The Curse of the Blue Scarab: A Monster Mash-up in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Dec 22, 2016 Anna rated it did not like it

Shelves: m-m, 1-star, mm-mystery-crime-suspense, i-own-mobi, mm-paramedic-doctors-etc, disability-illness-disorder, age-difference, the-one-and-only-josh-lanyon, boring-make-it-end

Josh Lanyon is my absolute favourite author, so to be giving one of her books 1 star is so unlike me. But I just didn't like anything in this book. I forced myself to finish it just because it was by Josh Lanyon, and because I kept a spark of hope until the end that something would make me like it even a little more. But no--I was just bored throughout the whole book. I guess even Josh Lanyon cannot make me love historicals. ...more

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Dec 10, 2016 Jan rated it it was amazing

Perfect. Josh has perfectly captured the spirit of the classic early 20th century mystery. The characters, language, mannerisms and manners of the period and the locations are fully drawn.

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Apr 19, 2017 Antonella rated it really liked it

More mystery than romance, but an excellent mystery. In fact it was very thrilling, and at times scary. Three cheers for Doctor Quentin Armiston, a main character which is 50 years old and demisexual. In fact, three cheers for the author who developed the character in this direction. Captain Hilary Maxwell was significantly younger, thirtyish, disabled because of a war injury to his leg. That’s also the origin of (view spoiler) ...more

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Mar 29, 2017 Debra Guyette rated it it was amazing

Dr. Armiston is a man of medicine. Mysticism is not for him. When he is called upon to investigate the death of a man, he does not expect to get pulled into the Society of Osiris. The members think something sinister is going on related to the Egyptian sarcophagus. The handsome Captain Maxwell requests Dr. Amiston’s help. As the deaths continue, Armiston finds himself drawn into the puzzle. Or maybe it is Captain Maxwell that draws him in.

What a unique book to read. Set in a time where loving an ...more

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Jan 21, 2017 Chris, the Dalek King rated it liked it

Shelves: borrowed-ebook-or-audio, historical, mc-pairing-mm, owned-ebook-or-audio, missing-senses-broken-things, murder-and-mystery, foreign-uk, science-or-magic-experimentation, scrubs, kindle-to-lend

Well...that didn't get any better on the reread. On the other hand, it probably didn't get any worse either. Just stayed firmly planted on "rather boring book, with a bad ending."

I normally love this author's work, but here it just fell flat near the end. I just really hate the reasoning behind what ultimately happens.

I'd honestly say, skip it, unless you are a Josh Lanyon completest.

2.5 stars ...more

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Jan 19, 2021 Nightcolors rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense-crime, historical, lgbtqi, humor, 2021

The style this story was written in and the historical setting made it a bit hard to fall into the story at first. But as I got used to the rhythm of it, I started to rather like the way it felt. And this book was spooky. I'm not a horror fan, so I'm glad it didn't get too scary. There definitely was a lot of general atmosphere of sinister happening all throughout.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Jul 14, 2017 David rated it it was amazing

Best Mash-Up Ever!!!

Perhaps the most unique entry in the Josh Lanyon canon, THE CURSE OF THE BLUE SCARAB is a delightful read for fans of Lanyon's other work, as well as fans of classic mystery and classic horror literature. This, however, is not your usual Lanyon historical, chock full of m/m romance, intrigue and mystery (though this novel is certainly not lacking in those elements). Rather, this book marks a big departure from the familiar Lanyon style, yet she succeeded in creating a wholly ...more

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Dec 24, 2016 Eve rated it it was amazing

Not exactly the type of Josh Lanyon stories I'm used to, but I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery. It's less of a whodunnit, more of if, how and why. As always, I can't fault Lanyon's characterization, fascinating. The romance part was simmering throughout the whole story, but the main dish was the mystery for me.
...more

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