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Partners in Crime #5
Committed to Memory
Two men: one with memories he can't escape, the other with memories he can't recapture -- both trusting strangers who lie. Amnesiac Peter Killian, suspected art thief, can't understand why LAPD detective Michael Griffin takes his memory loss so personally. American expatriate Jack Stoyles, exiled in a distant Atlantic outpost, is suddenly in love with a stranger who kisses him -- and then dies. With good reason Jack calls his place "Heartache Cafe."
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
142 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
186 books5,372 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 22, 2010
I love Josh Lanyon's mysteries. This one is really good. The fact that the main character is a little dense on things reminds me of all of us when we are in denial.
June 25, 2010
This mini-anthology contains two parts:
Don't look back by Josh Lanyon
When museum curator Peter Kilian wakes up in a hospital bed, he finds himself accused of stealing from his own museum. He can't remember if he did - or didn't. LAPD DI Mark Griffin seems very sure Peter is guilty, though. Isn't it weird that Griffin seems to take Peter's lack of remebrance so personal?
This was a typical Lanyon book. I liked it a lot. The memory loss was handled very realistically, although it had to act as a convenient solution at times. Then again, Lanyon is so skilled such little cheats didn't really bother. The story and the relationship was gripping, and the mystery, although a bit over the top, actually mysterious. Not Lanyon's best, but not bad either.
Heartache Cafe by J.S.Cook
American Expatriate Jack sets up shop in Newfoundland, a place he calls Heartache Cafe. It's the 1940s, and the world is at war, but Jack has been dismissed form the military for "health issues". At the cafe he encounters a lot of friends, some of which become his casual lovers, but only when he meets mysterious Sam Hamil, an Egyptian, he loses his heart.
This story had a dark, surreal feel to it, very befitting the time it's set in. Like a film noir, the mystery evolves around a beautiful woman and a thin - moustached villain. Although the writing was very skilled, the story didn't manage to draw me in. Too many random twists, and too many heaviness. Sam remains a mere outline; why Jack should love him so, doesn't become clear. Still, some of the cast were remarkably well done, particularly Phonse and Chris, who were both adorable.
Don't look back by Josh Lanyon
When museum curator Peter Kilian wakes up in a hospital bed, he finds himself accused of stealing from his own museum. He can't remember if he did - or didn't. LAPD DI Mark Griffin seems very sure Peter is guilty, though. Isn't it weird that Griffin seems to take Peter's lack of remebrance so personal?
This was a typical Lanyon book. I liked it a lot. The memory loss was handled very realistically, although it had to act as a convenient solution at times. Then again, Lanyon is so skilled such little cheats didn't really bother. The story and the relationship was gripping, and the mystery, although a bit over the top, actually mysterious. Not Lanyon's best, but not bad either.
Heartache Cafe by J.S.Cook
American Expatriate Jack sets up shop in Newfoundland, a place he calls Heartache Cafe. It's the 1940s, and the world is at war, but Jack has been dismissed form the military for "health issues". At the cafe he encounters a lot of friends, some of which become his casual lovers, but only when he meets mysterious Sam Hamil, an Egyptian, he loses his heart.
This story had a dark, surreal feel to it, very befitting the time it's set in. Like a film noir, the mystery evolves around a beautiful woman and a thin - moustached villain. Although the writing was very skilled, the story didn't manage to draw me in. Too many random twists, and too many heaviness. Sam remains a mere outline; why Jack should love him so, doesn't become clear. Still, some of the cast were remarkably well done, particularly Phonse and Chris, who were both adorable.
October 10, 2020
I loved the first story in the book by Josh Lanyon, "Don't Look Back".
Detective Micheal Griffin seems to always be in Peter Killiam's hospital room when he wakes and falls back to sleep then awake again after a concussion. The problem for Peter is he really can't remember that night when an art mural was stolen, he has amnesia. Detective Griffin doesn't believe Peter and gives the man a hard time, not giving up on interrogating his suspect.
Peter works at the Museum where the mural was stolen. Peter's best friend Cole owns the museum and is on the board of directors. Cole has dragged Peter around whenever he's wanted him because Cole had a hold on the young man, Peter loved him, but it wasn't returned.
Things take a turn for the worse when Peter discovers someone trying to frame Peter for the thief. Detective Griffin is coy in giving Peter warnings about what he had to look out for. As things worsen for Peter, he finds he goes to Detective Griffin.
This is a great suspense story as Peter tries to figure out who's trying to frame him and while doing so he finally finds out what's been the problem with the detective is. The emotions get high, love is around the corner, betrayal is hurtful but Peter makes it out with the man he was supposed to be with.
The second story, Heartache Cafe has medium angst, lots of suspense, many deaths and so many characters to keep track of. Jack Stoyles has been through much with the war, a discharge, deaths that haunt him. Then a stranger comes into Jack's life, a mysterious man that Jack dreams about him and wants to be with this stranger.
While this is going on in Jack's life the local police get him involved with helping them solve the mystery about a construction company and fault reports about the environment. It's a good story and leaves up with an ending that would go onto another book.
Detective Micheal Griffin seems to always be in Peter Killiam's hospital room when he wakes and falls back to sleep then awake again after a concussion. The problem for Peter is he really can't remember that night when an art mural was stolen, he has amnesia. Detective Griffin doesn't believe Peter and gives the man a hard time, not giving up on interrogating his suspect.
Peter works at the Museum where the mural was stolen. Peter's best friend Cole owns the museum and is on the board of directors. Cole has dragged Peter around whenever he's wanted him because Cole had a hold on the young man, Peter loved him, but it wasn't returned.
Things take a turn for the worse when Peter discovers someone trying to frame Peter for the thief. Detective Griffin is coy in giving Peter warnings about what he had to look out for. As things worsen for Peter, he finds he goes to Detective Griffin.
This is a great suspense story as Peter tries to figure out who's trying to frame him and while doing so he finally finds out what's been the problem with the detective is. The emotions get high, love is around the corner, betrayal is hurtful but Peter makes it out with the man he was supposed to be with.
The second story, Heartache Cafe has medium angst, lots of suspense, many deaths and so many characters to keep track of. Jack Stoyles has been through much with the war, a discharge, deaths that haunt him. Then a stranger comes into Jack's life, a mysterious man that Jack dreams about him and wants to be with this stranger.
While this is going on in Jack's life the local police get him involved with helping them solve the mystery about a construction company and fault reports about the environment. It's a good story and leaves up with an ending that would go onto another book.
August 26, 2019
Don't look back by Josh Lanyon
Oh, amnesia, what a nice trope you are :P
I felt quite sorry for Peter most of the time. I mean, seriously, so many awful things to remember!
A nice mystery, although a predictable one, a romance between two interesting and engaging main characters, who happens to be at odds for almost the whole book's length.
Really, what is here to not like? 5 stars for this one!
Heartache Cafe by J.S.Cook
This story feels... unfinished. It never seems to settle in one tone, noire in the mystery, magical realism in the romance, but, in the end, nothing really comes of it. The 'dame' is hanged, but the main twirling-moustache villain gets away with murder (quite literally), and Sam... I don't even know what's going on with Sam.
Two stars, only because, somehow, it managed to get me to read it until the end.
Oh, amnesia, what a nice trope you are :P
I felt quite sorry for Peter most of the time. I mean, seriously, so many awful things to remember!
A nice mystery, although a predictable one, a romance between two interesting and engaging main characters, who happens to be at odds for almost the whole book's length.
Really, what is here to not like? 5 stars for this one!
Heartache Cafe by J.S.Cook
This story feels... unfinished. It never seems to settle in one tone, noire in the mystery, magical realism in the romance, but, in the end, nothing really comes of it. The 'dame' is hanged, but the main twirling-moustache villain gets away with murder (quite literally), and Sam... I don't even know what's going on with Sam.
Two stars, only because, somehow, it managed to get me to read it until the end.
November 23, 2018
Worth to read for Josh Lanyon's story - Don't look back. Classic Lanyon, and thus catnip to me. Loved it.
May 3, 2024
Don't Look Back - 3,5 stars
Heartache Cafe - 2 stars
Heartache Cafe - 2 stars
December 30, 2013
Don't Look Back
Josh Lanyon
3.5 stars
Peter's amnesia certainly helped clear up a few things for him. There was one point that kind of confused me. When he first sees Other than that minor point, however, I found this mystery enjoyable. I really liked Roma and Jess and would have liked to see more of them.
Heartache Cafe
J.S. Cook
2.5 stars
This one confused me. Not the mystery, though that did seem a bit convoluted, but there seemed to be a lot of people who weren't what they seemed to be yet didn't quite seem to fit what they were supposed to be, either. I had a very hard time really connecting to any of the characters because they didn't really feel real to me. Still, the ending has me curious enough to find the sequel and read it, so I guess it wasn't as difficult of a read as I thought.
Josh Lanyon
3.5 stars
Peter's amnesia certainly helped clear up a few things for him. There was one point that kind of confused me. When he first sees Other than that minor point, however, I found this mystery enjoyable. I really liked Roma and Jess and would have liked to see more of them.
Heartache Cafe
J.S. Cook
2.5 stars
This one confused me. Not the mystery, though that did seem a bit convoluted, but there seemed to be a lot of people who weren't what they seemed to be yet didn't quite seem to fit what they were supposed to be, either. I had a very hard time really connecting to any of the characters because they didn't really feel real to me. Still, the ending has me curious enough to find the sequel and read it, so I guess it wasn't as difficult of a read as I thought.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews