Customer Reviews

The Dark Tide

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

***spoilers for previous books in this series***

The fifth and final book of the Adrien English Mystery Series *SOB*. It is always hard when a series ends for me, especially one so beloved as this one. It was exciting to read the final book to see where Adrien and Jake end up, and to reflect on their journey in the series and Josh Lanyon gave them a goodbye that they much deserved.

I picked up Fatal Shadows, the first book in this series, on a whim one day. It is only 150 pages and I read it all in one sitting. I still remember reading it and thinking, who is this Josh Lanyon person and how did he write this amazing Adrien English character? I have really only had that feeling twice - the other time with Moon Called by Patricia Briggs.

At the very end of Fatal Shadows, after the murder investigation is over, Jake turns to Adrien and says:

"You know, this won't be an easy thing, Adrien."

"The investigation, you mean?"

Jake says - "No. No, I don't mean that."

And was Jake so right. If any two people have worked hard to be together, it has been Jake and Adrien. Prime example, Jake gets married - to a female, during this series. It was worth it though - the heart ache, the waiting between books - Adrien is one of my all time favorite characters, and Jake - he more than makes up for his past behavior in The Dark Tide.

Adrien's life is going through many changes. He is recovering from heart surgery, correcting a faulty valve that has plagued him most of his adult life. He is also recovering from being shot, refer to drama in book four. His on/off again lover, Jake Riordan has divorced his wife, retired from the police force and has come out to his family (Jake was very deep in the closet). Adrien has been through a lot with Jake - A LOT. He is tired and truly scared that if he puts himself into Jake's arms again, he will be hurt....again.

Professionally, Adrien is remodeling his bookstore, The Cloak and Dagger to encompass a much bigger space. This would not be a proper Adrien English Mystery book without a dead body, and this time we discover a very dead body, dead for fifty years hidden under the floorboards, found during the renovations. Adrien has been through the wringer with dead bodies, so when questions arise to the skeleton's history and break-ins start occurring at the The Cloak and Dagger, Adrien's suspicions go on high alert. Adrien is not up to his normal sleuthing skills since recovering from heart surgery has him exhausted. Now that Jake is not on the police force he has started his own private investigation firm. Adrien hires him to track down clues and it gives Adrien an excuse to stay in contact with Jake.

First and foremost, The Dark Tide is the perfect ending to this series. The mystery in this one is great because after the drama in the fourth book, and with Adrien so weak after his surgery, he really couldn't be running from murdering bad guys again. Finding a fifty year old skeleton in his shop, with the mystery surrounding it, is a perfect way for him to still sleuth while recovering from surgery.

Let's face it though - what I really wanted to see was the path Jake and Adrien would take in this book. While I loved to hate Jake in previous books, I loved Jake in this book. He is out now - to everyone. I was worried how he would be able to handle it - oh, and Adrien was worried about it too :) Jake was completely understanding in all aspects of Adrien's life. He was there to make sure Adrien took care of himself after the surgery, he was there to make sure Adrien didn't get any ideas about running after leads in the investigation, and he was there to give Adrien breathing room to decide how he wanted to proceed in their relationship. We see a tender, sweet side of Jake - who knew he was so romantic? Jake's admission of love is one of my favorite lines - I'm not going to quote it here because it is more fun to read it when you are swept up in the book, but it is such a Jake thing to say.

The Dark Tide wraps up the series, and although I am sad that it is done, I feel very satisfied in the events that take place and I have many rereads of the series to come.

Although each book in this series is great on it's own, I think it's really important that they should all be read and in the right order. The whole series should be offered as a set by someone, or one large hardback containing all five books.

I don't want to review the books as such, but to comment on my feelings. By the middle of Fatal Shadows, I was in love with Adrien and Jake. By the end of A Dangerous Thing, I was delighted with where we were heading. At the end of The Hell You Say, I was devasted. Just about all the way through Pirate King, my heart was in my throat. I had to rush through The Dark Tide, to make sure they were going to be OK. Of course I could have just read the ending first to make it easy on myself, but why deny myself the delightful torture of taking the slow road.

I have read many books that I've loved, and characters that I have cared about and related to. But I have never before woken in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, worried about two fictional characters.

That Josh Lanyon was able to create two characters that I came to care about more than some of my family,
is testament to his incredible talent. In my opinion there is no award available now, that is good enough for him.

I don't know why these books struck such a chord in my heart, and obviously they won't affect everyone in the same way, but I'm sure that everyone that reads them will enjoy them. I'm not sure that I will ever get over them, or be the same again.

I'm going back now to read Dark Side at a more leisurely pace and thouroughly savour every page.

Josh does not disappoint. This story is a fitting end to the series. I don't want to give anything away, but this story wrapped everything up nicely. I didn't have any nagging questions I wanted answered once I'd finished. If you are a fan of Adrien English you'll love this ending.

A most satisfying finish to the series. Kudos Mr. L!

Mr. Lanyon's gift for bringing characters to life is exceptional. Readers are able to connect immediately with Adrien and crew and, more importantly, witness the growth of the characters over time (and the four previous books), to a satisfying conclusion.

The mystery elements are well ploted and are an integral part of the story, either as a catalyst and/or a support to character development. Cliches are few, and the few that are present are mocked, -"Nazi treasure?" "Oh Pulease!" - with glee. Humor is used to counter balance the sobering realities of heart surgery, failed relationships, and murder. The rich use of secondary characters, including Adrien's growing family and a suprising return, provides a full-bodied read.

The dialogue is crisp and rings with truth, allowing the reader to experience the protaganist's mental and emotional state. Not an easy thing to accomplish, but Mr. Lanyon has the knack. This final volume is the strongest in the series.

On a personal note I found this last entry in the Adrien English Mysteries to be...right. The word "right" may sound less than inspiring, but it suits this series. Not every little thing was tidily resolved, but instead given a potential future. It's up to the reader to plot the next adventure. I like that.

This finale was perhaps more romance than mystery, but that is a fitting end to Adrien's story.

The physical and emotional journey that Adrien has been through makes this finale rings true. Having undergone abdominal surgery, I must say that Josh Lanyon hit it right on the head: fatigue; emotional swings; wanting people around, but wanting to be alone; and above all, the intense desire to feel "whole" again. Unveiling the scar is as hard and painful as painted. So it's no surprise that Adrien is unable and unwilling to commit to Jake immediately, for all that he's wanted Jake to be with him openly for years. The after-shocks of the events in "Death of a Pirate King" (not to mention the other four books) couldn't be sewn up in a single chapter. As Jake tells Adrien (who doesn't want to hear it), Adrien hasn't yet come to terms with everything that has happened between them.

Adrien has changed, too, as Angus says. So the question of moving forward in his relationship with Jake is not just about Jake's issues. Adrien is learning how to love others, and to allow them to love him, albeit a trace grudgingly at times. And not just with Jake, it's evident in his interactions with his step family, and of course his mother. The poignant story about why he has always called his mother by her name is a wonderful moment, where Adrien experiences his mom as a whole being, rather than just a maternal, well-meaning nag. And of course, we get our happily ever after ending with Jake! A perfect ending for the series.

I'm not reading these books for the mysteries, though they are just fine... I am reading them for Adrien English, who I just love.

Adrien has been through a really, really bad patch and this book is about recovery and rebuilding. And there is much to recover from, especially concerning his relationship with Jake Riorden. Adrien has other options but I'm completely loyal to Jake and don't want him to even consider them, but of course Adrien has to do what works for him. According to Lanyon, this is the last feature book of Adrien and Jake, but they may appear in other stories... I sincerely hope they do, because I love spending time with them.

Lanyon has hinted that this may be the last Adrien English mystery (at least for some time). Though I'll miss the character, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Remember how ludicrous it became that Jessica Fletcher stumbled across so many murder mysteries in that tiny, little New England town!? What made Adrien so appealing to me was he was an ordinary guy who often ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. But that can happen only so often before a reader can no longer suspend their disbelief. If this is the finale, it was very satisfying - leaving the character and the reader in a good place.

This is first a mystery series, but this last installment has a good deal more romance and personal interaction than the previous four. That is actually what made it such a good series-closer. This book is not for people new to the series - it does not stand alone well as the previous mysteries did. There is too much "baggage" a reader needs to understand Adrien's issues. Adrien's love life has been as messy as his cases, and we finally get some closure on that front. The case was well-suited to the increased romance as well. A fifty-year old body doesn't leave too many witnesses alive, which narrows the investigation and made the mystery more straightforward than usual. So Adrien could shift between contemplating the case and his relationships, without either suffering. They find the villain (duh), Adrien makes some long-delayed personal decisions, we get to see old friends from the previous books, and there is just enough left to build new stories on. Should Lanyon return to the Cloak and Dagger.

Adrien is very likeable. He has a dry wit, and self-deprecating humor about him. I'd happily read more about him, perhaps in a few years when Lanyon is ready to give him some fresh opportunities to stick his nose in where it doesn't belong. However, if this is indeed the end, I don't feel cheated. Only content.

Have you ever read a book when you get so attached to the characters, that your chest aches - constricted with emotion because of what the characters are going through... that is what happens with me with this book.

This is the final book, and while I enjoy reading the mystery, is is the relationship between Adrien and Jake is what sitting on front seat. This one fills with sentiments from the two of them. How they are dealing with what has happened. I'm close to tears in some scenes, while on the others, I either feel that squeeze around my heart, or sigh in relief.

This book is such a perfect closure. Such a PERFECT ending. It is a wonderful way to say goodbye (excuse me while I sob). One thing for sure, I never regret the day I decided to go with my hunch and bought the first two books of this series last year.

Maybe Lanyon could write another non-fiction book on "how to wrap up a successful series", because this is how it should be done. Nicely wrapped up, but still leaving readers wanting for more, leaving on a high note. The relationship story arc of the series has always been the centre point and fans won't be disappointed with this final book - lots of relationship/romance in it, but as always, Lanyon wovens the mystery plot smartly into it, the relationship and the mystery plot develop hand in hand. As Adrien said, "is solving crime together enough for a relationship?" Well... they would need more than that, but it's certainly great joy to see them solving the mystery together, while sorting out their complicated, heartwrenching romance.

Most of the Adrien English mysteries can be read as a stand alone book, however, this is probably one that I'd strongly suggest readers to go back to previous book(s) first - because it's simply not the same thing if readers don't know these two characters. In fact, it wouldn't be fair to judge this book without considering the previous books.

Be warned, it's an angsty ride - but so worth it.

There are enough reviews here that recap the book, so I'm not going to do that. I will say that this is one of the best series I've ever read. I couldn't put this book, or any of the books in the series, down. The characters are original and so engaging. You really care about them and need to know how things work out. The murder mystery is excellent. I can usually figure the mystery out for other books, but I think I only figured it out on book 1 for this series. If you go back and read them a second time, you can definitely see to clues as to who the killer is.
Also, don' let the fact that the story involves gay men put you off a great series. I'm a 29 year old, straight woman and absolutely loved it.