From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

Somebody Killed His Editor (Holmes & Moriarity #1)

Josh Lanyon

Start date: July 1, 2012

Finish date: July 31, 2012

Discussion leader: Josh

Why we're reading this: To prepare for the release of ALL SHE WROTE -- and to find a way to give a couple of advance copies -- I …more
[close] To prepare for the release of ALL SHE WROTE -- and to find a way to give a couple of advance copies -- I thought we could do a discussion. Everyone who takes part will be added to a pool and then two names will be randomly selected on Christmas Eve for a copy of ALL SHE WROTE.

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What Members Thought

Oct 21, 2011 Johanna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mystery, favorites, m-m, josh-lanyon, jl-book-of-the-month

Why haven't I read this book earlier?!

I fell blindly and unconditionally in love with Kit! He seems to be struggling with his mid-life crisis big time: his long-term relationship has just ended, his career is going downhill, he is concerned about his health, he feels awfully old and he complains a lot about all and everything. What is there not to like about this man?! I enjoy the way he sees the world and himself through snarky lenses and I absolutely love the unbeatable logic of his!

And maybe Why haven't I read this book earlier?!

I fell blindly and unconditionally in love with Kit! He seems to be struggling with his mid-life crisis big time: his long-term relationship has just ended, his career is going downhill, he is concerned about his health, he feels awfully old and he complains a lot about all and everything. What is there not to like about this man?! I enjoy the way he sees the world and himself through snarky lenses and I absolutely love the unbeatable logic of his!

And maybe it all comes down to the fact, that I've always enjoyed the way Josh Lanyon's characters are a bit older and have already been through a lot in life. A while back when reading paranormal romance I eventually grew tired of the fact that almost all the heroines where about 20 years old with superhero abilities. The fact that Kit is the same age than me is definitely a bonus - I can totally (well... maybe not totally) relate to him and his weird line of thought. ;) I thought that him being slightly grumpy about his age was only cute. Behind all that reluctance of his there is something truly disarming about him!

The way Lanyon is kindly making fun of this aging writer, who hates writers retreats, but unyieldingly loves his Miss Butterwith is fascinating. LOL! I can only imagine how much fun it has been to come up with names to the imaginary books of Miss Butterwith series and the subjects of the lectures held in the retreat. Ha! Overall it feels to me, that this must have been a fun book to write! The joy about writing Kit's story comes across so clearly.

Did I mention J.X. already? No? These two men seem to be contrary to one another - in other words a perfect fit. I sincerely hope that J.X. will have enough patience with Kit and his character in the future. I'm afraid Kit would be completely lost without him - although he doesn't realize it himself (or wouldn't at least never admit it). He really needs somebody to kick his butt now and then. J.X. qualifies perfectly for that job! :) So, I have my fingers crossed for them.

Anyway, this book was exactly what I needed right now! Can't wait to start reading All She Wrote. Thank you again, Josh Lanyon! You never ever let me down. ...more

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Aug 03, 2013 Chris, the Dalek King rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, mc-pairing-mm, uniforms-and-private-dicks, murder-and-mystery, where-have-you-been, arts-and-letters, contemporary, kindle-loaned-r, owned-ebook-or-audio

For Christopher Holmes, the dark and stormy nights are the highlight of his disastrous ~~vacation~~ work trip/last ditch effort to save his place at his soon-to-be former publishers. Trapped on the wrong side of the only-way-out-of-this-hell bridge (post destruction), discovering the corpse of a fellow ~~prisoner~~ guest, and having to deal with the reappearance of a one-time fling, that could have been more had he pulled his head out of his ass and ditched his philandering partner and all around douche For Christopher Holmes, the dark and stormy nights are the highlight of his disastrous ~~vacation~~ work trip/last ditch effort to save his place at his soon-to-be former publishers. Trapped on the wrong side of the only-way-out-of-this-hell bridge (post destruction), discovering the corpse of a fellow ~~prisoner~~ guest, and having to deal with the reappearance of a one-time fling, that could have been more had he pulled his head out of his ass and ditched his philandering partner and all around douche of a human being, Holmes is not having a good weekend. Throw in a mystery murderer, enough secrets to fill several cozy murder mysteries, and the looming death of his publishing career, and anyone could see why he needs a drink--and maybe a kiss or two from his erstwhile lover/jailer/pain in the ass crush, J.X. Moriarity.

I love this book for all the reasons that I love most of Josh Lanyon's mystery novels. I love that there are enough twists that you know, then you don't know, and then you might know, who the murderer is, but you are never quite sure till the scene is set and the murderer is revealed. It is a true pain to find yourself on chapter two of a murder mystery already having figured out the big reveal--and then trying to decide if the remaining 20 chapters are worth the read. Lanyon has a true gift of writing a mystery that is in fact a mystery.

I also love that Christopher Holmes, despite being a life-long author of murder mysteries, knows that he is not a detective himself. He is curious, of course, and does want to find out who the killer is--if only to prove that it is not, in fact, him--but he does not run around trying to find the evidence that will ultimately lead to the killer's arrest--or his own untimely death. Much like Holmes himself, I find the idea of amateur sleuths rather ridiculous. One's habit of finding the best shoe sales does not normally make one the best candidate for a detective--no matter how many chick-lit books are written under that same premise. With the help, sometimes hindrance, and pesky protection of J.X. Moriarity (did I mention I love the names of the MCs in this series), Holmes is dragged through a weekend of revealed secrets and shameful pasts that come to a (rather battered) head for the writers and publishers gathered for this writer's workshop hell.

For its wonderful lack of angst, steamy chemistry, and Holmes' hilarious wit, I can't help but give this book 5 stars. Read on a dark and stormy night--but don't get your hopes up on seeing any female regency detectives (and their demon boy-toys) any time soon. ...more

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Mar 27, 2011 Josephine Myles rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romance, comedy, m-m, mystery, contemporary, 2012-reads, so-good-i-read-it-twice

*Reading for the second time now, and finding it every bit as enjoyable - especially as I attended my first large writer's conference a few weeks ago!

Hugely enjoyable mystery novel full of in-jokes about the publishing industry, writers' egos and mystery tropes. I may have guessed the killer fairly early on, but Kit Holmes' cynical yet insecure voice was so engaging I raced through the pages anyway. Moriarity is a compelling love interest for him, and the sparks of attraction and antagonism betw ...more

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Jan 17, 2013 WickedVerbatim rated it really liked it

This is the first book of Josh Lanyon's I have read and I look forward to reading more, especially in this series. I didn't expect so much humor and found myself laughing out loud several times.
Kit Holmes is a successful writer whose successful series of cozy mysteries has lost their appeal. His literary agent twists his arm into attending a writer's conference in a remote forest retreat so that he can pitch new ideas to his irascible editor in a last-ditch effort to revive his career.
And as he ...more

1 like · Like · see review