From the Bookshelf of Q&A with Josh Lanyon…

The Boy with the Painful Tattoo (Holmes & Moriarity #3)

Josh Lanyon

Start date: February 19, 2024

Finish date: May 31, 2024

Discussion: Quarterly Rereads

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Quarterly Rereads

* February/March 2024: Somebody Killed His Editor: Holmes & Moriarity Book 1
By Karen · 8 posts · 22 views

last updated Mar 12, 2024 06:31PM

February/March 2024: All She Wrote: Holmes & Moriarity 2
By Karen · 2 posts · 13 views

last updated Mar 24, 2024 09:14PM

What Members Thought

Apr 02, 2013 Johanna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, favorites, josh-lanyon

This review might contain very slight spoilers.

If you haven’t read Josh Lanyon’s Holmes & Moriarity series yet, I wholeheartedly recommend it because this series is quickly becoming as fiercely successful and passionately loved as Lanyon’s Adrien English books are. I had such feverish, high expectations for the much awaited third book, and the author didn’t let me down, not one bit. The story was everything I hoped for — only much better. And with some wild, awesome surprises!

The Holmes & Moriar This review might contain very slight spoilers.

If you haven’t read Josh Lanyon’s Holmes & Moriarity series yet, I wholeheartedly recommend it because this series is quickly becoming as fiercely successful and passionately loved as Lanyon’s Adrien English books are. I had such feverish, high expectations for the much awaited third book, and the author didn’t let me down, not one bit. The story was everything I hoped for — only much better. And with some wild, awesome surprises!

The Holmes & Moriarity book 3 is full of wonderful details that make you laugh out loud and others that make you ponder. There are pages that squeeze your heart like nothing else and others that are so sexy they leave you with burning cheeks and out of breath. Overall the joy of writing this story comes across so clearly that reading the book is like spending a day with the author at an amusement park and not riding only the roller coaster, but visiting also everything from Fun House to Haunted Mansion!

In The Boy with the Painful Tattoo Christopher ’Kit’ Holmes is, against his better instincts, making a huge leap and setting up house together with J.X. Moriarity. Their budding relationship is put to the test when, once again, Kit turns out to be a murder magnet. With Kit's unstoppable, crazy inner monologue Josh Lanyon creates fantastic rhythm and tone for the story. I'm in awe of Lanyon’s timing and the way he takes us for a ride where the hilariously funny lines interlock with the more serious aspects of the story so seamlessly.

I wasn’t able to solve the mystery by myself, but that didn’t make the book any less enjoyable for me. I’m afraid my focus was on the relationship of these two intriguing men and I couldn’t stop admiring how Kit, even while being completely out of his comfort zone, still bravely forces on and tackles all the relationship problems and other equally uncomfortable situations, one by one. He does this all by following his slightly twisted, unique logic that is spiced up with his sarcastic way of seeing the world and himself in it. And as they say — that makes all the difference.

I also have to thank the author for all wonderful nuances, small gestures, facial expressions and tones of voice which Kit notices so sharp-eyed in every turn. I especially love how he takes mental notes of J.X.'s every reaction. And I don't care one bit that these people aren't actually real — I adore to see how much they both want their relationship to work. How J.X. is trying to give Kit space and time to be... well, Kit... and how Kit is making those scary leaps he probably wouldn't make for anyone else. Josh Lanyon writes his characters so very tangible and real, so... dear.

There were numerous beautiful scenes in which the main couple revealed their vulnerable, bare feelings, and also several touching, powerful, earthmoving sex scenes. I can’t help but to feel complete satisfaction after reading it all. The story left me smiling and I, once again, have to state that Josh Lanyon writes the perfect endings. This one was delightful and it certainly gives hope for some truly fun times in the future!

This book will be a wonderful re-read. I'll enjoy re-visiting that beautiful house and garden, and re-hearing the "Yoo-hoo! Yoo-hoo!" behind that hedge. I can’t wait to re-read all the brilliant phone conversations and to gape at Jerry’s creepy character. I want to witness Kit and J.X. spending time with Adrien and Jake again, and I want to listen to Jack Johnson's "You and Your Heart" while re-reading. I want Josh Lanyon to make my heart curl into a tight ice-cold ball and then I want him to make it all better again. Because he can. ...more

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Sep 12, 2013 Chris, the Dalek King rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: mc-pairing-mm, nerds-and-geeks, uniforms-and-private-dicks, favorites, contemporary, murder-and-mystery, owned-ebook-or-audio, arts-and-letters

Christopher Holmes sure does inspire the unholy urge to smack some sense into him. Constantly. But I think that is half his charm (the other half being split equally between his reluctant (and inevitably complicated) love affair with J.X. and his grumpiness at finding yet another dead body lurking in his steps (if dead bodies can lurk)). And in this third book in the Holmes & Moriarity (that's Moriarity, not Moriarty, thank you very much!) Kit sure is his 'charming' old self. Much to my pleasure ...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Francesca rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: whodunnit

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

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Jan 04, 2013 Meggie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-police-mystery, m-m-romance-romance

Finally, I got to read the third book in Kit & J.X series. My reading time was fulfilling. The main mystery behind Kit's death body was well developed and written. I liked it whole. Kit was Kit, for better or worse, he decided to give J.X what they both needed or even wanted, a new serious start in their relationship. I liked that, because really, Kit & J.X.s romance is jumpy one and rather breakable. Anyway, I love it whole.
Recommended series! ...more

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