Stranger on the Shore

Series/Standalone:SA
Cliffhanger: none
HEA: yes
Relatable characters: yes
Non-Con: none
Violence: low
Sensuality level: medium
Well written/editor needed: well written
Would I re-read?: YES
Personal thoughts: I loved this, and it gave my book group a lot to think/talk about.

Interesting characters that really get your emotions pumped, some you love and others you will hate, even if you don't think you should. Another riveting read by Mr. Lanyon, he truly knows how to pique the reader's interest and keep us coming back for more, and boy do I love coming back for more.

Josh Lanyon is truly the master of character based stories. His mysteries are top notch, and Stranger on the Shore, is no exceptation. Fell in love with Grif and Pierce. Hope to see more of them in the future!

With his first full-length novel in almost three years, Josh Lanyon has given his devoted readers, and everyone who loves an intelligently-crafted mystery, a bona fide hit! Stranger on the Shore is a brilliantly-written, smoothly-paced "whodunit and then what happened," paired with a delightful, unhurried, romantic subplot.

This review does not include a synopsis; you can see that elsewhere. No, this is about why reading this story is such an extraordinary experience!

It has been said, and recently by Mr. Lanyon, "There are no new ideas. It all comes down to the individual author's handling of the possible themes and plots and characters." Apparently Josh knows what he's talking about. The plot is extremely intricate and well laid out; it felt fresh...brand new. I had never come across this storyline before. And because Josh is the premier mystery writer in this or any genre, when all had been explained and every question answered, there were no plot holes left unfilled; the true mark of a skilled writer.

As to be expected in any great mystery, there is a diverse cast of characters. The two main protagonists, Griff and Pierce, are thoroughly fleshed out, as is the majority of secondary players. Working within the novel format, Josh has taken advantage of this opportunity to dig deep into everyone's psyche. When I finished reading the story, I felt I'd spent considerable time with, and gotten to know these people. I hated to leave them and return to real life. A reread is in my near future.

Josh's trademark descriptions are spare but nonetheless gorgeous. He can set a scene without overwhelming you with unnecessary wordiness, as witnessed by the following elegant passage: "The room turned golden in the late afternoon light. Retreating sunlight embroidered the outline of shelves and furniture in gleams and glints, stitched its way up the winding staircase, flashing off bronze leaves and varnished wood, and traced the gilt and leather and silk spines of old books."

Intimate content is especially appealing here. Mr. Lanyon's ability to write an original "sex scene" after 50+ books is alive and well. Not that I ever skim his work, but he is the only author for whom I will slow down in my reading when these scenes begin; they are worth taking your time to savor. He can make you feel as though you were reading one for the first time. No quotes, but trust me, they are sublime.

One final comment before the end: partnered with this story is surely the most glorious book cover I have ever seen.

It is obvious from the title of my review alone, I think Stranger on the Shore is something special. Josh is a one-of-a-kind writer, and this story proves again, he has no equal.

Highly recommended.

Like others haven mentioned, I could not put this down. Unfortunately, work and sleep did interfere a bit, but 26 hours later I have just finished reading it -- and was it ever worth the wait. I will admit that I kind of knew who was who about halfway through the book, but the motives and how things transpired was a fun revelation in the end.
I only hope Mr. Lanyon does not keep us waiting so long again for a full-length story. And I'm still waiting for book 3 in the Holmes and Moriarity series!

A richly layered novel with plot twist and turns that will keep you reading late into the night (or early morning). I enjoyed how all the characters seemed fully developed and thought out. I kept wondering where the idea for this book came from. A fantastic read that I couldn't put down.

Josh Lanyon always delivers the goods in his books, but he has outdone himself on this one. In this book, Lanyon does what he does best, Romantic Mystery. This book is destined to become an old friend as I read it over and over. Highly recommended..

I have become practically programmed to love everything Josh Lanyon writes. Stranger on the Shore was a pretty good mystery and even though one can guess the outcome, it was still fun to see how the author would take us there. The romance was okay but seemed a bit less strong emotionally than some of Lanyon's other work. That said, it was an enjoyable read, it just doesn't top the list of Lanyon "Must Reads."

This book was honestly predictable and a tad slow in my opinion. I actually ended up reading a fraction of it and then didn't touch it for months, only to finish it out of personal commitment. While I tried my best to keep up with clues and such, the eventual reveal was rushed and just lackluster. The romance between both MC was lovely and enjoyable. The intimacy was descriptive but not sloppy or skeezy. If you're looking for something to read, I say go ahead, but if you're looking for a connection, I say look elsewhere.

I really enjoyed this story. The beginning started slowly building a well crafted mystery. Gruff was a bit of a nerd but definitely likeable. Pierce was not so likeable until the later part of the book, but we do get our HEA in the end.

A great mystery. Well written. The only negative for me was, as a fan of MM romance/ erotica I would have loved to have read more sexual tension between the two MC and some actual sex. I didn't give it less star's because of it. Stranger on the Shore was still a great mystery read.

I really enjoyed this story. The beginning started slowly building a well crafted mystery. Gruff was a bit of a nerd but definitely likeable. Pierce was not so likeable until the later part of the book, but we do get our HEA in the end.

A great mystery. Well written. The only negative for me was, as a fan of MM romance/ erotica I would have loved to have read more sexual tension between the two MC and some actual sex. I didn't give it less star's because of it. Stranger on the Shore was still a great mystery read.

He's always good. But sometimes he's fantastic. This one I thought about after; imagined the characters on-going. That's always a strong indication of quality. A full-length novel yet. Thank you, Josh!

Lanyon is a good writer and the story moves along smoothly. The writing itself and the descriptions are nice. The protagonist is likable enough. That said, the solution to the mystery is obvious from about the end of chapter one. The solution of the murder toward the end is also rather obvious, and I found the social message that of course the privileged wouldn't do anything like the crimes to be questionable.

The romance didn't work well, unfortunately, or at least needed more work. The love interest was certainly not likable, which can be interesting if you can see the reason for the connection, but in this case I couldn't. What's more, in the course of the plot he does several things that if not unforgivable at least needed some working out. They weren't and the ending was quite abrupt.

This makes a decent few hour's read but isn't up to the standards of some of Lanyon's earlier works.

Josh Lanyon is a really talented writer. This is typical of his quality of work. A lot of his books are rather short and they are pricey for ebooks. This one has some volume to it, which is much better. I stopped reading his stories because I was paying too much for too little. This story is longer. He has some fairly stereotypical "types" that he uses a lot, and this book (thankfully) kept that tendency to a minimum. Easy to read and fun along the way. You should enjoy the book. I did.

Full review posted on the Smoocher's Voice blog

Griffin Hadley’s favorite novel is The Great Gatsby. Like the narrator in that novel, Nick Carraway, Hadley is a native of the Midwest, who is intrigued with New York and its wealthy residents. Hadley, a crime reporter and aspiring book writer, is a realist and a bit of a romantic.

Hadley is not just writing a book about the decades old mystery of what happened to four-year-old Brian Arlington, he is seeking truth. For some reason, Hadley is drawn to Brian’s story, the Arlington family and the mystery that surrounds the family and crime.

Josh Lanyon is a master of description and unravels a mysterious plot with descriptive panache. With the use of foreshadowing and imagery, Lanyon sets the stage for this story in an eerie fashion.

Lanyon has the uncanny ability to draw readers into a story by embedding the reader in the fictional worlds Lanyon creates, and Lanyon has done that again with Stranger on the Shore. Through the use of in-depth description and realistic dialogue, Lanyon develops these intriguing characters and plot. The hook for Stranger on the Shore happens in the first few paragraphs of the story as Hadley is introduced.

This was really a great contemporary mystery read, and one with a few unpredictable twists popping up right when I thought I knew everything and had it all figured out. I found this to be quite the slow burning romance with the mystery aspect taking center stage. That, in my opinion, gave the story more depth and relevance and one that I quite enjoyed watching unfold.

The characterization and plot were spot-on and really well written. The relationship between Pierce and Griffin starts on very shaky ground. Actually, they really didn’t like or trust each other much at all; and by not knowing how they were going to end up until the end rang more believable than if they spouted love words right off the bat.

The mystery of the missing four year old heir, and the resulting pain in the grandfathers heart, was quite emotionally draining. I was really, really, hoping the loss the “second” time around wouldn’t send the poor old guy into the ground. I did not see that coming…at all. It threw all my theories right out the window.

The relationship building between Griffin and Pierce was very real life-like. They didn’t fall into insta-love, and they didn’t pretend to be something they weren’t. They had to work hard for it, but the “family” came first, and the mystery would be a huge chasm between them unless it could be solved or the questions answered to put Pierce at ease.

So, if a prominent mystery-slash-romance, where the romance is more subtle and in the background, is your thing, then you will love this book. Yes, the mystery is solved by the end. Yes, I guessed the ending, but not the way it happened. Yes, Pierce and Griffin end on a happy for now. And yes, it was well worth it.

Investigative journalist Griff Hadley is tapped to research the 20 year old disappearance of little Brian Arlington by the patriarch of the Arlington family. Hadley is invited to stay on the Long Island estate of the family while doing research for his book on the kidnapping. While the family and staff are suspicious and wary of Hadley, none more so than Pierce Mather, handsome, brilliant family lawyer, and semi-closeted gay man who guards secrets of his own, things start happening to Hadley -- a broken bridge, mysterious phone calls and more! Mather's protective instinct kicks and sparks ignite between him and Hadley.

When an imposter shows up pretending to be the long lost Brian, things really begin to happen and a family secret is exposed. Hadley is even more in danger and family members turn against each other and the patriarch.

Oh yes, there are references to The Great Gatsby as well.

Once again Josh Lanyon has written an interesting and gripping story in his usual style with M/M romance, mystery and occasional humor thrown in. Although this is not my favorite Lanyon, he makes it interesting and readable, and his protags are handsome and sexy. What more can one ask?

I came late to the pleasure of 'Josh Lanyon Land' and had a vast back catalogue to enjoy, and re-enjoy, before reaching the stage of anticipating a new release. Stranger On The Shore was certainly not a disappointment. As I have come to expect, the story, characterisation and atmosphere are all brilliantly drawn and I was totally immersed and hooked from start to finish. It is easy to fall in love with both protagonists and the setting and ambience are beautifully described. My only sadness is that it seems unlikely this will be part of a series.
One of the thing that defines Josh Lanyon books, is that there is so much more to them than just romance – there’s a really good story too. Stranger On The Shore is no exception to this rule and provides a really excellent read.

Stranger on the Shore, Josh Lanyon
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I recognised the name from a book I read and enjoyed some time ago, and although Josh has written many books somehow I've not read any since. Anyway, this sounded interesting so I requested it.
It’s a suspense novel with a strong romantic thread running through. It's m/m romance, that doesn't matter to me, I just love a good romance, I enjoy best books focussed on people and this one does that perfectly. Griff is writing his first book, been given unprecedented access to the family, house and photos of the missing child. Jarret, little Brian's grandfather is an interesting character, and its clear that what he's hoping is that through this book research Griff may uncover some new detail. Griff isn't so convinced of that but does feel there's more to the story that revealed and that he can get a different angle on it.
The family though aren't as happy as Jarret, and are a strange mix. Grief can do odd things to people, but these seem as though they were weird even before the tragedy. The family solicitor Pierce is strongly anti the book, and tries all sorts of things to persuade Griff not to write it. He's seen so many people come and try to pass off as the missing boy – man now of 24 - that he suspects Griff has some hidden motive. He's very protective of Jarret, very close to him, and doesn't want him upset yet again. Griff and Pierce really don't hit it off at first and then..gradually...they get closer :-) Then someone turns up claiming to be Brian. Griff and Pierce are both convinced he's not, and are united in trying to prove it, but the family are convinced he's genuine. Then it turns dangerous....and Griff's life is at risk.
It’s a great read, not heart stopping intensive thrills, but subtle drama, clever clues laid out for reader, some of which took me in the wrong direction...and though I'd an idea of part of what happened I missed so many clues looking back! The final reveals took me very much by surprise, I just didn't see them coming but it all added up very neatly, no lose ends, no pulling rabbits out of a hat to fit the results..just good strong writing, and a plot that full of interesting characters, tender romance, and lots of mysteries to puzzle over. It’s been a while since thrillers/suspense was my reading mainstay, and I most enjoy books that are based around characters rather than events. This novel was perfect for me as I really enjoyed the characters, they felt real, I wanted Jarret to find his grandchild, was rooting for the romance, loved Griff, and even those in the novel that were odd all had their own very definite characterisations and felt very real. I need that to enjoy a book, if I don't care for the people then I simply don't get engrossed in what’s happened to them. Here there was a fantastic mix of characters.
Stars: five, great read, real people, with solid mystery to untangle.
ARC received via Netgalley

When Jarrett Arlington, the nearly ninety year old patriarch of the Arlington family, invites Griffin Hadley to stay at the Arlington estate of Winden House, the crime beat reporter willingly travels the fifteen hours from Janesville to Long Island for the chance to research the famous twenty year old mystery of four year old Brian Arlington's kidnapping and subsequence disappearance for his yet to be written book about the case. After all, the gig was kind of a big deal! No-one previously had been given permission for such a book. In fact, everyone to date had been threatened with legal proceedings if they even attempted it. Although Jarrett Arlington may have given Griff his blessing, it seems his is the only one that Griff has garnered and the rest of the family and their lawyer are more than happy to make him very aware of that.

The world the extremely rich Arlingtons live in is a far cry from Griff's, yet he ends up quickly developing an easy rapport with the likeable grandfather of Brian. The same can't be said when it comes to the family's ruthless lawyer, Pierce Mather. As Griff gets drawn into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Brian, he also finds himself drawn to the surprisingly charismatic man. Sure, he was a bit of a jerk at first, but as events throw them together, Griff discovers that there's a lot more to Pierce than just his good looks and cynical attitude. In fact, it becomes obvious that Pierce is fiercely loyal to the family, which treats him as one of their own.

Stranger On The Shore is first and foremost a mystery, and a very good one at that. With a tight, cohesive plot and just enough clues to formulate theories on but not obvious enough to become annoyingly easy to solve straight away, I really enjoyed the way this story was put together. One of the aspects to the mystery I did cotton on to earlier in the book, but it's slow reveal throughout was necessary to enable other puzzle pieces to click together believably for the reveal at the end, and there were still plenty of twists I didn't guess. The interest-grabbing story combined with fascinating characters made this book very difficult to put down, especially so once the premise of the story is established. Griff was an easy MC to like, smart; determined, sometimes prickly and eminently believable, I really enjoyed experiencing the story through his POV.

I loved Griff and Pierce's evolving romance. As this was predominately a mystery, the romance was well balanced as a story element without competing or taking over from the mystery. The chemistry between Griff and Pierce built slowly, and not always smoothly, lending a realism to the romance, especially given their abrasive start. Just like he did for Griff, Pierce grew on me, although, also like Griff, I didn't ever truly dislike him. I found him intriguing despite his initial apparent arrogance. From the entitled and somewhat abrasive Chloe (the cousin of Brian who nonetheless had some quality that made it difficult not to like her), the rude and snobbish Muriel (daughter of Jarrett), the amusing and friendly Diana (Pierce's sister and my favourite of the minor characters), to the family patriarch himself, all of the characters are evocatively written with distinct personalities.

The writing is beautiful with a surreal, almost dreamy feel to it, which perfectly matches the story. Every word has a purpose, whether it be to paint a vivid picture of the location, to create an atmospheric sense of anticipation or to portray wonderfully realised characters and convincing dialogue. All in all, a clever and thoroughly enjoyable mystery.

Review originally posted at "Live Your Life, Buy The Book"

Stranger On The Shore is first and foremost a mystery, but the romance unfolding within feels anything but secondary, instead both aspects blend seamlessly together in this intriguing and compelling read.

Griff Hadley, crime beat reporter for a small town paper, gets his big break when the head of the Arlington family, Jarrett Arlington, gives his permission for Griff to write a book about the kidnapping of Jarrett’s four year old grandson – an unsolved crime that made headlines twenty years ago. Not only does Jarrett give Griff permission, he invites the reporter to stay in the guest house of his sprawling estate, the scene of the kidnapping, and instructs the family and staff to give Griff their full cooperation. Pierce Mather, the family’s lawyer, is firmly against the book and makes his stance well known. Griff is attracted to the extremely handsome and well-put together lawyer from the beginning, but Pierce’s prickly and distrustful nature quickly puts him off (though the two do give in to their attraction briefly). When someone shows up claiming to be Brian, the long lost grandson, Griff and Pierce team up to discover the truth and find themselves growing closer in the process as stunning secrets and devastating lies are uncovered.

This was one of those mysteries that just can’t be put down. It starts out a little slow, put quickly becomes engrossing. Griff as the small time reporter researching an unsolved, big time case came off as smart and charming, an everyman swimming in a world of the very rich, treading water and feeling a little out of his depth. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the world through this character’s eyes, the details he observed and way he put two and two together was really interesting to follow along with.

The romance between Griff and Pierce starts out very subtle. The two don’t get along, but there’s something there. Pierce is brusque and professional to Griff, especially around others, but there are times when the two are alone that there seems to be an extra something, an underlying current, in their interactions. When the two do give in to their attraction, it appears to be a one off kind of thing, but people and events seem to conspire against the two to bring them more firmly together. While the story is unfolding, the two men seem like an odd pair to be getting together, but by the end it feels like they were meant to be together all along.

All in all, I really loved this book. The descriptions were fantastically detailed, painting a picturesque setting in my mind, and the clues given gave just enough away to lead the reader in the right direction, without giving too much away and leading to a too predictable conclusion. This was my first time reading this author’s work and I won’t hesitate to snap up books by Josh Lanyon in the future, especially if they’re all this absorbing.

*I received a copy of this book to review. You can find this review and others like it at BookAndCoffeeAddict.com, along with recommendations for a fantastic cup of coffee.