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, Romance, LGBT, Crime, Contemporary, 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-five 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. They even made an audio book of the novel.

The came Hoodoo House in the summer of 2024, 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, entitled The Attercop, was released on August 4th of 2026.

PUBLICATIONS

The Attercop (August, 2026)
Vite Bruciate (October 2025)
El Calcinado (October 2025)
The Burnt (August of 2025)
Trova L'uomo Giusto (July 2025)
La Casa Incantata (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 Suzanne · 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

[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.**

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Cecile Sheff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can't wait to read book two in the series! The chemistry between Declan and Charlie hit immediately, even if it was left to simmer throughout the book...after all, this ain't no romance! I found that there were a lot of characters introduced near the beginning of the book, but before I could get confused as to where they fit into the story, their thread was woven in...Luke especially, I wasn't too sure of when his thread was introduced. Overall, the story kept me engrossed until the end with no lags or let downs. I'd love to see more of Charlie playing hockey, though...seems he's good at that!

[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.

[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.

[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!!

[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.

[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

[Theodore]

DNF @ 16%

The writing felt too barebones. Every scene sans the one where Declan was cruising in the bathhouse seemed more like a second draft that needed to be filled in and expanded rather than fully developed scenes by themselves. I think this was really a consequence of having so many short scenes from the POV of side characters.

DNFing because I wasn't a fan of that style of writing.

[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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[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Intriguing from the first page

I was captivated from the opening pages.
This is a well written suspsense story, with great dialogue between the characters and great character development, especially with Charlie (and his crush). The murder/mystery itself is was really interesting, a few red herrings that kept me guessing wrong until the end. Declan, the other MC, is a genuinely good guy, well liked.
I can't wait to read more about the budding romance between Declan and Charlie, but more importantly, I can't wait to read more about them and the detective agency period. Highly recommend!!!

[Bruce Retallack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters, good plot and, for once, a gay protagonists couple that manage to stick to romance and avoid page after page of explicit sex. That alone is worth a star for me. As others have noted, both the writing and the plotting could have been tighter, but all in all I quite enjoyed it.