Mann Hunt

The Declan Hunt Mysteries #1

by Peter E. Fenton

FROM POPULAR AUTHOR OF LGBTQIA ROMANCE FICTION PETER E. FENTON Book one in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series

How far would you be willing to go to finish the job?

Declan Hunt is having a bad week. His kidnapping case is showing little progress, his office assistant has left him on short notice, and his latest investigation has left him literally battered and bruised. But things change when he hires twenty-four year old Charlie Watts to help out at the office. They form an unlikely partnership trying to solve two seemingly unrelated cases whose threads begin to weave together when the missing person case turns to murder.

The investigation takes them from the dark alleys, gay bars and bath houses of Calgary, to the richest parts of the city during the world-famous Calgary Stampede.

But will they be able to discover who the killer is before another life is lost? And will Declan be able to solve the mystery of his relationship with Charlie who is clearly attracted to him — especially since it is evident that the attraction is becoming mutual?

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Crime, Romance, Gay

275 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

It started with poetry. When Peter E. Fenton was having a difficult day, he would put pen to paper and dive into a world of imagination. None of these poems were published. They were kept in a book on a shelf for future reference. A way of looking back at a time and place in life.

But poems led to short stories...tales often told in letter form to amuse friends during their long summers away from home working jobs in theatre.

And then twenty-four years ago he met a composer and writer and they became life partners, and they got the ridiculous idea that perhaps writing musicals and plays would be fun. And so they did that. While his partner wrote on over twenty projects, Peter participated in four of those projects, and these plays were produced across the country, won awards and some were even published.

But life can't all be "play". There was also some work to be done, in this case a 42 year relationship with the Royal Ontario Museum, where Peter spent his time in palaeontology doing collection management and going on expedition in remote locations including the Canadian Rockies, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

When the time came to step away from the fossils at the museum, a new passion took hold ...the desire to write a longer narrative...a book... a gay romance. He wanted to write something that would draw on many years of living, loving and exploring the world.

And so with the kind support of his partner, he began writing his first novel, and a publisher expressed interest, and in the spring of 2022 The Woodcarver's Model was released and was a four time nominee in the Goodreads M/M Romance Readers’ Choice Awards.

That was followed by the release of Mann Hunt in the summer of 2023, which was also nominated in the Goodreads M/M Romance Readers’ Choice Awards. The book has been translated into German, Italian and Spanish.

Last summer, he released Hoodoo House, which is the second part of the Declan Hunt Mysteries series and is now also available in Italian and Spanish. The book was nominated for a Goodreads M/M Romance Readers' Choice Award.

In the fall of 2024 his youth novella Not Not Normal published by Lorimer Publishing came out to critical acclaim (and another Goodreads M/M Romance Readers Choice Award nomination)

The third novel in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series entitled The Burnt was released in August of 2025 It came out in Italian and Spanish editions as well. It was recently nominated for a Goodreads M/M Romance Readers' Choice Award in the Mystery/Whodunnit category.

The final book in the series will come out in the summer of 2026.

PUBLICATIONS

Vite Bruciate (October 25)
El Calcinado (October 2025)
The Burnt (August of 2025)
Trova L'uomo Giusto (July 2025)
La Casa Incantat (July 2025)
Jagd Auf Mann (July 2025)
Casa Hoodoo (March 2025)
Mann Hunt - Spanish (January 2025)
Not Not Normal (September of 2024)
Hoodoo House (June of 2024)
Mann Hunt (August of 2023)
The Woodcarvers Model (April of 2022)
Bemused or Bonita Goes Bananas
The Giant's Garden (A full length musical)

CONTACTING PETER:

Website: www.peterefenton.ca
Blog: www.peterefenton.ca/blog/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/peterefenton...
insta: https://www.instagram.com/peterefento...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peterefenton...
British Publisher: https://www.pride-publishing.com/inde...
Canadian Publisher: https://lorimer.ca/childrens/contribu...
Email: peterefenton@gmail.com

Reviews

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book felt all over the place. There are multiple POV’s and it felt choppy. The mystery never seemed to unfold naturally and I knew who did it right away. I read a lot of mysteries and this felt all wrong.

If you want to read a similar storyline I would suggest Marshall Thornton’s Nick Nowak mysteries. The first books have a lot of meaningless sex but this book reminded me of this series except this book wasn’t executed in the same way. I was hoping for the same feel while reading this but didn’t get it.

ARC received in exchange for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Bizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars. There’s an outline of a good story here but it really needs to be fleshed out more. I liked the mystery and the little we learned about the characters, but they have no thoughts or feelings about anything that happens to them and just move from event to event for seemingly no reason a lot of the time. Like if your very first day on the job (after a completely laughable five-minute job interview), one of the first things you do is open a box that turns out to have a severed finger in it, I think when you go home that night you’re going to have more thoughts about the job beyond “my boss is so hot and I want to fuck him.” Similarly, spending one week working with someone and appreciating their thoughtfulness would not result in you feeling like you don’t know how you’d get by without them.

Also, almost groping your boss’s clothed dick while he’s passed out and then regretting that you didn’t do it when you had the opportunity is gross, what the hell.

I received an ARC in exchange for my review.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat! This definitely hit the spot. I forget sometimes how much a good ol’ whodunnit works for me. Add to that a PI doing the right thing and doing it his way and a down on his luck cutie trying to find his way and it was for sure a win!

I’ll admit that the romance aspect of the story is very, very loose. In this book, almost non existent. But really, what it was (and it was something) I enjoyed and didn’t miss it being more. The mystery and characters carried the story and as this is going to be a series, well, it just worked. But keep in mind, this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you want a conventional romance. This is not it.

I’m looking forward to what comes next. I love that Charlie found a place that he feels like he belongs and can use his skills. Watching him bloom just made me smile.

And Declan. What can I say? He’s dreamy and sweet and I’m just as happy for him that he’s found a match and what I think will be a future.

I have a good feeling about this series and can’t wait for the next book!


**This book was provided by GRR in exchange for an honest review.**

[Colleen (colleenreads40) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mann Hunt is Peter E. Fenton’s first installment in a new series - The Declan Hunt Mysteries. It’s more of a mystery novel, with elements of slow-burn romance including a MM boss/employee relationship.

Declan Hunt is a private investigator that owns his own firm. His latest investigation is at a dead end, and his office assistant had to leave on short notice. When he hires newly graduated Charlie Watts to help out at the office, he learns that Charlie makes a great investigative assistant, too, and the pair work well together. As a couple of open cases weave together, there are suspects around every corner. And then there’s the mystery of Declan and Charlie’s feelings for one another…

[Declan smiled. "Good. Now - why do you want to work here?"
Because you're hot. Anything is better than spending more time in my parents' basement. Did I mention that you're hot?]

Although this book was more of a mystery-driven than romantically-driven read, I thought that worked very well for it. Growing up, I devoured all the mystery novels I could get my hands on and this was such a pleasant reminder of that. I found by the end of the novel, I was just as frantically trying to solve the case as Declan and Charlie were.

Speaking of Declan and Charlie, they were both such likable characters. Declan is seriously the boss of everyone’s dreams - kind, patient, and caring. Charlie is a recent university graduate who has been struggling to find a job and move out of his parents’ house. Although the job with Declan’s firm is more than he signed up for, he seems to be a natural fit. This was certainly more of a slow burn romance, and it’s done well to set up another book. I loved that the setting for this book was western Canada, which definitely made my Canadian heart happy. I can’t wait to see how Declan and Charlie continue to navigate as the series continues.

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Don McEnery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me intrigued from start to finish

An amazing story where almost every character has a visible motive to be a suspect. My frontrunner for who the murderer was changed many times, but I was never right.
I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for Declan Hunt's next case.

[Chase Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific mystery very much like the old private eye stories where the secretary is in love with the hard-drinking boss. But gay. Very engaging and polished. I definitely recommend.

c.t.h.

[Chris Zable · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Mann Hunt, which is Peter Fenton's second novel and his first mystery. It took me a few chapters to get caught up in it, but starting around chapter 6 (of 32) I was totally caught up in it. I really liked Charlie, hardboiled PI Declan Mann's new assistant, and enjoyed seeing him grow in both our estimation and Declan's. At first he's just this guy who's had a series of temp assignments he can't convert to a full time job, and by the end of the book....well, you'll see. I wasn't as drawn to Declan, who was also a POV character, but I didn't dislike him.

And the plotting is superb. I started having guesses as to whodunnit and why about a third of the way in, but the red herrings and ambiguities kept me changing my mind. I made multiple notes to myself about whether a particular character was sus or not -- Fenton definitely had me going. When I ultimately got to the solution, I could see things that had been dropped along the way that were tied in with the answer but didn't give the game away. Really, really well done, especially for a first mystery.

There are interesting ongoing themes of homophobia and familial support/acceptance or lack thereof, with various characters having very different experiences (there are a couple of significant gay characters in addition to Declan and Charlie, as well as some nontraditional relationships).

There's a lovely little slow-burn romance subplot for Declan and Charlie with a hopeful ending. I look forward to seeing what develops between them in the planned second and third volumes. If you like mysteries, and want a little steam and longing on the side, definitely check this book out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and without bias.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5⭐️

Declan is determined, resourceful, self-assured, and easy-going. He’s not very careful with his well-being and has a tendency to drown his troubles and negative emotion in booze and/or sex. He’s not above using his good looks and devilish smile to get what he wants and uses any tools to close a case. As with many media PIs, his morals are grayish when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s a good guy who’s skilled at what he does. Losing his mother at a young age and dealing with a virulently homophobic father has made him resilient, but not bitter. He lives his life unapologetically and doesn’t let his demons overcome him.

Though the story is told in third-person limited with POVs from other characters to give the reader insights, this feels more like Charlie’s story. He’s unsure of himself and who he is—he doesn’t know how to tell his parents he’s gay, he has no experience with men, and he’s at loose ends. Working for Declan gives him a sense of purpose and excitement he’s been lacking, and in Declan a role model for how to live your truth and stand up for yourself. Charlie has a sweet, but horny puppy dog energy that has him metaphorically humping Declan’s leg and doing any and everything he can to please him. However, under the haze of hormones is an intelligent, quick-witted, and adaptable person whose innate kindness gives him a knack for putting people at ease and fostering good-will.

Mann Hunt is a fast-paced whodunit with solid writing and enough intrigue that although I figured out who the baddie is earlier than I would have liked, the wrap-up was still satisfying. There’s also a nice set-up for a possibly over-arching antagonist. While the story slows down enough for some development of the MCs’ backstories and motivations, the balance is a little off when it comes to Charlie. The establishment of his relationship with his BFF is done well, but most of Charlie’s interiority focuses more on dat ass. There’s a lot to like about Charlie, but his relentless thirst can overwhelm other facets of his character. For example, after Charlie has a close encounter with body parts on his first day, his untapped, virginal energy has him focusing on Declan’s sexiness instead of any reservations. His instantaneous crush is possessive with an almost obsessive quality at times that highlights his immaturity. Charlie’s cuteness is also almost surpassed by his creepiness in a scene where he laments about only staring at his passed out boss’ junk instead of touching it. Like, no baby no, please don’t regret not potentially sexually assaulting your drunk employer!

Charlie wants Declan so desperately because he’s hot, kind, and appreciative of his work, hot, and hot; he only shows signs of growth at the very end. For this reason, the blurb is a bit misleading; it’s ending query of “And will Declan be able to solve the mystery of his relationship with Charlie who is clearly attracted to him — especially since it is evident that the attraction is becoming mutual?” is VERY overstated. Their romantic relationship seems to be the type that will burn slowly over multiple books. At no point is Declan trying to “solve the mystery of his relationship with Charlie”; there is no mystery. Declan spends his free time sexing up a hot, closeted cop he really likes. Never Been Kissed Charlie pines and laments in the background, lapping up the crumbs of Declan’s admiration and affection like an anteater’s snout in an anthill while salivating like a dog whenever in the vicinity of any attractive man. Declan quips “we’ve really got to find you a boyfriend,” and he’s SO not wrong. There are a couple of hints that Declan sees Charlie as a man, but only as passing thoughts until around 96% when the mutuality of the attraction becomes definitive, and the story ends on the possibility of a future HFN.

From my perspective, it’s actually great that the pair don’t get together yet. While it’s obvious why Declan might become attracted to Charlie once he stops seeing him as a cute kid, Charlie needs to gain more experience and maturity. Charlie jumped at the chance to interview with Declan after seeing a picture that Charlie ogles like rescuer porn and never graduates from that lustful fixation. So I’m interested to see Charlie’s trajectory in the next book and how Declan’s growing awareness of Charlie as an attractive man affects their working dynamic.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

Mann Hunt is the first book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series from new-to-me author Peter E. Fenton. Declan is determined, resourceful, self-assured, and easy-going. He’s not very careful with his well-being and has a tendency to drown his troubles and negative emotion in booze and/or sex. He’s not above using his good looks and devilish smile to get what he wants and uses any tools to close a case. As with many media PIs, his morals are grayish when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s a good guy who’s skilled at what he does. Losing his mother at a young age and dealing with a virulently homophobic father has made him resilient, but not bitter. He lives his life unapologetically and doesn’t let his demons overcome him.

Though the story is told in third-person limited with POVs from other characters to give the reader insights, this feels more like Charlie’s story. He’s unsure of himself and who he is—he doesn’t know how to tell his parents he’s gay, he has no experience with men, and he’s at loose ends.

Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.

[Mom Needs Coffee · Rating 2 out of 5]

TWs for homophobia and homophobic slurs (f word, several times), memory of forced outing, off page dismemberment, assault related to job, dubcon

The mystery was alright but it was slow. I knew who it was pretty early on, which was FINE, but the interactions we had with that individual made me lose interest in the story. Saying why would spoil things so simply put, Declan isn't who I'd call to bring back my missing spouse.

Declan is a PI because he was pushed out of the police force by homophobic jerks. Ok, I can accept that setup. Except... Declan didn't seem to be very good at doing much of anything without Charlie's skills. Luke asks Declan, "Are you sure you're a detective?" and it's honestly so apt I didn't even laugh at what was obviously supposed to be a joke.

The romance was awful. Declan has 3-4 instances of on page sex with men who are not Charlie BUT he kisses Charlie 3x during that short time- twice sweetly on the forehead and another drunkenly on the mouth. Then, immediately after ending a relationship, he persues and kisses Charlie that same day. Charlie just waits around and pines. Then his one shot with another guy is ruined by Declan and instead of there being ANY discussion at all, Declan tells Charlie his coming out story- because everything is always about Declan - and Charlie immediately falls into his trap once again. It wasn't the time or place, nor did it add to the scene. Instead, it made me lose all respect for Charlie. Where was Charlie's grief at a lost opportunity? Guilt over lying to Justin? Why wasn't he angry about being c*ckblocked by a guy who was steadily getting his own? Why was Declan sharing this big emotional situation with Charlie now when he probably wouldn't have an hour ago? I am an incredibly empathetic person so... just... no thanks.

Declan's character type is a typical egocentric hot guy. He's so sexy everyone falls over themselves for him and he has the personality of a stale cracker, but that doesn't keep anyone from wanting him desperately. He makes demands, never uses manners, is inconsiderate, and uses alcohol and his d*ck to deal with his problems. And let's not forget his Daddy issues!

Let's talk about those kisses - Declan had no idea Charlie liked him when he kissed him but he did it anyway. That's not romantic, that's gross. A man in power putting his lips on his (younger) employee without that person's consent? Hard pass. Consent doesn't care about gender or sexuality, consent is sexy. Consent should always be the top priority.

I have no interest in reading what comes next. The only person I'm interested in is Tyler and that's a shame.

[Susan Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan and Charlie

I love detective mysteries. Declan is a PI and Charlie is a young man that needs a job. Charlie fills in for Declan's office administrator while she goes on a cruise.

The story kept my interest. I really liked the characters and the mystery did keep me guessing.

I'm looking forward to the next book where I'm thinking the slow burn romance between Declan and Charlie will heat up.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! I loved this book. It gave big C.S. Poe vibes. I really enjoyed Declan and Charlie's workplace friendship to more. The 'mystery' was well-written and fun to follow along with. Looking forward to seeing what is next for this series.

[Nedra81 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery, suspense, murder, and romance...I’m in love!! I felt like I was part of Declan's Investigator, trying to pick up on each little clue, only to get flung in an opposite direction every time I thought I solved the case. And what a surprise that ending was, completely unexpected!

I'm not one for slow-burn romances and this one is definitely a slow, long drawn out one. But, the mystery, sexual tension, and humor kept me on the edge, waiting for the building to crumble.

Declan and Charlie make for great partners in crime. Declan is a natural, especially with his history on the force, but Charlie was built to investigate. Their rapport stood out to everyone near them except each other. I cannot wait for the next book, because things are going to become hot and steamy!!

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars - Rounded up because who doesn't like a little humor with their murder mysteries?

Along with everything else Peter E. Fenton offers in Mann Hunt, the first volume of his Declan Hunt Mysteries series, there are some genuine laugh lines. Nice touch.

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah, this book was phenomenal! This was my first time reading the author and it definitely won’t be the last, I need to continue this series and then check out all the backlog,.

The writing is gripping and engaging and above all interesting. The storytelling is perfection, the pacing keeps you hooked and simultaneously on the end he of your seat. I can’t say enough good things about this book.

I love the novel approach of playing tricks with the reader’s mind on how I would say expect it go a certain way, jump ahead on certain steps and guess and then completely flip things around. It’s twists and turns are fantastic- if you love a good murder mystery reminiscent of those gumshoe detective novels we loved to read earlier, definitely try this one, it won’t disappoint and be prepared to be shocked by the twists. Don’t go in expecting a typical romance structure- this isn’t it and it’s steamy but just about. I throughout enjoyed it!

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. The first part could be a little confusing as there were quite a few characters and points of view. Declan was a fairly complicated character, and while you wouldn't expect an investigator to be all seeing he does definitely have some pretty big blind spots. Charlie has hidden depths which I think will become more evident as the series continues. The mystery part was fairly obvious but I found it interesting how the characters found the solution. There are a few intriguing potential things happening at the end which will hopefully be worked out further in the series.

[Bkwrm24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie and Declan ❤️

3.5 Stars ⭐️

I actually really liked this book, it wasn't quite the love story that I had expected but the storyline itself way more than made up for the lack of romantic/sweet relationship build. It was adventurous and dangerous with some sexy situations...yep, I am looking forward to seeing more from these men. I would recommend.

* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty alright overall. I liked the mystery aspect, but there was almost no romance between the two MCs. Charlie was cute, except for that weird moment where he was being a creeper and checking out Declan when was sleeping. Declan was fine but I wasn't convinced in the least that he was attracted to Charlie, especially being with someone else the entire book. They worked well together on the whole mystery part though. I didn't love all the writing style of multiple POVs. There are a few random paragraphs from random side character's views, which didn't really flow all that well. It was a quick and easy read, plus there's a follow up where I assume there's more of their romance. It's not at the top of my TBR but I might pick it up when I need something quick!

[Deanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter E Fenton is a new-to-me author. I enjoyed the book overall, and the storyline was entertaining. However, many of the characters did things that seemed a shallow or abrupt and it seemed like there were lots of bits left out of the story that could have made the story more cohesive and richer. Declan was a bit of an ass and Charlie was a bit whiny, but their experiences of being gay in a conservative city seemed authentic.

[DLB2572 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeps You Guessing

This looks like the start of an interesting series. This one kept me guessing throughout. It was very entertaining and I am anxious to see what happens in book two.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

[Leslie Nagel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. DNF Not what I had hoped.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a surprise. good guys. bad guys. oh and all the good guys are gay. and all the bad guys are really bad. Declan Hunt, PI, hires a cute assistant who does more than filing. this was a fun mystery.

[Georgette B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy a good mystery, you will enjoy this novel. This author's literary style was a cross between those of Gregory Ashe and Joseph Hansen. The tale flowed well, and the characters had depth.

In Mann Hunt, we go undercover with Detective Declan Hunt and the newcomer Charlie Watts to solve the murder of a wealthy property owner and the disappearance of an accountant. Declan, who is out and proud and the object of desire for both men and women, is helping young Charlie, who has been living in the closet, come out of his shell and find his voice. Charlie develops strong feelings for Declan during their time together at work but is hesitant to express them for fear of being rejected.

Reader discretion is advised due to the frequent usage of the three-letter "f" word, which serves to highlight the homophobia that inhibits Declan and Charlie from solving the case. For example, Declan's father is a high-ranking police officer who happens to be homophobic.

The story takes a surprising turn in the end, and we get to watch Charlie gain confidence in his investigative abilities and his urge to stand up for himself. The ending is not a cliffhanger, but it does leave the reader wanting more from the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lance Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second novel I've read by Peter E. Fenton (his first being The Woodcarver's Model) and I love the way he writes. This isn't your typical romance novel. For starters it is told from multiple points of view. It's also a suspenseful mystery filled with twists and turns and at the centre of it all is a developing age gap relationship between the detective Declan Hunt and his assistant Charlie Watts. This is book one of a three part series and Mann Hunt seems like a set-up for the next book which will bring their relationship to a full boil. What I loved is that there is still sexual tension in their relationship, and the book has some steamy scenes that involve the central characters in surprising ways ... but I don't want to give anything away. This was a fully satisfying read that kept me up at night trying to figure out the mystery (I had a guess that was partly right). The ending is fully earned and the end of the novel leaves me wanting more of this relationship. I received an Advance Reader Copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Canadian Girl Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚. 𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚, 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙘𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚."

Declan needs a new administrator and hires Charlie, a young guy who is tech-savvy. Soon Charlie proves to be a valuable member of the team and as they work together more and more, their connection outside work starts to grow.

WOW! This book was so different than what I normally read but it grabbed me from the beginning and kept me glued to the pages through the entire book. The mystery kept me guessing for most of the book but in the end, I can say I actually guessed correctly. Yay me! Declan and Charlie's connection is an extremely slow burn and ends in an HFN in this book.

A new author to me and I will for sure be reading more books by him in the future.

Get ready for... mm, law enforcement (PI), age gap, opposites attract, slow burn, mystery, thriller, told in the multiple third-person point of view.

4.5 Maple Leafs / 2 Flames

*A copy was kindly provided to Canadian Girl Book Blog*



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[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new series by a new to me author.
I enjoy detective/mysteries and this series is shaping up to be really good.
I liked Declan, the PI and also adored his assistant / sidekick Charlie, who is still living at home under his parents thumbs and this is his first job, albeit only 3 weeks as he fills in for the permanent secretary.
The story is set in Calgary, at the time of the stampede. Although there were a few passing comments on cowboys the stampede really didn't matter, it wasn't mentioned.
Anyway, can't wait for the next book.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t recommend, and not just because one of the main characters intentionally left his dried cum on his love interest/boss’s wash cloth as some sort of jealousy fueled punishment. (Why should I be rooting for them to get together)!?!

This was clumsy and inconsistent, with some moments that didn’t make sense and a lack of internal life for the main character PI, which was disappointing because there were some moments in the dialogue that were genuinely likable and charming; there’s definitely potential to write something better in the future.
To be clear, I am a fan of and spend money supporting multiple independent authors, particularly gay or otherwise queer mystery authors. I own over 30 Gregory Ashe books on audiobook alone, not to mention other authors or books I own both digitally and physically. I am a fan of the genre and of many authors who aren’t published by major publishers, and am more than willing to put my money to it for a quality story. I wish this was one!

The author needed to address some issues, like 5 POV in the first 4 chapters, some of which never appear again as characters. They add no depth, take tension away from the plot by revealing things our characters don’t know, and make it confusing and take longer to connect to the characters since they aren’t the first perspectives we meet.

There would be moments or ideas that could’ve been good.
We are introduced to Charlie with a brief description that he’s not out to his family but hoping to have a chance to see a hot guy by telling a plumbing company their family doesn’t like older guys to service their home due to a past home invasion, and then a woman is sent instead. That could’ve been comedic if we got the scene, if that was our real introduction to him. Instead we got a page info dump on his life, which references it, but we don’t have any phone call, any moment of him opening the door and being like “Where’s the hot guy?” any interaction at all with the plumber, etc. we are just informed all this happened but we don’t get to see it.
Also, he’s in his mid-twenties and later goes to a gay bar. It’s not like he’s 12 and trying to manipulate his way into seeing a potentially fit guy to stare at. He’s good looking, an adult, has transportation, and goes to a bar that same day.

Another missed opportunity was having a 4 page POV of a secretary who is about to go on vacation. We learn she’s in an office in a building checking mail, and then the PI comes in looking disheveled. He jokes he looks homeless and says he was thrown in a dumpster. She knows it’s him and moves on immediately. Why is it her perspective? She recognizes him so there’s no joke, she’s not important, and immediately goes on vacation out of the country to free up her job.
If it was Charlie’s perspective, as a first meeting that could’ve been comedic, waiting for a job interview not knowing what his new boss looked like and thinking some random walked in from the street and not believing him when he claimed to be his boss, etc.

There was also more time spent on the chemistry less romance love triangle than on our main characters; it was mostly Charlie thinking silently that the PI was hot and occasionally remembering the PI is dating someone else and then being rude to him.
No one is all that likable honestly except the nice baker stepmom. Charlie at one point uses PI’s washcloth to m*sturbate, c*ms in and on it, and makes the conscience choice to leave it dirty full of c*m in his shower so his boss / love interest who he isn’t dating will be tricked into unwittingly rubbing Charlie’s dried c*m on him the next day. This sexual violation is never mentioned again. Why did that scene happen? That’s insane.

There were ideas, but almost none were executed well, and the plot fell apart at points (it’s never clear why the guy kidnapped didn’t want to sell a dilapidated building for a huge profit when he was being aggressively threatened, for example. He was supposed to be sentimentally attached to it when it was a burden he inherited that forced him to stop his dream job, and when he desperately needs the money). At other times we see scenes from a side characters perspective and then it’s immediately described again to us. And potential tension is gone by seeing all these other perspectives for random 4 page chunks.
The author needs an editor willing to give edits for these weird distracting moments, and to say “that sounds like a fun scene, let’s actually write it instead of informing the audience it happened off page.”
I received a free reader review copy from BookSirens and am leaving this review of my own free will.

[Maryann Kafka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Declan Hunt of Declan Hunt Investigation, is not having a good day. He’s been beat up, tossed in a dumpster and has nothing to show for it. Declan is thirty-five and seems to do some drinking and bar hoping himself. The one place he’s very familiar with is The Greek, a health spa and steam room, bathhouse, that entertains the largest population of gays.

Mrs. B aka Joan Beckerman, is his sixty-eight year old and only receptionist. She keeps the office running as best she can and also keeps calm no matter what Declan get’s into. The office is located in seventy year old historic building in Calgary, Canada.

When Declan returns to the office, Mrs. B with all her calmness knows exactly what to do. It isn’t anything she hasn’t done or saw before. But for Declan, it’s all just became another headache, as Mrs. B is taking a vacation for three weeks. She’s already on top of things and has set up interviews for the Monday after she leaves.

Charlie Watts is twenty-four, he’s smart and has a very good education. He graduated from University of Calgary, with a major in IT Systems Development and a minor in psychology. He even had some low paying internships, but it got him nowhere. He loves his Grandmother Elsie Watts and feels very safe with her. They both live with his parents in Brentwood, where Charlie has a room in the basement. His best and only friend is Carrie Wallace and she is his only social life. Besides Charlies life being crappy, he’s hiding a secret from his parents, he’s just not ready to tell them he’s gay.

Charlie needing a night out, he and Carrie hit a few bars, winding up at Bar-None. When Carrie heads out, Charlie sticks around and talks with Mickey the bartender. As Charlie shares his woes, he gets an email. He’s got a real job interview and is immediately hired by Declan.

Right off the bat, Charlie finds himself in the midst of a kidnap case. He really proves himself as he goes the extra mile with the investigations. Then along comes Detective Luke Fraser, who Declan falls for pretty fast. Fraser is someone Charlie is very suspicious of. Will Charlie stick with the job, even with hurt feelings and growing pains?

I love a good mystery and ninety percent of my reading is murder mysteries in the LGBTQ+ gender. I have my own scale that I rate each of them from: dark themes, gruesome, gritty, triggers to cozy mysteries. For me “Mann Hunt” falls in the medium range, with: danger, greed, corruption, deceit, secrets, humor and homophobia.

I really liked Charlie Watts. As a young man, he used his smarts and figured things out before jumping to conclusions. He really tried to stay professional with Declan no matter how his feelings were affected. He had a personality that actually drew people too him. Friendly, polite and caring paid off for him. I also like the decisions he makes that reflect his growing maturity.
Declan Hunt, took me a while to get used to. I’m not against drinking but he seemed to go a little overboard. I could understand why though, he didn’t have such a good upbringing and he experienced bullying. It all had a lasting affect on him. I though he fell for Luke Fraser a little to quickly, and I thought Declan would have been more suspicious. He also seemed to spend too much time away from the job with his sexual exploits, while Charlie seemed to do most of the investigating. I almost felt like he was taking advantage of Charlie. Charlie could teach him a lot especially when it came to IT.

I liked that women got recognition and important roles in the story: Mrs. B, Declan’s assistant; Elsie Watt, Charlies grandmother and Gwen, bakery owner, landlord and stepmother to Declan.

As for Peter E. Fenton, I felt the story was well written, easy to follow and had a good flow to it. He made it suspenseful, dangerous, with fast paced action, snarky humor, various emotions, steamy and a nudge in romance department. I liked the surprise twist in the story too. I thought the investigation process on Charlies behalf was really good, he knew how to bring it all together.

“Declan Hunt Mysteries” is a trilogy, and it shows high potential with the first book “Mann Hunt”. I’m all in and can’t wait to see what Peter E. Fenton has planned for Declan and Charlie.

[Sue B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book. I am reviewing this book completely voluntarily, and am not being compensated in any way.
Ian Mann is a British Ex-Pat currently living in Calgary, Canada (home of the world famous Calgary Stampede). He emigrated several years ago, along with his wife Katherine for the purpose of managing a an inherited investment portfolio that primarily consists of commercial and industrial properties. He made a financial killing, but has now mostly retired. The only thing he’s held on to is a single industrial property that he kept for sentimental reasons. His primary vocation when he and Katherine lived in the UK was as a highly-sought-after professional photographer, something that Ian would like to get back into.
In addition to the above, Ian Mann is also missing and has been for nearly a week. His disappearance was reported to the local police, but they aren’t particularly worried about it. After all, Ian is a very wealthy man, and known to be both eccentric and in an open marriage. The official suspicion is that Ian pulled a voluntary vanishing act, something any mentally-competent adult is entitled to do if he or she would so choose.
Declan Hunt is the son of a cop and is a former cop. He’s a former cop since he was kicked off the force; he had been getting harassed for being gay and lost his temper at exactly the wrong time and in exactly the wrong way. Now Declan is a private investigator who handles a variety of cases, including some wherein his clients aren’t especially law-abiding. He knows they aren’t angels, but he himself stays on the right side of the law and has no part in any shady dealings his clients may take part in. Declan also has a reputation for specializing in cases within the LBGTQ+ community. Declan isn’t getting rich, but he is VERY good at his job.
Charlie Watts is 24, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in IT Systems Development with a Minor in Psychology. Unfortunately, tech specialists are NOT in high demand in Calgary. He’s managed to land a series of short-term intern and contract positions, but it’s not enough for him to keep his own place and he’s been forced to move back in with his parents. Charlie is also gay, but has never come out to his parents as he knows it will NOT go over well. In desperation Charlie got himself signed on with a staffing agency, and in the meantime hope springs eternal.
That’s the initial set-up with the initial cast of characters. We have a very wealthy man who has gone missing, a wife that wants to know how/why, a PI with a good reputation but a disappointing bank balance, and a down-on-his-luck tech guy. The last piece of that puzzle is that Declan’s office manager, Mrs. B, has to be absent from the office for a few weeks and submitted a request for her temporary replacement. Mrs. B asked for someone with tech knowledge, Charlie gets the gig, and turns out to be JUST the person Declan needs.
This book is branded primarily as a mystery, but also within the setting of a M/M romance. The mystery is well-written and takes center stage. The romance is more of a sub-plot, but given the Boss/Employee complication (on top of an age gap) between Declan and Charlie it would not have made sense for the interpersonal side of things to progress any faster than it did or to get more pages than it did.
As to the mystery, the identity of the culprit surprised me. Though on a re-read (something I often do when I’m going to be writing a review of the book) there were a few subtle hints there amongst the red herrings. This made my re-read FUN, and in that light I immediately went out to one of my favorite book sellers to snag a copy of the book. From that source I learned that this book already has a #2 in the works, and I will very much be watching for a chance to pre-order. I can’t wait to see what Declan and Charlie get up to next.
My scores: 4/5 for world-building (the way all the characters was introduced in the beginning was a little confusing at first, because it kind of jumped around); 5/5 for characters; 5/5 for mystery and 4/5 of romantic sub-plot.
Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.

[S a n d r a · Rating 3 out of 5]

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I was in the mood for a good romantic suspense, and this one sounded fun and intriguing. But it had both lights and shadows for me.

Declan Hunt, as the name of the series hints, is one of our main guys. He’s a PI that works mostly for queer people, helping them when needed and solving mysteries. Charlie, on the other hand, is a tech expert that’s having a hard time finding a good job offer, and when he lands an interview for an office position in Declan’s business, he gives it a go.

I feel like the romance hasn’t even started yet. And maybe this is a “me” thing and you won’t have an issue with this… But I don’t feel like reading about my main characters having a relationship with someone who isn’t the other MC is not necessary. And here that’s what happens. And I’m not talking about them having sex with other people, that I can understand, and I don’t even mind (I mean, first books are all about the first meet, the getting to know each other and the falling in love… It’s not crazy that one or the two of them have fun before they actually start something, right?). But here Declan has somewhat of a serious relationship with another character during the WHOLE book. Was that necessary? Not IMO. Did I enjoy reading about it? Not really.

I love when romances are slow paced and I kinda like that their romance doesn’t actually starts in this book (aside from some advances here and there), because that leaves me craving more of them, and dying to read the next book and actually see them (finally!) together. But I didn’t need to read about Declan getting sorta serious with another dude.

Another reason why I didn’t like it is that I feel like I didn’t see Declan paying attention to Charlie… And at some point, I felt like Charlie is just… convenient. I didn’t get to see Declan being really interested, starting to crush over him or even feeling like there could be something there. Is he attracted to Charlie? Yes. Is that stated in the book? Yes. Is everything shadowed by Luke being there? Also, yes. Could I have gone without him? Definitely, yes. Or at least with him being more like a one-night stand or something more like a hookup for Declan.

Leaving aside the romance, I was pleasantly surprised by the mystery. I liked how we get to see multiple cases that than get unexpectedly linked. The mystery of what happened with Ian was intriguing and even though I usually see coming who the bad guy is, I must say I didn’t this time. The author fooled me! Nice!!

But not everything was fine for me… I feel like there are way too may POVs… Why? It was not even needed. I could have gone with just Charlie and Declan’s POVs, as well as with the first chapter being told from Ian’s POV as a way to set off the plot. But that’s it, thank you very much.

Also, there’s a thing I personally don’t mind much because… well, this is fiction and I don’t really need my books to be 100% realistic, but that maybe other readers do: some things are just eyerollingly smooth for them. I mean, we have naïve Charlie working for the first time as an office worker for a PI; he’s supposedly going to attend the clients, the agenda, the phone and anything tech related… but then we find him investigating as a pro, attending interviews with the clients and taking notes, and even doing fieldwork!

And, of course, he’s amazing at everything. Because… duh!

But as I said, I don’t really mind it as it won’t make me like the book any less (I disliked more everything Luke related, really).