The Spoil of Beasts

Iron on Iron #3

by Gregory Ashe

A jailhouse slaughter. A relentless killer. And way too much jackassing around. When word comes that two key witnesses in an investigation are dead, North and Shaw are surprised—and pleased—to learn that their friend, John-Henry Somerset, is interested in hiring them as freelance contractors for the Wahredua police department. The department is stretched thin, and the investigation into the Cottonmouth Club (and the criminal organization operating there) is collapsing. Not to mention—in North and Shaw’s opinion, anyway—they’re the best detectives around. Tracking down the killer won’t be easy, though. The trail ends at the doors of a megachurch, where the close-knit family of the pastor is keeping more than one secret. Worse, a local politician seems to be involved, and he’s got secrets of his own. On top of that, a sheriff’s deputy has gone missing, and North and Shaw are convinced he knows who is orchestrating events. Pressing the investigation takes North and Shaw into the crosshairs—literally. And when their friends become targets as well, North and Shaw must hurry to learn the truth before the killer can strike at the people they care for most. Because when it comes to his friends, the only one who gets to mess with them is North McKinney.

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

337 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2023

About the author

I'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.

While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!

My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.

Reviews

[alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

*wishing everyone a joyous TSOB audiobook release day! 🥳🎊

GA parades his writerly chops once again as North and Shaw gallantly return in a story that manages to be sincere, chortle-liscious, devastating, and gratifying all at once. like vibrating on a frequency tuned into the cosmic harmony of Mercury in retrograde.

i’m most familiar with North and Shaw via their cameos over the past two years - bringing their trademark buffoonery to the table, providing moments of levity to otherwise cheerless situations - but at times, their off-the-rails routine painted them flighty, if not out of reach, as individuals. for them to take back the narrative reins, it was like unlocking some newfound preternatural clarity. only by taking the first detour into the minds of North Cassidy McKinney and Kingsley Shaw Wilder Aldrich are they brought back down to the human plane.

this tale is largely North-centric, permanent middle finger directed at practically everyone graciously included. it’s an ongoing struggle to renounce the lessons of his father, and the insecurities and defense mechanisms he built up as a young man from a blue collar family in the privileged world of Chouteau boys. fear of vulnerability turns North combative, a reactionary shield reiterating the challenges he has in cultivating healthy relationships - not just romantic, but platonic ones as well. this crossover couldn’t have provided a better contextual backdrop to shine light on North’s present frame of mind.

i was reminded again of how young N&S are, nose to the grindstone as they navigate the messy, often ugly, formative period we call our 20s. their worlds have revolved around each other for over eight years, with rarely more than a day’s time apart. it’s the extent they’re so wholly wrapped up in each other that shoots their dynamic straight into addicting. the reality checks they confront together, that just loving someone isn’t always enough, that they’re evolving humans in an evolving relationship, are lessons that speak volumes. i cried knowing that North has the support of (comparatively lol) stable men who can call him out and be there for him in ways his current sole exception to the rule, Shaw, cannot. for two guys who rarely mingle in social groups free of fratty / salacious origins, caricatures of toxically masculine men, or gossipy chitterers, the Hazardverse crew are a welcome addition to their scant support system.

Shaw shines in all his hallmark perceptiveness, unchecked empathy, infamous Caffeine Zoomies, avant-grade fashion, and Best Friends bond with Hazard (and practically everyone else because Shaw is that guy). TSOB Shaw hits on another wavelength when read on the heels of Without a Compass. after the narrative pacing and focus made a dramatic shift over to North, and the immediacy of Shaw’s Slasher trauma in arc 1 tapered off, i was so accustomed to Shaw’s wildly devoted call and response to North’s every move, “processing” solely in relation to what it meant for them as a collective entity, repressing himself to accommodate North, etc. i hope the hints of growth caught in TSOB bode well for a deep dive exploration into Shaw’s psyche after Codirection, and everything that entails for himself and interpersonally is being reserved for the scale only a third Borealis arc could do justice. i need less enigmatic, more heart on his sleeve, more of his duality. a third arc would also appease my restlessness when i look at these two - out of all the characters, they still have a ways to mature before they can solidify the ground beneath their feet as a couple and as individuals.

Iron on Iron carries on delighting with N&S’s mindboggling tangents, leaving a river of blue screens in their wake as victims clamber to restart their brains, as well as fresh perspectives of each couple’s subtleties and family bonding moments that simultaneously make you weepy and tenderize your heart to oblivion.

from this deftly paced mystery greasing the wheels of what’s looking to be one dizzying heck of a finale, i am sooooo ready to jump into the belly of the beast with The Evening Wolves next year.

P.S. my Thuggie and N&S agenda continues: i have such a soft spot for Auggie & Shaw - the compassion twins, both wanting to be seen as they are and not what others want them to be - and Theo & North - fatherly mentor / lippy mentee who can bond over poor handling of emotions when their s/o’s safety is compromised and they feel helpless. the parallels! Auggie will always be my precious child, the eager, resourceful beaver that he is.

Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)

——pre-release——

DECEMBER 4!! mark your calendars: North and Shaw’s installment - featuring the prettiest orange, yellow, and electric blue hues - is fast approaching! living in the last line of the blurb as i twiddle my thumbs in anticipation 💃

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook - 3 stars
Story - 4.5 stars

I liked it a lot. This focusses on North and Shaw.

Enjoyed the Mystery and the interactions between the characters.


Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this audiobook

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so anxious for how the last book is going to go following the events of this one!

I feel like North had a good amount of character growth in this book, and I loved when he officially became friends with the others 🥹🥹 I'm still not the biggest Shaw fan, but I do appreciate the comic relief he brings.

The crime has gotten so frustrating and I've been so invested in the friendship between the eight characters that I can't even think of a suspect 😂 I hope Emery finally gets his revenge on Cassidy though. Poor John-Henry really needs a holiday or a less stressful career though.

I'm honestly loving this friendship group so much and I just want more!

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always on such a high after finishing these books and I want to spill my heart out about how much I loved this but I know my words can never do it justice. These characters are all so special in their own way but aside from Emery and John-Henry, North and Shaw are just so much more to me. Since their first book they have just been so important. I knew this book was going to be good but it was even better than I could have imagined.

This series is so unique, bringing together characters from different series and having them each work on different parts of what is essentially one big case is brilliant. North and Shaw are in their element and their back and forth bickering is just amazing. They read each other so well and just play off each other. They also make a ton of crazy decisions and I’m truly surprised they aren’t dead yet.

This focused a lot on North and how he is trying to keep Shaw protected. We’ve all seen parts of Shaw that we know don’t need protecting but at the same time he’s sensitive and North is so afraid of losing him. North’s temper is also still in true form and that is something he has to be made aware of. North and Shaw are used to working on their own, answering to no one, they aren’t exactly team players. That makes for a lot of tension when they need the other men and we see the fallout from this.

The case that has been building since book one just keeps getting messier and more dangerous. It’s going to really come to a head soon and I’m scared for the next book. But to see these characters interact again is something I wish would never end. Again we get the best of these men hanging out, letting go, having fun and learning so much from each other. Gregory Ashe has outdone himself with this.

I loved following North and Shaw as they investigated, it was fun but also extremely stressful. The case really picked up and had me on the edge of my seat. You learn things but realize that there are so many layers still left to unfold.

I cannot wait for the final book. I also don’t want this to end. This has been so fun to read.


ARC received for review

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been many times when I’ve wondered if North and Shaw are actually good at their jobs. They own a business where more than a general know-how is fairly imperative. They took Hazard under their wing when he was working to get his PI business up and running. They’ve swooped in to save the day numerous times. They’re still alive when, statistically, they probably shouldn’t be. But are they actually good at their jobs? Or are they just lucky? Even after finishing this book, or maybe especially after finishing this book, I’m no closer to having an answer to that question.

North pushed my buttons so hard. He always has to an extent, but his outward defiance and inability to work or play well with others during this case made me want to scream. After books and books of Emery putting John-Henry’s job at risk, now it was North’s turn to take a shot at it. I felt awful for John-Henry throughout this entire debacle, throughout this entire series really, and that was while only getting a peripheral view of what he was dealing with. Knowing how patient and calm John-Henry works to be, it was painful to see him crack.

This was the darkest and deadliest book in this series so far. Considering it picked up at the exact moment the last one left off and went full steam ahead from there, I appreciated that GA managed to wedge some softer North and Shaw moments in, as well as some fun, and hilarious, moments with everyone together. The Pretty Pretty scene and the call back to a certain underwear competition nearly killed me. And Emery drunk and laughing? In public? Saying something is “dope”? Best thing ever.

I’ve probably mentioned this a thousand times at this point, but I continue to be blown away by how nuanced and complicated these characters are. They’ve all grown so much, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more work for them to do. I love the promise of a HEA found in the majority of romance novels, but what keeps me coming back to the stories GA writes is the reality that the challenges don’t just go away because two people love each other. There are always old wounds ready to be reopened and past traumas lingering near the surface. Even positive growth and change can tug at the seams of something you thought was solid. There’s no “the end” until, you know, the end. Or, in this case, until the last page of The Evening Wolves, which is where I’m headed now.

[ancientreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although it's Shaw who's suffering more overtly in Spoil of Beasts -- unregulated empathy is a bitch when you're embroiled in a case even more awful than the usual GA-inflicted baseline -- this is really North's book.

A running theme of the Borealis series is the contrast in how the MCs approach masculinity. Shaw pretty much blows it up, with his hair in a bun, his feet in espadrilles, and his in-between in capri pants but, thank you very much, freeballing; his emotions clear and accessible to himself and everyone around him; and his shadow side, ruthlessly protective of North. (IYKYK.) For all the difficulties his empathy and his history of trauma cause him, if I had to decide whether he or North was a less troubled soul, I would say it was Shaw, because North is so locked in struggle with his own manhood that he often can't seem to even see the struggle.

In The Spoil of Beasts, he's tearing himself to pieces and taking it out on everyone around him. His behavior toward everyone except Shaw (and Tean, because even someone who's constantly lashing out in pain just can't make a target of Tean) is appalling -- he's beyond acting like an asshole, he's just plain nasty. Shaw reminds him repeatedly that the people he's treating so badly are their friends, but North can't seem to hear it, and honestly I got to the point where I wondered why any of them were putting up with him anymore, Hazard and Somerset possibly excepted because they have a longer acquaintance with him. The more frightened and worried for Shaw North gets, the less access he has to those feelings and the more he lashes out.

This being a Gregory Ashe novel, of course things turn around in the end. The scenes in which Hazard offers North friendship and then North and Shaw finally talk properly broke my heart: North manages to acknowledge his emotions to himself even if he can't manage to express them fully in words. And the comic-relief set piece that follows, in which all eight men go out drinking and dancing (etc. etc.) till dawn, made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe.

But for me that pivot point is exactly the problem that keeps me from delivering the straight 5 stars I can usually throw at a GA book without a second thought. Because we're in North or Shaw's head throughout, we can tell how much North is suffering and we can feel for him the way we'd feel for any injured animal that bites. But the trouble is that his wretchedness isn't visible from the outside -- there's a hint in the narrative that Jem sees North's ... call it wounded gentleness, but it's a mystery to me why Theo, for example, would see any redeeming features in him, especially after he responds so viciously after Auggie saves his and Shaw's lives.

I would have liked, or let's say needed, a few more moments in which North's asshole facade cracked in front of other people to make me believe in their ability to forgive and even enjoy his sharp tongue. In a rate-this-author-against-themself moment, I'm giving this 4.5 stars and rounding up, rather than my usual blissed-out 5 stars.

Thanks, of course, to GA for the ARC.

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery in this book was insane! With North and Shaw as the main characters, how could it be otherwise?

I'll admit that these two aren't my favorites in the Hazardverse because I just don't get their dynamic. Having them interact with the other three couples definitely helped me in that regard, but North was a MEGA a$$hole here and not just to Shaw who, shockingly, was the more reasonable of the two here. North almost destroyed the case, along with John Henry's career. Thankfully North calms himself towards the end of the book just a bit, thanks to some outside help from Theo and Hazard. I understand North better, and I know that they love each other, but I'm still not sure about these two.

The story is very focused on the over-arching mystery, giving some answers and raising more questions, as well as the body count. While this book is pretty heavy overall, I did love seeing the guys letting loose at the Pretty Pretty and acting like a bunch of fools for just a moment. I do wish that we had a bit of grieving for poor Sheriff Engels but I get that this was N&S's book not H&S and can we please have a moment of silence for North's beloved GTO. Onto the last one!

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.

We’ve reached book three of the epic Iron on Iron Asheverse crossover series, and it’s time for North and Shaw to pick up the baton. The Spoil of Beasts picks up immediately after the events of The Girl in the Wind Theo and Auggie have just got engaged, and John-Henry has received the shocking news that the two suspects in their investigation – currently residing in the county jail – are dead, and Sherrif Engels has been murdered.

Immediately on the alert, our guys warily make their way to the Hazard/Somerset house to regroup. The atmosphere is tense; they all know that whoever murdered Engels and took out the suspects will likely be redoubling their efforts to dispose of them, too. Tean and Jem and Theo and Auggie have already been targeted and narrowly escaped with their lives; whoever is behind the trafficking and drug rings operating out of the Cottonmouth Club clearly has plenty of money and resources and will stop at nothing to protect their organization.

As ever, Gregory Ashe does an incredible job of combining a tense, gritty mystery with some of the most amazing character and relationship development I’ve ever read. The overarching plot becomes messier, more dangerous and more frustrating as our heroes seem to be outflanked at every turn, brutally so in many cases, as the bad guys are slowly picking off every potential witness or informant each time they – and we - think they’ve caught a break.

Although this is a dual PoV story, The Spoil of Beasts feels like a ‘North book’; his perspective is the more dominant one in the sense that we’re given greater insight into all the insecurities and fears he continues to struggle with – his increasing concern for Shaw and the way his unregulated empathy is in danger of swallowing him up, and all the defence mechanisms North built growing up as a reaction to his father’s insistence on his being a ‘real man’ and not showing emotion, and the sense of inferiority he felt as someone from a blue collar background attending a prestigious college alongside so many wealthy and privileged young men (like Shaw). We’ve already seen how deeply ingrained are his instincts to deflect and fight back whever he feels anything approaching vulnerability; North doesn’t ‘do’ vulnerability, and fear of it turns him fiercely combative and defensive. He’s seemed to be even more of an arsehole than before in this series, much of which is explained now, as his very real fear of losing Shaw (Shaw’s response to trauma is to turn inward), is causing him to take it out on everyone around him and rip them a new one. I remember thinking, when I read The Face in the Water , that North seemed even more of an areshole that I remembered, to the point where his barbed comments couldn’t be taken as anything other than nasty and insulting. He’s always been abrasive and maybe a bit close to the dividing line between teasing and meanness, but he’s been crossing that line more and more of late, and even though Shaw keeps reminding him that these people he’s treating like crap are their friends, North either can’t or won’t hear him and keeps lashing out. There’s a scene where he’s appallingly and viciously rude to Auggie just after Auggie has saved his and Shaw’s lives which had me asking myself why any of them would continue to put him with him. If even Shaw can’t talk sense into North, it’s got pretty bad.

All this is not to say that Shaw isn’t struggling, because he is, albeit in a different way - he feels things so deeply, but never seems to build any defences against hurt. The author doesn’t address what happened at the end of Codirection here – which is a wise choice, because there’s a LOT to unpack, and this series isn’t the place for it.  I think he’s said he’s going to write more books for North and Shaw, so I imagine that will be dealt with there. I’ve also reached the point where, much as I enjoy Shaw as a character, I need him to be a bit less of an enigma. We know he’s experienced terrible trauma and is very damaged as a result; we’ve occasionally seen the incredibly keen mind that lies behind the whacky exterior (although I’d like to see more of it) – and we know what he’s capable of when it comes to protecting North, but despite all those things, I still don’t feel as if I know him all that well. Perhaps it’s just me and the gears aren’t meshing, but it seems Shaw is still keeping a lot of himself hidden.

North and Shaw are two of the younger members of the group of eight main characters here (I think only Auggie is younger than they are?) and North does a lot of growing up in this story. There’s a lovely conversation between him and Shaw late in the book in which they acknowledge that they’re changing and that maybe it’s time for them to work out what life and their relationship is going to look like for them as they head into their thirties – and in which North confesses that no matter how much he wants to, he can’t protect Shaw from everything.  And it struck me that the ‘insular’ nature of their relationship (which has been shaped by so much shared history and trauma) means that they’re at a point where they really need to expand their horizons somewhat, to see other couples in healthy relationships and – for North, especially – to make some real friends of men he can actually look up to and learn from (not that he’d ever admit it!).

With the focus on North and Shaw there is, as you’d expect, a lot of ridiculousness (those hilarious tangential conversations, Shaw’s (not so) guileless shit-stirring and North’s outraged inventive swearing are works of art!) and seat-of-the-pants action, but being answerable only to themselves most of the time means they aren’t great team players, which causes a lot of tension within the group and problems for John-Henry.

The moments of insight and affection between North and Shaw help to alleviate the almost oppresive tension that permeates the book, as do several other scenes between North, Shaw and other members of the group. There is a terrific scene between North and Emery – which has been a long time coming! - that is beautiful in its brutal honesty, and I will be forever grateful to Mr. Ashe for that wonderfully life-affirming scene at the Pretty Pretty where the guys get shitfaced and do all the stuff that guys their age normally do when at a bar – karaoke, stupid contests, dance-offs, and generally making idiots of themselves while cementing the bonds they’ve already formed.

Once again, Gregory Ashe does a superb job of keeping all his plates spinning – plot, relationships, character development – and of giving every book in this series a different ‘feel’ that owes everything to the personalities of its lead characters. Clever, fast-paced and action-packed, The Spoil of Beasts is another fantastic instalment in the Iron on Iron series, and I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for what is sure to be a hum-dinger of a finale in Hazard and Somerset’s book The Evening Wolves.

[Mimi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I am scared this is going to hurt you." North managed to hold back, at the very end, the rest of what he wanted to say: more than you can bear. "And I'm scared of seeing you like that. You don't know what it's like, what I feel like. It's like losing you. And I'm not going to lose you."

"I'll be fine," Shaw said. "I can do this."

"You don't have to be fine, Shaw. You don't have to do this."

"They're our friends—"

"Who cares? You are the one person who matters to me, get it? They can all go to hell if it means keeping you safe."

Another Gregory Ashe book that left me as a crying mess at the end. And now I have to somehow get my words in order for a decent review. Sorry this will be long and I probably won't be able to provide much objectivity when it comes to these two. I mean, it's not a coincidence that the last time I cried this much was while reading Redirection.

North and Shaw... They always, always, hit me the hardest in my soft little heart. Either despite or because of them being two dumbass bozos on the surface, I don't know, but being back in their heads and experiencing their individual and couple angst again was the one thing I have been looking forward to all! this! year! And I loved every second of it. This book is so consistently full of moments, single lines, random observations where they felt so in love with each other that I was hurting. Maybe because I haven't had time to continuously reread Borealis books in the last few months like I usually do but I swear this ranks up there in terms of how many times it made me say "Oh my god, they love each other so much, I'm gonna puke 😭😭"

Before I get to the meat of it though, I have to briefly mention I've been really enjoying how the mystery has been evolving here. I think this has been the installment so far with the hardest-hitting moments, both emotionally and narratively and we - including the guys - reached a point of despair and frustration that's very fitting for the third act of a four-act story. Fantastically, Gregory Ashe manages to keep it easy to follow, too, despite all the layers added with each book without a corny "Previously on Iron on Iron..." type of exposition which I appreciate a lot.

I also love how each leg of the investigation so far has felt like its own microcosm that could only be solved by the leading couple of the book and how the rest of the guys function as supporting figures. If my recollection of the previous two books is right, the others have actually done the least on the page in this book in terms of sleuthing and action, but the most in terms of mutual commiseration and being emotional sounding boards. And believe me, each of those moments made me cry. I love the point of harmony they all reached together so much. Specifically in this installment, as so much of it is about North's dynamic with the others, or more correctly, about North's emotional state and behavior through a focus on his dynamic with the others.

The focus on North here, though, feels a bit different from how The Face in the Water mostly brings up Jem-stuff and how so much of The Girl in the Wind is Theo's inner turmoil to me. Namely, we get even our sneak peeks into Shaw through North's eyes and mostly in relation to how North feels about it. His perspective is considerably more present and introspective, despite Shaw arguably being the one struggling more here. Now this is something I would usually mind a little (and while I loved seeing Shaw's every moment with the other guys I was kind of sad we didn't see him have a heart-to-heart with someone else) but this choice seemed really fitting to me here. So much of Shaw is characterized by what's between-the-lines and beneath-the-surface, not only to the audience but also to North and Shaw himself. As such, I found this book centering North feeling lost when it comes to where Shaw is mentally and emotionally to be the best (and the most appreciated) direction for these two in a shared series. I know I mentioned I want a second arc for both Jem and Tean and Theo and Auggie in my previous reviews and mentioned previously how I am happy with where Hazard and Somers are at the end of their last arc, but here a follow-up feels necessary. If I say so with my most subjective North-and-Shaw-loving glasses, it even feels set up already with where we leave them at the end here (Greg, hear me). North and Shaw, to me, still have a long way to go.

This actually ties into what I realized about why I love these two doofuses and enjoyed this novel with everything in me, more than any other: North and Shaw, for all intents and purposes, are the most laser-focused about each other out of all the couples here, and I love a couple solely and entirely about each other. Don't get me wrong, this is not a comparison of which pairing loves each other the most or anything like that. It's me reverse-engineering to see what just hits so differently with them and what they satisfy for my personal romance taste. See, North and Shaw's inception, even prior to their first book, is just their relationship with each other and nothing else. Now you can say that about Hazard and Somers as well - in a different font obviously - but North and Shaw, unlike all the other couples, are almost solely shaped by the traumas where the other was not only also present but central. And even at this stage, there are no other relationships or responsibilities here such as kids to serve as the root of conflict or the root of unstable emotional states like there are in the others' books. North and Shaw as characters are so wholly and solely motivated and triggered by each other that ten books into their story, even with a focus on six supporting characters, every friction is still about the two of them; about their past, about how much they love each other, about what lengths they'd go for each other, about them being each other's sole weakness and worry, about them tripping and falling still while trying to navigate their feelings for each other which still feel so big.

And that's my personal bread and butter in romance. That, Gregory Ashe writes fantastically and it makes me insane. So much so that this review has turned into a gushing TED talk about why I love these two. Sorry, I have nothing else to say, this is for my fellow North-and-Shawheads.

Thank you to Gregory Ashe for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can Ashe possibly combine all of his couples in one series and have it make sense?! Amazing!!

This audiobook was fantastic!

Here we are getting deeper into the mystery plaguing Wahureda (sp? I only listen to these, so I’ve no idea how to spell the name) and threatening the lives of our MC’s and their families.

I won’t go into it much more, except that you can expect the typical North & Shaw banter with solid and constant cameos from the other 3 couples!

My rec? This is a series that really must be enjoyed after getting to know the characters in their own individual series. If you have t yet dived into this world, what are you waiting for?

[Nelly S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What an epic roller coaster of emotions and suspense! There is some serious angst between North and Shaw, and when you add in crazy tension with the rest of the gang you get one hell of a combustible installment. But the gang still managed to engage in all sorts of shenanigans that had me cackling out loud. The mystery was exciting and I can’t wait to get to the bottom of the Cottonmouth Club.

[Em Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I want this series to go on forever and ever.

********

Doing a joint series with all the primary pairings might’ve been Ashe’s greatest idea yet. There are no words to describe how truly obsessed and invested I am in Iron on Iron. Fun, emotional, captivating, funny, charming, frustrating, and above all a great showcase of how well fleshed out these characters are written. Major, major kudos to Ashe on A+ characterization.

In book 3 the focus is on North and Shaw, my chaotic babies. I know we shouldn’t play favorites, but if I’m being honest out of these 4 pairings North and Shaw are coming in 4th for me 🫣 Don’t get me wrong I am all in, but as I said above they are chaotic. Chaotic to the point that it pushes the boundaries of my patience at times. This installment was heavily focused on North, and while I understand and empathize a lot with why North is the way he is…he is still a lot. Out of all Ashe’s pairings I’ve always found North and Shaw to feel the most unsettled, and unfortunately this book didn’t do much to change that for me. The mystery in this installment was also not my favorite and it was fairly predictable. I am still interested in the overarching case and am excited to see how it all wraps up in the next book.

So while I did enjoy this book slightly less than the others, there was still so much good in it. The dynamics between all the characters is so fantastic. The night out at Pretty Pretty was my absolute favorite. Similar to the slumber party from the previous installment, their overall bonding and banter is excellent. I truly hope this isn’t the only joint series because I could read 100 more of these books.

Now I wait patiently for February 😅

[PaperMoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The MCs featured in this series installment are North and Shaw (with greater focus on the former than the latter). I admit this coupling is the least favorite of my GA characters - their wacky interactional dynamic may appeal to some but drives me to distraction. The plot continues immediately on from the ending of the previous book whereby three murders in a supposedly secured prison setting becomes something that has to investigated since two of the victims are closely connected to the ongoing case of deadly shenanigans at the Cottonmouth Club.

Other reviewers have already mentioned the notable escalation in abrasive comments, snarky insults and downright verbal abuse from North; this is obvious to me as a reader but also to North himself as he has a couple of acute self-awareness moments after being confronted by Shaw or post 'debriefing' sessions with Emery and Theo. I do believe North's insecurity regarding his ability to protect Shaw from harm as well as how well he performs as a professional investigator is a key underlying factor to this 'out of control' behavior / verbiage. Working as a collaborative team over the dangerous and sometimes deadly events unfolded in the past two books, North cannot but make comparisons with older (and more matured) males such as John-Henry, Theo, Emery and Tean. Thank goodness Shaw's OTT / cray-cray observations and 'avant-garde' dressing style was also more subdued compared to previous books.

Unfortunately, North and Shaw's very unconventional (veering on unprofessional?) investigative style which has worked for them in their past cases comes undone in a crucial teamwork setting - when other team members on equal power-base standing require clear communication and feedback to prevent SNAFUs (which occurred a few times throughout the read alas). After multiple shootouts, re-entanglements with a familiar black-clad scythe -wielding assassin, and more bodies piling up ... the dramas concluded with what seemed to me a 'WTF-happened here'? Not a coherent nor satisfactory ending with several over-arching plot threads remaining in the air and the identity of the Machiavellian-esque baddies still opaque. So aside from a rather joyous celebration of sorts at the Pretty Pretty bar near the ending - I didn't enjoy this book as much. Merely 3 stars.

[Kathleen in Oslo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read October 2025: this held up even better on the second go-round

Here I am 5-starring a North and Shaw book, who even am I anymore?

The Pretty Pretty scene!!!

[Evelyn220 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ I’m not sure why but I liked Shaw and North so much more in this than in their own series. Their banter was cute and funny, whereas I found it mostly annoying and tedious in Borealis. Perhaps the constant ribbing and digs just work better as a happy, established couple than they do as two idiots trying and failing to form a relationship.
I loved all the couples together. Their night out together at the Pretty Pretty was so heartwarming.

I will say this book has my least favorite audio narrator of all of GA’s books. His voice range just doesn’t do the characters justice. No one can do Hazard and Somers like Tristan James!!!I cannot wait to start Hazard and Somers book! I’ve missed them so much!

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read the blurb for the next book in the Iron on Iron series, The Evening Wolves. I was compelled to for no other reason than the way Gregory Ashe chose to end The Spoil of Beasts. When I say it didn’t make me feel any better, or even marginally less angst-ridden, I’m not lying in the least. Ashe doesn’t write low hanging fruit in his mysteries; he shakes all the trees and sees what kind of foul spoils fall out. One of the many things I’ve always loved about his storytelling is that no one is above suspicion or contempt—not politicians, not the clergy, not cops. Everyone is fair game in an investigation, and it’s often true that those who many assign gratuitous reverence to are those who are the most repugnant.

This third novel in the Iron on Iron series belongs to North McKinney and Shaw Aldritch, and they run with it by virtue of John-Henry bringing them on as contractors with the Wahredua PD. There is, of course, murder afoot—it wouldn’t be a Gregory Ashe book, after all, if several someones weren’t being violently unalived in the telling of a story—and North and Shaw have been hired to hunt down an escaped killer. A killer with some ultimately interesting ties to the greater case these guys have been working on across three books now. Unfortunately, though, all their strongest leads keep ending up dead. And, in fact, North and Shaw don’t stray far from that fate themselves, thanks in no small part to North’s tendency to resist being told what to do and how to do it.

The Spoil of Beasts takes another dive into North and Shaw and what makes them tick, what makes them glitch (so much glitching), what drives and motivates them, and this delivers them to the next stage of their relationship, which means accepting that they’ve grown and shifted. Adaptability isn’t always among their assets, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying. A lot of that is thanks to the new group of friends North is begrudgingly accumulating. Seeing these guys cut loose together when, otherwise, they’re so high-strung—murder investigations will do that to a guy—was such a joy to witness before they rushed headlong back into the danger and mayhem.

If I’m not mistaken, this is the closest Gregory Ashe has come to writing an unsolved mystery. North and Shaw don’t deliver this case and the criminals to John-Henry tied up in a tidy little bow at the end. And I can’t think of a better way to have suited the mood to the couple to the case than this. Given what’s coming, though? Time to prepare doesn’t equal being prepared in the slightest.

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this was an ARC, you won’t see any highlights but this book had a ton of them.

Shaw and North were the focus on this installment. They were in mortal danger way too often! Trying to solve the mystery of the jailhouse deaths were almost an exercise in futility. John-Henry, Emery, Jem, Tean, Auggie and Theo together with Shaw and North try to get to the bottom of everything.

There are many deaths in this one. If suicide is a TW, be aware that it is in this book. As the death count piles up, things get clearer but also more murky. Who is the big bad? We don’t find out just yet.

There are some seriously hilarious North and Shaw moments in this installment AND some tear jerking moments. Love that we got those.

February is when the last book comes out and it’s going to be a loooooong wait for me!

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I.... This was my favorite of the series so far? I might need some explanation for the un-Hazarding (to an extent) but I'm not mad at it.

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

What else could it be other than 5 stars? Another terrific read from one of my fave authors [well, he should be, I've read over 60 of his stories 😊]; some violence and murders of course 🫣, quite a bit of angst, some horsing around between all the characters, North is given some very necessary life lessons by both Emery and Theo [he was a complete and utter arse, and it says something when Ree is the one giving advice 🤯], and I still have no fricking clue who the man in black is, but they need to work out who it is and who he's working for...stat!!! Some characters were harmed in the writing of this story BUT no deaths amongst our boys thank goodness 🥳. and even though he's not my fave GA character, I thought Shaw was really good in this one, nowhere near as silly as usual. Will he and North get back together after Shaw's break for his mental health? Hopefully...

I cannot for the life of me understand why certain parts of the US are so fixated on televangelism and these mega churches. They're mostly crooked and purely in it for the money they can make off their gullible parishioners [Genesis' Jesus He Knows Me is so, SO true]. Yet again, proud to be a part of Greg's Kickstarter project, and 🎧🎧🎧 news *** Update 2/12/23. Charlie David is doing this one as he did the original North & Shaw stories. Won't be buying the audio then, and if Tristan James does the last story just cos it's Ree & J-H, then I won't be buying that one either, sorry ☹️. ***

[StayCalm81 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregory Ashe is incredible as always. The story picks up right at the end of book 2 and now it’s Shaw and North leading. Even though I love them they are my least favorite couple, too chaotic and OTT, very hard to follow their steps on the case because everything feels improvised. And their banter…not my cup of tea. Like in the other books of this series we are gifted with the most precious and heartwarming scenes with all 8 characters, it’s really a treat for the fans ❤️
Can’t wait for book 4 🤗

Now about the narration, I’m so disappointed with the narrator’s choice for Hazard! Why!!!!! It almost ruined the audio for me and I actually had to stop and eyeball read Emery’s parts it was so bad. Our most beloved booming favorite grump with a sweet sweet voice…unbelievable….

[Riva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in GA’s love letter to his fans, the crossover series, Iron on Iron. This book focuses on North & Shaw of the Borealis series. Although not necessary to enjoy these books, it certainly helps if you familiar with all the couples and their “unique” personalities.

The mystery that began with the Cottonmouth Club continues. But in it’s wake three new murders have happened. As this happens at the end of the 2nd book I won’t say who as that would be a spoiler, but it is certainly shocking. John Henry hires North & Shaw to help investigate as this situation that began with Jem visiting the Cottonmouth Club is getting out of hand. People John Henry cares about are getting hurt and he feels responsible.

Although the other couples contribute to the investigation, the main focus is on North and his handling of this new “found family.” He is not handling it well and his caustic personality rubs everyone the wrong way. It’s just North’s defensive mechanism but only Shaw knows that. North struggles to help solve the mystery but keeps running afoul of John Henry and putting Shaw in danger. The investigation leads to a mega church and the body count ramps up. It’s has many twists and turns and trips to the hospital. It comes to a satisfying conclusion with a burning desire for Emery & John’s final book.

The narrator for this book has changed to Charlie David; the narrator for the Borealis series. It was great hearing the recognized North & Shaw voices, but jarring for the other couples. Charlie David did a wonderful job overall it was an A+ performance. That said, I hope Tristan James is the narrator for the final book. That is the only voice for John & Emery I can imagine. We will see.

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one follows Shaw and North for this episode of the ongoing investigation, and how did I forget how funny they are while ragging on each other, and then the emotional hits of their intensity? I've enjoyed every book so far, but this one includes overdue character arcs I was grateful to read. Okay, on to #4.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That’s some dark shit,” North said. Shaw shrugged. “Shadow work.”


My favourites are back and I'm not letting go. Borealis series 3 needed!!


Full review to come.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real depth to Shaw;
deep rage from North. Sort your shit.
Awesome eight again.

[Sam Reads Books *Just the Highlights* · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024: 4.5
2025: 4.5
Average: 4.5

[Crystal D. Budy · Rating 5 out of 5]

North and Shaw are baccckkkkkkk!!! Omg, I can't believe how much I've missed them. I practically highlighted this entire book. It was a little excessive. (But honestly... was it? Was it really?)

Seeing how much these two have changed but stayed the same since their arcs was amazing. And the growth they both have just over the course of this book is beautiful. GA is the master of allowing characters to grow while still maintaining their sense of self, and he pulls out all those stops with North and Shaw, particularly North.

While this is, as always, told from both North and Shaw's POV, this is definitely a North-centric story. He brute-forces his way through every interaction, blowing things up in his path, per usual. Everything comes to a head in this book, which may force our favorite loveable bully to do some introspection.

Seeing our boys interacting with the other characters was an absolute gift, as always. I adore seeing these characters learning new things about each other in this series. North and Emery pretending not to be friends are always some of my favorite scenes. And in this series, we've been blessed with North and Auggie and we thankfully get to see more of that. Also, some surprising interactions I wasn't expecting but honestly make complete sense when you really think about them.

I can't believe there's only one more full-length book left in this series after this. While I long to see how this all gets wrapped up, I'm already sad to see it end.

Highly recommend. Can't wait for The Evening Wolves!

Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is amazing!

[Laura Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s taken me a few days after finishing this book to write this review, because I really needed to stop and digest all of that. Because, wow. That was non-stop from start to finish, in the absolute best of ways.

Firstly, I just want to start off by saying that I love how each of the different books in this series have their own distinct tone. Like, it’s very obvious this is a North and Shaw book, and it’s done so effortlessly that you just sink back into the POVs of these characters. It’s not jarring at all, and you have to marvel at Gregory Ashe’s writing style.

I cannot express how lovely it was to be back with these guys. I feel like each couple in the Hazardverse have their own distinct vibe. Tean and Jem are very much emotionally charged books. Theo and Auggie mysteries are a slow, intense burn. North and Shaw are a fast-paced, raucous, snowball of a pair, and every one of their stories sucks you right in. Much like this one.

I don’t want to give away any spoilers — because, my god, does this book have some real shockers — so instead, let’s talk about the characters. These boys. My boys. Especially North, who goes on a real journey through this. I mean, he is put through the wringer. It’s been really satisfying (and incredibly emotional) to watch him grow, and learn that he doesn’t always have to wear a mask around his friends. Seeing him bond with the other guys, seeing him open up and actually accept the affection that he deserves was so rewarding and heartwarming. I’m really, genuinely happy for him.

Chapter twenty-two absolutely owns my heart. I think it always will. Gregory Ashe has this wonderful way of knowing when the readers need to take a breath from the drama and the intensity, and then he gives us a chapter like this. Much like chapter eighteen in TGITW, here we get to see the guys at their best. It was a delight to read, and to get to see the boys bond like that. I love seeing the unlikely friendships blossoming within the group. It was so obviously written from a place of absolute love for these characters, and it is really special for the reader to experience.

I am beyond excited for the final book in the Iron on Iron series. I cannot wait to see how this is all wrapped up. It’s been such a rollercoaster so far, and I know that Hazard and Somers are going to be the perfect end to what has been one of my favourite series to read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

North and Shaw have a come a looooong way. They still have some tension, but they are so solid as a couple, and that was beautiful to see. Within probably 5 minutes of starting the book my husband had to ask me what I was laughing at. The way these two banter is just absolutely hilarious, but I also like that we got an explanation for why they are like this. Alongside the hilariousness there was a dark side and the action definitely kept me on my toes. One of my favorite parts of this crossover series is that each of the grumpier MCs is getting some 1 on 1 time with Emery Hazard and I honestly live for those scenes. The mystery continues to evolve and it's really wizardry how Ashe weaves it all together. I'm so sad that the next book is the last, but I also cannot wait to read Hazard and Somerset's portion!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm at the third book in the series, and this one is from North and Shaw's POVs, well, mostly North, tbh. And it works very well as we have witnessed the escalating aggressivity of North comments, to the point of reaching levels of real verbal abuse. This book lets us see under all his bravado and posturing, highlighting how the way his upbringing, the mechanisms he created to hide his sense of inferiority during his time at Chouteau, and his almost obsessive need to protect Shaw (from others, yes, but also from himself, from his unregulated empathy that sometimes is a worse menace than criminals are), they are all conspiring to make of him this nasty, ungrateful bastard who can't even thanks Auggie to save their lives.

It's in this context that John-Henry hires them to help him solve the murders at the jail, and what a mess that ends up being! I get why North is frustrated, but his almost pathological need to answer to no one puts the investigation and them in great danger more than once.

Again, Emery surprised me here, Not because I didn't know he had a heart bigger than Wahredua but because we so rarely see him putting it out there for others than his family. But his conversation with North and his offer of friendship comes at the moment in which North truly needs it. And he knew it.

Something that I appreciated, too, was seeing Shaw standing by himself and doing what was best for him, refusing to let North dictate his actions. After Codirection I needed that.

They still have a lot to work through, their traumas still shadowing their relationship, but you can see here that they are growing, and learning to be themselves outside their relationship. Shees! Sometimes, I forget how young these two men are...

The case, of course, is getting darker and darker. I love that we can trace a parallel between the way in which the main mystery evolves and the kind of conflicts the different couples are facing. Although it makes me afraid of what this will mean for Emery and John-Henry in the next book.

That said, I loved how this book ends, because yes, that last thought from North is exactly how this end feels. There is no solution to the mystery, nothing has been solved and yet, they are leaving. It'd be heartbrokenly if we didn't know there are more to come.

In short: an emotional rollercoaster and a complex mystery with heart-stopping action moments, what else can you ask of a story?