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Tyack & Frayne #1
Once Upon a Haunted Moor
Gideon Frayne has spent his whole working life as a policeman in the village of Dark on Bodmin Moor. It’s not life in the fast lane, but he takes it very seriously, and his first missing-child case is eating him alive. When his own boss sends in a psychic to help with the case, he’s gutted – he’s a level-headed copper who doesn’t believe in such things, and he can’t help but think that the arrival of clairvoyant Lee Tyack is a comment on his failure to find the little girl.
But Lee is hard to hate, no matter how Gideon tries. At first Lee’s insights into the case make no sense, but he seems to have a window straight into Gideon’s heart. Son of a Methodist minister, raised in a tiny Cornish village, Gideon has hidden his sexuality for years. It’s cost him one lover, and he can’t believe it when this green-eyed newcomer stirs up old feelings and starts to exert a powerful force of attraction.
Gideon and Lee begin to work together on the case. But there are malignant forces at work in the sleepy little village of Dark, and not only human ones – Gideon is starting to wonder, against all common sense, if there might be some truth in the terrifying legend of the Bodmin Beast after all. As a misty Halloween night consumes the moor, Gideon must race against time to save not only the lost child but the man who’s begun to restore his faith in his own heart.
But Lee is hard to hate, no matter how Gideon tries. At first Lee’s insights into the case make no sense, but he seems to have a window straight into Gideon’s heart. Son of a Methodist minister, raised in a tiny Cornish village, Gideon has hidden his sexuality for years. It’s cost him one lover, and he can’t believe it when this green-eyed newcomer stirs up old feelings and starts to exert a powerful force of attraction.
Gideon and Lee begin to work together on the case. But there are malignant forces at work in the sleepy little village of Dark, and not only human ones – Gideon is starting to wonder, against all common sense, if there might be some truth in the terrifying legend of the Bodmin Beast after all. As a misty Halloween night consumes the moor, Gideon must race against time to save not only the lost child but the man who’s begun to restore his faith in his own heart.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2013
68 people are currently reading
2245 people want to read
About the author
Harper Fox
58 books1,176 followersHarper Fox is an M/M author with a mission. She’s produced six critically acclaimed novels in a year and is trying to dispel rumours that she has a clone/twin sister locked away in a study in her basement. In fact she simply continues working on what she loves best– creating worlds and stories for the huge cast of lovely gay men queuing up inside her head. She lives in rural Northumberland in northern England and does most of her writing at a pensioned-off kitchen table in her back garden, often with blanket and hot water bottle.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
She lives with her SO Jane, who has somehow put up with her for a quarter of a century now, and three enigmatic cats, chief among whom is Lucy, who knows the secret of the universe but isn't letting on. When not writing, she either despairs or makes bread, specialities foccacia and her amazing seven-strand challah. If she has any other skills, she's yet to discover them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 547 reviews
February 16, 2016
been saving this one for a bad day. a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency-feelz thing.
i'm so glad i did.
atmospheric, melancholy, and even a little bleak like some scandicrime thing—and then sweet as hell.
also a little creepy, but w.e. halloween.
outrageously short and nothing seemed to happen when i wanted it to—i wanted more lonely, more flirting, more investigating, more beastie on the moor—but honestly i just need to get over myself, bcuz this was quite simply nice to read.
my review of book two: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
i'm so glad i did.
atmospheric, melancholy, and even a little bleak like some scandicrime thing—and then sweet as hell.
also a little creepy, but w.e. halloween.
outrageously short and nothing seemed to happen when i wanted it to—i wanted more lonely, more flirting, more investigating, more beastie on the moor—but honestly i just need to get over myself, bcuz this was quite simply nice to read.
my review of book two: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 18, 2025
That was interesting and quite creepy. I'm not entirely sure whether I'll really fall in love with this series. At the moment, I don't feel a strong connection to the characters yet.
The books are quite short, so I assume that Gideon and Lee will grow on me.
And although this book is written solely from Gideon's perspective, strangely enough, I currently feel more connected to Lee.
Well, Cornwall, I've never been there, but somehow I always imagined it to be charming. After reading this book, I don't feel like traveling there at all. I feel strangely cold, wet, and uncomfortable.
Even Gideon's house is so uninviting, brrr. I have no idea how the two of them manage to feel anything for each other and get into bed with such an atmosphere around them.
The writing style is something else. I found it difficult to get into, but it's also so good that it's hard to put down.
The case surrounding the missing girl is too transparent for me, and I somehow had higher expectations for this book. Silly expectations.
In any case, it was good enough that I want to read more of it.
“She says she’s called Isolde, and she’s a descendent of King Arthur’s hunting hounds.”
Gideon shifted nervously. “You can... You can tell that?”
Tyack broke into laughter. “Of course I bloody can’t. Dog is a lousy name for a dog, that’s all. I’m sure she’d behave better if she had a proper one.”
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Gideon thought so too, despite himself: a reluctant chuckle underscored his words. 💕🤭💕
“Don’t you drive?”
Tyack shivered. “No. And if you knew what passes through the mind of the average Cornish motorist, nor would you.”
“Is that for real? Or just to wind up the copper?”
“Real. They’re lunatics.” 💕🤭💕
The books are quite short, so I assume that Gideon and Lee will grow on me.
And although this book is written solely from Gideon's perspective, strangely enough, I currently feel more connected to Lee.
Well, Cornwall, I've never been there, but somehow I always imagined it to be charming. After reading this book, I don't feel like traveling there at all. I feel strangely cold, wet, and uncomfortable.
Even Gideon's house is so uninviting, brrr. I have no idea how the two of them manage to feel anything for each other and get into bed with such an atmosphere around them.
The writing style is something else. I found it difficult to get into, but it's also so good that it's hard to put down.
The case surrounding the missing girl is too transparent for me, and I somehow had higher expectations for this book. Silly expectations.
In any case, it was good enough that I want to read more of it.
“She says she’s called Isolde, and she’s a descendent of King Arthur’s hunting hounds.”
Gideon shifted nervously. “You can... You can tell that?”
Tyack broke into laughter. “Of course I bloody can’t. Dog is a lousy name for a dog, that’s all. I’m sure she’d behave better if she had a proper one.”
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?” Gideon thought so too, despite himself: a reluctant chuckle underscored his words. 💕🤭💕
“Don’t you drive?”
Tyack shivered. “No. And if you knew what passes through the mind of the average Cornish motorist, nor would you.”
“Is that for real? Or just to wind up the copper?”
“Real. They’re lunatics.” 💕🤭💕
August 11, 2016
3.85 stars
A spine tingling, spooky horror story. I wasn't sure what was roaming the moors but it was enough to scare the bejeebers out of me, unsettling and creepy, I liked it a lot. The anticipation was good, sadly the romance was minimal, a tiny bit disappointed there wasn't a couple more scenes of kissing and intimacy between Lee and Gideon. Overall an enjoyable and suspenseful read, perfect for a dark and stormy night.
A spine tingling, spooky horror story. I wasn't sure what was roaming the moors but it was enough to scare the bejeebers out of me, unsettling and creepy, I liked it a lot. The anticipation was good, sadly the romance was minimal, a tiny bit disappointed there wasn't a couple more scenes of kissing and intimacy between Lee and Gideon. Overall an enjoyable and suspenseful read, perfect for a dark and stormy night.
January 30, 2016
Review written January 30, 2016
4 Stars - Stunning intriguing and beautifully written, a great serial opener
Book #1
Andrea recommended this series over a year ago. I have more than just liked those three M/M romances by Harper Fox I've read so far. They were all both different with a unique feeling and all very memorable. Great recommended reads. It shall be good to explore this 'Tyack & Frayne' series. So far six shorter (75-100 pages) novella episodes in the crime / mystery genre with a new case in every part.
~ At last to read as a Tyack & Frayne series-BR with my very best GR buddy Sofia with start this January weekend. ~
*********************************************
‘..the Beast of Bodmin Moor. ~ You feel the sound before you hear it.’
A little girl, Lorna, is still lost on the Cornwall Bodmin Moor after nearly two weeks. The local police, the "copper" Gideon Frayne is near to give up. It feels hopeless and he can't sleep. He walks the moor every night and he hear the "Beast".
Then Lee Tyack a clairvoyant man with a lot of surprising abilities arrives.
A green eyed clairvoyant stranger gives hopes..
Gideon in his 30:s is a closeted minister son. A small village copper in a still superstitious old traditional place in a corner of the big Cornwall moor. The former boyfriend gave up and left and now there is maybe a new chance. But the fog is dense and Gideon is pretty hard on himself.
...I'm not going to spoil more about this story.
*********************************************
A bit horrifying but so very well written and WOW all those beautiful views Ms. Fox makes me see just reading. I'm already in love in those characters, the dog Isolde and this Cornish place. This was a GREAT start. I'm so very eager to continue with #2-Tinsel Fish.
I LIKE - and at once want more of the moor...
4 Stars - Stunning intriguing and beautifully written, a great serial opener
Book #1
Andrea recommended this series over a year ago. I have more than just liked those three M/M romances by Harper Fox I've read so far. They were all both different with a unique feeling and all very memorable. Great recommended reads. It shall be good to explore this 'Tyack & Frayne' series. So far six shorter (75-100 pages) novella episodes in the crime / mystery genre with a new case in every part.
~ At last to read as a Tyack & Frayne series-BR with my very best GR buddy Sofia with start this January weekend. ~
*********************************************
‘..the Beast of Bodmin Moor. ~ You feel the sound before you hear it.’
A little girl, Lorna, is still lost on the Cornwall Bodmin Moor after nearly two weeks. The local police, the "copper" Gideon Frayne is near to give up. It feels hopeless and he can't sleep. He walks the moor every night and he hear the "Beast".
‘High above him on the crag, the rocks of the Cheesewring floated eerily, their impossibly balanced towers stranger than ever in the wreathing mist.’
‘For a while he could follow the hawthorn-edged track, the ceremonial way with its odd feel of safety, as if it led over shark-filled water. Leaving it, he had a sense of leaving human territory behind, of entering into the realm of...
Of what? He forced himself to analyse his fears.’
Then Lee Tyack a clairvoyant man with a lot of surprising abilities arrives.
A green eyed clairvoyant stranger gives hopes..
Gideon in his 30:s is a closeted minister son. A small village copper in a still superstitious old traditional place in a corner of the big Cornwall moor. The former boyfriend gave up and left and now there is maybe a new chance. But the fog is dense and Gideon is pretty hard on himself.
...I'm not going to spoil more about this story.
*********************************************
A bit horrifying but so very well written and WOW all those beautiful views Ms. Fox makes me see just reading. I'm already in love in those characters, the dog Isolde and this Cornish place. This was a GREAT start. I'm so very eager to continue with #2-Tinsel Fish.
I LIKE - and at once want more of the moor...
May 22, 2025
3 "I appreciate you, but we're not a good fit for each other"⭐
Take my rating with a grain of salt because even if the book wasn't a good fit for me, it doesn't mean it's not good. Great, even! The bleak, slightly creepy atmosphere of the foggy moors was incredible and tickled my inner goblin. Couple that with a nice chemistry between Gideon and Lee, some paranormal aspects (Lee is a genuine psychic), and a missing-child mystery ready to be uncovered, and I should've been sold!
I can only blame my own false expectations, really. This is a series of novellas, so I was hoping for some slow burn - or at least a more slowly developing relationship with some build-up tension. Unfortunately for me, there was nothing slow about anything that happened between Gideon and Lee, be it sex or emotional connection. Love at first fuck truly isn't my forte, I'm afraid.
I'm sure the relationship development will be great, but I won't be continuing, I don't read about established couples unless I completely fall for at least one of the characters (The Art of Murder series was one such exception 😳). While both MCs are good, they're not compelling or interesting enough, and I wasn't convinced of their instant connection.
I also didn't quite understand Gideon - he was firmly in the closet for decades, he even lost a partner because of it, and suddenly it took him 24 hours of "knowing" this new guy and the closet is tossed out the window, just like that. A very abrupt turnaround... Though it's possible there's some unseen (paranormal?) aspect revealed later in the series, who knows!
There's so much to love about this, though, so I would urge everyone who finds the setting and the romance interesting to give it a try!
Take my rating with a grain of salt because even if the book wasn't a good fit for me, it doesn't mean it's not good. Great, even! The bleak, slightly creepy atmosphere of the foggy moors was incredible and tickled my inner goblin. Couple that with a nice chemistry between Gideon and Lee, some paranormal aspects (Lee is a genuine psychic), and a missing-child mystery ready to be uncovered, and I should've been sold!
I can only blame my own false expectations, really. This is a series of novellas, so I was hoping for some slow burn - or at least a more slowly developing relationship with some build-up tension. Unfortunately for me, there was nothing slow about anything that happened between Gideon and Lee, be it sex or emotional connection. Love at first fuck truly isn't my forte, I'm afraid.
I'm sure the relationship development will be great, but I won't be continuing, I don't read about established couples unless I completely fall for at least one of the characters (The Art of Murder series was one such exception 😳). While both MCs are good, they're not compelling or interesting enough, and I wasn't convinced of their instant connection.
I also didn't quite understand Gideon - he was firmly in the closet for decades, he even lost a partner because of it, and suddenly it took him 24 hours of "knowing" this new guy and the closet is tossed out the window, just like that. A very abrupt turnaround... Though it's possible there's some unseen (paranormal?) aspect revealed later in the series, who knows!
There's so much to love about this, though, so I would urge everyone who finds the setting and the romance interesting to give it a try!
November 24, 2016
Put this on my Kindle during one of my late-night Brownian explorations on Amazon; I read the first chapter but it didn't grab me, so set it aside for quite a while. Being in the mood again for some escape reading, I gave it another go, and found it picked up in Chapter Two when the second protagonist/future love interest arrived on the scene. (Some slight distraction from reading his name as "Tyvak", which is iirc the brand name of an American insulating house wrap, but I got over that.) Paranormal mystery-m/m contemporary romance.
Gideon Frane is the local bobby in a tiny village in Cornwall, which is an alien and thus interesting landscape and people-scape to me, frantic over a missing-child case; Tyack is a clairvoyant sent down to help. (Do they really do that, officially, or only in fantasy-ish books?) Both, conveniently for speeding things up in a short work, have lately broken up with prior boyfriends. Frane is still in the closet, albeit with the door open, in part due to his upbringing, in part due to his job; natch, he doesn't start out believing in the paranormal, but after two weeks on the case is getting desperate enough to try anything. The more mysterious Lee Tyack, who does not get a viewpoint, we discover along with Gideon as the book progresses.
Well written, and I liked the setting and setup enough to go on and read the next two over the weekend. (The fascinatingly titled Tinsel Fish, and Don't Let Go, at which point I was ready for a change of pace, though I may circle back.) As is typical of such series, we have separate crime cases in each tale, with a developing relationship arc/character exploration as the real interest to follow from one stepping-stone to the next.
Ta, L.
Later: All right, I ended up reading all six of these. They held up pretty well over the story arc.
Gideon Frane is the local bobby in a tiny village in Cornwall, which is an alien and thus interesting landscape and people-scape to me, frantic over a missing-child case; Tyack is a clairvoyant sent down to help. (Do they really do that, officially, or only in fantasy-ish books?) Both, conveniently for speeding things up in a short work, have lately broken up with prior boyfriends. Frane is still in the closet, albeit with the door open, in part due to his upbringing, in part due to his job; natch, he doesn't start out believing in the paranormal, but after two weeks on the case is getting desperate enough to try anything. The more mysterious Lee Tyack, who does not get a viewpoint, we discover along with Gideon as the book progresses.
Well written, and I liked the setting and setup enough to go on and read the next two over the weekend. (The fascinatingly titled Tinsel Fish, and Don't Let Go, at which point I was ready for a change of pace, though I may circle back.) As is typical of such series, we have separate crime cases in each tale, with a developing relationship arc/character exploration as the real interest to follow from one stepping-stone to the next.
Ta, L.
Later: All right, I ended up reading all six of these. They held up pretty well over the story arc.
February 12, 2025
BRO IF THIS WAS A FULL LENGTH BOOK, OR EVEN LIKE 50 PAGES LONGER, THIS WOULD HAVE THE POSSIBILITY TO ENTER JACK/ETHAN and COOPER/PARK LEVELS OF FERAL RAT JOY you know???????
They kissed too quickly for my liking, and it just made me absolutely MOURN for the loss of this being a full length or slightly longer novella to develop them just that little bit more before they touch willys 🤭
Because it developed them both perfectly as separate characters, but didn't quite develop them together enough.... BUT, STILL LOVED IT FOR WHAT IT WAS. 💖
Also, I'm so fucking weak and/or WET for an MC who owns a dog.
I am but a simple girl 🤭
They kissed too quickly for my liking, and it just made me absolutely MOURN for the loss of this being a full length or slightly longer novella to develop them just that little bit more before they touch willys 🤭
Because it developed them both perfectly as separate characters, but didn't quite develop them together enough.... BUT, STILL LOVED IT FOR WHAT IT WAS. 💖
Also, I'm so fucking weak and/or WET for an MC who owns a dog.
I am but a simple girl 🤭
April 26, 2017
I loved
the book title,
the book cover,
the blurb,
the actual story,
the atmosphere,
the creepiness,
the small dark village,
the mystery of the missing little girl,
policeman Gideon and psychic Lee,
their love story,
their dog,
the time period (Halloween)
I wish it was a longer book, but still it was good.
I am reading this series.
the book title,
the book cover,
the blurb,
the actual story,
the atmosphere,
the creepiness,
the small dark village,
the mystery of the missing little girl,
policeman Gideon and psychic Lee,
their love story,
their dog,
the time period (Halloween)
I wish it was a longer book, but still it was good.
I am reading this series.
October 28, 2016
4 Stars
I found myself quite enthralled by this beautifully written and mysterious little story.
The characters were engaging and wholly likeable. And although the romantic aspect of the story was fast-moving, yet low on steam or relationship development, I was still thoroughly intrigued by the interactions between Tyack and Frayne.
The mystery portion of the story was simplistic yet riveting, and I couldn't help but speed read through this story to find out what would happen next.
The backdrop of Bodmin Moor was masterfully brought to life here, too.
I'm very much looking forward to what comes next for Tyack and Frayne as a couple and as a crime solving duo. This story was just up my alley.
I found myself quite enthralled by this beautifully written and mysterious little story.
The characters were engaging and wholly likeable. And although the romantic aspect of the story was fast-moving, yet low on steam or relationship development, I was still thoroughly intrigued by the interactions between Tyack and Frayne.
The mystery portion of the story was simplistic yet riveting, and I couldn't help but speed read through this story to find out what would happen next.
The backdrop of Bodmin Moor was masterfully brought to life here, too.
I'm very much looking forward to what comes next for Tyack and Frayne as a couple and as a crime solving duo. This story was just up my alley.
October 27, 2024
Reread November 2022
It's been a while since I read this series. I'd forgotten how much I loved it.
Oh thank goodness for backups!!
Ugh! Deleted my review dammit! I reread this April 2019. Loved it just as much as the first time and it’s just as creepy.
Originally read August 2018
Holy crap on a cracker! This book was crazy! It was creepy, suspenseful and hauntingly beautiful. I honestly don’t know what to make of it all. There’s definitely a paranormal feel to it. But, the writing itself gives it an otherworldly vibe. The descriptions and flow all add to the mystery. I stayed glued to it because I needed to know how this was going to play out. And talk about hairs standing up on my neck! Like I said, creepy!
This was definitely insta-lust/connection but given the situation and all, I could totally see it. I’m looking forward to more of these two. I think they’re going to make a great couple.
It's been a while since I read this series. I'd forgotten how much I loved it.
Oh thank goodness for backups!!
Ugh! Deleted my review dammit! I reread this April 2019. Loved it just as much as the first time and it’s just as creepy.
Originally read August 2018
Holy crap on a cracker! This book was crazy! It was creepy, suspenseful and hauntingly beautiful. I honestly don’t know what to make of it all. There’s definitely a paranormal feel to it. But, the writing itself gives it an otherworldly vibe. The descriptions and flow all add to the mystery. I stayed glued to it because I needed to know how this was going to play out. And talk about hairs standing up on my neck! Like I said, creepy!
This was definitely insta-lust/connection but given the situation and all, I could totally see it. I’m looking forward to more of these two. I think they’re going to make a great couple.
May 13, 2025
This was an unexpected little gem of a book! It was a quick listen, clocking in just shy of three hours. It was the perfect thing to keep my brain occupied on a plane ride. I'm still a bit iffy on the narrator, but I think he's growing on me 🤞🏻 I'm loving Gideon and Lee together so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how things go. I'm pretty sure I'll be binging this 😂
October 24, 2014
This is a very fun little book with some sexy and some spooky. Perfect Halloween read. On to book 2 Tinsel Fish!
April 25, 2017
4 Stars
Atmospheric and a little bit creepy - perfect for this time of year as the mystery is set against the backdrop of the eerie moors of Cornwall.
Small town cop, Gideon, is faced with his toughest case yet. A little girl has gone missing, and the hopelessness that surrounds the situation is slowly suffocating his sense of competence. All leads have dried up, and Gideon grudgingly accepts the help of self proclaimed psychic, Lee, because really, what does he have to lose? Lee is unlike anyone he’s met before, and his caring, easy going nature juxtaposes harshly against Gideon’s no nonsense, stalwart sensibilities. Skeptical of the veracity of Lee’s insight and visions, Gideon however, realizes that they just might be the very clues needed to save the missing child.
Nothing is overt in this sparse story, but one can still feel the desperation and suspense as time works against both Gideon and Lee. One can also see just how these two opposites come together so nicely, their stark differences complementing all that they do - making them realize just how good of a team they are, both on and off the job.
So if you like a solid mystery, intermixed with a little spooky and light romance, then this is probably perfect for you. The intriguing dynamic between Gideon and Lee definitely left me wanting for a lot more, and I eagerly look forward to uncovering their future collaborations.
Atmospheric and a little bit creepy - perfect for this time of year as the mystery is set against the backdrop of the eerie moors of Cornwall.
Small town cop, Gideon, is faced with his toughest case yet. A little girl has gone missing, and the hopelessness that surrounds the situation is slowly suffocating his sense of competence. All leads have dried up, and Gideon grudgingly accepts the help of self proclaimed psychic, Lee, because really, what does he have to lose? Lee is unlike anyone he’s met before, and his caring, easy going nature juxtaposes harshly against Gideon’s no nonsense, stalwart sensibilities. Skeptical of the veracity of Lee’s insight and visions, Gideon however, realizes that they just might be the very clues needed to save the missing child.
Nothing is overt in this sparse story, but one can still feel the desperation and suspense as time works against both Gideon and Lee. One can also see just how these two opposites come together so nicely, their stark differences complementing all that they do - making them realize just how good of a team they are, both on and off the job.
So if you like a solid mystery, intermixed with a little spooky and light romance, then this is probably perfect for you. The intriguing dynamic between Gideon and Lee definitely left me wanting for a lot more, and I eagerly look forward to uncovering their future collaborations.
December 4, 2013
This review will begin with this line: "In Vio I Should Trust"
Without her review, I would give this a pass. Simply because Harper Fox's writing makes me exhausted. But this one I really enjoyed. Vio told me that this felt more like Harper Fox's short stories -- and I think I'm good with her writing in small dosage, seeing that I seem to love her short stories better. So yep, this one, I apparently enjoyed as well.
I loved the portrayal of the disconcerting little village of Dark (what an appropriate name!) -- with the legend of the Beast of Bodmin Moor (it reminded me of M. Night Shymalan's movie, "The Village") and the case of the missing girl. Protective copper Gideon Frayne and his clairvoyant Lee Tyack were such lovely couple (the idea of a detective and a psychic also reminded me of Diana Copland's A Reason To Believe -- a favorite story of mine).
There was a very tender affection between the two men, so gentle like the sound of the wind. It made me feel like I was being caressed. I even forgot that Gordon and Lee practically only knew one another in course of short days. I guess the intense situation of the missing child and the creepy paranormal element, an idea of a Beast chasing villagers down the moor, made it all believable.
... and I loved the dog. What a great dog.
I guess I will definitely be in when the sequel is released on Dec 21st.
Without her review, I would give this a pass. Simply because Harper Fox's writing makes me exhausted. But this one I really enjoyed. Vio told me that this felt more like Harper Fox's short stories -- and I think I'm good with her writing in small dosage, seeing that I seem to love her short stories better. So yep, this one, I apparently enjoyed as well.
I loved the portrayal of the disconcerting little village of Dark (what an appropriate name!) -- with the legend of the Beast of Bodmin Moor (it reminded me of M. Night Shymalan's movie, "The Village") and the case of the missing girl. Protective copper Gideon Frayne and his clairvoyant Lee Tyack were such lovely couple (the idea of a detective and a psychic also reminded me of Diana Copland's A Reason To Believe -- a favorite story of mine).
There was a very tender affection between the two men, so gentle like the sound of the wind. It made me feel like I was being caressed. I even forgot that Gordon and Lee practically only knew one another in course of short days. I guess the intense situation of the missing child and the creepy paranormal element, an idea of a Beast chasing villagers down the moor, made it all believable.
... and I loved the dog. What a great dog.
I guess I will definitely be in when the sequel is released on Dec 21st.
August 29, 2019
Got around to listening to the audio, considering how short that is ludicrous it took me so long lol. Enjoyed it.
-- --
Still love this story, the dark chill of the Baskerville moors, characters both interesting and likeable. The strength of feelings. Onto the next :)
-- --
While Harper Fox has a wonderful way with words, I often find her longer stories get out of control, so the short length of this attracted me. Its succinct; lots of atmosphere but no wasted page, I'm torn between seeing it as a little gem and wishing there was that bit more to it. Luckily there are already two sequels so the story hasn't ended yet.
The main characters are strong and I love how it takes both of them to solve the mystery. Gideon comes a long way in this short story, accepting who he is and seeing how highly others value him. Lee is interesting and there's enough here to show he has his own story which I hope we'll get to discover. The village is interesting and I got a good feel of it, it felt real with no cute quirky characters. And the dog. Stupid, disloyal, but a plump fuzzy adorable creature who also got to show her worth. I liked the dog.
There's a mystery with a strong hint of the paranormal reminiscent of a Baskerville hound; nothing determined, which made it creepier and more real. The romance is minimum yet there's the start of a strong connection between the two men, they have lovely moments without it feeling overly sentimental. They come across as men.
A short but atmospheric read with strong characters and a mystery. Happily diving straight in to the next book.
-- --
Still love this story, the dark chill of the Baskerville moors, characters both interesting and likeable. The strength of feelings. Onto the next :)
-- --
While Harper Fox has a wonderful way with words, I often find her longer stories get out of control, so the short length of this attracted me. Its succinct; lots of atmosphere but no wasted page, I'm torn between seeing it as a little gem and wishing there was that bit more to it. Luckily there are already two sequels so the story hasn't ended yet.
The main characters are strong and I love how it takes both of them to solve the mystery. Gideon comes a long way in this short story, accepting who he is and seeing how highly others value him. Lee is interesting and there's enough here to show he has his own story which I hope we'll get to discover. The village is interesting and I got a good feel of it, it felt real with no cute quirky characters. And the dog. Stupid, disloyal, but a plump fuzzy adorable creature who also got to show her worth. I liked the dog.
There's a mystery with a strong hint of the paranormal reminiscent of a Baskerville hound; nothing determined, which made it creepier and more real. The romance is minimum yet there's the start of a strong connection between the two men, they have lovely moments without it feeling overly sentimental. They come across as men.
A short but atmospheric read with strong characters and a mystery. Happily diving straight in to the next book.
February 14, 2016
Fox's magic at it's best. A haunting well laid out short with the added benefit that I can get more Tyack and Frayne by reading the next stories in the series. These are a couple that grow on one. I like that Fox is writing an imperfect Gideon, trying to see himself, what's around him and how to go on.
At one point Gideon says:
"I don't want Dark turning into Midsomer."
I don't want that either but I have to admit that I did enjoy this like I devour and enjoy British whodunnits with that mix of dismal weather, cold light, Brits, hard headedness, mystery, love and life, mixed into a perfect cocktail.
Cave in Polperro - Cornwall
Read with Ingela - BR link
October 9, 2020
Nice, short read. Atmospheric at times. Good introduction to the series. Will be interested in reading more about Tyack and Frayne ...
Set around Samhain (Halloween) so a good time to read it.
Set around Samhain (Halloween) so a good time to read it.
Gideon had often wanted a word for the strange light of a wintry Cornish sky ...
April 3, 2025
3.75 stars – sigh, another serial that needs binging.
The Constable, the clairvoyant, and the collie.
(Border Collie would have messed up the snazzy alliteration.)
I've been reading a lot of books with creepy stuff happening in forests lately, so I guess it's time to be scared shitless on the moors.
The sound abruptly stopped. Then it boiled up again, closer than any beast’s natural movement could account for – a howl, a wail, a shriek like the painful opening up of the earth.
Gideon’s useless dog had abandoned him, but her terror at least had awakened his own. He sucked in one lung-clenching gasp of the fog, and he ran.
A bit later...
Silence. And then the long, slow scrape of a claw against wood.
Atmospheric, creepy, humorous, and more importantly, with a dog that will be joining my handful of favorite book doggos — Kye, the fat zoomie-loving Border Collie, that thankfully gets renamed Isolde.
Gideon sat still, listening. He twitched when his useless dog squeezed out from under the sideboard. She crept to his feet. Her hackles were raised, her poor distracted eyes vacant. “You’re useless,” he whispered, and in a sudden surge of empathy allowed her to jump into his lap – all four stone of her, smelling of sheep-shit and fear.
I enjoyed the interspersed humor, especially the psychic abilities jokes.
Kye greeted him with her usual burst of hysteria, as if she hadn’t seen him for a week and couldn’t quite remember why she’d wanted to.
“Sorry,” he muttered as she transferred her attentions to Tyack, squeezing through the gap between the seats to scramble into his lap.
“She isn’t called Kye,” Tyack said breathlessly as she wriggled round to face him. She put the end of her nose against his, and Gideon looked at the pair of them curiously: the attractive unknown quantity of a man and the all-too-familiar lump of dog, staring into one another’s eyes.
"She says she’s called Isolde, and she’s a descendent of King Arthur’s hunting hounds.”
Gideon shifted nervously. “You can... You can tell that?”
Tyack broke into laughter. “Of course I bloody can’t. Dog is a lousy name for a dog, that’s all. I’m sure she’d behave better if she had a proper one."
I love dogs as a third main character!
This 70-page novella is not a standalone, you won't be satisfied reading just one, it's a long-haul serial. It's free with Kobo+ or you can buy these on Smashwords where authors get a better payout.
I recently found out the author suffered a stroke a few years ago and, with the knock-on effects including memory loss, hasn't been able to write. (This was shared publicly [and with Fox's partner's permission] by Decent Fellows Press.) Thought this would be a good time to buy and read her books. ❤️
MC Names: Gideon & Lee & Kye/Isolde
Tags: missing-child mystery, novella, serial, tiny Cornish village, Border Collie, Constable/psychic pairing, spooky, atmospheric, misty moor, previously mostly closeted, Halloween, Samhain, creepy legend - beast of the moor, son of a Methodist minister, fast hookup, 1 of 13
The Constable, the clairvoyant, and the collie.
(Border Collie would have messed up the snazzy alliteration.)
I've been reading a lot of books with creepy stuff happening in forests lately, so I guess it's time to be scared shitless on the moors.
The sound abruptly stopped. Then it boiled up again, closer than any beast’s natural movement could account for – a howl, a wail, a shriek like the painful opening up of the earth.
Gideon’s useless dog had abandoned him, but her terror at least had awakened his own. He sucked in one lung-clenching gasp of the fog, and he ran.
A bit later...
Silence. And then the long, slow scrape of a claw against wood.
Atmospheric, creepy, humorous, and more importantly, with a dog that will be joining my handful of favorite book doggos — Kye, the fat zoomie-loving Border Collie, that thankfully gets renamed Isolde.
Gideon sat still, listening. He twitched when his useless dog squeezed out from under the sideboard. She crept to his feet. Her hackles were raised, her poor distracted eyes vacant. “You’re useless,” he whispered, and in a sudden surge of empathy allowed her to jump into his lap – all four stone of her, smelling of sheep-shit and fear.
I enjoyed the interspersed humor, especially the psychic abilities jokes.
Kye greeted him with her usual burst of hysteria, as if she hadn’t seen him for a week and couldn’t quite remember why she’d wanted to.
“Sorry,” he muttered as she transferred her attentions to Tyack, squeezing through the gap between the seats to scramble into his lap.
“She isn’t called Kye,” Tyack said breathlessly as she wriggled round to face him. She put the end of her nose against his, and Gideon looked at the pair of them curiously: the attractive unknown quantity of a man and the all-too-familiar lump of dog, staring into one another’s eyes.
"She says she’s called Isolde, and she’s a descendent of King Arthur’s hunting hounds.”
Gideon shifted nervously. “You can... You can tell that?”
Tyack broke into laughter. “Of course I bloody can’t. Dog is a lousy name for a dog, that’s all. I’m sure she’d behave better if she had a proper one."
I love dogs as a third main character!
This 70-page novella is not a standalone, you won't be satisfied reading just one, it's a long-haul serial. It's free with Kobo+ or you can buy these on Smashwords where authors get a better payout.
I recently found out the author suffered a stroke a few years ago and, with the knock-on effects including memory loss, hasn't been able to write. (This was shared publicly [and with Fox's partner's permission] by Decent Fellows Press.) Thought this would be a good time to buy and read her books. ❤️
MC Names: Gideon & Lee & Kye/Isolde
Tags: missing-child mystery, novella, serial, tiny Cornish village, Border Collie, Constable/psychic pairing, spooky, atmospheric, misty moor, previously mostly closeted, Halloween, Samhain, creepy legend - beast of the moor, son of a Methodist minister, fast hookup, 1 of 13
May 26, 2021
***3.5 Stars*** for both, audiobook and story
And with that consider mehaunted hooked... ;-)
And with that consider me
January 9, 2017
Solid mystery with hints of paranormal and possessing the quintessential Romanticism of Fox's writing, this time the wild spaces of Cornwall, Bodmin Moor. Small town cop and a moderately renown psychic are thrown together during the search for a missing child. Quick read with a few twists and nicely exploring the headspace of people in a small remote location.
November 12, 2014
Beautifully written. If I was physically half as beautiful as this book was written, I'd be a super model.
I liked the story. Just liked. But liking is more than good enough.
Plus, no one can put you right in the middle of some desolate location quite like Harper Fox.
I liked the story. Just liked. But liking is more than good enough.
Plus, no one can put you right in the middle of some desolate location quite like Harper Fox.
April 5, 2020
It's a very short but nice story. I was definitely in the mood for something like that. At first I was afraid that it might be a little too dark and bloody, I don't like horror movies and I was definitely not in the mood for one. But fortunately it turned out that this is not the case.
For a fairly short story, Gideon and Lee don't appear to be paper thin. And although their relationship develops extremely fast, it is quite believable. It has some kind of star-crossed lovers vibe. And although this is a motif that I usually don't like, it works surprisingly well here. There is something very comforting in Gideon and Lee's relationship. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's a very nice feeling.
The suspense is also quite good, although I was not surprised at all who turns out to be a kidnapper. The motives behind this act are not particularly surprising either. But I like the fact that Gideon didn't suspect this person because of his feelings and psychology, and not because of the kidnapper's cunning. The whole situation, and especially Gideon, gain some depth that way.
I think Gideon and Lee can become my pair of heroes that bring me comfort. So I won't be surprised if I read another book in this series, when there will be a lot going on in my life. There is something incredibly calming about them.
For a fairly short story, Gideon and Lee don't appear to be paper thin. And although their relationship develops extremely fast, it is quite believable. It has some kind of star-crossed lovers vibe. And although this is a motif that I usually don't like, it works surprisingly well here. There is something very comforting in Gideon and Lee's relationship. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's a very nice feeling.
The suspense is also quite good, although I was not surprised at all who turns out to be a kidnapper. The motives behind this act are not particularly surprising either. But I like the fact that Gideon didn't suspect this person because of his feelings and psychology, and not because of the kidnapper's cunning. The whole situation, and especially Gideon, gain some depth that way.
I think Gideon and Lee can become my pair of heroes that bring me comfort. So I won't be surprised if I read another book in this series, when there will be a lot going on in my life. There is something incredibly calming about them.
May 28, 2018
Haunting mystery!
I loved this novella set in the Cornish Moors!! As always, the setting was a character in full force in Harper Fox’s mystery.
This one involved a missing girl. Gideon, the police constable in the small village of Dark, has been doing all he can to find her.
A psychic, Lee, offers his services, but while Gideon scoffs at his help, he uses him. Together, they solve the mystery.
I love the set up for this couple and can’t wait to see them in action in all the other books. They are sweet and sexy together.
The audiobook by Tim Gilbert rocked!
I loved this novella set in the Cornish Moors!! As always, the setting was a character in full force in Harper Fox’s mystery.
This one involved a missing girl. Gideon, the police constable in the small village of Dark, has been doing all he can to find her.
A psychic, Lee, offers his services, but while Gideon scoffs at his help, he uses him. Together, they solve the mystery.
I love the set up for this couple and can’t wait to see them in action in all the other books. They are sweet and sexy together.
The audiobook by Tim Gilbert rocked!
June 25, 2024
Review from 2018
I've given this an A- for both narration and content at AudioGals, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Once Upon a Haunted Moor is the first book in Harper Fox’s series of mysteries with a paranormal twist set mostly around Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. The setting is atmospheric and integral to the story and is beautifully evoked by the author’s wonderfully descriptive, lyrical writing; and our two protagonists – the local ‘bobby’ (policeman), Gideon Frayne and Lee Tyack, a jobbing psychic (if there is such a thing!) – are engaging and expertly drawn. New-to-me narrator Tim Gilbert does a terrific job with the local accents and his performance as a whole is excellent; the series so far runs to seven audiobooks (there is an eighth book that isn’t (yet) available in audio), all of them running for under six hours which makes them easy to gobble up in a day or so, and I’ll definitely be working my way through all of them.
Gideon Frayne, who hails from a family of hard-line Methodists, has lived and worked around the small village of Dark near Bodmin all his life. A typical village bobby, he knows everyone and everyone knows him; and his latest case, the disappearance of a little girl, has hit right at the heart of the community. It’s been days since Lorna Kemp disappeared and with no leads developing, he’s less and less optimistic that she’ll be found alive. Gideon is doing everything he can – which, he feels is less and less with each passing day – and he’s more than a bit miffed when he arrives at the Kemps’ house to discover that a TV psychic named Lee Tyack is speaking with Sarah, the girl’s mother. Determined to prevent the family from being exploited by some crackpot charlatan – and, deep down, frustrated at his own ineffectiveness – Gideon angrily barges in to find a softly-spoken, sensibly-dressed and very attractive man of about his own age who informs him that he – Lee – has been called in by the Truro Constabulary to see if he can help, as he has done in the past in similar situations. Gideon is still sceptical, but knows they need all the help they can get and resigns himself to Lee’s presence.
Later that day, Gideon and Lee meet again when Gideon’s rather bonkers dog careens into Lee in the street; and as they converse, gets his first inkling that perhaps Lee Tyack might not be a charlatan after all. Lee experiences some sort of vision that he can’t quite make sense of – but the things he says DO make sense to Gideon, who is able to put the mental pictures Lee receives into words. Their mad-dash to an old, abandoned mine-shaft proves fruitless, but Lee’s uncanny ‘episode’ and the things he knows about Gideon that he’s never told anyone are all starting to break down the policeman’s scepticism.
From there on in, the two of them work together to solve the mystery of Lorna Kemp’s disappearance and at the same time take the first steps on the road to a relationship of a more personal nature. Gideon is gay but isn’t out, his upbringing and his profession deterring him from being open about his sexuality, and he believes his reluctance to admit it is the main reason his lover, James, left him around a year earlier. Gideon has been, as he puts it, “rattling around” in his big old house (actually, his parents’ old house – they are both in care and his father has Alzheimer’s) since James left and he’s lonely and has become rather anti-social without someone around to bring him out of himself. It’s easy to understand why he is knocked sideways by Lee, who is completely adorable; sweet, generous and sensitive, he turns Gideon’s life upside down in a matter of hours and it’s tribute to the author’s skill that she manages to make their attraction seem natural and believable in such a short space of time.
With locals murmuring about the legend of the Beast of Bodmin Moor and Halloween a matter of hours away, there are plenty of spooky noises in the night, sightings and snufflings in the shadows… and Ms. Fox does a fabulous job in whipping up the creepy atmosphere along with the swirling fog. Yet she cleverly balances out the paranormal and the ‘normal’ elements of the story, showing that monsters exist in reality as well as in the realms of the supernatural, and that at times, it’s the monster within that poses the greatest danger.
This is a little gem of a story – the audio clocks in at around two and a half hours – and while the storytelling is sparse, there’s no question that Ms. Fox used exactly the number of words she needed – no more and no less. The setting is eerie and evocative, and the story, while short, packs a punch. Our two protagonists are firmly established, and Gideon, especially, undergoes significant character development, coming to accept who he is and to understand just how highly he is valued by those around him. Lee is more nebulous at this stage, but there are few hints dropped that he has an interesting backstory that I hope we’ll learn more of in future books.
I’ve listened to quite a few new-to-me narrators lately, and fortunately, Tim Gilbert has proved to be yet another excellent find. Technically, he’s very good indeed, and his pacing, diction and character differentiation are all spot on. As I mentioned at the outset, he’s very good at the specific regional accents used for the majority of the Cornish characters; they’re recognisable but not overdone to the point of unintelligibility and there are subtle variations between them when called for. This variation is most noticeable in his portrayals of the two principals; Gideon’s accent is more pronounced whereas Lee – who comes from the other end of the county – has more of a gentle lilt than a full-on Cornish burr. There is only one criticism I can make here, which is that the gravelly timbre adopted for Gideon makes him sound a bit older than thirty, which is his age as stated in the text. But it’s not a deal-breaker and ultimately both men are extremely well-realised. Mr. Gilbert’s female voices are pretty good, too, although there is one minor character whose speech immediately put me in mind of Terry Jones exclaiming “He’s not the Messiah! He’s a very naughty boy!” But that was just the once, and it actually worked in context (and was quite funny) so it’s more of an observation than a criticism.
Audible Studios has very cannily opted to put an excerpt of the next book – Tinsel Fish – at the end of this one, and while I’d originally decided to listen to this and then to book two in a few weeks’ time, that plan got knocked on the head as soon as I heard the sample! Once Upon a Haunted Moor is given as running for just under three hours, but actually, the last twenty minutes or so are the preview of book two… and having listened to that, I can tell you there’s a sample of book three at the end. Anyone want to bet how long I can hold out before I give in and snaffle up the entire series? Because it’s gonna happen – it’s just a question of when. So be prepared – the Tyack and Frayne series is seriously addictive and, from what I’ve heard so far, highly recommended.
I've given this an A- for both narration and content at AudioGals, so that's 4.5 stars rounded up.
Once Upon a Haunted Moor is the first book in Harper Fox’s series of mysteries with a paranormal twist set mostly around Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. The setting is atmospheric and integral to the story and is beautifully evoked by the author’s wonderfully descriptive, lyrical writing; and our two protagonists – the local ‘bobby’ (policeman), Gideon Frayne and Lee Tyack, a jobbing psychic (if there is such a thing!) – are engaging and expertly drawn. New-to-me narrator Tim Gilbert does a terrific job with the local accents and his performance as a whole is excellent; the series so far runs to seven audiobooks (there is an eighth book that isn’t (yet) available in audio), all of them running for under six hours which makes them easy to gobble up in a day or so, and I’ll definitely be working my way through all of them.
Gideon Frayne, who hails from a family of hard-line Methodists, has lived and worked around the small village of Dark near Bodmin all his life. A typical village bobby, he knows everyone and everyone knows him; and his latest case, the disappearance of a little girl, has hit right at the heart of the community. It’s been days since Lorna Kemp disappeared and with no leads developing, he’s less and less optimistic that she’ll be found alive. Gideon is doing everything he can – which, he feels is less and less with each passing day – and he’s more than a bit miffed when he arrives at the Kemps’ house to discover that a TV psychic named Lee Tyack is speaking with Sarah, the girl’s mother. Determined to prevent the family from being exploited by some crackpot charlatan – and, deep down, frustrated at his own ineffectiveness – Gideon angrily barges in to find a softly-spoken, sensibly-dressed and very attractive man of about his own age who informs him that he – Lee – has been called in by the Truro Constabulary to see if he can help, as he has done in the past in similar situations. Gideon is still sceptical, but knows they need all the help they can get and resigns himself to Lee’s presence.
Later that day, Gideon and Lee meet again when Gideon’s rather bonkers dog careens into Lee in the street; and as they converse, gets his first inkling that perhaps Lee Tyack might not be a charlatan after all. Lee experiences some sort of vision that he can’t quite make sense of – but the things he says DO make sense to Gideon, who is able to put the mental pictures Lee receives into words. Their mad-dash to an old, abandoned mine-shaft proves fruitless, but Lee’s uncanny ‘episode’ and the things he knows about Gideon that he’s never told anyone are all starting to break down the policeman’s scepticism.
From there on in, the two of them work together to solve the mystery of Lorna Kemp’s disappearance and at the same time take the first steps on the road to a relationship of a more personal nature. Gideon is gay but isn’t out, his upbringing and his profession deterring him from being open about his sexuality, and he believes his reluctance to admit it is the main reason his lover, James, left him around a year earlier. Gideon has been, as he puts it, “rattling around” in his big old house (actually, his parents’ old house – they are both in care and his father has Alzheimer’s) since James left and he’s lonely and has become rather anti-social without someone around to bring him out of himself. It’s easy to understand why he is knocked sideways by Lee, who is completely adorable; sweet, generous and sensitive, he turns Gideon’s life upside down in a matter of hours and it’s tribute to the author’s skill that she manages to make their attraction seem natural and believable in such a short space of time.
With locals murmuring about the legend of the Beast of Bodmin Moor and Halloween a matter of hours away, there are plenty of spooky noises in the night, sightings and snufflings in the shadows… and Ms. Fox does a fabulous job in whipping up the creepy atmosphere along with the swirling fog. Yet she cleverly balances out the paranormal and the ‘normal’ elements of the story, showing that monsters exist in reality as well as in the realms of the supernatural, and that at times, it’s the monster within that poses the greatest danger.
This is a little gem of a story – the audio clocks in at around two and a half hours – and while the storytelling is sparse, there’s no question that Ms. Fox used exactly the number of words she needed – no more and no less. The setting is eerie and evocative, and the story, while short, packs a punch. Our two protagonists are firmly established, and Gideon, especially, undergoes significant character development, coming to accept who he is and to understand just how highly he is valued by those around him. Lee is more nebulous at this stage, but there are few hints dropped that he has an interesting backstory that I hope we’ll learn more of in future books.
I’ve listened to quite a few new-to-me narrators lately, and fortunately, Tim Gilbert has proved to be yet another excellent find. Technically, he’s very good indeed, and his pacing, diction and character differentiation are all spot on. As I mentioned at the outset, he’s very good at the specific regional accents used for the majority of the Cornish characters; they’re recognisable but not overdone to the point of unintelligibility and there are subtle variations between them when called for. This variation is most noticeable in his portrayals of the two principals; Gideon’s accent is more pronounced whereas Lee – who comes from the other end of the county – has more of a gentle lilt than a full-on Cornish burr. There is only one criticism I can make here, which is that the gravelly timbre adopted for Gideon makes him sound a bit older than thirty, which is his age as stated in the text. But it’s not a deal-breaker and ultimately both men are extremely well-realised. Mr. Gilbert’s female voices are pretty good, too, although there is one minor character whose speech immediately put me in mind of Terry Jones exclaiming “He’s not the Messiah! He’s a very naughty boy!” But that was just the once, and it actually worked in context (and was quite funny) so it’s more of an observation than a criticism.
Audible Studios has very cannily opted to put an excerpt of the next book – Tinsel Fish – at the end of this one, and while I’d originally decided to listen to this and then to book two in a few weeks’ time, that plan got knocked on the head as soon as I heard the sample! Once Upon a Haunted Moor is given as running for just under three hours, but actually, the last twenty minutes or so are the preview of book two… and having listened to that, I can tell you there’s a sample of book three at the end. Anyone want to bet how long I can hold out before I give in and snaffle up the entire series? Because it’s gonna happen – it’s just a question of when. So be prepared – the Tyack and Frayne series is seriously addictive and, from what I’ve heard so far, highly recommended.
November 13, 2013
I wasn't sure what to expect with this story. The moors were very eerie and I really enjoyed the descriptions, I've always liked that about Fox's writing. I just wish that it had been longer because I was really enjoying how the MC's interacted. That was a quietly intense romance that sneaked up between Gideon and Lee.
Even for the length I liked how Gideon wrapped things up with both the case and his personal journey.
Even for the length I liked how Gideon wrapped things up with both the case and his personal journey.
May 13, 2024
I have been blessed with some great novellas lately.
This whirlwind little story follows the disappearance of a child on the Moors and the efforts of Gideon, a small town police constable, to find her. Throw in the assistance (and romance) of Lee, a psychic with a history of helping the police with cases, and you have a well paced, atmospheric, slightly spooky and slightly steamy story.
I was gripped in this listening experience and had a great time with this story and an even better time when I discovered it’s part of a series of novellas. I’m thinking it’s a 4.5 star rounded up, but when I think about if I would change anything, I don’t think I would. I think the last half a point is just the little something that would have been added to it with a little more length and depth of story.
This whirlwind little story follows the disappearance of a child on the Moors and the efforts of Gideon, a small town police constable, to find her. Throw in the assistance (and romance) of Lee, a psychic with a history of helping the police with cases, and you have a well paced, atmospheric, slightly spooky and slightly steamy story.
I was gripped in this listening experience and had a great time with this story and an even better time when I discovered it’s part of a series of novellas. I’m thinking it’s a 4.5 star rounded up, but when I think about if I would change anything, I don’t think I would. I think the last half a point is just the little something that would have been added to it with a little more length and depth of story.
November 21, 2013
I really liked this story. The characters were well drawn, and compelling, and I could really feel their connection. I loved the setting, and the mood. It really added a lot to the story, and it made it feel almost like a classic tale rather than a modern one in some ways. I liked the paranormal touches. They weren't too heavy, or overdone, and the air of mystery added to the scare for me rather than detracting from it. An excellent read on a cold day.
December 4, 2013
Harper Fox is going to make me yearn to live in the sleepy little village of Dark, I just know it.
ETA: yep.
ETA: yep.
Want to read
November 27, 2019Thank you so much for the gift, Snegurka Elf!
February 25, 2023
This wasn't a bad start to the series, but I can't say it super grabbed me. Gideon was a good guy who cared about his town and his people. Lee seemed like a good guy too, offering his clairvoyance for free when it comes to solving cases like the missing child case in this book, though I didn't get to know him very well. Their jump into romance was a bit fast and strange, but they weren't professing love or anything, so I could accept it in the hopes that it would get more depth as the series goes on.* The small English town and the moors made for a cool, sometimes eerie setting. The mystery and how they went about solving it made sense. Like I said, not very memorable for me, but overall a good story with likeable characters, and with enough potential that I'm willing to give the next book in the series a chance.
*For the sake of honesty I wanted to share my initial thoughts as they were right after reading the book, but having read further in the series now, I can tell you that the relationship does get a lot more depth, and I've gotten so much more invested!
I'm just going to talk about my thoughts on the audiobooks for the whole series now, instead of repeating the same thing in multiple reviews. Tim Gilbert is, for the most part, a great narrator. I love how natural his narration and dialogue sounds. He also brings great emotion and voice acting when it's called for in a scene. I only have two complaints. One, I didn't love the voice he chose for Gideon, but that's entirely subjective. Two, sometimes I'd get confused which character was talking because he'd kind of slip out of their voice into another, and sometimes he would simply do the wrong voice for a line or a brief exchange (parts where there weren't dialogue tags after each line, but you could clearly tell who was supposed to be speaking them), and although it's only happened a few times so far, it threw me from the story each time it did. Still, despite my complaints, I have enjoyed the audiobooks and would recommend them.
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 1st read.*
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes loving and supportive m/m romance, clairvoyants, mysteries, and small English towns.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
*For the sake of honesty I wanted to share my initial thoughts as they were right after reading the book, but having read further in the series now, I can tell you that the relationship does get a lot more depth, and I've gotten so much more invested!
I'm just going to talk about my thoughts on the audiobooks for the whole series now, instead of repeating the same thing in multiple reviews. Tim Gilbert is, for the most part, a great narrator. I love how natural his narration and dialogue sounds. He also brings great emotion and voice acting when it's called for in a scene. I only have two complaints. One, I didn't love the voice he chose for Gideon, but that's entirely subjective. Two, sometimes I'd get confused which character was talking because he'd kind of slip out of their voice into another, and sometimes he would simply do the wrong voice for a line or a brief exchange (parts where there weren't dialogue tags after each line, but you could clearly tell who was supposed to be speaking them), and although it's only happened a few times so far, it threw me from the story each time it did. Still, despite my complaints, I have enjoyed the audiobooks and would recommend them.
*I’ve read this book multiple times. This review was written after my 1st read.*
*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*
*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes loving and supportive m/m romance, clairvoyants, mysteries, and small English towns.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
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