Customer Reviews

The Hell You Say (Adrien English)

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This is the third book in the Adrien English mystery series. This book will keep you up well past your bedtime. Adrien is a mystery bookstore owner in his early thirties. He is also a new writer, the author of a murder mystery starring a gay Shakespearean actor. He has a target painted on his back - due to a tendency to become involved in murder cases. This tendency is great for giving Adrien a chance to be an amateur sleuth, but not so great for his health. Adrien is getting better at the sleuthing, too - he has a flair for it!

The first Adrien English novel, Fatal Shadows, introduced Adrien and involved him in a series of murders leading to a dramatic confrontation with a killer. The second novel, A Dangerous Thing, involved Adrien in murder at a California ranch, providing a change in pace in locale. The novels are narrated in first person by Adrien, who has a quick, witty and sarcastic tongue even under duress. The other major character, Jake Reardon of the LAPD, on the other hand, is a darker presence who is dealing with personal conflicts that play out in an interesting and unexpected way in the newest novel.

In this novel, Adrien's bookstore employee embroils him in murder that may be the work of a satanic cult. Adrien's efforts to prove his employee innocent, and the subplots regarding his personal life and relationships, make for exciting reading. In addition, he is as sarcastically funny as always and the series just keeps getting better. I have missed you, Adrien! Now when will that fourth novel be ready...

In this third Adrien English novel, Adrien's very odd bookstore employee has been receiving telephone threats, and in the interest of holiday goodwill - and a possible a lack of truly good sense - Adrien gives Angus money to take a vacation and basically get out of town. Unfortunately, a series of possibly satanic murders are linked to the absent clerk, bringing down the wrath of Adrien's very in-the-closet LAPD boyfriend.

Despite the comprehensive exploration of Satanism, witchcraft, and the occult, THE HELL YOU SAY is much funnier than the first novel in this series, with Adrien as well being much more developed and complex as a character. There's a lot to enjoy in this mystery, with pop culture references, mystery ngenre lore, and of course, a mystery plot that keeps the reader sucked in until the very end. Adrien's relationship with his self-centered but ultimately very loving mother is both unique and believable. I was disturbed by Adrien's extremely rocky relationship with his boyfriend, but this only adds a much deeper element to the novel. I will definitely be ordering copies of this series for our library and hope that Lanyon will continue this series without waiting another five years for the next installment.

Adrien English fans, rejoice! He's back in "The Hell You Say," which is even better than the first two novels in this excellent "amateur sleuth" series by Josh Lanyon. It's tough to say which generates more suspense: the murderous satanic cult that's after Adrien, or his relationship with Jake Riordan. Don't wonder about it - go ahead and order the book if you haven't already. Trust me, you'll be glad you did, (and so will Josh).

For those who haven't read the first two books, "Fatal Shadows" and "A Dangerous Thing," all three mystery novels are squarely in the California Noir tradition of Raymond Chandler and Michael Nava.

"The Hell You Say" is especially well written. The protagonist's first person narrative is just right: witty, but not brittle; ironic but not bitter. Despite the cool, lapidary surface of the narrative, it's not affectless. Far from it - there are scenes of real emotional impact. That's the magic of really good writing.

One of the many pleasures of the book - all three books, actually - is the author's play with allusions. He's not showing off - he's having fun - and so will you. Except for the overt references to books and movies, the allusions are quite subtle: you'll be a full page past one of them, and your brain will go, "Oohh, he did it again." Fair warning: if you ever get into a trivia contest on the subjects of movies, detective novels or English Lit with Josh Lanyon, you're likely to lose your, um, pride.

Some potential reviewers, editors and readers may be tempted to consign "The Hell You Say" to the "routine gay mystery" bin. But so what if the hero's gay? Now that almost everyone has read or at least heard about Annie Proulx's "Brokeback Mountain," and Christopher Rice's novels are being marketed to a mainstream audience, "gay" shouldn't be an issue for reviewers or editors anymore. Especially when real literary skill is on display, as it is here.

To the general reader who might shy away from this kind of material, don't. The relatively few "bedroom" scenes are a lot less explicit than many "frank" mainstream novels with heterosexual characters. Once you get past that, you'll see that Adrien is just like anyone else who yearns for a fulfilling relationship. And you'll be missing a very good story if you don't give it a try.

And finally, you can bet that somewhere out there, Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammet are raising their glasses of Scotch to Adrien English and his creator, Josh Lanyon.

I have been waiting for Adrien English's return for several years. The publication of Josh Lanyon's newest book is possibly one of the most exciting ventures in the past few months.

I reserve my review writing for those authors that I feel really reach out with their words and characters. Lanyon does this and more. The main character, Adrien, is engaging in his flaws and personality. He is a real person within those typed lines, engaged in a life that sometimes runs away from him, leaving him breathless to catch up. The simmering personal plots that run under the main mystery plot are as engaging as the puzzle of who-dun-it.

I cannot wait for this book to finally arrive in my mailbox.

I have been anticipating as have others, I'm sure, for this long-awaited novel of mystery. I ordered a copy and am excited for a great read. It is a shame that authors like Lanyon do not receive the recognition they so rightly deserve. At best, his novels are worthy of critical attention. I hope this helps and that he is able to write and publish more mysteries. Publishers, wherever you are, take heed to this review and sign that boy for future books.

T.B. Grant
3/17/06

I KNEW IT...that was just wrong Mr. Lanyon...why why why! LOL The mystery is great, the plot twists-pure evil!..and oh my Adrien, how we've missed you and you're still as witty as ever! I devoured this book and now..sigh...please don't make the wait for the next book so long. I don't think I'll keep my sanity!

Another great offering in the Adrien English mystery series. Lanyon's writing style is crisp and guaranteed to grab you with humor and sudden suspense. Adrien struggles against all the odds to solve the latest mystery that hits very close to home, literally affecting his business/home, Cloak and Dagger books. He sets out to help clear his dubious employee Angus and runs head-long into conflicts with Satanists, UCLA professors, and a whole gamut of wacky to lethal black arts personalities all the while he continues to struggle in his relationship with the complex and molten hot closeted Jake. Don't miss it!

In Los Angeles Cloak and Dagger bookstore owner Adrien English worries about his clerk Angus, who has been receiving satanic threats over the phone. Feeling generous with Christmas coming and wanting the "Crank calls from the crypt" to stop, he gives Angus eight hundred dollars to leave town with his girlfriend Wanda for awhile.

Adrien's in the closet lover LAPD Jake Riordan is mortified that he sent Angus out of town as he wants to ask the clerk what he knows about cults as he investigates ritual homicides. Meanwhile at a book signing at the Cloak and Dagger, author Gabe Savant announces he is researching a cult that he plans to expose in his next book. Adrien assumes this is a dumb publicity stunt. Instead he decides to follow up on who is threatening Angus. Since his clerk is also a teaching assistant at UCLA Adrien visits Angus' employer dynamic Professor Snowden. As the separate threads tie together into A DANGEROUS THING, Adrien realizes all hell has broken out with him as the focal point of unknown FATAL SHADOWS.

The third English amateur sleuth tale, THE HELL YOU SAY, combines humor, satanic cults, and a realistic gay relationship into a superb mystery that will have newcomers (like this reviewer) needing to obtain the previous bookstore owner's escapades. Though this is the likable Adrien's show, Jake in many ways steals the plot as he hides his sexual preference from his blue knight peers while ripping the skin off of his lover for enabling Angus to leave town. Great characterizations especially Adrien's about to marry self-centered mom who totally accepts her son being gay and the handsome witty professor inside a fast-paced well written story line make for a fantastic tale

Harriet Klausner

Born in Britain, Josh Lanyon currently lives in Los Angeles and is a product of Stanford University. THE HELL YOU SAY is his third Adrien English mystery, following FATAL SHADOWS and A DANGEROUS THING. Josh lives with his partner, a former LAPD detective.

Adrien English is a mystery writer and owns the "Cloak and Dagger" bookstore in Los Angeles. The product of a socialite mom he calls Lisa, Adrien is in an uncertain relationship with a married man, Jake, who is also a LAPD detective. The tale begins when Adrien's clerk, Angus, decides to disappear after receiving cultist death threats. Adrien finds himself once again following his sleuth instincts as bodies begin piling up and it becomes apparent that dark forces are at work. Sometime partner Jake turns up at all the right times, but their relationship is slowing disintegrating, opening Adrien up for a possibly new relationship with the black arts university professor who is definitely interested, but who's job is at risk if Adrien is successful:

"He leaned forward, said quietly, 'You do realize what you're asking of me, yes? I will be held ultimately responsible. I'll be ruined.' 'I though they expected you to be controversial at UCLA?' 'I believe the Board of Regents draws the line at sacrificial murder.'"

Adrien is a kind and sensitive guy, sweetly going along with his mother's and future step-sisters' machinations even as he is putting his own life at risk investigating some very unsavory characters around L.A. Josh Lanyon manages to endear Adrien to the readers, even as Adrien is forming a trail of deadly enemies. His bookstore provides both a center and comic relief, as Lanyon describes a series of characters who wander through Adrien's life.

THE HELL YOU SAY is superbly written with a tight plot, lots of dark alleys and nooks and crannies all over the place. It's a fast and entertaining read, and Lanyon is carving out quite a niche for himself as the creator of gay mysteries. The characterizations make the book absolutely delicious. Excellent!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

How is it that one can love and hate the same book? Can love the story for its depth and emotion, the murder mystery plot with all its subtle and not so subtle points, and at the same time, hate the emotions pulled directly from the body's soul?

I have to start off by saying I strongly dislike Guy Snowden, not because he's a despicable sort, but because he is just the opposite. He is what Jake is not: openly gay, academically intelligent, a connoisseur of the arts, wine and food, a sophisticate comfortable in who and what he is. But mostly, I dislike Guy because he's ready and willing to accept Adrien, even love Adrien in how Adrien deserves to be loved.

The Hell You Say had me laughing with the opening scenes and intrigued before the first chapter ends. Adrien's sales clerk, Angus becomes more than a (more-or-less) silent add-on who is frightened of Jake and uncertain about Adrien, since Angus is directly and indirectly behind Adrien becoming embroiled in the latest homicide Jake's investigating. Adrien's attempts to help Angus lands him neck deep in another murder, in hot water, in the middle of Jake's case, and into a satanic cult. It is because of Angus that Adrien meets Guy Snowden, professor of the occult at UCLA. And, it is through Guy that the seeds of discontent in his relationship with Jake fertilize and bloom.

In "Dangerous Thing," we see the glimpse of what Adrien and Jake could have; in "The Hell You Say," we see what they have disintegrate. Like a cracker in water, the tenuous bonds of their relationship dissolve; Jake announces his intentions and Adrien's heartbreak is heard round the world. The distance created between them doesn't stop Jake from trying to keep Adrien safe and off the list of the investigation's `person of interest'.

Josh introduces a new set of characters, additional `family' to involve themselves in Adrien's life and set him up to do Lisa's bidding. We see Lisa, Adrien's mother, become more than the self-centered, over-fussing woman -- not that she changes, we're shown that there's so much more depth to her as her relationship with the soon-to-be husband is revealed and added family members changes the nucleus dynamic.

It was with trepidation and relief I finished the book; it was with trepidation and anticipation I opened the fourth book in the series "Death of a Pirate King".