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The Adventures of Holloway Holmes #2
The Old Wheel
Blackmail. Breakups. Boys. Trouble always comes in threes.
Life is different for Jack Moreno. Good. Definitely good. Well, better, anyway.
He’s back in school (although classes are harder than he expected). And his dad is healthy (which means he’s worrying again about things like Jack’s curfew and, oh yeah, grades). And he’s got a great girlfriend (who might, justifiably, be running out of patience with him). And Holloway Holmes is his friend (even though it’s the kind of friendship that leaves Jack wanting more). So, life is good. Better. Definitely.
Except when it comes to money. With his dad still struggling to pay a mountain of medical bills, Jack jumps at the opportunity to make some extra cash. After all, helping a fellow student deal with blackmail isn’t exactly new—just a few months before, Jack handled a couple of blackmailers on campus. With the help of Holmes, of course.
Only something is different this time. Something Jack can’t put his finger on, something that makes him suspect the blackmail is just a cover for something much more serious. And when one of the blackmailers is murdered and Holmes becomes the prime suspect, Jack and Holmes will have to race to figure out what they’ve missed. Before it’s too late for both of them.
Life is different for Jack Moreno. Good. Definitely good. Well, better, anyway.
He’s back in school (although classes are harder than he expected). And his dad is healthy (which means he’s worrying again about things like Jack’s curfew and, oh yeah, grades). And he’s got a great girlfriend (who might, justifiably, be running out of patience with him). And Holloway Holmes is his friend (even though it’s the kind of friendship that leaves Jack wanting more). So, life is good. Better. Definitely.
Except when it comes to money. With his dad still struggling to pay a mountain of medical bills, Jack jumps at the opportunity to make some extra cash. After all, helping a fellow student deal with blackmail isn’t exactly new—just a few months before, Jack handled a couple of blackmailers on campus. With the help of Holmes, of course.
Only something is different this time. Something Jack can’t put his finger on, something that makes him suspect the blackmail is just a cover for something much more serious. And when one of the blackmailers is murdered and Holmes becomes the prime suspect, Jack and Holmes will have to race to figure out what they’ve missed. Before it’s too late for both of them.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2023
22 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,799 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
June 12, 2023
🎧 the audiobook is out now! time for another double dose of our favorite Gregs - Tremblay and Ashe make for a mighty duo. right in time for the upcoming sequel coming out this Friday too (audio later this year but it’s coming!) 👀 enjoy *insert maniacal laughter*
—————
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! 💃 i can’t wait for everyone to join in crying tears of every emotion together in true Ashochist solidarity! hmu if you need a fresh box of tissues and i’ll happily toss one through the screen for ya 🤧👍🏼
—————
this series is the next best thing since sliced bread, and y'all know how much joy carbs spark in my life.
the last time i caught myself crying on the scale of Angel Falls because of a pairing's inherent softness was Jem & Tean. the Utah air must be the secret ingredient for a glorious stew of feels, because where else can i find characters this gentle and tender, with interactions bursting with more affectionate compassion and swoon than i can find in a hundred books combined, yet also possess sharper claws than any of the fiercest animals as soon as their significant other is threatened? not even paper dare give them papercuts lest they be Thanos-ed out of existence.
i hope GA knows that couples this soft are, by law (as of April 9, 2023), no longer allowed to fight with each other. sorry, i don’t make the rules! only friendly teasing and endless starry-eyed gazes at H's celestial face and jack(heh)-in-the-box #cutebutt from here on out 😉 *wraps Holloway and Jack in bubble wrap while gazing suspiciously at book 3 as we speak*
as much as i adore H’s pov in the short stories, i can’t say i mind the single pov with the main series too much - not when Jack's voice when he speaks in any relation to Holloway is what i imagine a response to the prompt "translate love into the written word" would read. where every instance of Holmes loosening his iron-grip hold on his inner child, his elusive smile slipping free, is like taking those final steps to the summit, and flora and fauna give way to one of the great Wonders of the World. paragraphs so excruciatingly stunning they thrum in your veins, and you're powerless to do nothing more than cheese through traitorous tears. the effect is one of moving fondness that keeps the heart light and floating on cloud nine.
then Mr.Phallic (i can’t be the only one lol) Ouroboros on the cover - that my mom pleasantly called a “Christmas wreath” upon first glance *cries in laughter* - slides in with a pragmatic reminder of the cyclical nature of creation and destruction, life and death, and by the same token, the vicious cycle of daft decisions and repercussions when fear becomes our main driver, as ever-growing Big Unwieldy Feelings lend new vulnerabilities that are catnip for unsavory players, new and old, in the Holmesverse.
i had a theory while reading book 1 that, astonishingly enough, came true. that shock of self-satisfaction lasted only long enough for their world to shatter and now i'm taking up the janitor's broom to sweep up the mess of emotions in the aftermath of that ending, because how am i supposed to cope??
...aside from distracting myself with Jack & Holloway couple names (and maybe a hug from Papa Moreno *after* he gets his act together) 🤣 please share your ideas, because "Team Hack" sounds too much like hocking up a loogie for my liking, but the alternatives aren't turning out much better. at least i can proudly admit that J&H have Hojack-ed my mind and continue driving me Hollowack during these periods of limbo between installments (i am confident there will be more arcs; i believe in the heart of the cards). i’ll make my Jolloway out of here while my sanity is still somewhat intact, enough to help the fam make some meat buns for dinner.
friendly reminder to stay hydrated, my lovely bibliosapiens!
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book, giving my favorite serratus anterior muscles the spotlight they deserve (like in DuPage!), and making scientific concepts so romantic; this is my honest review :)
—————
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! 💃 i can’t wait for everyone to join in crying tears of every emotion together in true Ashochist solidarity! hmu if you need a fresh box of tissues and i’ll happily toss one through the screen for ya 🤧👍🏼
—————
this series is the next best thing since sliced bread, and y'all know how much joy carbs spark in my life.
the last time i caught myself crying on the scale of Angel Falls because of a pairing's inherent softness was Jem & Tean. the Utah air must be the secret ingredient for a glorious stew of feels, because where else can i find characters this gentle and tender, with interactions bursting with more affectionate compassion and swoon than i can find in a hundred books combined, yet also possess sharper claws than any of the fiercest animals as soon as their significant other is threatened? not even paper dare give them papercuts lest they be Thanos-ed out of existence.
i hope GA knows that couples this soft are, by law (as of April 9, 2023), no longer allowed to fight with each other. sorry, i don’t make the rules! only friendly teasing and endless starry-eyed gazes at H's celestial face and jack(heh)-in-the-box #cutebutt from here on out 😉 *wraps Holloway and Jack in bubble wrap while gazing suspiciously at book 3 as we speak*
as much as i adore H’s pov in the short stories, i can’t say i mind the single pov with the main series too much - not when Jack's voice when he speaks in any relation to Holloway is what i imagine a response to the prompt "translate love into the written word" would read. where every instance of Holmes loosening his iron-grip hold on his inner child, his elusive smile slipping free, is like taking those final steps to the summit, and flora and fauna give way to one of the great Wonders of the World. paragraphs so excruciatingly stunning they thrum in your veins, and you're powerless to do nothing more than cheese through traitorous tears. the effect is one of moving fondness that keeps the heart light and floating on cloud nine.
then Mr.
i had a theory while reading book 1 that, astonishingly enough, came true. that shock of self-satisfaction lasted only long enough for their world to shatter and now i'm taking up the janitor's broom to sweep up the mess of emotions in the aftermath of that ending, because how am i supposed to cope??
...aside from distracting myself with Jack & Holloway couple names (and maybe a hug from Papa Moreno *after* he gets his act together) 🤣 please share your ideas, because "Team Hack" sounds too much like hocking up a loogie for my liking, but the alternatives aren't turning out much better. at least i can proudly admit that J&H have Hojack-ed my mind and continue driving me Hollowack during these periods of limbo between installments (i am confident there will be more arcs; i believe in the heart of the cards). i’ll make my Jolloway out of here while my sanity is still somewhat intact, enough to help the fam make some meat buns for dinner.
friendly reminder to stay hydrated, my lovely bibliosapiens!
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book, giving my favorite serratus anterior muscles the spotlight they deserve (like in DuPage!), and making scientific concepts so romantic; this is my honest review :)
July 17, 2023
Audiobook - 5 stars
Story - 4.35 stars
That was so intense and interesting. Liked it alot.
Many thanks to the author for the audiobook.
Story - 4.35 stars
That was so intense and interesting. Liked it alot.
Many thanks to the author for the audiobook.
May 17, 2023
✰ 5 stars ✰
“Do you remember when I told you that you terrified me?”
I don't know how Gregory Ashe was able to make me love The Old Wheel as much as I did - but I did - it was so good - just so good, because it had the right amount of everything that I could ever want in a book. An intriguing murder mystery - perfect banter worthy of a 🤌🏼🤌🏼 - excellent chemistry - a lovely slow-burn of youthful pining - tender care of comfort - and the icing on the cake - it was so damn well-written.
O-M-G - the absolute gushing I could do for how much I appreciated the pacing - never did I feel a lull in the action - the balance between all the scenes - okay, fine, yes, I'll admit - the fact that the first day of the plot itself took up more than a fourth of the novel should be a bit unnerving BUT, the story was flowing - it was moving along, and making sense and keeping you upto speed with the crime that was afoot - Jack and Holloway's pairing - it was just - I couldn't even bring myself to fault anything. And that's saying a lot for how finicky and critical a reader I am - and trust me, I am my own worst judge of myself.
And yet, where to begin - with whom to begin? Which tender scene did I love - which soft line hit my heart - which intense reveal had me screaming - which beautiful confession had me squealing - everything about this series has been absolutely delightful. To have those few precious hours of immersing myself completely into Jack's thoughts and plights has been the highlight of my weekend.
“I knew that he was something more than me, something vast and wonderful that I could only touch the edges of. But for someone like me, the edge was enough—just a glimpse was enough.”
Once again, Jack was such an excellent narrator - he went through such a range of emotions this time that was still so very believable for a sixteen-year-old! Because his life has been upended in more ways than one - that he cried so many times due to that overwhelming intensity - that he still never lost his spark for trying to do what's right and find out the truth - and at the same time, balance his feelings for Holloway and fight it for as long as he can. 😢 He was still carrying so much guilt from the day that forever changed his life that his relationship with his father became even more strained - but to have Holloway encourage him to talk to him honestly - to address the issues first-hand - showed how much he had become a part of his life and vice versa.
“A Holmes is always in control,” he said, his voice shaking harder. “It is how we survive. We control ourselves. We control our thoughts, our reactions, our emotions. Discipline and focus are our weapons.”
Holloway - my dear lovable boy, if he only allows himself to see it - if you would allow it, I would give you an endless supply of hugs, to show how worthy of love you are. 💗💗 To see him try to change - to be more open and receptive to others - to shed the burden that his family has riddled him with - his fear for Jack's life - his kindness and understanding of Jack's vulnerabilities - it's so hard to decide which one of the two I love more, because the both of them are so perfectly written.
“And, more importantly for right now, I knew what he sounded like when he’d been hurt, the quality of his breathing, because I’d hurt him in a way few people ever had. Which was why, in those rare midnight hours when I could be honest with myself, I knew it was better this way, as friends.
Because I didn’t deserve him.
All that passed through my mind in a heartbeat. And then, the decision to kill Paxton Adler crystallized in my head.”
Paxton Adler and Blackfriar Holmes - please for the love of everything that is precious - please stay away from these precious boys and keep your mind-games to yourselves! 😤 The moments with them hurt me more than the characters! Because there are still bigger powers at play - more crime afoot, so many more twists and surprises that await these sleuths in their peril that It's so not cool - so unfair - so uncalled for - so painful, knowing that it's not time for their time to be completely written of yet. 😢
“I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
I found his hip with one hand, his jaw with my other, pulled him closer, cupped his face, fingers curling along his nape. He was close enough that his breath felt hot and made my skin tighten. I wanted to say again, I love you, but instead I whispered, “Let me show you.”
Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction! 🥰🥰 Their confession was so perfect - so fitting for the two of them - it just melted my heart. That they were no longer subtle in their feelings - even if they're difficult with words, they become so touchy-feely with each other - it's so disgustingly ute. And yet, it's such a shame that GA opts for not going into much detail, but oof, their kisses afterwards were so adorably sweet and there is so much latent love between them - this fierce separation of anxiety that stems from their protective care of each other - so very considerate for one another and to be so receptive of each other's problems and call them out on it.
“It’s ok, man. Life’s complicated. I just wanted you to know we’re team Hack. That’s your celebrity couple name.”
All the side characters - old and new - good and bad - were all so well-rounded, had so much depth to them - never at all feeling flat or impersonal. Their interactions and introductions flowed into the narrative and plot so seamlessly, so very well done, that I never felt like it was unnecessary or too much information. I loved that the story continues right where we left off in Part 1, how Jack is trying to fit into his new school life - how his interactions with the students helps him be a better detective and actually have the chance to make friends. And to see how others view his relationship with Holloway was so very entertaining for me, and well, enlightening for Jack! 😃 Detective Rivera has really grown on me - he acts like a grumpy old cop, but he really has such a soft spot for Jack - almost behaving like a protective big brother to him.
And that twist at the ending - that surprise reveal - the 'break-up' - Jack and H really went through an emotional wringer in this part, and I couldn't believe it would end the way that it did! Every detail was so purposeful and even if it's more of a mystery than a romance - it was all built-up so so well! And yes, there are a lot more sexual innuendo references, but it was so essential to the plot that I didn't find myself annoyed by it.
“I could be anywhere and know you.”
I just had a really great time reading this - absolutely worthy of all the time I spent reading it. 👏🏻👏🏻Maybe because it ticked so many of the right boxes for me that I found myself fully immersed in the story. Maybe it's because I was totally caught in Jack's narrative and how he had to experience a whole range of emotions in such a short span of time, and still find it compelling and believably so. Maybe it's because my heart ached for Holloway that no matter how hard he tries to let go of his family's shadow- to have the chance to be the person that Jack sees him for, there's always one more obstacle - one more problem to solve - before he can finally be at peace.
And yes, of course, I'm TEAM HACK! Who could ever think otherwise!?? I need their reunion like yesterday - please oh please, Gregory Ashe, let them have the HEA they so desperately need and deserve...🥺🥺
“Do you remember when I told you that you terrified me?”
I don't know how Gregory Ashe was able to make me love The Old Wheel as much as I did - but I did - it was so good - just so good, because it had the right amount of everything that I could ever want in a book. An intriguing murder mystery - perfect banter worthy of a 🤌🏼🤌🏼 - excellent chemistry - a lovely slow-burn of youthful pining - tender care of comfort - and the icing on the cake - it was so damn well-written.
O-M-G - the absolute gushing I could do for how much I appreciated the pacing - never did I feel a lull in the action - the balance between all the scenes - okay, fine, yes, I'll admit - the fact that the first day of the plot itself took up more than a fourth of the novel should be a bit unnerving BUT, the story was flowing - it was moving along, and making sense and keeping you upto speed with the crime that was afoot - Jack and Holloway's pairing - it was just - I couldn't even bring myself to fault anything. And that's saying a lot for how finicky and critical a reader I am - and trust me, I am my own worst judge of myself.
And yet, where to begin - with whom to begin? Which tender scene did I love - which soft line hit my heart - which intense reveal had me screaming - which beautiful confession had me squealing - everything about this series has been absolutely delightful. To have those few precious hours of immersing myself completely into Jack's thoughts and plights has been the highlight of my weekend.
“I knew that he was something more than me, something vast and wonderful that I could only touch the edges of. But for someone like me, the edge was enough—just a glimpse was enough.”
Once again, Jack was such an excellent narrator - he went through such a range of emotions this time that was still so very believable for a sixteen-year-old! Because his life has been upended in more ways than one - that he cried so many times due to that overwhelming intensity - that he still never lost his spark for trying to do what's right and find out the truth - and at the same time, balance his feelings for Holloway and fight it for as long as he can. 😢 He was still carrying so much guilt from the day that forever changed his life that his relationship with his father became even more strained - but to have Holloway encourage him to talk to him honestly - to address the issues first-hand - showed how much he had become a part of his life and vice versa.
“A Holmes is always in control,” he said, his voice shaking harder. “It is how we survive. We control ourselves. We control our thoughts, our reactions, our emotions. Discipline and focus are our weapons.”
Holloway - my dear lovable boy, if he only allows himself to see it - if you would allow it, I would give you an endless supply of hugs, to show how worthy of love you are. 💗💗 To see him try to change - to be more open and receptive to others - to shed the burden that his family has riddled him with - his fear for Jack's life - his kindness and understanding of Jack's vulnerabilities - it's so hard to decide which one of the two I love more, because the both of them are so perfectly written.
“And, more importantly for right now, I knew what he sounded like when he’d been hurt, the quality of his breathing, because I’d hurt him in a way few people ever had. Which was why, in those rare midnight hours when I could be honest with myself, I knew it was better this way, as friends.
Because I didn’t deserve him.
All that passed through my mind in a heartbeat. And then, the decision to kill Paxton Adler crystallized in my head.”
Paxton Adler and Blackfriar Holmes - please for the love of everything that is precious - please stay away from these precious boys and keep your mind-games to yourselves! 😤 The moments with them hurt me more than the characters! Because there are still bigger powers at play - more crime afoot, so many more twists and surprises that await these sleuths in their peril that It's so not cool - so unfair - so uncalled for - so painful, knowing that it's not time for their time to be completely written of yet. 😢
“I’ve never kissed anyone before.”
I found his hip with one hand, his jaw with my other, pulled him closer, cupped his face, fingers curling along his nape. He was close enough that his breath felt hot and made my skin tighten. I wanted to say again, I love you, but instead I whispered, “Let me show you.”
Yeah, that was pretty much my reaction! 🥰🥰 Their confession was so perfect - so fitting for the two of them - it just melted my heart. That they were no longer subtle in their feelings - even if they're difficult with words, they become so touchy-feely with each other - it's so disgustingly ute. And yet, it's such a shame that GA opts for not going into much detail, but oof, their kisses afterwards were so adorably sweet and there is so much latent love between them - this fierce separation of anxiety that stems from their protective care of each other - so very considerate for one another and to be so receptive of each other's problems and call them out on it.
“It’s ok, man. Life’s complicated. I just wanted you to know we’re team Hack. That’s your celebrity couple name.”
All the side characters - old and new - good and bad - were all so well-rounded, had so much depth to them - never at all feeling flat or impersonal. Their interactions and introductions flowed into the narrative and plot so seamlessly, so very well done, that I never felt like it was unnecessary or too much information. I loved that the story continues right where we left off in Part 1, how Jack is trying to fit into his new school life - how his interactions with the students helps him be a better detective and actually have the chance to make friends. And to see how others view his relationship with Holloway was so very entertaining for me, and well, enlightening for Jack! 😃 Detective Rivera has really grown on me - he acts like a grumpy old cop, but he really has such a soft spot for Jack - almost behaving like a protective big brother to him.
And that twist at the ending - that surprise reveal - the 'break-up' - Jack and H really went through an emotional wringer in this part, and I couldn't believe it would end the way that it did! Every detail was so purposeful and even if it's more of a mystery than a romance - it was all built-up so so well! And yes, there are a lot more sexual innuendo references, but it was so essential to the plot that I didn't find myself annoyed by it.
“I could be anywhere and know you.”
I just had a really great time reading this - absolutely worthy of all the time I spent reading it. 👏🏻👏🏻Maybe because it ticked so many of the right boxes for me that I found myself fully immersed in the story. Maybe it's because I was totally caught in Jack's narrative and how he had to experience a whole range of emotions in such a short span of time, and still find it compelling and believably so. Maybe it's because my heart ached for Holloway that no matter how hard he tries to let go of his family's shadow- to have the chance to be the person that Jack sees him for, there's always one more obstacle - one more problem to solve - before he can finally be at peace.
And yes, of course, I'm TEAM HACK! Who could ever think otherwise!?? I need their reunion like yesterday - please oh please, Gregory Ashe, let them have the HEA they so desperately need and deserve...🥺🥺
April 23, 2023
Gregory Ashe WILL be paying for my therapy
April 2, 2024
This series continues to have me in a tight grip by the throat. Pretty sure I experienced the entire spectrum of human emotions reading this. I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I’m pretty sure I had a whole ass dissociative episode reading all 430 pages in one go.
I continue to love Jack and Holloway so much 😩😩. Really Jack is such a refreshingly good bi rep. Like it’s not just a throw away line but an actual intrinsically important part of his character.
This is going to sound like a strange comparison but I keep feeling like there are a lot of thematic similarities between this and the OG Veronica Mars series (at least in the first two books). Jack kind of fills the role of the lower socio economic kid getting caught up out of his depth solving crimes in a school filled with rich kids from dodgy families and he has the cute and close relationship with his dad (although with a lot more murder). It’s definitely not a clone but I feel like this would offer a lot of appeal to people who loved VMs
As before, although YA (still I think) there was some heavy themes and content warning for drug use, self medicating, violence, explicit sexual content, blackmailing, attempted on page SA, trauma and PTSD. It’s a lot.
Lol the last 5% of this had me crying, yelling at my kindle and with a major case of brain worms. Thanks, I hate it here, I’ll be reading book three immediately (I better get some mother fucking groveling).
The Adventures of Holloway Holmes
The Strangest Forms 5⭐️
Where All Paths Meet 4.5⭐️
I continue to love Jack and Holloway so much 😩😩. Really Jack is such a refreshingly good bi rep. Like it’s not just a throw away line but an actual intrinsically important part of his character.
This is going to sound like a strange comparison but I keep feeling like there are a lot of thematic similarities between this and the OG Veronica Mars series (at least in the first two books). Jack kind of fills the role of the lower socio economic kid getting caught up out of his depth solving crimes in a school filled with rich kids from dodgy families and he has the cute and close relationship with his dad (although with a lot more murder). It’s definitely not a clone but I feel like this would offer a lot of appeal to people who loved VMs
As before, although YA (still I think) there was some heavy themes and content warning for drug use, self medicating, violence, explicit sexual content, blackmailing, attempted on page SA, trauma and PTSD. It’s a lot.
Lol the last 5% of this had me crying, yelling at my kindle and with a major case of brain worms. Thanks, I hate it here, I’ll be reading book three immediately (I better get some mother fucking groveling).
The Adventures of Holloway Holmes
The Strangest Forms 5⭐️
Where All Paths Meet 4.5⭐️
June 28, 2025
I'm really enjoying being along for the ride as Jack grows up and figures himself out.
My heart broke for him so many times, and I'm so mad at Holloway right now! What a twat!!
It did make me laugh whenever Paxton had dialogue though because that's exactly what my accent sounds like 😂😂
I'm also curious to find out more about Jack's mum and the accident, and I can't wait to see where Jack ends up when this series finishes.
My heart broke for him so many times, and I'm so mad at Holloway right now! What a twat!!
It did make me laugh whenever Paxton had dialogue though because that's exactly what my accent sounds like 😂😂
I'm also curious to find out more about Jack's mum and the accident, and I can't wait to see where Jack ends up when this series finishes.
June 22, 2023
i wasn't crazy about the case (even in the first book) but I'm living for their story.
January 25, 2024
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
I can’t say very much - it was perfect! I just loved it even more than book one and I’m so glad I picked up this series. A real stroke of luck Q_Q
The writing style is so easy, fluffy - Jack is a really convincingly written teen in my opinion. I love it.
Also, the conversations are often so cheeky and playful, it’s a welcome change from a lot of books I usually read.
The relationship between Jack and Holloway is so well written too - it shows so much ‚adolescence‘ that at times I’m crying and laughing at the same time.
That’s all I can say at the moment - the case was exciting again (although always a bit intense for teenagers, of course) and I love all our supporting characters. The cast created here is simply amazing <3
(DEUTSCH)
Ich kann gar nicht viel sagen – es war perfekt! Hat mir einfach noch besser gefallen, als Band eins und ich bin so froh, zu dieser Reihe gegriffen zu haben. Richtiger Glücksgriff Q_Q
Der Schreibstil ist so locker, flockig – Jack ist meiner Meinung nach ein richtig überzeugend geschriebener Jugendlicher. Ich Liebs.
Auch sind die Konversationen oft so frech und verspielt, es ist eine willkommene Abwechslung zu vielen Büchern, die ich sonst lese.
Auch die Beziehung zwischen Jack und Holloway ist so toll umgesetzt – zeigt so viel „Pubertät“, dass ich zeitweise weine und lache gleichzeitig.
Mehr kann ich aktuell gar nicht sagen – der Fall war wieder spannend (wenn auch für Jugendliche natürlich immer ein wenig heftig) und ich liebe all unsere Nebencharaktere. Hier wurde einfach ein sehr tolles Cast erschaffen <3
I can’t say very much - it was perfect! I just loved it even more than book one and I’m so glad I picked up this series. A real stroke of luck Q_Q
The writing style is so easy, fluffy - Jack is a really convincingly written teen in my opinion. I love it.
Also, the conversations are often so cheeky and playful, it’s a welcome change from a lot of books I usually read.
The relationship between Jack and Holloway is so well written too - it shows so much ‚adolescence‘ that at times I’m crying and laughing at the same time.
That’s all I can say at the moment - the case was exciting again (although always a bit intense for teenagers, of course) and I love all our supporting characters. The cast created here is simply amazing <3
(DEUTSCH)
Ich kann gar nicht viel sagen – es war perfekt! Hat mir einfach noch besser gefallen, als Band eins und ich bin so froh, zu dieser Reihe gegriffen zu haben. Richtiger Glücksgriff Q_Q
Der Schreibstil ist so locker, flockig – Jack ist meiner Meinung nach ein richtig überzeugend geschriebener Jugendlicher. Ich Liebs.
Auch sind die Konversationen oft so frech und verspielt, es ist eine willkommene Abwechslung zu vielen Büchern, die ich sonst lese.
Auch die Beziehung zwischen Jack und Holloway ist so toll umgesetzt – zeigt so viel „Pubertät“, dass ich zeitweise weine und lache gleichzeitig.
Mehr kann ich aktuell gar nicht sagen – der Fall war wieder spannend (wenn auch für Jugendliche natürlich immer ein wenig heftig) und ich liebe all unsere Nebencharaktere. Hier wurde einfach ein sehr tolles Cast erschaffen <3
June 15, 2023
Fantastic Mystery!
This is a great follow-up to “The Strangest Forms!” (I don’t recommend skipping book 1). I listened to the audiobook—thanks Gregory Ashe—and the performance was perfect!
This novel picks up several months after the events in the first story and we see H & Jack closer. A student hires Jack to uncover who has been blackmailing him. Meanwhile, Holloway is involved in a secretive “game” which tangled up Jack and his investigation.
You have to trust that Ashe knows where he is heading, because the beginning of the book had me somewhat confused—there were a lot of things going on.
Dangerous things happen. Disturbing things happen. Murder happens. Again.
We finally get to see Jack and H together (brief though it is), and I have hopes that they’ll truly be together in the next book.
At the end of this one, H and Jack solve the mystery, but Jack uncovers one of H’s secrets, which threaten to tear them apart.
Can’t wait to listen to the next book!
Triggers: drug use/abuse, sexual assault.
This is a great follow-up to “The Strangest Forms!” (I don’t recommend skipping book 1). I listened to the audiobook—thanks Gregory Ashe—and the performance was perfect!
This novel picks up several months after the events in the first story and we see H & Jack closer. A student hires Jack to uncover who has been blackmailing him. Meanwhile, Holloway is involved in a secretive “game” which tangled up Jack and his investigation.
You have to trust that Ashe knows where he is heading, because the beginning of the book had me somewhat confused—there were a lot of things going on.
Dangerous things happen. Disturbing things happen. Murder happens. Again.
We finally get to see Jack and H together (brief though it is), and I have hopes that they’ll truly be together in the next book.
At the end of this one, H and Jack solve the mystery, but Jack uncovers one of H’s secrets, which threaten to tear them apart.
Can’t wait to listen to the next book!
Triggers: drug use/abuse, sexual assault.
May 26, 2023
Whenever I finish a book by Gregory Ashe and open my laptop to write a review (after I’ve scooped my insides up and put myself back together) I wonder how on earth I can possibly encapsulate everything he’s packed into the book in a mere few-hundred words… and then wonder how I can possibly do that AND not sound like a broken record, because he bangs out winners, book after book, each one containing a nail-biting, gritty mystery and a brilliantly written central relationship that makes me laugh, makes me cry and makes me want to throw things, often at the same time.
Note: This is a book in a same-couple series with an overarching plotline, so it’s advisable to have read book one, The Strangest Forms,before tackling it. There are spoilers for that book in this review.
The Old Wheel, book two of The Adventures of Holloway Holmes , delivers all those things in spades, as high-school dropout Jack Moreno – now attending classes at Walker School – and the enigma that is Holloway Holmes find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery that turns out to be far more than it seems, and which will prove to have serious implications for their friendship.
The previous semester, when Jack was still covering most of his dad’s custodial shifts at the Walker School – a place in remote Utah where rich families send their ‘troublesome’ kids to keep them out of sight, out of mind – he found himself suspected of murder and teaming up with the aloof, icy (and gorgeous) Holloway Holmes to prove his innocence and to uncover the identity of the killer. Jack’s home life and situation have improved since then; his dad is in better health and is able to work again (and also, unfortunately, to take more of an interest in what Jack is up to), and the new head teacher has allowed Jack to attend classes. But after a year away from formal education and of doing whatever side-hustles he could find to generate a quick buck to keep his and his dad’s heads above water, sitting in a classroom all day isn’t a good fit for Jack. He’s an indifferent student at best, and even though the finances have improved a bit, there’s still a never-ending stream of medical bills to pay, and Jack’s reputation as a guy who knows how to get things still brings him plenty of customers – students after various types of contraband, from drugs to condoms to manga, and lots of things in between.
When an appeal for help comes from a most unexpected quarter with the promise of a hefty ‘fee’, Jack can’t say no. Five grand is five grand, even if Aston Young is a total dickwad who tried to kill Holmes. Aston, whose family is extremely wealthy and a Big Deal in the Mormon church (his grandfather is an apostle) is gay and afraid of his family finding out, and is being blackmailed by someone who has video footage of him having sex with another student at the school. (Side note – I wonder if Aston is somehow related to the despicable Ammon Young from The Lamb and the Lion series? Maybe Young is just a common Mormon surname.) Aston is absolutely petrified – not only was he sent to Walker as a kind of punishment, he’s also being threatened with being sent to a conversion camp, and all but begs Jack – and, by extension, Holmes – to help him.
Jack had originally intended to keep this arrangement a secret from Holmes – Aston did try to kill him, after all, and Jack feels shitty about taking his money when Holmes is his best friend – but of course, there’s no keeping a secret from Holmes and he won’t hear of Jack going it alone. But as the plot really does thicken and the suspects – and bodies – begin to pile up, Jack and Holmes start to realise that the blackmail and the murders are just a smokescreen to conceal something else. But what is it? What does the cold, sadistic Blackfriar Holmes think Jack possesses that he wants back? Where does Paxton Adler fit in? And why does finding out the truth feel like the worst kind of betrayal?
There’s no question that Gregory Ashe knows how to craft a brilliantly twisty mystery full of red herrings and misdirection, but at the heart of this series – all his books – is the relationship between the two leads. Jack and Holmes’ interactions are full of yearning, warmth and humour, of understanding and heartfelt tenderness, and Jack’s narrative voice – self-deprecating, honest and utterly captivating – is wonderful. These guys are young and have been through a LOT, which has forced them to grow up quickly. Jack is still refusing to deal with the grief and guilt he’s experiencing over his mother’s death and instead, indulges in high-risk behaviour (drink and drugs) as a way of numbing himself to it. He’s not doing great at school, and on top of everything else he’s not dealing with, he’s now also worried that his dad won’t accept that he’s bisexual. But for all his recklessness and his propensity for rushing towards self-destruction, Jack is an incredibly intuitive and compassionate individual. He may be in denial about his need to process his trauma, but he’s very self aware – he knows he’s fucked up, he knows when he’s fucking up, but he does it anyway – because he’s sixteen and it’s the only way he knows to make the pain go away, even if only for a short while.
Holmes’ trauma is something he’s endured his whole life. He’s had it drilled into him that a Holmes has to be in control at all times, that they survive by controlling their emotions, their thoughts, their reactions. He’s never had a childhood, he’s never had real love or affection (before Jack, that is) and he’s trying, evey minute of every day to live up to the impossibly high standards set by his authoritarian father, in the hopes of one day fulfiling expectations and gaining Blackfriar Holmes’ approval. Holmes knows, rationally, that’s never going to happen, but he can’t stop himself yearning for it, and resorting to conditioned behaviour whenever he’s in a situation that threatens his iron-clad control. Situations that sometimes include being with Jack.
Yet together, they’re just… perfect. Holmes tries so hard to retain his stoisicm in the face of Jack’s teasing and bad (and dirty) jokes, and watching him fail is EVERYthing; Jack getting to see one of his geniune, elusive smiles, even to provoke a laugh, makes him feel like he’s won at life no matter how badly it sucks the rest of the time. Holmes, helping Jack with his chemistry homework, talking about covalent bonds and how they allow the atoms to be more than they are on their own, is just beautiful. Their fierce protectiveness of each other, their genuine, deep affection, the banter, the gentleness and understanding… It’s funny, it’s poignant and it’s heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. Despite Holmes’ attempts not to exhibit or feel anything resembling emotion, Jack has got well and truly under his skin, and Jack is clearly head-over-heels – but love doesn’t come easily to anyone in a Gregory Ashe novel, and Jack and Holmes are no exception.
The Old Wheel is a tough read at times, and the angst is turned up to the max, which I realise isn’t for everyone, but it works for me. The couple of niggles I have are fairly minor – I still struggle with Jack and Holmes being so young – but maybe that’s because I’m not! And I’m not wild about the way Jack takes Ariana (his sort of girlfriend) for granted, and how he’s so clueless as to the way it makes Holmes feel when he talks about her or when she’s around. But then, he’s sixteen, so… yeah, par for the course. My logical mind also wonders, sometimes, if they’re just too damaged – Holmes is going to need a lifetime of therapy to unlearn everything that’s been browbeaten into him!
But none of that spoiled my enjoyment of the novel, which is brilliantly written and had me turning the pages into the small hours. I’ll warn now that it ends on a cliffhanger, but fortunately, the final book in the trilogy is scheduled for release in a couple of months, so there’s not too long to wait. The Old Wheel is another treat for the author’s fans – and I’m on tenterhooks waiting to find out how everything is going to pan out!
Note: The warm rating is for on-page sex, but not between the leads. There are also scenes featuring drug use and an attempted (not graphic) sexual assault.
Note: This is a book in a same-couple series with an overarching plotline, so it’s advisable to have read book one, The Strangest Forms,before tackling it. There are spoilers for that book in this review.
The Old Wheel, book two of The Adventures of Holloway Holmes , delivers all those things in spades, as high-school dropout Jack Moreno – now attending classes at Walker School – and the enigma that is Holloway Holmes find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery that turns out to be far more than it seems, and which will prove to have serious implications for their friendship.
The previous semester, when Jack was still covering most of his dad’s custodial shifts at the Walker School – a place in remote Utah where rich families send their ‘troublesome’ kids to keep them out of sight, out of mind – he found himself suspected of murder and teaming up with the aloof, icy (and gorgeous) Holloway Holmes to prove his innocence and to uncover the identity of the killer. Jack’s home life and situation have improved since then; his dad is in better health and is able to work again (and also, unfortunately, to take more of an interest in what Jack is up to), and the new head teacher has allowed Jack to attend classes. But after a year away from formal education and of doing whatever side-hustles he could find to generate a quick buck to keep his and his dad’s heads above water, sitting in a classroom all day isn’t a good fit for Jack. He’s an indifferent student at best, and even though the finances have improved a bit, there’s still a never-ending stream of medical bills to pay, and Jack’s reputation as a guy who knows how to get things still brings him plenty of customers – students after various types of contraband, from drugs to condoms to manga, and lots of things in between.
When an appeal for help comes from a most unexpected quarter with the promise of a hefty ‘fee’, Jack can’t say no. Five grand is five grand, even if Aston Young is a total dickwad who tried to kill Holmes. Aston, whose family is extremely wealthy and a Big Deal in the Mormon church (his grandfather is an apostle) is gay and afraid of his family finding out, and is being blackmailed by someone who has video footage of him having sex with another student at the school. (Side note – I wonder if Aston is somehow related to the despicable Ammon Young from The Lamb and the Lion series? Maybe Young is just a common Mormon surname.) Aston is absolutely petrified – not only was he sent to Walker as a kind of punishment, he’s also being threatened with being sent to a conversion camp, and all but begs Jack – and, by extension, Holmes – to help him.
Jack had originally intended to keep this arrangement a secret from Holmes – Aston did try to kill him, after all, and Jack feels shitty about taking his money when Holmes is his best friend – but of course, there’s no keeping a secret from Holmes and he won’t hear of Jack going it alone. But as the plot really does thicken and the suspects – and bodies – begin to pile up, Jack and Holmes start to realise that the blackmail and the murders are just a smokescreen to conceal something else. But what is it? What does the cold, sadistic Blackfriar Holmes think Jack possesses that he wants back? Where does Paxton Adler fit in? And why does finding out the truth feel like the worst kind of betrayal?
There’s no question that Gregory Ashe knows how to craft a brilliantly twisty mystery full of red herrings and misdirection, but at the heart of this series – all his books – is the relationship between the two leads. Jack and Holmes’ interactions are full of yearning, warmth and humour, of understanding and heartfelt tenderness, and Jack’s narrative voice – self-deprecating, honest and utterly captivating – is wonderful. These guys are young and have been through a LOT, which has forced them to grow up quickly. Jack is still refusing to deal with the grief and guilt he’s experiencing over his mother’s death and instead, indulges in high-risk behaviour (drink and drugs) as a way of numbing himself to it. He’s not doing great at school, and on top of everything else he’s not dealing with, he’s now also worried that his dad won’t accept that he’s bisexual. But for all his recklessness and his propensity for rushing towards self-destruction, Jack is an incredibly intuitive and compassionate individual. He may be in denial about his need to process his trauma, but he’s very self aware – he knows he’s fucked up, he knows when he’s fucking up, but he does it anyway – because he’s sixteen and it’s the only way he knows to make the pain go away, even if only for a short while.
Holmes’ trauma is something he’s endured his whole life. He’s had it drilled into him that a Holmes has to be in control at all times, that they survive by controlling their emotions, their thoughts, their reactions. He’s never had a childhood, he’s never had real love or affection (before Jack, that is) and he’s trying, evey minute of every day to live up to the impossibly high standards set by his authoritarian father, in the hopes of one day fulfiling expectations and gaining Blackfriar Holmes’ approval. Holmes knows, rationally, that’s never going to happen, but he can’t stop himself yearning for it, and resorting to conditioned behaviour whenever he’s in a situation that threatens his iron-clad control. Situations that sometimes include being with Jack.
Yet together, they’re just… perfect. Holmes tries so hard to retain his stoisicm in the face of Jack’s teasing and bad (and dirty) jokes, and watching him fail is EVERYthing; Jack getting to see one of his geniune, elusive smiles, even to provoke a laugh, makes him feel like he’s won at life no matter how badly it sucks the rest of the time. Holmes, helping Jack with his chemistry homework, talking about covalent bonds and how they allow the atoms to be more than they are on their own, is just beautiful. Their fierce protectiveness of each other, their genuine, deep affection, the banter, the gentleness and understanding… It’s funny, it’s poignant and it’s heartbreaking, sometimes all at once. Despite Holmes’ attempts not to exhibit or feel anything resembling emotion, Jack has got well and truly under his skin, and Jack is clearly head-over-heels – but love doesn’t come easily to anyone in a Gregory Ashe novel, and Jack and Holmes are no exception.
The Old Wheel is a tough read at times, and the angst is turned up to the max, which I realise isn’t for everyone, but it works for me. The couple of niggles I have are fairly minor – I still struggle with Jack and Holmes being so young – but maybe that’s because I’m not! And I’m not wild about the way Jack takes Ariana (his sort of girlfriend) for granted, and how he’s so clueless as to the way it makes Holmes feel when he talks about her or when she’s around. But then, he’s sixteen, so… yeah, par for the course. My logical mind also wonders, sometimes, if they’re just too damaged – Holmes is going to need a lifetime of therapy to unlearn everything that’s been browbeaten into him!
But none of that spoiled my enjoyment of the novel, which is brilliantly written and had me turning the pages into the small hours. I’ll warn now that it ends on a cliffhanger, but fortunately, the final book in the trilogy is scheduled for release in a couple of months, so there’s not too long to wait. The Old Wheel is another treat for the author’s fans – and I’m on tenterhooks waiting to find out how everything is going to pan out!
Note: The warm rating is for on-page sex, but not between the leads. There are also scenes featuring drug use and an attempted (not graphic) sexual assault.
April 23, 2023
Oh good, Gregory Ashe thought of a new way to completely LEVEL ME. And here I was, worried that his tricks would get stale. Instead he has created one of the smartest, sweetest, dorkiest and most badass characters ever in Holloway Holmes and paired him with the absolute awesomeness that is Jack Moreno and proceeded to give them Feelings and Trauma and Insecurities while simultaneously putting them in near constant danger. I'm exhausted! I can't with these two. It's too much. (I miss them already.)
There's basically nothing I can say that isn't a spoiler of some sort so I'll keep this short. I loved everything about this book, even the parts that made me want to chunk my Kindle across the room before hunting down the Kleenex box (an oversight on my part - never read a GA book without easy access to tissues, and potentially a punching bag). To say I can't wait for book #3 would be an understatement of epic proportions. My preorder has been placed and my countdown to June 16th has officially begun!
There's basically nothing I can say that isn't a spoiler of some sort so I'll keep this short. I loved everything about this book, even the parts that made me want to chunk my Kindle across the room before hunting down the Kleenex box (an oversight on my part - never read a GA book without easy access to tissues, and potentially a punching bag). To say I can't wait for book #3 would be an understatement of epic proportions. My preorder has been placed and my countdown to June 16th has officially begun!
April 18, 2023
I... shees... I am... I don't know. Overwhelmed? Devastated? Heartbroken? Crushed? Yeah, all of them. Because this book is staggering; stunning and desolating at the same time.
We have Jack, who is dealing with trauma in the most unhealthy way possible, making the same mistakes once and again because he acts fuelled by fear. And we understand this, we do, but that doesn't help when we see him drowning in pain.
There are so many things going on in his life: his mom's death, his dad's health, Ariana, Holmes... He's trying to be a good son, a good boyfriend, a good friend but his world is unravelling and things are dangerously falling apart. And he doesn't have the tools to keep himself together so he falls back into old patrons: booze and weed. And anger.
But, oh, when he thinks about H! He's so desperately, hopeless in love...
The whole thing is magnificent. The mystery is complex, multilayered and rooted in a bigger one that we just begin to suspect in the second third of the book. The way the characters grow, get better and more is beyond remarkable, even by Ashe's parameters.
That scene in the bus station broke my heart into a gazillion of tiny, sharp pieces and yes, I too was uncontrollably sobbing by that point. Yeah, well played, that. Because Jack, with all his insecurities and fears, couldn't have acted in a different way. Neither could have Holmes. Serendipity of the worst kind :(
And, if that wasn't enough, we have an Adler playing a major role in the story and an apparition of Blackfriar, who is a major creeper and frankly, a disgusting human being.
Ugh, I think I need a bath. With bleach. Maybe three.
And that ending! I need the next book ASAP! *sits and waits*
We have Jack, who is dealing with trauma in the most unhealthy way possible, making the same mistakes once and again because he acts fuelled by fear. And we understand this, we do, but that doesn't help when we see him drowning in pain.
“I don’t know. I can’t figure it out.” I surged up from the coffee table. Rivera was looking at me. Dad was looking at me. Holmes was looking at me. Tears surged up, and it was mostly luck that I was able to talk through them. “What do you think? Is there anything in the last couple of years that could explain why I ran the fuck away after almost getting killed?” (...) And then I started crying—huge, ragged sobs as my body curled around my pillow. Whatever was moving through me, it was so vast that it felt tidal: a crushing weight that poured out of me, mostly in the form of tears and snot, and then, when it pulled back, nothing.
There are so many things going on in his life: his mom's death, his dad's health, Ariana, Holmes... He's trying to be a good son, a good boyfriend, a good friend but his world is unravelling and things are dangerously falling apart. And he doesn't have the tools to keep himself together so he falls back into old patrons: booze and weed. And anger.
But, oh, when he thinks about H! He's so desperately, hopeless in love...
I knew that he was something more than me, something vast and wonderful that I could only touch the edges of. But for someone like me, the edge was enough—just a glimpse was enough. And, more importantly for right now, I knew what he sounded like when he’d been hurt, the quality of his breathing, because I’d hurt him in a way few people ever had. Which was why, in those rare midnight hours when I could be honest with myself, I knew it was better this way, as friends. Because I didn’t deserve him.
The whole thing is magnificent. The mystery is complex, multilayered and rooted in a bigger one that we just begin to suspect in the second third of the book. The way the characters grow, get better and more is beyond remarkable, even by Ashe's parameters.
That scene in the bus station broke my heart into a gazillion of tiny, sharp pieces and yes, I too was uncontrollably sobbing by that point. Yeah, well played, that. Because Jack, with all his insecurities and fears, couldn't have acted in a different way. Neither could have Holmes. Serendipity of the worst kind :(
And, if that wasn't enough, we have an Adler playing a major role in the story and an apparition of Blackfriar, who is a major creeper and frankly, a disgusting human being.
“I have been, I think—” Blackfriar said, the words so low I caught myself leaning in, moving to hear him better. “—admirably patient. I have not objected, even though you have distracted my son, even though you have caused him to lose focus. I have not interfered.” He bared his teeth again. “I can be patient, Jack. You are nothing compared to my son; why should I worry, when I know that you are a speck of dust next to what I have created? He will open his eyes eventually, and when he does, he won’t remember so much as your name.” The rictus on his face widened. “I have even let you play with him.” The way he said the word made the hair on my neck stand up, and heat rushed into my face. “Even though I do not like other people touching my things.” He took a step, and I backed up and hit the wall. “Would you agree, then, that I have been patient?”
Ugh, I think I need a bath. With bleach. Maybe three.
And that ending! I need the next book ASAP! *sits and waits*
April 23, 2024
Vibes check mid-way: 😍😍😍😍😍😍
Vibes check end: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
[ngl, this mystery was baffling and I'm still not sure what the hell happened. Thankfully I don't read GA for the mystery, I read GA for the feeeeeeeeelings]
Vibes check end: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
[ngl, this mystery was baffling and I'm still not sure what the hell happened. Thankfully I don't read GA for the mystery, I read GA for the feeeeeeeeelings]
April 20, 2023
5 stars for the enjoyment I get out of Gregory Ashes characters and stories.
I really like these 2. Jack and Holloway are a great match . In particular I enjoyed more of their personal development in this one. I love Jacks POV and even though this series is called The Adventures of Holloway Homes, Jack is definitely the star of the show.
We get to see him work through some of his issues in this one, in particular with his father and the fall out of the car crash that happened before book 1.
I don’t want to spoil too much but it’s ticked all the boxes, as expected. If I had to pick one thing that I could change, then it would be that we could get a dual POV every so often but even so, it doesn’t feel like the reader is missing out. I suppose it keeps the mystery of Holloway going.
On a final note I was not impressed with that cliffhanger and the end 😆 Greg lives to taunt us!! I don’t know why I didn’t see it coming but it certainly ramps up the mystery element of the story. Now I count down the days until the next one !
I really like these 2. Jack and Holloway are a great match . In particular I enjoyed more of their personal development in this one. I love Jacks POV and even though this series is called The Adventures of Holloway Homes, Jack is definitely the star of the show.
We get to see him work through some of his issues in this one, in particular with his father and the fall out of the car crash that happened before book 1.
I don’t want to spoil too much but it’s ticked all the boxes, as expected. If I had to pick one thing that I could change, then it would be that we could get a dual POV every so often but even so, it doesn’t feel like the reader is missing out. I suppose it keeps the mystery of Holloway going.
On a final note I was not impressed with that cliffhanger and the end 😆 Greg lives to taunt us!! I don’t know why I didn’t see it coming but it certainly ramps up the mystery element of the story. Now I count down the days until the next one !
May 31, 2023
He sat there in silhouette, head down. I knew the curve of his spine. I knew the span of his shoulders. Anywhere, I thought. I could be anywhere and know you.
“Do you want me to leave?” I asked.
He shook his head. His voice was rough but surprisingly steady when he said, “I will never want you to leave.”
I didn't realize I haven't reviewed this book. It's hard to gather my thoughts after a month to put into words how I felt about this on initial read but I love Jack and Holloway's gentle and tender friendship so much. That coupled with messy teenage feelings and classic GA writing that makes me sit there and ponder about life, this is everything I love to read. Only a few weeks till I get them back, can't wait to pick up where we left off with that ending.
October 19, 2023
I've given this an A+ for narration and an A for content at AudioGals.
The Old Wheel, book two in The Adventures of Holloway Holmes, opens up a few months after the events of book one (The Strangest Forms) and finds Jack Moreno now enrolled for classes at the Walker School, his father in much better health (thanks to the deal Jack ‘negotiated’ with the school’s board of trustees) and Jack’s friendship with the supremely enigmatic Holloway Holmes continuing to both enrich his life and exasperate him to the point of screaming. Things are mostly better than they were (if you don’t count Mr. Moreno’s improved health meaning he’s able to take more of an interest in what Jack is up to) although money and the lack thereof is still a major concern; medical bills are still coming in, and Jack’s reputation as someone who knows how to get stuff ensures a steady stream of lucrative side-hustles obtaining various kinds of contraband for the ‘troubled teens’ who have been sent to Walker School by families who don’t want to deal with them.
The Adventures of Holloway Holmes is a trilogy featuring the same central couple and overarching plotlines, so it’s essential to have read The Strangest Forms first. There are probably spoilers for that book in this review.
So Jack’s life has improved somewhat, but he’s still struggling with massive amounts of guilt and trauma over his mother’s death in a car accident a year ago, and the fact is dawning that maybe his one remaining parent wants him to be something he’s not. (Jack is bisexual but isn’t out to his dad.) He’s still a mess of emotions – angry, scared, resentful – and prone to indulging in high-risk behaviour as a coping mechanism, but the one constant in his life has become Holloway Holmes – his beauty, his quirks, the odd mixture of strength and vulnerability he tries to hard to hide, but has slowly started to allow Jack tiny glimpses of. Their relationship is full of messy teenaged feelings and it’s clear that Jack is already head-over-heels in love, but he’s decided that friendship is probably the way to go because Holmes is so far out of his league.
“I knew that he was something more than me, something vast and wonderful that I could only touch the edges of. But for someone like me, the edge was enough—just a glimpse was enough.”
The mystery plot kicks off when Jack receives a request for help from just about the most unlikely person ever – Aston Young. Aston is one of what Jack terms The Boy Band – the five most popular guys in the school – and is a member of a very wealthy, very strict Mormon family (his grandfather is an apostle, a major bigwig in the church). He’s also gay and a total dickhead, and in The Strangest Forms, was so desperate to keep himself from being outed that he actually tried to kill Holmes. So a teary, terrified Aston asking for help because he’s being blackmailed over video footage of him and his friend and fuck-buddy Dawson having sex is the last thing Jack expects – but the offer of five grand to find out who is behind it is too much to resist. (And nor is the rush at the prospect of getting to root out another blackmailer.)
Given the aforementioned murder attempt, Jack intends to keep Holmes out of it, even though he knows taking money from Aston when Holmes is his best friend is a shitty thing to do. Holmes being Holmes, however, very quickly realises what Jack is up to and certainly isn’t about to let him go it alone. Jack has to bow to the inevitable because, as Holmes reminds him, helping each other is what friends do.
When Dawson is found dead, Jack and Holmes begin to realise that the blackmail and murder are a smokescreen, and that there’s an entirely different game afoot. But what exactly IS the game? Who is pulling the strings? And what, precisely, does the cold, sadistic Blackfriar Holmes believe Jack has that he wants back? And worst, the very worst, of all – has Holloway Holmes been lying to Jack all this time?
The way the author constructs these stories, so that the mystery and the relationship development are so completely and inextricably intertwined, never fails to impress me. Even when Jack and Holmes are getting themselves mixed up in nefarious plots or running for their lives, their interactions show just how much they love and trust one another, and I think that, of all Gregory Ashe’s couples, their romance is one of his most, well, overtly romantic. Despite Holmes’ constant need for control, he can’t help but show Jack more of his true self than he’s ever shown anyone, and Jack’s feelings for Holmes are writ so large as to be visible from space.
He sat there in silhouette, head down. I knew the curve of his spine. I knew the span of his shoulders. Anywhere, I thought. I could be anywhere and know you.
These two are wonderfully complex, beautifully drawn characters who are easy to fall in love with despite their faults. Holmes has come a long way since he met Jack; every time he takes even a tiny step away from his ‘conditioning’ makes Jack feel like he’s winning at life (even though it sucks the rest of the time) – those small but genuine smiles, the dry humour, his delightful dorkiness, and obvious affection for Jack are all softening Holmes’ sharp edges, although he still struggles to reconcile his feelings for Jack with his training to be unemotional and controlled at all times. And Jack is trying hard to be everything to everyone – a good son, a good boyfriend, a good friend, but he just doesn’t have the wherewithal to keep all those plates spinning. On top of everything he’s still not dealing with about his mother’s death, he feels like he’s disappointing everyone he cares about and he falls back on his old friends – booze and weed – to numb himself to it all. But despite his self-destructive tendencies, Jack is intuitive and compassionate and generally pretty self-aware; he fucks up and he knows he’s fucking up – but he does it anyway, because he’s sixteen and he’s hurting and he wants it all to go away, even if only for a short time. But he never gives up on wanting to get to the truth and do the right thing – even though it’s hard.
There’s a great bunch of brilliantly drawn secondary characters here – shout-outs to Emma, Glo and Rowe who will become really good friends to Jack when he most needs them – and I loved the scenes between Jack and his dad. They’re not always pleasant – mostly because Moreno Sr. is usually out of his mind with worry about his son, and as any parent will know, we’re not always completely rational when our children are in danger – but they’re very realistic, and I really enjoyed the way they’re moving towards a better understanding of each other.
Greg Tremblay delivers another outstanding performance that once again showcases his very real talent for finding the heart of a story and getting inside the heads of its characters. I love Jack’s narrative voice – he’s bright and brave, with a big heart and a nice line in snark and self-deprecating humour, and all those qualities come through strongly in the performance, as does the vulnerability he works hard to hide but which is never far from the surface. The portrayal of Holmes is also superb – his dialogue is clipped and precise, and sounds just a little unnatural, which fits his repressed personality very well, but now there’s a bit more emotion bleeding through. The interactions between Jack and Holmes are perfectly timed and Mr. Tremblay does an incredible job of delivering the emotional content of the story; the intensity of Jack and Holmes’ connection is perfectly conveyed, and the really BIG moments in the story are superbly realised. I defy anyone to have a dry eye at the end; I’ve read the book and knew what to expect, but even so, I was choked up thanks to the very raw emotion Mr. Tremblay injects into the words.
I’ve mostly written about the central relationship in this review because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but I’ll just remind potential listeners that despite the ages of the protagonists (sixteen), this is a typically Ashe-ian (?) mystery, so not only is it clever, twisty and full of red-herrings, it also contains some darker themes and violence.
The Old Wheel is a tough listen at times, but it’s a terrific follow up to The Strangest Forms and is highly recommended. There’s a humdinger of a cliff-hanger at the end, but my understanding is that the final book, Where All Paths Meet, will be released in audio in Oct/Nov, so there’s not too long to wait.
Note: this story contains scenes featuring drug use and an attempted (not graphic) sexual assault.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
The Old Wheel, book two in The Adventures of Holloway Holmes, opens up a few months after the events of book one (The Strangest Forms) and finds Jack Moreno now enrolled for classes at the Walker School, his father in much better health (thanks to the deal Jack ‘negotiated’ with the school’s board of trustees) and Jack’s friendship with the supremely enigmatic Holloway Holmes continuing to both enrich his life and exasperate him to the point of screaming. Things are mostly better than they were (if you don’t count Mr. Moreno’s improved health meaning he’s able to take more of an interest in what Jack is up to) although money and the lack thereof is still a major concern; medical bills are still coming in, and Jack’s reputation as someone who knows how to get stuff ensures a steady stream of lucrative side-hustles obtaining various kinds of contraband for the ‘troubled teens’ who have been sent to Walker School by families who don’t want to deal with them.
The Adventures of Holloway Holmes is a trilogy featuring the same central couple and overarching plotlines, so it’s essential to have read The Strangest Forms first. There are probably spoilers for that book in this review.
So Jack’s life has improved somewhat, but he’s still struggling with massive amounts of guilt and trauma over his mother’s death in a car accident a year ago, and the fact is dawning that maybe his one remaining parent wants him to be something he’s not. (Jack is bisexual but isn’t out to his dad.) He’s still a mess of emotions – angry, scared, resentful – and prone to indulging in high-risk behaviour as a coping mechanism, but the one constant in his life has become Holloway Holmes – his beauty, his quirks, the odd mixture of strength and vulnerability he tries to hard to hide, but has slowly started to allow Jack tiny glimpses of. Their relationship is full of messy teenaged feelings and it’s clear that Jack is already head-over-heels in love, but he’s decided that friendship is probably the way to go because Holmes is so far out of his league.
“I knew that he was something more than me, something vast and wonderful that I could only touch the edges of. But for someone like me, the edge was enough—just a glimpse was enough.”
The mystery plot kicks off when Jack receives a request for help from just about the most unlikely person ever – Aston Young. Aston is one of what Jack terms The Boy Band – the five most popular guys in the school – and is a member of a very wealthy, very strict Mormon family (his grandfather is an apostle, a major bigwig in the church). He’s also gay and a total dickhead, and in The Strangest Forms, was so desperate to keep himself from being outed that he actually tried to kill Holmes. So a teary, terrified Aston asking for help because he’s being blackmailed over video footage of him and his friend and fuck-buddy Dawson having sex is the last thing Jack expects – but the offer of five grand to find out who is behind it is too much to resist. (And nor is the rush at the prospect of getting to root out another blackmailer.)
Given the aforementioned murder attempt, Jack intends to keep Holmes out of it, even though he knows taking money from Aston when Holmes is his best friend is a shitty thing to do. Holmes being Holmes, however, very quickly realises what Jack is up to and certainly isn’t about to let him go it alone. Jack has to bow to the inevitable because, as Holmes reminds him, helping each other is what friends do.
When Dawson is found dead, Jack and Holmes begin to realise that the blackmail and murder are a smokescreen, and that there’s an entirely different game afoot. But what exactly IS the game? Who is pulling the strings? And what, precisely, does the cold, sadistic Blackfriar Holmes believe Jack has that he wants back? And worst, the very worst, of all – has Holloway Holmes been lying to Jack all this time?
The way the author constructs these stories, so that the mystery and the relationship development are so completely and inextricably intertwined, never fails to impress me. Even when Jack and Holmes are getting themselves mixed up in nefarious plots or running for their lives, their interactions show just how much they love and trust one another, and I think that, of all Gregory Ashe’s couples, their romance is one of his most, well, overtly romantic. Despite Holmes’ constant need for control, he can’t help but show Jack more of his true self than he’s ever shown anyone, and Jack’s feelings for Holmes are writ so large as to be visible from space.
He sat there in silhouette, head down. I knew the curve of his spine. I knew the span of his shoulders. Anywhere, I thought. I could be anywhere and know you.
These two are wonderfully complex, beautifully drawn characters who are easy to fall in love with despite their faults. Holmes has come a long way since he met Jack; every time he takes even a tiny step away from his ‘conditioning’ makes Jack feel like he’s winning at life (even though it sucks the rest of the time) – those small but genuine smiles, the dry humour, his delightful dorkiness, and obvious affection for Jack are all softening Holmes’ sharp edges, although he still struggles to reconcile his feelings for Jack with his training to be unemotional and controlled at all times. And Jack is trying hard to be everything to everyone – a good son, a good boyfriend, a good friend, but he just doesn’t have the wherewithal to keep all those plates spinning. On top of everything he’s still not dealing with about his mother’s death, he feels like he’s disappointing everyone he cares about and he falls back on his old friends – booze and weed – to numb himself to it all. But despite his self-destructive tendencies, Jack is intuitive and compassionate and generally pretty self-aware; he fucks up and he knows he’s fucking up – but he does it anyway, because he’s sixteen and he’s hurting and he wants it all to go away, even if only for a short time. But he never gives up on wanting to get to the truth and do the right thing – even though it’s hard.
There’s a great bunch of brilliantly drawn secondary characters here – shout-outs to Emma, Glo and Rowe who will become really good friends to Jack when he most needs them – and I loved the scenes between Jack and his dad. They’re not always pleasant – mostly because Moreno Sr. is usually out of his mind with worry about his son, and as any parent will know, we’re not always completely rational when our children are in danger – but they’re very realistic, and I really enjoyed the way they’re moving towards a better understanding of each other.
Greg Tremblay delivers another outstanding performance that once again showcases his very real talent for finding the heart of a story and getting inside the heads of its characters. I love Jack’s narrative voice – he’s bright and brave, with a big heart and a nice line in snark and self-deprecating humour, and all those qualities come through strongly in the performance, as does the vulnerability he works hard to hide but which is never far from the surface. The portrayal of Holmes is also superb – his dialogue is clipped and precise, and sounds just a little unnatural, which fits his repressed personality very well, but now there’s a bit more emotion bleeding through. The interactions between Jack and Holmes are perfectly timed and Mr. Tremblay does an incredible job of delivering the emotional content of the story; the intensity of Jack and Holmes’ connection is perfectly conveyed, and the really BIG moments in the story are superbly realised. I defy anyone to have a dry eye at the end; I’ve read the book and knew what to expect, but even so, I was choked up thanks to the very raw emotion Mr. Tremblay injects into the words.
I’ve mostly written about the central relationship in this review because I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, but I’ll just remind potential listeners that despite the ages of the protagonists (sixteen), this is a typically Ashe-ian (?) mystery, so not only is it clever, twisty and full of red-herrings, it also contains some darker themes and violence.
The Old Wheel is a tough listen at times, but it’s a terrific follow up to The Strangest Forms and is highly recommended. There’s a humdinger of a cliff-hanger at the end, but my understanding is that the final book, Where All Paths Meet, will be released in audio in Oct/Nov, so there’s not too long to wait.
Note: this story contains scenes featuring drug use and an attempted (not graphic) sexual assault.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals.
April 23, 2023
This series will be the death of me. I don’t totally get why the end revelation was so catastrophic, but then they are teenagers.
October 7, 2024
Second in The Adventures of Holloway Holmes and not remotely a standalone. Whereas book one ended in a comfortable enough place for a rest, with the mystery of that particular book reasonably settled and the boys moving towards a relationship, book two left me wishing I recalled details of book one better, and while sufficiently settling the mystery once again, leaves the relationship plot on what’s essentially a cliffhanger. So that was kind of annoying.
That aside, it was a fun read, and Paxton a very entertaining addition to the mix.
That aside, it was a fun read, and Paxton a very entertaining addition to the mix.
April 23, 2023
Jack and Holloway must be protected at all costs.
I adore this series and these characters so much that I'm not even entirely certain how to put it into words.
The prose in this book is gorgeous and often reminds me of The Lamb and The Lion series in how beautifully it is written. So many breathtaking paragraphs that border on poetic. And as usual, GA is spot-on in his portrayals of mental health issues.
And of course, there is also humor. These two together either made me squee at how adorable they were, want to scream because of ALL THE PINING, or laugh out loud at their banter. I love them and I would gladly read a thousand books about them.
I had suspicions about the whodunit. While those suspicions were accurate, it did not make the reveal any less satisfying or intense. Perhaps because I was not expecting how the whole thing would play out, and it was quite the ride!
That ending was a punch in the gut. Also not completely unexpected but it was still heartbreaking in how it was written. Enough that I would recommend having a healthy heaping of tissues near-by once you reach the last few chapters.
And the CLIFFHANGER. OMG Gregory, what are you doing to us!?
The only thing keeping me going is that at least it's only two months. But two months seems like forever away at this point.
10/10 recommend. Strongly considering trying to use this series to get some friends and family into GA after the last book comes out. 😂
I adore this series and these characters so much that I'm not even entirely certain how to put it into words.
The prose in this book is gorgeous and often reminds me of The Lamb and The Lion series in how beautifully it is written. So many breathtaking paragraphs that border on poetic. And as usual, GA is spot-on in his portrayals of mental health issues.
And of course, there is also humor. These two together either made me squee at how adorable they were, want to scream because of ALL THE PINING, or laugh out loud at their banter. I love them and I would gladly read a thousand books about them.
I had suspicions about the whodunit. While those suspicions were accurate, it did not make the reveal any less satisfying or intense. Perhaps because I was not expecting how the whole thing would play out, and it was quite the ride!
That ending was a punch in the gut. Also not completely unexpected but it was still heartbreaking in how it was written. Enough that I would recommend having a healthy heaping of tissues near-by once you reach the last few chapters.
And the CLIFFHANGER. OMG Gregory, what are you doing to us!?
The only thing keeping me going is that at least it's only two months. But two months seems like forever away at this point.
10/10 recommend. Strongly considering trying to use this series to get some friends and family into GA after the last book comes out. 😂
May 3, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
The Old Wheel picks up a few weeks after the events in The Strangest Forms, the first book in the Adventures of Holloway Holmes series. This book is the second in the trilogy and focuses more on the developing relationship between Holmes and Jack, as well as dealing with the fallout from the first book. As such, I don’t recommend picking this up without first having read the previous story.
This series has been, so far, a wonderful example of character work with clever plotting, rapid pacing, subtle Easter eggs for Holmes’ fans, and excellent writing. I cannot wait to read book three to see how all of this plays out. I want to see Jack and Holloway reunited, I want to see the two of them stand up to whatever tries to take them down. I want to see how all of the events from book one and book two come together, to find out about Zodiac, about Paxton Adler, about all of it. Book three should be out in June. Until then, I hope you join me in impatiently waiting.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
The Old Wheel picks up a few weeks after the events in The Strangest Forms, the first book in the Adventures of Holloway Holmes series. This book is the second in the trilogy and focuses more on the developing relationship between Holmes and Jack, as well as dealing with the fallout from the first book. As such, I don’t recommend picking this up without first having read the previous story.
This series has been, so far, a wonderful example of character work with clever plotting, rapid pacing, subtle Easter eggs for Holmes’ fans, and excellent writing. I cannot wait to read book three to see how all of this plays out. I want to see Jack and Holloway reunited, I want to see the two of them stand up to whatever tries to take them down. I want to see how all of the events from book one and book two come together, to find out about Zodiac, about Paxton Adler, about all of it. Book three should be out in June. Until then, I hope you join me in impatiently waiting.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
April 22, 2023
i just want them to be happy 😭
June 20, 2023
Ridiculously
grown-up YA. Solid crime,
pining, friends. Sketch reps.
grown-up YA. Solid crime,
pining, friends. Sketch reps.
April 22, 2023
Loved It
Oh I am not a patient person and I have to wait for the final book!!
I love H and Jack-their snark is so sharp but sweeter than some of Gregory’s other partners.
As always the dialogue is tight, the characters are real and the mystery keeps you reading. As always an excellent book by Mr Ashe!
Oh I am not a patient person and I have to wait for the final book!!
I love H and Jack-their snark is so sharp but sweeter than some of Gregory’s other partners.
As always the dialogue is tight, the characters are real and the mystery keeps you reading. As always an excellent book by Mr Ashe!
May 1, 2025
(இ﹏இ`｡) Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
HOLLOWAY MY SHAYLAAAAAAA (╯°□°）╯
.
.
.
Pau…( ͒•·̫| cuando veas esto 凸( •̀_•́ )凸 ;;;;;;;
HOLLOWAY MY SHAYLAAAAAAA (╯°□°）╯
.
.
.
Pau…( ͒•·̫| cuando veas esto 凸( •̀_•́ )凸 ;;;;;;;
May 13, 2023
He made a frustrated noise. Then he smiled. The expression was a little stiff; he wasn't used to doing it, and it was another of those things that he was self-conscious about. I'd read about people who get up at two or three in the morning-on vacation, no less, when they're in Hawaii-and then they drive hours and hours, and all of it is to see the sunrise from this one specific spot, and I thought, Come to Utah if you want something worth your time.
The books I love the most are the hardest to write reviews for so this is long overdue, but I had to find a way to put into words how much I enjoyed and adored this one. I make it no secret that The Same Place (The Lamb and the Lion #2) is one of my all-time favorite Gregory Ashe books, mainly because of the sweet and gentle friendship between Jem and Tean. Jack and Holloway remind me a lot of Jem and Tean, with their soft and tender interactions and deep friendship that develops into a romance.
In The Old Wheel, we see the building trust between these two boys, as Jack works to make Holloway feel safe enough to let his guard down. During these priceless moments, Holloway allows Jack small glimpses of his beautiful smile and vulnerable, human side. Amidst the murder, blackmail, and mystery-solving, these two banter, tease each other, and even have a snowball fight, all while developing a deep connection full of affection and love. One of the many highlights of this book is Holloway taking care of Jack when he is in a very vulnerable state after being attacked.
This is a Gregory Ashe book, however, and especially as the second book in the arc, you know their relationship can't be all sunshine and roses. Nothing gets in their way more than their own insecurities and fears, leading to an excruciating cliffhanger of an ending that has me desperate for Where All Paths Meet in June.
April 30, 2023
Como puede ser que Gregory Ashe siempre nos haga sufrir asi, necesito el siguiente libro ayer.
March 3, 2025
I'm on a roll, finished 3 books in one day! This series continues to be amazing and jeeeez why hadn't I heard of this before? Anywhere!?!? Its so freaking good.
October 25, 2025
A complimentary audio was provided in exchange for an honest review.
My review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What else is there to say? The magic of the story and characters did not diminish at all. They are true to how they were developed in book 1 and book 2 just made me want to root for them more so they expose the full truth. And OMG, there was some amazing reveals in this series.
With the connect to THE Sherlock Holmes, THE Moriarty, THE Watson, it's a backstory just prime for a modern upgrade and expansion. What if these people are better and worse than they were depicted originally? What if everything we thought we knew wasn't true? Was Holmes a bad person? Was Watson the true mastermind? And what about the Moriarty family? Are these blood lines doomed to find and repeat their tragic sage over and over?
If Jack has anything to say about it, no. He is going to expose the truth, no matter what it is. So many people have been hurt, and there are people who will do anything to stop Jack from telling the truth.
This is certainly not a sunshine and rainbows story and I am so glad! This works on every single level and I want more. MORE!
5 stars for the narration, and 4.5 for the story. It's still hard at times to keep track of all the characters and their connections.
Highly recommend the series, specifically the audio. Such a wonderful job.
My review for book 1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What else is there to say? The magic of the story and characters did not diminish at all. They are true to how they were developed in book 1 and book 2 just made me want to root for them more so they expose the full truth. And OMG, there was some amazing reveals in this series.
With the connect to THE Sherlock Holmes, THE Moriarty, THE Watson, it's a backstory just prime for a modern upgrade and expansion. What if these people are better and worse than they were depicted originally? What if everything we thought we knew wasn't true? Was Holmes a bad person? Was Watson the true mastermind? And what about the Moriarty family? Are these blood lines doomed to find and repeat their tragic sage over and over?
If Jack has anything to say about it, no. He is going to expose the truth, no matter what it is. So many people have been hurt, and there are people who will do anything to stop Jack from telling the truth.
This is certainly not a sunshine and rainbows story and I am so glad! This works on every single level and I want more. MORE!
5 stars for the narration, and 4.5 for the story. It's still hard at times to keep track of all the characters and their connections.
Highly recommend the series, specifically the audio. Such a wonderful job.
September 17, 2024
I was right to buy all of these before I finished the first book. Dang.
This one ends not happily, very much this author's modus operandi in a romance series, where the end of book 2 is far from 'the end,' and things are Not Okay. I'll start #3 when I post this review.
While these center an intelligent boy of 16, he has been through some difficult life stuff and has educated himself about a lot of things including grief while protecting his dad and himself from threats, so he is not a typical teen. In this middle of a trilogy story he faces a lot of old and new challenges, some of which he surmounts, and some of which he fails. The author gives cursory attention to school in favor of the plot, but that's a good decision since these are intended for adults. I only mention it because I approve. In the array of this author's not too gritty to gritty all the way series, this falls between The Last Picks series and The Lamb and the Lion series, so at the less-fraught end. I'm grateful; I love his style, but I can't deal with the super intense stuff. I am quite enjoying these.
This one ends not happily, very much this author's modus operandi in a romance series, where the end of book 2 is far from 'the end,' and things are Not Okay. I'll start #3 when I post this review.
While these center an intelligent boy of 16, he has been through some difficult life stuff and has educated himself about a lot of things including grief while protecting his dad and himself from threats, so he is not a typical teen. In this middle of a trilogy story he faces a lot of old and new challenges, some of which he surmounts, and some of which he fails. The author gives cursory attention to school in favor of the plot, but that's a good decision since these are intended for adults. I only mention it because I approve. In the array of this author's not too gritty to gritty all the way series, this falls between The Last Picks series and The Lamb and the Lion series, so at the less-fraught end. I'm grateful; I love his style, but I can't deal with the super intense stuff. I am quite enjoying these.
April 24, 2023
Another great one!
This is a series I wished I found a year from now, after it was complete, so I didn’t have the excruciating wait between installments. It’s so good!
The old wheel definitely keeps spinning at the Walker school; the mysteries get bigger and more complicated, to the point where sometimes I didn’t know what the heck was going on. But it never got frustrating, and my interest never waned because the interactions and growing affection between H and Jack were so wonderful.
I’ve been lucky enough to hike the Wasatch Mtns in all seasons, and the area is very special to me. In these books, Ashe paints the area so beautifully it’s almost like another character.
Can’t wait for the next one!
This is a series I wished I found a year from now, after it was complete, so I didn’t have the excruciating wait between installments. It’s so good!
The old wheel definitely keeps spinning at the Walker school; the mysteries get bigger and more complicated, to the point where sometimes I didn’t know what the heck was going on. But it never got frustrating, and my interest never waned because the interactions and growing affection between H and Jack were so wonderful.
I’ve been lucky enough to hike the Wasatch Mtns in all seasons, and the area is very special to me. In these books, Ashe paints the area so beautifully it’s almost like another character.
Can’t wait for the next one!
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