The Hell You Say (The Adrien English Mysteries, #3) in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Nov 18, 2012 Lenore rated it it was amazing

Shelves: alpha-male, reviewed-by-yours-truly, m-m, rec-by-gr-friend, this-is-not-happening, give-me-a-gun-please, cops-and-co, crime, mystery, thriller

This is the best installment in the series so far. The writing was, as always, excellent, the mystery was solid, the story paced, the characterisation strong. Just the fact that I didn't end up hating Jake's guts even though he behaved like a dbag almost throughout this book speaks volumes about the author's skill. He managed to make me understand Jake's side, his (re)actions, his hang-ups. He made Jake's douchebaggery bearable. And for that alone he deserves my five stars. ...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Ije the Devourer of Books rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This was such an enjoyable story. I ploughed through it in one long sitting and it really made my day. Josh Lanyon knows how to write a good mystery with just the right amount of suspence and really well paced. His mysteries are also interesting and realistic and they keep you guessing. I like the Adrien English series because as well as a good mystery you also get touches of humour and real relationship ups and downs. Adrien is very human, funny and yet vulnerable. Not only does he run his book ...more

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May 14, 2013 Deanna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, fav-authors, adventure

Jake! Jake! Jake! Why can't you wake up and see what is in front of you? Adrien with love and acceptance! You are so stupid for an intelligent man. Adrien is four times the man you are. Maybe he will move on to a new love that is not ashamed to be seen with him? Will Jake finally realize he cannot live a lie but find it is to late?

Josh Lanyon offers us another fantastic story with a good plot. Lanyon is a story teller and a good writer. His dialog is believable. We care about his characters. The ...more

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Oct 28, 2013 Susana rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In The Hell You Say, Adrien finds himself again involved in a mystery. This time, Angus, Adrien’s bizarre though somehow cute assistant, has to leave the shop because he is being threatened by some king of satanic cult. Thinking it is just an innocent game from his college fellows, Adrien gives him some money (as a bonus) and recommends him to take a holiday with his girlfriend. What Adrien doesn’t expect is to become the target of the menaces when Angus disappears without any trace. The thing g In The Hell You Say, Adrien finds himself again involved in a mystery. This time, Angus, Adrien’s bizarre though somehow cute assistant, has to leave the shop because he is being threatened by some king of satanic cult. Thinking it is just an innocent game from his college fellows, Adrien gives him some money (as a bonus) and recommends him to take a holiday with his girlfriend. What Adrien doesn’t expect is to become the target of the menaces when Angus disappears without any trace. The thing gets really dangerous when dead bodies begin to turn up. With the reluctant help of his lover Jake, Adrien decides to get to the bottom of this dark business.
Again, I have really enjoyed this book. There are really sad moments, and very funny ones as well:
As for the sad moments, I have suffered along with Adrien in the book. His relationship with Jake was bound to hurt him, and pain arrives suddenly: After a period of nearly happiness, seeing his lover twice a week (sometimes even more), Adrien is struck by the news that Jake’s girlfriend is pregnant, and that they are going to get married. The confrontation; Jake’s aggressiveness; Adrien’s pain. That has been a very difficult moment in the book. I love the way Josh Lanyon makes you feel what Adrien is feeling. His pain is so real and so touching. It was very intense. Adrien is broken and Jake… Well, I cannot bring myself to hate Jake. Although I know he’s not good for Adrien, and I hate the way he despises himself, I am sure he loves Adrien even if he doesn’t know it, and that leaving Adrien is going to hurt Jake himself more than Adrien.
But there are funny moments in the book as well: Lisa, Adrien’s mother, decides to get married after years of being a lonely widow. This way, Adrien finds himself surrounded by a new family, with three stepsisters who do everything they can to involve him in the wedding arrangements. I am sure they are going to be a source of headaches for Adrien in the future. I can’t wait to find out more about this newly acquired family.
All in all, this is another utterly enjoyable instalment of this series. Despite the fact that Jake leaves and a new romance seems to appear in Adrien’s life (sexy professor Guy Snowden), I still want to see a HEA for Adrien and Jake. I am really looking forward to it.
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