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Borealis: Without a Compass #4
Codirection
They killed a girl to keep their secrets. They won’t stop there.
A new home, a fresh start, a chance to do things right this time—and Shaw and North are determined to make it work. But the night of their housewarming party, things don’t go as planned. A reporter arrives, wanting to talk to North about his ex-husband, his father, and a criminal syndicate. No sooner have they gotten rid of her than another unwanted guest appears: a street boy named Nik, whom Shaw met months before, begging them to help him find his missing friend, Malorie.
Retracing Malorie’s steps, North and Shaw learn about the dangerous demimonde of runaway teenagers. Their investigation takes them into the path of men and women who have learned to profit off the suffering and abandonment of children: shelters, clinics, labor brokers, and pimps.
Meanwhile, North’s Uncle Ronnie is set on revenge, and his target this time is North’s father. As North struggles to track down Ronnie and put an end to the danger, he finds himself considering a deal with the devil, and the offer might be too good to pass up.
When North and Shaw find Malorie’s body, evidence suggests she was murdered—and that her death is connected in some way with a truck stop halfway across the state. But as they draw closer to the truth, the danger grows. The people who killed Malorie have the Borealis detectives in their sights, and North and Shaw must race to save their own lives before the killers can strike again.
A new home, a fresh start, a chance to do things right this time—and Shaw and North are determined to make it work. But the night of their housewarming party, things don’t go as planned. A reporter arrives, wanting to talk to North about his ex-husband, his father, and a criminal syndicate. No sooner have they gotten rid of her than another unwanted guest appears: a street boy named Nik, whom Shaw met months before, begging them to help him find his missing friend, Malorie.
Retracing Malorie’s steps, North and Shaw learn about the dangerous demimonde of runaway teenagers. Their investigation takes them into the path of men and women who have learned to profit off the suffering and abandonment of children: shelters, clinics, labor brokers, and pimps.
Meanwhile, North’s Uncle Ronnie is set on revenge, and his target this time is North’s father. As North struggles to track down Ronnie and put an end to the danger, he finds himself considering a deal with the devil, and the offer might be too good to pass up.
When North and Shaw find Malorie’s body, evidence suggests she was murdered—and that her death is connected in some way with a truck stop halfway across the state. But as they draw closer to the truth, the danger grows. The people who killed Malorie have the Borealis detectives in their sights, and North and Shaw must race to save their own lives before the killers can strike again.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2021
28 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
128 books1,748 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
March 20, 2022
Audiobook - 4 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
Highlight of the book... Squeee Hazard.
I am torn about this one, the writing is still typical Greg, in your face, gritty and engaging.
Buuutt.. Buuuttt... this whole book felt like a filler. First of all we just ignored the previous book events. This kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop but it never did.
I still like Shaw and North and at the same time I don't. Their actions tends to be infuriating most of the time. Their chemistry is off the charts so at least that helps. Their relationship? hmmm! I don't know about that. They deserve each other but then again they suck together. Lol! Shaw needs to learn boundaries and North needs to learn to open up.
The mystery was... omg! brutal, sucks that this happens in RL an dreading about it was heartbreaking. I liked how it was all handled.
The Ronnie bit??? I am still on the fence. It was unbelievable.
Overall, it was an okay read. I am sure Greg is holding on to some angst, book 3 is still one of my faves.
A copy of the Audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Story - 3.5 stars
Highlight of the book... Squeee Hazard.
I am torn about this one, the writing is still typical Greg, in your face, gritty and engaging.
Buuutt.. Buuuttt... this whole book felt like a filler. First of all we just ignored the previous book events. This kept me waiting for the other shoe to drop but it never did.
I still like Shaw and North and at the same time I don't. Their actions tends to be infuriating most of the time. Their chemistry is off the charts so at least that helps. Their relationship? hmmm! I don't know about that. They deserve each other but then again they suck together. Lol! Shaw needs to learn boundaries and North needs to learn to open up.
The mystery was... omg! brutal, sucks that this happens in RL an dreading about it was heartbreaking. I liked how it was all handled.
The Ronnie bit??? I am still on the fence. It was unbelievable.
Overall, it was an okay read. I am sure Greg is holding on to some angst, book 3 is still one of my faves.
A copy of the Audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2021
3.5 stars. I honestly don't know what to say here, or maybe more accurately don't know how to say it without spoiling. 😕
One of the things I love best about Ashe's stories is how real they are. The characters are imperfect and human. They have issues and make mistakes and say and do things that hurt the ones they love the most. But to balance that, there is love, support and tenderness. And these good things are usually there in so many different ways both tiny and casual as well as significant and impactful. My dilemma here is that this one had all those things...but it also didn't.
I don't know, honestly. Maybe it's just that after I was so wrecked at the end of Redirection, I was expecting more from them here. Maybe unfairly?
The crime North and Shaw were investigating was both disturbing and rage-inducing, and I was with that part all the way. The twists and turns of this investigation truly kept me guessing, because there were some genuinely awful criminals in this one. All were guilty of their part but the question of the endgame and who was behind it kept me hanging til the bitter, ugly end. 😭 GA's writing and plot was as compelling as always, and he had me on the edge of my seat in places, the guys were on the brink of not making it more than once. I'm afraid that poor North cannot take another head injury.
My issues were mostly with North and Shaw, and I'm very much torn on those. I could absolutely get where Ashe was going with some things. I just couldn't agree with how we got there. It's no secret to any reader of this series that both men have their very real and completely understandable issues. But at this point I expected more growth from them as a couple. Or maybe I just hoped for it. *sigh*
On the plus side, I loved that North and Shaw have friends and neighbors, and I loved seeing them spend time with them. Because even though I like Pari *a little bit* better than I did before, North and Shaw both need friends, besides each other. And I'm really happy that I can like Jadon, now that he's finally given up his crush on Shaw. LOL, North and Shaw really are made for each other. No one else can take it. 😏
Despite this one not being my favorite, my love and devotion to these two is undiminished. I'm glad that Ashe isn't done with them because I really, sincerely want to see them get to a place where their fears and issues are put to rest, in whatever way they can be, and they can be happy and enjoy being together. They're getting there but they have much to work on, and and Ashe left no doubt there are things which are clearly not done with them. Spoiler tag peeps who intend to read, don't do it. 👉🏻
For all of the literally thousands of books I've read, there are very few authors who can get me so invested in his characters like Gregory Ashe can. I'll read North and Shaw for as long as he writes them. *AND EVENTUALLY GIVES THEM THE HEA THEY DESERVE* *evil-eyes Ashe*
One of the things I love best about Ashe's stories is how real they are. The characters are imperfect and human. They have issues and make mistakes and say and do things that hurt the ones they love the most. But to balance that, there is love, support and tenderness. And these good things are usually there in so many different ways both tiny and casual as well as significant and impactful. My dilemma here is that this one had all those things...but it also didn't.
I don't know, honestly. Maybe it's just that after I was so wrecked at the end of Redirection, I was expecting more from them here. Maybe unfairly?
The crime North and Shaw were investigating was both disturbing and rage-inducing, and I was with that part all the way. The twists and turns of this investigation truly kept me guessing, because there were some genuinely awful criminals in this one. All were guilty of their part but the question of the endgame and who was behind it kept me hanging til the bitter, ugly end. 😭 GA's writing and plot was as compelling as always, and he had me on the edge of my seat in places, the guys were on the brink of not making it more than once. I'm afraid that poor North cannot take another head injury.
My issues were mostly with North and Shaw, and I'm very much torn on those. I could absolutely get where Ashe was going with some things. I just couldn't agree with how we got there. It's no secret to any reader of this series that both men have their very real and completely understandable issues. But at this point I expected more growth from them as a couple. Or maybe I just hoped for it. *sigh*
On the plus side, I loved that North and Shaw have friends and neighbors, and I loved seeing them spend time with them. Because even though I like Pari *a little bit* better than I did before, North and Shaw both need friends, besides each other. And I'm really happy that I can like Jadon, now that he's finally given up his crush on Shaw. LOL, North and Shaw really are made for each other. No one else can take it. 😏
Despite this one not being my favorite, my love and devotion to these two is undiminished. I'm glad that Ashe isn't done with them because I really, sincerely want to see them get to a place where their fears and issues are put to rest, in whatever way they can be, and they can be happy and enjoy being together. They're getting there but they have much to work on, and and Ashe left no doubt there are things which are clearly not done with them. Spoiler tag peeps who intend to read, don't do it. 👉🏻
For all of the literally thousands of books I've read, there are very few authors who can get me so invested in his characters like Gregory Ashe can. I'll read North and Shaw for as long as he writes them. *AND EVENTUALLY GIVES THEM THE HEA THEY DESERVE* *evil-eyes Ashe*
August 22, 2021
3,5 stars
I admit it:
I was fizzing and huffing and puffing for most of this book.
At times, or let’s be totally honest, for most part of the book, I was very angry with Shaw, to put it mildly and politely. And I got annoyed with North, too, thank God, not as much.
By the end I could see what Mr. Ashe had been doing here, namely showing that neither of these two ‘dummies’ as we call them tenderly, has the foggiest idea how to be in a real, long-term relationship. And they get it spectacularly wrong again and again.
The thing is, we don’t really fully understand that until much later, and so we see North and Shaw arguing, bickering, being insensitive or overbearing without much of a clue WHY. And it was no fun to watch at all.
To make matters worse, when we do find out, eventually, it takes only one little conversation, and everything is resolved like a puff in the air. Which felt wrong, considering how deeply each man is struggling.
Neither man seems to have moved on from their status quo at the end of the previous book. I really had hoped for some deeper relationship development???
Is what Shaw does towards the end (and you know what I mean when you get there!) supposed to be a huge ‘gesture’ to show how much he loves North? I was pretty shocked by that event, btw. Although I have accepted after this book, that Shaw is borderline mental, for me, this seems somewhat out of character.
And then there is Nik.
Don’t get me started. He made my blood boil virtually every time he was on page.
Shaw supporting his attitude and behaviour, wearing North’s clothes, giving him lip and making eyes at Shaw at every opportunity, for example, is simply not right. Shaw needs a serious reality check if he thinks that backing up that little shit rather than North is the right thing to do.
But what I understood least was that
So where does all this leave me?
I guess once I have calmed down and the smoke has stopped coming out of my ears, I’m still far too invested in North and Shaw not to come back to see what happens next.
But, fingers crossed, we’ll see a lot more personal and relationship development next time!
For more comprehensive thoughts, please read Lisa's review
I admit it:
I was fizzing and huffing and puffing for most of this book.
At times, or let’s be totally honest, for most part of the book, I was very angry with Shaw, to put it mildly and politely. And I got annoyed with North, too, thank God, not as much.
By the end I could see what Mr. Ashe had been doing here, namely showing that neither of these two ‘dummies’ as we call them tenderly, has the foggiest idea how to be in a real, long-term relationship. And they get it spectacularly wrong again and again.
The thing is, we don’t really fully understand that until much later, and so we see North and Shaw arguing, bickering, being insensitive or overbearing without much of a clue WHY. And it was no fun to watch at all.
To make matters worse, when we do find out, eventually, it takes only one little conversation, and everything is resolved like a puff in the air. Which felt wrong, considering how deeply each man is struggling.
Neither man seems to have moved on from their status quo at the end of the previous book. I really had hoped for some deeper relationship development???
Is what Shaw does towards the end (and you know what I mean when you get there!) supposed to be a huge ‘gesture’ to show how much he loves North? I was pretty shocked by that event, btw. Although I have accepted after this book, that Shaw is borderline mental, for me, this seems somewhat out of character.
And then there is Nik.
Don’t get me started. He made my blood boil virtually every time he was on page.
Shaw supporting his attitude and behaviour, wearing North’s clothes, giving him lip and making eyes at Shaw at every opportunity, for example, is simply not right. Shaw needs a serious reality check if he thinks that backing up that little shit rather than North is the right thing to do.
But what I understood least was that
So where does all this leave me?
I guess once I have calmed down and the smoke has stopped coming out of my ears, I’m still far too invested in North and Shaw not to come back to see what happens next.
But, fingers crossed, we’ll see a lot more personal and relationship development next time!
For more comprehensive thoughts, please read Lisa's review
July 1, 2022
[3.5] North & Shaw are, i dare say, the most dysfunctional couple in the GA universe 🤣
in isolation, i did enjoy this installment, but in terms of its place in the series, i was close to feeling like the last book didn't even happen? or at least certain open-ended/insufficiently addressed matters were pushed to the sidelines when i was really banking on a deep discussion to resolve things on a hopeful note for the sake of my sanity.
the mystery is as engaging as distressing, but the Nik character who kicks it off honestly felt like a carbon copy of early-days Colt. the sheer disrespect he'd show North, Shaw repeatedly coming to Nik's defense..... imma smack 'em with a broom for displaying/enabling this atrocious behavior 😒
and then you have North wanting alone time and Shaw unable to give him that space, calling on his sex appeal to seduce him even when North says no (out of fear of losing him as it turns out, but this wasn't expressed enough for me to think past how glaringly annoying his actions were).
apart from the above, i am growing fond of North's secret love of anime, Shaw’s inability of handle alcohol or coca cola (BIG SAME. i’m super susceptible to caffeine, etc. so i feel seen 🤣) the steady flow of innuendos (crunchyroll --> crunchyhole got me good! Shaw, you clever boy 😂🦄), and shadow Shaw.
Shaw continues to be his own rare breed, and his course of action at the end of this book was unexpectedly expected in that i could see where he was coming from but dang, why do i feel like this is going to come back and bite him in the future? also, given how much of an empath he is, it's intriguing how easily he's able to compartmentalize when it comes to North. or maybe he's simply fooling us all with his oblivious veneer....? 🤨 i'm halfway convinced this is Shaw's world and we're just living in it 😱
special shoutout to the psychic entanglement between Shaw and Hazard for bringing us another lovely cameo! 🥳
my official Gregory Ashe couple ranking as of June 24, 2022:
1. Hazard/Somers
2. Theo/Auggie
3. Tean/Jem (Tean is the most relatable to me though 🤝)
4. North/Shaw
something magical in the Wahedrua water? 🤭
in conclusion, everyone knows by now that the romance between this particular duo isn't my cup of tea, so my ratings reflect more of my enjoyment of the mystery than their relationship, but i'll be reading on to remain in the know for the eventual Avengers crossover movie moment when all these personalities gather in one place and chaos ensues 👀
(side note: ever since i saw a post on fb promoting the Jadon and Nico ship, it's all i can think about 🥺 petition to make it a reality!)
in isolation, i did enjoy this installment, but in terms of its place in the series, i was close to feeling like the last book didn't even happen? or at least certain open-ended/insufficiently addressed matters were pushed to the sidelines when i was really banking on a deep discussion to resolve things on a hopeful note for the sake of my sanity.
the mystery is as engaging as distressing, but the Nik character who kicks it off honestly felt like a carbon copy of early-days Colt. the sheer disrespect he'd show North, Shaw repeatedly coming to Nik's defense..... imma smack 'em with a broom for displaying/enabling this atrocious behavior 😒
and then you have North wanting alone time and Shaw unable to give him that space, calling on his sex appeal to seduce him even when North says no (out of fear of losing him as it turns out, but this wasn't expressed enough for me to think past how glaringly annoying his actions were).
apart from the above, i am growing fond of North's secret love of anime, Shaw’s inability of handle alcohol or coca cola (BIG SAME. i’m super susceptible to caffeine, etc. so i feel seen 🤣) the steady flow of innuendos (crunchyroll --> crunchyhole got me good! Shaw, you clever boy 😂🦄), and shadow Shaw.
Shaw continues to be his own rare breed, and his course of action at the end of this book was unexpectedly expected in that i could see where he was coming from but dang, why do i feel like this is going to come back and bite him in the future? also, given how much of an empath he is, it's intriguing how easily he's able to compartmentalize when it comes to North. or maybe he's simply fooling us all with his oblivious veneer....? 🤨 i'm halfway convinced this is Shaw's world and we're just living in it 😱
special shoutout to the psychic entanglement between Shaw and Hazard for bringing us another lovely cameo! 🥳
my official Gregory Ashe couple ranking as of June 24, 2022:
1. Hazard/Somers
2. Theo/Auggie
3. Tean/Jem (Tean is the most relatable to me though 🤝)
4. North/Shaw
something magical in the Wahedrua water? 🤭
in conclusion, everyone knows by now that the romance between this particular duo isn't my cup of tea, so my ratings reflect more of my enjoyment of the mystery than their relationship, but i'll be reading on to remain in the know for the eventual Avengers crossover movie moment when all these personalities gather in one place and chaos ensues 👀
(side note: ever since i saw a post on fb promoting the Jadon and Nico ship, it's all i can think about 🥺 petition to make it a reality!)
May 14, 2025
These guys frustrate me so much BUT I do like how realistically Gregory Ashe writes relationships! I feel like a lot of books only focus on the fluffy happy things in a relationship and never show the disagreements, arguments or breaks, and I love that we get that with these books.
That said, for like 90% of the time, I do think that North and Shaw together are incredibly toxic and codependent and would probably be happier with other people. But when they aren't being insufferably stubborn (North) or overbearingly clingy (Shaw), they actually work really well together.
I wasn't really interested in this mystery though, and we don't really see the full outcome of the final showdown, but Nik was definitely a strange but welcome addition - I hope he comes back honestly!
The cameo from Emery was the best part of this book though. I actually love the friendship between him and North, even if they both deny it being a thing. They work together surprisingly well, and I hope we see more of their friendship moving forward. I also really like how North is building a friendship, again reluctantly, with Jadon!
I still don't really like Shaw though. I find him to be a spoiled brat who is incapable of listening to what his boyfriend is telling him. He also comes across as kind of a creepy sex predator and never seems to realise how he behaves around extremely young boys. It gives me the creeps honestly...
I'm assuming they'll get another arc also because it didn't really feel like their story is finished?
That said, for like 90% of the time, I do think that North and Shaw together are incredibly toxic and codependent and would probably be happier with other people. But when they aren't being insufferably stubborn (North) or overbearingly clingy (Shaw), they actually work really well together.
I wasn't really interested in this mystery though, and we don't really see the full outcome of the final showdown, but Nik was definitely a strange but welcome addition - I hope he comes back honestly!
The cameo from Emery was the best part of this book though. I actually love the friendship between him and North, even if they both deny it being a thing. They work together surprisingly well, and I hope we see more of their friendship moving forward. I also really like how North is building a friendship, again reluctantly, with Jadon!
I still don't really like Shaw though. I find him to be a spoiled brat who is incapable of listening to what his boyfriend is telling him. He also comes across as kind of a creepy sex predator and never seems to realise how he behaves around extremely young boys. It gives me the creeps honestly...
I'm assuming they'll get another arc also because it didn't really feel like their story is finished?
August 12, 2021
Here it is, the conclusion of the Borealis: Without a Compass arc. It was heartfelt. It was funny. It was high stakes. It was dangerous. It was wild and bizarre and dark and deadly and everything we've come to expect, respect, and enjoy from our St. Louis private detectives, best friends, and now-boyfriends-again, North McKinney and Shaw Aldrich.
I say it time and again, but Gregory Ashe writes some of my favorite mysteries in the genre. He crafts intricate webs of believable suspects and radical red herrings, covers the means and motive no matter how grisly, and most importantly, makes the reader care enough about the immediate victim, or at least the victims on the periphery of the murder/crime, to hunker down and want to solve this case from first page to last. Ashe also includes fantastic personal developments for the main characters, including relationship and romantic themes, which he deftly mixes into the mystery. By no means does a mystery require some kind of romantic undercurrent, but I quite enjoy them. As a reader, it gives me an extra bit of meat to chomp down on during the in between beats of crime solving, and Ashe's portrayal of love and all its honest ups and downs, is some of the best there is. Add to that his lyrical and poetic style of prose and you've got a laundry list of Grade-A reasons to pick up anything from Ashe's backlist.
North and Shaw have bought a house and are now living under the same roof as they begin the next part of their lives together. But their housewarming party ends prematurely when a local reporter, who's gotten intel on how Uncle Ronnie has been systematically trying to ruin North's life, comes around asking questions and requesting an interview. No sooner have they gotten her out of the house before Nik, a kid living and working on the street, who we first met in Indirection, shows up asking for help trying to track down a missing friend. Almost immediately, we're thrust into a dark and depraved underworld of abused and transient teens, embezzlement, murder, blackmail, and a whole lot of personal but necessary growing pains between our two guys.
I loved the mystery in this book. It was intense but totally suited the vibe of both Borealis and Without a Compass. There were a handful of scenes—chases, rescues, truths revealed—where I audibly gasped while reading. There's a moment, a very, very simple moment, between North and Shaw, where they're coming to realize where there's a disconnect in their relationship, and it was the entire turning point. I mean, I think all seven books led up to that one piece of dialogue, and it was so profound. Loved it. Communication is key. It just took them... many books to understand that! And as for the (no spoilers!) conclusion with Ronnie? Yeah. Yeah, I absolutely expected that, and I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing? But holy crap, what a ride.
If you loved the first arc of North and Shaw's adventures, I highly recommend you pick up Without a Compass.
I say it time and again, but Gregory Ashe writes some of my favorite mysteries in the genre. He crafts intricate webs of believable suspects and radical red herrings, covers the means and motive no matter how grisly, and most importantly, makes the reader care enough about the immediate victim, or at least the victims on the periphery of the murder/crime, to hunker down and want to solve this case from first page to last. Ashe also includes fantastic personal developments for the main characters, including relationship and romantic themes, which he deftly mixes into the mystery. By no means does a mystery require some kind of romantic undercurrent, but I quite enjoy them. As a reader, it gives me an extra bit of meat to chomp down on during the in between beats of crime solving, and Ashe's portrayal of love and all its honest ups and downs, is some of the best there is. Add to that his lyrical and poetic style of prose and you've got a laundry list of Grade-A reasons to pick up anything from Ashe's backlist.
North and Shaw have bought a house and are now living under the same roof as they begin the next part of their lives together. But their housewarming party ends prematurely when a local reporter, who's gotten intel on how Uncle Ronnie has been systematically trying to ruin North's life, comes around asking questions and requesting an interview. No sooner have they gotten her out of the house before Nik, a kid living and working on the street, who we first met in Indirection, shows up asking for help trying to track down a missing friend. Almost immediately, we're thrust into a dark and depraved underworld of abused and transient teens, embezzlement, murder, blackmail, and a whole lot of personal but necessary growing pains between our two guys.
I loved the mystery in this book. It was intense but totally suited the vibe of both Borealis and Without a Compass. There were a handful of scenes—chases, rescues, truths revealed—where I audibly gasped while reading. There's a moment, a very, very simple moment, between North and Shaw, where they're coming to realize where there's a disconnect in their relationship, and it was the entire turning point. I mean, I think all seven books led up to that one piece of dialogue, and it was so profound. Loved it. Communication is key. It just took them... many books to understand that! And as for the (no spoilers!) conclusion with Ronnie? Yeah. Yeah, I absolutely expected that, and I'm not entirely sure that's a good thing? But holy crap, what a ride.
If you loved the first arc of North and Shaw's adventures, I highly recommend you pick up Without a Compass.
August 19, 2021
Part of the Overall Series - 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Standalone Installment - 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Babes....I never thought I'd feel so lukewarm about a Greg Ashe book, but here I am 🤷🏻 I listed two different ratings because I think out of fairness there are two grading curves. If you rate the book as a singular entity and do not take into account any previous ongoings or installments, it's a solidly above 4 stars. Good writing, great banter, comedic, good character work, and an engaging, albeit disturbing, mystery. That said, if I grade it against the overall narrative arch I find myself extremely underwhelmed. I want to keep this spoiler free, so I'm going to make a few general statements and then I'll shut up.
I'm going to speak from the place of grading based on the overall series, since I personally can't just look at this as a standalone. All the positives I listed above are still true, but oh boy coming from the aftermath of Redirection this installment left a lot to be desired. For those of you who read the previous book you are aware that quite a few um unsavory things occurred. Some bothersome choices were made by North. If you were like me and came away from the last book wanting more from the resolution of those unsavory, bothersome plot points all I can say is well....you're not going to get it 🙃 It's as if what transpired does not exist and is never to be spoken, or thought, of again. I think if you were ok with how the last book wrapped things up, this will not bug you. I was not ok, so it pretty much sat in the back of my mind and tainted any progress North and Shaw made in this installment.
As I mentioned above, the mystery in this story was good but very, very disturbing. It involves teens, abuse, sex trafficking, and a whole slew of other horrible f-cked up things no child should face. In terms of wrapping up the Tucker and Ronnie subplots, one was dealt with and one was not. The one dealt with left me scratching my head more than anything else.
Finally, to close out...North and Shaw. So much dysfunction in their still, surprisingly, functional relationship. This book is a reprieve from the angst-fest of Misdirection and Redirection. Of course it is North and Shaw so there are still hurdles and learning curves and communication that needs to occur for them, but they are in a much more stable place than we've seen them in awhile. The conclusion of this series was a decent one for now, but I don't doubt that Greg is not done with telling these boy's story.
Standalone Installment - 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Babes....I never thought I'd feel so lukewarm about a Greg Ashe book, but here I am 🤷🏻 I listed two different ratings because I think out of fairness there are two grading curves. If you rate the book as a singular entity and do not take into account any previous ongoings or installments, it's a solidly above 4 stars. Good writing, great banter, comedic, good character work, and an engaging, albeit disturbing, mystery. That said, if I grade it against the overall narrative arch I find myself extremely underwhelmed. I want to keep this spoiler free, so I'm going to make a few general statements and then I'll shut up.
I'm going to speak from the place of grading based on the overall series, since I personally can't just look at this as a standalone. All the positives I listed above are still true, but oh boy coming from the aftermath of Redirection this installment left a lot to be desired. For those of you who read the previous book you are aware that quite a few um unsavory things occurred. Some bothersome choices were made by North. If you were like me and came away from the last book wanting more from the resolution of those unsavory, bothersome plot points all I can say is well....you're not going to get it 🙃 It's as if what transpired does not exist and is never to be spoken, or thought, of again. I think if you were ok with how the last book wrapped things up, this will not bug you. I was not ok, so it pretty much sat in the back of my mind and tainted any progress North and Shaw made in this installment.
As I mentioned above, the mystery in this story was good but very, very disturbing. It involves teens, abuse, sex trafficking, and a whole slew of other horrible f-cked up things no child should face. In terms of wrapping up the Tucker and Ronnie subplots, one was dealt with and one was not. The one dealt with left me scratching my head more than anything else.
Finally, to close out...North and Shaw. So much dysfunction in their still, surprisingly, functional relationship. This book is a reprieve from the angst-fest of Misdirection and Redirection. Of course it is North and Shaw so there are still hurdles and learning curves and communication that needs to occur for them, but they are in a much more stable place than we've seen them in awhile. The conclusion of this series was a decent one for now, but I don't doubt that Greg is not done with telling these boy's story.
August 27, 2021
Uugg.......I’m officially done with this series. I can’t stand these two. I was going to quit two books ago but heard the author talk about the previous book and it sounded like Shaw would stop being the most annoying book character ever written so I gave it a try. And that book wasn’t bad. So I bought this one with high hopes. But......this book was right back to everything I dislike about this series. I was getting ready to dnf when Hazard showed up so I plodded along for him. Even he couldn’t save the story for me though.
September 12, 2022
It's a pity, but I have to admit defeat with this series... what was working despite the stupidity and over the top situations, stopped to do so. Not even the good writing could save this for me. I lost my patience with both of the characters and at the end of this book there're too many threads unsolved which I don't have any patience or desire to see solved. Everything that they did grated my nerves, they're TSTL and deserve each other. I'm done.
October 3, 2021
I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars rounded up.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous Borealis books in this review.
Well. Here we are at the concluding instalment of Gregory Ashe’s Borealis: Without a Compass series, and what a ride it’s been! We’ve watched North and Shaw solve crimes of course, but these books are so much more than well-written and suspenseful mysteries, and our two protagonists have also gone through heartbreak and serious soul-searching while facing incredible danger at the hands of some truly despicable individuals, but at last, and after all the horrible things they’ve been through – and inflicted on each other – they’re back where they belong (i.e. together) and are making a determined effort to move forward as a committed couple.
In the months since the events of Redirection, North and Shaw have bought a house together, and we rejoin them on the day of their housewarming party – which ends abruptly when local reporter Belia Lopez arrives and opens a massive can of worms by telling North that Tucker (from whom he is now, thankfully, divorced) is claiming he was framed for his assault on Shaw, and that North, David McKinney, Borealis and Shaw’s family are all mixed up in a criminal syndicate operating in the city. Needless to say, North is not impressed and tells her – in his own inimitable fashion -to get lost.
Shortly after they’ve got rid of Belia, they’re interrupted by another unexpected visitor hammering on their door and demanding their help. We met Nikshay (Nik) in Indirection; he’s a teenager living (and working) on the streets whom Shaw spoke to while he and North were trying to track down a suspect, and although Shaw told Nik he should come to them if he needed help, he never did. Until now. He’s worried about his friend Malorie, who has gone missing, and he wants North and Shaw to find out what’s happened to her. As it so often goes with these two, Shaw is keen to help while North is more sceptical; the difference is that they’re now both trying hard to see the other’s point of view and to compromise… but of course they end up agreeing to see what they can do.
Gregory Ashe writes some of the most compelling and clever mysteries in the genre and he isn’t afraid to take them to some dark and gritty places. In this story, North and Shaw start out by going to the shelter for homeless teens where Nik and Malorie met, and soon find themselves coming face to face with the harsh reality of the dangers faced by so many kids living on the streets, and the half-hearted, ineffectual efforts made to try to protect them. Their search leads to a trail of blackmail, embezzlement and murder, to the exposure of the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable individuals at the hands of pimps, dealers and cheap labour networks… and worst of all, by those who are supposed to be looking out for them.
Meanwhile, that scumbag Ronnie is still out for revenge on North for engineering his arrest (at the end of Misdirection – and after his attempt to get at North through Tucker failed, Ronnie has now turned his attention to North’s dad. Desperate to get Ronnie out of their lives for good, North considers a Faustian bargain – the full implications of which are not yet clear.
North and Shaw have been through a lot in this series – and I’m not just talking about the injuries they’ve sustained! There were potential pitfalls and fault-lines in their relationship back at the end of the first Borealis series, and many of those came home to roost in this one. Both men are carrying a lot of emotional baggage – North’s relationship with his obnoxious father is seriously messed up, and he’s a survivor of domestic abuse; Shaw was traumatised by an attack that nearly killed him, and he struggles under the weight of his family’s expectations – and their long-suppressed feelings for each other perhaps gave them unrealistic expectations of what being a couple would be like. In this series, they’ve been forced to face up to the fact that their relationship wasn’t working (and why) – and it’s made for some pretty tough reading.
By the time Codirection begins, they’re in a much better place personally than they have been for quite some time, and while things are far from perfect, they’ve decided they want to make a life together and have recognised that they each have work to do if they’re going to make that happen. But there’s still a sense that they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to the way they think of and approach their relationship, and that translates to an underlying sense of unease at times, a disconnect that it seems they haven’t really acknowledged or understood. Then comes an incredibly simple but profoundly insightful ‘lightbulb moment’ – a single piece of dialogue, really – when everything falls into place, and it’s masterful.
Mr. Ashe has interwoven the mysteries and the character and relationship development in these books with incredible skill, pulling readers with him through a real gamut of emotions with his unique mix of razor-sharp insight and the ridiculous humour and banter that characterise the way North and Shaw interact with each other. He also gifts fans of his work with a wonderful cameo appearance by Wahredua’s favourite PI – and Shaw’s best, best friend (well, in Shaw’s mind anyway) – that is simply priceless.
The conclusion to the long-running Ronnie storyline is both satisfying and shocking (my Goodreads update reads – “Well. I didn’t see THAT coming!”) and I can’t help but think there’s some future fallout to come as a result of what happens. Because, yes, I’m reliably informed this isn’t the last we’re going to see of North and Shaw :)
Codirection is another must-read from Gregory Ashe, a superbly plotted, high-stakes mystery with twists and turns a-plenty and more intricately crafted red herrings than you can shake a stick at. Borealis: Without a Compass has been one wild ride, and while it’s been hard to watch “these dumb boys” (as North and Shaw are affectionately known by Ashe fans!) do dumb things, it’s also been a delight to spend time with them again.
Note: There are spoilers for the previous Borealis books in this review.
Well. Here we are at the concluding instalment of Gregory Ashe’s Borealis: Without a Compass series, and what a ride it’s been! We’ve watched North and Shaw solve crimes of course, but these books are so much more than well-written and suspenseful mysteries, and our two protagonists have also gone through heartbreak and serious soul-searching while facing incredible danger at the hands of some truly despicable individuals, but at last, and after all the horrible things they’ve been through – and inflicted on each other – they’re back where they belong (i.e. together) and are making a determined effort to move forward as a committed couple.
In the months since the events of Redirection, North and Shaw have bought a house together, and we rejoin them on the day of their housewarming party – which ends abruptly when local reporter Belia Lopez arrives and opens a massive can of worms by telling North that Tucker (from whom he is now, thankfully, divorced) is claiming he was framed for his assault on Shaw, and that North, David McKinney, Borealis and Shaw’s family are all mixed up in a criminal syndicate operating in the city. Needless to say, North is not impressed and tells her – in his own inimitable fashion -to get lost.
Shortly after they’ve got rid of Belia, they’re interrupted by another unexpected visitor hammering on their door and demanding their help. We met Nikshay (Nik) in Indirection; he’s a teenager living (and working) on the streets whom Shaw spoke to while he and North were trying to track down a suspect, and although Shaw told Nik he should come to them if he needed help, he never did. Until now. He’s worried about his friend Malorie, who has gone missing, and he wants North and Shaw to find out what’s happened to her. As it so often goes with these two, Shaw is keen to help while North is more sceptical; the difference is that they’re now both trying hard to see the other’s point of view and to compromise… but of course they end up agreeing to see what they can do.
Gregory Ashe writes some of the most compelling and clever mysteries in the genre and he isn’t afraid to take them to some dark and gritty places. In this story, North and Shaw start out by going to the shelter for homeless teens where Nik and Malorie met, and soon find themselves coming face to face with the harsh reality of the dangers faced by so many kids living on the streets, and the half-hearted, ineffectual efforts made to try to protect them. Their search leads to a trail of blackmail, embezzlement and murder, to the exposure of the exploitation of some of society’s most vulnerable individuals at the hands of pimps, dealers and cheap labour networks… and worst of all, by those who are supposed to be looking out for them.
Meanwhile, that scumbag Ronnie is still out for revenge on North for engineering his arrest (at the end of Misdirection – and after his attempt to get at North through Tucker failed, Ronnie has now turned his attention to North’s dad. Desperate to get Ronnie out of their lives for good, North considers a Faustian bargain – the full implications of which are not yet clear.
North and Shaw have been through a lot in this series – and I’m not just talking about the injuries they’ve sustained! There were potential pitfalls and fault-lines in their relationship back at the end of the first Borealis series, and many of those came home to roost in this one. Both men are carrying a lot of emotional baggage – North’s relationship with his obnoxious father is seriously messed up, and he’s a survivor of domestic abuse; Shaw was traumatised by an attack that nearly killed him, and he struggles under the weight of his family’s expectations – and their long-suppressed feelings for each other perhaps gave them unrealistic expectations of what being a couple would be like. In this series, they’ve been forced to face up to the fact that their relationship wasn’t working (and why) – and it’s made for some pretty tough reading.
By the time Codirection begins, they’re in a much better place personally than they have been for quite some time, and while things are far from perfect, they’ve decided they want to make a life together and have recognised that they each have work to do if they’re going to make that happen. But there’s still a sense that they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to the way they think of and approach their relationship, and that translates to an underlying sense of unease at times, a disconnect that it seems they haven’t really acknowledged or understood. Then comes an incredibly simple but profoundly insightful ‘lightbulb moment’ – a single piece of dialogue, really – when everything falls into place, and it’s masterful.
Mr. Ashe has interwoven the mysteries and the character and relationship development in these books with incredible skill, pulling readers with him through a real gamut of emotions with his unique mix of razor-sharp insight and the ridiculous humour and banter that characterise the way North and Shaw interact with each other. He also gifts fans of his work with a wonderful cameo appearance by Wahredua’s favourite PI – and Shaw’s best, best friend (well, in Shaw’s mind anyway) – that is simply priceless.
The conclusion to the long-running Ronnie storyline is both satisfying and shocking (my Goodreads update reads – “Well. I didn’t see THAT coming!”) and I can’t help but think there’s some future fallout to come as a result of what happens. Because, yes, I’m reliably informed this isn’t the last we’re going to see of North and Shaw :)
Codirection is another must-read from Gregory Ashe, a superbly plotted, high-stakes mystery with twists and turns a-plenty and more intricately crafted red herrings than you can shake a stick at. Borealis: Without a Compass has been one wild ride, and while it’s been hard to watch “these dumb boys” (as North and Shaw are affectionately known by Ashe fans!) do dumb things, it’s also been a delight to spend time with them again.
zz-dnf
December 3, 2021DNF
I think I just decided I'm done with these guys :( The angst is TOO MUCH. I can't take it anymore
I think I just decided I'm done with these guys :( The angst is TOO MUCH. I can't take it anymore
August 22, 2021
So not only did we barely address all of the terrible that happened in book three (Tucker is out of jail? are you fucking serious.. also we still didn't address the other Tucker thing! aaaarg) but.. then North and Shaw spend most of this one going through the same motions (Shaw never leaving North alone drove me nuts) in addition to dealing with the usual and some new annoying characters (Nik. I cannot).
The only minor bit of joy I got out of this was Emery (thank god for his cameo and him articulating everything I felt about these two) and the fact that Ronnie is now out of the picture. Except I think he's just going to be replaced by someone worse, though perhaps more mentally stable.
I want to be able to read all of Ashe's books but I think I'm done with this particular couple. I don't think I can do another series of this. I'll stick to Hazard & Somerset and anything else he puts out.
The only minor bit of joy I got out of this was Emery (thank god for his cameo and him articulating everything I felt about these two) and the fact that Ronnie is now out of the picture. Except I think he's just going to be replaced by someone worse, though perhaps more mentally stable.
I want to be able to read all of Ashe's books but I think I'm done with this particular couple. I don't think I can do another series of this. I'll stick to Hazard & Somerset and anything else he puts out.
February 16, 2024
Plumbs the depths of love;
comes up sweaty and smiling.
Deeply disturbing.
comes up sweaty and smiling.
Deeply disturbing.
December 7, 2022
What a tough one to review, I liked this book however I still had lingering problems from the prior book. I do see what GA was trying to go with in this one …. They love each other and are doing everything they can in an ineffective and unhealthy way to be together. Instead of addressing the issues or talking things out. Both these guys have issues, and I really did not realize how messed up Shaw is - there is clearly more going on than we know.
For me personally I just can’t let the elephant (Tucker🤮)in the room get ignored- maybe this is part of GA’s evil plans to torment us more in the next series, wait and see. But North with no conscience or guilt, or hate for him attempting to Kill Shaw. And Shaw having no residual anger or bitterness…. Hmm?
Let’s see what our evil genius has planned to come 🤞
For me personally I just can’t let the elephant (Tucker🤮)in the room get ignored- maybe this is part of GA’s evil plans to torment us more in the next series, wait and see. But North with no conscience or guilt, or hate for him attempting to Kill Shaw. And Shaw having no residual anger or bitterness…. Hmm?
Let’s see what our evil genius has planned to come 🤞
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2021
Sometimes I wonder if there’s something wrong with me. I loved this book and I love this series and I love these effed up characters so much! These two hurt each other over and over again, have been through hell and back, have been best friends for years, finally become boyfriends to then take a break to then finally move in together. You’d think they’d have some of their shit together by now, right? Nope!
Let’s talk about the case first. This is a tough one, we have young homeless teens and trafficking and porn and drugs. We have so many nasty people taking advantage of these kids and you really know any single one (or more) of them could have killed this young pregnant girl. Nik comes to Shaw and North to find his missing friend but North is immediately an ass to him while Shaw tries to be the good guy. That was a very messed up situation.
Shaw and North have a way of getting into trouble and I’m surprised they still have their P.I. licenses. They do underhanded things but the way they do them and the banter between them make these situations much lighter. I was laughing during these tense moments because of their crazy back and forth conversations like the person their questioning isn’t there.
The case was gripping and done well. We have Ronnie making trouble still for North and this time North’s dad is in trouble. North makes a bargain with a devil and he thinks he found a way out of that but we have Shaw doing something that wasn’t surprising but it is going to come back to bite them in the ass.
These men love each other but they don’t know how to have a healthy relationship. There’s so much to unpack here and things always slip sideways and I don’t know if they’ll ever be truly happy. There needs to be some major therapy and not with Master Hermès being involved.
Somehow everything came together and worked for me. I was very concerned for North’s head though. How many times can someone be hit in the head and not have irreparable damage? And can we talk about Ashe having actual sex in these books now? It’s not your ordinary sex scene but I love that we get these glimpses into their private moments. Even if they’re crazy in their own way.
And I’m loving Jadon more and more. Poor guy gets pulled in by Shaw every single time. Maybe he needs to relocate somewhere far, far away. We also get a visit with Emery Hazard. I love when this happens!
Every time I finish a GA book I wonder where he gets these thoughts from. There must be so much crap in his head. These books are a mess but a perfect sort of mess. I hope he just keeps these characters going on and on.
Let’s talk about the case first. This is a tough one, we have young homeless teens and trafficking and porn and drugs. We have so many nasty people taking advantage of these kids and you really know any single one (or more) of them could have killed this young pregnant girl. Nik comes to Shaw and North to find his missing friend but North is immediately an ass to him while Shaw tries to be the good guy. That was a very messed up situation.
Shaw and North have a way of getting into trouble and I’m surprised they still have their P.I. licenses. They do underhanded things but the way they do them and the banter between them make these situations much lighter. I was laughing during these tense moments because of their crazy back and forth conversations like the person their questioning isn’t there.
The case was gripping and done well. We have Ronnie making trouble still for North and this time North’s dad is in trouble. North makes a bargain with a devil and he thinks he found a way out of that but we have Shaw doing something that wasn’t surprising but it is going to come back to bite them in the ass.
These men love each other but they don’t know how to have a healthy relationship. There’s so much to unpack here and things always slip sideways and I don’t know if they’ll ever be truly happy. There needs to be some major therapy and not with Master Hermès being involved.
Somehow everything came together and worked for me. I was very concerned for North’s head though. How many times can someone be hit in the head and not have irreparable damage? And can we talk about Ashe having actual sex in these books now? It’s not your ordinary sex scene but I love that we get these glimpses into their private moments. Even if they’re crazy in their own way.
And I’m loving Jadon more and more. Poor guy gets pulled in by Shaw every single time. Maybe he needs to relocate somewhere far, far away. We also get a visit with Emery Hazard. I love when this happens!
Every time I finish a GA book I wonder where he gets these thoughts from. There must be so much crap in his head. These books are a mess but a perfect sort of mess. I hope he just keeps these characters going on and on.
January 18, 2024
After this book, I assume there has to be another series coming based on the loose ends and the conversation these two had at the end. Anyway, North and Shaw still annoy and frustrate me, yet I clearly keep returning for more.
It's always one step forward and a mile back with them. Yes, they love each other, and they are trying to work out their own issues to be able to be better together, but it's like they forget that they are trying to do that and they keep repeating the same toxic behavior again and again. North did a lot of soul-searching here, and Shaw was epically needy, though I did get a better handle on his thought process behind not letting North have even an hour alone to watch some anime. I was hoping for some significant relationship development but don't feel like I got anything solid. I know they are in it together for the long haul and maybe this is just how they will always be and I need to settle in for that roller coaster ride.
Anyway, the case here was horrifying, dealing with trafficking and abuse of homeless teens. There were so many people involved in the abuse and they were all just awful and equally viable suspects. The case also brings back Nik, a street kid Shaw had a brief meeting with in a previous story (I belive it was Indirection). He asks for help and winds up moving into N&S's home for the duration. I get that he's dealing with a lot, but he was one horribly rude and annoying kid. While he heaps abuse on North, Shaw placates him. He didn't reach Pari levels of annoying, but I had a hard time feeling for him after a while.
I did feel like we were left hanging with the Tucker storyline and I still want to see him get his due. At least Uncle Ronnie is resolved, but I'm not sure that they are out of the woods with the whole crime syndicate he was a part of. I'm also giving bonus points for having Shaw's BFF Emery Hazard show up to lend a hand. I am looking forward to a brief catch-up with small doses of N&S in the Iron on Iron books.
It's always one step forward and a mile back with them. Yes, they love each other, and they are trying to work out their own issues to be able to be better together, but it's like they forget that they are trying to do that and they keep repeating the same toxic behavior again and again. North did a lot of soul-searching here, and Shaw was epically needy, though I did get a better handle on his thought process behind not letting North have even an hour alone to watch some anime. I was hoping for some significant relationship development but don't feel like I got anything solid. I know they are in it together for the long haul and maybe this is just how they will always be and I need to settle in for that roller coaster ride.
Anyway, the case here was horrifying, dealing with trafficking and abuse of homeless teens. There were so many people involved in the abuse and they were all just awful and equally viable suspects. The case also brings back Nik, a street kid Shaw had a brief meeting with in a previous story (I belive it was Indirection). He asks for help and winds up moving into N&S's home for the duration. I get that he's dealing with a lot, but he was one horribly rude and annoying kid. While he heaps abuse on North, Shaw placates him. He didn't reach Pari levels of annoying, but I had a hard time feeling for him after a while.
I did feel like we were left hanging with the Tucker storyline and I still want to see him get his due. At least Uncle Ronnie is resolved, but I'm not sure that they are out of the woods with the whole crime syndicate he was a part of. I'm also giving bonus points for having Shaw's BFF Emery Hazard show up to lend a hand. I am looking forward to a brief catch-up with small doses of N&S in the Iron on Iron books.
January 6, 2023
Inspired by one of Shaw's many various approaches to mental health, I took a few days to "process" this book. Unfortunately "processing" for a person of a certain age can also mean "forgetting key points", so bear with me. I never claimed to be perfect.
I feel bad for the readers who wanted some sort of closure after the events that took place in Redirection because there was really not much to be found here. As a reader who would like to pretend most of those events never happened, I was more than happy with this conclusion to the series. North was back to being his usual ornery self and Shaw was back to being disrespectful of boundaries and they both still sucked at communicating, but at least they were together again. They were still dysfunctional and their relationship progress would probably be better measured in inches than feet, but their love for each other was abundantly clear and the quiet moments between them made me feel all gooey inside. There's no doubt in my mind that these two belong together. I don't think anyone else would be able to handle them, especially considering they come as a package deal. I'm honestly surprised Jadon hasn't changed his number and left the state yet.
The mystery had me spinning in circles. So many suspects. So many dead ends. So many lies. And the things they unearthed were absolutely horrific. I thought Shaw really shined as a detective in this book. Since North couldn't take a step without getting hit in the head, Shaw had to step up several times to get them out of some precarious situations. I loved seeing that side of him. I feel like people often underestimate his physical capabilities and see him as fragile and in need of protection. Brawn vs brains and all that. I'm proud to say, my bestie has both.
Nik, Nik, Nik. There's nothing like an unrequited teenage crush to stir things up. Add a little angst and some uppers and you've got a houseguest from hell. Nik's circumstances were awful, but it was hard to like him when he was being so horrible towards North.
A few final thoughts before I wish these boys ado for now:
1. That puppy still doesn't have a name. The intentionality of this is both frustrating and hilarious.
2. North, The Hero! The scene at the end with the water guns was everything!
3. Shadow Shaw. We've met him a couple times before, but this was next level. In the wise words of Queen B, "Might I suggest you don't f*ck with my sis".
4. Emery Hazard!!!
I feel bad for the readers who wanted some sort of closure after the events that took place in Redirection because there was really not much to be found here. As a reader who would like to pretend most of those events never happened, I was more than happy with this conclusion to the series. North was back to being his usual ornery self and Shaw was back to being disrespectful of boundaries and they both still sucked at communicating, but at least they were together again. They were still dysfunctional and their relationship progress would probably be better measured in inches than feet, but their love for each other was abundantly clear and the quiet moments between them made me feel all gooey inside. There's no doubt in my mind that these two belong together. I don't think anyone else would be able to handle them, especially considering they come as a package deal. I'm honestly surprised Jadon hasn't changed his number and left the state yet.
The mystery had me spinning in circles. So many suspects. So many dead ends. So many lies. And the things they unearthed were absolutely horrific. I thought Shaw really shined as a detective in this book. Since North couldn't take a step without getting hit in the head, Shaw had to step up several times to get them out of some precarious situations. I loved seeing that side of him. I feel like people often underestimate his physical capabilities and see him as fragile and in need of protection. Brawn vs brains and all that. I'm proud to say, my bestie has both.
Nik, Nik, Nik. There's nothing like an unrequited teenage crush to stir things up. Add a little angst and some uppers and you've got a houseguest from hell. Nik's circumstances were awful, but it was hard to like him when he was being so horrible towards North.
A few final thoughts before I wish these boys ado for now:
1. That puppy still doesn't have a name. The intentionality of this is both frustrating and hilarious.
2. North, The Hero! The scene at the end with the water guns was everything!
3. Shadow Shaw. We've met him a couple times before, but this was next level. In the wise words of Queen B, "Might I suggest you don't f*ck with my sis".
4. Emery Hazard!!!
June 19, 2022
off the rails
As I read this book, I think I’m probably close to over it …the Shaw and North banter/ bickering. I don’t think you are supposed to read all 7+ books in a row😵💫 You really need breathing room so your annoyance can’t build up ⬆️ 😣
Like always, this mystery puts Shaw and North in peril. This was a very meandering plot. There were WAY TOO many characters up to no good. AND how many concussions can one sustain before there is permanent brain damage?!?! Like seriously.
There were threads from the last book that were still NOT tied up in this installment which was VERY frustrating. UGH, WHY?!???
Do I have a love/hate relationship with Shaw and North? Most definitely. Both are very imperfect. These anti-hero-ish characters do deserve each other. Honestly, know one else deserves their brand of relationship better than these two f nuggets 😆
Shadow Shaw might be my favorite Shaw. North and Shaw’s next adventure should be interesting. No matter how much they annoy me, I’ll always want to read what’s next. Now the waiting begins….
As I read this book, I think I’m probably close to over it …the Shaw and North banter/ bickering. I don’t think you are supposed to read all 7+ books in a row😵💫 You really need breathing room so your annoyance can’t build up ⬆️ 😣
Like always, this mystery puts Shaw and North in peril. This was a very meandering plot. There were WAY TOO many characters up to no good. AND how many concussions can one sustain before there is permanent brain damage?!?! Like seriously.
There were threads from the last book that were still NOT tied up in this installment which was VERY frustrating. UGH, WHY?!???
Do I have a love/hate relationship with Shaw and North? Most definitely. Both are very imperfect. These anti-hero-ish characters do deserve each other. Honestly, know one else deserves their brand of relationship better than these two f nuggets 😆
Shadow Shaw might be my favorite Shaw. North and Shaw’s next adventure should be interesting. No matter how much they annoy me, I’ll always want to read what’s next. Now the waiting begins….
September 10, 2022
Only realising now that I forgot to review this little gem. I went straight to finish Out of office (omg. The last short is the best ever? Possibly. With Greg the last book you read always feels like the best ever 😁)
What to say that I haven't said a billion times already...
This book is exceptionally good and will stay one of my favourites because of :
- the cameos. No spoilers but they, alone are worth the money
- that last but one chapter (you know the one) is definitely the most satisfying scene ever written. I don't want to spoil anything but if you enjoyed Shaw playing with golf clubs then you'll love this scene 😇
Also it's North and Shaw and they are being particularly North and Shaw-y while growing as a couple and working on their relationship. 🥰
What to say that I haven't said a billion times already...
This book is exceptionally good and will stay one of my favourites because of :
- the cameos. No spoilers but they, alone are worth the money
- that last but one chapter (you know the one) is definitely the most satisfying scene ever written. I don't want to spoil anything but if you enjoyed Shaw playing with golf clubs then you'll love this scene 😇
Also it's North and Shaw and they are being particularly North and Shaw-y while growing as a couple and working on their relationship. 🥰
August 18, 2021
Breakdown
Story 4 stars
Shaw 4 stars
North 0 stars
I couldn't even fully enjoy the happy ending becuase North's big f*ck up from the previous book was seriously never addressed, It's honestly like it never happened 🤯
Story 4 stars
Shaw 4 stars
North 0 stars
I couldn't even fully enjoy the happy ending becuase North's big f*ck up from the previous book was seriously never addressed, It's honestly like it never happened 🤯
October 13, 2022
***4.5*** Including the fantastic audio
It seems that this might be the last (for now) in the North & Shaw series and I'm okay with that.
This installment combines the baroque violence of Criminal Past, in this case centered specifically North and his, North's, continued emotional exploration of himself as an individual separate from Shaw, Tucker, or familial upbringing.
The violence is not my thing but that's neither here nor there as I know that's part of GA's style and I choose to read his stories.
THE STORY: N&S start investigating the case of a dead girl who's part of the ever growing population of at-risk young people who (for different reasons) have no home or have run away from their homes. In the midst of this North is still trying to figure out who he is. If he were a real person, if I knew him, and were his friend in RL I'd tell him this is a lifelong and sometimes fruitless endeavor. We are who we are in relation to others (friends, loved ones, and enemies) and the world we live in and that can & will likely change as we age and our interests vary. Besides that he's hitched his star to a very complicated person, Shaw Aldrich.
To my mind Shaw is a super needy person, one who as proven by past & present actions, doesn't present to the world or even to North his true, whole, and unvarnished self. Maybe he just hasn't embraced it yet and will as he gets older? What's clear is that he does love North.
So if you like these two as a couple and the world they inhabit I think you'll be satisfied. They're left in a good place, surrounded by friends and family and that's basically all we can ask for ourselves.
QUIBBLES
It seems that this might be the last (for now) in the North & Shaw series and I'm okay with that.
This installment combines the baroque violence of Criminal Past, in this case centered specifically North and his, North's, continued emotional exploration of himself as an individual separate from Shaw, Tucker, or familial upbringing.
The violence is not my thing but that's neither here nor there as I know that's part of GA's style and I choose to read his stories.
THE STORY: N&S start investigating the case of a dead girl who's part of the ever growing population of at-risk young people who (for different reasons) have no home or have run away from their homes. In the midst of this North is still trying to figure out who he is. If he were a real person, if I knew him, and were his friend in RL I'd tell him this is a lifelong and sometimes fruitless endeavor. We are who we are in relation to others (friends, loved ones, and enemies) and the world we live in and that can & will likely change as we age and our interests vary. Besides that he's hitched his star to a very complicated person, Shaw Aldrich.
To my mind Shaw is a super needy person, one who as proven by past & present actions, doesn't present to the world or even to North his true, whole, and unvarnished self. Maybe he just hasn't embraced it yet and will as he gets older? What's clear is that he does love North.
So if you like these two as a couple and the world they inhabit I think you'll be satisfied. They're left in a good place, surrounded by friends and family and that's basically all we can ask for ourselves.
QUIBBLES
September 6, 2022
This book ends in a bit of a shocker and I don't understand why we're all not talking about it??? I wouldn't necessarily say I'm TOO surprised, but what does this mean for the future of this series and the characters??? More on this later.
I thought this was a great story arc ending. There's obviously more books to come with North and Shaw, but this book is action-packed (as expected for a Gregory Ashe book) and it kept me on my toes.
Content notes include PTSD, misgendering a character (characters are corrected almost immediately), death of a pregnant girl, mentions of drug use, mentions of a cat being killed, homomisia, human trafficking, police brutality, dirty cops, mentions of underage/child pornography, murder, a parent being hospitalized for heart attacks, and a parent with cancer.
This book starts off innocently enough. There's a party at North and Shaw's new home together and everything is FINE. Until, that is, a reporter wants to talk to North about Tucker and about the allegations that Uncle Ronnie (who isn't really North's uncle) and North's father maybe had a hand in influencing the jury presiding over North's case a few years ago.
As if that wasn't enough of a downer for the night, Nik arrives at their home. We actually first met him in passing in the first book of this story arc, Indirection, and then we just didn't see him again until now. Shaw met the kid working a corner on the streets, and Nik had been new at that sort of thing back then. But by the time he arrives at North and Shaw's doorstep in this book, he's currently lived a lot since and he's no longer the fresh faced, innocent kid. He only winds up going to North and Shaw in the first place because he's desperate to find his friend, Malorie.
These kids are essentially living on the street and the thing is, the adults around them (if there are any) don't care about missing kids like that. The only one looking out for them are themselves, or if they have good friends like Nik who is concerned for Malorie. This starts North and Shaw looking for Nik's friend even though they barely know Nik at all and they know they're not going to get paid for it. There's a lot going on with this book just surrounding this case, North's dad, and Ronnie - who is a pain in everyone's side. Despite the antics between North and Shaw to keep the mood light, they have a lot to work out between them and this book does go into some pretty dark places.
BUT. Here to break the tension is an appearance of my fave - Emery Hazard, private investigator coming to St. Louis from Wahredua for the case he's working. I don't think you need to have read the Hazard and Somerset books before reading the Borealis books, but the interactions between the characters is certainly more enjoyable if you know them. And, just an observation, I don't think it's quite as obviously or noticeable in the Hazard and Somerset books since the books are from Hazard's perspective and his love interest, Somers...but seeing Hazard from North and Shaw's perspective makes me think that maybe Hazard is autistic? That's just my observation seeing Hazard from an outside perspective, but I could be wrong. Anyways, I love how Hazard accidentally always winds up getting caught up in North and Shaw's banter and it's just really funny how Shaw ropes Hazard into being their friend despite Hazard refusing to believe it.
So, the audiobook. The audiobook narration just hasn't been my favorite, and it's even more pronounced here because Hazard shows up. Charlie David's Hazard voice is not the same as Tristan James's (who does the Hazard and Somerset books) performance at all. But Charlie David finally figures out how to say Wahredua in this book, so there's that at least. My one thing about this audiobook that maybe no one else would care about unless you're into luxury bags like I am, is that Charlie David has no idea how to say Hermès, as in the luxury bag brand? He pronounces it like you would say the Greek god and how Master Hermes has been pronounced this whole time. It's just so wrong. I swear this narrator does zero research on how anything is pronounced before starting his recordings. The book even mentions that they're talking about the Birkin in Shaw's earlier POV chapter (and it was fun to see the scene play out from North's POV after because he had no idea the bag was a Birkin).
Of course the whole thing about the Birkin in this book was also so odd because the text says a character pulls the Birkin up over their shoulder, which is impossible unless you have child arms because the Birkin is famously a bag that is not practical at all and all you can do is pull it up to the crook of your arm (unless the character had a JPG Birkin where you could but it doesn't sound like that's the bag this character had). Also, the part about cutting up a Birkin? I just find that very difficult to believe, not because it's impossible, but just because it can't be that easy to cut up the lining in those bags like it was stated in the book. Anyways, this is a clue that I have watched too many people's Hermès journey stories (where they detail their success or failures literally begging Hermès employees for a Birkin or Kelly), so I thought I'd point all that out since I have all this useless info in my head anyways.
And back to the rest of the book...
Is Tucker gone for good? His presence lingers in this book even though he technically never shows his face. I don't think we've seen the last of him. Unfortunately.
I was worried about North's dad in this book. He's not in the best of health. He has cancer. Being accused of jury tampering in his old age and weakened health isn't good for the man. We've seen the cancer story play out with Hazard and his father in the other series, so I was concerned for North's dad here, even though I don't really like him. His dad is not a kind man. He was abusive to North almost all his life, but North still loves him, you know? It's a very messy family relationship, and a relationship that we see has affected North and how he viewed relationships which is why he was with Tucker for so long. For North's sake, I was worried about what would happen with his dad's health in this book.
Then there's Ronnie. How North's dad and Ronnie even know each other hasn't been answered thus far, unless I've missed it. Ronnie has been a thorn in North and Shaw's side since the first time we've met the man in this series. He's awful and only gotten worse now that he's been backed into a corner and is feeling particularly vengeful against North and Shaw. He gets what he deserves in this book.
We do get to see North and Shaw's relationship build in this book, and you can see between their banter how much they care for one another and how much they have to work out still. Therapy is definitely needed. For both of them, and from a real professional. What [redacted] does at the end of this book is going to cause some real conflict in the following books between the two of them, because I just see this coming back to bite them in the butt. Like, jail time serious. LIKE THIS SERIES ISN'T ANGSTY ENOUGH? But what that character does to [redacted] is so deserved, I can't even be angry about HOW it happens because 1) I was shocked but feeling like I SHOULDN'T be shocked, and 2) it's just a sigh of relief that it's been taken care of.
Anyways...we also meet a crime boss in this book so I'm interested to see where that will take the story. I'm also interested in North and Shaw's newest employee (besides Pari and Truck) called Zion who seems to be hitting it off with Jadon. We know nothing about Zion besides the fact that he keeps to himself but has contacts with people normal folks wouldn't have contacts with? Is Zion related somehow to the crime boss in this book? But that's just me throwing out a random theory with nothing to support my wild musings. I'm interested to see how that plays out and if Jadon will get a good love interest who will make him happy.
This was a really solid book. I love North and Shaw, and I loved the cameo from Hazard. I look forward to more more North and Shaw books in the future!
***Thanks to the author for giving me an e-ARC and audiobook to read and review!***
I thought this was a great story arc ending. There's obviously more books to come with North and Shaw, but this book is action-packed (as expected for a Gregory Ashe book) and it kept me on my toes.
Content notes include PTSD, misgendering a character (characters are corrected almost immediately), death of a pregnant girl, mentions of drug use, mentions of a cat being killed, homomisia, human trafficking, police brutality, dirty cops, mentions of underage/child pornography, murder, a parent being hospitalized for heart attacks, and a parent with cancer.
This book starts off innocently enough. There's a party at North and Shaw's new home together and everything is FINE. Until, that is, a reporter wants to talk to North about Tucker and about the allegations that Uncle Ronnie (who isn't really North's uncle) and North's father maybe had a hand in influencing the jury presiding over North's case a few years ago.
As if that wasn't enough of a downer for the night, Nik arrives at their home. We actually first met him in passing in the first book of this story arc, Indirection, and then we just didn't see him again until now. Shaw met the kid working a corner on the streets, and Nik had been new at that sort of thing back then. But by the time he arrives at North and Shaw's doorstep in this book, he's currently lived a lot since and he's no longer the fresh faced, innocent kid. He only winds up going to North and Shaw in the first place because he's desperate to find his friend, Malorie.
These kids are essentially living on the street and the thing is, the adults around them (if there are any) don't care about missing kids like that. The only one looking out for them are themselves, or if they have good friends like Nik who is concerned for Malorie. This starts North and Shaw looking for Nik's friend even though they barely know Nik at all and they know they're not going to get paid for it. There's a lot going on with this book just surrounding this case, North's dad, and Ronnie - who is a pain in everyone's side. Despite the antics between North and Shaw to keep the mood light, they have a lot to work out between them and this book does go into some pretty dark places.
BUT. Here to break the tension is an appearance of my fave - Emery Hazard, private investigator coming to St. Louis from Wahredua for the case he's working. I don't think you need to have read the Hazard and Somerset books before reading the Borealis books, but the interactions between the characters is certainly more enjoyable if you know them. And, just an observation, I don't think it's quite as obviously or noticeable in the Hazard and Somerset books since the books are from Hazard's perspective and his love interest, Somers...but seeing Hazard from North and Shaw's perspective makes me think that maybe Hazard is autistic? That's just my observation seeing Hazard from an outside perspective, but I could be wrong. Anyways, I love how Hazard accidentally always winds up getting caught up in North and Shaw's banter and it's just really funny how Shaw ropes Hazard into being their friend despite Hazard refusing to believe it.
So, the audiobook. The audiobook narration just hasn't been my favorite, and it's even more pronounced here because Hazard shows up. Charlie David's Hazard voice is not the same as Tristan James's (who does the Hazard and Somerset books) performance at all. But Charlie David finally figures out how to say Wahredua in this book, so there's that at least. My one thing about this audiobook that maybe no one else would care about unless you're into luxury bags like I am, is that Charlie David has no idea how to say Hermès, as in the luxury bag brand? He pronounces it like you would say the Greek god and how Master Hermes has been pronounced this whole time. It's just so wrong. I swear this narrator does zero research on how anything is pronounced before starting his recordings. The book even mentions that they're talking about the Birkin in Shaw's earlier POV chapter (and it was fun to see the scene play out from North's POV after because he had no idea the bag was a Birkin).
Of course the whole thing about the Birkin in this book was also so odd because the text says a character pulls the Birkin up over their shoulder, which is impossible unless you have child arms because the Birkin is famously a bag that is not practical at all and all you can do is pull it up to the crook of your arm (unless the character had a JPG Birkin where you could but it doesn't sound like that's the bag this character had). Also, the part about cutting up a Birkin? I just find that very difficult to believe, not because it's impossible, but just because it can't be that easy to cut up the lining in those bags like it was stated in the book. Anyways, this is a clue that I have watched too many people's Hermès journey stories (where they detail their success or failures literally begging Hermès employees for a Birkin or Kelly), so I thought I'd point all that out since I have all this useless info in my head anyways.
And back to the rest of the book...
Is Tucker gone for good? His presence lingers in this book even though he technically never shows his face. I don't think we've seen the last of him. Unfortunately.
I was worried about North's dad in this book. He's not in the best of health. He has cancer. Being accused of jury tampering in his old age and weakened health isn't good for the man. We've seen the cancer story play out with Hazard and his father in the other series, so I was concerned for North's dad here, even though I don't really like him. His dad is not a kind man. He was abusive to North almost all his life, but North still loves him, you know? It's a very messy family relationship, and a relationship that we see has affected North and how he viewed relationships which is why he was with Tucker for so long. For North's sake, I was worried about what would happen with his dad's health in this book.
Then there's Ronnie. How North's dad and Ronnie even know each other hasn't been answered thus far, unless I've missed it. Ronnie has been a thorn in North and Shaw's side since the first time we've met the man in this series. He's awful and only gotten worse now that he's been backed into a corner and is feeling particularly vengeful against North and Shaw. He gets what he deserves in this book.
We do get to see North and Shaw's relationship build in this book, and you can see between their banter how much they care for one another and how much they have to work out still. Therapy is definitely needed. For both of them, and from a real professional. What [redacted] does at the end of this book is going to cause some real conflict in the following books between the two of them, because I just see this coming back to bite them in the butt. Like, jail time serious. LIKE THIS SERIES ISN'T ANGSTY ENOUGH? But what that character does to [redacted] is so deserved, I can't even be angry about HOW it happens because 1) I was shocked but feeling like I SHOULDN'T be shocked, and 2) it's just a sigh of relief that it's been taken care of.
Anyways...we also meet a crime boss in this book so I'm interested to see where that will take the story. I'm also interested in North and Shaw's newest employee (besides Pari and Truck) called Zion who seems to be hitting it off with Jadon. We know nothing about Zion besides the fact that he keeps to himself but has contacts with people normal folks wouldn't have contacts with? Is Zion related somehow to the crime boss in this book? But that's just me throwing out a random theory with nothing to support my wild musings. I'm interested to see how that plays out and if Jadon will get a good love interest who will make him happy.
This was a really solid book. I love North and Shaw, and I loved the cameo from Hazard. I look forward to more more North and Shaw books in the future!
***Thanks to the author for giving me an e-ARC and audiobook to read and review!***
November 5, 2021
I have to admit Shaw and North are not my favorite MC pairing offered by the author ... like almost everyone else, I find Shaw's verbalizing / dialogue baffling and sometimes very annoying; and the inevitable banter zinging between the MCs whilst interviewing or interrogating suspects/witnesses and engaging with friends and family quite tiring. This final offering of this second series did provide an interesting disappearance/murder plot. Pleasingly, there is resolution to a couple of over-arching series plot-lines.
My biggest concern lies with Shaw and North's tendency to 'resolve' their relationship tensions and road-bumps via sex (hawt or otherwise). The high-point is the unexpected 'guest-star' appearance of Shaw's 'bestest-friend' ; I went all fan-crazy sqeeeeeeeee!!. I know I've said before that I'd like to give myself a 'reading break' for these characters but lo and behold ... I keep getting drawn back in like some teenage victim in a slasher/horror flick LOL.
3.5 stars overall, with half a star deducted for an unexpected MC action at the end which left me with some moral dilemma concerns; and reminding me of how I felt about MC Neil in Bitch Slap a few years back.
My biggest concern lies with Shaw and North's tendency to 'resolve' their relationship tensions and road-bumps via sex (hawt or otherwise). The high-point is the unexpected 'guest-star' appearance of Shaw's 'bestest-friend' ; I went all fan-crazy sqeeeeeeeee!!. I know I've said before that I'd like to give myself a 'reading break' for these characters but lo and behold ... I keep getting drawn back in like some teenage victim in a slasher/horror flick LOL.
3.5 stars overall, with half a star deducted for an unexpected MC action at the end which left me with some moral dilemma concerns; and reminding me of how I felt about MC Neil in Bitch Slap a few years back.
August 27, 2021
They both annoyed the hell out of me, and I will freely admit to skimming...unheard of for me with a Gregory Ashe read. I just haven't really enjoyed this series [other than book 3] as much as others, so I'm not sure where that leaves me with any future North & Shaw reads 😒? Not even a little cameo from Emery Hazard could cheer me up, although Uncle Ronnie so that got a big thumbs up from me 👍👍.
Cannot wait for Relative Justice later this year.
Cannot wait for Relative Justice later this year.
February 16, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A bit of a letdown after book 3 blew my socks off. The mystery just didn't engage me much on an emotional level, perhaps because I was expecting (especially after the scene-setting first chapter) more Ronnie and Tucker and instead got random-girl-we-don't-care-about and teenager-we-feel-sorry-for-but-he's-also-super-annoying. And the North-Shaw dynamic left me frustrated as well: Shaw's inability to respect North's boundaries felt like we were re-treading ground from book 3, and while they eventually communicated more honestly with each other, they still have so far to go. Don't get me wrong: I tore through this, was satisfied with the way the Ronnie storyline played out (I called it!), loved North's gesture towards the end, and loved the final chapter. But honestly, Ashe left so much on the field here -- presumably saving it for a third Borealis arc -- that I felt a bit cheated.
That said -- the sting in the tail, as ancientreader called it, really did sting -- and opens up such a pandora's box for a new arc.
But as a whole, this arc worked better for me than North and Shaw's first outing -- and if/ when we get a third arc, I will definitely pick it up. Tucker needs comeupping!!
A bit of a letdown after book 3 blew my socks off. The mystery just didn't engage me much on an emotional level, perhaps because I was expecting (especially after the scene-setting first chapter) more Ronnie and Tucker and instead got random-girl-we-don't-care-about and teenager-we-feel-sorry-for-but-he's-also-super-annoying. And the North-Shaw dynamic left me frustrated as well: Shaw's inability to respect North's boundaries felt like we were re-treading ground from book 3, and while they eventually communicated more honestly with each other, they still have so far to go. Don't get me wrong: I tore through this, was satisfied with the way the Ronnie storyline played out (I called it!), loved North's gesture towards the end, and loved the final chapter. But honestly, Ashe left so much on the field here -- presumably saving it for a third Borealis arc -- that I felt a bit cheated.
That said -- the sting in the tail, as ancientreader called it, really did sting -- and opens up such a pandora's box for a new arc.
But as a whole, this arc worked better for me than North and Shaw's first outing -- and if/ when we get a third arc, I will definitely pick it up. Tucker needs comeupping!!
August 21, 2021
I struggled between 3 stars and 4 stars for this one. I liked the book. Liked the way they're finding their footing in a tentatively healthy relationship. But it's like a large part of the previous book didn't even happen.
To be edited when I've given it more thought. 😂 For now though, am just gonna rate it 4 stars cause of the sneak preview into Relative Justice.
To be edited when I've given it more thought. 😂 For now though, am just gonna rate it 4 stars cause of the sneak preview into Relative Justice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2021
Can't believe Shaw did that!
October 4, 2022
A lovely way to cap off the series… but still hoping for more North and Shaw books in future!
January 27, 2025
4.25⭐️
•spoilers•
A boy that Shaw met months ago turns up at North and Shaw's house claiming that a friend has gone missing. As they investigate, they get caught up in a network of people who profit off of abandoned youth in the city. As the danger escalates they have to quickly track down the now murderer, all the while Ronnie continues his revenge plan against North and those he cares about.
Oh North and Shaw. I'm not quite sure why we went through all the angst in this series because honestly, they are kind of right back to where they started. Maybe a little more self aware? But not much. And I say that lovingly because I do love these two idiots, I just wish they talked about things. North is really struggling with who he is as an individual and while Shaw wants to help, he has to learn to take a step back and let North be. They did have a great conversation towards the end and I have some hope for their future, but it was a little unsatisfying because I feel like they still have things to work out.
This series was a little different than others in the universe because this last case wasn't one that had been building throughout the series. However, I'm completely convinced that this is related to Hazard and Somers series 1 corruption case - and maybe this is something we will see again?? It was a more intense case than they have handled previously and I imagine it's left some aftershocks. On the other hand everything with Ronnie that has been built up over the previous books was fine. His whole deal felt more like a cloud of anxiety and a tool to help North on his personal journey. A very satisfying ending for him though, Shaw can be scary when he wants to be.
I liked this series because North and Shaw's banter was amazing, but I think I preferred their first one. They went on this huge rollercoaster of an emotional journey and I don't think it was a satisfying enough ending after everything they've been through. And I'm still pissy about the Tucker incident honestly. A real highlight of this book was seeing Hazard from North and Shaw's perspective. He has a few cameos and I loved seeing them all attempting to work together. I can only imagine how entertaining the crossover series is going to be (I assume - along with all the drama and murder). North and Shaw feel like they have a lot of story left to tell and I'm looking forward to more of them.
Read if you like:
• romantic suspense
• private investigators
• friends to lovers
•••••••••••••••••••••
•spoilers•
A boy that Shaw met months ago turns up at North and Shaw's house claiming that a friend has gone missing. As they investigate, they get caught up in a network of people who profit off of abandoned youth in the city. As the danger escalates they have to quickly track down the now murderer, all the while Ronnie continues his revenge plan against North and those he cares about.
Oh North and Shaw. I'm not quite sure why we went through all the angst in this series because honestly, they are kind of right back to where they started. Maybe a little more self aware? But not much. And I say that lovingly because I do love these two idiots, I just wish they talked about things. North is really struggling with who he is as an individual and while Shaw wants to help, he has to learn to take a step back and let North be. They did have a great conversation towards the end and I have some hope for their future, but it was a little unsatisfying because I feel like they still have things to work out.
This series was a little different than others in the universe because this last case wasn't one that had been building throughout the series. However, I'm completely convinced that this is related to Hazard and Somers series 1 corruption case - and maybe this is something we will see again?? It was a more intense case than they have handled previously and I imagine it's left some aftershocks. On the other hand everything with Ronnie that has been built up over the previous books was fine. His whole deal felt more like a cloud of anxiety and a tool to help North on his personal journey. A very satisfying ending for him though, Shaw can be scary when he wants to be.
I liked this series because North and Shaw's banter was amazing, but I think I preferred their first one. They went on this huge rollercoaster of an emotional journey and I don't think it was a satisfying enough ending after everything they've been through. And I'm still pissy about the Tucker incident honestly. A real highlight of this book was seeing Hazard from North and Shaw's perspective. He has a few cameos and I loved seeing them all attempting to work together. I can only imagine how entertaining the crossover series is going to be (I assume - along with all the drama and murder). North and Shaw feel like they have a lot of story left to tell and I'm looking forward to more of them.
Read if you like:
• romantic suspense
• private investigators
• friends to lovers
•••••••••••••••••••••
March 7, 2024
Man. What an ending to this arc. So many questions! So many unresolved issues! Even if North & Shaw are in a generally good place at the end. But man... for a person who was very out on them before I started reading their books, I am now so so very invested in their incredibly fucked up selves and relationship and I just need more! The great Gregory Ashe Hazarverse project draws to its close... what will I do with myself after it is done!!!
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