Read the complete first season of this thrilling, action-packed investigative suspense romance with two strong-willed detectives, an undeniable slow burn attraction, and a terrifying puppetmaster in the shadows before Season Two returns!ABOUT THIS EPISODEWhen a string of young queer men turn up dead in grisly murders, all signs point to the ex-boyfriend—but what should be an open-and-shut case is … to the ex-boyfriend—but what should be an open-and-shut case is fraught with tension when BPD homicide detective Malcolm Khalaji joins up with a partner he never wanted. Rigid, ice-cold, and a stickler for the rules, Seong-Jae Yoon is a watchful presence whose obstinacy and unpredictability constantly remind Malcolm why he prefers to work alone. Seong-Jae may be stunningly attractive, a man who moves like a graceful, lethal bird of prey…but he’s as impossible to decipher as this case.
And if Malcolm doesn’t find the key to unravel both in time, another vulnerable young victim may end up dead.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Baltimore homicide detective Malcolm Khalaji has his own way of doing things: quiet, methodical, logical, effective, not always particularly legal. He’s used to working alone—and the last thing he needs is a new partner ten years his junior.
Especially one like Seong-Jae Yoon.
Icy. Willful. Detached. Stubborn. Seong-Jae is all that and more, impossible to work with and headstrong enough to get them both killed…if they don’t kill each other first. Foxlike and sullen, Seong-Jae’s disdainful beauty conceals a smoldering and ferocious temper, and as he and Malcolm clash the sparks between them build until neither can tell the difference between loathing and desire.
But as bodies pile up at their feet a string of strange, seemingly unrelated murders takes a bizarre turn, leading them deeper and deeper into Baltimore’s criminal underworld. Every death carries a dangerous message, another in a trail of breadcrumbs that can only end in blood.
Malcolm and Seong-Jae must combine their wits against an unseen killer and trace the unsettling murders to their source. Together, they’ll descend the darkest pathways of a twisted mind—and discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes. And if they can’t learn to trust each other?
Neither will make it out alive.
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Absolutely fantastic!
I’ve come to expect nothing less than phenomenal writing from this author, and I have yet to be disappointed.
From the first page, vivid descriptions and non-stop action pulls you in and doesn’t let up. It is a very difficult book to put down temporarily, say, to sleep, eat, work, etc. I’m not quite sure how I managed that.
Without giving away spoilers, we have two homicide detectives, each with very strong personalities and their own idiosyncrasies. Each has their own way of doing things, looking at a case, etc. Neither wanted a partner, but it is their differences that make them such a great “fit”.
The plot was fantastic, the buildup steady, and the ending with just the twist that I associate with this author’s writing. The gruesome parts were pretty gory, but I have a strong stomach for such and thought it added a layer of authenticity. After all, if a writer can think of it, it’s probably been done in some form or another, if not to this extent.
I can’t wait for the next book. The ending didn’t have a hook (Thank God, I hate them), but it did leave a puzzle to figure the next time. Kudos to you Cole. Well done!
I certainly loved this book and true to author’s word this story did feel like a TV Criminal Drama something akin to Law & Order: SVU but darker, more violent and with no personal drama or relationships. This is not a romance. There is no mention of feelings, well, except hatred and disdain at the beginning changing to grudging respect and some trust. Oh and hot as f….k scorching kiss at the end of it! *flushing furiously*
This story is about a string of gruesome murders in LGBT community and two detectives racing the clock to solve the case and save young men as the murderer ups their game. What I liked was the procedure and a glimpse into the world of police investigation – it was not glossed over or made to look pretty and was tough, raw and hard work. I liked it all. The detectives who investigate this case are very different, singular in their own way with the set of traits that as a team makes them stronger and smarter but somewhat incompatible on a personal level. But they learn to deal with it and in the end they come to a certain understanding of each other. I think there will be a story between them – not soon but I think it will happen. And when it does it will be explosive.
The murder itself was gripping, keeping me on the edge of the seat wondering who the killer will go after next. And in the end it’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. It was unhinged, scary and savage. It held my interest to the end and I loved every minute of it. NOTE: One thing that peeved me slightly was that at times one of the detectives waxed slightly poetic or philosophical about murder case and I kept thinking to myself: “Do they really think like that?” Otherwise, it was a very thrilling read! I highly recommend it!
P.S. The very end adds a little extra mystery to the story. All is not what it seems! 😀
Two detectives work tirelessly to solve what becomes a gruesome case.
It becomes apparent there’s a spark between these guys but both put work before pleasure.
Great characters, fabulous chemistry, good pace and the knowledge that this was just the beginning!
This is a hard book to read and the author does give triggers for those faint of heart. It deals with the murders of young gay students and the hunt for the killer by two very disparate detectives. Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon – both gay cops, but poles apart in manner and philosophy. Malcolm is not happy to be partnered with Yoon, but the tragic circumstances of the case force them into a tense but workable partnership. As the body count and mutilations mount so do the duos frustrations and determination to find the killer before more young men die. Well written but gritty and perhaps too gory for some readers.
Sooo close to getting a 5-star rating!
But The Cardigans sort of stumbled on the finish line and got bumped down to a 4 instead, with me not even knowing if I’d like to continue with the rest of the series/season. I’ll get back to why in a bit.
I thought the plot was great and I was sucked into the story immediately. It was fast-paced and gruesome, and it sets the stage for getting to know more about Khalaji and Yoon through their reluctant cooperation. McCade doles out small amounts of information about the MCs, withholding most of it which just made me more curious.
Basically, McCade is being a tease. Which is brilliant. I kept wanting to know more about them and was frustrated when I wouldn’t get it. But of course, I still devoured the read since any lull in the story (revealing more of the guys histories) was inevitably followed by action.
Right. So Khalaji and Yoon are both loners. Both are damaged. But no specifics are revealed in this first episode.
I really liked Khalaji’s grumpy persona and the vulnerability that shone through during the grimmer parts of the story. I think I could easily come to adore his character if only McCade would have offered a bit more flesh to his bones.
Yoon was harder to place and he didn’t completely win me over. The POVs alternated between the two, but Yoon’s chapters were less revealing than Khalaji’s. Yoon was way more closed up. Strict and a stickler for protocol. Younger and less experienced, but the experience he had is hinted at to more than make up for it.
There were mainly two things in this story that bothered the hell out of me.
The first one was the obvious disregard of a crucial clue. They found the clue. Acknowledged that it seemed suspect. And then never spoke of it again. I mean WTF! That grated. Also, later on, it didn’t help that the case was solved without revealing the how of it all. Logistics is pretty central to this murder mystery after all, and not detailing how it was even possible to get away with the things done (especially the grand finale) just adds to the improbability.
The second thing that annoyed me was the kiss.
It just came out of the blue. No preamble. Just “lets test if we have chemistry to see if it’ll fuck up our professional relationship”. To me, that was actually the final straw. So a 4 instead of a 5.
I mean, naturally I wanted a kiss. At a minimum. But it would have needed to be some credible build up to that moment. As it were it just felt forced. Too bad really.
I want both the suspense and the relationship development to be on point in order to fully enjoy this kind of story. So right now it’s anyone’s guess if I’ll pick up the next episode or not.
https://reflectionsofaswedishgirl.blog.se/the-cardigans-criminal-intentions-season-one-1-by-cole-mccade/
This series is my new addiction! I’m so in love with them!! Anyone who loves romantic suspense, trust me, you HAVE to read this!! To say I devoured it in one sitting would be an understatement.
This is the biggest slowburn I’ve ever read. I mean they call each other by their last names almost throughout the entire book. Malcolm and Seong-Jae are reluctant partners teamed up to investigate a case. And there’s nothing I love more than that.
I’m really excited that this is like a tv series consisting of 13 episodes, each episode being a different case but still has an over arching plot. Which means Mal’s and Seong – Jae’s relationship is going to progress at a slow pace. And honestly, I’m super hyped for it! Don’t expect any romance in this book. Think of it like the first episode in your favourite tv series. There’s some amazing tension between the main characters.
I don’t want to talk much about the case, because the suspense is key. This is not for the faint of heart though. Lots of gory details that will make your stomach turn. This is my first book by the author and it’s really well written with a fast pace. I cannot wait to read the next book. I cannot believe I kept this on my tbr for so long!!
This series is the work of a real master of the genre, and he’s writing for all the right reasons. For those who like murder mystery in the spirit of Reginald Hill only set in Baltimore, start here. Also, there are cupcakes.
I’m officially hooked on this series now! Up to book 4 and it continues to be good. As for this book in itself, very dark but also sets up some amazing UST. Good all around.
A well written, engaging police procedural, with well developed, characters, a believable storyline, a great start to a hopefully exciting series. A cynical, middle-aged detective sergeant, a mysterious, much younger transplanted lieutenant, who should have been born a Vulcan (or a robot), and the gruesome murder of a young gay man, begin a walk on the dark side of human nature on the streets and in the back alleys of Baltimore. Must read the next installment. Immediately.
I have to confess subject crime is not a first on my top-list to read but my experience with this author’s writing is good so I just want to read… I was not disappointed!
Intriguing story, young queer people are found murdered and homicide detective Malcolm Khalaji is on top of it. He gets help from a new temporary partner Seong-Jae Yoon… this al against Khalaji’s will. There is a lot of hostility between the two men, and they need each other to solve a crime in this deadly course.
Without giving the story away I want to say it was an unbelievable captivating story. Explicit development of scenery and characters. When I closed my eyes… i could visualize and saw a movie running and from every corner and angle there was something to watch…
The crimes were horrible and shocking, the suspense at some point just killing… at a particular part I was racing over the lines… come on…come on… I have to know… I have to know…
Strong written, fast paced, excellent description of surroundings, a lot of tension and a mustread for crime lovers.
Kindly received an arc from the author (bought it also, I’m a hoarder)
CRIMINAL INTENTIONS Season One, Episode One: THE CARDIGANS by Cole McCade is a great story. This story is a great mystery with twist and turns threw the whole story. I am so glad I read this story strong characters and a very good story line. I can not wait to see what is in the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
He works alone until now he has been given a partner. They are so unlike each other that it could never work. Or can it? Yay men are being killed and at first it was thought it was an ex boyfriend but The bodies are growing. They need to trust each other to get to the bottom of it all. Can they? Can they find out what is really happening to the victims? See if they can find out
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow, this book grabbed my attention from the very first page and wouldn’t let me go until the very last page! The plot was well written and well planned and the characters were so well developed that I was glued to my kindle throughout the entire book!
I don’t know why it took me so long to read this story. This is where the action is. The murder… The mystery… The two detectives bumping heads almost at every turn. I loved the way the story was laid out and how each character, Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon, got introduced. I laughed a few times, especially when Yoon kept on feeding Khalaji that one liner. “As you say…” I’m laughing now as I remember it.
It was amazing to watch the characters interact with one another. Not just on a personal one on one basis but as detectives solving the case. They both used their educational background to the solve the case. I loved the behavioral analysis, which was done through the case. It seems like the story was a mixture of Law & Order and Criminal Minds. I felt like I was right there while they were solving the case. I haven’t read a good murder mystery in awhile. If you want a good who done it, this might be right up your alley. Man… I can’t wait to jump into the next case. Khalaji and Yoon are quite the team.
I love this series and eagerly await more episodes. I love all of Cole McCades writings.
Just love everything cole McCabe write
Jocelyne miller
This book gave me nightmares. That’s a compliment considering this is more of a police procedural than a “horror”. Scary, twisted, macabre and human all at the same time.
I loved this book, couldn’t put it down!
Forced to be partners, Mal and Seong Jae have to tackle a truly ugly serial killer case AND navigate how to stand each other’s presence.
Do read the Content Warnings. The author is very clear about what each of these “episodes” contain. He loves his readers and would rather not traumatize any of us.
4 stars- I used to exclusively read mysteries and forensic crime fiction, so I always am excited when those genres are woven into romances. Better yet when a favorite author is the one offering it up. Naturally, that meant I was stoked to see Mr. McCade was starting a new series that would follow two Baltimore detectives. Criminal Intentions is a different sort of law enforcement romance in that it’s organized as “seasons” and episodes, not unlike a police procedural television drama. What that means for readers is the character development and romance operate on an elongated timeline, so a slow burn and then some. Each novel follows newly paired detectives Malcolm and Seong-Jae as they race to solve a case and apprehend the criminal. I think this method works particularly well with the author’s writing style. Mr. McCade doesn’t shy away from characters with depth and I never feel like their developments as individuals and within a relationship are glazed over, and it’s blatantly clear this will be true with the Criminal Intentions series.
The characters in Criminal Intentions are multi-faceted and interesting. Though it’s obvious there’s much to reveal about both Malcolm and Seong-Jae’s histories, I got enough insight into the men to keep me invested. The case itself was also really intriguing and the investigation aspects were well-written and believable. Yet, as much as I enjoyed it, this wasn’t one of those suspense novels I couldn’t down. I don’t know if it’s because the pacing reflects the longer timeline, but I found myself reading at a more measured speed, leaving time to process and consider the developments as they occurred. That isn’t to say I wasn’t hooked, the simmering tension between Malcolm and Seong-Jae was certainly palpable and I want to know more about both of these men- but this may be a series to savor rather than tear through. If you’re into police procedurals or law enforcement romances and can get behind the long game for a love story, Criminal Intentions doesn’t disappoint.
*Received eARC via author’s ARC group distribution.*