Just Desserts (Petit Morts, #14) in Q&A with Josh Lanyon

Jul 23, 2012 ttg rated it it was amazing

Shelves: reviews, favorites, m-m

#14 in the Petit Morts novella series, and the fourth story by series contributor Josh Lanyon. I’ve enjoyed all of Lanyon’s stories in this series, especially #2, Slings and Arrows, but I think Just Desserts is definitely my favorite, and one of my faves from the entire collection.

I appreciate that Lanyon’s contributions are very “Lanyon,” and that they pretty much all include either a crime or a mystery. In this case, I like how he twisted his own formula and told the story from the perspective #14 in the Petit Morts novella series, and the fourth story by series contributor Josh Lanyon. I’ve enjoyed all of Lanyon’s stories in this series, especially #2, Slings and Arrows, but I think Just Desserts is definitely my favorite, and one of my faves from the entire collection.

I appreciate that Lanyon’s contributions are very “Lanyon,” and that they pretty much all include either a crime or a mystery. In this case, I like how he twisted his own formula and told the story from the perspective of a criminal-to-be.

Our main character is Ridge, who is recovering from a car accident (caused by his alcoholic cousin Raliegh who had been driving) and is adjusting to needing a wheelchair. Ridge is feeling very angry, dark, and desolate, sort of like the empty and crumbling castle that he and Raliegh live in, but he perks up when he settles on an idea for revenge that he thinks might solve everything. You see, Raleigh wasn’t just the driver of the car that caused Ridge’s current state--he’s also inheriting everything from their late uncle, an outcome that was supposed to have changed in Ridge’s favor, but wasn’t in time before his uncle’s passing. So, suddenly Ridge is living with renewed purpose, even though that purpose is planning a murder.

But then comes Tug knocking at the door, Ridge’s sunny (and handsome) new physical therapist, and murder plans become far more complicated since Tug is introducing new things that Ridge had thought now was unattainable, like “going outside” and “feeling emotions.” What’s a would-be-murderer to do? And how does the new chocolate shop and its surprisingly knowledgeable owner get involved in his revenge plot?

I couldn’t believe how much I loved this story--It was great to see Ridge’s bleak perspective broken apart, bit by bit, by the sheer will, tenacity, and caring of Tug. And like in Wishink Well, another one of my favorite PM stories, I found myself tearing up during one of the more intimate scenes near the end. Lanyon made Ridge’s feelings very palpable, and his slow thaw and growing realization that not all was lost really resonated. Even after the story, when I just think about those final scenes, I get all misty. Highly highly recommended.

As an aside, but related to this story, I appreciate how Lanyon writes characters with disabilities. I haven’t read every work of his, but I’ve read enough where I’m not surprised when one of his main characters might have a physical “flaw” or handicap (or addiction, in the case of Come Unto These Yellow Sands.) As a reader with a disability (legally blind), I’m always interested in how writers will handle writing about it, and how they will convey those nuances and differences.

Lanyon always does a great job of creating fleshed-out characters that feel very real, while also having to consider things often very differently from the “norm.” And since he often writes mysteries, the disability or condition often offers a point of tension that is out of the character’s control--Adrien with his heart condition means that it’s not always pleasant to be surprised in the dark by Detective Riordan, or Elliot’s knee injury means running for your life from an unseen shooter is far more difficult.

At the same time, the “other half” characters, Jake, Tucker, Jack in “Cards on the Table,” Dan in “The Dark Horse,” start to see the world in a different perspective since the ones they care about can’t take the same things for granted that they do. Often that growing “understanding” of limitations becomes part of the growing love story, but again, Lanyon’s disabled characters are also independent adults, with jobs, and expectations, sex lives and desires, and lots of the normal regular faults that regular people have, like jumping to conclusions, being stubborn, or thinking it’s totally okay to go on that boat owned by a suspected murderer. (Even people with disabilities can make bad decisions. Thank god for Other Halves understanding that sometimes the biggest limitation is your own ego.)

And what I always find so resonating in Lanyon’s work, and this was very exemplified in Just Desserts, is his theme that no matter the limitations, that these characters can love and be loved and have that Happy Ending. (If they themselves will allow it, which is often one of the stumbling blocks in the story.)

In the media, people with disabilities are rarely represented at all as multi-dimensional. (Artie from Glee and Michael J. Fox’s awesomely evil lawyer on the Good Wife are some of the few. I don’t know if I can name 5 characters right now on television...) More often than not, a disabled character is introduced for a one-time appearance to either teach a lesson on tolerance about differences, or serve as a victim that other characters need to step in for. (Like on a courtroom drama.)

When often facing so few realistic or developed depictions of disabled people, I have come to really appreciate Lanyon’s work and his heroes more, because whether the limitation is living with epilepsy or being a stubborn sheriff with commitment issues, Lanyon always conveys his characters as realized, funny, flawed people who, yes, are capable of falling in love (and having sexy times.) :D

This was a really long way to saying that Just Desserts was a fantastic story, one that was not only wonderfully written, but I found very meaningful (even though I have not, unlike Ridge, considered homicide as a possible solution to my problems.)

This is an excellent addition to the already very-excellent Petit Morts series. Now on to #15, Loose Change... ...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Ami rated it really liked it

Shelves: mm-short-stories

If you want an eloquent review, check Lauraadriana's because well, hers is EXQUISITE *grin*.

As for me, can I say that this short story, the final Petit Morts from Josh Lanyon, is simply MESMERIZING?! It starts with a wheelchaired-bound man thinking about murdering his cousin but ends with love that is simply unexpected (and tender). Written in the touch of Lanyon's dark humor (or am I the only one that think that the scene where Ridge plotting the murder as funny?!), this is a near perfection :) ...more

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