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Serial Investigations #3
Blood Alcohol
A horrific torture case with a ticking clock.
All he can see is the bottle.
Private detectives Ram and Will thought they’d wrapped everything up when they found Ray Riley’s body in Sevenoaks. But it turns out that things aren’t what they seemed – and Riley may be the latest victim of a torture-happy murderous duo.
All he can see is the bottle.
Private detectives Ram and Will thought they’d wrapped everything up when they found Ray Riley’s body in Sevenoaks. But it turns out that things aren’t what they seemed – and Riley may be the latest victim of a torture-happy murderous duo.
For the second time, Serial Investigations London are called in to assist as civilian consultants with DI Alex Heath’s team at the Met – but they have their own personal problems getting in the way of clear thinking.
Will has something to get off his chest, and it’s related to that kiss they shared – the one they both tried to forget. But Ram can’t stop drinking to push away the confusion, and this time he’s going to land himself in more trouble than ever before.
Can they get over their issues for long enough to stop another murder – or even keep themselves alive?
If you’re a fan of BBC’s Luther, Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole, or sharply witty gay men, you’ll love Serial Investigations. Continue the action with Blood Evidence, the second book in a series you won’t dare to put down.
Enter the minds of troubled yet brilliant detectives as they search for a murdering couple, while their own demons fight for control.
178 pages, ebook
First published November 30, 2019
22 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 28, 2020
*I received a copy of this novel for free in exchange for an honest review*
When Will and Ram are brought in by the met police to consult on the murders of Ray Riley and Simon Shystone from the previous novel, they are soon drawn into a much bigger case than either of them expected.
Ram’s drinking is getting more and more out of control and puts him in serious danger. It also blinds him somewhat to just how unwell Will is becoming. The two of them are trying to move on from ‘that kiss’ between them however forgetting about it proves more difficult than either of them could imagine.
As with the first two books in the series, I really enjoyed reading Blood Alcohol. This time the murder mystery continued from the previous book and they are also working a possible infidelity case alongside it. When events spiral out of their control, Will and Ram finally talk about San Francisco which has only been hinted about up until now. One of my favourite scenes in the novel was when Ram wakes up to the consequences of his latest night out and he finally admits he has a problem. From Will’s reaction and how he handles it you can see just how much they care for each other.
I also love how Will’s friendship with Harry is developing. Ram painted a rather negative picture of Harry but he’s actually a genuinely sweet and nice guy who really cares about Will. I look forward to seeing more of Harry in future novels in the series.
Their relationship progresses somewhat in Blood Alcohol although from how the novel ends I have a feeling it’s just going to lead to more regrets and hurt.
The two-novel mystery wraps up at the end as well however it uncovers more questions than answers. I really want to know what kind of game the mysterious Coda is playing and I’m really looking forward to reading book 4.
When Will and Ram are brought in by the met police to consult on the murders of Ray Riley and Simon Shystone from the previous novel, they are soon drawn into a much bigger case than either of them expected.
Ram’s drinking is getting more and more out of control and puts him in serious danger. It also blinds him somewhat to just how unwell Will is becoming. The two of them are trying to move on from ‘that kiss’ between them however forgetting about it proves more difficult than either of them could imagine.
As with the first two books in the series, I really enjoyed reading Blood Alcohol. This time the murder mystery continued from the previous book and they are also working a possible infidelity case alongside it. When events spiral out of their control, Will and Ram finally talk about San Francisco which has only been hinted about up until now. One of my favourite scenes in the novel was when Ram wakes up to the consequences of his latest night out and he finally admits he has a problem. From Will’s reaction and how he handles it you can see just how much they care for each other.
I also love how Will’s friendship with Harry is developing. Ram painted a rather negative picture of Harry but he’s actually a genuinely sweet and nice guy who really cares about Will. I look forward to seeing more of Harry in future novels in the series.
Their relationship progresses somewhat in Blood Alcohol although from how the novel ends I have a feeling it’s just going to lead to more regrets and hurt.
The two-novel mystery wraps up at the end as well however it uncovers more questions than answers. I really want to know what kind of game the mysterious Coda is playing and I’m really looking forward to reading book 4.
July 2, 2020
this series is interesting.. it is fast paced and a quick read for me.. it keeps my attention and on the edge of my chair curious to know what is happening next. i really like the characters and their stories.. very good and cant wait to read the next one
June 19, 2020
I’ve genuinely been sitting here staring at my computer trying to figure out where to even begin with this review for ages. The Serial Investigations series has been up and down for me from the start. There are things I do really like about Ms. D'Averc’s crime novels. I’ve enjoyed parts of the mystery and cases. I’ve laughed at some of the banter between the characters. It’s also been nice getting to know the characters a little better over time. But, there are things throughout that made me question the author’s writing style, things that don’t make sense, come across as questionable, or just seem rushed.
In Blood Alcohol, we follow Will and Ram as they work on two different cases. The first is for their PI business. They were hired to see if the wife of a new client is cheating. Alongside that, DI Alex calls them in as civilian consultants for the Ray Riley and Simon Shystone cases. Those are the two cases we learn about in book two when Ram and Will helped to solve the murder of Isabelle Rupert. Blood Alcohol carries on with the discovery of the two men’s bodies at the end of Blood Evidence.
The overall plot for book three was so-so in my opinion. I was caught up in the mystery of Ray and Simon’s deaths. Add in the horrendous treatment of the sex workers that came forward and I was hooked on the mystery. All of the detailed information that Jodie Reid gives in her interview had me flipping pages just to see what she went through. I wound up really wanting to know who the self-proclaimed Bonnie and Clyde were because they needed to be stopped.
I’d say one thing, I would have loved more gritty details in the women’s interviews. If an author is going to write a crime focused novel with awful things happening to people, I’d like the author to fully commit. It almost seemed like Ms. D'Averc skated over a lot of the gruesome details because she was afraid it would be offensive or too dark. I can understand her not wanting to take the book in a grievous direction. But, Ms. D’Averc is toying with a grisly genre writing crime/mystery. The main focus of the book is the crime/mystery. I just wish that she would have committed.
Now, I hate to say it, but I’m about to go on a bit of a rant in regards to Will and Ram’s burgeoning relationship. There will be some spoilers here, so if you don’t want to know what happens, please don’t read the following spoiler/rest of this paragraph.
Good news though, folks. We finally find out what the San Francisco secret is that’s been looming over their heads. I’m not going to spoil it, but I will say that it’s pretty much what I expected. I’m sure I’m not the only one able to put the details together enough to guestimate what happened. So yeah, that is a plus for book three.
My final opinion is Blood Alcohol fell flat for me. The mystery needed to be told in more depth. Bonnie and Clyde should have had more page time. They were the ‘big bads’ of the book and yet they didn’t have much of a presence. The relationship development for Will and Ram was a bunch of crap. There was nothing, nothing, nothing, and then, BAM, there’s something. But, that something wasn’t what you were expecting exactly. It drove me crazy.
Before recommending this novel to anyone I would have to be brutally honest with them. I would say if they are looking for a book or series with a hot relationship between two badass PIs, this isn’t the right book or series for them. I would let them know that the mystery/crime should have been fleshed out more. That part of the book isn’t horrible, but it’s not great either. If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, please do give it a go. So many other reviewers are saying this series is great, so maybe it’s just me.
In Blood Alcohol, we follow Will and Ram as they work on two different cases. The first is for their PI business. They were hired to see if the wife of a new client is cheating. Alongside that, DI Alex calls them in as civilian consultants for the Ray Riley and Simon Shystone cases. Those are the two cases we learn about in book two when Ram and Will helped to solve the murder of Isabelle Rupert. Blood Alcohol carries on with the discovery of the two men’s bodies at the end of Blood Evidence.
The overall plot for book three was so-so in my opinion. I was caught up in the mystery of Ray and Simon’s deaths. Add in the horrendous treatment of the sex workers that came forward and I was hooked on the mystery. All of the detailed information that Jodie Reid gives in her interview had me flipping pages just to see what she went through. I wound up really wanting to know who the self-proclaimed Bonnie and Clyde were because they needed to be stopped.
I’d say one thing, I would have loved more gritty details in the women’s interviews. If an author is going to write a crime focused novel with awful things happening to people, I’d like the author to fully commit. It almost seemed like Ms. D'Averc skated over a lot of the gruesome details because she was afraid it would be offensive or too dark. I can understand her not wanting to take the book in a grievous direction. But, Ms. D’Averc is toying with a grisly genre writing crime/mystery. The main focus of the book is the crime/mystery. I just wish that she would have committed.
Now, I hate to say it, but I’m about to go on a bit of a rant in regards to Will and Ram’s burgeoning relationship. There will be some spoilers here, so if you don’t want to know what happens, please don’t read the following spoiler/rest of this paragraph.
Good news though, folks. We finally find out what the San Francisco secret is that’s been looming over their heads. I’m not going to spoil it, but I will say that it’s pretty much what I expected. I’m sure I’m not the only one able to put the details together enough to guestimate what happened. So yeah, that is a plus for book three.
My final opinion is Blood Alcohol fell flat for me. The mystery needed to be told in more depth. Bonnie and Clyde should have had more page time. They were the ‘big bads’ of the book and yet they didn’t have much of a presence. The relationship development for Will and Ram was a bunch of crap. There was nothing, nothing, nothing, and then, BAM, there’s something. But, that something wasn’t what you were expecting exactly. It drove me crazy.
Before recommending this novel to anyone I would have to be brutally honest with them. I would say if they are looking for a book or series with a hot relationship between two badass PIs, this isn’t the right book or series for them. I would let them know that the mystery/crime should have been fleshed out more. That part of the book isn’t horrible, but it’s not great either. If it sounds like something you’d enjoy, please do give it a go. So many other reviewers are saying this series is great, so maybe it’s just me.
March 11, 2023
I am still on the fence about this series. I'm hoping for more from the next book.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
July 2, 2020
Serial Investigations London can finally close its last case. But is it really possible? It turns out that the police have found new evidence that Ray Riley was tortured before his death. The trail leads to another shocking, monstrous discoveries indicating unequivocally that a madman or even two madmen are somewhere close looking for their next victim. Serial Investigations London and the police must join forces and stop the duo of cold-blooded killers. Unfortunately, the investigation is not the only thing Will and Ram must deal with, as their personal problems are getting more and more out of hand.
In "Blood Alcohol", the third volume in "Serial Investigations" series, from the very beginning we are able to see that the main characters take their first, huge emotional step forward and slowly start to change significantly, which indicates that since the first volume they have come a long way to get to this place. That's definitely one small step for mankind, but one giant leap for a man, as coming out is one of the significant changes I've mentioned above. I think it is worth noting that in her novel, Rhiannon D'Averc remains faithful to, let's call it, stages of coming out, gradual acceptance of one's sexuality, which in a perfect way emphasises Will's character and personality. His coming out begins with accepting himself, saying these important words about his sexuality out loud for the first time, sharing the secret with this first person, and then gradually with others. I really liked the fact that the manner in which Will starts to open up to his sexuality tells us a lot about him and is the perfect next stage in building this character.
Jealousy, which in this novel is a form of internal evolution within one of the characters, is another important change worthy of our attention. To be honest, the fact that Ram is jealous of his friend is the first deep, very emotional feeling over which the man has no power, which he doesn't control, and that is a clear evidence that Ram, despite his bravado, feels insecure about his relationship with Will. I think that in this case it is not important whether Ram's jealousy is related to love or friendship. In both cases we have the same feeling, which has the same source and arouses the same emotions in a person. Jealousy is something very personal and it has a great psychological significance, which is why I'm glad that the author gave us some insight into Ram's psyche, because he is undoubtedly the most closed character in the series. The author doesn't change and doesn't weaken him, but in a manner fully consistent with her way of building this character gives him a chance to develop and slowly change.
Characters' development and the way not only they, but also their relationship changes are not the only advantages of "Blood Alcohol". After all, it's a powerful, very interesting story and the case Ram and Will have to solve is quite shocking. The two previous parts of the series were really good and the plot kept us in suspense, but now everything seems to be even better, stronger, deeper, more dangerous. We can say that the story reaches its higher level and now, even more strongly than before, we want to read this book at one sitting, because it is almost impossible to take a break. The success of the story the author tells us in this volume consists of many factors. Another one of them is the fact that the San Francisco secret is finally revealed, which until now has been infuriating, because I didn't know any details concerning the events, as to the characters it was a taboo topic. In short, there is a lot going on in "Blood Alcohol" and that's a huge advantage of this book.
In the third volume in the series, I also liked the fact that Will and Ram are more open to other people than before. On the one hand, we see the development of the friendship between Will and Harry, who to some extent managed to pull Will out of his comfort zone and as a friend gives him all the things Ram in his current state can't give. On the other hand, the professional one, we finally have the opportunity to take a closer look at the relations of our two main characters with Alex, and consequently also with his investigation group. From the first volume we know that looking at Alex our boys see their unfulfilled dreams, aspirations, the future, which they themselves had rejected. However, this situation doesn't change the fact that to some extent they are still friends and the opportunity to take a look at their friendship's dynamics was a very interesting experience, as it made me realize how much Ram and Will had sacrificed when going to San Francisco and lost because of the things that had happened there.
In summary, "Blood Alcohol" is a really good part in "Serial Investigations" series and an excellent novel in itself. The author showed us that she still can amaze us, has a lot to offer and prove to us, while her characters are only at the beginning of their difficult journey towards an uncertain future. This suspenseful novel is undoubtedly worth recommending.
_______________________
Serial Investigations London zamknęło swoją ostatnią sprawę, ale czy aby na pewno? Okazuje się, że policja odnalazła nowe ślady wskazujące na to, że Ray Riley przed śmiercią był torturowany. Trop prowadzi do kolejnych szokujących, potwornych odkryć wskazujących jednoznacznie na to, że po okolicy krąży szaleniec, a nawet dwójka szaleńców. Serial Investigations London oraz policja muszą połączyć siły i powstrzymać parę zimnokrwistych morderców. Niestety prowadzone przez nich śledztwo to nie jedyna rzecz, która zaprząta myśli Willa i Rama, których problemy osobiste wymykają się coraz bardziej spod kontroli.
W „Blood Alcohol”, trzecim tomie „Serial Investigations”, już od pierwszych stron widzimy jak powieść rusza zdecydowanie do przodu pod względem emocjonalnym, a w głównych bohaterach dostrzegamy pierwsze zdecydowane zmiany, które wskazują na drogę jaką przeszli od pierwszego tomu do teraz. Jest to może mały krok dla ludzkości, ale zdecydowanie wielki dla człowieka, jako że jedną ze wspomnianych przeze mnie zmian jest coming out. Myślę, że wartym uwagi jest fakt, iż w swojej powieści Rhiannon D'Averc pozostaje wierna pewnego rodzaju stadiom coming outu, stopniowemu dochodzeniu do pełnej otwartości, co naprawdę doskonale podkreśla charakter i osobowość Willa. Jego coming out rozpoczyna się od zaakceptowania siebie, pierwszego wypowiedzenia tych tak ważnych słów na głos, podzielenia się tajemnicą z pierwszą osobą, a następnie stopniowo z innymi. Naprawdę spodobało mi się to, że sposób w jaki Will zaczyna otwierać się na swoją seksualność dodatkowo mówi nam wiele o nim samym i stanowi doskonały kolejny etap budowy tej postaci.
Kolejną wartą naszej uwagi zmianą jaka zachodzi w jednym z bohaterów, a która jest związana z jego wewnętrzną ewolucją jest zazdrość. Odczuwana przez Rama zazdrość o przyjaciela stanowi tak naprawdę pierwsze głębokie, bardzo emocjonalne uczucie, na które mężczyzna nie ma wpływu, nad którym nie panuje, a które jest dowodem na to, że Ram mimo całej swojej brawury również odczuwa niepewność w temacie swoich relacji z Willem. Uważam, że w tym wypadku nie jest istotne czy zazdrość Rama wiąże się z miłością, czy z przyjaźnią. I w jednym i drugi przypadku mamy do czynienia z takim samym uczuciem, które ma takie samo źródło i budzi w człowieku takie same emocje. Zazdrość jest czymś bardzo osobistym, posiadającym psychologiczny ciężar, dlatego cieszę się, że autorka właśnie poprzez nią dała nam pewien wgląd w psychikę Rama, który jest niewątpliwie najbardziej zamkniętym bohaterem serii. Autorka nie zmienia i nie zmiękcza go na siłę, ale w sposób w pełni zgodny z obraną przez nią drogą budowy tej postaci pozwala mu się rozwijać i powoli zmieniać.
„Blood Alcohol” to jednak nie tylko ewolucja bohaterów i zmiany jakie zachodzą nie tylko w nich, ale także ich relacjach. To również mocna, bardzo interesująca historia, wstrząsająca sprawa, którą Ram i Will muszą rozwiązać. Dwie poprzednie części serii były naprawdę dobre, a fabuła trzymała w napięciu, jednak teraz wszystko wydaje się być jeszcze lepsze, mocniejsze, głębsze, bardziej niebezpieczne. Możemy powiedzieć, że fabuła osiąga wyższy poziom i teraz jeszcze silniej niż do tej pory mamy ochotę przeczytać tę powieść za jednym posiedzeniem, ponieważ oderwanie się od niej jest niemal niemożliwe. Na sukces opowiedzianej w tym tomie historii składa się bardzo wiele czynników, jak chociażby fakt, że w końcu ujawniona zostaje tajemnica z San Francisco, która do tej pory działała na mnie niczym płachta na byka, ponieważ nie znałam szczegółów ukrywanych przez bohaterów wydarzeń. Mówiąc krótko, w „Blood Alcohol” wiele się dzieje, a to ogromna zaleta.
W trzecim tomie serii spodobało mi się również to, że Will i Ram muszą bardziej otworzyć się na innych ludzi. Z jednej strony widzimy bowiem jak rozwija się przyjaźń Willa i Harry’ego, który w pewnym stopniu zdołał wyciągnąć Willa z jego strefy komfortu i oferuje mu to, czego Ram w swoim obecnym stanie nie może mu dać. Tymczasem z drugiej strony, tej zawodowej, w końcu mamy okazję przyjrzeć się bliżej relacjom dwójki naszych głównych bohaterów z Alexem, a w konsekwencji także z jego grupą dochodzeniową. Wiemy bowiem już od pierwszego tomu, że nasi chłopcy dostrzegają w Alexie swoje niespełnione marzenia, aspiracje, przyszłość, którą sami odrzucili. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, iż w pewnym stopniu nadal się przyjaźnią i możliwość rzucenia okiem na dynamikę tej trójki była bardzo interesującym doświadczeniem. Uświadomiło mi to bowiem, jak wiele Ram i Will poświęcili wyruszając do San Francisco i wiele stracili z powodu wydarzeń, jakie miały tam miejsce.
Podsumowując, „Blood Alcohol” to naprawdę dobra cześć serii oraz doskonała powieść sama w sobie. Autorka pokazała nam, że nie postawiła jeszcze kropki nad i, nadal ma nam wiele do zaoferowania i udowodnienia, a jej bohaterowie dopiero rozpoczynają swoją niełatwą drogę ku niepewnej przyszłości. Jest to niewątpliwie trzymająca w napięciu powieść godna polecenia.
In "Blood Alcohol", the third volume in "Serial Investigations" series, from the very beginning we are able to see that the main characters take their first, huge emotional step forward and slowly start to change significantly, which indicates that since the first volume they have come a long way to get to this place. That's definitely one small step for mankind, but one giant leap for a man, as coming out is one of the significant changes I've mentioned above. I think it is worth noting that in her novel, Rhiannon D'Averc remains faithful to, let's call it, stages of coming out, gradual acceptance of one's sexuality, which in a perfect way emphasises Will's character and personality. His coming out begins with accepting himself, saying these important words about his sexuality out loud for the first time, sharing the secret with this first person, and then gradually with others. I really liked the fact that the manner in which Will starts to open up to his sexuality tells us a lot about him and is the perfect next stage in building this character.
Jealousy, which in this novel is a form of internal evolution within one of the characters, is another important change worthy of our attention. To be honest, the fact that Ram is jealous of his friend is the first deep, very emotional feeling over which the man has no power, which he doesn't control, and that is a clear evidence that Ram, despite his bravado, feels insecure about his relationship with Will. I think that in this case it is not important whether Ram's jealousy is related to love or friendship. In both cases we have the same feeling, which has the same source and arouses the same emotions in a person. Jealousy is something very personal and it has a great psychological significance, which is why I'm glad that the author gave us some insight into Ram's psyche, because he is undoubtedly the most closed character in the series. The author doesn't change and doesn't weaken him, but in a manner fully consistent with her way of building this character gives him a chance to develop and slowly change.
Characters' development and the way not only they, but also their relationship changes are not the only advantages of "Blood Alcohol". After all, it's a powerful, very interesting story and the case Ram and Will have to solve is quite shocking. The two previous parts of the series were really good and the plot kept us in suspense, but now everything seems to be even better, stronger, deeper, more dangerous. We can say that the story reaches its higher level and now, even more strongly than before, we want to read this book at one sitting, because it is almost impossible to take a break. The success of the story the author tells us in this volume consists of many factors. Another one of them is the fact that the San Francisco secret is finally revealed, which until now has been infuriating, because I didn't know any details concerning the events, as to the characters it was a taboo topic. In short, there is a lot going on in "Blood Alcohol" and that's a huge advantage of this book.
In the third volume in the series, I also liked the fact that Will and Ram are more open to other people than before. On the one hand, we see the development of the friendship between Will and Harry, who to some extent managed to pull Will out of his comfort zone and as a friend gives him all the things Ram in his current state can't give. On the other hand, the professional one, we finally have the opportunity to take a closer look at the relations of our two main characters with Alex, and consequently also with his investigation group. From the first volume we know that looking at Alex our boys see their unfulfilled dreams, aspirations, the future, which they themselves had rejected. However, this situation doesn't change the fact that to some extent they are still friends and the opportunity to take a look at their friendship's dynamics was a very interesting experience, as it made me realize how much Ram and Will had sacrificed when going to San Francisco and lost because of the things that had happened there.
In summary, "Blood Alcohol" is a really good part in "Serial Investigations" series and an excellent novel in itself. The author showed us that she still can amaze us, has a lot to offer and prove to us, while her characters are only at the beginning of their difficult journey towards an uncertain future. This suspenseful novel is undoubtedly worth recommending.
_______________________
Serial Investigations London zamknęło swoją ostatnią sprawę, ale czy aby na pewno? Okazuje się, że policja odnalazła nowe ślady wskazujące na to, że Ray Riley przed śmiercią był torturowany. Trop prowadzi do kolejnych szokujących, potwornych odkryć wskazujących jednoznacznie na to, że po okolicy krąży szaleniec, a nawet dwójka szaleńców. Serial Investigations London oraz policja muszą połączyć siły i powstrzymać parę zimnokrwistych morderców. Niestety prowadzone przez nich śledztwo to nie jedyna rzecz, która zaprząta myśli Willa i Rama, których problemy osobiste wymykają się coraz bardziej spod kontroli.
W „Blood Alcohol”, trzecim tomie „Serial Investigations”, już od pierwszych stron widzimy jak powieść rusza zdecydowanie do przodu pod względem emocjonalnym, a w głównych bohaterach dostrzegamy pierwsze zdecydowane zmiany, które wskazują na drogę jaką przeszli od pierwszego tomu do teraz. Jest to może mały krok dla ludzkości, ale zdecydowanie wielki dla człowieka, jako że jedną ze wspomnianych przeze mnie zmian jest coming out. Myślę, że wartym uwagi jest fakt, iż w swojej powieści Rhiannon D'Averc pozostaje wierna pewnego rodzaju stadiom coming outu, stopniowemu dochodzeniu do pełnej otwartości, co naprawdę doskonale podkreśla charakter i osobowość Willa. Jego coming out rozpoczyna się od zaakceptowania siebie, pierwszego wypowiedzenia tych tak ważnych słów na głos, podzielenia się tajemnicą z pierwszą osobą, a następnie stopniowo z innymi. Naprawdę spodobało mi się to, że sposób w jaki Will zaczyna otwierać się na swoją seksualność dodatkowo mówi nam wiele o nim samym i stanowi doskonały kolejny etap budowy tej postaci.
Kolejną wartą naszej uwagi zmianą jaka zachodzi w jednym z bohaterów, a która jest związana z jego wewnętrzną ewolucją jest zazdrość. Odczuwana przez Rama zazdrość o przyjaciela stanowi tak naprawdę pierwsze głębokie, bardzo emocjonalne uczucie, na które mężczyzna nie ma wpływu, nad którym nie panuje, a które jest dowodem na to, że Ram mimo całej swojej brawury również odczuwa niepewność w temacie swoich relacji z Willem. Uważam, że w tym wypadku nie jest istotne czy zazdrość Rama wiąże się z miłością, czy z przyjaźnią. I w jednym i drugi przypadku mamy do czynienia z takim samym uczuciem, które ma takie samo źródło i budzi w człowieku takie same emocje. Zazdrość jest czymś bardzo osobistym, posiadającym psychologiczny ciężar, dlatego cieszę się, że autorka właśnie poprzez nią dała nam pewien wgląd w psychikę Rama, który jest niewątpliwie najbardziej zamkniętym bohaterem serii. Autorka nie zmienia i nie zmiękcza go na siłę, ale w sposób w pełni zgodny z obraną przez nią drogą budowy tej postaci pozwala mu się rozwijać i powoli zmieniać.
„Blood Alcohol” to jednak nie tylko ewolucja bohaterów i zmiany jakie zachodzą nie tylko w nich, ale także ich relacjach. To również mocna, bardzo interesująca historia, wstrząsająca sprawa, którą Ram i Will muszą rozwiązać. Dwie poprzednie części serii były naprawdę dobre, a fabuła trzymała w napięciu, jednak teraz wszystko wydaje się być jeszcze lepsze, mocniejsze, głębsze, bardziej niebezpieczne. Możemy powiedzieć, że fabuła osiąga wyższy poziom i teraz jeszcze silniej niż do tej pory mamy ochotę przeczytać tę powieść za jednym posiedzeniem, ponieważ oderwanie się od niej jest niemal niemożliwe. Na sukces opowiedzianej w tym tomie historii składa się bardzo wiele czynników, jak chociażby fakt, że w końcu ujawniona zostaje tajemnica z San Francisco, która do tej pory działała na mnie niczym płachta na byka, ponieważ nie znałam szczegółów ukrywanych przez bohaterów wydarzeń. Mówiąc krótko, w „Blood Alcohol” wiele się dzieje, a to ogromna zaleta.
W trzecim tomie serii spodobało mi się również to, że Will i Ram muszą bardziej otworzyć się na innych ludzi. Z jednej strony widzimy bowiem jak rozwija się przyjaźń Willa i Harry’ego, który w pewnym stopniu zdołał wyciągnąć Willa z jego strefy komfortu i oferuje mu to, czego Ram w swoim obecnym stanie nie może mu dać. Tymczasem z drugiej strony, tej zawodowej, w końcu mamy okazję przyjrzeć się bliżej relacjom dwójki naszych głównych bohaterów z Alexem, a w konsekwencji także z jego grupą dochodzeniową. Wiemy bowiem już od pierwszego tomu, że nasi chłopcy dostrzegają w Alexie swoje niespełnione marzenia, aspiracje, przyszłość, którą sami odrzucili. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, iż w pewnym stopniu nadal się przyjaźnią i możliwość rzucenia okiem na dynamikę tej trójki była bardzo interesującym doświadczeniem. Uświadomiło mi to bowiem, jak wiele Ram i Will poświęcili wyruszając do San Francisco i wiele stracili z powodu wydarzeń, jakie miały tam miejsce.
Podsumowując, „Blood Alcohol” to naprawdę dobra cześć serii oraz doskonała powieść sama w sobie. Autorka pokazała nam, że nie postawiła jeszcze kropki nad i, nadal ma nam wiele do zaoferowania i udowodnienia, a jej bohaterowie dopiero rozpoczynają swoją niełatwą drogę ku niepewnej przyszłości. Jest to niewątpliwie trzymająca w napięciu powieść godna polecenia.
July 11, 2020
Before I get into this, I need to warn you. Of all I've read of this series so far, I think this is the worst as far as triggers. The serial killers, rape, abuse, torture and so much more to the victims they have. It gets discussed in detail so please be aware if this is a problem for you.
For Will and Ram, things are getting a bit better for them. In some ways. They are getting recognition to get the cases they need, but what's going on with them is getting worse. Ram's alcoholic tendencies are getting worse by the minute and Will is so thin, everyone is afraid he'd snap in two if they touched him. But one good point for Will, is the secret he has carried for so long, has finally come out. Not to everyone, but to his friend Henry, which has Ram in an uproar,and to Ram himself. But because of Ram coming to the wrong conclusion, he ends up in the hospital for drinking too much and almost dying. And Will puts his foot down. It's finally time to start dealing with San Francisco and what happened. And finally time for Ram to admit he's an alcoholic that needs help. But before they can move forward in that part of their lives, an undercover cop has been taken by the serial killer and everyone is on high alert to find her. Ram and Will are the ones that do, but their excuse isn't working and they now realize, they aren't possibly getting out alive.
I hate that what happened to these boys had caused such lasting effects on them. I hate that it took such a drastic thing to happen to get Will to put his foot down and force Ram to realize what he is. But I'm happy Will is finding his way. He's finding out who he really is and a way to be who that person is. And he's finding it's time to stop letting the past affect who they are. Yes, they should be punished for what happened and maybe what they are going through is their punishment. But it wasn't a clear cut and dried thing and both are miserable that they were manipulated. What they don't realize, is they still are. There is still a behind the scenes player in this 'game' and it's putting Ram and Will through more horror. But at least they have acknowledged their part and can maybe now start to make it right and somewhat heal. It will never be ok. And to be honest, I have a bad feeling it's going to get much much worse. But at least some things are clearing the air and they know they have each other, no matter what.
This is getting really interesting. I'm waiting to see who this behind the scenes player is and what his involvement has been all along. It's been a good story in part too, because Ran and Will are finally dealing. But because of their lines of work, it isn't always easy. I'm anxious to see what's going to happen next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
For Will and Ram, things are getting a bit better for them. In some ways. They are getting recognition to get the cases they need, but what's going on with them is getting worse. Ram's alcoholic tendencies are getting worse by the minute and Will is so thin, everyone is afraid he'd snap in two if they touched him. But one good point for Will, is the secret he has carried for so long, has finally come out. Not to everyone, but to his friend Henry, which has Ram in an uproar,and to Ram himself. But because of Ram coming to the wrong conclusion, he ends up in the hospital for drinking too much and almost dying. And Will puts his foot down. It's finally time to start dealing with San Francisco and what happened. And finally time for Ram to admit he's an alcoholic that needs help. But before they can move forward in that part of their lives, an undercover cop has been taken by the serial killer and everyone is on high alert to find her. Ram and Will are the ones that do, but their excuse isn't working and they now realize, they aren't possibly getting out alive.
I hate that what happened to these boys had caused such lasting effects on them. I hate that it took such a drastic thing to happen to get Will to put his foot down and force Ram to realize what he is. But I'm happy Will is finding his way. He's finding out who he really is and a way to be who that person is. And he's finding it's time to stop letting the past affect who they are. Yes, they should be punished for what happened and maybe what they are going through is their punishment. But it wasn't a clear cut and dried thing and both are miserable that they were manipulated. What they don't realize, is they still are. There is still a behind the scenes player in this 'game' and it's putting Ram and Will through more horror. But at least they have acknowledged their part and can maybe now start to make it right and somewhat heal. It will never be ok. And to be honest, I have a bad feeling it's going to get much much worse. But at least some things are clearing the air and they know they have each other, no matter what.
This is getting really interesting. I'm waiting to see who this behind the scenes player is and what his involvement has been all along. It's been a good story in part too, because Ran and Will are finally dealing. But because of their lines of work, it isn't always easy. I'm anxious to see what's going to happen next.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
June 21, 2020
Will and Ram are drawn to their next case like wasps to dead meat. A serial killer couple going by the names of Bonnie and Clyde. Their relationship hasn’t improved since “the kiss”. They manage to solve the mystery even with their problems and distractions.
We discover what San Francisco was about and it didn’t make me like the men any better.
I don’t need sex to see a book as good and I was ok with that till the end. It was very disappointing.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
We discover what San Francisco was about and it didn’t make me like the men any better.
I don’t need sex to see a book as good and I was ok with that till the end. It was very disappointing.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
March 12, 2023
3.5 stars. Will seems to be slowly starting to learn something about himself and Ram has now hopefully hit the very bottom, they are very painful characters to experience. Very painful but very interesting. I do enjoy the way that they are able to think in investigations. The person behind the crimes is intriguing.
December 4, 2019
The series continues! What a cracking read and much enjoyed after reading the first two in the series.
I love the voices of the detectives! And I love how the author is not waiting long between releasing books in the series, I hate long wait between stories when I love the characters.
I love the voices of the detectives! And I love how the author is not waiting long between releasing books in the series, I hate long wait between stories when I love the characters.
May 30, 2023
I changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars
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May 30, 2023I really like the series, but
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