Bitter Legacy (Bitter Legacy, #1) in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Jul 03, 2020 Darkm rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m, favorites, cops-bodyguards

I have mixed feelings about this book, I think the investigative side was very well made, it kept me on my toes and turning pages, but the "romance" part was actually very hard to "stomach".

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Jun 06, 2017 Cerulean rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ibooks, cover-love

4.5 stars

Very well-crafted crime/mystery with complex, fascinating characters. Fantastic debut novel.

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Jun 30, 2017 Dana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: m-m

Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness. I just finished this book around midnight and had to write down my feelings while they were fresh and almost crushing me with their intensity. I’m squeeing inside because of all the surprises I faced in this book.

I should start by saying that it did take me a little bit to get into the story. It was a little slow going, probably realistic with the brick walls James keeps running into investig Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness. I just finished this book around midnight and had to write down my feelings while they were fresh and almost crushing me with their intensity. I’m squeeing inside because of all the surprises I faced in this book.

I should start by saying that it did take me a little bit to get into the story. It was a little slow going, probably realistic with the brick walls James keeps running into investigating the murder of a young woman. One of the first places he goes to investigate is an apartment building, or truer to the location of the story perhaps I should call it a flat. He meets two men that will be important to his story with one of them stirring romantic and lusty interest. James ends up renting a room in that building, but even that is slow going, since the man he’s interested in, Ben, is only looking to be friends.

As two more murders happen, James begins to suspect a serial killer. Even though his coworkers are looking for an easier answer to what’s happening, I was really backing James’ theory. Perhaps because he is the main character and I didn’t want to see him be wrong. Things become more complicated in his living situation, too. James begins to fall for Ben, but learns his feelings might never be returned. His lower floor neighbor and gay porn star Steggie, has an interest in James but he can’t return his feelings. It’s a awkward love triangle with no one seeming to be happy with the status quo. James is only recently out and there is a plot thread of him coming into his sexuality and trying to maintain friendships with men when attraction is involved.

The police bring in several suspects during the investigation, all with pretty good motive for the murders, but none of them sit right with James as the killer. Halfway through the book, things become more intense and after that I couldn’t put the book down. I had suspects that were wrong. Then I thought I knew who it was, making me wail inside because I didn’t want it to be that person. The author then made it seem like it was another person who I also didn’t want to be a ruthless killer, only to bring it all back to the first person. I wanted to yell, and I wanted to cry.

There is a lot of talk in this book about the viewpoint that a lot of criminals are victims of their own situations in life and and turn to violence and crime because they are used to it. Some of the secondary characters want more leniency shown towards those who have suffered and well, I can see how I might have felt that way about one of the characters in this book, but those same beliefs were what made the murderer take his revenge on those who were shown better treatment because of those ideals. It felt like a Catch 22.

At the end, James does find romance and it feels like a HFN because it was a hard won relationship. The end of the murder investigation left me feeling upset in ways. Even though the murders were solved, I was left distressed by the outcome. Like there was no way that it could have ended well. I couldn’t be happy that the mystery was solved even though it needed to happen.

If you like a book that will keep you guessing while teasing you with sexy times, this book is for you. I would definitely read another book featuring this character (pretty please?) or another book by this author, for sure.

9.5/10 Pots of Gold (95% Recommended) – Compares to 4.75/5 Stars ...more

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Jul 28, 2020 Lakerkat rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 16, 2018 Betsy rated it really liked it

After a good book dry spell, this marked the beginning of three books that I really liked. Not too damaged protagonist, irritating love interest with commitment issues, twisty plot. I didn't think the romantic arc resolution quite worked, but I forgive it because the rest did. ...more

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Sep 15, 2016 Kendra marked it as to-read

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