Friends since childhood, Albuquerque detective Eagle Woodard and criminal profiler Adam Coulter are dragged into a serial killer case. Gay couples are being murdered and tortured and the FBI needs their help to capture the sadistic murderer. Deciding to implement a plan to trap the killer, Adam and Eagle go undercover as an involved gay couple. Or is it really pretend?Faced with their toughest … with their toughest challenge yet, they must find the active serial killer before he strikes again. With the powers that be not cooperating and the killer proving to be elusive, will Eagle and Adam be able to stop the murderer while navigating their changing relationship?
PLEASE NOTE: This is the first book in an ongoing story arc. Although the case is solved, the relationship ends on a cliffhanger. Contains graphic violence and scenes of torture.
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I don’t know if I can recommend this book, although I have to admit that I was drawn into the story, even as I cringed at the way things were evolving. It’s VERY dark, and the sequel is even darker (see, I HAD to read the sequel, lol) but ends a little better than this one did. I don’t like books that don’t end on an upbeat note, so be warned that this one may leave you grumbling. There are technical issues that irked me, but I was still compelled to read the entire story. Those with triggers and who are squeamish should definitely use caution.
I had the good fortune to win this series in a contest.
Overall: 3.75 Stars!
Narration: 5 Stars!
Story: 3.25 Stars
The narration was superb, Nick J. Russo has such a wide range of voices and can convey a lot of emotions with his performance, which really came in handy in a multi-perspective book like this one. My favorite has to be his portrayal of the killer(s), because damn, if he didn’t do a fantastic job with them. I got chills on that last scene with them and Adam and Eagle.
The premise of a homicide detective Eagle Woodard and his BFF/roommate and criminal profiler Adam Coulter being recruited by the FBI to play a gay couple—which is what the killer(s) are hunting down—was good, although the execution fell a bit short for me. The fact that we learn who the killer(s) are pretty early on didn’t exactly help matters, although I will admit that getting inside their head and seeing what they were capable of was scary as all hell.
I liked Adam and Eagle, although I frankly didn’t feel that much chemistry between them. Perhaps it was the fact that they both slept with others on-page, or perhaps I found it difficult to understand why Adam was in the closet and didn’t want Eagle to know he was bisexual. I don’t know, I just wasn’t feeling their connection or even the love they supposedly felt for each other and the whole calling themselves Tonto and Kemo, didn’t really help.
Then we have Rick Kessler, who was a grade-A twatwaffle. Really, the man was insufferable and so unprofessional. I really have no clue how he’d gotten so far in the FBI with the way he handled this case.
Overall, the book was entertaining, despite all the things that didn’t quite work for me. It was like a train wreck, I just couldn’t put it down until I found out things would work out for Adam and Eagle. This is not a romance, so don’t go expecting hearts and flowers, because you definitely won’t get that here, and if you want a HFN/HEA, just pick a different book because this one ends in a cliffhanger.
Would I recommend it? Yes, although if at all possible pick the audiobook because Nick did a wonderful job with it.
Would I read/listen to the next book? Maybe? I’m on the fence about that, although Nick narrating it might sway me towards yes.
Adam and Eagle have been friends since they were eight years old. Eagle thinks that he has been in love with Adam that whole time too. Adam has tried to be in love but can’t seem to make it work. When they close in on a serial killer, their bonds are severely tested.
This was an interesting story. Some twists, not all the good guys are particularly good, but the bad guys are really nasty. Graphic depictions of torture abound. I mostly liked the book. It seemed like it was rushed in places to get all the information needed in place. I really didn’t like Adam. I did like Eagle though, he’s the reason I gave it four stars.
Adam and Eagle have been best friends since early childhood. Eagle has always loved Adam, but Adam is straight or so he thinks. Adam has secrets. They get married as part of an undercover operation to catch a serial killer. This is a best friend to lovers story line and it’s a really good one!! This was my first story by this author, and it will NOT be my last. It was well written and kept my interest thru the whole story. Excellent, highly recommend!!
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Eagle Woodard and Adam Coulter, detective and criminal profiler may be a crack team at what they do but their personal lives are a disaster.
Adam Coulter, whose an expert profiler, life is a mess. He’s been divorced just too many times and apparently it’s always his fault. Sure, he has money to burn, being a privileged white man.
Eagle Woodard, not so privileged being Native American and gay. Eagle’s been friends with Adam since their younger years and it didn’t really work out for Eagle. He’s been in love with Adam forever but he never pushes the issue. Eagle has opened his home to Adam for a very long time.
I had mixed feelings about both Adam and Eagle. I wanted to clobber both of them at times. But I did realize both of them have issues but it seems Adam has more than Eagle and Eagle has been there for Adam when times get rough.
M.J. Calabrese brings this rocky relationship to an explosive edge. Adam and Eagle’s connection is a definite “oil and water” situation filled with dysfunction and drama. A couple things that keep this connection on edge are roving eyes, not being true to ones-self and one of the most important factors, trust.
As far as the mystery goes, the reader will figure out who the serial killer is and that’s what keep’s the reader on edge, as Eagle and Adam investigate the gruesome murders. The investigation, along with mistakes and interference just keeps this fast paced novel all the more suspenseful. I give fair warning, the murders are violent, gritty and committed by a most evil and deranged killer.
This was a first time read for me by M.J. Calabrese and this was one of those stories that became a page-turner, no matter how much I wanted to clobber both Eagle and Adam. I just don’t know how Adam and Eagle will survive each other and so I’m hooked and on to book two “Mountainway Chant”.
3.5 rounded up.
Warning: this story contains very detailed graphic violence and a lot of triggers.
It took me a while to get into this story as the formatting wasn’t what I’m used to, and I thought it could have done with an edit in a few places. I found the head hopping a little disconcerting too.
However, the characters and plot still pulled me in despite that. I thought it was a very solid plot, and I was seriously worried for the MCs as it went along. I liked the way the author didn’t shy away from showing the consequences of the killer’s actions, which were, to be blunt, horrifying. Because of this the killer came across as a real threat, and I knew from the beginning they wouldn’t be easily taken down, and the author did a good job in following through with that.
I also liked how the characters all came across as individuals and with distinct voices. I felt for Adam growing up with his father who is not a nice person. I liked how the author showed the huge difference between his family dynamics, and Eagle’s family who are all decent human beings. I also enjoyed the plot twist with Adam’s sister, which I thought was nicely done. I really hope Kessler gets what is coming his way as this series progresses.
The action scenes are well written and build the tension to the point I couldn’t put it down towards the end of the book when I had to make sure everyone survived. The ending does its job well in leaving the reader wanting the next book sooner rather than later, as these guys are going to have to work for their HEA.