Nelson & MacIlwraith

Moon Murder Mysteries #2

by K. Sterling

What’s it like having a witch for a partner?

Nelson has figured out that keeping Nox satisfied is the key to his freedom during the day. But he’s also afraid their mystical connection could be harming Nox. That’s not their only problem. They’re still working on the Moon Murder Mysteries and now, suspects and witnesses are dropping like flies. And their murderer is getting far too close to home.

Nelson & MacIlwraith: Moon Murder Mysteries #2 is a paranormal mystery book, with an MM couple, plenty of spice, a murderer to catch, and a continuation of the overarching magical storyline based on Celtic mythology.

Nox is a little bit witchcraft. Nelson is a little bit Federal Bureau. Together, they’re a wickedly good team, but can they solve the puzzle and catch a murderer before Nox’s fate catches up with them?

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, M M Romance, Fantasy, Magic, Queer

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2024

About the author

Author of the popular Nannies of New York and Boys of Lake Cliff book series, K Sterling has self-published dozens of books. K. is known for fast-paced romantic thrillers and touching gay romcoms. There might be goosebumps and some gore but there’s always true love and lots of laughter.

Reviews

[Mx. T *Chaotic Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I'm back with my grumpy FBI agent and my sunshine-y magical professor. K. Sterling made me suffer a bit with this one. I want them to be happy and safe sooo bad, but no, Nox is about to become something else and Nelson can't let him go. Nelson is the steadiest most protective mf ever. He's is trustworthy, loyal and loves Nox so much. He is also smart and a bit anxious, ofc. I want one. Where can I get my own Nelson, K. Sterling??? I'll even carry antacids in my pocket for him.
Nox broke my heart a bit. He's such a happy man, extremely knowledgeable and always finding the positive in everything. Kind of golden retriever energy with the skin of a black cat. But he was tested here. The pain from his family legacy and the death of his parents are weighing him down, and the Dagda isn't taking it easy on him. Fate is a bitch, right?
Also: ✨Sex magic✨. That's it. That's all I'm gonna say about that.
I hope Merlin and Clancy redeem themselves, because The Betrayal™️ was betraying.
I can't wait to know who this Badb evil dude is.

[Kassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second installment of Moon Murder Mystery we get to see more of the evolving relationship of our two leads. The chemistry that we got to see build in this book was wonderful. The sex magic ✨ was delicious.

When it comes to the murder mystery solving duo of Nox and Neslon's the story will have you feeling like a certain meme with papers, string, a board, and a look like you haven't slept in days trying to help solve the cases that are plauging these boys.

The growth that we see in Neslon between the two stories pulled on my heart a lot. He is learning about himself and his new partner in ways that haven't crossed our sweet robotic boys mind. He spent so long focused on filling big shoes and failing. That it was wonderful to see him have growth with Nox.

Well with Nox my heart had broken more then once in this read. No spoilers but I want to just hold this sweet boy in my arms and tell him the world will be ok again.

(I received a ARC copy for an honest review of this book)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

"I can protect Nox from bullets and blades and fists, but I can't stop a god or dark magick."

Book 2 picks up three months after the end of book 1. It starts out steamy and never really lets up because of the whole sex magick situation going on. When it comes to the case, there's finally a break, and they continue their investigation. Unfortunately it results in the discovery of secrets and lies being kept by those close to them. As Nox seems to slowly be losing himself to a god , Nelson tries to hold on to him any way he can.

Overall, Moon Murder Mysteries is a paranormal mystery romance filled with copious amount of sex, secrets, betrayal, myths, legends, curses, and leaves us with anticipation for the final book.

[Lindsey Middlemiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

I adore these two main characters. The Goth looking Golden Retriever boyfriend Nox. And his stoic, protective partner-in-all-things Nelson.

In this, book #2 of the trilogy, we see Nox and Nelson come closer together as they face attacks, dark secrets, and a coming threat to Nox.

Nox just wants to teach and love Nelson like a normal person, well, witch, but he has killers to stop and a dark fate hanging over him. Plus, secrets about his family are starting to come out.

Nelson is re-evaluating what is important to him, after a lifetime of striving to be good enough and feeling like he never quite succeeded. Plus, he is coming to terms with the fact that, despite never having been interested in sex until he met Nox, he is now doing Sex Magick.

There are secrets coming out, threats coming from unexpected quarters, and a lot of fear to work through, but we see them move forward in solving the Moon Murder Mysteries, strengthen thwir connection to each other and come closer to confronting Nox's fate.

In this you'll find:
✨️MM paranormal romance & mystery
✨️Goth Golden Retriver Anthropology Professor, who is also a Pagan Witch
✨️Stoic FBI agent partner on the Asexual spectrum, who now finds himself doing Sex Magick
✨️A killer on the loose
✨️Hurt/comfort
✨️Fated mates
✨️Family drama
✨️Poisonings + Curses
✨️Narcotic drug use, both consensual & non-consensual
✨️Breath play
✨️Homophobia from a stranger
✨️Past death of a parent from cancer
✨️Past death of a parent from a mountain fall
✨️A HFN ending with the overarching plot continuing

N.B. I was copy editor for this book and received an ARC.

[Jared (jareadforfilth) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book feels like a perfect transition from the absolute whirlwind of action and high stakes of the crimes and storyline set in book 1 and the complete annihilation I just KNOW is coming in book 3!! K. really came through here in shifting gears and showing just how big and just how deep the conspiracies surrounding Nox and the ruse that his been set forth to corner him against his destiny 🤯

I’m so excited to see where book 3 goes and luckily, we won’t have to wait long because it comes out NEXT WEEK 😱 like I said, no one works harder than K. and I couldn’t be prouder to call her my friend!! 🥰 I’m so honored to have been a small inspiration to this story and am just beyond words to describe how awestruck I am! 🫶🏻😍 Book 1 and 2 are available now for free on #kindleunlimited so download it and get in on the spice, suspense, and supernatural action of Nelson & MacIlwraith: Moon Murder Mysteries!!

[Kristy Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a trilogy and I’ll be reviewing books 1-3 together so expect this review under all three though I rated each book differently. The mystery presented in book 1 is not completely resolved until book 3. There are companion novels that follow that I’m not sure I’m going to read. This story follows FBI agent Grady Nelson when he assigned to a possible missing persons report that his boss thinks is just a nuisance case. Nelson is assigned to work on the case with Professor Lennox “Nox” MacIlwraith, an expert on the occult, also rumored to be a psychic and a witch.

I was attracted to this series since it had witches, MM romance, a mystery and Irish mythology. There was a lot of Irish mythology, pronunciation keys, glossaries, and a quite a few footnotes, so if those bug you be warned. Honestly, it was a mishmash of a lot of different mythology at times and while I enjoyed it in parts, sometimes it felt like it might have been too much.

I found the initial mystery to be intriguing but was a bit disappointed in the overall arc of the story. It came on strong in the beginning but lost momentum in the subsequent books, overshadowed by other elements. At times, I really enjoyed the witchy elements. The sex magick took over as the dominant practice at one point (this trilogy is spicy). I honestly found it confusing, almost ethereal and it just didn’t make a lot of sense to me, especially at moments that were apparently important to the story. I would have enjoyed seeing Nox practice other types of magic equally.

As far as characters, I often preferred the supporting cast over the main characters. I adored Merlin but often felt Clancy was more of an enigma. I enjoyed Tony the TA, Aubrey and Howard as well as a few other supporting characters. Nox was sometimes an interesting character, and others just went off in his own world that I wasn’t quite following. I thought I was going to enjoy Nelson in the beginning, I love a stiff Fed, but the initial presentation of his character shifted in a way that didn’t feel like a natural progression to me.

If you enjoy spicy witchy/druid characters that speak Gaelic, give this a try, you may enjoy it more than me.

[booknerd_charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would do anything for Nelson and Nox, and I don’t think that’s an exaggeration at this point. They’re one of my favorite literary pairings of all time, which is a huge testament to K. Sterling’s ability to write characters that are both so beautiful and so flawed at the same time. They are incredibly three-dimensional and relatably human, and we can’t help but root for them, in all their grumpy/sunshine glory.

I devoured the first book in the series, so I knew I was going to go into book II with the same fervor. However, I’m always cautiously optimistic with a new installment in a series because I never know if my expectations are too high. This is one of the rare exceptions that actually meets the standard I set for it. I love that we dive deeper into Nelson and Nox’s relationship, and that we actually put it to the test here. It felt like the stakes were higher and it elevated everything, from the world-building to the banter. And, as so many other reviews have already pointed out, there’s some magical sexy time, too!

One thing K. Sterling really knows how to do is leave you eager for more, and I am now desperate to start the third installment in the series so I can find our poor Nox’s fate and try to unravel all the threads of secrets and lies.


Thank you so much to the author for the ARC for this book, and I can’t wait for book three

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can I interest you in some ✨sex magick✨???

Intrigued? Good. But let me clarify that yes, sex magick and this book are great, however, this is not your fun rom com or quick pallet cleanser from CC3. This series involves sooo much occult history and non-worldly, magick things and events + murder investigations + footnotes for parts of Celtic mythology used + so much more. I had to reread pages and triple check things to make sure I had everything straight in my mind because of those complexities. In other words, you have to be prepared for all of that and also know that you’ve probably never read a book/series like this (I certainly hadn’t!!) Also, and I cannot stress this enough, you have to read this series in order. If you jump right into book 2 without reading book 1, you will be so incredibly lost😂 If you have read book 1 in the past, I would even recommend rereading it before picking up this one just so you remember everything that has happened so far.

That all being said, I really did like this book and this series so far! Book 2 wrapped up some loose ends from book 1 and gave much more depth to Nox and Nelson’s relationship that started to help unpack exactly who they are and what they mean to each other. For me, book 1 focused on the murder investigation part of things and begins to dip into Nox and Nelson’s relationship and book 2 focused more on their relationship + learning more about who they (and their friends) truly are with the murder investigation happening in the background. Book 2 also featured a lot more details and events relating to magick and spiritual realms that made it a bit more difficult to follow at points, but again that is to be expected with this genre.

The book did end with me grasping at even more loose ends trying to figure out how all of it will come together. The epilogue especially made me so nervous for Nox and his future, but I’m confident all will be (hopefully happily??😬) resolved in the final book.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this great book! I cannot wait for the third and final book!

[Rod Lujano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nelson & Macllwraith are back, more in love than ever and totally committed to each other. After 3 months of letting the case rest and being on their honeymoon phase they have to go back and work on the Moon Murder Mistery when witnesses and suspects start to drop like flies.

This is book 2 of the Moon Murder Misteries and the storyline continues. The relationship between Nox and Nelson is stronger than ever and is so cool to see them reaffirming their love for each other. This book also is spicier than the first book, the s3x scenes were “elevating” to say the least and I had to fan myself a couple of times, because you know, they were sexy.

Im not gonna spoil anything, but oh boy, I got dizzy reading that last couple of chapters. The twist was twisty and the feelings were felt.

This was such an amazing second part, Im so impressed with all the research im sure the author had to do, can’t wait to read the last book, although I’m gonna be so sad it’s over.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The difficulty in reviewing mysteries is that you want to say how interesting all the elements are - how they come together…or don’t - but ruining any surprises for people who haven’t picked it up yet is unthinkable!

The safest thing I can think to say plot-wise is that this book continues the main mystery arc from the first in the series. You’ll see the return of friends, foes, and people you aren’t quite certain where they land on that scale.
For a while, even as some things are made clear, you’ll find there’s almost as many new questions as there were answers.

Nox is so well loved, but with those same people keeping many (important) secrets it’s hard to know who can be trusted - You’re continuously wondering about their wild methods and the motives behind them.

The UST between Nox and Nelson that was in much of book one is unresolved no longer, replaced with sex magick that is 🔥 and dangerous all at once. The emotional bonds stronger than ever too.
It was also great to see how they continued to work together on the case - as ever, the same goals but different thoughts on how they should get there. The exasperation toned down from when they first teamed up, mostly, but still there.

After an ending that packs an emotional punch, I am more than ready for book three!
(thankfully the wait will be shockingly short)

Thanks to the author for the arc!

[Alastair H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The connection between these two is so entertaining. I loved seeing more of them and watching their relationship grow while dodging curses and dealing with pesky magick

A bit sexy, a bit eerie, sweet like licorice. These books take you on an exciting and spellbinding ride. Nox is a cheerful chaotic bean but we love him, and Nelson's commanding energy balances him out.

This installment dives deeper into Nelson and Nox's relationship, there's a lot of development on that front. It focuses more on that than the mystery in my opinion , which was very welcome considering these two have a really enjoyable dynamic to read about. There's definitely some drama, I was stressing out all over the place 😂 these two are so likable it's hard to watch them to go through anything bad ever. But luckily it is interspersed with little moments of connection that sweeten things out. This storyline is I would say on the more complicated side, definitely need to read these in order, I found myself referring back to book 1 a few times just to make sure the plot lines where correct in my head since I hadn't read the first one in a while. There is no question these books are written well.

*I received and ARC of this book, these are my honest opinions and im giving them voluntarily* ♥️

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a hard book to rate as well as read

Rating 3.5:

This was a hard book to rate as well as read. For all the qualities I loved in the first book, some of those same elements were ones that made this a very frustrating reading experience.

Where book one was an expansive exploration of those characters personalities, universe , including the mystical powers and mythology that surrounds them, the second novel narrowed down the focus to the men , their new dynamic, and the important orbiting characters. The smaller field of storytelling highlights some of the issues when making this strange nebulous dynamic the central aspect of the book.

There’s page after page of non communication between Nox and Nelson of what’s actually happening between them, the changes involved with them, but most importantly, the god that’s gradually taking over Nox. Its a case of “they know or don’t know, friends know more, and talk to over the issues to one but not the other” story. Over and over.

This type of repetitive behavior and endless conversations overlaid with sex gave me headaches. And rarely did it move the narrative forward. Until a mad rush at the end.

Where the first book has the murder investigations, the town’s people and various historical elements at play alongside the intricacies of Nelson and Nox’s personal interplay along with their new relationship dynamics. Here that’s winnowed down into a frustrating monotonous story of a four men and a god power play mystery. But instead of it being interesting and exciting , it feels flat, a bit densely packed, and the ending is just too predictable.

Read it because it’s the bridge to the last book in this trilogy. The events revealed weren’t that surprising. And the final book is out. Let’s see what it holds.

Moon Murder Mysteries I - 3

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have to say it took me a little while to get into the book. There was a little bit too much Celtic mythology, and I wasn't sure what was happening when Nox started having out of body experiences. It was much better around the halfway mark when they started to focus more on the mystery.

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Grady Nelson from Nelson & MacIlwraith is acespec!

https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...

[Lennox Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oddly specific question I would previously never have had an answer for: Knox, what’s your idea of the perfect blend of mystery, suspense, and steamy romance? My answer now would be to gently but firmly press copies of the Nelson & MacIllwraith series into your hands. From here on out, this series is the bar for what I expect out of something marketed as romantic suspense/mystery.

Another fantastic thing about this book is how it takes elements from different main genres to both build something new and engaging and allow me to indulge in genres that I do really enjoy, as a general concept, but have been feeling slightly indifferent towards or downright burnt out on lately. The thriller aspects, for example, are made novel and exciting again by all the interwoven magick and celtic mythology. Keeping up this vibe I’ve got going here, I dare say Nelson & MacIllwraith is a sort of literary alchemy in the way it’s blending all these different genre elements to create reader gold. This is what happens when writers of genre fiction don’t pressure themselves to stay within one very clearly defined pigeonhole, and it’s wonderful!

There were so many parts of this second installment that had me just screaming (in my head, of course) at the characters. Just. screaming. That Epilogue, especially. All I can say is thank God us readers don’t have long to wait to read the conclusion.

As always, folks, this is my opinion and not everything I read is for every reader. Always read the blurb and check out a book’s content advisories before you jump in (Especially with the latest book community drama surrounding the romance genre specifically). That said. . .

I’m hoping that my precious bee boy Nelson and perpetually horny demigod Nox get the wide, devoted audience they 100% deserve!

I received an ARC and am leaving thi review voluntarily.

[Dear Reader 0801 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt like this book really set the stage for what’s sure to be a thrilling conclusion in the next one. It’s a paranormal mystery with ties to Celtic mythology and I was grateful for the author’s footnotes and guide. It follows the events of book 1 and Nelson and Nox are still trying make sense in a way of what happened when more mysterious events keep taking place.

The connection between the two MCs seems to keep growing and Nelson struggles to keep up with all the new information that is being thrown upon him while keeping Nox grounded and protected and away from Him. The story starts with some spice between the two characters and you can almost feel the chemistry between these two throughout the story.

Nox feels like such a contrast to the gruff character of Nelson. Dealing with the looming curse above his head and people/magic out to get him at what feels like every turn. Who can he really trust is a question I found myself asking while reading. I love the fact that he never feels overwhelmed and doesn’t have a defeatist attitude and keeps this positive mindset throughout the whole book.

The book ends with discoveries, uncovering of truths and learning some history that feels like a betrayal for Nelson and most importantly Nox. It feels like the clock is ticking for him to deal with the Dagda but the addition of the imposter has added another layer to the whole situation that makes this feel almost impossible for Nox. I can’t wait for the final installment to see how this all wraps up!

[Blue Books Boy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I finished the first book in the series, I was so eager to know what happens next that I immediately jumped on the sequel. I was lucky enough to catch a spot on K. Sterling’s ARC list so I made myself a bowl of blueberry oatmeal and dove right in.
Volume II goes even further in the celtic lore introduced in Volume I as Nox and Nelson’s relationship progresses and reading it felt a lot like putting the pieces of a puzzle together. We don’t get the full picture yet as the third and last book in the series will come out further down the line but this second installment really spices things up (pun intended) and reveals more elements from Nox’s lineage and his uaithne’s involvement in the prophecy.
As the investigation continues, I loved all the clues and hints that lead Nelson (and the readers) on different paths which create tension and suspicion towards almost everybody involved.
The spiciness level is really up there this time around as Nelson discovers his sex magick and uses it quite often much to Nox’s enjoyment. Now I can’t wait to get started on Volume III !

[RJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its just that....nothing really happens. I mean *some* things happen of course, but for the most part the plot just takes a casual walk forward not a leap. Hopefully this means that the third one will be stuffed...hopefully. It was still fun and good though the plot probably would have been better served fading to black for one of the sex scenes and using the pages to do a little more plot development. Alsooo without going into super details, various crimes happen and the way they are investigated is.....well they arent really investigated and thats the problem. Someone gets murdered in a prison and theyre kinda just like...."well shoot, the bad guy strikes again, we'll get'em next time". And go about their day. The only good thing about prisons is that they have lots of security features that would make this difficult or at the very least give you a good idea of who did it since theyd have to go through many layers of people to get access to anyone leaving a trail. I might have missed it but basically this is ignored or at least not discussed which felt like a weak element to me.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

This second adventure with Nelson and Nox was even better than the first one. I was genuinely afraid for Nox! I really enjoyed that things stayed suspenseful and unpredictable. I adore Nox and I loved seeing how grumpy Nelson could not control his protective feelings toward him. Most rewarding is that our spice has some Magic, literally! Nox is still his happy professor self despite everything he learns and goes through. There is some outside of the couple betrayals that run deep. Exciting and romantic with more to come!

[Anonym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, but wait until all three are available

I read this one pretty close to when it came out, but it had been long enough since the first one that I couldn’t remember much of what had happened in it, and there weren’t enough references like you usually get in a new volume of a continuing story. Better to just mainline all three.
Also, on the technical side, there are too many italics used, which can be both confusing and distracting. Capitalizing Him when referring to a god is enough, also italicizing is over emphasis.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is getting weirder. I still don't love the romance between Nox and Nelson because it doesn't seem based on anything except sex. Nelson still has no personality and no skills as an investigator. I wasn't particularly surprised by the revelations at the end of the book, but I don't think I was supposed to be based on the number of clues in the two books. The current murder mystery (the yew poisonings) wasn't solved by the end of this book which isn't quite how I thought the series was going to be structured. I'm still curious where this is all going and looking forward to book 3.

[Daniel Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope K Sterling will be giving us more of Nelson and Nox after these 3 books. Nelson and Nox have become one of my favorite queer crime solving duo. The magic aspect of book only adds to its uniqueness. And as a person who has studied (a very little bit) about my Irish ancestors, it is wonderful to see elements of that ancient culture appear in modern literature. If you like a supernatural thriller based around Celtic Lore with two intriguing main characters, you need to give this series a try.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

second coming

Instead of a new case, this novel continues to deal with the effects of the past one.

Nelson is a devoted lover, all-in and more than willing to see their love as a lifetime, which is both reassuring and a little scary.

Nox, as the possible reincarnation or vessel for the god of light and love, deals with the horror of pain and suffering brought by a cult devoted to his aspect.

Secrets slowly unearthed, knowledge gained and passed down, and the next book we don’t know if the man or the god will ascend.

[Anna Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy buckets Batman! I have been along for this wild and crazy ride since the prologue of book 1. I was surprised by the twist book 2 took and cannot wait to see what book 3 brings.
Nelson and Nox were bound to find each other and be together (this much was known). The extent of their ‘finding each other’ is still shrouded in mystery. Merlin and Clancy play a bigger role in this book, and I know there aren’t done. Nox has a lot to learn before the end of book 3, but I’m ready for him and Nelson to have the HEA they deserve.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is intriguing, interesting and incredible! A dive into Irish mythology, the gods, the devils and the occult. Nelson works for the FBI and Nox is a professor and advisor and perhaps they are little more connected to all that's going on than most realize. Together they make a research team and a couple. A very hot couple! Their current case centers around a group of evil witches who have committed the most heinous acts and they must find the person who allowed this to happen.

[Stacy Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

difficult read

Having to go back to the translation guide or forward to the end of a chapter to read the result of a footnote took me out of the story. I get that it’s ancient Gaelic, but between the history which was hard to follow and the words that were equally unclear. Uthaine/oof-na… I love Nox and Nelson which is why I both finished this book and why I’m moving on to the next,

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Questions were answered. Trusts were broken and I thought I had it all figured out... until the last paragraph. 🤦‍♀️😭🤬

I guess I will have to wait and see what happens in Nelson & MacIlwraith because at this point, I am back to not having a freakin' clue what is going on... grrr

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that I'd be enjoying this more if it was one (tightly written) book, rather than a trilogy. At times it feels like nothing is happening. They (and we, the readers) are looking a possibilities, likelihoods, trying to identify the baddies via process of elimination, but there's little movement forward. I may be as frustrated as Nelson and Nox. :)

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad the next one is coming soon, because I really need to know what happens next.

[notachance]

DNF 24% - I’m just a bit confused about what’s happening…