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Fiend By the Bay
Asking for help is hard to do, but Ethan doesn't have a choice. Beau is happy to come to the rescue, even as he tells himself it's only the case he wants. A story of private detectives, illegal happenings, and lusty romance in the Bay Area.
Words: 87,566 complete
Words: 87,566 complete
263 pages, online fiction
First published June 30, 2009
2 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Bean Montag
2 books3 followersFanfic & Original Slash Author
http://bean-montag.livejournal.com/
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/134679/L...
http://bean-montag.livejournal.com/
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/134679/L...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2012
3.5 stars - This m/m mystery romance novel was pretty good, especially for being available free online. The story focuses on Beau and Hank, two private investigators in San Francisco, as well as Hank’s boyfriend Sam, and Beau’s new client Ethan, who knew Sam in the past and came looking for help on how to deal with his shady boss that he couriers for. As Beau investigates, he finds a much darker mystery that relates to some missing persons and the possibility that a killer is still on the loose.
What I liked: Overall, the mystery portion was pretty good and things got a little tense near the end, even though what led to the climax wasn’t a huge surprise. The MCs were pretty interesting, and for those romance followers, the story focuses on both couples—one more established (but with issues) and the other growing tentatively throughout the story. Yes, there are sexy times, but it in no way overwhelms the story.
What was harder for me: The writing overall was good, especially for being either a first or early novel. Some of the dialogue read a little off to me though, and also multiple characters have communication (and miscommunication) issues which were helpful for some story progression, but was also frustrating at times to read, and also made things sometimes confusing. This lack of communication, even sometimes in the narrative, also led to me feeling less connected to the characters. So, even though the ending is good/HEA, I didn’t have a really strong feeling of catharsis or satisfaction.
As a heads-up, there is some non-con. I’m not a huge fan of this in general in stories, but the author here dampened the intensity by either simply referring to it (for past events) or writing the scene from a limited POV. So, it’s not overly drawn out or explicit. (On my internal scale of surprise sexual violence, where 0 is none-at-all and 5 is Yakuza Pride’s Surprise-Endless-Scenes-of-Sexual-Torture, I rate this as a 2.5. I really dislike sexual violence though so my scale is probably more heavily weighted than others.)
But overall, for a free first novel, this was a solid read with some good suspense and romance and an original story. Your mileage will most likely vary on how the communication issues and what not will affect your reading. If you’re looking for an m/m mystery romance read, this may be up your alley.
ADD: Oh, hey, there's a short story sequel on the author's LJ. Pieces Fall Part 1 and Part 2.
What I liked: Overall, the mystery portion was pretty good and things got a little tense near the end, even though what led to the climax wasn’t a huge surprise. The MCs were pretty interesting, and for those romance followers, the story focuses on both couples—one more established (but with issues) and the other growing tentatively throughout the story. Yes, there are sexy times, but it in no way overwhelms the story.
What was harder for me: The writing overall was good, especially for being either a first or early novel. Some of the dialogue read a little off to me though, and also multiple characters have communication (and miscommunication) issues which were helpful for some story progression, but was also frustrating at times to read, and also made things sometimes confusing. This lack of communication, even sometimes in the narrative, also led to me feeling less connected to the characters. So, even though the ending is good/HEA, I didn’t have a really strong feeling of catharsis or satisfaction.
As a heads-up, there is some non-con. I’m not a huge fan of this in general in stories, but the author here dampened the intensity by either simply referring to it (for past events) or writing the scene from a limited POV. So, it’s not overly drawn out or explicit. (On my internal scale of surprise sexual violence, where 0 is none-at-all and 5 is Yakuza Pride’s Surprise-Endless-Scenes-of-Sexual-Torture, I rate this as a 2.5. I really dislike sexual violence though so my scale is probably more heavily weighted than others.)
But overall, for a free first novel, this was a solid read with some good suspense and romance and an original story. Your mileage will most likely vary on how the communication issues and what not will affect your reading. If you’re looking for an m/m mystery romance read, this may be up your alley.
ADD: Oh, hey, there's a short story sequel on the author's LJ. Pieces Fall Part 1 and Part 2.
August 20, 2011
God, I loved this story SO MUCH!
I'm so sad it's over, I don't wanna part ways with the characters, coz I fell in love with them! And I loved the ending - it's no fairytale, but it's really as happy as they can reach in their situation and I love how deeply they care for each other, so I'm sure it'll work for them :)
Also I wanna say that Beau's my favorite 3 I like all of them, but he's just so good )) Ethan's lucky to have him, I think )))
I'm so sad it's over, I don't wanna part ways with the characters, coz I fell in love with them! And I loved the ending - it's no fairytale, but it's really as happy as they can reach in their situation and I love how deeply they care for each other, so I'm sure it'll work for them :)
Also I wanna say that Beau's my favorite 3 I like all of them, but he's just so good )) Ethan's lucky to have him, I think )))
September 14, 2012
This was a good read. I did like it. Also read the short sequel, that was necessary for the story to end semi- properly : Pieces fall.
I appreciated how the author began the story. It’s novel being thrown in all of the sudden into the story. I actually went back to the author page, just a few paragraphs in to see if I was reading a sequel by mistake :)
The strange thing about this is that even though the book is mainly about Ethan and Beau , I felt like Sam and Hank absolutely stole the show. They are already in a relationship in this story and yet they feel so very real and well formed. They really clicked with me and I wish I would have gotten to know them better.
Ethan and Beau on the other hand, we get to follow from the beginning of their relationship. The make a nice couple but I still felt all throughout the story that they could have been developed so much more.Still, like I said a good story that I enjoyed.
I saw that the author also started a story about Hank and Sam : The Remoteness of Being, but it has only 3 chapters and was last updated in 2009.....so I rather not tease myself.
I appreciated how the author began the story. It’s novel being thrown in all of the sudden into the story. I actually went back to the author page, just a few paragraphs in to see if I was reading a sequel by mistake :)
The strange thing about this is that even though the book is mainly about Ethan and Beau , I felt like Sam and Hank absolutely stole the show. They are already in a relationship in this story and yet they feel so very real and well formed. They really clicked with me and I wish I would have gotten to know them better.
Ethan and Beau on the other hand, we get to follow from the beginning of their relationship. The make a nice couple but I still felt all throughout the story that they could have been developed so much more.Still, like I said a good story that I enjoyed.
I saw that the author also started a story about Hank and Sam : The Remoteness of Being, but it has only 3 chapters and was last updated in 2009.....so I rather not tease myself.
May 1, 2017
4.5 Stars
The title is misleading. It sounds like a humorous novel and it isn't at all. It's good, but it's not funny. I easily would have paid money for this. I want a sequel!
Lots of telling in the beginning.
Gay people were adopting kids and becoming families long before this guy was in grade school. Maybe the era the author's talking about is when more who were out and proud started doing those things.
I'm really confused about what Ethan is smoking. It's been called a cigarette, a roach, and a joint where the next line is saying the character can smell "the sweet scent of tobacco." Can a joint or roach be made tobacco? The dictionary doesn't say so.
I sometimes feel that this was written in a language I know a little bit where in still missing subtle nuances. The nuances are so subtle and roundabout that sometimes I have no idea what's being referred to or what exactly has happened. Like "Ethan's gaze darted animal back and forth..."
Missing contractions pulled me out of the story because native English speakers would use them all the time. It wouldn't make sense to use one contraction in the same sentence that also had the same words not contracted, e.g., "She could not go to the story and he couldn't go to the movies and they could not go anywhere together." It needed some copy editing but for something not even published, it was damn good.
Sam is such an asshole sometimes.
There are too many useless any flashbacks, scenes that took place time-wise after the previous chapter but then told from a slightly future perspective.
Beau is right that he shouldn't be seeing a client who had emotional investment in the case. He's very vulnerable and not making good decisions in general.
Ethan isn't acting like a man. When Beau is nasty to him, ordering him around, he's angry for a minute then he apologizes like it's his fault and tries to ingratiate himself. It's stereotypical female and doesn't fit a loner like he is who's worked with hardened criminals where he couldn't appear weak. I was very surprised he didn't run off, not that that would be mature.
Great that they use condoms for oral sex.
I'm glad Sam improved, and that Hank's attraction to him was explained as was why he was such an ass so often.
I love that both couples are very different but they work in their own ways.
The ending wasn't quite what I wanted but almost. But it was good, very good.
As I said, this is one online story I would have paid money for.
The title is misleading. It sounds like a humorous novel and it isn't at all. It's good, but it's not funny. I easily would have paid money for this. I want a sequel!
Lots of telling in the beginning.
Gay people were adopting kids and becoming families long before this guy was in grade school. Maybe the era the author's talking about is when more who were out and proud started doing those things.
I'm really confused about what Ethan is smoking. It's been called a cigarette, a roach, and a joint where the next line is saying the character can smell "the sweet scent of tobacco." Can a joint or roach be made tobacco? The dictionary doesn't say so.
I sometimes feel that this was written in a language I know a little bit where in still missing subtle nuances. The nuances are so subtle and roundabout that sometimes I have no idea what's being referred to or what exactly has happened. Like "Ethan's gaze darted animal back and forth..."
Missing contractions pulled me out of the story because native English speakers would use them all the time. It wouldn't make sense to use one contraction in the same sentence that also had the same words not contracted, e.g., "She could not go to the story and he couldn't go to the movies and they could not go anywhere together." It needed some copy editing but for something not even published, it was damn good.
Sam is such an asshole sometimes.
There are too many useless any flashbacks, scenes that took place time-wise after the previous chapter but then told from a slightly future perspective.
Beau is right that he shouldn't be seeing a client who had emotional investment in the case. He's very vulnerable and not making good decisions in general.
Ethan isn't acting like a man. When Beau is nasty to him, ordering him around, he's angry for a minute then he apologizes like it's his fault and tries to ingratiate himself. It's stereotypical female and doesn't fit a loner like he is who's worked with hardened criminals where he couldn't appear weak. I was very surprised he didn't run off, not that that would be mature.
Great that they use condoms for oral sex.
I'm glad Sam improved, and that Hank's attraction to him was explained as was why he was such an ass so often.
I love that both couples are very different but they work in their own ways.
The ending wasn't quite what I wanted but almost. But it was good, very good.
As I said, this is one online story I would have paid money for.
March 30, 2012
That was some pretty enjoyable stuff. I didn't care much about the plot, I admit, because I was mostly interested in the characters. I liked Hank and Sam, their tender and seemingly fragile relationship. And Beau was just adorable, so by the end of the book his feelings were the ones I was mostly worried about.
All in all, it was surprisingly good for an online novel, because we all know how much *rap sells for money out there.
All in all, it was surprisingly good for an online novel, because we all know how much *rap sells for money out there.
February 6, 2012
Very urban noirish. I like how we jump into the middle of the story without a lot of build up. Might have used the beautiful and fascinating city as even more of a "character".
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April 2, 2015Free online fiction.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews