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Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #1
Strange Medicine
alternate cover edition of ASIN B07BVPXLT5
Maxwell Thornton isn’t really a people person, but that never mattered to him because he’d lived for his career. After losing a patient during a routine hysterectomy, he’s shaken and afraid to pick up the scalpel again. He resigns his position in the city and takes a job as sole GP in the isolated town of Rainy Dale, Texas, population 1001.
Rainy Dale is populated with eccentrics who test his patience and seem to think he’s not only there to treat their illnesses, but that he’s also there to hold their hand and be their therapist. When one of his most annoying patients ends up dead and floating in Maxwell’s pool, he has some explaining to do to the local sheriff.
Sheriff Royce Callum is intelligent, determined and more attracted to the new doctor than he would like. He can’t imagine Maxwell is a murderer, but he also can’t exactly ignore a corpse in the sexy doctor’s pool.
Maxwell Thornton isn’t really a people person, but that never mattered to him because he’d lived for his career. After losing a patient during a routine hysterectomy, he’s shaken and afraid to pick up the scalpel again. He resigns his position in the city and takes a job as sole GP in the isolated town of Rainy Dale, Texas, population 1001.
Rainy Dale is populated with eccentrics who test his patience and seem to think he’s not only there to treat their illnesses, but that he’s also there to hold their hand and be their therapist. When one of his most annoying patients ends up dead and floating in Maxwell’s pool, he has some explaining to do to the local sheriff.
Sheriff Royce Callum is intelligent, determined and more attracted to the new doctor than he would like. He can’t imagine Maxwell is a murderer, but he also can’t exactly ignore a corpse in the sexy doctor’s pool.
276 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2018
111 people are currently reading
583 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Wynne
66 books585 followersS.C. Wynne is a Lambda Award-winning author for Gay Romance. S.C. started writing m/m romance and mystery in 2013. Her characters are usually a little jaded, funny, and ultimately redeemed through love.
If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com
If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
August 1, 2021
This was an ok cosy mystery but lacked personality. Dr Maxwell is rude, standoffish and keeps everyone at a distance including the reader, he's too prickly for his vulnerbilities to endear him; Royce is promising but little developed and occasionally patronising in tone. There's two sex scenes and they seem out of character, I didn't feel the chemistry or understand why Maxwell would appeal to Royce.
The mystery is a daft caper 'ameuter hour' but delivered as a serious situation. It's stupid rather than intriquing or amusing, the guilty parties are obvious as they're pretty much the only villagers introduced and spoken too. With no context until the reveal the happenings were simply odd.
It had potential but overall the story is too dull for me, it lacked character.
Grumpy was the best part.
Warning - The 'Epilogue' is not an epilogue, it's the start of the sequel a cliffhanger to tease you knto buying the next. Not a fan of this device and not sold on the characters enough to continue.
The mystery is a daft caper 'ameuter hour' but delivered as a serious situation. It's stupid rather than intriquing or amusing, the guilty parties are obvious as they're pretty much the only villagers introduced and spoken too. With no context until the reveal the happenings were simply odd.
It had potential but overall the story is too dull for me, it lacked character.
Grumpy was the best part.
Warning - The 'Epilogue' is not an epilogue, it's the start of the sequel a cliffhanger to tease you knto buying the next. Not a fan of this device and not sold on the characters enough to continue.
May 14, 2018
DNF after 68%. I thought I'd be able to make it to the end, but then I decided I had suffered enough.
The premise was cute - this is basically a cosy mystery set in a small Texan town, featuring city doctor Maxwell Thornton and town sherriff Royce Callum. After reading the preview, I was intrigued enough to buy it but what I initially thought was quirkiness was just plain bad or mediocre writing. I should really stop giving writers the benefit of the doubt - after 30 years as a reader I should just trust my gut and screw all those other reviews.
Anyway. Basically this was written like a mediocre fanfiction, including painfully awkward sex scenes and lots of glossing over details. The plot requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, especially Royce's behavior in the middle. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because I really liked Maxwell, but not enough to make myself read any more of this. I think what angered me the most was how condescending Royce was toward Maxwell - and the fact that the author probably didn't intend it to come across this way makes it even worse.
Well, other people seem to have liked this, but I really didn't.
The premise was cute - this is basically a cosy mystery set in a small Texan town, featuring city doctor Maxwell Thornton and town sherriff Royce Callum. After reading the preview, I was intrigued enough to buy it but what I initially thought was quirkiness was just plain bad or mediocre writing. I should really stop giving writers the benefit of the doubt - after 30 years as a reader I should just trust my gut and screw all those other reviews.
Anyway. Basically this was written like a mediocre fanfiction, including painfully awkward sex scenes and lots of glossing over details. The plot requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, especially Royce's behavior in the middle. The only reason I'm giving this two stars is because I really liked Maxwell, but not enough to make myself read any more of this. I think what angered me the most was how condescending Royce was toward Maxwell - and the fact that the author probably didn't intend it to come across this way makes it even worse.
Well, other people seem to have liked this, but I really didn't.
September 18, 2024
El Dr. Thornton tomo el puesto de medico de pueblo para huir de su pasado como cirujano en Los Angeles, pero no espera que su llegada al pequeño y tranquilo pueblo se vea plagada de intentos de sabotaje y hasta un asesinato en su propia casa!. Pero dentro de todo lo malo hay algo bueno, conocer al atractivo Sheriff del pueblo, quien no solo es inteligente, sino también es gay.
Será posible aclarar su nombre con respecto al asesinato en su casa? Será posible que pueda acostumbrarse a vivir en este pequeño pueblo? Podrá tener una relación con el atractivo Sherriff?
Este es un libro entretenido, romántico y sin mucho drama, donde el "misterio" se resuelve de manera fácil y sencilla, y los culpables resultan ser tontos que creen en una antigua leyenda. Me gustaron mucho los protas, sobre todo, por lo sencillos que son y lo poco complicado que resultan sus "problemas". Pero también me gustaron algunos de los secundarios, porque de verdad parecen jugar pequeños papeles en la historia sin robarse ningún protagonismo.
En fin, me gusto el comienzo de esta serie, así que vamos a ver que nos trae el resto de los libros.
Será posible aclarar su nombre con respecto al asesinato en su casa? Será posible que pueda acostumbrarse a vivir en este pequeño pueblo? Podrá tener una relación con el atractivo Sherriff?
Este es un libro entretenido, romántico y sin mucho drama, donde el "misterio" se resuelve de manera fácil y sencilla, y los culpables resultan ser tontos que creen en una antigua leyenda. Me gustaron mucho los protas, sobre todo, por lo sencillos que son y lo poco complicado que resultan sus "problemas". Pero también me gustaron algunos de los secundarios, porque de verdad parecen jugar pequeños papeles en la historia sin robarse ningún protagonismo.
En fin, me gusto el comienzo de esta serie, así que vamos a ver que nos trae el resto de los libros.
April 18, 2018
Well, this book was delightful! I just loved the characters, the story and mystery, and, of course, Grumpy!
Maxwell is a doctor who has left the big city for a fresh start in a small town. He's a bit standoffish, and when he first arrives, he is shocked at how laid back and lenient things are at his new office, and how nosy his new patients are. Royce is the town sheriff, and when the two meet there is definitely mutual interest from both.
I loved the blend of romance as Maxwell and Royce try to figure out what they are to each other, and with the mystery of what's going on at Maxwell's home/office and the murder. It kept me entertained right from the start, fast paced but not overly so. I really look forward to seeing how Maxwell and Royce's relationship continues to grow in the next book! I hope to learn more about the both of them, their pasts, and especially more about Royce since I felt like we knew a lot more about Maxwell than we did Royce.
Kinda ends on a cliffhanger, more with the situation, definitely not with our couple. Can't wait to read the next one!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Maxwell is a doctor who has left the big city for a fresh start in a small town. He's a bit standoffish, and when he first arrives, he is shocked at how laid back and lenient things are at his new office, and how nosy his new patients are. Royce is the town sheriff, and when the two meet there is definitely mutual interest from both.
I loved the blend of romance as Maxwell and Royce try to figure out what they are to each other, and with the mystery of what's going on at Maxwell's home/office and the murder. It kept me entertained right from the start, fast paced but not overly so. I really look forward to seeing how Maxwell and Royce's relationship continues to grow in the next book! I hope to learn more about the both of them, their pasts, and especially more about Royce since I felt like we knew a lot more about Maxwell than we did Royce.
Kinda ends on a cliffhanger, more with the situation, definitely not with our couple. Can't wait to read the next one!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2023
Edited 10/13/2023. I can't stop thinking about how many holes the plot had in it. It's bothering me a lot so I'm demoting to 2*.
This was a book, that I read. 2.5* rounded up, I’m not sure I’d recommend the series.
This was a book, that I read. 2.5* rounded up, I’m not sure I’d recommend the series.
April 2, 2021
I am giving this book 3 Stars and here is why...
1) I will start with congratulating the author on setting the tone from page one where Max's dismay with his new found life is concerned. Though I may not always like that "uncomfy feeling" we all should get when we read negative emotion in a novel, it's imperative to the trope here and I appreciated that. I only wished there had been more build into the reasons why he left his old life. I wanted more of a story and didn't get it.
2) While there were no grammatical mistakes I noted, I did pick up on a lot of "I did's..." These sentences can work to build up prose and create depth, however I found them distracting and wordy. In this story, you bounce back and forth between POV's and that's awesome. Show more than tell though...
3) The layout is a bit messy. Speaking as a self published author myself, I empathize with all SPA's that formatting for any platform is hard to do, but it's worth our time to learn and perfect it prior to publishing. I hope the author has cleaned up the formatting for future versions of the paperback (what I bought) and double checks the proof before it goes live. Again, I've been there, done that and it's quite the learning curve.
4) I, in general, really enjoyed the story and characters. Wynne has a knack for worldbuilding and it showed in the story throughout. I look forward to purchasing and taking the next one in the series.
If you want a heart warming, murder thriller, gay romance, this is a great choice. I look forward to taking more from this author.
1) I will start with congratulating the author on setting the tone from page one where Max's dismay with his new found life is concerned. Though I may not always like that "uncomfy feeling" we all should get when we read negative emotion in a novel, it's imperative to the trope here and I appreciated that. I only wished there had been more build into the reasons why he left his old life. I wanted more of a story and didn't get it.
2) While there were no grammatical mistakes I noted, I did pick up on a lot of "I did's..." These sentences can work to build up prose and create depth, however I found them distracting and wordy. In this story, you bounce back and forth between POV's and that's awesome. Show more than tell though...
3) The layout is a bit messy. Speaking as a self published author myself, I empathize with all SPA's that formatting for any platform is hard to do, but it's worth our time to learn and perfect it prior to publishing. I hope the author has cleaned up the formatting for future versions of the paperback (what I bought) and double checks the proof before it goes live. Again, I've been there, done that and it's quite the learning curve.
4) I, in general, really enjoyed the story and characters. Wynne has a knack for worldbuilding and it showed in the story throughout. I look forward to purchasing and taking the next one in the series.
If you want a heart warming, murder thriller, gay romance, this is a great choice. I look forward to taking more from this author.
Read
August 6, 2023The Cool Elf Wearing Sunglasses in the Winter stopped by and left me this beauty! I'm so happy.. Thank you
August 11, 2020
Such a lovely read!
I loved Max's quirky personality and Royce's calm and stable personality. They were so good for each other. It was fast paced and an easy read.
The mystery was the main thing in this book but it certainly didn't leave the romance out. Ended with a bit of a cliff hanger and the author haven't released book two yet sadly.
What made it a four star rating and not a five star rating was the description of Grumpy.
You can't take a young puppy for long walks. It's practically impossible and can hurt the puppy more than it does good. Very much a Gustaf problem but it annoyed me.
I loved Max's quirky personality and Royce's calm and stable personality. They were so good for each other. It was fast paced and an easy read.
The mystery was the main thing in this book but it certainly didn't leave the romance out. Ended with a bit of a cliff hanger and the author haven't released book two yet sadly.
What made it a four star rating and not a five star rating was the description of Grumpy.
You can't take a young puppy for long walks. It's practically impossible and can hurt the puppy more than it does good. Very much a Gustaf problem but it annoyed me.
Read
April 18, 2023out of the sc wynne books that i’ve read, this might be the weakest intro to a series. the characters are condescending, mystery clear as day (the suspect pool is so limited, you can’t go wrong), and developments not very believable. i bought the next two audiobooks during a sale so i’ll keep listening but with tempered expectations.
June 15, 2021
3.75 stars
March 31, 2018
This is a great start to a new series, I couldn’t put the book down. The story is fast-paced, with interesting characters and an intriguing mystery. While I strongly suspected “whodunit,” it was enjoyable to see how the clues were uncovered and pieced together. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
I received a copy of this book from the author, my review has been voluntarily submitted.
Currently reading
April 11, 2022Now in AUDIO!!! The amazing Matt Haynes narrated the book and it is so good!
May 5, 2022
This was pretty bad.
Strange language (rubbers?!!?), stranger
motivations. Blechh.
Strange language (rubbers?!!?), stranger
motivations. Blechh.
August 5, 2023
The good
+ Grumpy the puppy
+ Maxwell's attempts at vulnerability around Royce
+ Royce letting the peer-pressured kid off with a warning, instead of punishing him
The neutral
o This book ends on a cliffhanger, which I think wasn't mentioned beforehand
o The town is full of small town people doing small town people stuff, like gossiping and being overly familiar with people they barely know. I thought I was prepared for it, but it was still a lot
The bad
- Maxwell used to be a surgeon, and as a career switch he decided to become a GP without any additional schooling, training, or experience. A surgeon can't just become a GP. Maxwell wasn't made to be a GP anyway, as he obviously didn't like working with conscious and aware patients
- Royce investigated a murder committed on his sexual partner's property, and in which said partner was a suspect. Hell, Royce was Maxwell's alibi. That is such a huge conflict of interest and it's very unethical he was conducting the investigation at all
- Royce called Maxwell selfish and said things like "It was obvious he wasn't normal emotionally", which was very insulting and made me wonder why he was interested in Maxwell at all. Did he really only care about Maxwell's looks?
- Royce only agreed to let Maxwell come along on his stakeout if Maxwell promised to stay in the car if anything happened. Maxwell promised, and he even emphasized that he wasn't so stupid as to leave the car in a dangerous situation like that.
- Royce was going to speak to everyone who had any ties to Ned, the murder victim, at all. He had witnessed a tense conversation between Ned and shortly before Ned was killed, and when he went to . Royce even confirmed in his own head that the story wasn't adding up and that they were lying about something. He never followed up on this, and then later on said "Of all the people in town to be mixed up in something like this, would be the last one I'd have expected." If you don't consider a witness who lies to your face even slightly suspicious, then you're a lousy Sheriff
- In the epilogue, Maxwell was extremely judgmental of the mayor's father. He immediately jumped to conclusions regarding his obesity, and refused to even consider the possibility that the man was aware of his weight and its implications for his health. Then he found out the woman next to the mayor's father was his girlfriend, and he thought: "It wasn't like Bob was an especially attractive man. The redhead wasn't bad-looking, maybe a little too thin, but she was pretty enough. Maybe she was after his money." What kind of judgmental bullshit is that? Just because someone Maxwell considered 'pretty enough' was dating someone he didn't find attractive meant she must be after his money? Fuck that attitude
There was no reason for the main characters to even like each other (other than that they found each other physically attractive). Lots of things in the story didn't make sense or were downright unethical, and Maxwell was judgmental and mean. I would not recommend this book.
+ Grumpy the puppy
+ Maxwell's attempts at vulnerability around Royce
+ Royce letting the peer-pressured kid off with a warning, instead of punishing him
The neutral
o This book ends on a cliffhanger, which I think wasn't mentioned beforehand
o The town is full of small town people doing small town people stuff, like gossiping and being overly familiar with people they barely know. I thought I was prepared for it, but it was still a lot
The bad
- Maxwell used to be a surgeon, and as a career switch he decided to become a GP without any additional schooling, training, or experience. A surgeon can't just become a GP. Maxwell wasn't made to be a GP anyway, as he obviously didn't like working with conscious and aware patients
- Royce investigated a murder committed on his sexual partner's property, and in which said partner was a suspect. Hell, Royce was Maxwell's alibi. That is such a huge conflict of interest and it's very unethical he was conducting the investigation at all
- Royce called Maxwell selfish and said things like "It was obvious he wasn't normal emotionally", which was very insulting and made me wonder why he was interested in Maxwell at all. Did he really only care about Maxwell's looks?
- Royce only agreed to let Maxwell come along on his stakeout if Maxwell promised to stay in the car if anything happened. Maxwell promised, and he even emphasized that he wasn't so stupid as to leave the car in a dangerous situation like that.
- Royce was going to speak to everyone who had any ties to Ned, the murder victim, at all. He had witnessed a tense conversation between Ned and shortly before Ned was killed, and when he went to . Royce even confirmed in his own head that the story wasn't adding up and that they were lying about something. He never followed up on this, and then later on said "Of all the people in town to be mixed up in something like this, would be the last one I'd have expected." If you don't consider a witness who lies to your face even slightly suspicious, then you're a lousy Sheriff
- In the epilogue, Maxwell was extremely judgmental of the mayor's father. He immediately jumped to conclusions regarding his obesity, and refused to even consider the possibility that the man was aware of his weight and its implications for his health. Then he found out the woman next to the mayor's father was his girlfriend, and he thought: "It wasn't like Bob was an especially attractive man. The redhead wasn't bad-looking, maybe a little too thin, but she was pretty enough. Maybe she was after his money." What kind of judgmental bullshit is that? Just because someone Maxwell considered 'pretty enough' was dating someone he didn't find attractive meant she must be after his money? Fuck that attitude
There was no reason for the main characters to even like each other (other than that they found each other physically attractive). Lots of things in the story didn't make sense or were downright unethical, and Maxwell was judgmental and mean. I would not recommend this book.
April 26, 2018
3/4 ⭐
I liked this book.
it is an easy reading, not too deep or with heavy feeling involvement.
the setting is a small rural town, the mystery is nice, the characters likeable but not much characterized and the romance was ok, with an HFN ending, but this is only the first book in the series; the epilogue infact is more the beginning of the next book.
so, in the end, I can say I liked this book and I'll read the next one, but I didn't overly enjoyed it. I recommend it for an easy reading, with a enjoyable plot.
I liked this book.
it is an easy reading, not too deep or with heavy feeling involvement.
the setting is a small rural town, the mystery is nice, the characters likeable but not much characterized and the romance was ok, with an HFN ending, but this is only the first book in the series; the epilogue infact is more the beginning of the next book.
so, in the end, I can say I liked this book and I'll read the next one, but I didn't overly enjoyed it. I recommend it for an easy reading, with a enjoyable plot.
April 3, 2018
This felt like a MM cozy mystery, which is awesome. I love cozies and MM, so it was a great combo for me. A little more heat than your typical cozy, grittier, but still with that cozy feel. The mystery was partially telegraphed fairly early, but I’m ok with that when it’s this entertaining.
Wonderful characters, that are quirky and fun, but still relatable. Maxwell was a really interesting character with his personality quirks and fitting him into a small town dynamic that he’s not use to. Royce is a hot lawman, trying to do his job despite his attraction to Maxwell. Some great chemistry between these two, and i love that Royce accepts Maxwell just as he is.
Overall I really enjoyed this. It looks as though the series will center around these two characters, which I’m hoping for. I wasn’t quite satisfied with where their relationship left off, so I’m looking forward to more in the next book. I personally think it’s a wonderful balance between a cozy mystery and a MM romance, and recommend for fans of either.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy.
Wonderful characters, that are quirky and fun, but still relatable. Maxwell was a really interesting character with his personality quirks and fitting him into a small town dynamic that he’s not use to. Royce is a hot lawman, trying to do his job despite his attraction to Maxwell. Some great chemistry between these two, and i love that Royce accepts Maxwell just as he is.
Overall I really enjoyed this. It looks as though the series will center around these two characters, which I’m hoping for. I wasn’t quite satisfied with where their relationship left off, so I’m looking forward to more in the next book. I personally think it’s a wonderful balance between a cozy mystery and a MM romance, and recommend for fans of either.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy.
April 6, 2018
What a great book!! From the start I was hooked on Maxwell and Royce, but the mystery was fun too. Throw in a small town where everybody is up in everybody’s business and you have a winner. Great start to a new series and I’m eagerly awaiting next next book!
June 14, 2018
Unnecessary cliffhanger ending (obviously introducing the next case after the current one is resolved) ruined what had been an okay read. As in, up until then, it was decent for light entertainment (which has its place and I do appreciate at times), with a comfortable premise, some sympathetic moments, and not too much sex... but cliffhangers only make me unhappy, not anticipatory--to put it mildly--especially when they're so obviously there as a gimmick, and I don't need that kind of negative emotion in regard to my pleasure reading.
So I definitely will not be buying any more in this series, and I'm probably going to be more wary of other books by this author going forward.
So I definitely will not be buying any more in this series, and I'm probably going to be more wary of other books by this author going forward.
May 6, 2018
I really enjoy this one, the doctor character was good and funny, there is a little bit of spicy drama and sex to create a real alchemy here. And without spoiled the end , the final chapter push you to want to read the next mystery murder book. I waiting for !
December 29, 2021
This book didn't work for me. Honestly, I should have dnf-d it, but I thought maybe I'll change my mind. Maxwell was mindnumbingly stupid. I was so annoyed with him. I think maybe it was the writing and characters, all of it really, but it just didn't work for me.
Not going to continue with this series. Probably should avoid this author as well in the future.
The dog was nice though.
Not going to continue with this series. Probably should avoid this author as well in the future.
The dog was nice though.
April 12, 2018
Dr. Maxwell Thornton is a salty sort of fellow with a horrible bedside manner. He’s running away from his old life, hiding in plain sight in Rainy Dale, Texas, after losing a patient during what should have been a routine operation, and though he's been exonerated of any wrong-doing, rightfully so, he’s having trouble reconciling with the outcome nonetheless. So, he has left Los Angeles and a once prestigious career behind to take on the role of General Practitioner in this sleepy little town where everyone knows everyone else's business, and where he himself is now the current topic of all the gossip that's fit to whisper. Maxwell doesn't appreciate the way these strangers want to poke at the skeleton in his closet—which is a nice dichotomy considering he hails from a city that was built and thrives on gossip—but more than anything else, he just wants to be left alone.
Sheriff Royce Callum is the one man who makes Rainy Dale a whole lot more interesting for Maxwell, though he couldn't be more the doctor's opposite if he tried. Royce is the salt-of-the-earth country mouse to Maxwell’s city-slicker mouse, friendly and as apt to use teaching moments as to take punitive measures when it comes to minor infractions. He’s the lawman with a good heart, and his natural kindness goes a long way in the townspeople's estimation of him. That kindness only goes so far, however, when a dead body shows up in Maxwell’s swimming pool, and all initial signs point to his guilt. I adored Royce from the moment he showed up on page, not only for his obvious intelligence but for his instincts and intuition as well, and I appreciated that Wynne didn’t use him as a simple caricature to contrast the differences between him and Maxwell.
One of the many things I like about S.C. Wynne's mysteries is the skillful balance she achieves between the relationship and the criminal elements of a story. They pay great complement to one another, especially here when Royce must distance himself from the fragile connection he's made with Maxwell to maintain a semblance of professional objectivity when it appears, for all intents and purposes, that the town's newest resident might be a killer. Royce is measured and tenacious, and his getting to the bottom of the whodunit also allowed him to be plausibly imperfect in his inability to predict the killer’s motives and actions. While the criminal investigation imparts its share of friction between him and Maxwell, it's also cleared up quickly enough to waylay unnecessary angst. I love the way he and Maxwell worked together, but I didn’t find myself swooning over them as much as thinking, yeah, they fit.
I also liked that Royce’s sexuality isn’t used as a story trope to paint Rainy Dale as a homophobic backwater. Apart from the murdery bits, it’s sort of an idyllic little place where, amongst its quirky inhabitants, some folks are behaving extra squirrely, and I liked the way the hints and clues were meted out in a way that allowed me to feel involved in the mystery rather than being a mere passive observer of it. Though Strange Medicine doesn't fit the strict definition of a cozy mystery, there's still a quaintness to the setting and a limited enough focus on its point-of-view characters that it all added a bit of coziness to the telling.
With a promising start to another murder mystery already established for Royce and Maxwell at the end of Strange Medicine, I can't wait for book two in the series to drop. It's always great to find a new fave.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
Sheriff Royce Callum is the one man who makes Rainy Dale a whole lot more interesting for Maxwell, though he couldn't be more the doctor's opposite if he tried. Royce is the salt-of-the-earth country mouse to Maxwell’s city-slicker mouse, friendly and as apt to use teaching moments as to take punitive measures when it comes to minor infractions. He’s the lawman with a good heart, and his natural kindness goes a long way in the townspeople's estimation of him. That kindness only goes so far, however, when a dead body shows up in Maxwell’s swimming pool, and all initial signs point to his guilt. I adored Royce from the moment he showed up on page, not only for his obvious intelligence but for his instincts and intuition as well, and I appreciated that Wynne didn’t use him as a simple caricature to contrast the differences between him and Maxwell.
One of the many things I like about S.C. Wynne's mysteries is the skillful balance she achieves between the relationship and the criminal elements of a story. They pay great complement to one another, especially here when Royce must distance himself from the fragile connection he's made with Maxwell to maintain a semblance of professional objectivity when it appears, for all intents and purposes, that the town's newest resident might be a killer. Royce is measured and tenacious, and his getting to the bottom of the whodunit also allowed him to be plausibly imperfect in his inability to predict the killer’s motives and actions. While the criminal investigation imparts its share of friction between him and Maxwell, it's also cleared up quickly enough to waylay unnecessary angst. I love the way he and Maxwell worked together, but I didn’t find myself swooning over them as much as thinking, yeah, they fit.
I also liked that Royce’s sexuality isn’t used as a story trope to paint Rainy Dale as a homophobic backwater. Apart from the murdery bits, it’s sort of an idyllic little place where, amongst its quirky inhabitants, some folks are behaving extra squirrely, and I liked the way the hints and clues were meted out in a way that allowed me to feel involved in the mystery rather than being a mere passive observer of it. Though Strange Medicine doesn't fit the strict definition of a cozy mystery, there's still a quaintness to the setting and a limited enough focus on its point-of-view characters that it all added a bit of coziness to the telling.
With a promising start to another murder mystery already established for Royce and Maxwell at the end of Strange Medicine, I can't wait for book two in the series to drop. It's always great to find a new fave.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
April 6, 2018
Strange Medicine
A good first book in a new mystery series! I’m not the biggest fan of Maxwell but I’m sure I’ll enjoy him the more I get to know him. Royce is a saint!
A good first book in a new mystery series! I’m not the biggest fan of Maxwell but I’m sure I’ll enjoy him the more I get to know him. Royce is a saint!
June 12, 2022
Contradictory and disjointed
This story felt odd to me, and often contradictory. A surgeon who barely eats supposedly has a hot body? A guy who burns a meal one day (and has only made canned soup so far) suddenly makes a delicious baked chicken and potatoes meal the next day? A sheriff who only lightly investigates the people who have spoken recently to a known murder victim?
Ultimately, it felt sloppy. The plot wasn't complex, the mystery obvious in a way that made it tedious to continue reading while waiting for the MCs to put it together. It left me feeling like everyone in the story was an idiot.
I also disliked a lot of the dialogue because it felt...almost childish. It had that kind of basic-ness to it that felt painfully awkward and simplistic. Conversations lacked depth so the emotional side of things just wasn't there. The two MCs falling into bed together so fast was so emotionless, almost like relieving an itch, it cheapened any attempts to develop it into more.
Also, the sense of time in this book was a mess. At one point the Sheriff asks the doctor a question and when he hears the response, he thinks: I always thought he felt/did that. But they've known each other for maybe 2 or 3 weeks. "Always" doesn't fit in that context; you don't always think something of someone when you've just met them. You "suspect", maybe, given that you are in the learning each other stage. The book was riddled with statements like that, implying time had passed that hadn't.
Furthermore, time jumped awkwardly when it did pass. I would finish a chapter that ended on the morning of a day and the next would start in the evening, but several days later. Instead of introducing the time jump right off the bat in the new chapter, it would be embedded in a statement a page or two later. And it would be like "...and since breakfast with him a week ago, he hadn't seen him." It was bizarre and awkward, and it really made the story disjointed to never know if you were on the same day as what you'd previously read until you were well into the chapter.
Ultimately, not an engaging read for me.
This story felt odd to me, and often contradictory. A surgeon who barely eats supposedly has a hot body? A guy who burns a meal one day (and has only made canned soup so far) suddenly makes a delicious baked chicken and potatoes meal the next day? A sheriff who only lightly investigates the people who have spoken recently to a known murder victim?
Ultimately, it felt sloppy. The plot wasn't complex, the mystery obvious in a way that made it tedious to continue reading while waiting for the MCs to put it together. It left me feeling like everyone in the story was an idiot.
I also disliked a lot of the dialogue because it felt...almost childish. It had that kind of basic-ness to it that felt painfully awkward and simplistic. Conversations lacked depth so the emotional side of things just wasn't there. The two MCs falling into bed together so fast was so emotionless, almost like relieving an itch, it cheapened any attempts to develop it into more.
Also, the sense of time in this book was a mess. At one point the Sheriff asks the doctor a question and when he hears the response, he thinks: I always thought he felt/did that. But they've known each other for maybe 2 or 3 weeks. "Always" doesn't fit in that context; you don't always think something of someone when you've just met them. You "suspect", maybe, given that you are in the learning each other stage. The book was riddled with statements like that, implying time had passed that hadn't.
Furthermore, time jumped awkwardly when it did pass. I would finish a chapter that ended on the morning of a day and the next would start in the evening, but several days later. Instead of introducing the time jump right off the bat in the new chapter, it would be embedded in a statement a page or two later. And it would be like "...and since breakfast with him a week ago, he hadn't seen him." It was bizarre and awkward, and it really made the story disjointed to never know if you were on the same day as what you'd previously read until you were well into the chapter.
Ultimately, not an engaging read for me.
April 10, 2021
Sort of a cozy
Cute little romantic mystery with a cozy feel but with an actual cop. The plot hung together well with only minor errors around police procedure. The relationship is still fairly casual, even at the end and heat levels are moderate. Characterization isn’t terribly deep but enough to suit the story, especially for an ongoing series with more time to add background. Fun, no-angst escapism.
Cute little romantic mystery with a cozy feel but with an actual cop. The plot hung together well with only minor errors around police procedure. The relationship is still fairly casual, even at the end and heat levels are moderate. Characterization isn’t terribly deep but enough to suit the story, especially for an ongoing series with more time to add background. Fun, no-angst escapism.
April 30, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun mystery. The quirky residents of Rainy Dale kept me smiling and shaking my head. I like the way that Maxwell eased into small town life with Royce's help. The mystery itself was easy to read and see unravel. Can't wait to read the next book.
June 17, 2020
I really need the 2nd book to come out.
April 23, 2018
This was a pleasant cozy mystery, with a prominent romance. I loved Maxwell’s prickliness. I will read more of this series,
April 11, 2018
This book narrates the story of Dr Maxwell Thornton, a successful and sophisticated surgeon, who abandons his practice in LA and moves to Rainy Dale,Texas, in a self-imposed exile, after losing a patient on his table. He knows he is way overqualified for the job, but his conscience forces him to atone for his sins by healing those in the boonies, as his guilt paralyzes him when thinking of being a surgeon again. Maxwell is a perfectionist to a fault when it comes to practicing medicine, but has very little patience for human interactions, and does not deal well with small town idiosyncrasies. He just wants to do his job, without the annoying chit chat and social obligations that comes with being a small town doctor. Maxwell does not get along with his patients and/or neighbors, making a horrible first impression with his brusqueness and lack of tact, and then he meets the town sheriff, Royce Callum. Sheriff Callum is a hunk! Handsome, confident, with a calm and friendly demeanor, he's charming enough to smooth over Maxwell's prickly attitude, and despite the apparent differences in personality, Maxwell and Royce hit it off, and act on their attraction. Everything is honky-dory, until Royce finds a dead man in Maxwell's pool, and the good doctor is holding the murder weapon. The story is very entertaining. Written from both Maxwell's and Royce's points of view, it is reminiscent of an old fashioned mystery sitcom, along with a dash of comedy a la Doc Martin, which was enjoyable and kept my attention. Both men are likable and relatable, and Royce is extra endearing, because he is a hunk with a soft spot for grumpies, two legged and canine. Their chemistry is believable and exciting, and I particularly liked that there was no complication or weirdness about their attraction for each other, no emotional games or misplaced reluctance, they are both adult men who like each other physically and act on that attraction with maturity and fun. Their intimate moments were super hot! My only issue is how Royce sometimes doesn't exactly follow police procedure when he's around Max (no spoilers) I found it a little hard to believe at times that an officer of the law would do that with someone involved in a murder, but luckily the mystery of the murder is solved, and the boys get a happy ending...or do they? I am looking forward to the next installment of Max's and Royce's adventures.
April 8, 2018
Strange Medicine is a fun mix of intrigue, passion, and annoyance. Maxwell Thornton has just arrived in Rainy Dale, Texas, and it is clear from the outset that he doesn’t want to be there. He is a world class surgeon transitioning to a general practitioner, and since he isn’t used to dealing with awake patients, it shows from his first word. He’s got a stick up his butt high enough to choke him, and I wanted to (several times). However, he’s running from something he cannot escape – his past.
It took me a lonnnnng time to warm up to this character, but as he began sharing tidbits of his previous life, not only did I warm to him, but my heart went out to him, and I fell hard for him.
Royce is the local sheriff, a laid back, friendly sort, and he notices right away that Maxwell has a look Royce likes, even if he does seem like a snob. He decides to get to know the surly doctor, and it doesn’t take long for them to heat up the night. The chemistry was instant and thick between these two men.
I really liked this story! The storyline was fascinating, the whodunit not at all a giveaway, and the characters interesting. The pacing was quick, and there were no spots that dragged at all, which my ADD self really appreciated. I read this book in a single go because I simply couldn’t put it down!
The characters are many, but spaced enough that the reader can easily remember who is who and where they fit in the town. My favorite was Girdy, Maxwell’s assistant at the clinic. She was a super bright spot in what could have been one extremely particularly awkward scene, but generally smoothing things over and always willing to step up to help the socially inept doctor whenever she appeared.
This book is a happy for now. However, it ends with a jumping off point for the next book that reads suspiciously like a cliffhanger. It took me a bit to decide that was the case and not to be annoyed by the abrupt ending. This is clearly going to be a serial, with individual stories resulting in resolution but more to come. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I’m anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I’m rating this at 3.5 stars, rounding up for sites that don’t take halves, and I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a good whodunit.
I voluntarily read an ARC copy of this book for the author with hopes for but no obligation to provide a review.
It took me a lonnnnng time to warm up to this character, but as he began sharing tidbits of his previous life, not only did I warm to him, but my heart went out to him, and I fell hard for him.
Royce is the local sheriff, a laid back, friendly sort, and he notices right away that Maxwell has a look Royce likes, even if he does seem like a snob. He decides to get to know the surly doctor, and it doesn’t take long for them to heat up the night. The chemistry was instant and thick between these two men.
I really liked this story! The storyline was fascinating, the whodunit not at all a giveaway, and the characters interesting. The pacing was quick, and there were no spots that dragged at all, which my ADD self really appreciated. I read this book in a single go because I simply couldn’t put it down!
The characters are many, but spaced enough that the reader can easily remember who is who and where they fit in the town. My favorite was Girdy, Maxwell’s assistant at the clinic. She was a super bright spot in what could have been one extremely particularly awkward scene, but generally smoothing things over and always willing to step up to help the socially inept doctor whenever she appeared.
This book is a happy for now. However, it ends with a jumping off point for the next book that reads suspiciously like a cliffhanger. It took me a bit to decide that was the case and not to be annoyed by the abrupt ending. This is clearly going to be a serial, with individual stories resulting in resolution but more to come. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I’m anxiously awaiting the next in the series. I’m rating this at 3.5 stars, rounding up for sites that don’t take halves, and I definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a good whodunit.
I voluntarily read an ARC copy of this book for the author with hopes for but no obligation to provide a review.
May 10, 2021
Easy No Angst Enjoyable Read
An easy and fun read that ticks all the boxes. Dr Maxwell Thornton eminent surgeon loses a patient on the operating table and it effects him deeply so much so that he moves to a tiny town in Texas and becomes their GP only trouble is that Maxwell was brought up with cold unemotional parents who gave him material things but not love and so he cannot relate to other people, in other words no bedside manner and the folks of Rainy Dale do not take to their new doctor, hell he even stops his receptionist handing out coffee and biscuits in the waiting room😱
Enter the Sheriff, Royce is tall, blonde and gorgeous, and Maxwell feels stirrings where he hasn’t felt them in a long time!
Throw in a murder, a persistent intruder, lots of weird goings on and hot sex, but not so much that it detracts from the plot and what’s not to like.
This book ticks all my boxes and after solving the murder it finishes on a cliffhanger with ..... you guessed it another murder!!
An easy and fun read that ticks all the boxes. Dr Maxwell Thornton eminent surgeon loses a patient on the operating table and it effects him deeply so much so that he moves to a tiny town in Texas and becomes their GP only trouble is that Maxwell was brought up with cold unemotional parents who gave him material things but not love and so he cannot relate to other people, in other words no bedside manner and the folks of Rainy Dale do not take to their new doctor, hell he even stops his receptionist handing out coffee and biscuits in the waiting room😱
Enter the Sheriff, Royce is tall, blonde and gorgeous, and Maxwell feels stirrings where he hasn’t felt them in a long time!
Throw in a murder, a persistent intruder, lots of weird goings on and hot sex, but not so much that it detracts from the plot and what’s not to like.
This book ticks all my boxes and after solving the murder it finishes on a cliffhanger with ..... you guessed it another murder!!
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