Dal Maclean

Like several other reviews, I have some seriously mixed feelings about this one. A strong, compelling debut novel with good writing (even though more aggressive editing would have helped) but with a very problematic romance at the center.

It's one thing to have complex, flawed love interests, it's another to excuse manipulative, deceitful, and ultimately selfish behavior on the basis of an abusive childhood and smoldering charisma. Very much not okay, especially without a redemption arc before the HEA.

Attraction does NOT = True Love. Friendly people are automatically good people. Feeling sorry for someone isn't the same as needing to put up with their B.S. Let's have romances that address these issues before letting characters end up together.

And yet, I did gallop through this novel thanks to the strength of the storytelling. The mystery could have been tighter and the plot more grounded, but all in all few complaints there.… (meer)

For a lot of this book I kept thinking 'is this really a m/m romance? Or just a police procedural with a gay lead.' The case was interesting, but the romance part was not very enjoyable for me. I wasn't tempted to set it aside though, so it had me engaged at least that far. At the very end we finally get some insight into the other character, and I think I could maybe like them as a couple going forward from that point (in a following book). But in this book they were kind of a wreck. Still, I was entertained, and I am looking forward to reading the next book.… (meer)