This is a private investigator whodunnit mystery novel. On the verge of bankruptcy private investigator Mitch O’Reilly takes any gig that comes his way while running his Eye Spy Supply shop in a forgotten Los Angeles strip mall. After two tours in Afghanistan, Mitch’s life amounts to running his store, coping with his fun-loving sister, Josie, and scoring with anonymous men he meets online. That … online. That changes when he gets a break. A beloved comedy scriptwriter is murdered at a bathhouse, and Mitch is hired to prove the innocence of the club custodian. Adapting from a two-bit gumshoe to a high-profile sleuth proves more challenging than he expected.
As if Mitch didn’t have enough to deal with, playful bathhouse operator Trent Nakos enters his life. After a heartbreaking past, the manager is the definition of a man the brooding P.I. actively avoids.
Following leads from sprawling mansions to sketchy hoods is demanding but becomes more troublesome when deadly threats jeopardize the biggest opportunity of his career.
This is a whodunnit mystery novel. While there is an element of romance, it is not a m/m romance novel.
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A Body in a Bathhouse by Brad Shreve is like the grown-up, gay cousin to a cozy mystery. The premise of how Mitch investigates is similar to a cozy with him leaving his spyware business in the hands of others (his twin sister) to work while he’s off all over the city chasing clues and talking to suspects.
And there is the start of a relationship, although this one isn’t with the typical person in law enforcement or a lawyer.
But, and that really should be a but with a capital B, that is where the similarities end since there is swearing, an uptick in violence, sexual paraphernalia, and some graphic (and very hot) sex. Any of these things would make your classic cozy reader faint or leave a scathing review.
I liked it though… a lot! As much as I enjoy a good cozy, it was wonderful to have a mystery with more grit. There is a lot of depth to Mitch and the other characters, and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books. Mitch’s sister, Josie, is a wonderful counter-balance to him, and Mitch’s lover could be so good for him.
Shreve does a great job portraying a character with PTSD, and as far as the mystery goes, he had me guessing until the end. I was partially correct, but then he threw in a twist. And at one point I was certain it was a particular person, and was really glad when it turned out not to be.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Shreve and to see where Mitch’s life and business takes him.
Rating 4.5!
Author Brad Shreve’s debut novel is a winner! The novel harkens back to those classic gay mysteries of the 80s and 90s we all loved, when the genre (including beloved series) came on the literary scene and gained in popularity. Reading A Body in a Bathhouse reminded me of the early gay mysteries written by such early greats as Michael Nava, Grant Michaels and Mark Zubro, to name but a few. The plot has everything going for it – a fledgling private detective who also happens to own a struggling retail spyware business, a body discovered in an otherwise unsavory establishment, and a cast of quirky characters who drive the narrative through a bevy of twists and turns that has the reader flipping (swiping right) page after page through a well-developed, deftly plotted novel via POV of the main character; Mitch O’Reilly.
The novel had me guessing throughout, and even though I felt pretty sure “who done it”, I end up only half-right, which made the reading experiencing even more enjoyable. Shreve pens in clear, deliberative prose, avoiding such pitfalls as overusing clichés and unnecessary filler just to keep the plot moving along; a fine, well-written, tightly plotted mystery that keeps the reader engaged and guessing. I am looking forward to reading more about Mitch O’Reilly and his struggles to succeed in business and in life.
A Body In A Bathhouse by Brad Shreve was given in exchange for an honest review. Thus was a great story where I was guessing who the killer was until it was revealed. I still guessed wrong. I liked the twists and turns throughout. I also liked Mitch who methodically worked his way through the clues and suspects. I look forward to the next story.
Mitch O’Reilly is an ex MP. He had something really horrific happen to him while in Afghanistan and took a discharge after four years. Now he’s working as a PI while trying to get his struggling Eye Spy Supply shop off the ground. He usually does cheating spouse cases but has been retained to find information to clear a possible murder suspect. This may be the step up in his career that he needs. He has a twin sister Josie that is fun loving and a perfect opposite to him. Josie doesn’t mind telling Mitch, every chance she gets, that she’s older than him (she’s twelve minutes older).
This is a really engaging murder mystery. Once I started reading the book I had a hard time putting it down. It is well written and flows well. By the end of the book I had narrowed down the murderer to two people but I didn’t see the complete twist at the end, so that makes it a good mystery IMO. I like that there’s a little romance in the book (as romance is my preferred genre) but it doesn’t overpower the mystery. Mitch is a work in progress and I’m anxious to see where his character goes. This book has a cast of characters that are colorful and well fleshed out. There are some really funny moments in this book as well. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery.
ARC provided for an honest review.