Customer Reviews

Josh Lanyon Collected #1

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If you are being introduced for the first time to Josh Lanyon and his writing you will never look back again. Mr. Lanyon is a wonderful storyteller he needs no theatrics his characters are well rounded and his plots actually do have meaning. Sometimes m/m authors forget that although readers love a good romp in the bedroom we're also interested in the plot!

Luckily Mr. Lanyon is a master and here finally is the collection I've been waiting for. If like me you were stuck pouting that you couldn't afford the hard paperbacks and your e-books were never in handy when you were away from your computer here is the answer.

Snowball in Hell: Is a favorite of mine set during WWII, reporter Nathan and Lt. Matthew have a murder to solve but what led to it? kidnapping? blackmail? revenge? Lt. Matthew has enough to deal with without needing to have an attraction to a reporter who seems to have a connection to the murder victim as well as hiding a secret that would be best left in the closet.

Cards on the Table: Tim is researching his new book on an old Hollywood murder and coming close to releasing it, that is if he weren't just left a card on his own door marking him for death. Jack Brady a cop assures Tim that nothing is wrong, but Tim isn't the sort to agree especially when things go from bad to worst and having to agree with an ex-potential lover is never any fun.

Dangerous Ground: Government agents Taylor and Will are gone for a vacation of sorts after one of them gets injured on the job. This is their last chance to get things right and mend their friendship after one reveals his true feelings and gets hurt because of it. But they'll have a lot of making up to do especially while standing in the way of merciless killers and their bounty of riches. Too bad Will and Taylor were never the type to sit and standby.

I hope everyone has fun with these because I know I did!

A superb collection of Josh Lanyon's novellas, most of which have been published before in compilations or with a co author's story.
They are all long enough to be satisfying, the characters are well drawn and although there is sex, it is not gratuitous or crass.
The biggest problem I have with the short stories is that I want more, I want to know what happens next.
Although these seemed to be aimed at m/m readers, it is a shame to limit them that way, they are genuine 'whodunnits' and deserve a wider audience.

One of the best books I've ever read.
What else can I say other than that? All the stories within are well written, interesting and the characters are all realistic and appealing. You really get sucked into it and can't stop until you've read it all.
Even when you have already read most of the stories you still enjoy reading them again and again.
In one word: Great!
I would highly recommend this book to any M/M mystery loving reader.

"Cards on the Table"

Timothy North is writing a book about a fifty year old murder. Some want the past left in the past, but Tim is determined to uncover what really happened the night a Hollywood starlet was killed. When things turn dangerous, Tim turns to homicide detective Jack Brady for help. Jack and Tim have a history together, one that Tim would like to see repeated. Jack does not, but he is willing to help him. He needs to keep Tim alive so he can tell him how he really feels.

"Cards on the Table" is an interesting mystery about a Hollywood fifties era murder. It sizzles with unrequited feelings, desire, and tragedy on all sides. Tim's been through a lot and Jack seems insensitive at first. As the story progresses, you get a better feel for what happened in Tim's past and why Jack did what he did. My heart went out to Tim. A cast of colorful characters do a lot of finger pointing in "Cards on the Table," leading Tim on a merry chase to find a killer, while Jack and Tim work toward an inevitable and satisfying relationship.

"Dangerous Ground"

While camping in the mountains, Taylor MacAllister and Will Brandt discover a crashed plane that authorities have spent months searching for. Will and Taylor are good friends and partners at the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. They were supposed to be on vacation. Taylor is recovering from a gunshot wound that almost killed him. The men's relationship is on rocky ground since Taylor opened up about his feelings for Will. Now, they have a case to solve while being tracked by the bad guys. If Will and Taylor can make it out of the mountains alive, they might have a shot at saving their relationship.

"Dangerous Ground" is action packed, suspenseful, romantic, and erotic. I love Will and Taylor. When they're not dodging bullets or running for their lives, they're driving each other crazy. Taylor is a little impulsive and Will is more contemplative. They are sexy as hell and they make a great team. "Dangerous Ground" has the perfect balance of story and romance.

"In Sunshine or in Shadow"

Keiran Quinn and Rick Monaghan are homicide detectives, partners, and best friends, so when Keiran decides to make a drastic change in his life that doesn't include his partner, Rick is understandably shocked and surprisingly hurt. If Rick can't face is feelings, he's going to lose his partner, forever.

Keiran runs as far as he can from Rick in "In Sunshine or in Shadow." Rick's hesitancy nearly broke my heart. The angst in "In Sunshine or in Shadow" is nearly overwhelming. Keiran and Rick are made for each other. Although it's shorter than most of Josh Lanyon's work, "In Sunshine or in Shadow" still packs a very powerful punch with an excellent storyline and heart-warming romance.

"Snowball in Hell"

Homicide detective Matt Spain is investigating the murder of a member of a well known and wealthy family. It's a case that will change his life, and not just because of the importance of the case. Reporter Nathan Doyle is hiding a few secrets that he is determined to keep to himself. Is Nathan trying to help solve the case or is he staying close to Matt for another reason?

From the first time they meet, the chemistry between Nathan and Matt is obvious. Homosexuality was not accepted (to say the least) in the forties so a relationship between them seems impossible. The angst it creates for them, especially Nathan, is intense and tangible. The era "Snowball in Hell" is set in is depicted with accuracy and done in such a way as to be part of the story, but not a glaring history lesson. The characterization is perfect and the storyline is suspenseful. The ending is also excellent. It's exactly what I had hoped for.

Josh Lanyon Collected Novellas, Volume 1 is excellent. Not because the stories have overly mushy romance or fairy tale endings, but because of the incredibly talented and creative writing. Lanyon has the ability to draw me into a story regardless of whether the setting or circumstances surrounding the characters is initially appealing to me. For example, I don't usually care for stories set in the WWII era, but Lanyon made "A Snowball in Hell" the first one I thoroughly enjoyed. And I don't usually like to have my heart wrenched out and stomped on, but the angst in Lanyon's stories is fitting and realistic. For M/M romance and hot sex, for angst, suspense, and storyline, Josh Lanyon's Collected Novellas Vol. 1 is a highly recommended read for this reviewer.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I bought this volume of Josh Lanyon's collection JUST for "Cards on the Table"- which I had a digital copy of and is an all time favorite! I wanted an 'anywhere' copy, so I'm thrilled to have this!
However, everywhere I looked the INDEX of vol 1 and vol 2 collection was listed differently! So which volume has my favorite story and which do I avoid- having the popular story that I personally hated? Try the 'look inside' feature on this very Amazon.com product page.. it will show like 10 titles for vol 1 and is WRONG! I don't know why, maybe originally all his shorts where in one volume and then were split into two...
So now that I have the book in my hands I'd like to set the record straight!
Vol One includes "Cards on the Table"
"Dangerous Ground"
"In Sunshine and in Shadow"
"Snowball in Hell"

3 of my favorite Lanyon novellas/shorts! Great volume to own. On another note "Dangerous Ground" will have/does have a sequel! Check out Lanyon's webpage for info!

I simply adore Josh Lanyon style. My favourites un this book are Cards on the table, when the Jack the cop helps the somewhat damage writer Matt solve a cold case of a Hollywood murder. Tarots cards, mobsters and stalkers will confuse the issue till the startling discovery...about as startling as the discovery of love. In Dangerous Ground, two Federal agents play a game of hide and seek with dangerous desperadoes, and that won't be the only game...And in "Snowball in Hell" reporter Nathan Doyle and Detective Matt Spain investigate in WWII' s Los Angeles. Dashiel Hammet would have appreciated the story. The characters are intriguing, fascinating and flawed, and the love and sex scenes are pleasantly described, in an exquisite manner, and are never gratuitous-
Highly recommended!

Josh Lanyon has become one of my favorite authors. I am so happy that his novellas are now available in one book collection. Being a fan in Indonesia, that is surely a benefit. All the stories here are strongly written.

In CARDS ON THE TABLE, fans of Adrien English mysteries will discover the prototype of Adrien and Jake in Tim and Jack. Parallel in stories and characters, Josh still make the story feels fresh. In DANGEROUS GROUND and IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOWS, we find how two guys can move on from partners to lovers -- and how resisting the inevitable is just waste of time. In SNOWBALL IN HELL (my favorite of the collection), we meet Matt and Nathan, one cop and one reporter, in Post WWII in Los Angeles, which gives a very good homage to noir movies as well as whodunit genre. Josh said he would love to visit Matt and Nathan again soon. Well, this fan surely hope so.

This collection of three novellas and a short story are my first exposure to Josh Lanyon. I've read lots of gay fiction over the years and much of it is okay. This collection blew me away. Although short, each story is unpredictable and nuanced. The characters are well drawn and multi-faceted. The locations are well developed and realistic. Kudos on a wonderful collection. I hope to read more of Josh Lanyon's books in the future.

Let me say that the reason i bought this was cause it was written by Josh Lanyon.(Need i say more?):) He is an awesome writer. He has just the right amount of humor and drama and action where and when it is suppose to be in the stories. I dont really like stories that are set in the early 1900's,(post WWII in Los Angeles), but the one that was, Snowball in Hell, he did a great job in pulling you through it. Dangerous Ground takes Taylor and Will on a simple vacation and runs into the same bad guys that robbed a casino. And my personal favorite, Cards on the Table. Tim is a reporter that is doing a story on an old murder, and Jack, a homocide detective who lives upstairs from Tim decides to help him out. Even though the murder took place decades before they were even born, someone still doesnt want Tim to find out who the murderer is. But Jack is there to watch his back. And there is the added bonus of a short story, In Sunshine or in Shadow. Great reads!!