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County Durham Quad #3
Ace in the Picture
Polyamory and asexuality meet in this third tale about the North East England quad.
The police suspect Raith Balan of faking a painting. So do money launderers who sink profits into art.
Mike, Ross and Phil, the three men in Raith’s life, must prove his innocence. They’re hampered by their certainty that a member of the Fraud Squad is corrupt.
The senior investigating officer is Detective Sergeant Nick Seabrooke. He knows he is asexual, but is he aromantic too?
As Raith’s lovers struggle to keep Raith safe and find the fraudster, the sergeant struggles to understand why the quad is often in his thoughts.
The police suspect Raith Balan of faking a painting. So do money launderers who sink profits into art.
Mike, Ross and Phil, the three men in Raith’s life, must prove his innocence. They’re hampered by their certainty that a member of the Fraud Squad is corrupt.
The senior investigating officer is Detective Sergeant Nick Seabrooke. He knows he is asexual, but is he aromantic too?
As Raith’s lovers struggle to keep Raith safe and find the fraudster, the sergeant struggles to understand why the quad is often in his thoughts.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2019
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Jude Tresswell
9 books13 followersHello.
If the asexual side of my stories is of interest, perhaps you'd give a listen to the episode of the Queer Words podcast which went online on December 28th? Wayne Goodman, the host, interviews me and the focus is how being ace impacts writing and other aspects of living. You can find it at https://queerwords.org and it's 20 minutes long. No chatter, stripped down editing.
It contains a book extract. There are others (read over stunning drone-shot scenery of County Durham) on my channel at https://youtu.be/Lqlg4P5uvQc . I think my favourite is the one for Book 5 because it has a motor bike. It's at https://youtu.be/n-YAkp2Zh0c
Scar Ghyll Levels, the audio story referred to on the podcast, complete with 200 photographs, is at https://youtu.be/M6xSuQ9utWg
Buy links and blog link for everything at
https://amazon.com/-/e/B07PDGWWPG
https://polyallsorts.wordpress.com
If the asexual side of my stories is of interest, perhaps you'd give a listen to the episode of the Queer Words podcast which went online on December 28th? Wayne Goodman, the host, interviews me and the focus is how being ace impacts writing and other aspects of living. You can find it at https://queerwords.org and it's 20 minutes long. No chatter, stripped down editing.
It contains a book extract. There are others (read over stunning drone-shot scenery of County Durham) on my channel at https://youtu.be/Lqlg4P5uvQc . I think my favourite is the one for Book 5 because it has a motor bike. It's at https://youtu.be/n-YAkp2Zh0c
Scar Ghyll Levels, the audio story referred to on the podcast, complete with 200 photographs, is at https://youtu.be/M6xSuQ9utWg
Buy links and blog link for everything at
https://amazon.com/-/e/B07PDGWWPG
https://polyallsorts.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 15, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
This is the third book in Tresswell’s County Durham Quad series. However, having read the first two books (Badge of Loyalty and Polyamory on Trial), I think people new to the series could jump in with this book and keep up pretty well. There are some brief mentions to events in the previous books, but almost nothing in this story depends upon knowing those details.
I was interested in how much the quad is described in pairs (both in narration and via characters’ actions). For some background, Mike and Ross were married before the first book ever happened. Phil and Raith get married at the end of the second book. My interest comes from how often these specific pairings are mentioned on page. Given how often Trusswell closes out scenes with the characters getting ready for bed, it feels like the married pairs seem to form the basic units in the relationship, i.e. Mike and Ross almost always sleep in one bedroom, Phil and Raith almost always sleep in another. There are other pairings, both for intimate and domestic elements, but they don’t seem to have the same on-page weight as these “good night, sleep tight” scenes for me.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4 stars
This is the third book in Tresswell’s County Durham Quad series. However, having read the first two books (Badge of Loyalty and Polyamory on Trial), I think people new to the series could jump in with this book and keep up pretty well. There are some brief mentions to events in the previous books, but almost nothing in this story depends upon knowing those details.
I was interested in how much the quad is described in pairs (both in narration and via characters’ actions). For some background, Mike and Ross were married before the first book ever happened. Phil and Raith get married at the end of the second book. My interest comes from how often these specific pairings are mentioned on page. Given how often Trusswell closes out scenes with the characters getting ready for bed, it feels like the married pairs seem to form the basic units in the relationship, i.e. Mike and Ross almost always sleep in one bedroom, Phil and Raith almost always sleep in another. There are other pairings, both for intimate and domestic elements, but they don’t seem to have the same on-page weight as these “good night, sleep tight” scenes for me.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
October 12, 2021
A polyamorous quad of men living together; and an asexual onlooker interested in one of the men...while kidnapping, murder, and mayhem happen all around! Very intriguing, in all respects.
April 18, 2019
****4.5 stars!****
Sheesh! *palms face*
How much more are these guys gonna to have to go through? I was doing my best H-to-the-no! face reading their latest adventures, or mid-adventures depending on your point of view *snorts*
Raith and his art are the focus in the latest instalment of the County Durham Quad series. It will take each of the men, along with an unexpected ally to unravel the mystery and clear his name.
My heart was in my throat a few times during this read. There is nothing I hate more than ‘watching’ characters I’ve become invested in hurt or be hurt. Without the four they are not whole, and I felt the fear and hopelessness emanating from the pages when all they love and hold dear is threatened.
Nick was an intriguing addition to this story. I’ve never read a story with an ace character before, and I found his view of the quad thought-provoking. He is definitely a character I want to hear more about.
I love reading stories out-with the ‘norm’ (whatever normal is!) and the author definitely delivers on that. This story is more heavy on the crime/mystery element rather than romance. As it should be, I feel, as the guys are secure in their quad and the love they share. To find one person to love you in this life is a gift - to have that threefold? Ugh, now peeps are just getting greedy, lol.
Full disclosure though (and this has nothing to do with the quad) - I’m feeling a little sad right now. That ending *sighs* I have a lump in my throat and an ache right here *rubs chest*
One can only hope that means there will be a fourth book heading our way sometime in the future.
Sheesh! *palms face*
How much more are these guys gonna to have to go through? I was doing my best H-to-the-no! face reading their latest adventures, or mid-adventures depending on your point of view *snorts*
Raith and his art are the focus in the latest instalment of the County Durham Quad series. It will take each of the men, along with an unexpected ally to unravel the mystery and clear his name.
My heart was in my throat a few times during this read. There is nothing I hate more than ‘watching’ characters I’ve become invested in hurt or be hurt. Without the four they are not whole, and I felt the fear and hopelessness emanating from the pages when all they love and hold dear is threatened.
Nick was an intriguing addition to this story. I’ve never read a story with an ace character before, and I found his view of the quad thought-provoking. He is definitely a character I want to hear more about.
I love reading stories out-with the ‘norm’ (whatever normal is!) and the author definitely delivers on that. This story is more heavy on the crime/mystery element rather than romance. As it should be, I feel, as the guys are secure in their quad and the love they share. To find one person to love you in this life is a gift - to have that threefold? Ugh, now peeps are just getting greedy, lol.
Full disclosure though (and this has nothing to do with the quad) - I’m feeling a little sad right now. That ending *sighs* I have a lump in my throat and an ache right here *rubs chest*
One can only hope that means there will be a fourth book heading our way sometime in the future.
January 11, 2020
I'm really enjoying these men, the ups and downs, trial by fire, love, laughter, friendship, how it all plays out. It's amazing to me how they all come together despite how different they are. And that Mike is the glue that pulls them together. I'm definitely curious and hopeful that there will be a book 4
April 19, 2019
Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku i polsku
*4,5 stars*
On the art market appears a painting which experts believe to be a fake. Because the style in which it was created resembles that used by Raith, London Fraud Squad led by Nick Seabrooke makes him their first suspect. Unfortunately, it quickly turns out that even some vague circumstantial evidence may have fatal consequences and put an innocent, falsely accused man in real danger.
Reading "Ace in the Picture" we immerse ourselves in the world of the "County Durham Quad" series created by Jude Tresswell for the third time. However, as the title of this volume indicates, this time the polyamory of our four main characters shares its honorable place at the very top of the series's problems with the subject of asexuality. I admit that I consider this a great advantage of this volume. The more so, because I like the way the author approached this topic. First of all, she introduced to the novel an adult character, who, although aware of his asexuality, still discovers it and hesitates as to certain aspects of it, analyzes his feelings and asks himself some questions about being aromantic/romantic ace. I think it makes Nick an extremely believable character, with whom I can easily identify, as I'm constantly trying to find myself within the limits of my asexuality. So Nick is really close to me and it would be my greatest pleasure to get to know him better in the future.
In terms of the plot, "Ace in the Picture" looks even better than the previous volume of the series, which was after all really good. What I think is truly important in this installment is the fact that the main characters get much more involved in the criminal aspect of the plot, because it relates directly to their lives and to them. In this case a person at risk is not a stranger, but one of our boys, and thus, the action of the novel keeps us in suspense even stronger. Let's add that the events described in "Ace in the Picture" don't stretch to infinity, but rather quickly follow one another, so we hold our breath while reading about the situation development and the course of the investigation. What's more, we remind ourselves of the events from the end of the first volume, which undoubtedly strongly stirs up our emotions. Especially because when we read this novel the characters are already very close to us and we really care about them. To a large extent, we are not just some passive witnesses, but we really live through the events of this installment of the series.
I think that the great advantage of "Ace in the Picture" is also the fact that the novel evolves from volume to volume. First of all, the relationship between the characters changes over time, and it's not just about the relationship between the members of our love quad. I admit that I didn't expect to see the renewed friendship between Mike and Flaxby, and this is exactly what happens in this part of the series. What's more, changes also occur in the characters themselves, which is most clearly seen in the case of Mike. Although the man still tries to deal with the consequences of his choices from the first volume of the series, we can see that he clearly feels better living his current life. He no longer obsessively thinks about the things he has lost and he easier accepts that there are the means available to him as a civilian and those available only to the police. The fact that the mentioned evolution is noticeable in the novel really says a lot about the level of this book, as well as about the author herself, who makes her characters and their relations with others grow stronger as the story moves forward. I think it really should be appreciated.
Reviewing "Ace in the Picture" I would also like to mention the autoanalysis, which clearly plays an extremely important role here, just as in the previous volumes of the series. I really like the fact that some characters not only act, but also analyze their actions and their feelings, they try to sort out what's happening inside their minds and how they react to certain events and people around them. This is important because it shows how real and believable the characters in this series are. Especially if we take into consideration the fact that they don't keep their thoughts only to themselves or hide them from others, but they talk about them with each other, try to understand the motives that guide them, and seek answers to the questions that bother them. In short, they participate very actively in constant creation of themselves. This is extremely interesting, because it helps us to get to know the characters from this more emotional and fragile side.
To sum up, I can wholeheartedly recommend "Ace in the Picture" to every reader who likes novels with a hint of a crime story, in which the characters don't focus only on their tasks, but find some time to discover themselves, interpersonal relations and attach great importance to feelings and emotions. It's a really good book that you read with interest and pleasure.
__________________________________
*4,5 gwiazdki*
Na rynku dzieł sztuki pojawia się obraz, który znawcy oceniają jako falsyfikat. Ponieważ styl jego wykonania przypomina ten, którym posługuje się Raith, podejrzenia londyńskiego oddziału do spraw oszustw dowodzonego przez Nicka Seabrooke zostają skierowane pod jego adresem. Niestety bardzo szybko okazuje się, że nawet niewyraźne poszlaki mogą mieć zgubne skutki i sprowadzić na niewinnie oskarżanego prawdziwe niebezpieczeństwo.
Czytając „Ace in the Picture” po raz trzeci zanurzamy się w świat serii „County Durham Quad”, który przedstawia nam Jude Tresswell. Jak jednak sam tytuł tego tomu wskazuje, tym razem poliamoria czwórki naszych głównych bohaterów dzieli swoje zaszczytne miejsce na samym szczycie problemów obyczajowych serii z tematem aseksualizmu. Przyznaję, że uważam to za ogromną zaletę tego tomu, tym bardziej, że bardzo podoba mi się sposób, w jaki autorka podeszła do tego tematu. Przede wszystkim wprowadziła do powieści dorosłego mężczyznę, który chociaż zdaje sobie sprawę ze swojej aseksualności, wciąż ją odkrywa i waha się, co do pewnych jej aspektów, analizuje swoje uczucia i zadaje sobie pytania dotyczące chociażby swojego podejścia do romantyzmu. Uważam, że czyni to Nicka naprawdę bardzo prawdopodobnym bohaterem, z którym łatwo jest mi się identyfikować, gdyż sama bezustannie staram się odnaleźć w granicach swojego aseksualizmu. Nick jest mi więc naprawdę bliski i z największą przyjemnością poznałabym go lepiej w przyszłości.
Pod względem fabuły „Ace in the Picture” prezentuje się jeszcze lepiej niż poprzedni tom serii, który był przecież naprawdę dobry. Tym, co uważam za naprawdę istotne w przypadku tej części jest fakt, że wątek kryminalny w o wiele większym stopniu angażuje głównych bohaterów, gdyż odnosi się bezpośrednio do ich życia, do nich samych. Zagrożeni nie są w tym przypadku obcy ludzie, ale jeden z naszych chłopców, a tym samym, akcja powieści jeszcze mocniej trzyma nas w napięciu. Dodajmy do tego, że opisane w „Ace in the Picture” wydarzenia nie ciągną się w nieskończoność, ale następują dosyć szybko po sobie, więc z zapartym tchem śledzimy rozwój sytuacji oraz przebieg dochodzenia. Co więcej, bardzo szybko przypominamy sobie o wydarzeniach z końca pierwszego tomu, co niewątpliwie z ogromną mocą rozbudza nasze emocje. Tym bardziej, że czytając tę powieść bohaterowie są już nam bardzo bliscy i naprawdę nam na nich zależy. W dużym stopniu przeżywamy więc wydarzenia tej odsłony serii i nie pozostajemy tylko biernymi odbiorcami.
Uważam, że ogromną zaletą „Ace in the Picture” jest również fakt, że powieść ewoluuje z tomu na tom. Po pierwsze, relacje między bohaterami, i nie chodzi tu tylko o członków naszego miłosnego czworokąta, zmieniają się w miarę upływu czasu. Przyznaję, że nie spodziewałam się odnowienia relacji między Mike’iem a Flaxbym, a właśnie to nastęouje w tej części serii. Co więcej, zmiany zachodzą także w samych bohaterach, co najdokładniej widać w przypadku Mike’a. Mężczyzna wprawdzie nadal odczuwa skutki swoich wyborów dokonanych w pierwszym tomie serii, ale widzimy, że wyraźnie lepiej odnajduje się w swoim aktualnym życiu. Nie myśli już obsesyjnie o tym, co stracił i lepiej manewruje między środkami dostępnymi mu jako cywilowi, a tymi znajdującymi się w zasięgu policji. Fakt, że wspomniana ewolucja jest zauważalna w powieści naprawdę wiele mówi o poziomie „Ace in the Picture”, jak również o samej autorce, która dba o to, aby jej bohaterowie i ich relacje z innymi rozwijały się w miarę jak historia posuwa się do przodu. Nie sposób tego nie docenić.
Recenzując „Ace in the Picture” chciałabym wspomnieć także o autoanalizie, która wyraźnie odgrywa tu niezwykle istotną rolę, zresztą podobnie jak w poprzednich tomach serii. Bardzo podoba mi się to, że niektórzy bohaterowie nie tylko działają, ale także analizują swoje posunięcia i swoje uczucia, próbują poukładać sobie w głowie to, co dzieje się w ich wnętrzu oraz to jak reagują na pewne wydarzenia i otaczających ich ludzi. Jest to o tyle istotne, że pokazuje, jak bardzo ludzkie są postaci tej serii. Tym bardziej, że nie trzymają swoich myśli wyłącznie dla siebie, ukrywając je przed innymi, ale rozmawiają o nich między sobą, próbują poznać motywy kierujące ich krokami, szukają odpowiedzi na nurtujące ich pytania. Krótko mówiąc, uczestniczą bardzo aktywnie w bezustannym tworzeniu i kształtowaniu samych siebie. To niezwykle interesujące, ponieważ pomaga nam poznać bohaterów od tej bardziej uczuciowej i kruchej strony.
Podsumowując, z całego serca mogę polecić „Ace in the Picture” każdemu czytelnikowi, który lubi powieści z nutą kryminału, w których bohaterowie nie skupiają się tylko na zadaniu, jakie mają wykonać, ale znajdują czas na odkrywanie siebie, relacji międzyludzkich i ogromne znaczenie przywiązują do uczuć i emocji. To naprawdę dobra książka, którą czyta się z zainteresowaniem i przyjemnością.
*4,5 stars*
On the art market appears a painting which experts believe to be a fake. Because the style in which it was created resembles that used by Raith, London Fraud Squad led by Nick Seabrooke makes him their first suspect. Unfortunately, it quickly turns out that even some vague circumstantial evidence may have fatal consequences and put an innocent, falsely accused man in real danger.
Reading "Ace in the Picture" we immerse ourselves in the world of the "County Durham Quad" series created by Jude Tresswell for the third time. However, as the title of this volume indicates, this time the polyamory of our four main characters shares its honorable place at the very top of the series's problems with the subject of asexuality. I admit that I consider this a great advantage of this volume. The more so, because I like the way the author approached this topic. First of all, she introduced to the novel an adult character, who, although aware of his asexuality, still discovers it and hesitates as to certain aspects of it, analyzes his feelings and asks himself some questions about being aromantic/romantic ace. I think it makes Nick an extremely believable character, with whom I can easily identify, as I'm constantly trying to find myself within the limits of my asexuality. So Nick is really close to me and it would be my greatest pleasure to get to know him better in the future.
In terms of the plot, "Ace in the Picture" looks even better than the previous volume of the series, which was after all really good. What I think is truly important in this installment is the fact that the main characters get much more involved in the criminal aspect of the plot, because it relates directly to their lives and to them. In this case a person at risk is not a stranger, but one of our boys, and thus, the action of the novel keeps us in suspense even stronger. Let's add that the events described in "Ace in the Picture" don't stretch to infinity, but rather quickly follow one another, so we hold our breath while reading about the situation development and the course of the investigation. What's more, we remind ourselves of the events from the end of the first volume, which undoubtedly strongly stirs up our emotions. Especially because when we read this novel the characters are already very close to us and we really care about them. To a large extent, we are not just some passive witnesses, but we really live through the events of this installment of the series.
I think that the great advantage of "Ace in the Picture" is also the fact that the novel evolves from volume to volume. First of all, the relationship between the characters changes over time, and it's not just about the relationship between the members of our love quad. I admit that I didn't expect to see the renewed friendship between Mike and Flaxby, and this is exactly what happens in this part of the series. What's more, changes also occur in the characters themselves, which is most clearly seen in the case of Mike. Although the man still tries to deal with the consequences of his choices from the first volume of the series, we can see that he clearly feels better living his current life. He no longer obsessively thinks about the things he has lost and he easier accepts that there are the means available to him as a civilian and those available only to the police. The fact that the mentioned evolution is noticeable in the novel really says a lot about the level of this book, as well as about the author herself, who makes her characters and their relations with others grow stronger as the story moves forward. I think it really should be appreciated.
Reviewing "Ace in the Picture" I would also like to mention the autoanalysis, which clearly plays an extremely important role here, just as in the previous volumes of the series. I really like the fact that some characters not only act, but also analyze their actions and their feelings, they try to sort out what's happening inside their minds and how they react to certain events and people around them. This is important because it shows how real and believable the characters in this series are. Especially if we take into consideration the fact that they don't keep their thoughts only to themselves or hide them from others, but they talk about them with each other, try to understand the motives that guide them, and seek answers to the questions that bother them. In short, they participate very actively in constant creation of themselves. This is extremely interesting, because it helps us to get to know the characters from this more emotional and fragile side.
To sum up, I can wholeheartedly recommend "Ace in the Picture" to every reader who likes novels with a hint of a crime story, in which the characters don't focus only on their tasks, but find some time to discover themselves, interpersonal relations and attach great importance to feelings and emotions. It's a really good book that you read with interest and pleasure.
__________________________________
*4,5 gwiazdki*
Na rynku dzieł sztuki pojawia się obraz, który znawcy oceniają jako falsyfikat. Ponieważ styl jego wykonania przypomina ten, którym posługuje się Raith, podejrzenia londyńskiego oddziału do spraw oszustw dowodzonego przez Nicka Seabrooke zostają skierowane pod jego adresem. Niestety bardzo szybko okazuje się, że nawet niewyraźne poszlaki mogą mieć zgubne skutki i sprowadzić na niewinnie oskarżanego prawdziwe niebezpieczeństwo.
Czytając „Ace in the Picture” po raz trzeci zanurzamy się w świat serii „County Durham Quad”, który przedstawia nam Jude Tresswell. Jak jednak sam tytuł tego tomu wskazuje, tym razem poliamoria czwórki naszych głównych bohaterów dzieli swoje zaszczytne miejsce na samym szczycie problemów obyczajowych serii z tematem aseksualizmu. Przyznaję, że uważam to za ogromną zaletę tego tomu, tym bardziej, że bardzo podoba mi się sposób, w jaki autorka podeszła do tego tematu. Przede wszystkim wprowadziła do powieści dorosłego mężczyznę, który chociaż zdaje sobie sprawę ze swojej aseksualności, wciąż ją odkrywa i waha się, co do pewnych jej aspektów, analizuje swoje uczucia i zadaje sobie pytania dotyczące chociażby swojego podejścia do romantyzmu. Uważam, że czyni to Nicka naprawdę bardzo prawdopodobnym bohaterem, z którym łatwo jest mi się identyfikować, gdyż sama bezustannie staram się odnaleźć w granicach swojego aseksualizmu. Nick jest mi więc naprawdę bliski i z największą przyjemnością poznałabym go lepiej w przyszłości.
Pod względem fabuły „Ace in the Picture” prezentuje się jeszcze lepiej niż poprzedni tom serii, który był przecież naprawdę dobry. Tym, co uważam za naprawdę istotne w przypadku tej części jest fakt, że wątek kryminalny w o wiele większym stopniu angażuje głównych bohaterów, gdyż odnosi się bezpośrednio do ich życia, do nich samych. Zagrożeni nie są w tym przypadku obcy ludzie, ale jeden z naszych chłopców, a tym samym, akcja powieści jeszcze mocniej trzyma nas w napięciu. Dodajmy do tego, że opisane w „Ace in the Picture” wydarzenia nie ciągną się w nieskończoność, ale następują dosyć szybko po sobie, więc z zapartym tchem śledzimy rozwój sytuacji oraz przebieg dochodzenia. Co więcej, bardzo szybko przypominamy sobie o wydarzeniach z końca pierwszego tomu, co niewątpliwie z ogromną mocą rozbudza nasze emocje. Tym bardziej, że czytając tę powieść bohaterowie są już nam bardzo bliscy i naprawdę nam na nich zależy. W dużym stopniu przeżywamy więc wydarzenia tej odsłony serii i nie pozostajemy tylko biernymi odbiorcami.
Uważam, że ogromną zaletą „Ace in the Picture” jest również fakt, że powieść ewoluuje z tomu na tom. Po pierwsze, relacje między bohaterami, i nie chodzi tu tylko o członków naszego miłosnego czworokąta, zmieniają się w miarę upływu czasu. Przyznaję, że nie spodziewałam się odnowienia relacji między Mike’iem a Flaxbym, a właśnie to nastęouje w tej części serii. Co więcej, zmiany zachodzą także w samych bohaterach, co najdokładniej widać w przypadku Mike’a. Mężczyzna wprawdzie nadal odczuwa skutki swoich wyborów dokonanych w pierwszym tomie serii, ale widzimy, że wyraźnie lepiej odnajduje się w swoim aktualnym życiu. Nie myśli już obsesyjnie o tym, co stracił i lepiej manewruje między środkami dostępnymi mu jako cywilowi, a tymi znajdującymi się w zasięgu policji. Fakt, że wspomniana ewolucja jest zauważalna w powieści naprawdę wiele mówi o poziomie „Ace in the Picture”, jak również o samej autorce, która dba o to, aby jej bohaterowie i ich relacje z innymi rozwijały się w miarę jak historia posuwa się do przodu. Nie sposób tego nie docenić.
Recenzując „Ace in the Picture” chciałabym wspomnieć także o autoanalizie, która wyraźnie odgrywa tu niezwykle istotną rolę, zresztą podobnie jak w poprzednich tomach serii. Bardzo podoba mi się to, że niektórzy bohaterowie nie tylko działają, ale także analizują swoje posunięcia i swoje uczucia, próbują poukładać sobie w głowie to, co dzieje się w ich wnętrzu oraz to jak reagują na pewne wydarzenia i otaczających ich ludzi. Jest to o tyle istotne, że pokazuje, jak bardzo ludzkie są postaci tej serii. Tym bardziej, że nie trzymają swoich myśli wyłącznie dla siebie, ukrywając je przed innymi, ale rozmawiają o nich między sobą, próbują poznać motywy kierujące ich krokami, szukają odpowiedzi na nurtujące ich pytania. Krótko mówiąc, uczestniczą bardzo aktywnie w bezustannym tworzeniu i kształtowaniu samych siebie. To niezwykle interesujące, ponieważ pomaga nam poznać bohaterów od tej bardziej uczuciowej i kruchej strony.
Podsumowując, z całego serca mogę polecić „Ace in the Picture” każdemu czytelnikowi, który lubi powieści z nutą kryminału, w których bohaterowie nie skupiają się tylko na zadaniu, jakie mają wykonać, ale znajdują czas na odkrywanie siebie, relacji międzyludzkich i ogromne znaczenie przywiązują do uczuć i emocji. To naprawdę dobra książka, którą czyta się z zainteresowaniem i przyjemnością.
April 6, 2019
Ace in the Picture by Jude Tresswell is the third book in The County Durham Quad series. Although it can be read as a stand alone, as I did not read the first two books in series and still enjoyed this one, I am going to go back and read the other two to get more of the story of these characters.
As for this title, I found it to be well written and very interesting. The mystery of it, pulled me in and I was invested in finding out what was the truth of the story. The characters were interesting and I liked their interactions.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
As for this title, I found it to be well written and very interesting. The mystery of it, pulled me in and I was invested in finding out what was the truth of the story. The characters were interesting and I liked their interactions.
I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
September 25, 2019
This was a rough one. It’s really good though. Raith has always been the high maintenance one. But they all still love him. Enough so, that Phil married him. And on their one year anniversary, it went to shit.
Someone was painting forgeries. And with Raith having the tetra eye thing, he was suspect because of the details of the paintings. The problem is, with who had the paintings and who they got sold too, are some very not nice guys and now Raith has been kidnapped to try to find out why he forged the painting and such. But Raith didn’t do it. He doesn’t know who did either. Mike pulls his contacts and gets the right people involved to free Raith, but not even days later, he’s surrounding by 3 men who are trying to get him again. Over these stupid paintings he has nothing to do with. The more Mike and everyone digs, they more they are finding out what’s going on behind these paintings. Money laundering and all kinds of illegal crap. And now on top of it, the senior detective in charge wants what the quad has but he’s asexual. So how can he have it all but without the sex and how do they keep Raith and themselves safe until they get to the bottom of this?
I tell you what, this quad has been through some stuff. If it’s not one thing it’s something else. The first book was Mike and a cover up pertaining to Ross, the next was Phil, and now it’s Raith. They are hurt, in constant danger and don’t know who to trust. All they know, is they have to keep strong and keep relying on each other. They are all each other has. These books have been a test of strength and endurance and a test of the bonds the four of them have. And even though Ross doesn’t sleep with the other two, he still loves them and wants them to be happy. He loves the time they spend together, because they all bring something different to the table. And this book shows how fragile Raith really is. Raith is an artist, so he has that zoned out, spacey, high maintenance thing going on, and he really is a fragile minded person. But this has also shown him he can be strong. Even if it’s through the other three.
It really has been a good series. There is betrayals at every turn, dirty cops, bad people, psychos and all kinds of stuff. Mysteries to solve, ways to stay alive and so much more. It’s been an intriguing series.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Someone was painting forgeries. And with Raith having the tetra eye thing, he was suspect because of the details of the paintings. The problem is, with who had the paintings and who they got sold too, are some very not nice guys and now Raith has been kidnapped to try to find out why he forged the painting and such. But Raith didn’t do it. He doesn’t know who did either. Mike pulls his contacts and gets the right people involved to free Raith, but not even days later, he’s surrounding by 3 men who are trying to get him again. Over these stupid paintings he has nothing to do with. The more Mike and everyone digs, they more they are finding out what’s going on behind these paintings. Money laundering and all kinds of illegal crap. And now on top of it, the senior detective in charge wants what the quad has but he’s asexual. So how can he have it all but without the sex and how do they keep Raith and themselves safe until they get to the bottom of this?
I tell you what, this quad has been through some stuff. If it’s not one thing it’s something else. The first book was Mike and a cover up pertaining to Ross, the next was Phil, and now it’s Raith. They are hurt, in constant danger and don’t know who to trust. All they know, is they have to keep strong and keep relying on each other. They are all each other has. These books have been a test of strength and endurance and a test of the bonds the four of them have. And even though Ross doesn’t sleep with the other two, he still loves them and wants them to be happy. He loves the time they spend together, because they all bring something different to the table. And this book shows how fragile Raith really is. Raith is an artist, so he has that zoned out, spacey, high maintenance thing going on, and he really is a fragile minded person. But this has also shown him he can be strong. Even if it’s through the other three.
It really has been a good series. There is betrayals at every turn, dirty cops, bad people, psychos and all kinds of stuff. Mysteries to solve, ways to stay alive and so much more. It’s been an intriguing series.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
March 31, 2019
This third book in the series follows along the same trope as the second book, Polyamory On Trial. By that, I mean that when things go wrong, former CID officer Mike Angells takes on his role of cop persona, and the others back him up.
However, this one is a lot closer to home. The actual authorities are involved from day one, so the men must be a little more circumspect about how they handle the information they gather; i.e., they have to be sure that their inside sources can't get into trouble.
While one of their own is threatened, they must figure out who they can trust and who is working against them. The "Fraud Squad" are brought in from London to oversee the investigation, and Mike, trusting his instincts, has a good feeling about the leader, Seabrook. Unfortunately, even his loyalties are questioned when the men realize there is a mole in the squad.
Of course, eventually, with several nudges in the right direction from the MCs, the problem is resolved, and life can get back to normal; with a few more nightmares and insecurities thrown in the mix.
As for the Ace in the Picture, his thoughts are the secondary story, similar to what the author has done in the first two books. He is still struggling to figure himself out. He knows he's Ace, but is he het/or something else? Is he aromantic or romantic? How much physical contact can he comfortably deal with? Basically, it's one character's thoughts about being Ace, and his growing "squish" with Mike.
Overall, I liked the storyline of this book better than the first two. It was personal in a way the others just didn't quite hit the mark. It was wrapped up a little too easily (and off page) for my liking, but it did show more strengths and weaknesses in each member of the quad. I assume this might not be the last we hear from the men, so I would say it's a HFN ending. The reason I think this will be continued is because the Ace character is still in limbo.
* I received an ARC of this book. *
However, this one is a lot closer to home. The actual authorities are involved from day one, so the men must be a little more circumspect about how they handle the information they gather; i.e., they have to be sure that their inside sources can't get into trouble.
While one of their own is threatened, they must figure out who they can trust and who is working against them. The "Fraud Squad" are brought in from London to oversee the investigation, and Mike, trusting his instincts, has a good feeling about the leader, Seabrook. Unfortunately, even his loyalties are questioned when the men realize there is a mole in the squad.
Of course, eventually, with several nudges in the right direction from the MCs, the problem is resolved, and life can get back to normal; with a few more nightmares and insecurities thrown in the mix.
As for the Ace in the Picture, his thoughts are the secondary story, similar to what the author has done in the first two books. He is still struggling to figure himself out. He knows he's Ace, but is he het/or something else? Is he aromantic or romantic? How much physical contact can he comfortably deal with? Basically, it's one character's thoughts about being Ace, and his growing "squish" with Mike.
Overall, I liked the storyline of this book better than the first two. It was personal in a way the others just didn't quite hit the mark. It was wrapped up a little too easily (and off page) for my liking, but it did show more strengths and weaknesses in each member of the quad. I assume this might not be the last we hear from the men, so I would say it's a HFN ending. The reason I think this will be continued is because the Ace character is still in limbo.
* I received an ARC of this book. *
August 9, 2020
I didn't realize this was a series when I read it, but I don't think you need to read the others to get what is going on.
Mike, Ross, Phil and Raith live together in a polyamorous relationship. Mike and Ross are married as are Phil and Raith. Mike brings the two couples together. They share a home and a life together that works for them.
When Raith is accused of forging a painting things get messy. Some very bad characters want to do him harm. Nick is the investigator trying to figure out what is actually going on. He is asexual and the lifestyle of the quad intrigues him. He is drawn to Mike and Raith specifically but nothing happens.
While I appreciate the intriguing look into this relationship I wish there was a bit more to the story. Maybe because it is more mystery than romance? All sexual relations happen off page so this is actually a very clean read.
Mike, Ross, Phil and Raith live together in a polyamorous relationship. Mike and Ross are married as are Phil and Raith. Mike brings the two couples together. They share a home and a life together that works for them.
When Raith is accused of forging a painting things get messy. Some very bad characters want to do him harm. Nick is the investigator trying to figure out what is actually going on. He is asexual and the lifestyle of the quad intrigues him. He is drawn to Mike and Raith specifically but nothing happens.
While I appreciate the intriguing look into this relationship I wish there was a bit more to the story. Maybe because it is more mystery than romance? All sexual relations happen off page so this is actually a very clean read.
March 31, 2019
ARC The guys are fighting crime again but this time one of them is the suspect. That side of the story is well worked out with some neat twists and focuses on Raith having tetrachromatic vision. (All explained) Part way through, the focus changes. The senior investigating officer is asexual and we begin to see the quad's behaviour through his eyes. It's interesting and informative.
As always, there are some funny touches to counteract the drama, Raith usually being at the centre of both.
I missed the end of chapter monologues that were a feature of the previous two books in the series.
I liked the uncertainty of the ending.
As always, there are some funny touches to counteract the drama, Raith usually being at the centre of both.
I missed the end of chapter monologues that were a feature of the previous two books in the series.
I liked the uncertainty of the ending.
May 3, 2019
I enjoyed everything about this book. The art fraud storyline is neatly worked and as Raith is an artist it's a natural development and not forced. The new character, Nick, is sympathetic. I didn't feel sorry for him but I felt his predicament.The quad are great and they're all given space. I love Raith's funny exchanges with Mike and his resentment at doing the household chores. It doesn't bother me that actual sex takes a back seat to talking about sex. The conversations and especially asexual NIck's points of view are interesting in themselves. I like the quiet, no frills writing style -just story and characters. Thoroughly good read.
March 29, 2019
Received from Netgalley. 3.5 stars. I liked the consistency of the covers and the same matter of fact writing style, as well as the growth of the characters. These poor guys can’t seem to keep out of trouble. I liked Raith and Phil’s strengthened bond. I liked Nick but did feel sorry for him getting involved with the quad. I’m not sure about Mike anymore, his path seems to keep getting darker, his world revolving around the guys and screw everyone else. I’m almost expecting a batman cape and a meeting with Fortune in a dark alley. A strong sequel to the series.
May 12, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer I havent read the first two books in the series but except two or three parts ( and characters' background ) I didn't have any problems following the story.
The story was a really entertaining. The romance was not for me. ( It has the polyamory tag. )
I honestly like Phil.
THE ACE PART WAS SO WELL WRITTEN ( SPEAKING AS AN ASEXUAL PERSON). THANK YOU THANK YOU.
But there was not enough Ace in the picture. (wink wink)
Disclaimer I havent read the first two books in the series but except two or three parts ( and characters' background ) I didn't have any problems following the story.
The story was a really entertaining. The romance was not for me. ( It has the polyamory tag. )
I honestly like Phil.
THE ACE PART WAS SO WELL WRITTEN ( SPEAKING AS AN ASEXUAL PERSON). THANK YOU THANK YOU.
But there was not enough Ace in the picture. (wink wink)
July 1, 2019
I thought the idea of this book was a great idea. There isn't enough representation in the world of literature and this adds a little to it. It wasn't a perfect book, but it had some good ideas and was a pretty enjoyable read.
May 31, 2020
This is definitely a case of needing to read the first book to read this one. The set up was good but it made no sense after the first third. The characters seemed good but their pre-existing relationships made little sense.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 31, 2020
this series makes me happy... this was enjoyable and kept me curious.. you dont technically have to read the first two to understand this one but honestly it adds to it for me.. it made a bit more sense honestly. haha.. there was mystery and love... i enjoyed the interactiong and perosnalities.. it was all around well written and i liked it
April 10, 2019
What a intriguing book, mystery, crime fighting... will not going to get into it all. But I will say I enjoy this book greatly. Twist, turns... it was so good. I really really enjoy this book!
September 8, 2020
This book was great in terms of poly rep and okay with ace rep, but the description blurb is a bit misleading as to what the focus of the book is. I really did enjoy it though and I would recommend it for anyone who wants more representation in their reading. It was really great to read about people like me, even if it was a little different than what I expected.
dnf
June 2, 2021DNF.
I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced reading copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2019
The short blurb bit: A polyamorous quad gets involved in a crime and the detective who is heading up the investigation is asexual. Raith, Mike, Ross, and Phil live together in the north of England. They’ve carved out a world for themselves in which they can be free to love and care about each other. Their life together is unique and has a few challenges but they make it work. When artist Raith is accused of forging a painting … things get very complicated very quickly.
The descriptive bit: If you like crime stories and are interested in reading characters who aren’t run of the mill then this is a good book for you. Of particular interested to readers may be the lifestyles of the characters. While their sexuality and partnerships aren’t the plot of the story, they are, of course, part of the plot. If you’re interested in reading about asexual folks, polyamory or diverse relationships then you’ll find this story intriguing. You may even learn something – like I did!
My thoughts bit: First, I should say that I didn’t read the first two books in this series but I will say that I plan to go back and do that now! That’s got to be a vote in the win column. There was enough history written into this novel that I didn’t struggle too much to understand who the characters were and where they had come from. There were some past events mentioned vaguely that I now want to go and read about!
The art forgery case in the novel is really well thought out and well written. Even though it was a bit convoluted at times, it was very intriguing and had a lot of good twists and turns. A painting has been forged, and because of Raith’s Tetrachromacy and his artistic ability, he is accused of being the forger. As the investigation progresses, the quad works closely with senior investigative officer, Nick Seabrooke. There is a great subplot following Nick’s exploration of his feelings when he is exposed to the men in the quad.
At first, I found it a little tricky keeping track of which characters were which. After all, I think it’s unusual for almost the entire cast of characters to be male. But, I settled into it and managed to keep track of all the different folks.
Well worth a read! Start from the beginning of the series though because you don’t want to have to go back like me!
The warnings bit: extreme violence, car accidents, discussion of past violence, discussion of past sexual assault.
The descriptive bit: If you like crime stories and are interested in reading characters who aren’t run of the mill then this is a good book for you. Of particular interested to readers may be the lifestyles of the characters. While their sexuality and partnerships aren’t the plot of the story, they are, of course, part of the plot. If you’re interested in reading about asexual folks, polyamory or diverse relationships then you’ll find this story intriguing. You may even learn something – like I did!
My thoughts bit: First, I should say that I didn’t read the first two books in this series but I will say that I plan to go back and do that now! That’s got to be a vote in the win column. There was enough history written into this novel that I didn’t struggle too much to understand who the characters were and where they had come from. There were some past events mentioned vaguely that I now want to go and read about!
The art forgery case in the novel is really well thought out and well written. Even though it was a bit convoluted at times, it was very intriguing and had a lot of good twists and turns. A painting has been forged, and because of Raith’s Tetrachromacy and his artistic ability, he is accused of being the forger. As the investigation progresses, the quad works closely with senior investigative officer, Nick Seabrooke. There is a great subplot following Nick’s exploration of his feelings when he is exposed to the men in the quad.
At first, I found it a little tricky keeping track of which characters were which. After all, I think it’s unusual for almost the entire cast of characters to be male. But, I settled into it and managed to keep track of all the different folks.
Well worth a read! Start from the beginning of the series though because you don’t want to have to go back like me!
The warnings bit: extreme violence, car accidents, discussion of past violence, discussion of past sexual assault.
April 15, 2019
I voluntarily read and reviewed and advanced copy of this book, received through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First of all, it should be noted that this is the third instalment of a series. This is something I did not know when I started reading the book, so I was pretty lost at some points in the story. Definitely, I recommend reading the first instalments before this one. Without that prior knowledge, the relationship between the characters can be confusing at some point.
Raith, one of four men involved in a polyamorous quad, is accused of forgery. Mike, Ross and Phil, the other three members of the quad, get involved in the investigation to help Raith. Nick Seabrooke is the detective charged with investigating the case, however, he cannot help but become more and more involved with the quad. The art case is intriguing and surprising at times, there are a few surprises I did not see coming. The characters and their lifestyle can be particularly interesting. While their sexuality and relationships are not the main plot of the story, they still are part of it. For example, Nick’s exploration of his feelings. It was really interesting for me to read about asexuality, polyamory and other types of relationships. You definitely might learn a few things.
First of all, it should be noted that this is the third instalment of a series. This is something I did not know when I started reading the book, so I was pretty lost at some points in the story. Definitely, I recommend reading the first instalments before this one. Without that prior knowledge, the relationship between the characters can be confusing at some point.
Raith, one of four men involved in a polyamorous quad, is accused of forgery. Mike, Ross and Phil, the other three members of the quad, get involved in the investigation to help Raith. Nick Seabrooke is the detective charged with investigating the case, however, he cannot help but become more and more involved with the quad. The art case is intriguing and surprising at times, there are a few surprises I did not see coming. The characters and their lifestyle can be particularly interesting. While their sexuality and relationships are not the main plot of the story, they still are part of it. For example, Nick’s exploration of his feelings. It was really interesting for me to read about asexuality, polyamory and other types of relationships. You definitely might learn a few things.
May 2, 2019
This is the third in the County Durham Quad series. This can be read as a standalone story as context and historical information are revealed at relevant points throughout. Having said that, it takes a while to get used to the individuals and their personalities. The characterisation is interesting but leans very heavily on roles and relationships. It is difficult to gain affinity with any individual as all is reflected back to the polyamorous relationship. Much is made of this throughout as if there was something special about it. I suppose a strong and highly visible group such as this in that part of the world would still be a talking point and certainly is not common, but it is unclear why there is something intrinsically unusual about it from a male perspective.
Locations in County Durham are mentioned, but the hub of the story is a location that could be anywhere in rural England. Emphasis is made on the sense of village social culture that has more historical relevance than currency and yet provides a bucolic feel to the story. This is offset by outside factors that impinge on the tranquility and stability of the quad and their environs. These factors are inevitably curious, intrusive and hurtful to the members of the quad. However, more could have been made of the outside/otherness to highlight its invasiveness.
The plot is interesting and is easy to follow, but the jumps in the timeline and the ease with which moments of tension are resolved can mean that there is a loss of focus or credibiilty. More could have been explained about art and money laundering, this was lightly done and the tension and characters associated with it were quite limited. Secondary characters are mostly transitory and are not developed in any depth. The exception to this is the asexual character who uses his association with the case to be around more than he needs to be. As this is another area of sexuality it is explored and compared to the quad. This examination of sexuality can become a little wearing after a while as the author chews over every aspect relevant to the story. Ultimately it all comes to nothing and the reader is left to wonder why that particular storyline was introduced at all.
There is very little sex in the novel. Where it is introduced the description is largely superficial and could easily have been a fade to black. Far more is made of the dynamic within the quad in terms of its operation and maintenance.
The story ends quite anti-climactically with a reinforcement of the quad and their comfort together, other considerations are finessed away. It is unusual, in that if the reader reflects on the critical actions in the plot, it should have been tenser than it actually was.
Locations in County Durham are mentioned, but the hub of the story is a location that could be anywhere in rural England. Emphasis is made on the sense of village social culture that has more historical relevance than currency and yet provides a bucolic feel to the story. This is offset by outside factors that impinge on the tranquility and stability of the quad and their environs. These factors are inevitably curious, intrusive and hurtful to the members of the quad. However, more could have been made of the outside/otherness to highlight its invasiveness.
The plot is interesting and is easy to follow, but the jumps in the timeline and the ease with which moments of tension are resolved can mean that there is a loss of focus or credibiilty. More could have been explained about art and money laundering, this was lightly done and the tension and characters associated with it were quite limited. Secondary characters are mostly transitory and are not developed in any depth. The exception to this is the asexual character who uses his association with the case to be around more than he needs to be. As this is another area of sexuality it is explored and compared to the quad. This examination of sexuality can become a little wearing after a while as the author chews over every aspect relevant to the story. Ultimately it all comes to nothing and the reader is left to wonder why that particular storyline was introduced at all.
There is very little sex in the novel. Where it is introduced the description is largely superficial and could easily have been a fade to black. Far more is made of the dynamic within the quad in terms of its operation and maintenance.
The story ends quite anti-climactically with a reinforcement of the quad and their comfort together, other considerations are finessed away. It is unusual, in that if the reader reflects on the critical actions in the plot, it should have been tenser than it actually was.
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