From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Primal Red (Bellingham Mysteries, #1)

Nicole Kimberling

Start date: June 1, 2016

Finish date: June 30, 2016

Discussion: Book of the Month Club

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Book of the Month Club

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What Members Thought

May 27, 2011 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: glbt, romance, rainbow-gay, action-crime-suspense

Peter, you're one of my new favorites!

First word that comes to my mind: comfortable. I like when I feel I am slipping into the mind of a character and I feel at ease there. It has happened to me a few blessed times with first-person narrators, like Adrien (English) or Vic (Psycops), but I think it's a first for me to experience this kind of involvement with a third-person narration. It was as if the barrier of the page didn't exist and I could get behind it and stand close to Peter, the main cha Peter, you're one of my new favorites!

First word that comes to my mind: comfortable. I like when I feel I am slipping into the mind of a character and I feel at ease there. It has happened to me a few blessed times with first-person narrators, like Adrien (English) or Vic (Psycops), but I think it's a first for me to experience this kind of involvement with a third-person narration. It was as if the barrier of the page didn't exist and I could get behind it and stand close to Peter, the main character.

Peter is a reporter. He is looking for pieces of information to write an investigative article, when he stumbles upon a murder. On the crime scene, next to the dying woman, there's Nick, a local artist, to whom Peter is very attracted.

The investigation doesn't carry a lot of angst or action, but it takes the reader close to artist community of the city of Bellingham, which is a protagonist of the story as much as the characters in flesh and bones. Even if Bellingham seemes a cozy place to live where nothing ever happens, there are shady businesses and love affairs going on, and they become entangled as the artistic threads spinned by three of the secondary characters.

Peter should investigate Nick too and to get closer to the recluded man, who doesn't want people to meddle with his life, he invites him on a date and it's here that I adored Peter and his attitude. He is younger than Nick, he is not as rich, he is smart, but probably not as sophisticated, but he is also open and outgoing in a way that his love interest is not. Peter is not bossy, but he takes charge, and I loved how he was able to reach out to Nick and build the bridge that brought them together.

Nick is not as fleshed out as Peter, but I think it depends on the fact that not even Peter knows him very much. Nick guards his life with fierceness, I would say, but it was sweet to read how he lets himself be conquered and seduced by the younger man.

The writing is awesome. In a paragraph the author can give you all the information you need to build an image of the surroundings, or of a person. Or a cat, like Tripod, the three-legged cat who rules the neighborhood with an iron paw. This story is not dark or troubled, so if you're looking for a heavier type of mystery it might not be the book for you, but it was true and pure high quality enjoyment. ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Lady*M rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m-romance, mystery, contemporary

This is a mystery-lite and, for what it is, it's an easy, entertaining read. The star of the story is Peter. I loved his fantasy articles and quirky humor. ...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Meggie rated it liked it

Shelves: crime-police-mystery

I really enjoyed the writing style in this first book. It's down to earth, realistic and pulling, I liked it. The mystery plotted around the woman’s murder and Peter investigation of Russian tea shop was good. Nick was to undeveloped for me and to silent as a character. His and Peter's short developed romance didn't really play for me. Maybe it developed to fast and abrupt. ...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Stephanie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nicole-kimberling, 2009

1st read 6/22/12
2nd read 4/5/14

I love murder mysteries with a side of m/m smexiness. And this short story dished out both brilliantly. I was captivated by the murder plot and loved the two MCs slow-building romance. I couldn't put this book down once I started it. The final reveal did not disappoint as well. Yes, this story could have been made longer with more plot details and more dating time between the MCs but I loved the short length and it definitely left me wanting more. I can't wait to d ...more

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