Still recovering from an accident that left him emotionally and physically battered, Jon's goal is to lead a simple life, free of complications and attachments. His new roommate—a happy-go-lucky bookworm—seems to fit into his plans fine at first. He doesn't find out till later that Leander's also a psychic, specializing in finding lost pets. Jon's a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural, so he's convinced Leander's a nut job.
Jon's beliefs are challenged when Leander has to track down a missing teenager and he ropes Jon into assisting him. Soon the two of them are knee-deep in a decades-old murder case. The hills and valleys of the City of Angels hold many buried secrets, and Leander has a knack for finding them.
Jon's hopes for a trouble-free life go out the window as he's drawn deeper into Leander's psychic sleuthing. Digging into the past poses many dangers, but the biggest risk Jon faces is putting his bruised heart on the line.
Warning: Men loving men, skeletons, and an unlucky Chihuahua.
Under a prickly, cynical surface Lou Harper is an incorrigible romantic. Her love affair with the written word started at a tender age. There was never a time when stories weren't romping around in her head. She is currently embroiled in a ruinous romance with adjectives. In her free time Lou stalks deviant words and feral narratives.
Lou's favorite animal is the hedgehog. She likes nature, books, movies, photography, and good food. She has a temper and mood swings.
Lou has misspent most of her life in parts of Europe and the US, but is now firmly settled in Los Angeles and worships the sun. However, she thinks the ocean smells funny. Lou is a loner, a misfit, and a happy drunk.
3.75 stars rounded up I assume that this is only a start of a series...
... and I really liked it.
Jon, the main narrator, is a grumpy character. I wholeheartedly enjoy reading the process of him from being super annoyed, super cynical, that his new roommate is a psychic, to starting caring for Leander more than he wants to be at first (like making sure that Leander has good food, or to apply sunscreen because Leander gets easily burned), to open himself up for a chance to have something more than just friendship with the younger guy. But Jon stays a bit grumpy; which I don't mind. I like the contrast of his character and Leander's.
The 'psychic' portion is not over-the-top. There are no talking ghosts (get that, Kate :p) or Leander being a medium ... it's quite straight-forward actually. Leander get glimpses about what has happened to people, animals, items, and he uses his talent to find those that go missing..
There are two main mysteries that Leander gets involved in, in two different stories. However, since both happened in the past, and neither Leander nor Jon are detective, they are not fully in charge in investigation. Sure, there is this detective character who asks Leander for help; but the investigation pretty much happens behind the screen. In that sense, the mystery is not heavy. Personally, I see it as a combination of fiction, a bit mystery, and also a start of romance.
I would definitely look forward to the next stories...
PS: The cover is great. This is like cover for 'mainstream' mystery/thriller books. Me likey :)
PSS: A couple of typos that made me reread the paragraphs just to understand. But not enough to annoy me.
Lou Harper. Ah damn an author I look at and say, wish I could write like that.
Harper does a fantastic balance between sweet and savoury. Great characters that have a dash of unexpected and developing relationships that bind together in ways the reader doesn't even realize until all of a sudden, you're invested.
Dead in L.A. is a delightful read of two "shorts" starring the same character. To be honest, I want a fuller book. I want to see Jon and Lea on a bigger canvas and explore the warp and weave of how they fit together. These shorts only give a taste of a greatness that is hovering at the edge of Harper's fingertips.
Still, even as I am left wanting...because really it was like catching a chocolate foam snowflake on the brain... this book STILL satisified.
I had to reflect about this book for a bit before I could settle down to write a review.
My main problem is the fact that I hardly ever like MCs who are (or claim to be) psychics. Just like their love interests, I always find myself thinking 'Is that guy for real?!'.
BUT Leander, or Lea ("like tea"), wormed his way into my heart. Answering a 'roommate wanted' ad, Leander moves in with 28 year old college student Jon, who was previously in the construction business, but after the death of his wife, he decided to pursue a higher education. Jon is gruffy and cold, most of the time, but he's an inherently caring guy (even if he doesn't want to be), so he starts feeding the skinny blond twink he's sharing his apartment with, telling him how important it is to eat regularly.
Little does he know at first how his cute roommate actually earns his living: Leander is a psychic, finding lost items or pets by touching things that are somehow associated to them.
Jon doesn't believe him at first, but Leander soon proves himself, solving a cold murder case after the police gave up on it a long time ago.
I really liked how Jon tried not to let Leander (he calls him 'Andy' which is totally endearing) into his heart, because he never wanted to be attached to anyone again, for fear of losing the person again.
Jon really made the book for me. There were some weird moments, like them having sex out of the blue, without even being friends with benefits or ANYTHING (and me believing that Jon was straight, because, you know, wife and all). I didn't totally get those moments. I would assume at least Leander would request Jon to make some kind of commitment to him, but no. He just took what Jon gave him whenever Jon was in the mood. It was kind of weird.
But still, I absolutely liked them as a couple and I found Jon's struggling believable and the crime cases interesting and unusual.
Definitely a 4.5 star read and a reason for me to continue with the series!
A fun paranormal mystery slash romance from the POV of Jon, a man who decided to avoid all attachments to other people to avoid getting hurt, and his psychic roommate Leander who is just the right kind of person to melt Jon's resolve. This was a re-read for me, and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. The story is totally angst-free and light, but keeps your attention and has you wanting more.
”It’s the randomness of things that scares me the most—not knowing what fate or blind chance have in store. Your whole life can turn on a dime when you least expect it.”
BAM! I was captivated, in, and hooked!
Jon Cooper is trying to move on and recover from heartbreak and loss. Back in school with a new place and fresh start plan that will keep him moving and breathing. His broken, guarded, numb heart is just hoping to get from one day to the next. All that changes when Leander Thorne answers his roommate ad and comes walking into his life though. A young, freckle-faced, blue eyed cutie patootie with a cheery smile and way about him that may be just what Jon needs to kick start his heart whether he wants it kicked or not. Leander comes packed with some surprises though. He is a professional psychic, who specializes in finding lost items, pets, and sometimes people. As Jon and Leander’s lives begin to twist and tangle together by sharing space, time, pain, and mysteries--a fun, sexy friendship begins to take shape. I had my fingers crossed the whole time hoping and rooting for this seemingly opposite pair to open up, talk, and trust each other with their hearts.
”fall into the blue of his eyes”
I adored the slow building friendship between these guys. You wouldn’t think Jon’s caring, bossy, “say-it-in-just-a-few-words” way would fit and look so good against Leander’s slightly nerdy, odd ball ray of sunshine persona, but oh—they fit! Jon and Leander throw off some hot, sweet sparks! A fun, heartfelt friendship that brought tears to my eyes and a grin across my face.
Ah, Los Angeles! A city that pulls every single one of my happy memory strings. Hell, the Thomas Guide references alone hit me with a huge wall of emotion and memories. For a far too short time in my life, I lived and loved in Los Angeles. I may not have made my home there, but the city certainly made a home in my heart. I still miss her. Lou Harper captures and uses all of L.A’s style and quirks here perfectly. The hills, traffic, streets, weather, attitude, and sun—I could see and feel it all. Hit me right in the heart. Thank you. :)
For me, the mysteries and cases played a quiet or casual role, but added just the right amount of sadness and humor to the pages. The fact Leander can touch and read the emotions of the dead or missing off of items is just a part of his life—who he is. And it slowly becomes a part of both of their lives. The quiet times, sharing a meal, talking late at night, and the soft flirty touches between Jon and Leander are something special to see and experience. I love these guys! I’ll be waiting right here for more! I have a feeling Leander has a few more secrets up his sleeve.
Btw….This was where I knew I would love Leander…. :D
”Because they’re the underdogs, the ones who get beamed down to alien planets only to die for dramatic effect.” hehe…Star Trek shout out!
In this story, Jon is just getting by, a year after an accident that killed his wife. Leander answers his ad for a roommate, and in spite of himself, Jon finds himself growing closer all the time to Leander, or Andy, as Jon (and only Jon) calls him.
Leander is a psychic, not one of those silly tv ones, but the real deal. He gets images and senses off things, and makes his living finding lost things- usually pets or items. Then he helps find a missing kid, a local cop gets ahold of what he can do, so now he works a bit with the detective, helping him with murder cases.
This was really two shorts that I wish had been longer. I wish the getting to know each other had been more detailed, as I really loved both characters, as well as the mysteries they went on. I loved how Jon found himself drawn to Andy, even though he swore never to get close enough to be hurt again. I loved how patient Andy was with Jon. I immediately read the next book in this series, and loved it, too.
Very good pair of mystery romance novellas about grouchy art student Jon and psychic Leander, Jon’s new (cute) roommate that drives him crazy while still burrowing under his skin (and into his cranky heart.)
At a little over 100 pages, Dead in L.A. contains two novellas about Jon and Leander’s adventures, with each having its own mystery to solve. Its episodic nature reminds me of a fun mystery TV show, but the development that builds up over the two novellas adds in extra depth. Jon is very curmudgeonly for being all of 28 but he’s a loveable grouch, and his surliness is mostly a byproduct of some painful past events. Leander and his upbeat and upfront nature (not to mention his unconventional profession) plays a great foil, and it’s fun to watch Jon’s slow thaw as he, almost against his will, starts caring for him.
Both mysteries were good, not overly complicated but interesting. Probably my favorite parts though were when the MCs were interacting. They had great developing chemistry and their back-and-forth dialogue was really fun to read. (I think Harper does a great job with dialogue and character voices; It’s one of my favorite things from the other work I’ve read by her, Last Stop.)
If this were a TV show, I’d definitely tune in every week, and I’m personally hopeful for more mysteries for these two to solve (even though the prospect for more adventures would probably raise Jon’s blood pressure.) A fun, but fast read, and recommended, especially for m/m mystery fans.
This book contains two novellas, which take place 2 months apart. The author's laconic style works very well in the first story especially. Jon begins college at twenty-eight after an accident forces a life-change. His wife, who was his lifelong best friend, died in that accident and Jon doesn't want to be social. He advertises for a quiet roommate who will just split the rent on his apartment. The guy who shows up at his door in answer to his ad is young, nerdy, cheerful and not Jon's type. Perfect for a roommate. Except that living together shows Jon a more appealing side of Leander, and finding out that the young man really is psychic shakes Jon's views. A search for a missing teen, and a police detective, push Jon and Leander together. And Jon begins to think "his type" may have changed. 4.5 stars.
The second story shows Jon and Leander, whom he nicknames Andy, still working out what kind of friends they are. A storm which disrupts their neighborhood brings Andy's psychic ability to a higher focus, and an old flame of Jon's appears with a new boyfriend in tow, and unclear motives. This story felt a bit too abrupt, with a dramatic climax that came out of nowhere and was over fast. Still, I like Jon's narrative voice a lot, and will happily read more about these two men. 4 stars.
A new favorite series in the mini-genre of the paranormal P.I. Lou Harper tells a breezy, low-pressure story about characters you care about. Unlike the most P.I. stories, the mysteries are really not the point here, which paradoxically has the effect of making Leander's psychic locating feel more like an actual, real-world job. Once he's found the object, solving the mystery is not his job, which most days consists of finding runaway Chihuahuas. The evolving "roommates with benefits" relationship was well-done, sexy and with just the right amount of angst. Extra points for an excellent evocation of the L.A. setting.
Definitely recommended as a fun, sexy, low-pressure read.
This is actually two closely connected shorter storys, both about Lea "rhymes with tea" , a young psychic who's remarkably down-to-earth about his gift, and Jon "no h" , a former construction worker who went back to school after an accident. Both storys were as charming as their main characters, written in a light and fluent hand with wonderful humor. I loved how Lea/Andy casually sneaked into Jon's life, his bed and eventually into his scarred heart.
Though I'd have dearly loved to know what really became of the poor chihuahua.
3.5 stars. Solid m/m paranormal romantic suspense about a prickly former construction worker who's going back to school and advertises for a roommate. He really doesn't expect to end up with an actually psychic roommate... or one he finds attractive. Looking forward to more in this series!
This was very entertaining though too short. I liked the characters but I would have liked to get a better explanation about the psychics and the world they're living, because everyone thought Lea was faking it but then accepted quickly his gift, even the police came seeking his help. I liked the way the myteries are presented to us, because Lea helps to solve them but he isn't the one doing the investigative work, and that's different to other amateur sletuh stories I've read. I liked this one was more focused in the characters and how the discovery of the truth takes a toll on them.
This was an enjoyable start to the series - so much so that I purchased the next two books even before I finished this one.
This book contains two short stories which introduce the characters, Jon and Leander, and Leander's psychic abilities. Don't worry! There are no ghosts here, lol! Leander gets glimpses of emotions or locations when he touches something that belongs to the items/people/animals that went missing. The cases Leander was working were interesting but nothing too deep or twisted - probably because of the shortness of the stories. The second story ended a bit too abruptly for my liking but it was still good.
Jon and Leander are very captivating characters and they have an "opposites attract" thing going on - grumpy and snarky Jon vs. cheerful and bubbly Leander. Don't expect deep feelings and confessions of love, though. Jon has his reasons for wanting to remain detached and by the end of the book, they find themselves in a friends with benefits situation. Jon's facade is cracking, though, and we get glimpses of him caring more and more for Leander. I'm really looking forward to finding out how their relationship will progress!
It's actually two short stories. The characters are likeable as much as we get to know them. Leander becoming known as Andy was distracting.
The mysteries, interesting in that Lea/Andy does his bit then the detective takes over. Mostly.
There's a that works, but the writing is light and breezy even when the subject matter gets dark and should be emotional. The result is an entertaining read but not one that'll stick with me or make me want to read on. Possibly a longer more involving story would work better.
I really liked this story about a man discovering himself and a pet psychic. Jon decides to go back to school after a tragedy changes his life and is on the lookout for a roommate. Leander doesn't seem threatening or dangerous, but it turns out that his psychic ability is about to bring him into the sights of the local police force. It's strange. I don't really believe in psychics but I love reading books about them. And this one was no different.
Re-read 10/14/17: Once again, the storytelling just drew me in. Love Jon and Leander together. Jon is the practical one. He makes Leander eat regular meals and is a grounding force. Leander is the more flighty one of the bunch which honestly is how he gets into trouble.
Re-read again: I love psychic stories, and this once again drew me in. Even though each story was quite short, I feel that we get to see a bit about both Jon and Leander's personalities. I would love to see more of their relationship develop.
This really packs a punch for such a short story! I really enjoyed Leander and Jon. Sometimes characters like Jon drive me crazy with the whole I don't want to be attached to anyone and their gruffness but for Jon and the way this was written it just worked. I also really liked Leander and his awkwardness at times. He was the perfect match for Jon with his easy going, take things as they are personality. At first Jon doesn't believe Leander is psychic but I loved the way he got pulled into helping Leander so he cold see first hand that he was what he said he was and also how he slowly started taking care of Leander because he just couldn't help himself. The ending was a bit rushed and left a few things hanging but it was a nice HFN and I plan to see what else this series has to offer.
I enjoyed this book, which is actually 2 books in one. Jon is 28 and has been injured in a construction job and returned to college. His ad for a roommate brings him Leander, or Lea (like tea), who is cute and nerdy and finds things for a living. What? Yes, he finds dogs, cats, and other items people lost. But not by traditional means--he's a psychic. And a good one as it turns out.
When he's asked to find a missing teen, Jon joins him in going to see the parents and from that point on the two are friends and co-investigators. A cold case cop gets involved after he hears how Jon found the teen and from there, the story rolls along with Leander being much more than a dog and cat finder.
But the two also develop a sweet friends with benefits relationship and become lovers who seem pretty solid by the end. I've heard there are more stories after these and their relationship strengthens so I see this one as a nice solid start.
I enjoyed both stories very much. I liked both MCs and I found the paranormal aspect / mysteries interesting. This was my first book by the author but I'll definitely check her other stuff.
Nice, light reading. Two strong characters and interesting situations. I did think everyone accepted the whole psychic thing too quickly-- but maybe that's just LA.
There is just something about Lou Haper's books that I really like. I think it is the lack of superficial drama end sentimentality. I also enjoy the way she make LA and surrounding area almost another character in the story. And then the two MC's are fleshed out characters with quirks and flaws but I love them all the same.
Dead in LA is the book that shows just how economical Lou Harper's writing is. It surprises me even now to write that this book of two stories is only 28k words simply because my memory from reading it is how full of plot and detail it was. Of course it depends on your style and preferences, but I always admire an author who can get their word across without a whole lot of words -- I'm the exact opposite! As you might have noticed and indeed bemoaned from my incredibly wordy reviews :)
Both of these stories, "Dead in the Hills" and "Dead in the Valley" focus on a separate mystery while the overall arc of the story that connects them is the building relationship between Jon and Leander, two completely fascinating characters! I say that because at this point (after reading the first two stories and waiting for the rest to come) I still feel them on incredibly shaky ground, no matter how far they've come from their beginnings as roommates in "Dead in the Hills". And they, in so many ways, are an opposites attract story, not in a sortof comically stereotypical way (like… the twink and the cop or something) but simply because when I first started reading this book I thought… wait, is Leander really going to become Jon's romantic interest? I just couldn't see it. It wasn't until after they were firmly established as friends with benefits (or roommates with benefits) that they both really started to open up for me as characters and I could see past their superficialities. Jon is an art student, but of course in a completely responsible way (art advertising) that he might not have ever really gone in to anyway, and Leander is a psychic who finds things that people have lost. Now, sometimes those are puppies (like the "unlucky Chihuahua" LOL) and sometimes those are missing people. Jon has a hard time at first believing in what Leander does until he offers his roommate a ride to a job and sees it for himself, not only the accuracy of Leander's visions but what it also does to him. His ultimate understanding of Leander's job is what slowly softens him to Leander's charms, even through all of the trauma and guilt that Jon still has after his wife's death.
Dead in LA was probably one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year, and in some ways that's because of the mysteries and in others the relationship. The relationship is also what makes this book like a really early part of a series. Of course, these are the first two stories in this series, but what I mean is that by the end of both there's still a great deal of uncertainty about their relationship and a lot they'll need to work through. Both of these stories, for me, were really about getting to know the characters individually and that makes me even more excited for the coming ones, because I get to see more about where their relationship will progress.
This book also shows how well the episodic mystery format is working for Lou. Making the mysteries somewhat shorter allows for more possible directions for the story to go because we, as readers, aren't completely committed to a long mystery plot while the characters are growing with their relationship. That is what makes the next stories in this series exciting to me.
Also, a note about the cover, which I really love. Lou mentioned that it doesn't really scream romance (which is true) but that it does really highlight that these are mysteries. That works well for me with these two stories -- the cover seems aligned with how I feel about them in any way -- but also, I think that the lack of a naked torso makes your book stand out in new ways these days, when I feel like most others I've heard from… we're just tired of those covers.
Lou Harper had been heavily recommended to me by many friends I trust, and when I read the blurb I was interested immediately because something told me this story would probably make me laugh. I was right. Since I'm also a giant pet lover with three dogs and two cats of my own, a pet psychic set off the goodwill radar. And, the down on his luck, life has beaten him down guy paired with young, bubbly, and sweet did me in the rest of the way. This book is, in fact, two short stories combined so I felt that I was getting two for the price of one.
I fell in love with Leander (Andy) about two seconds into this read. Anyone who says, very offhand, that they don't have any friends, and they seem completely okay with that fact, has me at hello. And the more I read, the harder I fell. I mean, who doesn't like a guy who watches football to root for the underdogs and cheers on guys who don't even have the ball? I tell you, halfway through this book, I just wanted to take Andy home. He is a psychic who finds things, anything that has been lost, pets, keys, cars, people, etc. He also works as a paid audience member on TV shows to fill up seats. Yeah, I know, I thought that was adorable, too. Andy's parents died when he was young, he was raised by his grandma, he reads a lot, and loves herbal teas.
Jon is a cynic. An absolute grump. Granted, after what he's been through, it's perfectly understandable. He used to work construction, but an accident that killed his wife and messed up his shoulder left him depressed with nightmares and sleepwalking. He is completely gay, but explaining the marriage and wife would be a spoiler, so you'll have to read the book. Taking a chance, he's going back to school, although his initial thoughts of automotive maintenance or electrical were thrown to the wayside when his advisor saw his drawing skills. Now he's majoring in art with an idea to work in advertisement design.
In the first case, when Andy impresses an officer by spot-on describing where a body can be found, the officer lets his uncle, a homicide detective, know. The detective comes a'calling to see if Andy can help identify a woman murdered almost twenty years ago that is a cold case but still bothers the detective that she could never be identified. Unfortunately, there's not much for Andy to go on as the woman was found naked in a motel room with no personal items. Hmm. In the second case, the mystery comes along a lot more insidiously. Jon and Andy run into an old acquaintance of Jon's and his partner while out wandering the neighborhood after a horrible windstorm. In an incredibly roundabout way, Jon and Andy manage to solve a crime that hadn't even been reported, but lost some acquaintances in the process.
This was my first foray into a Lou Harper book, but I can guarantee it won't be the last. I loved the writing, the characters were solid and strong, it sort of reminded me of an old detective dime store novel except with gay men, and the mystery stories were excellent. Thank you to all my friends who recommended this read!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Dead in L.A consists of two short stories, all leading the men to an exciting investigation, with a little twist. Jon is in search for a roommate, he's starting over after the loss of his wife and now making his way as a student. His roommate comes in the form of Lea who he thought was female but that’s gets blown out of the water by the young man at the door. Jon just wanted someone who was quiet, easy to get along with, and would pay his or her share of the rent on time. What he never expected was to start caring for Lea (which is short for Leander and which later Jon starts to call him Andy) and taking care of him. Initially he assumed Andy was a student, but when he finds out what he does for a living Jon is a skeptic. There is no way the boy is a Psychic, that's until he gets proven wrong.
The two shorts, Dead in the Hills & Dead in the Valley deals with two separate mystery investigations. Both cases are more than 20yrs old, so really the focus is on the relationship that is being formed between the men. Jon finds himself opening up to Andy, and the surprise is that he understands exactly how he feels. Meanwhile, he's still trying to fight the attraction between them while trying to maintain some sort of emotional distance.
I am excited about where this series is going, and how the relationship between the men will evolve. Together, they are so cute and compliment each other well. Lea is determined, but tends to get lost in the clouds sometimes when dealing with his psychic abilities, yet he isn't jaded and has a great heart. Jon is trying to keep himself protected but he is a caretaker at heart. So it's non-stop entertainment when they are together.
I must say that I really enjoyed this story, and I'm looking forward to more in this series. I am just guessing their investigations will get more extravagant and real time. This was just a setting stone in showing Lea gifts, and I am looking forward to more of their adventures.
Should You Read It? Yes, this one should be checked out for the unusual paranormal throwback. It's like watching a mystery TV show but with a paranormal twist. Very excited for more.
This was a very cute story. Jon is totally curmudgeonly, not without good reason. When his wife died in an accident he swore never to care about anyone again. He’s found himself a nice geeky roommate as he goes back to school. However despite his better judgement and thinking Leander is “weird” because he finds lost pets as a psychic he can’t help getting sucked in by the guy’s good nature. When Leander suggests a friends with benefits agreement, he knows he shouldn’t but… Then Leander is asked to help solve an old cold case, something he’s never done before, changing things for both of them.
I liked the despite his sworn vow to never care for anyone again, Jon is an innate caretaker. He took care of his wife, and he can’t seem to help himself taking care of Leander, making sure he ate properly and after he would use his psychic powers that he had a chance to recover. It was sweet to see him doing those things almost as if he couldn’t help himself.
I also liked how Jon’s story and the deal with his wife was revealed. There were no info dumps, but as Jon and Leander grew closer, bits of the story came out as Jon felt more comfortable. Their marriage was one of convenience, rather than passion, two kids escaping horrid life circumstances. It showed you the kind of guy Jon really was. You don’t find out as much about Leander as this is Jon’s story, but he’s a rather optimistic guy with a desire to help people which ends up getting him in trouble at the end of this story.
There are some cute funny moments, when they talk about Leander’s love of “food porn” on TV but his inability to cook much beyond Ramen noodles and his response when Jon reveals his Christmas gift was priceless. While it does tackle the themes of old cold cases and even a bit of a dangerous situation for Leander, the light tone and the two men make it a delightful read. Even though the story ends at Christmas, that is really not a part of the story, so don’t be frightened off if you are getting burned out on Christmas stories, that is a very minor point.
This was a fairly short story, but one I really enjoyed. Our narrator is cynical and closed off and kind of a downer, really. He's decided to do something different with his life and looks for a roommate while he is going back to school. Leander is delightful from the get. He loves books. Oh, and he's psychic. Honestly, I wish this had been a little longer, I would have liked to have had a little more build up to the mysteries and for the psychic episodes to be a little more drawn out. I liked the evolution of their relationship, no insta-love and no aggravating tension. Quick read, there are some heavy things talked about-death especially- but its not a particularly heavy read, the characters are likable and there isn't any crazy drama. My only wish was that it was longer so we could have a little more depth. Overall, I really enjoyed it and I will continue on with this series.
3.5 stars. A psychic investigator who finds lost pets and jewelry and occasionally solves murders, and a former construction worker starting over as an art major: weird combination but somehow it works. The first short, Dead in the Hills, was paced well and set things up nicely. The second short, Dead in the Valley, gave us more background into Jon and his reasons for not feeling he can commit to Leander. It felt rushed at the ending and could've used a few more pages to really get into Jon's headspace, I think. There were a few too many missing words or misspelled words, especially in the last chapter or two, and that got a little annoying. Overall, these were quick, fun reads and would be good brain bleach when needed.
There is something about this author's voice that I love. I'm not sure if it's the way her characters unfold or the usually slightly off kilter dialogue but it clearly resonates with me. These feel almost more like vignette's and short stories but they do progress and center on a main couple. I like that their relationship grows, well, as it grows. No insta-love - in fact a good deal of sort of casualness in the relationship. It doesn't really know where it's going. It could be expanded to delve more deeply into the mystery contained - but it didn't suffer from not doing so. I am going to pick up the latest in the series shortly!
I always love Lou's California settings - so vivid, and to a poor Brit like me, struggling under grey skies and drizzle, so exotic. Lou's a talented artist (she's done some gorgeous book covers for me and Josephine Myles)so perhaps it's not surprising her books are so visual.
In these two stories we get a couple of fascinating characters to match. Leander, the psychic, is more colourful, but Jon-no-H, our damaged everyman, can be gloriously self-deluding even at his most determinedly skeptical. :)