Harm's Way

by Geoffrey Knight

Zach Taylor is a successful businessman, but his ascension up the corporate ladder has not been without its fair share of losses, including his five-year-old daughter Isabelle, with whom he has all but lost contact.

But his cold world, his frozen existence, is about to melt into a fiery hell.

For Zach is about to discover that his father was a serial killer.

Can the craving for killing be passed down from parent to child? Does murder flow in his veins? What kind of legacy has been lurking in the shadows of his past, waiting to step out of the darkness and reveal his true nature? And who is the handsome, mysterious stranger Zach now finds himself falling for?

In the abandoned home of his childhood, the haunted visions of his past will once again become terrifyingly real.

And Zach will be forced to meet his fate—whoever he may be.

Genres: M M Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Gay, Novels

289 pages, ebook

First published October 14, 2012

About the author

Geoffrey Knight is the author of more than 30 gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.

The heroes of Geoffrey's books love to spend their time jumping off the page, seeking lost treasures, unraveling mysteries or falling in love.

Geoffrey is the recipient of two Rainbow Awards including Best Mystery Winner and Best Overall Gay Fiction Runner-up. His work has been featured in several anthologies including Best Gay Erotica 2013, and he appeared as Guest of Honor at the inaugural Rainbow Con in Florida, 2014.

Geoffrey has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories. He lives with his partner, their young daughter and their small furry family in a rambling old house in North Queensland, Australia, where the paint is fraying and life is good.

You can find everything you need to know about Geoffrey and his books at— https://linktr.ee/authorgeoffreyknight

Reviews

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zach lleva trabajando toda su vida para sobresalir en su trabajo, y es capaz hasta de tener sexo con sus clientes si eso le garantiza ganar un contrato. Así que cuando se le presenta la oportunidad de acostarse con el hombre que le firmara el contrato mas grande que tiene la compañía en ese momento, pues no lo duda. El problema radica al día siguiente, cuando despierta desnudo sin saber donde esta o como llego allí. Después de ese día, su vida comienza a girar y girar, y ahora no sabe que pensar de si mismo, no sabe quien es, no sabe de lo que es capaz. Pero su pasado parece alcanzarlo, y ahora debe descubrir realmente quien es y de donde viene, porque quizás sea la única forma de detener el terror que lo perseguido en sueños desde que era un niño.

Este libro me mantuvo en suspenso desde el principio, la primera mitad te deja pensando cualquier cosa, desde que el prota esta loco, que tiene personalidad múltiple, que esta en medio de una conspiración o que sencillamente su mente esta bloqueando los horrores de lo que ha hecho. Ya la segunda mitad comienzas a entender por donde va la trama, y ahora solo esperas que el prota pueda confiar en alguien y liberarse de sus terrores. Pero durante toda la lectura (incluso cuando ya entendí por donde iba la trama) me mantuve mordiéndome las uñas esperando ver como iba a salir de esta el prota, viendo como cada vez que intentaba algo no le funcionaba, viendo como todos los que creía confiar no lo eran.
En fin, me pareció un excelente libro de suspenso psicológico, lleno de tensión y acción y, aunque el final fue el esperado, el autor te sabe llevar a ese momento. Así que es muy probable que lea otro libro de este autor mas adelante.

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 scary af stars

This was a horror/thriller and was much more gory than I expected. The author writes incredibly well but the ending kind of disappointed me. I wanted something added for a positive ending or epilogue. It suited the story though. This wasn’t any kind of a romance btw; it is LGBT. Lots of twists and turns. I never imagined the direction this ended up going!

[Aimora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read almost exclusively mm and have for the past couple of years. Reading this made me desperately miss the horror genre. Parts of this book gave me that tense anxious feeling I've come to crave when reading a creepy or scary book. So I would say I quite enjoyed it.

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb and not sure what to expect. This isn’t romance, more like a murder mystery, yet very absorbing. In fact I practically sped-read it wanting to find out what happens. While the writing is very good and the concept unique and eye-catching, I’m not sure what I think of the story as a whole. It’s fascinating and makes you think, so for that alone I’d recommend it. However I didn’t always like the characters or like the book itself, probably the actions themselves that turned me off more than anything. I’m glad I read this but wouldn’t read it again.

Without going into too much detail or giving away any spoilers, the plot revolves around Zach Taylor, a successful businessman about to have a very bad day. Zach is in the middle of delicate negotiations with a high profile account he’s trying to land and he’s willing to go to any lengths to make the deal happen, even if it means sleeping with the executive. However when Zach wakes up the next morning, he has no memory of the night before or where the suddenly missing executive could be. Complicating matters, Zach comes to find out that he’s the biological son of a serial murder and is worried that such evil may be passed down.

To start, the concept and execution are very well done. The murder mystery and question of both Zach’s sanity and his capabilities – is he a murderer too? – are engaging and absorbing from the start. The story keeps you guessing about what really happened, how it all happened, and what it all means. There aren’t really enough clues, in my opinion, to figure out the numerous twists before they happen. The story does explain everything and show how each event really happened, connecting so many seeming coincidences in an elegant way. Yet I never guessed any twist. I simply had to be along for the ride, wide eyed at each new turn.

Part of this is due to the superior writing. The prose is crisp and while not entirely clean, it does offer a real sense of drama and emotion. The writing sets a wonderfully creepy tone with just a few well-chosen words. I was horrified and fascinated from start to finish. The characters are well developed, even though most are purposefully kept somewhat vague. The point of the story is never to fully know any character because none of them really truly know themselves either. The narrator, Zach, is struggling to figure out exactly who and what he is so the reader likewise is taking the same journey.

I only had a few qualms with this well written and decidedly creepy story. The first is that the story never really explores why Zach was given up for adoption/foster care. Given the later revelations about his parents, I never understood the reasoning. The second is that while I quite appreciated the late in the story twist regarding what really happened when Zach was a kid, it never rang quite true. In some ways it’s a stroke of genius that I never saw coming – though I admit I should have, but I was too absorbed in the story itself. But this twist also never really fits with existing information. My final issue is that the actions and sometimes gruesome details bothered me. This is an entirely personal reaction and it always happens whenever particularly cruel or bloody deaths are described.

Despite these few issues, the story is very interesting and worth reading. It’s not quite what I expected, though I don’t think I even knew what to expect. I find Knight’s writing to be engaging and always thought provoking . The editing is a bit haphazard and I noticed several mistakes but they didn’t detract from my reading enjoyment as I could easily figure out what the story meant to say. While unreliable narrators can sometimes be a bit stressful to read, never knowing what is real, I find this one definitely kept my attention. I truly wanted to know what would happen and how it would play it out. I’d recommend it to murder mystery m/m fans (there are graphic sex scenes) as I’m glad I read it but I wouldn’t want to revisit this creepy tale.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the past should just stay in the past – but not all of us have the luxury of following that principle. The main character of this story, a successful businessman named Zach, has issues even before everything begins to unravel: he can’t remember anything from when he was a child, he feels as though there are pieces of him that are missing, and his personal life is in shambles. Add a fight for promotion with a nasty colleague, the fact that he has a five-year-old daughter he never sees, and seemingly fruitless sessions with his therapist, and he is not a happy camper. When I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure how things could get worse – even though the blurb makes it quite clear that Zach discovering the truth about his father being a serial killer can’t be “good” by any stretch of the imagination. As for the details? The author did an excellent job showing me exactly how much worse things could get for Zach.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente.
Cuánto menos sepa uno a la hora de leerlo es mejor.

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn! I am not usually one to read mysteries and gruesome books, but Geoffrey Knight's Harm's Way is fantastic.

Geoffrey Knight takes us on a twisted and suspenseful rollercoaster ride as we follow Zach through the crazy things that are happening around him.

As usual, I love and appreciate the author' writing. Not only does he create an intriguing story, he is a master of painting a scene. From the very beginning, I was drawn in just based on his descriptions.

What follows is a suspenseful and haunting tale, as Zach has no clue what is happening. People are dying and he's waking up with no memories. The questions surrounding Zach and his sanity are wonderfully done. Not only does the reader not know what is going on, Zach also has no clue.

The story includes so many twists and turns, ultimately tying everything together, but what fun during those twists and turns.

I really can't praise the writing enough. Everything is so expertly written, adding a superb sense of drama and intrigue. The tone is creepy throughout, leaving me horrified and yet also fascinated.

Harm's Way is definitely a recommended read for anyone who enjoys a good who-done-it mystery. I am so happy I took a chance on this book, which I did based solely on the fact that I enjoy Geoffrey Knight's writing. And he certainly didn't disappoint. Just know though, that it is not a romance in anyway.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can’t run from destiny. Zach Taylor is on top of the world. His successful job in social media is going so well he may be tapped to take over the company, providing he lands their biggest client. Zach is prepared to do whatever it takes to make that happen but he soon wakes up to a nightmare. The client’s son, and Zach’s late night fling, has gone missing and Zach has no idea what happened the night before. Finding out his father’s grisly legacy has Zach doubting his own sanity.

Harm’s Way is a suspenseful and intriguing murder mystery/thriller. The plot centers on Zach as he discovers his past and birth parents. Finding out his father was a serial killer so soon after recent events leave Zach filled with doubt. Could Zach be following his father’s footsteps? Could he have killed someone and forgotten? Zach’s race to find answers fills the pages with nearly non-stop action and twists and turns. There are several surprises and some nice secondary characters that aren’t quite what they seem. The writing is strong, graphic, and engaging. I devoured the book to figure out what would happen and was jolted by the twists.

This isn’t a romance story by any means, although there is graphic m/m sex. Each explicit encounter has a purpose and fits both the theme and characters so nothing is meant for sensationalism. There are relationships of a sort but this isn’t a romance. It’s definitely a murder mystery, who-dunnit type of thriller. There are also some graphic scenes of torture. I found these scenes pretty mild and I’m pretty sensitive and hate almost any kind of depicted or talked about torture. However I found the writing did a very good job handling these scenes and instead I was mostly fascinated by the thoughts of the killer. Once or twice I had wished the story hadn’t gone there but that was a personal preference and it made complete sense to the characters and plot arch. These scenes are necessary to the story and aren’t overly dramatic or gruesome, but they do exist.

Overall Harm’s Way is an intense and gripping thriller. It’s well written with compelling characters and some truly inventive twists. I can easily recommend this to mystery fans that don’t mind some explicit m/m sex scenes or m/m fans that don’t mind a bit of torture thrown into their mystery. It’s a hard one to categorize and may not be for all readers, but I am glad I read it and it’s still on my mind even numerous days later.

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book, it was an excellent read. Well written, fast paced and action packed. It was full of twists, turns and surprises. The story is not a romance in the true sense, the focus is definitely on the mystery, it's quite plot driven. There is sex though, although it has more to do with lust, rather than love. Zac, who is a major player, is well written and his character's evolution throughout the story is spot on. I would certainly recommend this - thrilling story, of which I hope there will be more.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

For all those who want to read a romance, you won't get it here.

The story plot is not what I expected; even if I knew or had a feeling from the middle, who the bad guy really was. Although I read it to the end and, we had a happy ending the feelings are not happy at all.

[Claudia Marcela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a few days ago he had been Zach Taylor, Vice President of Garford & Millard with a six-figure salary and a one-of-a-kind Mies Van der Rohe that overlooked a seven-figure view of the city. Now, if the evidence in the box was real, if his dream was real, then he was in fact Zach Borden, son of serial killer Edwin Borden.

Zach Taylor está a un cliente de convertirse en director de su empresa de marketing, y si ese cliente quiere acostarse con él antes de firmar el trato, ¿Cómo podría negarse? El problema surge cuando dicho cliente desaparece esa misma noche y Zach no tiene idea de qué sucedió o por qué despertó desnudo en un parque. Y tras ser contactado por su madre biológica, descubre que es el hijo de un asesino serial. Ahora está en una carrera contra el tiempo para descubrir si la desaparición de David no tiene nada que ver con él o si está repitiendo un legado sangriento.

Creía que esto sería un thriller tranquilito y me llevé una gran sorpresa con el grado de tensión que mantiene toda la lectura.

Con una narración ágil, conocemos al exitoso Zach, cuyo único arrepentimiento es no haber podido brindar un verdadero hogar a su ex-esposa e hija antes de descubrir que era gay. Pero todas sus energías las vuelca a su trabajo, y su fiera competencia con el otro candidato a la presidencia de su compañía. Sin embargo, todo empieza a derrumbarse cuando se entera que su familia biológica ocultaba un secreto oscuro.

Por su interacción con las personas que lo rodean, parece claro que Zach tiene alguna clase de sociopatía, pero durante medio libro no tenemos claro si es solo antisocial o se trata de algún trastorno que él mismo desconoce. ¿Identidad disociativa? ¿Amnesia selectiva? Todo ese tramo está plagado de tensión al límite, mientras compartimos la incertidumbre de Zach sobre lo que está sucediendo realmente. Es en la segunda mitad cuando finalmente descubrimos la verdad, que todo explota de una forma tremendamente escalofriante. Aunque ya se ve venir por ciertos detalles, no deja de ser sorprendente por el grado de complejidad que alcanza la trama y cómo el autor va armando todo para que en todo momento nos preguntemos. ¿Cómo Zach puede salir librado de todo?

Un thriller apasionante que te hace recordar por qué cierras la puerta con llave al caer la noche. (Aunque ya se ve claro que a veces eso no sirve de nada).

Every little thing you do or say in this world, good or bad, right or wrong, chalk it up to experience, call it a victory, make it a lesson, put it all in a bag with your name on it. But never regret a thing. Only regret what your fear of regret keeps you from doing.

¿Qué Disfruté?
El ritmo de todo el libro mantiene el interés en todo momento, haciendo que no puedas parar de leer.

¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
Hay un par de escenas bastante crudas, incluido maltrato animal y tortura. Literalmente me dieron pesadillas.

Everything comes back. Every buried secret rises back to the surface eventually.

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling ride with many twists and turns

Harm's Way by Geoffrey Knight is a thrilling mystery that will keep you attached to the pages and engrossed in the world woven together by a well plotted and well written story and intriguing characters.

Zach Taylor is a successful man who will do anything to get a promotion at work, including bedding a visiting businessman who is very close to closing a deal with his company. But when Zach wakes up the next morning, he is naked out in public, the businessman he was with is missing and Zach doesn't remember a thing that happened past the climax of the night. To make things even further complicated, he discovers his father was an axe murderer and starts wondering if that is his legacy. And then there is the sexy stranger he just met....

Filled with mystery, twists and turns and glimpses into his past, this book did not disappoint. This book focuses on the murder mystery instead of a relationship, although if you are looking for some graphic sex scenes between sexy men, you will find them in this book. And Man, those twists honestly surprised me and I am still sitting here with that shocked feeling. Although the ending has a positive tint, it is not the ending I thought I was going to get and yet was so good that I can not complain.


I received this book as an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily am leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[Cariad Dussan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spellbinding and riveting decent into the darkest heart of unflinching madness. A tour de force that will have you second guessing your surroundings, what is real and not and who you can really trust.
A tale that will haunt you long after you have finished and chase you deep into your dreams and nightmares.
With twists and turns and savage imagery that keeps us one step behind at all times, toying with the reader into complacency and a false sense of trust.
Geoffrey Knight shows us in these pages that he is a force to be reckoned with.

[tammy rufo · Rating 4 out of 5]

very interesting read, fast paced and fun. not really a romance, but still enjoyable. i felt sorry for zach, he's found out some things he didn't know and now he's doubting his own sanity. would def recommend.

[Doreen Frantz · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMW! What an awesome read. It kept me on the edge of my seat and really kept me guessing. Did not know where this book was taking me but what a fantastic journey. I was not expecting the ending at all. If you want action, suspense and all round awesomeness...get this book!

[Bookjunkie12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even when you think you've figured out all of the twist there's another!

This was a well thought out thriller/suspense story...

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was amazing.. wow... so many twists and turns.. so many things that were unexpected and amazing. so many things in this i never saw coming and i freakin loved it. haha.. very good story!

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plotholes. Plotholes everywhere.

[Kaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in 2019, I have few details in my head, so I will reread it

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some secrets should stay buried…

Imagine if you will, having a few drinks then accompanying the gorgeous guy at the bar back up to his room for some mind blowing sex. Then waking up in a park, in the arms of an Angel statue, buck ass naked with no memory of how you got there. That is just a bad day all around. It gets better though, when said gorgeous guy goes missing.

Zach Taylor is at the top of his game at his firm. He’s young, successful and single, has the world at his fingertips. That lovely evening I just mentioned leaves him frazzled and fraying, trying to remember. Things go from bad to worse when questioning eyes fall on him. And then an old lady with a box and a couple tears sends Zach down a spiraling staircase toward a past he has only briefly remembered in his dreams.

Nate Shaw is big, brooding, sexy and oh so charming. His blue eyes and blinding white teeth go from menacing to sexy too quickly for my liking, but it definitely got Zach’s attention. Hold up in a basement, waiting out a snow storm, the two keep warm the old fashioned way. Shared body heat. The thing is, Nate either has the best or the worst timing imaginable. He blows into Zach’s life right when everything is falling apart.

Wow. This book kind of blew my mind. I opened it with the intention to read a chapter or two between loads of laundry and, two hours later I read ‘The End’ and my mind is still spinning. Knight just took me on a journey through the twisted mind of a mad man, and the uncertain mind of another that thinks he’s going mad. I figured a couple things out early on, I wouldn’t say predictable, I’m just an avid crime story watcher so the clues were screaming at me. That being said, I have to wonder if Knight didn’t leave those clues on purpose, bread crumbs if you will, to take my attention off the truth.

This was a murder mystery full of twists and turns. Right about the time you think you have it all figured out, you really don’t. So well written that even at the very end, two pages left to go, there was another twist that had me holding my breath. Be warned, there is some darkness in this story, murder, madness, mayhem and pure evil. Knight’s imagination is both fantastic, and terrifying. So if you are looking for a book that you can sink your teeth into, a book that will hold your attention from start to finish, a story so engrossing you can’t look away as you read through your fingers… well then, this book will certainly do.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

The story has murder, mystery, intrigue, and thrills set at a fast pace. For the first half of the book, there is just enough offered to set the tone and scene while still not revealing exactly what is going on. Knight creates an atmosphere that offers creepiness with well chosen words and a tempo to match. We are purposely kept in the dark on a number of events and characters in an effort to keep the mystery.

So with a mystery, of course, it’s difficult to discuss the plot without giving anything away. But we stay with Zach throughout the course of the book where strange and unexplained things happen to him and around him. People are missing, his memory is spotty, he finds himself in places he can’t recall getting to, and he’s on the verge of becoming unhinged as he’s sure he’s going to follow in his father’s footsteps. His deserted childhood home offers the perfect haunted backdrop and then there is a stranger who wants to get close to Zach in all of the ways and Knight draws you into the madness.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.