellow officers to take part in taking down the child sex trafficking ring thought to be operating in Ollie’s small town area. These upstart snobs are taking over Ollie's territory, and Ollie was not pleased! 😁
Their awareness of each other could not be denied, and the circling, the chemistry, the growing connection was 🔥🔥🔥. I was massively enjoying myself! Ollie even opens up to Lucas about the horrific thing that happened to him 6 years ago with an ex, a cheating situation that hospitalized and nearly killed him. And seeing Lucas go absolutely feral when Ollie was in danger…! 😍 (Though the aftermath didn’t look great on Ollie….that was the start of his devolution…)
Then Ollie’s utterly wretched piece of 💩 ex showed up, and Ollie got a personality transplant. He became this stammering, conflict-avoiding shell of himself, and it was so WEIRD. I got that he’d been through it, but, his entire character seemed different, weak, prevaricating, hiding the truth, in ways that didn’t fit his original development, and I got frustrated. He endangered a child by hiding things for personal reasons, and it felt so wrong. And unprofessional. His character felt infantilized? Something like that. It was Off.
I still got all kinds of great things in the read…mating, MATING BITES!!! Loved! Conflict, tension, romantic drama. And I enjoyed Ollie’s brother and his husband and Ollie’s pack connection with them. Matteus oversteps a time or two, but then stepped up when needed most, when certain revelations should damn well have come from Ollie. And Matty’s husband, Julian, was terrific too.
So I enjoyed the first half, and then certain omegaverse elements of the second half, but by the end it felt like Ollie was this sort of shell of who he’d started out as, and I just didn’t get it. He became more like a cliché of a "weak woman" character than who he was at first? Like, he was trying to be “strong,” but it was to protect himself, and was to the detriment of many others, and it didn’t seem organic or admirable. He lost me.
The entire child trafficking ring plot kind of went on in the background, coming forward every so often, and I didn’t feel they were focused enough on investigating/being professional, given how important it was. Something felt out of balance, like it was fighting itself, even though it gets tied up in the end.
There was also a weird inconsistency...Ollie was so traumatized by his past w the ex that he's reluctant about getting involved with Lucas. Yes, we learn he had a hookup-y Thing for a while with another officer, Harry, and Harry is the one who stopped it bc he wanted to be w someone he could have a family with? That doesn't sound like Ollie had trouble getting involved after the ex. And yet he does. ??? It didn't make sense, and since Harry caused no conflict and wasn't important, apart from one meh moment in a pub just to bring it up again, why bother with it?
The end was heartwarmingly lovely though!
Overall, though, I had a good time.
HEA, omegaverse, alpha-sigma pairing, police detectives working together. Mpreg. OM drama up the wazoo from Oliver’s excrutiatingly obviously villainous ex. Not invited by either MC, and created some stellar heightened reaction moments between them. Totally safe for me though, no OM action. There is a secondary character who created a moment of worry for me at one point, but, he was friend-zoned and I think is one MC in the next book. Recommended, but, man, please get this author a developmental editor. There were also SO many errors, another proofread would have not gone amiss.
Also, I love this author’s pen name!
It started out strong! I loved the unique “sigma” addition to omegaverse, and wow did I *LOVE* the mates element/attraction/feral connection. And these folks shift into wolves, and did it a LOT in the book, which was so much fun.
MC Oliver “Ollie” started out as this strong, appealing narrator who gave no shits and took no crap from anyone. He’s a sigma, a unique sort of alpha-omega new thing with traits of both, can go into heat and get pregnant, though pregnancy is rare, and also has the aura and attitude of an alpha. He owned his place as a detective for child protection, got things done, stood up for himself and for kids…loved it.
MC Lucas is the alpha sergeant from London/the Met who’s come to town with fellow officers to take part in taking down the child sex trafficking ring thought to be operating in Ollie’s small town area. These upstart snobs are taking over Ollie's territory, and Ollie was not pleased! 😁
Their awareness of each other could not be denied, and the circling, the chemistry, the growing connection was 🔥🔥🔥. I was massively enjoying myself! Ollie even opens up to Lucas about the horrific thing that happened to him 6 years ago with an ex, a cheating situation that hospitalized and nearly killed him. And seeing Lucas go absolutely feral when Ollie was in danger…! 😍 (Though the aftermath didn’t look great on Ollie….that was the start of his devolution…)
Then Ollie’s utterly wretched piece of 💩 ex showed up, and Ollie got a personality transplant. He became this stammering, conflict-avoiding shell of himself, and it was so WEIRD. I got that he’d been through it, but, his entire character seemed different, weak, prevaricating, hiding the truth, in ways that didn’t fit his original development, and I got frustrated. He endangered a child by hiding things for personal reasons, and it felt so wrong. And unprofessional. His character felt infantilized? Something like that. It was Off.
I still got all kinds of great things in the read…mating, MATING BITES!!! Loved! Conflict, tension, romantic drama. And I enjoyed Ollie’s brother and his husband and Ollie’s pack connection with them. Matteus oversteps a time or two, but then stepped up when needed most, when certain revelations should damn well have come from Ollie. And Matty’s husband, Julian, was terrific too.
So I enjoyed the first half, and then certain omegaverse elements of the second half, but by the end it felt like Ollie was this sort of shell of who he’d started out as, and I just didn’t get it. He became more like a cliché of a "weak woman" character than who he was at first? Like, he was trying to be “strong,” but it was to protect himself, and was to the detriment of many others, and it didn’t seem organic or admirable. He lost me.
The entire child trafficking ring plot kind of went on in the background, coming forward every so often, and I didn’t feel they were focused enough on investigating/being professional, given how important it was. Something felt out of balance, like it was fighting itself, even though it gets tied up in the end.
There was also a weird inconsistency...Ollie was so traumatized by his past w the ex that he's reluctant about getting involved with Lucas. Yes, we learn he had a hookup-y Thing for a while with another officer, Harry, and Harry is the one who stopped it bc he wanted to be w someone he could have a family with? That doesn't sound like Ollie had trouble getting involved after the ex. And yet he does. ??? It didn't make sense, and since Harry caused no conflict and wasn't important, apart from one meh moment in a pub just to bring it up again, why bother with it?
The end was heartwarmingly lovely though!
Overall, though, I had a good time.
HEA, omegaverse, alpha-sigma pairing, police detectives working together. Mpreg. OM drama up the wazoo from Oliver’s excrutiatingly obviously villainous ex. Not invited by either MC, and created some stellar heightened reaction moments between them. Totally safe for me though, no OM action. There is a secondary character who created a moment of worry for me at one point, but, he was friend-zoned and I think is one MC in the next book. Recommended, but, man, please get this author a developmental editor. There were also SO many errors, another proofread would have not gone amiss.
Also, I love this author’s pen name!
August 22, 2025
Re-read August 2025
Still a solid 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Something I noticed this time around though? This is definitely (and if you SQUINT) insta-love or at least insta-attraction? I don’t know, but they’re relationship progressed very rapidly in the beginning which I usually do not like, but this book is still soooo good!
——————————————————
I could write a long winded review about how much I loved this book and how it’ll probably be a top 3 read for this year (despite it only being January).
You can also just pick it up and love it for yourself.
5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and 1 extra for making me teary eyed at the end ⭐️
July 29, 2025
Flawless
A fantastic story for fans of Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara or Valor and Doyle by Nicky James! So much fun (with just a dash of serious crime) & the perfect amount of spice mixed in.
A fantastic story for fans of Wolf at the Door by Charlie Adhara or Valor and Doyle by Nicky James! So much fun (with just a dash of serious crime) & the perfect amount of spice mixed in.
April 7, 2025
Never heard of a Sigma in my life but I would like more of these funky dudes please and thank you. This was a lot of fun even if the crime we are solving is taking down a child sex trafficking ring (love me some light reading) and I always enjoy getting to see different take on omegaverse and this was definitely one of the better ones I’ve come across. That being said we did have the unfortunate mix of instalove, miscommunication, aggressively independent main character, and whomp whomp the ex lover turns out to be the evil villain which is a bold combo to take on and somehow not make me angry at something. Patrick honestly felt like a mustache twirling villain and was evil for kicks and that is honestly my only complaint besides Lucas and Oliver speedrunning their relationship but I assume based on some context clues that’s kind of the norm for these shifters so you know what fair enough go get married you crazy kids. Considering this is a debut the author certainly came out swinging and somehow managed to not strike out despite the metric fuck ton they decided to tackle in this bad boy so you bet I am absolutely seated for what they put out next 👌
October 14, 2025
Picked this up because I love omegaverse settings, and the high rating made me curious. The idea of a sigma detective and a big-city alpha working together sounded fun. But in the end, I didn’t connect with the story :/
Thank for small mercies, at least the writing is clean. That’s already more than I can say for a lot of books in this genre. The world-building also shows effort.
Now, the not-so-good: I never felt close to the MC, Oliver. He has a sad past and a tough job, but I didn’t feel it. I was told he was hurt, told he was strong, but I didn’t see it in a way that made me care. Lucas, the love interest, is the classic perfect alpha: tall, rich, kind, great at cooking, great at everything. In the end, he didn’t feel like a character, more like a checklist of “dream alpha” traits.
The romance was slow, but not in a sweet way. It starts almost instantly: Lucas wants Oliver on day one. After that it’s just the same loop: Oliver feels “not good enough”, Lucas growls “but you’re perfect”, Oliver says “no”, they kiss, someone interrupts, repeat. It isn’t slow-burn; it’s a stuck record. The crime plot was there, but it never felt urgent. It was more like background noise to the romance, and even that didn’t keep me hooked.
Also, the writing is too dense: Pages of metaphors and jokes, but little moves forward.
I stopped reading around the middle. Too much filler, not enough thriller. If you like endless banter and instant lust that keeps resetting, you may enjoy it. I just got bored.
Thank for small mercies, at least the writing is clean. That’s already more than I can say for a lot of books in this genre. The world-building also shows effort.
Now, the not-so-good: I never felt close to the MC, Oliver. He has a sad past and a tough job, but I didn’t feel it. I was told he was hurt, told he was strong, but I didn’t see it in a way that made me care. Lucas, the love interest, is the classic perfect alpha: tall, rich, kind, great at cooking, great at everything. In the end, he didn’t feel like a character, more like a checklist of “dream alpha” traits.
The romance was slow, but not in a sweet way. It starts almost instantly: Lucas wants Oliver on day one. After that it’s just the same loop: Oliver feels “not good enough”, Lucas growls “but you’re perfect”, Oliver says “no”, they kiss, someone interrupts, repeat. It isn’t slow-burn; it’s a stuck record. The crime plot was there, but it never felt urgent. It was more like background noise to the romance, and even that didn’t keep me hooked.
Also, the writing is too dense: Pages of metaphors and jokes, but little moves forward.
I stopped reading around the middle. Too much filler, not enough thriller. If you like endless banter and instant lust that keeps resetting, you may enjoy it. I just got bored.
October 14, 2025
ALL OF THE GODDAMN FUCKING STARS! This book. THIS BOOK! One of my top reads of the year, definitely my new favorite omegaverse book. Gods damn this book was SO GOOD. I started it late last night and fell asleep after maybe 30 pages.. but then did nothing at all today but read.
Oliver and Lucas are such beautifully complex and layer characters, and their relationship was the same. And I loved that the shifters spent time actually shifted, those were some of my favorite moments in this book.
I loved the side character too! Nancy was so funny, and Matteus was my favorite. Him and his hormones and his baking for Oliver. And his mate, Julian and how he looked after Oliver like he was his own brother. Ugh all of it.
This book had the perfect balance of romance and mystery. Sometimes a book is too much romance, and the mystery gets left behind.. or there’s too much mystery but not much in the way of romance. This book has the perfect balance and that made me so happy!
Idk how to end reviews.. but.. read this!
Oliver and Lucas are such beautifully complex and layer characters, and their relationship was the same. And I loved that the shifters spent time actually shifted, those were some of my favorite moments in this book.
I loved the side character too! Nancy was so funny, and Matteus was my favorite. Him and his hormones and his baking for Oliver. And his mate, Julian and how he looked after Oliver like he was his own brother. Ugh all of it.
This book had the perfect balance of romance and mystery. Sometimes a book is too much romance, and the mystery gets left behind.. or there’s too much mystery but not much in the way of romance. This book has the perfect balance and that made me so happy!
Idk how to end reviews.. but.. read this!
February 8, 2025
I envy those who have not read this book...because I want to read it for the first time again.
I was smiling like an idiot throughout the book and even got teary eyed in some parts. I can't wait for the next installment in the series.
I was smiling like an idiot throughout the book and even got teary eyed in some parts. I can't wait for the next installment in the series.
August 14, 2025
THIS BOOK WAS SO. GOOD. A friend of mine DMd me out of the blue to say that she'd found an omegaverse shifter cop book and DID I WANT TO READ IT? And, honestly, people will bring book recs to me with some regularity, but something about that combination - I NEEDED TO READ IT IMMEDIATELY. I've been in my detective thriller era for a bit... I just finished reading MateHub for a third time... I've been wishing I could find something along the same lines as the Big Bad Wolf series... BAM! Hammer & Gavel was everything I wanted and more. An exciting police procedural plot, relatively simple omegaverse dynamics, AMAZING banter, and simply wonderful characters. I had the BEST time reading this one, and the entire group of people I read it with loved it too - we ALL binged it. Definitely one to blow up your TBR for!
I LOVE OLIVER AND LUCAS SO MUCH! Oliver is a little prickly thanks to some awful things in his past and his designation as a sigma, something I haven't encountered in omegaverse before (it's kind of in-between an alpha and an omega). He literally runs into Lucas when they are thrown together on a case, and their chemistry (and compatibility) is palpable. There are some pretty funny reluctant mate vibes that I WAS HERE FOR, but there's also quite a bit of lead-up to Lucas and Oliver finally getting together, which I appreciated. Lucas is literal book husband material - he is GONE for Oliver from the very beginning and willing to do whatever it takes to be with him. This kind of opposites attract relationship is my FAVORITE - huge, utterly devoted alpha guy falling for the temperamental chaos monster. Despite all that, these guys really are cute together. Their banter is hilarious, I LOVE the scenes where they are playing together shifted (like puppies!), and OMG, possessive/protective Lucas made me MELT.
If you are looking for a fast, fun read to break you out of a slump, keep you entertained, or to make you forget about all the other books you are SUPPOSED to be reading - this is IT. I'm SO thrilled I took the chance, and I'm over here rearranging my TBR RIGHT NOW so I can read the second book. Another new favorite here my friends!
I LOVE OLIVER AND LUCAS SO MUCH! Oliver is a little prickly thanks to some awful things in his past and his designation as a sigma, something I haven't encountered in omegaverse before (it's kind of in-between an alpha and an omega). He literally runs into Lucas when they are thrown together on a case, and their chemistry (and compatibility) is palpable. There are some pretty funny reluctant mate vibes that I WAS HERE FOR, but there's also quite a bit of lead-up to Lucas and Oliver finally getting together, which I appreciated. Lucas is literal book husband material - he is GONE for Oliver from the very beginning and willing to do whatever it takes to be with him. This kind of opposites attract relationship is my FAVORITE - huge, utterly devoted alpha guy falling for the temperamental chaos monster. Despite all that, these guys really are cute together. Their banter is hilarious, I LOVE the scenes where they are playing together shifted (like puppies!), and OMG, possessive/protective Lucas made me MELT.
If you are looking for a fast, fun read to break you out of a slump, keep you entertained, or to make you forget about all the other books you are SUPPOSED to be reading - this is IT. I'm SO thrilled I took the chance, and I'm over here rearranging my TBR RIGHT NOW so I can read the second book. Another new favorite here my friends!
May 25, 2025
This was FANTASTIC — and not just for a debut either.
WHAT I LIKED
- Different take on omegaverse. There are some secondary sex additions which are not only well explored but seamlessly woven into the plot and characters’ backstories. Beyond that, you get your standard omegaverse-shifter tropes: scenting, marking, mating, bonding etc, all of which I enjoyed immensely.
- Push and pull. I wasn’t feeling it first between the MCs — things were moving a little too fast — but as soon as they started trying to stay away from each other, things got hotttttt
- Plot. It’s good but this is more about omegaverse dynamics than anything else.
- Writing style. Could’ve used a little tightening up — especially in the first 1/3 — but it was very good for a debut.
WHAT I DISLIKED
- POV switches + typos. I had to dock half a star for this. There were a few instances where the author switched POVs mid-scene. It was so subtle they may not even have realised. The restaurant scene immediately comes to mind but there were one or two others as well. There were also several typos but they didn’t ruin my reading experience so no points docked there.
Expect
- Possessive MCs🥵
- Shifter omegaverse
- Scenting
- Marking
- Mating
- Bonding
- Mpreg
- Age gap
- Forced proximity
- Trauma from past abuse
WHAT I LIKED
- Different take on omegaverse. There are some secondary sex additions which are not only well explored but seamlessly woven into the plot and characters’ backstories. Beyond that, you get your standard omegaverse-shifter tropes: scenting, marking, mating, bonding etc, all of which I enjoyed immensely.
- Push and pull. I wasn’t feeling it first between the MCs — things were moving a little too fast — but as soon as they started trying to stay away from each other, things got hotttttt
- Plot. It’s good but this is more about omegaverse dynamics than anything else.
- Writing style. Could’ve used a little tightening up — especially in the first 1/3 — but it was very good for a debut.
WHAT I DISLIKED
- POV switches + typos. I had to dock half a star for this. There were a few instances where the author switched POVs mid-scene. It was so subtle they may not even have realised. The restaurant scene immediately comes to mind but there were one or two others as well. There were also several typos but they didn’t ruin my reading experience so no points docked there.
Expect
- Possessive MCs🥵
- Shifter omegaverse
- Scenting
- Marking
- Mating
- Bonding
- Mpreg
- Age gap
- Forced proximity
- Trauma from past abuse
October 6, 2025
All the stars!! 🌟 Love love!!
Wow, I can’t believe this was a debut!! It was soo good. I was grinning, chortling, mad on behalf of the mc’s, sad, frowning, anxious a bit but overall enjoyed the ever loving stuffing out of this book!!
The epilogue!! Omg tears of joy. I wanted to keep reading but theres no more of Lucas and Oliver. Thank goodness i can jump straight to the next book and hopefully they will pop in to say hi.
Wow, I can’t believe this was a debut!! It was soo good. I was grinning, chortling, mad on behalf of the mc’s, sad, frowning, anxious a bit but overall enjoyed the ever loving stuffing out of this book!!
The epilogue!! Omg tears of joy. I wanted to keep reading but theres no more of Lucas and Oliver. Thank goodness i can jump straight to the next book and hopefully they will pop in to say hi.
October 4, 2025
Ouuuh this was EXCELLENT. Give me ten more. Up-and-coming new author, you don't want to miss out on this awesome twist of omagaverse. The writing is really good and snarky, and I was smiling like a fool and kicking my feet alone in my bed more than once.
January 30, 2025
4.5 stars
So this book definitely had its flaws, but I found it so engaging and hard to put down, and in the end I really enjoyed it.
The strongest point for me was the solidity of Lucas and Oliver's bond. Oliver is really unsure of himself, due to past trauma, but Lucas is unwavering. He was so sure of his commitment to Oliver, always understanding, there to provide reassurance whenever needed.
I also thought the worldbuilding was interesting and had a lot of potential. Lucas is an alpha, which is standard, but Oliver is a sigma, which is sort of the worst of both alphas and omegas: he has all the alpha aggression, and the omega physical/pheromonal vulnerability. I'd be interested in more info on how all of this works on a societal level.
The weakest point is probably the mystery, which while I really was interested in, kind of fizzled out. Like, it wasn't really very mysterious, or maybe I'm just cynical because I wasn't really surprised with where it went. I also found it wrapped up a bit too vaguely, but perhaps the threads will be picked up in following books.
There is a brief communication mishap, which I was starting to get concerned about, but manages to be resolved without drama.
Oliver's ex is disgusting, and slimy, and was very well-written - I hated him so much.
All in all, very enjoyable, impossible to put down, and I definitely plan to read the sequel.
So this book definitely had its flaws, but I found it so engaging and hard to put down, and in the end I really enjoyed it.
The strongest point for me was the solidity of Lucas and Oliver's bond. Oliver is really unsure of himself, due to past trauma, but Lucas is unwavering. He was so sure of his commitment to Oliver, always understanding, there to provide reassurance whenever needed.
I also thought the worldbuilding was interesting and had a lot of potential. Lucas is an alpha, which is standard, but Oliver is a sigma, which is sort of the worst of both alphas and omegas: he has all the alpha aggression, and the omega physical/pheromonal vulnerability. I'd be interested in more info on how all of this works on a societal level.
The weakest point is probably the mystery, which while I really was interested in, kind of fizzled out. Like, it wasn't really very mysterious, or maybe I'm just cynical because I wasn't really surprised with where it went. I also found it wrapped up a bit too vaguely, but perhaps the threads will be picked up in following books.
There is a brief communication mishap, which I was starting to get concerned about, but manages to be resolved without drama.
Oliver's ex is disgusting, and slimy, and was very well-written - I hated him so much.
All in all, very enjoyable, impossible to put down, and I definitely plan to read the sequel.
November 3, 2025
Fan-fucking-tastic!
February 8, 2025
And just like that, history is repeating itself. If by history we mean yesterday. Once again I have started reading this at night and had to stop myself in the middle of the book and kept thinking about it as I was trying to fall asleep and anytime I woke up during the night, once again I was more impressed with the book before going to sleep than when I continued reading after waking up and have now pretty mixed feelings about the whole ordeal.
The premise is rather spectacular - it has all the building blocks to be a real banger: set in Britain (instead of the ever present USofA), about two detectives from different units and cities who are also wolf shifters and while it is omegaverse and Lucas is an alpha, Oliver is actually, drumroll please, sigma! Which is like omega and alpha at the same time. So much juice, so much potential. But not all of it came together quite the way I hoped.
The sigma designation was not a sign of alternative and progressive world built, more of a reason to cast Oliver as the... Outcast (if you pardon the pun). To make him an omega with a temper but throughout the book, he was more and more pushed to the side as being the... weaker one. Look, maybe I have the wrong expectation but at a risk of repeating myself, I come to mm to get Guys. As in, to see a relationship with people who are, even in otherwise unequal social settings, supposed to be equals. I've read too many romance books where the female MC was abused, treated as disposable or a pawn, insulted and... You get the picture. So when I have two guys, I expect an equal footing which is why omegaverse can be such a minefield for me. So hearing this sigma idea, I was thrilled. I was so happy when Oliver kicked ass and took names, when he looked just as capable as the alpha male interest and it seemed his omega characteristics were only going to provide him with a softer side or even just the ability to... Procreate *trying not to make a face* because book gays can't surrogate or adopt, oh no, there's mpreg now! I was stoked when I learned he had alpha parents and Lucas had two omega dads because it spoke of that innovative attitude omegaverse needs (or that I look for in this). Again, I was left disappointed. Oliver just had to had an abusive ex like any good woman I mean omega I mean sigma that ruined his belief in love. The ex had to reappear so that his new squeeze can be all protective about it. He had to confront the fact he is not considered a man I mean alpha by his superior the society and how his gender I mean designation provides a nice glass ceiling to his life and career. Minor spoiler alert but Oliver took Luca's surname. I am not sure if it's just me or if I am seeing things but I just can't wrap my head around the idea that you replace the gender (and race and etc) equality with designation inequality. Like, at this point in time I expect every women in these books to be an alpha because women are badass but omegas are now the new women in this relationship/equation so like, what was tbe point of changing it!? Does that make sense? You know what I am trying to say?
I want to spoiler a lot more to explain just how my hopes were slowly but surely dismantled but let's just say they were, that this had a nice beginning and plenty of potential bit for me, not enough of it was realised. Bonus points for the cover and for the everyone is a shifter world. Probably going to continue but let me lower my expectations first.
The premise is rather spectacular - it has all the building blocks to be a real banger: set in Britain (instead of the ever present USofA), about two detectives from different units and cities who are also wolf shifters and while it is omegaverse and Lucas is an alpha, Oliver is actually, drumroll please, sigma! Which is like omega and alpha at the same time. So much juice, so much potential. But not all of it came together quite the way I hoped.
The sigma designation was not a sign of alternative and progressive world built, more of a reason to cast Oliver as the... Outcast (if you pardon the pun). To make him an omega with a temper but throughout the book, he was more and more pushed to the side as being the... weaker one. Look, maybe I have the wrong expectation but at a risk of repeating myself, I come to mm to get Guys. As in, to see a relationship with people who are, even in otherwise unequal social settings, supposed to be equals. I've read too many romance books where the female MC was abused, treated as disposable or a pawn, insulted and... You get the picture. So when I have two guys, I expect an equal footing which is why omegaverse can be such a minefield for me. So hearing this sigma idea, I was thrilled. I was so happy when Oliver kicked ass and took names, when he looked just as capable as the alpha male interest and it seemed his omega characteristics were only going to provide him with a softer side or even just the ability to... Procreate *trying not to make a face* because book gays can't surrogate or adopt, oh no, there's mpreg now! I was stoked when I learned he had alpha parents and Lucas had two omega dads because it spoke of that innovative attitude omegaverse needs (or that I look for in this). Again, I was left disappointed. Oliver just had to had an abusive ex like any good woman I mean omega I mean sigma that ruined his belief in love. The ex had to reappear so that his new squeeze can be all protective about it. He had to confront the fact he is not considered a man I mean alpha by his superior the society and how his gender I mean designation provides a nice glass ceiling to his life and career. Minor spoiler alert but Oliver took Luca's surname. I am not sure if it's just me or if I am seeing things but I just can't wrap my head around the idea that you replace the gender (and race and etc) equality with designation inequality. Like, at this point in time I expect every women in these books to be an alpha because women are badass but omegas are now the new women in this relationship/equation so like, what was tbe point of changing it!? Does that make sense? You know what I am trying to say?
I want to spoiler a lot more to explain just how my hopes were slowly but surely dismantled but let's just say they were, that this had a nice beginning and plenty of potential bit for me, not enough of it was realised. Bonus points for the cover and for the everyone is a shifter world. Probably going to continue but let me lower my expectations first.
August 10, 2025
“But then this five foot nine, foul-mouthed, tempest of a man crossed my path at High Enfield Crown Court. And it was like my heart started beating again.”
HAMMER & GAVEL was different than what I usually read in my Omegaverses (secondary sex, mpeg & shifting) but it worked. Throw in two men who have an instant connection, past trauma, mating and an adorable little boy who stole my heart and this helped slowly get me out of my slump. I wasn't a fan of the surprise pregnancy though because 1. it happened too fast and 2. we as a reader have been told time & again that Oliver is infertile which broke my heart so it didn't work how all of a sudden the infertility is magically cured after one time with their true love. Didn't feel genuine to the story which makes me sound like a scrouge but its how I feel. I also I wanted more focus on Alfie and his adoption because he deserved all the page time. I love that little guy and I hope we see more of him in future books. Was this story perfect? No. But I liked both leads, I loved Alfie and the end made me cry so I'm calling this a win.
Special thanks to my friend Amanda who endured reading this way slower than she wanted to cater to my slump. You are the best for that truly💜
HAMMER & GAVEL was different than what I usually read in my Omegaverses (secondary sex, mpeg & shifting) but it worked. Throw in two men who have an instant connection, past trauma, mating and an adorable little boy who stole my heart and this helped slowly get me out of my slump. I wasn't a fan of the surprise pregnancy though because 1. it happened too fast and 2. we as a reader have been told time & again that Oliver is infertile which broke my heart so it didn't work how all of a sudden the infertility is magically cured after one time with their true love. Didn't feel genuine to the story which makes me sound like a scrouge but its how I feel. I also I wanted more focus on Alfie and his adoption because he deserved all the page time. I love that little guy and I hope we see more of him in future books. Was this story perfect? No. But I liked both leads, I loved Alfie and the end made me cry so I'm calling this a win.
Special thanks to my friend Amanda who endured reading this way slower than she wanted to cater to my slump. You are the best for that truly💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2025
Reread #like 20: God this book is so fucking good.
———
Reread #1: THIS IS GOOD. I love this book so fucking much.
———
Man. This was a GOOD one. I started this for the omegaverse, I stayed for the excellent story telling, the world building, the character development, the investigation, all of it. It was so good. DEBUT book!?! I can’t believe. Also, Sigma? It is not often that I read an Omegaverse book with new pieces and new ideas and this was just excellent.
———
Reread #1: THIS IS GOOD. I love this book so fucking much.
———
Man. This was a GOOD one. I started this for the omegaverse, I stayed for the excellent story telling, the world building, the character development, the investigation, all of it. It was so good. DEBUT book!?! I can’t believe. Also, Sigma? It is not often that I read an Omegaverse book with new pieces and new ideas and this was just excellent.
September 9, 2025
Rating - 4.5 Stars rounded up
This was an awesome debut! For a book with 450 pages while I’ve been low-key slumping for months this held my interest the entire time and I never felt like it was a drag to pick up.
It was really fun - the banter, the side characters, the setting, the investigative plotline not to mention omegaverse?! 🔥 I am not the most seasoned omegaverse reader so this really was just hitting all the right spots (scenting, heats & ruts, romping around and cuddling as wolves, even the instalove was great because MATES).
I am already onto book 2 and I’m just really enjoying the writing, and vibes here.
This was an awesome debut! For a book with 450 pages while I’ve been low-key slumping for months this held my interest the entire time and I never felt like it was a drag to pick up.
It was really fun - the banter, the side characters, the setting, the investigative plotline not to mention omegaverse?! 🔥 I am not the most seasoned omegaverse reader so this really was just hitting all the right spots (scenting, heats & ruts, romping around and cuddling as wolves, even the instalove was great because MATES).
I am already onto book 2 and I’m just really enjoying the writing, and vibes here.
January 19, 2025
It really was 446 pages.
December 27, 2024
I binged this book in one day I was so hooked! Oliver and Lucas have such unique memorable personalities; they’re both lovable and flawed that makes all the moments between them really lovely to read. I love all of the support characters; Nancy and Oliver’s antics together were so entertaining. I feel like the story as a whole has really great pacing, and a good mix of funny interaction and drama. Also, I think reading the trigger warning is important for some who are sensitive to certain topics and plots, but the author goes a great job at implying certain events. Overall highly recommend reading!
November 3, 2025
However, the police officer in him commanded, take your fucking hands off the sergeant you filthy pervert. Straight to horny jail for you.
what an absolute DELIGHT of a book!!! truly, authors that start their writing career with fanfiction, more specifically on AO3, are just built different.
if you're not familiar with A/B/O or omegaverse, this review will not explain the concept for you and i suggest you research on these things if you want to understand what i'll be talking about better. or not. read the book summary and its (delightfully detailed) foreword if you want, it'll make more sense. or not. you do you.
onwards!
despite as i've read my share of abo books recently, the male-pregnancy tag is still a total wildcard for me. as much as it can be something interesting if at all explored, most times i've faced it has been just been handled so poorly. this was not the case. as well stablished as omegaverse is, we often see people trying to do something different to set themselves apart from the masses (at least in fanfiction) but it's not always that we find it well done.
this book was so well done.
we have lucas white, your run of the mill alfa, this one with a brazilian dad, with all the clichés and little errors i—as a brazilian—have come to expect from outsiders writing about us, and of course, we had the hipersexualization of a poc/"bronze skinned" man, portraying brazilians (and brown folks) as the mystical, sexual and care-free people. it wasn't even that glaring, but i digress.
the more interesting part anyway is oliver, our obviously white, blonde haired, special snow flake. ok, this sounds harsh, but i promise i actually loved this book, i just need to probletimize this a lil for the sake of my conscience. SO, oliver is a sigma. this is the curious part. sigmas are basically inter-sex, i guess? they share both alpha and omega traits and that was actually well-explored and it was pretty angsty and oliver was veery daft for a while there, but it was well done!
as far as plot goes, this is buddy cop and also a romance, with an international trafficking ring exploiting children, with some pretty heavy implications of that regard, by the way. my ooone other bone to pick was that the timeline would have benefitted for implying a bigger passage of time. i have no issues with fast falling in love, but you gotta aknowledge that things are going fast, without making it sound like it's been all this time and then reveal the whole book is set through barely a couple of months? minus the epilogue, obvs.
also, unexpectedly, i laughed so hard at so many times reading this???? it caught me completely off guard! i had expected to cry (and i did) but i hadn't expected to laugh quite so much.
what an absolute DELIGHT of a book!!! truly, authors that start their writing career with fanfiction, more specifically on AO3, are just built different.
if you're not familiar with A/B/O or omegaverse, this review will not explain the concept for you and i suggest you research on these things if you want to understand what i'll be talking about better. or not. read the book summary and its (delightfully detailed) foreword if you want, it'll make more sense. or not. you do you.
onwards!
despite as i've read my share of abo books recently, the male-pregnancy tag is still a total wildcard for me. as much as it can be something interesting if at all explored, most times i've faced it has been just been handled so poorly. this was not the case. as well stablished as omegaverse is, we often see people trying to do something different to set themselves apart from the masses (at least in fanfiction) but it's not always that we find it well done.
this book was so well done.
we have lucas white, your run of the mill alfa, this one with a brazilian dad, with all the clichés and little errors i—as a brazilian—have come to expect from outsiders writing about us, and of course, we had the hipersexualization of a poc/"bronze skinned" man, portraying brazilians (and brown folks) as the mystical, sexual and care-free people. it wasn't even that glaring, but i digress.
the more interesting part anyway is oliver, our obviously white, blonde haired, special snow flake. ok, this sounds harsh, but i promise i actually loved this book, i just need to probletimize this a lil for the sake of my conscience. SO, oliver is a sigma. this is the curious part. sigmas are basically inter-sex, i guess? they share both alpha and omega traits and that was actually well-explored and it was pretty angsty and oliver was veery daft for a while there, but it was well done!
as far as plot goes, this is buddy cop and also a romance, with an international trafficking ring exploiting children, with some pretty heavy implications of that regard, by the way. my ooone other bone to pick was that the timeline would have benefitted for implying a bigger passage of time. i have no issues with fast falling in love, but you gotta aknowledge that things are going fast, without making it sound like it's been all this time and then reveal the whole book is set through barely a couple of months? minus the epilogue, obvs.
also, unexpectedly, i laughed so hard at so many times reading this???? it caught me completely off guard! i had expected to cry (and i did) but i hadn't expected to laugh quite so much.
April 30, 2025
“But then this five foot nine, foul-mouthed, tempest of a man crossed my path at High Enfield Crown Court. And it was like my heart started beating again.”
I would like to read this for the first time again, immediately. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. My fucking HEART 😭
I would like to read this for the first time again, immediately. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year. My fucking HEART 😭
October 12, 2025
5.0 ⭐️ | 3.5 🌶️
- omegaverse
-alpha x sigma
- detectives and crime thrillers
-mpreg
-grumpy x sunshine
Honestly, I was just looking for a good omegaverse to read because I am craving for one lately and I saw this being recommended by a friend on social sites and I decided to give it a try and I was blown away. I used to love crime thrillers before the world of MM romance got me but this book is the best of both worlds and I couldn't ask for more. The smut scenes are few and not intense and explicit but it was all well executed. For a debut novel, this is a great piece of work. I became a big fan of crime thrillers in an omegaverse type of world setting.
- omegaverse
-alpha x sigma
- detectives and crime thrillers
-mpreg
-grumpy x sunshine
Honestly, I was just looking for a good omegaverse to read because I am craving for one lately and I saw this being recommended by a friend on social sites and I decided to give it a try and I was blown away. I used to love crime thrillers before the world of MM romance got me but this book is the best of both worlds and I couldn't ask for more. The smut scenes are few and not intense and explicit but it was all well executed. For a debut novel, this is a great piece of work. I became a big fan of crime thrillers in an omegaverse type of world setting.
February 3, 2025
This was so much fun!! 🐺
September 24, 2025
Fantastic read! My first five star for this month.
Alpha x Sigma
Alpha x Sigma
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews