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Kavanagh's Legacy #3
Hell's Circus: One in purgatory. One in prison. Two battles, fought alone.
BREAKING DOWN
Ryan Shale is in big trouble. An undercover job at the terrifying HMP Heronfall has overrun with no end in sight. Trapped with sadistic officers in a harrowing regime, his only contact has inexplicably gone AWOL, and he has no communication with the outside world. As misery takes its toll and the cruelty intensifies, it's only a matter of time before the Head Guard pushes it too far and all hell breaks loose.
STEPPING UP
With the wedding fast approaching, and no word in weeks, Jake Taberner realises he's going to have to grab the reins. His partner has sheltered him through every dark day of his painful recovery, and the time has come to repay that debt. But it's no easy task. Jake is grappling with heavy shackles of his own - the PTSD from the Chesworth Towers ordeal still weighing him down. Yet, as the expected seven-day assignment stretches into weeks, it's becoming clear he needs to get Ryan out before his cover's blown. The superintendent refuses to intervene, but Jake can sense something's gone very wrong. Dead set on rescuing the man who pieced him back together, he must cast his crutches aside, make his way to Headquarters, and force a showdown with the Chief. But how can he muster up the courage to fight Ryan's corner when even the mere prospect of leaving the house still fills him with terror?
Ryan Shale is in big trouble. An undercover job at the terrifying HMP Heronfall has overrun with no end in sight. Trapped with sadistic officers in a harrowing regime, his only contact has inexplicably gone AWOL, and he has no communication with the outside world. As misery takes its toll and the cruelty intensifies, it's only a matter of time before the Head Guard pushes it too far and all hell breaks loose.
STEPPING UP
With the wedding fast approaching, and no word in weeks, Jake Taberner realises he's going to have to grab the reins. His partner has sheltered him through every dark day of his painful recovery, and the time has come to repay that debt. But it's no easy task. Jake is grappling with heavy shackles of his own - the PTSD from the Chesworth Towers ordeal still weighing him down. Yet, as the expected seven-day assignment stretches into weeks, it's becoming clear he needs to get Ryan out before his cover's blown. The superintendent refuses to intervene, but Jake can sense something's gone very wrong. Dead set on rescuing the man who pieced him back together, he must cast his crutches aside, make his way to Headquarters, and force a showdown with the Chief. But how can he muster up the courage to fight Ryan's corner when even the mere prospect of leaving the house still fills him with terror?
551 pages, Paperback
Published April 12, 2024
About the author
Dan Garrett
3 books17 followersBased in Cheshire, England, Dan has been writing Ryan and Jake's adventures for eight years. With Wattpad as a test bed, he won numerous awards, including Best Adventure in the LGBT Literary Awards, Best Mystery/Thriller in the Fiction Awards, and Readers' Choice Awards in 2018 and 2020. Dan works for Asda and keeps life simple. When not at the keyboard, he loves interacting with cats, finishing the sudoku, walking on deserted beaches, eating dark chocolate (preferably mint), and reading in the sunshine.
If you enjoyed Ryan and Jake's story, you can find two prequels over on Wattpad (DanGarrettAuthor). Based five years before the events of Kavanagh's Legacy, 'Wildcard' covers Ryan and Jake's initial meeting and 'Racing The Tide' covers a dangerous case they're thrown into together.
Alternatively, why not visit Insta (DanGarrettAuthor)? The guys have their own photo collection and would love to get your comments on their pictures.
If you enjoyed Ryan and Jake's story, you can find two prequels over on Wattpad (DanGarrettAuthor). Based five years before the events of Kavanagh's Legacy, 'Wildcard' covers Ryan and Jake's initial meeting and 'Racing The Tide' covers a dangerous case they're thrown into together.
Alternatively, why not visit Insta (DanGarrettAuthor)? The guys have their own photo collection and would love to get your comments on their pictures.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 20, 2025
I loved this Trilogy. The great storyline (the story is dark in places with abuse), wonderful characters and their wit, and the love they shared.
This is a new to me author and hopefully there will be more great stories coming soon.
This is a new to me author and hopefully there will be more great stories coming soon.
July 22, 2024
Hell's Circus is the third book in a three book series. This series takes you through a complicated and sensitive police case that you are so invested in and can't wait to see the resolution. The series is a rollercoaster ride with a very exciting ending. This series is a fantastic read.
May 16, 2024
I'm finally done, fellas, and I need a shower now.
Book 3 puts you through the wringer like nobody's business!
Going undercover with Ryan, getting back on your feet with Jake, finally solving the case and giving some important ghosts eternal rest before an epic happy end.
I will be back at this series before the year is out, can tell you that much.
Tess is my heroine (living in a 26 year age gap relationship myself. This is for the author: doesn't mean I don't miss Theo like crazy. His spark was epic and I will always remember his fire and glamour!).
And man, do we get a happy ending. Lot's of happy endings for all around.
And I seriously want to be part of a night out with Kenny MacBride. I would read a book a bout his adventures in a heartbeat (winkwink).
All in all... just read the books and share that epic journey.I loved every step on the way!!
Book 3 puts you through the wringer like nobody's business!
Going undercover with Ryan, getting back on your feet with Jake, finally solving the case and giving some important ghosts eternal rest before an epic happy end.
I will be back at this series before the year is out, can tell you that much.
Tess is my heroine (living in a 26 year age gap relationship myself. This is for the author: doesn't mean I don't miss Theo like crazy. His spark was epic and I will always remember his fire and glamour!).
And man, do we get a happy ending. Lot's of happy endings for all around.
And I seriously want to be part of a night out with Kenny MacBride. I would read a book a bout his adventures in a heartbeat (winkwink).
All in all... just read the books and share that epic journey.I loved every step on the way!!
September 23, 2026
I've never been more conflicted on how to rate a book.
On one hand - it was thrilling, fast-paced and kept me reading. I would give it 5 stars.
Ryan is in jail - undercover to monitor the arrested member of the child traffic ring - and it's terrible, cruel and keeps the reader glued to the pages.
Jake is rebuilding his life and reconnects with the people, who he now can see. Menawhile, Ryan being back from his undercover stint is long overdue.
All in all - really captivating.
But on the other hand - it had stupid and really more stupid stuff in it.
I have so many questions:
Jake has not left the house since he can see besides absolutely necessary appointments, he still is light sensitive in the beginning of the book, he has PSTD and is afraid of leaving the house, he has troubel adjusting to seeing.
Nonetheless - he somehow aquired a driving licence. The only explanation is, that he had already been driving as a blind man on the beach with Ryan's dad - therefore it was possible for him. WTF???
Ryan should monitor Chipchase in prison, for one hopefully getting information also to be alert on escape plans. They are kept in single confinement. There is only very few contact at all. His prison contact for emergencies is a now-show. He's mistreated by guards, doesn't get his medication, is warned by others that after latest 6 weeks the guards will demand 6ual acts from him...and still he denies the two times his uncle comes in disguise and asks if he should organize his leave. Then he is forced, retaliates, is severly beaten , is sent to the "coolers" (dark single confinement) has the chance twice to end this (btw. his wedding is the next weekend and he has two little boys at home beside his partner, who, when he went into prison, wasn't able to leave the house) and still stays in the coolers. Despite the fact that in the coolers he is unable to monitor Chipchase - his purpose for being in prison. This makes no sense at all and is probably the most annoying decision a character in a book ever has made. It annoyed the h*** our of me.
Then Marty, who is a genius, grew up in the system and had been Jake's seeing aid. He suddenly has the knowledge to do farm repairs etc. in a place where he can't google how to do handy work.
There are other minor moments where reality got streched a bit but - yes - I'm highly conflicted about this book.
If it hadn't been so well written and thrilling, I would have DNFed it with 1 star. But this author has potential. But please, next time, hire a proof reader who is actually honest and critical for plausability.
On one hand - it was thrilling, fast-paced and kept me reading. I would give it 5 stars.
Ryan is in jail - undercover to monitor the arrested member of the child traffic ring - and it's terrible, cruel and keeps the reader glued to the pages.
Jake is rebuilding his life and reconnects with the people, who he now can see. Menawhile, Ryan being back from his undercover stint is long overdue.
All in all - really captivating.
But on the other hand - it had stupid and really more stupid stuff in it.
I have so many questions:
Jake has not left the house since he can see besides absolutely necessary appointments, he still is light sensitive in the beginning of the book, he has PSTD and is afraid of leaving the house, he has troubel adjusting to seeing.
Nonetheless - he somehow aquired a driving licence. The only explanation is, that he had already been driving as a blind man on the beach with Ryan's dad - therefore it was possible for him. WTF???
Ryan should monitor Chipchase in prison, for one hopefully getting information also to be alert on escape plans. They are kept in single confinement. There is only very few contact at all. His prison contact for emergencies is a now-show. He's mistreated by guards, doesn't get his medication, is warned by others that after latest 6 weeks the guards will demand 6ual acts from him...and still he denies the two times his uncle comes in disguise and asks if he should organize his leave. Then he is forced, retaliates, is severly beaten , is sent to the "coolers" (dark single confinement) has the chance twice to end this (btw. his wedding is the next weekend and he has two little boys at home beside his partner, who, when he went into prison, wasn't able to leave the house) and still stays in the coolers. Despite the fact that in the coolers he is unable to monitor Chipchase - his purpose for being in prison. This makes no sense at all and is probably the most annoying decision a character in a book ever has made. It annoyed the h*** our of me.
Then Marty, who is a genius, grew up in the system and had been Jake's seeing aid. He suddenly has the knowledge to do farm repairs etc. in a place where he can't google how to do handy work.
There are other minor moments where reality got streched a bit but - yes - I'm highly conflicted about this book.
If it hadn't been so well written and thrilling, I would have DNFed it with 1 star. But this author has potential. But please, next time, hire a proof reader who is actually honest and critical for plausability.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2024
The explosive finale to this exciting trilogy did not disappoint. Stephen King famously said: 'To write a great novel, get your protagonist into as much trouble as possible, as early on in the book as you can', and Dan Garrett has certainly done that. Within minutes, poor Detective Shale is starting an undercover op in the country's roughest prison and in typically hapless form, loses his only contact with the outside world! Rapid-fire chapters flip back and forth between Jake on the outside - increasingly fearful at the lack of communication - and Ryan inside - trapped and vulnerable. I was on the edge of my seat right to the end, but the Happiest of Happy-Ever-Afters was well worth all the sleepless nights!
February 3, 2025
Great ending to the trilogy. Mr Garrett, I blame you for my lack of sleep this past week! I couldn’t put the books down and had to start reading the next book when I finished one.
Thank you, I really had a blast!
Thank you, I really had a blast!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews