Nobody Rides for Free: An Angus Green Novel: A Gripping Gay FBI Thriller of Drugs, Danger, and South Florida Crime

Angus Green #2

by Neil S. Plakcy

With less than a year of experience under his belt and only one big case behind him, FBI Special Agent Angus Green has joined the rarefied group of agents who have been wounded in the line of duty.

Now, assigned to a desk job while he recovers, Angus wonders if he’s chosen the right career. He’s been following his late father’s dream for a life of adventure and travel—and instead encountered danger, pain and heartbreak.

But when he discovers that gay teens are being sexually abused by a pornographer in the same neighborhood where he lives, he has to step up and bring his intelligence, his determination and his unique insights to save these young men.

The case takes him from Fort Lauderdale’s seamy underbelly to boisterous beachfront bars where big-fish Russian émigrés launder illegal cash. He’ll befriend a beautiful Russian-American undercover agent and rekindle a romance with a man who makes him feel protected.

In the end, he’ll learn the truth of a saying he learned as a boy – there is a price to pay for every decision we make. Nobody rides for free.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Crime, Romance, Mystery Thriller

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 24, 2017

About the author

I have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.

Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.

I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.

It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.

I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.

My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.

I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.

When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.

Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.

My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.

I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.

Reviews

[Christelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Neil Plakcy delivers a very pleasant mystery story.
It could be read as a standalone, but it’s nice to see Angus Green evolving in his job and in his life, as a young gay FBI agent.

Angus has been rattled by his shooting in his previous case. But he’s more than eager to go back on the field, so he grabs the opportunity to investigate on an assault related to drug that quickly leads to pornography and child abuse.
With his sense of dedication, his smartness and his big heart, Angus throws himself completely in this new case, being deeply moved and touched by all these kids that don’t have the chance to have support.

The plot, the details in the investigation and the characters are solid, and the writing flows nicely . Still no romance (well, almost none, even if Angus opens his eyes). If you’re looking for any steam, stay away. However, if you’re a fan of well written mysteries, this series is for you.


** A copy of “Nobody rides for free” was kindly provided to me by the publisher “Diversion Publishing” via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review**

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

And the G-man is back...

'Nobody Rides For Free' is the second book in Neil S. Plakcy's 'Angus Green' series and I have to admit this one was a tough go for me. Try as I might I just couldn't get into the story and for the first 60ish per cent of this book I was on the edge of calling it quits and probably would have if it wasn't for the fact that I like the author's writing style.

Truthfully once I picked up the book and got reading it was ok. The real problem came whenever I tried to go back to reading after having to set my e-reader aside. A lot of the time I found that going back to the story took more effort than it should have, but once I got there things moved along and I found myself wanting to read...just a little bit more.

I have to admit if this had been a book that I bought rather than one that I'd requested for review I very well might have DNF'd or at least entertained the idea a bit more strongly but in all fairness when an author and/or a publisher is willing to provide me with a copy of an e-book or an audio book I feel compelled to do two things...one is to at least read or listen to the story from start to finish, the second is to be as fair and unbiased in my review as I can...so having said that let's go back to this story.

While I found the first part of this story to be a bit dry at times, it was also necessary. We're given an update on Angus from where we left him at the end of 'The Next One Will Kill You' as well as a lot of background for the current story. We meet some new characters and get a glimpse of some characters we met in the first book...so all in all in spite of the fact that for me the first part of the book was dry and at times a tiny bit boring...definitely necessary and in all fairness to this story not everyone is going to share my feelings about the first part of the book...hell, maybe not anyone will and that's ok, it's just happened that for me it didn't go so well...but let's move on from there and talk about....

The reason that I'm glad I stayed with it and finished the book and that reason would be the last 30 to 40 percent of the story. For me things picked up...like seriously picked up. The mystery which I was already a bit invested in started to get even better and really come together...there was a hella' lot going on here and while it may not have seemed possible initially...in the end everything pulled together and there were some surprising connections to be made. Best of all Lester and Felix...these two made my day. One returned and the other survived and ended up in a far better place...yeah, that's right if you want to know more you'll need to read the story because I'm not telling.

I only had one small niggle with events of the second part of this book and to be honest it's something that struck me as not being quite right but maybe, it was ok...so, I'm not willing to let it spoil the last part of the story for me and on the other end of things while it isn't a part of my overall rating of this book I strongly recommend taking a moment to admire the cover of this book and actually the first book as well. Book covers are a thing for me and whether it's a DTB or an e-book I love indulging in taking the time to admire or possibly despair over.

By the end Angus had once again won me over and I have to admit if I'd done a DNF on this one not only would I probably not be continuing with this series but I would have missed out on the best part of the story.

*************************

A copy of 'Nobody Rides For Free' was graciously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[LenaRibka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neil S. Plakcy is the author I planned to read since I started to read MM romance genre and gay fiction books. It was the time when an entirely new world opened up and my TBR became close to collapse. *sigh* What a wonderful time!..


The first book in the Angus Green Series did not really knock me off my feet - though I have to admit, it was not bad - besides, sometimes you need to have a little patience with a starter in series. It was too early to judge it.

The eponymous of the series, FBI Special Agent Angus Green, is a good-looking man, an enthusiastic and motivated employee, a smart guy and - without any doubt - a very nice person, but probably also he is the reason why I find the series somehow boring.

The second book and the second case for Special Agent Angus Green. He has to find out more information about flakka, a new dangerous drug that rapidly gains ground. While doing research in a local drugs scene Angus accidentally comes across another serious crime. It looks like the same people who are involved in the drug dealing also runs a gay porn business with underage boys, whom they get off the streets. Boys who have been victimized, abused or run away from home and are an easy prey for the mob. The Special Agent Angus Green makes to his essential mission to save those kids, to find the core of the evil and to destroy it.

I have to admit: the beginning of the book , and I liked it much more than the rest of the book. As the investigation progressed the dynamics dropped and the book became long-winded and at the end, FOR MY PERSONAL LIKING rather a chore than a reading joy.

I normally like books with an investigation routine. The books, where the research and perfect analytic skills of an investigator plays a very important role. But here I was very close to give up. SORRY.

There were many talking - talking with witnesses, friends, colleagues, there were many walking around - a gym, bars, shelters, streets, and there were many thinking (around). AND it all happened in a very mo-no-to-n-ous way for my taste. Maybe if the book would have been a bit shorter, it had exhibited more dynamics.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t ask for more Hollywood-like actions and twists. But even some little actions in between, and a few corps didn’t affect a boring pace of the story.

My further personal problem was the first person pov. I didn’t feel the main character the way I should. First person POV belongs to my FAVORITE narration, but here it would bemaybe better to chose the third person pov. I really don't know.

All in all, the series is NOT bad, and it will for sure find its fans. But I think I'm not among them.

It is pity, because Neil S. Plakcy CAN write.




**Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

Young FBI Special Agent Angus Green is back in this follow-up to Plakcy's The Next One Will Kill You. After being shot in the line of duty and is forced into working desk job while he recovers, Angus finally gets himself involved in a zombie case: people who are overdosed by synthetic drugs called flakka are acting like mindless zombie, including attacking and gnawing other people's faces. Early clue about the drug distribution seems to involve underage gay teens being abused by acting in porn movies. This becomes an extra motivation for Angus to solve both cases...

I really, REALLY liked this. I can see how the story might be tedious to some readers since all Angus does are basically doing research and filling paperworks. There are minimal of high-speed car chases or bullets flying all over the place. HOWEVER, I always enjoy procedural (and research is necessary, always!) so I liked reading how Angus working the Internet, interviewing people, and tracing facts to help him find the teens as well as looking for the source of the drugs.

It also helps that Angus is a NICE guy. Brooding lone wolf rebellious type of heroes are fine but there are a LOT of them out there. Sometimes too many, especially in a mystery genre! For me, it's refreshing to have someone like Angus: young, eager, play to the rules, and not unwilling to work with others.

Also, he comes from a good and loving family. His stepfather and mother are still married and Angus has pretty close relationship with his brother. A detective or agent with too much baggage is overdone? It's great to read that a not messed-up guy can still do a good investigation. I definitely rooted for Angus all the way through.

There is a slight update on the romance department for Angus, too. No, not a new guy -- it's the same old guy from the previous book, Lester, a bouncer at Eclipse, a gay bar on the outskirts of Wilton Manors. Angus is doing some "growing" up in that part of his life. It put a smile to my face :)

I hope Plakcy will have more stories about Angus...




The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Bronwyn]

June 2025: I started the book because I enjoyed the first one. This didn’t grab me like the other one though. I found that I couldn’t take Angus seriously. It felt like he was the bumbling agent who stumbles into solving crimes. His knowledge just wasn’t up to par with what I look for in a well written police procedural/mystery plot. Maybe I’ll come back to it someday if I want a more light hearted version of that. IRL, FBI agents don’t Google everything to come up with ideas on how to solve crimes.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody Rides for Free (Angus Green #2)
By Neil S. Plakcy
Diversion Books, 2017
Five stars

Angus Green is an FBI agent, and a millennial. He’s an average kid from middle-America who found his way to Quantico, and then to South Florida.

He knows how lucky he is; because Angus Green is also gay, and as he looks back over his life so far, he sees how it could have gone very differently.

This new series from the pen of Neil S. Plakcy, one of my favorite authors, seems to be forging a path parallel to, but rather different from, that of flawed Hawai’ian detective Kimo Kanapa’aka in his “Mahu” series. Instead of a closeted thirty-something, we have a younger man, new as an FBI agent, but neither naïve nor fearful of what being gay might mean to his career.

The joy in the “Mahu” series was watching Kimo evolve as a gay man, and to dig deep into the complex ethnic mix of his Hawai’ian world. Angus Green is a much simpler character, which makes him no less interesting. A pale-skinned redhead transplant from Scranton to the constant sun and sand of the Fort Lauderdale-Miami coastal sprawl, Angus presents the reader with a different kind of possible evolution. He’s out, he’s proud, but he’s, well, green. He’s smart and talented, but his experience is limited, and he’s always aware of that. The less savory aspects of paradise are a lot different from the classroom, and Angus is constantly weighing his training as an FBI agent against the less tidy realities of Florida’s messy underworld.

Even more interestingly, and where this series promises to be really special, Angus is always aware that being gay both gives him an insider’s perspective on one part of American culture, while potentially isolating him from the mainstream at moments. In a sense, he has the opposite dilemma that Kimo Kanapa’aka faced.

In “Nobody Rides for Free,” Angus is at the end of his recovery from his last case, in which a Kevlar vest saved his life, but did not leave him mentally unscarred. He is determined to pick up where he left off, and move his career forward. He loves his job and loves being in Florida, but damage was done, and he needs to rebuild.

The case that drives this novel’s plot arc is nominally about drug distribution, but for Angus it is about gay teenagers who are being exploited and endangered. This leads him into the seamier side of gay porn production, but also into the hidden world of Russian emigres and serious money laundering. Thoughtful and observant, Angus compares the trajectory of his own life, and begins to find his way as an out gay man working for the Feds.

What I love about Neil Plakcy’s books is his crisp, journalistic writing. His previous Miami-based novels have been lighter and more purposely romantic. The Angus Green series is about a gay man in full: integrated into his world, but still defining who he is. There is nothing in these books that a mainstream audience couldn’t relate to, and there is no real on-page sex. Being gay is central to Angus’s personality, but it is just a part of a complex, thoughtful, endearing character. Angus Green is not a superhero, but you get the sense that, someday, he could be.

I so look forward to the third installment. Book two was completely satisfying, so I can wait. Plakcy has set a high bar for himself.

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~]

DNF @ 37%

Admittedly, I don't really remember anything about the first book at all, so when Angus early on mentioned breaking up with his boyfriend after the events of the previous book, I had to slow blink and then read my review because I remembered nothing about a boyfriend. Apparently, a bouncer he hooked up with a couple of times = boyfriend. 🤷🏻‍♀️

It didn't really improve from there. The case - a new illicit drug, flakka, turning people into "zombies," is causing problems. With a possible "fruit of the poisonous vine," Angus discovers a possible link to the flakka in a teenage boy working for a porn site. So he starts to track down the boy and ignores the flakka despite his supervisor telling him not to get distracted. There's a lot of Googling - apparently, Angus is the only one in the entirety of the FBI to know how to use a search engine - and a lot of dry, endless explanations of his every thought about the case, his teen years, his family, his foot fungus...Ok, maybe not that last one, but this rambles a lot.

Angus is a super nice guy, but he's also a bit bland as a result. His voice isn't engaging, the case wasn't that interesting, and I had to give up when Angus kept finding random breakthroughs with his Googling skills. I was already skimming by that point in an attempt to see if the story picked up at some point. I decided to just quit while I was ahead. I skipped to the end to see if the kid was found or not and how that shook out, and I'm even more glad I DNFd now. If I'd struggled through this to reach that ending, I'd've been annoyed. 😂 Both kids were found alive and unharmed, but Ozzy's abuser ended up being someone else.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the second book in the Angus Green mystery series as the MC gains more confidence and begins to trust his insticts more while further honing his skills as a "green" feeb; after all, he's still in his twenties, with only a year under his belt as a special agent, so the series promises even more opportunities to grow. As with the first Angus Green novel, Plakcy pens a solid mystery, another slow-burner of a plot chronicling the young, innocent, quirky, pale red-head, and, yes - somewhat naive Special Agent Angus Green actions as he slogs through mounds of boring paperwork, hours of computer forensics and endless footwork in seach of a source of a highly potent popular street drug - all while desperately searching for two underaged gay teens he believes are being sexually abused and exploited in tandem.

Author Neil Plakcy's writing continues to be strong and crisp, pulling the reader right along as the investigation unfolds - without getting bogged down in mind-numbing law enforcement procedures. There is much room for Plakcy's main characters to grow as the series continues, and lots of backstory opportunity as well - and I for one am looking forward to furture installments.

I so look forward to the third installment. Book two was completely satisfying, so I can wait.

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to have the opportunity to write a second book about Angus Green. As many readers know, he has been hanging around in the back of my brain since his first appearance in my M/M romance, Mi Amor, where he had a walk-on role as a junior FBI agent assigned to protect one of the protagonists when one of his business contacts is killed.

Something about Angus's comfort in his own skin, both as a gay man and as an FBI Special Agent, appealed to me. It took a while before I was able to write his first book, though, and I was pleased that by the time I'd finished The Next One Will Kill You, I felt there were still more stories I could tell about him.

This book is very personal to me, because it has its roots in the kind of college students I teach, who are so vulnerable to any blows-- illness, loss of a parent, a home, transportation. My LGBT students are even more at risk, because sometimes they are kicked out by disapproving parents or other relatives.

It's up to Angus to help two boys in this situation, and I hope readers will react to his determination to care for those less fortunate than he has been.

[Ije the Devourer of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Angus Green having been shot in the line of duty, is chafing at the bit. Angus is tired of doing routine non-dangerous tasks for the FBI and he desperately wants to get back into the fray of things and immerse himself in another investigation.

Unfortunately for Angus he still is dealing with the effects of being shot so he doesn't tell the FBI psychologist that he still feels a bit shaken.

Angus is pleased when the opportunity arises for him to be involved in a case. A man has overdosed on the drug flakka and as a result has assaulted a woman. The man is in a coma in hospital and Angus has to start investigating. Where did this man get the flakka drug from?

As Angus digs deeper he uncovers what appears to be a complex case of drugs, porn videos, exploitation and murder. Angus sees this case as an opportunity to help save some young people who are being sucked into the dark world of drugs and pornography.

As Angus begins to put the case together he has an opportunity to pull pieces of his life back together as well. There are questions that he has to face about the way he ended the relationship with Lester. He has to face memories about his own life and also about his present and his relationships with his brother.

And so following procedures, Angus pieces the facts together bit by bit but the shadows get darker and reveal a complex case involving the Russian mafia.

This was an enjoyable book 2 in the series and it's good to see Angus growing as a person and also growing in his skills as an FBI agent.I enjoyed reading it but I do think that in some places it is written in a really dry dry reporting style. I think this is because the story is a police procedural murder mystery but I think that that some of the story is lost in the technical details about the investigation. I think this is why the story is 3.5 stars for me instead of four stars.

It is still a great story and it is written well but in some places it was just missing vibrancy and I just felt that it was a bit flat a bit like a textbook instead of a story. Having said all this I do like the character of Angus and it's great to be in the second story with him. It's also really good mystery with lots of twists and turns and complex angles.

So quite a mixed feeling about this book. It is a good story but not entirely up to the standard that I really like from this author.

Copy provided via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody Rides for Free is a nicely plotted, well-written mystery. Although I haven't read the preceding novel in this series, I had absolutely no problems picking up the plot of Nobody Rides for Free, and getting into it.



Angus is back after being shot, and ends up investigating a somewhat complicated case involving underage kids, porn, a drug called flakka, and the Russian mob (called Organizatsiya). Angus gets into the case with the idea of rescuing underage gay kids who have been coerced into filming porn. He meets some interesting people along the way - Katya, a Russian FBI agent, Shane, a man who runs an LGBT youth center, Eric, a gym freak whom Angus' roommate seems into, Anna, a cop, Dorje, an arrogant hustler; and finally, Angus reunites with his former lover, Lester.



I have to admit I was expecting something different from Nobody Rides for Free. I was expecting a lot of steam, but there is none. However, the mystery alone is a good one, and it entertains on its own, even with a lack of steam. If you are looking for an interesting, well-written mystery, Nobody Rides for Free should be on your TBR list. Just don't come into expecting any kind of steam, because there is a decided lack of it here.

I received an ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, this one was a terrible deception.

First, WTF? at the end of the last book, Angus had been shot, and the only consequence was a broken rib, and the next day, he was working again in his case. And trying to get somewhere with Lester. When this begins you don't know well what happens: he seems to have been hurt a lot worse, the bullet to his chest had travelled to his stomach... or maybe he got shot twice? And he is so traumatized by the shooting that he drop Lester like a hot iron and apparently has hidden in his house for a time. Yes, it could have been delayed trauma, but the author never explains these discrepancies.

Second, it falls in the trap that some books in a series fall: it repeats a lot of the stuff from the first book, and it does in a very annoying way, repeating almost verbatim the stuff we already know instead of doing it organically.

The secondary characters are shallow and one-dimensional, Angus sounds almost preachy all the time and the romance? well as you can note I didn't tag this as a romance because what we have here is flat, with no spark and, sorry, boring.

Add to that that Angus, all by himself and with no help at all, manages to connect various cases to his, only using Google to discover the connections and you have to conclude that the PD in Florida and the rest of the FBI are all morons who can't use a computer. At all.

I might read the third book in this series someday, but no soon. This really let me down :/

[iam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly this wasn't anywhere near as charming as The Next One Will Kill You.

Content warnings include: pedophilia, sex work, statutory rape, child abuse, murder, torture, homophobic slurs, violence, PTSD from gunshot wound, drug abuse.

The first strike against this book was how completely disconnected it felt from its prequel. The way the gunshot wound from the finale of book 1 was recapped first made me think that Angus took another case where he was shot in between books, but nope.

The case he works on in Nobody Rides For Free was... a lot. It all starts with drug abuse, then continues with child abuse and underage pornography, segueing into more child abuse, the mafia, money laundering, torture, and so forth.
I had two big issues here:
One was that there were so many characters, both new and old, that I quickly lost count of who was who and who was doing what and why and how and why they were relevant again. Part of this might have been an effort to make the work across various Bureaus and Task Forces and so on more realistic, but it got so convoluted I just ended up skim reading the detailed connections between it all. It also made the book very repetetive, with Angus calling someone and then driving to meet them pretty much ever chapter. Which was always written the exact same way.
Second was that the way abuse and pornography was depicted here was.... incredibly one dimensional. Sex work is pretty much equated with abuse, and while it does depict children in porn/sex industry as victims, at one point it also says that the kids who do end up in these postitions were all "too weak to resist" and aren't "respecting themselves enough". Which leaves an especially bad taste in my mouth because the people saying that were all people growing up in priviledged positions with accepting parents, while the children at immediate risk in the book are all homeless/got kicked out by their parents and often trying to find a space to live or make money to support younger siblings.
The whole "victims of abuse always turn into abusers because it's the only way they are able to feel" thing at the end also was some truly fucked up bullshit.
On top of that, the scenes were Angus had to engage with pedophiles or watch porn starring minors were just so.... emotionless on his part, turning a scene that was already horrible to read even more horrible by his lack of reaction. Additionally, while the book mostly condems pedophilia, there were several scenes were a character treats it as just another form of attraction, and nothing else is said or thought or mentioned to make it clear that that is wrong.

[Lada]

DNF at 51% because there're too many unnecessary self-commentaries and social-commentaries in the story. When I read mystery book, I prefer to read more about the investigation than about social issues or MC's life story.

Also, in one scene, the gay MC got hard from dancing with a woman. Then in the next scene, he, out of nowhere, suddenly felt that there was "something" between him and an informant (male) he had just met once.

[M'rella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just noticed that the author gave himself 5 stars. Not cool.
I take one star off my ratings when I see authors doing it.

There is a huge discrepancy between book 1 and book 2.
In book 1 Angus was never wounded, only injured when a bullet hit his Kevlar in the chest (broken rib).
In book 2 Angus actually took a bullet to the chest.

I like the book well enough, I only wish it was well researched. It was not. Another star off for that.

3 stars

[NeRdyWYRM · Rating 2 out of 5]

Round 2 Was an Improvement But ...

Sadly, it wasn't enough to tip the scales in favor of me reading another installment to the series. I liked the details on the law enforcement side. If there were procedural errors, I didn't catch them. Then again, I wasn't that invested. My mind wandered a lot on this one. I pretty much slogged through it with dogged determination because I made a commitment to review it. I take that seriously. I just wish I had better things to say.

Although Angus did some growing over the course of these two books, he never did grow on me. I just don't like him. Sorry-not-sorry. And is it just me, or do these characters have the un-sexiest names EVER? Angus and Lester? It sounds like a silent movie comedic couple meets freaky serial killer or something. Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello ... Angus and Lester, Hannibal Lecter. Get me? No?! Oh hush, you! I can't help it if my brain makes weird connections on the back of semi-alliterative phrases and impressions. Deal with it.



I know that's pet peeve-y, but even these guys' hobbies and interests feel old. Artisinal bourbon? Sheezus. My imagination conjures up fussy, weak, snobbish, hoity-toity, limp-dicked GAP-wearing rejects. The Banana Republic newsboy flat-cap crowd ... ugh *shudders*. I don't mean to offend anyone, but that whole 'look' and attitude is just a turn off for me and one I can't get past. Lester is utterly wasted on Angus' sorry ass.

8============) (============8

Ultimately the plot was unnecessarily convoluted. Even the characters fessed up in the narrative to the whole shebang being complicated. It took them forever to decide who was going to prosecute whom for what and how ... ugh. It was pointlessly ambitious in that regard and not very successful despite the effort.

The biggest problem remains that I simply couldn't, even after a second book, connect with the characters. Angus because I disliked him and Lester because he should have had better taste. The question about Angus remaining in the FBI (blurb) didn't get expanded upon or answered to my satisfaction. I feel misled ... in more ways than one. For instance, I still don't know why this series is purportedly a romance. Because Angus feels 'safe' with Lester (blurb)? Is that all it takes?

I feel safe with my big ass dog, but I'm not into him AT ALL. I could go on, but there's no point. This series just isn't for me.


~~~Cross-posted at: Gay Book Reviews
Read other Goodreads reviews by NeRdyWYRM here.

Images may be subject to copyright

Galley copy of Nobody Rides For Free (Angus Green Series, #2) provided by Diversion Books via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

[Angelique · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot and must say,this is the first book.I have read.
that I dont know what to really think.
It is well written,your read the thoughts from Angus a young fbi agent.
it is fun,but for me,it felt distent and somewhat flat.
it was telling not showing.
this is the #2 in a serie,I have not read the first one.
maybe that whould have helped.
for me,not a re-read.no fluff. if you like this sort off telling.
you will have a good one.

Arc was provided by netgalley

[Nambi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a miss for me. I enjoyed the procedural aspects of the book, some of the details were neat and interesting in the beginning. However, the romance, if you can call it that, just did not do it for me. The names kind of put me off and I understand that’s a little nit picky and that some people really are named Angus and Lester but this is a gay romance novel and every time I read Angus name I thought about the Angus burger from McDonalds. Not exactly the image you want your readers to see when reading about your characters.

I wasn’t invested in Angus at all. To be honest, I thought he was a little stuck-up and boring. Unfortunately, this was one of those books that I had to force myself to continue as it got monotonous very fast. Lots of boring things happening, lots of thinking, lots of nothing that I cared about.

The sad part about this is that I love first person POVs but this was just not doing it for me.

I think some people would enjoy this book but I did not. It didn’t have bad writing or flow, just a little heavy on aspects that I didn’t care about or wasn’t invested in.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

suspenseful and compelling

Rating: 4.25🌈

Nobody Rides For Free picks up after the events in The Next One Will Kill You, where rookie FBI agent helped close a big investigation, shot a perpetrator, and got shot during the final climactic moments.

Even though he was wearing a vest, he’s still recovering emotionally and physically from the effects of that incident. It takes a call from his mentor, Agent Roly Gutierrez, asking him for assistance in a new case that brings Angus back into active duty.

It starts with a series of overdoses that soon lead to several startling revelations. And soon, Angus is sifting through the data and evidence of multiple cases to find out what is happening and how all the people and cases connect with a growing number of gay men Angus thinks might be in danger.

In detective or police procedural novel (or tv show), you will hear the phrase that investigations are mostly boring, endlessly pouring over pages, numbers, data, and countless other information for evidence to solidify the case they are working on.

Here, as in the first novel, Plakcy does such a excellent job illustrating the hard and often tedious process of compiling the data legally to build the case against the criminal(s). And does it while making it suspenseful and compelling.

And real. Because not every lead pans out. Not every warrant goes as planned. Not everything works as you wanted or hoped.

And not every main character is a golden boy, without fault or failure or the ability to succeed in one area without losing in another. I think that is what makes Angus Green so interesting to me.

I’m not sure I always like him even as I understand him. He has a tendency to play loose with his roommate, be a user there instead of a friend when a case is involved. Even with others, unless it’s his brother (and that’s not been tested), it’s the FBI case loyalty first, then the others are staggered accordingly to their current position in his life. A precarious situation at times, as Lester, his on and off and now on again boyfriend has discovered. Very hard to be involved with them as a couple as it feels very superficial. I get the impression Lester might not last long.

There’s a few weak spots here. Other than the obvious romantic interest. Especially in the Russian community and mob section. The villain and his ex girlfriend needed more exposition at the end of the investigation to make sense. That includes the Dorje episode too.

Still Nobody Rides For Free (An Angus Green Novel Book 2) by Neil S. Plakcy is a strong read with a very complicated main character. I was totally invested in all the investigations and outcomes. So I’m onto the next. Can’t wait.

I’m definitely recommending this! Read the books in the order that they are written.

Angus Green series:
- [x] The Next One Will Kill You #1
- [x] Nobody Rides For Free #2
- [ ] Survival Is A Dying Art #3
- [ ] Brackish Water #4

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a review copy of Nobody Rides For Free by Neil S. Plakcy from Diversion Books. It's the second book in the Angus Green series, but I haven't read the first one yet. Nobody Rides For Free is a gay-themed whodunit mystery novel featuring red-headed, sophomoric FBI agent Angus Green. Nobody Rides For Free is light on the romance and heavy on the criminal investigation. It's probably as close to a police procedural as possible for readers of gay fiction. If you like gay culture, behind-the-scenes looks at how law enforcement could plausibly work, and convoluted mysteries, then this book is for you.
The eponymous Angus Green narrates the story. I didn't find his voice to be as engaging or relatable as the voices of my favorite narrators, but the story worked by keeping me drawn in with the steady progression of evidence gathering. Despite my complaints with Angus, Neil S. Plakcy shows mastery of the mystery genre because the story was makes sense, the conclusions are based on the evidence, and every detail is a clue.
Overall, I rate this book 4.5/5 which rounds up to a 5. My lack of resonance with Angus Green prevented this book from going from good to great in my eyes, but my appreciation of the novel's execution prevented me from rating it with the other books I've rated 4/5.

[Didi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This second entry to Angus Green series seems a bit more subdued than the first one. Angus is still as diligent and relentless as before, but his sunny disposition is somewhat dimmed here. Although - considering what happened on the previous book - his being a bit antsy and withdrawn is understandable.

The story is told from Angus’s POV as first person, allowing readers the character’s inner struggle after the incident on his first big case. It’s truly a treat to read how eager and dedicated a feeb investigating something that really close to his heart. He’s still showing his special agent’s rookie-ness now and then, but his personality comes through in aiding when needed.

As expected, there’s a bit of twist in the answer Angus seek on his case. One that I find rather heartbreaking here, but which also make the whole thing rang true. I truly enjoy following each turns Angus’ lead bring, a blend of coincidence and diligent researching. Not only that, this series always has interesting cast of of characters, even the shady ones. That said, the conclusion with all the telling summarizing the case updates is a bit of a let down for me.

As in previous book, Nobody Rides for Free also touched on Angus’ love life as an aside, but more as a slow development in his life rather than for the sake of having some love scenes. Without a doubt, this series is one I look forward to for next installments to read!


Advanced copy of this book is kindly provided by the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[William Kibler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inconsistencies mar the reading of the book

I find it difficult to understand how a writer of Mr. Plakcy's reputation doesn't employ a top-notch proofreader. Aside from some spelling errors, there were several inconsistencies in this story. One being a glaring name flip-flop of a character. Early in the story he is named Allejandro but later referred to as Antonio, then again as Allejandro then later again as Antonio! Also, reference is made to a birth certificate of a runaway teen listing his birthday as in 1989 and that he would be turning 17 years old soon. That would put this story set in approximately the year 2006. However, the copyright of this book is 2018 and several pop culture and news references made are well past the year 2006. So, the dates don't match up. Another inconsistency is the height of Lester, Angus's boyfriend. It's stated that he is 6'4" tall at one point and 6'2" at another. Minor, but still should have been detected in proofreading. This book has a lot going on - several different storylines running simultaneously but they all merge together for an acceptably satisfying conclusion.

[Kate00072 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Angus rocks!

First a note: I purchased, read, and my reviews are for the first editions of books 1 and 2 in the series. The author doesn't disclose what kinds of changes were made, but the original editions did have a couple continuity issues. These may not have been as noticeable, but I read them back-to-back. I still give the second book 5 stars!

The writing is excellent! Book 2 finds Angus mired once again in a major case, complicated by the numerous people and tangents involved. As a reader, I just held on for the ride, and trusted the author to resolve the loose ends, which he totally did.

Angus is an excellent main character! He is smart, intuitive, and also introspective. He's observant, and applies what he sees and learns to his own life, and to his relationships with those around him. He's human and that just makes him even more endearing and relatable to, despite the fact that I'm older, and a woman.☺ Book 3 is waiting for me and I can't wait!

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed book 1 with Angus so I was looking forward to this. I did feel annoyed with Angus a lot of the time. Professionally he still has his tendancy to leap in, want more, make big jumps of intuition. Personally he seems to act like a kid still - ooh shiny, ooh shiny over there, ooh back to original shiny etc.
I did feel that while the early part of the story did drag at times it was necessary and I’m sure most LE work is trawling through records and following threads rather than the gungho action we see on TV so on this front, Angus was good. He did seem to go off talking about his case to all and sundry though.
The ties to all the characters gradually tighten. Again, good to see the process involved in warrants and subpoenas - not the easy process as on TV.
The solution shows that there are many shades to every investigation.
Did want to know hiw Jason felt - he did disappear.
So enjoyed, perhaps not as much as I had built it up for though.

[Jeffrey Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Angus Green series, but could be read as a stand alone. I preferred the first book in the series and felt this one somewhat fell to the sophomore slump syndrome, but was still an enjoyable read. The subject matter this go round is tougher, and if you've ever been sexually molested or assaulted or exploited as a minor, this book could be a trigger. Be forewarned. I do hope there will be a third in the series, and I hope Angus matures more and stops being so superficial when it comes to looks. I'm pretty sure I would find his roommate more attractive than Angus, but Angus thinks his roommate is just average in looks and would fare better with the gay community if he'd hit the gym more, and that is my biggest complaint about the character, because it feels like body shaming. I want to see Angus grow out of that shallow way so there needs to be at least a third in the series.

[Natasha Chesterbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second novel from Neil Plakcy in the Angus Green series. As much as I enjoyed the first, this follow up is real winner!
FBI Special Agent Angus Green's latest case proves the catharsis needed to work through the traumatic end of his last case and build some much needed confidence. He proves that detective work is not just ingenuity and wit - it requires real leg work. And Angus works. As the reader you work with him to slowly uncover, piece by piece, the clues and suspects of a intricate web of drug running and child porn. It was thrilling and very satisfying.
In the end it is not so much a reveal but a revel in getting another win for the good guys. Angus is definitely one of the good guys!

[Patrice Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Copy of this title was kindly given by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest reveiw.**

Another really good story from this author. I really love Angus. The mystery was a really interesting one. And, I always enjoy this author's writing style. I just wish there was more of a romance to this series. Maybe someday, in another book from the series, Angus will find a bit of love.

[Sarah Meerkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recived an arc from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

This was a very hard book to get into and I normally love mysteries. The first person narrative was rather clunky and would jump tenses between present and past. It made it difficult to fall into the mystery and getting into Angus as a characrer.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to make of this book. It was a #2 and I admittedly didn't read the first one so, I'm sure that played a part of my apathy of this book. I expected more of a romantic slant to the story and didn't get that in less you count Lester. A lot of telling and not enough showing. Not likely to read anymore installments in this series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Wende · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I love Neil S. Plakcy 's books and this one was right up with the rest of his books. This series is fast becoming my favorite of his. I can't wait to read more about Angus.