Fatal Shadows (The Adrien English Mysteries Book 1)

Adrien English is an unforgettable character. He has his flaws, but he's also bright, sometimes funny, sometimes hilariously snarky, loyal to his friends, and many other good attributes. He loves his mother even though she drives him insane meddling in his life and trying to make him live life on her terms instead of his own. He has terrible luck with employees at his mystery bookstore -- the temp services send him some dandies, including a woman he thinks of as a Nazi. Adrien is adorable, and men are attracted to him, but he always keeps a thin wall between himself and men he dates, because a former lover had hurt him badly by abandoning him.

Then two cops show up because his bookstore employee has been killed, and they suspect Adrien of being the killer. When someone begins stalking him, such as sending him black flowers, Adrien knows he's next on the killer's list, but the cops think he's doing those things to himself to get publicity for the bookstore and to turn them from him as a suspect.

This first book of the five-book series is well-plotted, filled with mystery, humor, sadness, and interesting characters. So are the other four books.

Some series weaken with time, but this series just gets better and better. The fourth book in particular kept me up all night, and I cried when Adrien thought someone he loved had betrayed him. The fifth book is totally incredible, and is a perfect ending, but I still wish Josh would go back and write another book with these amazing characters.

From the moment Adrien opens the door, letting Jake into his home (and life), he is in for one hell of a ride and takes us readers with him. Lucky me in coming late to the party, I was able to read the whole series back to back up until the last book (so far) and didn't have to wait for my `Adrien and Jake' fix.

Fatal Shadows sets us up for what's to come on down the line. Josh introduces us to the main players of the series, giving us insight through Adrien's eyes and reasoning on what makes them do what they do. We are given background to Adrien's life before `now'; how he grew up, his illness, his friends and lovers, his heartache and distrust, and his love of music, mysteries, and movies. Each of these elements plays a part in future stories to provide even more depth to not only Adrien, but also those around him.

We see Jake through Adrien's eyes: a seemingly humorless cop who has a thing against gay men, and Adrien in particular. A handsome and sexy man, everything physically that sets Adrien on fire and everything else that pushes all of Adrien's aggravation buttons. Because we see through Adrien's view, we see Jake only on the surface. Adrien's hapless pursuit of more from Jake is destine for trouble.

The supporting cast (with some recurring characters) seen through Adrien's eyes adds touches of humor as well as recognition of someone known. As the series continues, these people grow and develop, become fully fleshed as Adrien gets to know them better, as incidents trigger understanding and insight.

As the body count stacks up, and Adrien's inevitable arrest looms, readers begin to get the idea on who dunit. The hint that there's more to Jake and his interest in Adrien than what meets the eye begins to be spelled out. By the end, there is the belief the reader knows what's going to happen in the future for Jake and Adrien - that the riding off into the sunset together is on the horizon.

I love seeing well-developed gay characters where the orientation is just part of who they are, not the point of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the snarky, intelligent protagonist, enough that I stayed up waaaay too late listening to the audio version because I had to find out what happened. The only thing that kept me from giving it a full five stars is that I figured out the ending a few chapters before the protagonist. . .but then I read a lot of mysteries, so other readers might not get there as quickly. I enjoyed it well enough to get right on line and buy the second book in the series.

Adrien English runs a small bookstore in Pasadena, CA. He also owns one of the largest collections of gay mysteries in the Los angeles area. His life soon becomes like the subject of one of those mysteries when his best friend, who also works at the bookstore, is found dead -- stabbed to death -- and Adrien is viewed as the main suspect. He sets out to learn what happened to his friend and along the way, begins to wonder what the motives are behind hunky Detective Jake Riordan's unusual concern for him.

This is a great introduction to a new gay sleuth. He's not the stereotypical gay man, making it easier to get caught up with his emotions as he delves deeper into the mystery surrounding his friend's death. The story flows logically and easily and has plenty of twists and turns to keep every mystery fan happy. Not to mention that all the characters -- from Adrien to Detective Riordan even to the minor character of Angus who fills in at the store -- are well-written and enhance the story, making it more realistic. This novel is a great introduction to a new sleuth.

The first book in the five-part Adrien English Mysteries "Fatal Shadows" is a gem. It is a riveting, darkly chilling and beautifully written mystery. Bookshop owner and author Adrien's employee is murdered and Los Angeles detective, sexy Jake Riordan seems to focus on Adrien as a suspect. Adrien begins investigating on his own and the game is afoot! What makes this book a treasure is Adrien English. Adrien is a strong, lovely person whose take on his world of family, employees and Jake is funny and at times, aching painful. He's also got a wonderful, sassy mouth. The shaky relationship between Adrien and closeted Jake is angsty and moving. Josh Lanyon's writing, humor and storytelling are superior. And, Adrien is unforgettable. Just WOW! This book began my forever love affair with Adrien, Jake and Josh Lanyon's writing. This series was voted the All-Time Favorite M/M series for a reason!

Review is of entire series!

*************************************
It is 3:40am and here I am typing away on my laptop writing a review for a series I just finished reading. I should have packed it up and called it a night as the girls will no doubt be pestering me for breakfast bright and early, but the last book of the Adrien English series was so perfect, so sigh worthy that I absolutely had to get my thoughts out before I could fall asleep.
I started this series not knowing what to expect. It came highly recommended by Smexybooks and she has never steered anyone wrong before, but I have never read a M/M romance before. True to form, Ms. Smexy did not disappoint and this series is a must read. Fictionwise has this series classified as M/M erotica but I have a hard time classifying it as erotica. Yes, there are some smexy scenes in it, but the plot and relationships between characters steal the show in every book. Because of the strength of the last 3 books, I am giving the series as a whole 5 stars.

Adrien English is likable and funny, often sarcastic but not overly so. He is curious, finding himself close to far more dead bodies than one would think is possibly. The relationship between him and Jake is an unlikely one where they seem to knock heads more than kiss. I would have liked to sit them down and stage an intervention more on several occassions. They seemed to take turns being unable to be emotionally honest and often saying the wrong words. On one hand I am glad this series was only 5 books long, I am not sure my heart could take the emotional turmoil that their relationship caused me!

The plots for all 5 books were well done. The mysteries were interesting and demanded equal footing with the romantic plot. I did find the storyline in A Dangerous Thing, book 2, to be less interesting than the others. I felt the changes in Jake and Adrien's relationship were most important to the series, but the plot kept trying to push them out of the way.

Ultimately, book 5 left the biggest impression on me. I laughed out loud at the one liners and sighed at the tender side Jake finally showed us. I held my breath during many scenes hoping one of them would say the right thing and happiness would be in their future. Never have I read a series that was completed so well and did so without compromising the characters or the growth they had to experience. Even upon finishing The Dark Tide I kept hitting the "next" button trying to deny the book was really done. Realizing it was truly the end, I actually grinned and hugged my kindle for a moment in gratefulness.

Anyone who loves a fast paced, beautifully written murder mystery with engaging characters, witty dialogue and messed-up dysfunctional gay romance, should definitely check out the Adrien English Mysteries. In which sharp-witted but physically fragile bookshop owner and amateur sleuth Adrien, and the 'so closeted he can't even find himself in the dark' police detective Jake Riordan stumble through various gripping cases together while desperately trying to pretend there isn't anything between them apart from the sex, of course.

Snark, genuine scares, black roses, tai-chi, Adrien's ghastly writer's group (LOL!) and even scarier mother, Jake with his fresh from the tumble-dryer clothes, and not so secret double life... :) They are brilliant!

Alex Beecroft, author of Captain's Surrender

This is a hugely entertaining first book in a proposed new mystery series set in L.A. The mystery
surrounding the brutal murder of a young gay man is deftly and cleanly handled. What makes the
book really go is the narrator, Adrien English, whose best friend and erstwhile lover (sort of)
Robert has been stabbed to death in a Los Angeles alley. Adrien finds himself implicated in the
crime, but, worse, he's being stalked himself by the person who likely killed his buddy.
Adrien is a wonderful character and narrator, a real person, unlike some protagonists of more
established and touted series. He's funny without being mean and smart as a tack.
This is a smart book, well-paced, sweet, and suspenseful too. What more could one ask for?
Well, the second installment. I can't wait for A DANGEROUS THING!

Adrien English Mysteries 1.

Mystery bookstore owner and author Adrien English is suspected of murder after his employee and high school friend Robert Hersey is murdered. Will Detective Jake Riordan, a man with dark secrets of his own, believe Adrien is innocent and search for the real murderer?

This is a m/m mystery, the first in a series by the wonderful Josh Lanyon. I really enjoy Josh’s books. His characters are always well-defined, complete with faults that the reader can identify with. Although I guessed at the identity of the murderer, I had no idea of the motive. It was refreshing to not only understand why, but to feel sympathy for the killer. This was a man who was as much a victim as a perpetrator. Lanyon explores the dark side of being gay or bisexual with this story, giving it an additional layer. I’m looking forward to more with Adrien and Jake. I also liked that Adrien’s favorite mystery author was Leslie Ford, who had given us the Grace Latham mystery series. I want them rereleased or at least made available in digital version. 4 out of 5.

Only Josh Lanyon would create a hero who drinks Ovaltine. Sure, he laces it with brandy , but still, how many readers these days even know what that is? What persons under a certain age also may not know is that for years, in the 1940's and 1950's, Ovaltine sponsored "Captain Midnight," one of the early "superheroes" on radio and TV. Just another example of the subtle and wry wit with which Lanyon draws his characters and shapes their snappy dialogue. For those who haven't read it, the story is also a suspenseful mystery and M/M romance. It's gratifying that this first installment of the wonderful four volume series is back in print with striking new cover art. For Lanyon newbies, this is a must.

Fatal Shadows introduces you to Adrien who owns a bookstore that sells Mystery books, and Jake who is a cop investigating the death of Adrien's employee. Adrien can't help investigating the death after his store is ransacked and other mysterious events happen.

I loved this wonderful series. It's well written and thought out. You fall in love with Adrien very quickly and Jake grows on you as well :-)

This energetic thriller centers on Adrien who owns a small specialty bookstore (all mysteries) in Pasadena, California. One of his close friends is savagely murdered and the police target Adrien as the prime suspect. When another friend is also murdered, Adrien is forced to figure out the killer's identity before he becomes the next victim. And are the police detective's motives sinister or not? And what about the mysterious journalist who keeps popping up? I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, but found the editorial errors rather distracting. And Adrien is constantly referred to as middle-aged and he's only 32!! It makes one wonder about Josh Lanyon, the author.

I enjoyed this debut work...I liked the bookish hero, Adrien ("with an e")English and I enjoyed the mystery.
What bothered me was a complete lack of editing. Characters are introduced without any explanation or tie-in. They pop up later with identies, but there are pages and pages between them and their reason for being in the story. References are made about events, again with no lead-in explanations.
A good editor could have helped this to be a great story.
I look forward to more English mysteries. I just hope the author asks for assistance with subsequent stories!

When a long-time friend and current employee is murdered, gay bookseller Adrien English becomes the prime suspect. But as news of other deaths in other places emerges, it appears he is no longer a suspect--he is the next victim. A very fast and engaging read for all regardless of sexual persuasion though the writer does cheat a bit with misleading info. But he is forgiven and I am grateful for an evening's entertainment.

Much better than I expected. I was searching for erotica and didn't really think this should be tagged as such, but I very much enjoyed it. Adrien is a little annoying sometimes, but the book was very enjoyable. I will be reading the next installment for sure.)

The Adrien English Mysteries are a genius blend of romance, adventure, drama, and of course, mystery. Josh Lanyon seems to write a perfect book one after the other, but he hit the ball out of the park with this one. Adrien and his supporting cast are wonderful, well rounded and explored characters, making every new addition to the series an excitement and joy to read. The books are written in the POV of Adrien, who is sarcastic, witty, humorous, sexy... what else do you need in a good narrator?

I've re-read the book several times, it never gets old!

This is an auspicious beginning to a proposed new mystery series featuring Adrien English, a young California bookseller whose sedate, secure life is turned upside down when his best friend and employee Robert is brutally murdered. At first police suspect Adrien himself of the crime, but Adrien is too busy warding off the subtle (and not so subtle) attacks of a stalker. Then other friends and acquaintances of Adrien's turn up dead, and he realizes he's in a fight for his life.
Adrien English is an engaging new narrator. He's smart without being overbearing and witty without straining for humor. Lanyon has set the mystery at a crisp pace, and the suspense builds accordingly. There's also a whiff of romance in the air. You will be hard-pressed to put this one down once you start it.
I'm already panting for part two.

Very light reading. Cotton candy mystery. There's nothing in the book that I would call either romantic or erotic. For that matter, there's almost nothing really gay about the characters either. Hard-sell fans of either mystery or m/m will not find this superb. But there's no reason not to recommend this and it is a fun quick read.

Brilliant book. Well written and the start of a fantastic series that details the relationship that develops between Adrien the bookseller and Jake the police detective and the crimes they solve along the way.

Brilliant book. Well written and the start of a fantastic series that details the relationship that develops between Adrien the bookseller and Jake the police detective and the crimes they solve along the way.