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Detective Leon Peterson Mysteries #1
Murder Under Construction
Under the flight path, more than one secret is about to emerge…
On the brink of closing a high-profile terrorism investigation, DI Leon Peterson and his team are pulled off to investigate a cold case, a body found on a site for a new airport hotel. He knows this is political posturing, but it doesn’t make it easier to accept watching another DI muscle in on his team’s work.
For Leon, though, the decades-old cold case turns out to be closer to home in more than one way. His DS, Jasmine Todd, can’t understand his interest in the dead man, and Leon is not sure he wants to talk about his past. One thing he fears is that he may have a very personal connection to the deceased. Will the body finally give him the answers he’s waited for nearly forty years?
Even as some shocking revelations come to light, Leon can’t help being distracted by the terrorism case. He’s convinced the new DI in charge is chasing the wrong lead, and his conscience won’t let him leave it alone. No matter if it risks his career—and his life.
On the brink of closing a high-profile terrorism investigation, DI Leon Peterson and his team are pulled off to investigate a cold case, a body found on a site for a new airport hotel. He knows this is political posturing, but it doesn’t make it easier to accept watching another DI muscle in on his team’s work.
For Leon, though, the decades-old cold case turns out to be closer to home in more than one way. His DS, Jasmine Todd, can’t understand his interest in the dead man, and Leon is not sure he wants to talk about his past. One thing he fears is that he may have a very personal connection to the deceased. Will the body finally give him the answers he’s waited for nearly forty years?
Even as some shocking revelations come to light, Leon can’t help being distracted by the terrorism case. He’s convinced the new DI in charge is chasing the wrong lead, and his conscience won’t let him leave it alone. No matter if it risks his career—and his life.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2024
82 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Alex Henry
6 books8 followersAlex Henry is the pen name of three authors who between them have over forty years’ experience of writing crime and romance novels.
JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She writes mysteries and contemporary gay romance, and is frequently accused of humour. Her best-known works include the Plumber’s Mate Mystery series and standalone novel Muscling Through.
Ripley Hayes lives in West Wales, in a small town surrounded by green hills and ancient woodlands. She didn’t take up writing fiction until she retired from a long career as a university lecturer and housing researcher. Since then, she has done little else, to the despair of her friends. Her books are the kinds of books she likes to read: mysteries with wickedness but not too much blood, and romance with real people who make mistakes, all set in interesting places.
When she’s not writing, Ripley likes to read, travel, knit, and eat chocolate, ideally all at once.
Sue Brown is a Londoner who dreams of living on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance, crime, and urban fantasy, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.
JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She writes mysteries and contemporary gay romance, and is frequently accused of humour. Her best-known works include the Plumber’s Mate Mystery series and standalone novel Muscling Through.
Ripley Hayes lives in West Wales, in a small town surrounded by green hills and ancient woodlands. She didn’t take up writing fiction until she retired from a long career as a university lecturer and housing researcher. Since then, she has done little else, to the despair of her friends. Her books are the kinds of books she likes to read: mysteries with wickedness but not too much blood, and romance with real people who make mistakes, all set in interesting places.
When she’s not writing, Ripley likes to read, travel, knit, and eat chocolate, ideally all at once.
Sue Brown is a Londoner who dreams of living on a small island. Coffee fuels her addiction to writing romance, crime, and urban fantasy, and her Adorkadog snores in harmony as she creates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 2, 2025
Alex Henry is the pen name for an author collab consisting of J.L. Merrow, Sue Brown, and Ripley Hayes. I've quite enjoyed some of Merrow's books and thought I'd give this one a go (it's available on KU currently).
This book is shelved as a Mystery and MM Romance. I can confirm it's the former but certainly not the latter (not in this installment anyway).
The MC, DI Leon Peterson, is gay, and we catch a glimpse of his love interest, Ben, whom he meets on a construction site where human remains are found. Ben is the foreman, and none too happy that the coppers are sniffing around.
Leon and Ben meet up a couple times circumstantially and have a 10 minute awkward sort of date in the last chapter, where Ben announces he's just getting out of a complicated relationship (aren't they all, though?) and would Leon wait while he sorts himself out.
Leon says sure because he's a boring cat lady (not knocking that btw, I'm a boring dog lady myself) and a total pushover.
The story is told from Leon's POV, with a few chapters from the perspective of his partner, Sargent Jasmine Todd. I liked Jasmine more than I liked Leon tbh. She has a personality.
Murder Under Construction is a cross between police procedural and sleepy mystery. I'm no DI, but I've read enough detective fiction to know that assumption bias (starting with an assumption, then looking for clues to back it up) is a big no-no. You let the evidence lead you to a conclusion, not the other way around.
Leon didn't get that memo because he jumps from one suspect to another, hoping he'll hit pay dirt.
The mystery moseys along. I kept waiting for the pace to pick up, but it never did. There's no real tension, and I wasn't invested in the murders (one cold case, one current). There's some resolution, but a couple plot points (e.g., what happened to Leon's dad) remain open, which is to be expected in a pilot book.
The story is set in a village near a fictional version of Heathrow. The writing feels authentic (very British), and I noted no major editing issues. I was a lil' bored but not enough to DNF.
This book didn't get a whole lot of traffic when it was released in October 2024. The 5 star reviews are from reviewers who have an average rating of like 4.8 stars, which, come on, is sus af. I'm not saying they're incentivized reviews but I'm not NOT saying it either.
This book is shelved as a Mystery and MM Romance. I can confirm it's the former but certainly not the latter (not in this installment anyway).
The MC, DI Leon Peterson, is gay, and we catch a glimpse of his love interest, Ben, whom he meets on a construction site where human remains are found. Ben is the foreman, and none too happy that the coppers are sniffing around.
Leon and Ben meet up a couple times circumstantially and have a 10 minute awkward sort of date in the last chapter, where Ben announces he's just getting out of a complicated relationship (aren't they all, though?) and would Leon wait while he sorts himself out.
Leon says sure because he's a boring cat lady (not knocking that btw, I'm a boring dog lady myself) and a total pushover.
The story is told from Leon's POV, with a few chapters from the perspective of his partner, Sargent Jasmine Todd. I liked Jasmine more than I liked Leon tbh. She has a personality.
Murder Under Construction is a cross between police procedural and sleepy mystery. I'm no DI, but I've read enough detective fiction to know that assumption bias (starting with an assumption, then looking for clues to back it up) is a big no-no. You let the evidence lead you to a conclusion, not the other way around.
Leon didn't get that memo because he jumps from one suspect to another, hoping he'll hit pay dirt.
The mystery moseys along. I kept waiting for the pace to pick up, but it never did. There's no real tension, and I wasn't invested in the murders (one cold case, one current). There's some resolution, but a couple plot points (e.g., what happened to Leon's dad) remain open, which is to be expected in a pilot book.
The story is set in a village near a fictional version of Heathrow. The writing feels authentic (very British), and I noted no major editing issues. I was a lil' bored but not enough to DNF.
This book didn't get a whole lot of traffic when it was released in October 2024. The 5 star reviews are from reviewers who have an average rating of like 4.8 stars, which, come on, is sus af. I'm not saying they're incentivized reviews but I'm not NOT saying it either.
October 15, 2024
Murder under Construction by Axel Henry
DI Leon Peterson and DS Jasmine Todd are working on a high-profile terrorism case. Without warning, they are suddenly transferred to another case.
On a construction site for a new airport hotel, workers find a body that has been there for decades. During the investigation, Leon and Jasmine uncover clues that possibly touch on Leon’s personal life. Leon cannot let go of the terrorism case and believes the DI working on the case is in the wrong, but his involvement is not appreciated.
When I started I couldn’t put this book down, I really enjoyed it. It's a fast paced story, with several storylines that come together in the end. There is some office and relationship drama. Never was there a dull moment and I liked the dynamic between the two main characters.
Leon is an empathic, dedicated person. He has a difficult working relationship with his superiors and colleagues, other than Jasmine. When his instinct tells him there’s something wrong, he acts on it, even if that brings more problems with his coworkers. He does not easily stand up for himself and I’m glad Jasmine looks out for him. Leon's character is described in detail; the family ties slowly become more interesting.
Jasmine is caring, attentive towards Leon and sometimes impulsive. These impulsive actions don’t always go unnoticed. I thought it was a pity that her character building was a little less extensive. Only halfway through the book does she get her own time in the story. I would have liked to know a little more about Jasmine's private situation, although that may not fit or even be necessary in the main storyline in this book.
What I liked is that the thoughts of the characters are described, this allows me to empathize better. Sometimes these thoughts had nothing to do with the dialogue, which confused me for a moment, but the story was easy to pick up again.
The settings are well described, as are the emotions of all the characters.
There is a good balance between serious and funny/light dialogues. Especially the easy banter between Leon and Jasmine.
The storyline has a gradually building suspense, which kept me captivated from beginning to end. I was regularly surprised by a plot twist that kept me guessing who the perpetrator was. The subplots regarding Leon's private life make me curious about the sequels.
I look forward to the next books in this series.
# I kindly received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
DI Leon Peterson and DS Jasmine Todd are working on a high-profile terrorism case. Without warning, they are suddenly transferred to another case.
On a construction site for a new airport hotel, workers find a body that has been there for decades. During the investigation, Leon and Jasmine uncover clues that possibly touch on Leon’s personal life. Leon cannot let go of the terrorism case and believes the DI working on the case is in the wrong, but his involvement is not appreciated.
When I started I couldn’t put this book down, I really enjoyed it. It's a fast paced story, with several storylines that come together in the end. There is some office and relationship drama. Never was there a dull moment and I liked the dynamic between the two main characters.
Leon is an empathic, dedicated person. He has a difficult working relationship with his superiors and colleagues, other than Jasmine. When his instinct tells him there’s something wrong, he acts on it, even if that brings more problems with his coworkers. He does not easily stand up for himself and I’m glad Jasmine looks out for him. Leon's character is described in detail; the family ties slowly become more interesting.
Jasmine is caring, attentive towards Leon and sometimes impulsive. These impulsive actions don’t always go unnoticed. I thought it was a pity that her character building was a little less extensive. Only halfway through the book does she get her own time in the story. I would have liked to know a little more about Jasmine's private situation, although that may not fit or even be necessary in the main storyline in this book.
What I liked is that the thoughts of the characters are described, this allows me to empathize better. Sometimes these thoughts had nothing to do with the dialogue, which confused me for a moment, but the story was easy to pick up again.
The settings are well described, as are the emotions of all the characters.
There is a good balance between serious and funny/light dialogues. Especially the easy banter between Leon and Jasmine.
The storyline has a gradually building suspense, which kept me captivated from beginning to end. I was regularly surprised by a plot twist that kept me guessing who the perpetrator was. The subplots regarding Leon's private life make me curious about the sequels.
I look forward to the next books in this series.
# I kindly received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
August 24, 2025
4.75- Stars (rounded up) for Alex Henry’s Murder Under Construction.
DI Leon Peterson and his partner, DS Jasmine Todd, are a formidable team as they solve two murders after having been removed from a high profile case that had originally been assigned to them.
Filled with fascinating characters and a remarkable storyline, this is the first volume of what should be a truly remarkable new series collaboratively written by three well known UK authors, JL Merrow, Ripley Hayes, and Sue Brown.
It’s a pleasant surprise for a change to find a novel that’s not padded with pages of gratuitous sex, and, in fact, has a real plot!
Immediately on to Book #2!
DI Leon Peterson and his partner, DS Jasmine Todd, are a formidable team as they solve two murders after having been removed from a high profile case that had originally been assigned to them.
Filled with fascinating characters and a remarkable storyline, this is the first volume of what should be a truly remarkable new series collaboratively written by three well known UK authors, JL Merrow, Ripley Hayes, and Sue Brown.
It’s a pleasant surprise for a change to find a novel that’s not padded with pages of gratuitous sex, and, in fact, has a real plot!
Immediately on to Book #2!
January 23, 2025
4.75 stars for excellent characters, engaging storylines and a smoothly flowing plot-pace. I loved the working dynamics between MCs Leon and Jas, who are surrounded by a host of nicely defined secondary characters. I'm also hooked by Leon's rather traumatic back story and am dying to see how that works out over the course of the next books in the series. Two autobuy authors form part of the trio writing behind the Alex Henry name - so why am I not surprised I'm thrilled with this new series and am hoping for many more books to come.
November 8, 2024
Having read some of the reviews here, I was worried that it would be a romance with a murder mystery attached, but luckily it was just a murder mystery with a love interest, and that was better than I was expecting.
That said, I hated the main character. How someone can get to his position without any ability to stand up for himself is unbelievable at best and annoying at worst.
The characters were whole people, who exist outside of the scope of the story, and the main plot a bit obvious but told naturally.
But the main character? Absolutely unforgivable. He’s seriously a middle aged cat lady.
That said, I hated the main character. How someone can get to his position without any ability to stand up for himself is unbelievable at best and annoying at worst.
The characters were whole people, who exist outside of the scope of the story, and the main plot a bit obvious but told naturally.
But the main character? Absolutely unforgivable. He’s seriously a middle aged cat lady.
February 28, 2025
** 4.5 Stars *
September 17, 2025
3.5 stars
I stumbled into the name Alex Henry when I was browsing in Amazon - and realized that it is pen name of three authors (J.L. Merrow, Sue Brown, and Ripley Hayes) two of whose works I've known before. I was in a mood of mystery these days, having bingeing over ITV's Unforgotten, and these authors are known for the M/M genre. So... cold case with gay lead Detective Inspector? Cool!
I can say this though - this is first and foremost a MYSTERY. If you're here hoping for romance, well, you will be disappointed. Sure, there seems to be a love interest for DI Leon Peterson in the next books, but in this one, the interaction is a bit minimal and it ends with a note of promise.
I enjoyed this one - I felt that there was a bigger mystery arc that would be spent for the next two books, regarding Peterson's missing father. I felt that Peterson would get more shocking news about his father (with clues coming from his ailing mother and some people that knew his father before).
For this one though, it involved a dead body under construction (and in a side line, Peterson and his detective sergeant, DS Jasmine Todd seemed to also solved a bombing threat case). They are look like a good team, Peterson and Todd, and I expect more "troubles" for them since their DC seemed to dislike the two of them.
Anyway, it was a good start for me. I already have the next two books lining up on my Kindle.
I stumbled into the name Alex Henry when I was browsing in Amazon - and realized that it is pen name of three authors (J.L. Merrow, Sue Brown, and Ripley Hayes) two of whose works I've known before. I was in a mood of mystery these days, having bingeing over ITV's Unforgotten, and these authors are known for the M/M genre. So... cold case with gay lead Detective Inspector? Cool!
I can say this though - this is first and foremost a MYSTERY. If you're here hoping for romance, well, you will be disappointed. Sure, there seems to be a love interest for DI Leon Peterson in the next books, but in this one, the interaction is a bit minimal and it ends with a note of promise.
I enjoyed this one - I felt that there was a bigger mystery arc that would be spent for the next two books, regarding Peterson's missing father. I felt that Peterson would get more shocking news about his father (with clues coming from his ailing mother and some people that knew his father before).
For this one though, it involved a dead body under construction (and in a side line, Peterson and his detective sergeant, DS Jasmine Todd seemed to also solved a bombing threat case). They are look like a good team, Peterson and Todd, and I expect more "troubles" for them since their DC seemed to dislike the two of them.
Anyway, it was a good start for me. I already have the next two books lining up on my Kindle.
May 12, 2025
Detective Leon Peterson and his partner Jasmine are pulled off their bombing case in favor of a younger, more photogenic officer. When a dead body is found on a construction site, they learn that the murder happened 20+ years ago. The site was then a pub known as a gay meetup spot. They hope to interview the victim's best friend but then he, too, is found dead. Are the crimes linked, despite the time difference? Who had a reason to want both men dead? And is the new officer really on the right track about the bombing? Well-developed characters and an exciting conclusion makes this a not-to-be-missed read for fans of British police procedurals.
March 21, 2025
Gripping, I Couldn’t Put it Down
One of the joys of reading is to stumble upon a book by an author that you have never read before and absolutely love the story.
If you love a good murder mystery, characters you can really get behind, forty year old cold cases, terrorists, blackmail, entitled rich MP’s and nasty biased cops at the top then you will enjoy this book.
I loved the chemistry between DI Leon and his kickass sergeant Jas. Leon was a good detective but jaded. The top brass seemed to always have it in for him and when after months of working on a terrorist case and getting a huge breakthrough, before they could make the arrests the case was taken off him and his team and given to the golden girl DI Morales.
When a skeleton was found Leon was given a case dating back forty years. This was on Leon’s doorstep, he had grown up in this London borough where the planes landing at Heathrow rattle the houses and Leon’s father, also a cop, disappeared on the night of the great storm of 1987 when a hurricane battered the UK and demolished the local pub which was known to be a place where gay men congregated. This was where they found 18 year old Andy Castle.
Leon was 8 at the time but this case unearths secrets and lies, a new murder and opens old wounds. Leon is gay and the more he hears about his father the more conflicted he becomes. His mother always painted him in a good light but as she deteriorates from dementia she tells Leon, when she can remember him, a very different story.
I was gripped by this book and couldn’t put it down and I am going to dive straight into book two. I can’t wait to see if Leon and the gorgeous Ben get together and Jas is so sassy, funny and gorgeous she deserves to find someone to love.
I strongly recommend this book if you want a good gripping plot but if you want 🔥then this is not for you although I’m hoping he gets together with Ben in book 2.
One of the joys of reading is to stumble upon a book by an author that you have never read before and absolutely love the story.
If you love a good murder mystery, characters you can really get behind, forty year old cold cases, terrorists, blackmail, entitled rich MP’s and nasty biased cops at the top then you will enjoy this book.
I loved the chemistry between DI Leon and his kickass sergeant Jas. Leon was a good detective but jaded. The top brass seemed to always have it in for him and when after months of working on a terrorist case and getting a huge breakthrough, before they could make the arrests the case was taken off him and his team and given to the golden girl DI Morales.
When a skeleton was found Leon was given a case dating back forty years. This was on Leon’s doorstep, he had grown up in this London borough where the planes landing at Heathrow rattle the houses and Leon’s father, also a cop, disappeared on the night of the great storm of 1987 when a hurricane battered the UK and demolished the local pub which was known to be a place where gay men congregated. This was where they found 18 year old Andy Castle.
Leon was 8 at the time but this case unearths secrets and lies, a new murder and opens old wounds. Leon is gay and the more he hears about his father the more conflicted he becomes. His mother always painted him in a good light but as she deteriorates from dementia she tells Leon, when she can remember him, a very different story.
I was gripped by this book and couldn’t put it down and I am going to dive straight into book two. I can’t wait to see if Leon and the gorgeous Ben get together and Jas is so sassy, funny and gorgeous she deserves to find someone to love.
I strongly recommend this book if you want a good gripping plot but if you want 🔥then this is not for you although I’m hoping he gets together with Ben in book 2.
May 15, 2025
2.5/5
This is definitely not an edge of your seat thriller as claimed by some reviews here.
The storyline is simple, boring at times, and highly predictable. Even if you have read the first few pages casually, you will definitely know who the murderer was.
No gripping investigation, no reveals, no twists and turns. It is a simple flow from the beginning to the end. Even the terrorism case isn't interesting.
Honestly, at this point, I don't care what happened to Leon's father. The author might have saved it for the next books.
0.5 rating extra for good humor added in the conversations between DI and DS.
I will give this series a miss. Not recommended.
This is definitely not an edge of your seat thriller as claimed by some reviews here.
The storyline is simple, boring at times, and highly predictable. Even if you have read the first few pages casually, you will definitely know who the murderer was.
No gripping investigation, no reveals, no twists and turns. It is a simple flow from the beginning to the end. Even the terrorism case isn't interesting.
Honestly, at this point, I don't care what happened to Leon's father. The author might have saved it for the next books.
0.5 rating extra for good humor added in the conversations between DI and DS.
I will give this series a miss. Not recommended.
October 25, 2024
What a great book. We have a gay MC, a police detective who has a female sidekick. There is only the slightest hint of a romance for Leon but I think we will need to wait for further books for that.
With no romance this was a great mystery which focused on the murder and not on gratuitous sex. A 40 year old cold case is added to when another person is killed connected to the first case.
Can't wait for the new book in January 2025.
With no romance this was a great mystery which focused on the murder and not on gratuitous sex. A 40 year old cold case is added to when another person is killed connected to the first case.
Can't wait for the new book in January 2025.
March 22, 2025
I found this really disappointing. i usually love Merrow's work, but I found this to be trying much too hard to be dark and gritty, and the MC had far too much baggage and angst. There's literally no romance here, but loads of start-up threads that should last 5 or 6 titles into a series that I'm not going to read.
April 27, 2025
A partnership skilfully constructed
Now here’s a partnership of authors that really does seem to work! Combining the talents of Ripley Hayes, JL Merrow and Sue Brown we have a new detective series following Leon Peterson and Jasmine Todd. Two detectives who are assigned a cold case murder to investigate which may not be as cold as they think. As to be expected from this writing trio, there are some great characters (people you really want to know more about), some smile inducing humour and a nice twisty murder investigation that makes you say “just one more chapter then I’ll stop for the day” but to no avail.
Now the romance in this “romantic murder mystery” series is incredibly slow burn. In fact there is no romance in this first book. Now this is a common thing we’re seeing in serialised books, keeping the romance slow burn and only revealing it over subsequent books. You could be cynical and say this is done in order to get readers to keep buying into the series, but in this book the slow burn seems to be more suited. What it does is give us a chance to really get to know the two central main characters Leon and Jas. Both of them get their chance to be a first person narrator, though most of that duty falls to Leon, and both have enough interesting facets to make you want to keep reading.
The case itself is an interesting one, though the murder was quite easy to solve when you think about it. But it is written in such a way that you are “happy” to keep reading about the investigation. That’s possibly because this book skirts very close to the edge of the “cozy murder mystery” genre, but that’s no bad thing. The authors offer us enough sweetness by ensuring Liam has a couple of feline friends so we get plenty of “awww” moments, and enough darkness by including issues of homophobia and institutional sexism. Being a 40-year-old cold case also gives the authors a chance to touch on the fear and stigmatism of AIDS in the 80s, as well as the seedy side of cottaging.
But it’s the present day issues that I found much more interesting. A missing Father, a mother with early onset dementia, a broken career, and a lonely man whose self confidence issues are wrapped in feelings of self-worth. These are probably going to be the issues that we will see worked through in the coming books. What I also hope to see developed is the relationship between Leon and Jas. Being dropped into the middle of an already established working relationship you can clearly see the friction and affection that exists between the two of them. And in this first book we get to see how both are working to improve this, though not always successfully.
Now that the novelty of this series opener is out of the way, I am keen to know how the authors will make subsequent books as engaging and interesting to read. However, knowing these authors the way I do, particularly Ripley Hayes, I’m sure they won’t disappoint.
Now here’s a partnership of authors that really does seem to work! Combining the talents of Ripley Hayes, JL Merrow and Sue Brown we have a new detective series following Leon Peterson and Jasmine Todd. Two detectives who are assigned a cold case murder to investigate which may not be as cold as they think. As to be expected from this writing trio, there are some great characters (people you really want to know more about), some smile inducing humour and a nice twisty murder investigation that makes you say “just one more chapter then I’ll stop for the day” but to no avail.
Now the romance in this “romantic murder mystery” series is incredibly slow burn. In fact there is no romance in this first book. Now this is a common thing we’re seeing in serialised books, keeping the romance slow burn and only revealing it over subsequent books. You could be cynical and say this is done in order to get readers to keep buying into the series, but in this book the slow burn seems to be more suited. What it does is give us a chance to really get to know the two central main characters Leon and Jas. Both of them get their chance to be a first person narrator, though most of that duty falls to Leon, and both have enough interesting facets to make you want to keep reading.
The case itself is an interesting one, though the murder was quite easy to solve when you think about it. But it is written in such a way that you are “happy” to keep reading about the investigation. That’s possibly because this book skirts very close to the edge of the “cozy murder mystery” genre, but that’s no bad thing. The authors offer us enough sweetness by ensuring Liam has a couple of feline friends so we get plenty of “awww” moments, and enough darkness by including issues of homophobia and institutional sexism. Being a 40-year-old cold case also gives the authors a chance to touch on the fear and stigmatism of AIDS in the 80s, as well as the seedy side of cottaging.
But it’s the present day issues that I found much more interesting. A missing Father, a mother with early onset dementia, a broken career, and a lonely man whose self confidence issues are wrapped in feelings of self-worth. These are probably going to be the issues that we will see worked through in the coming books. What I also hope to see developed is the relationship between Leon and Jas. Being dropped into the middle of an already established working relationship you can clearly see the friction and affection that exists between the two of them. And in this first book we get to see how both are working to improve this, though not always successfully.
Now that the novelty of this series opener is out of the way, I am keen to know how the authors will make subsequent books as engaging and interesting to read. However, knowing these authors the way I do, particularly Ripley Hayes, I’m sure they won’t disappoint.
August 22, 2025
If you couldn’t tell from what I said about my reading habits over the last few years in my review of How to Solve Your Own Murder, I’ve been reading a lot of books that could be classified as romance—despite the vehicle the author chose to develop the romance. It could be a locked-room mystery, a tale of vampires or shifters, a story set on a ranch or at a rodeo, or, in the case of Murder Under Construction, a police procedural.
What I thoroughly enjoyed was how little the romance was the focus of the story. Instead, the author chose to center the mystery itself and Leon’s internal personal life to propel the narrative forward. I relished every second I spent with Leon as a character—getting to know his conflicted relationship with his family, right down to his grudging love of the two cats sharing his space. I enjoyed the way his mind works as he puzzles out the targets of the bombings or why there’s a decades-old dead body in a condemned pub.
It’s in Leon that this book truly shines, and why I’ll continue the series. The mysteries themselves are simple without being boring. I just wish there were a little more complexity involved, but I understand that with two separate investigations, neither was able to be fleshed out as much as I would have preferred. I plan on seeing how the second book goes before I start getting too picky about how the author handles the mystery element.
As for the romance itself, it doesn’t even begin until the last few pages. While I’m curious to see if it develops further, it won’t be what keeps me turning the next page. It feels like the romance will remain in the background, which I’m more than okay with. I’ll wait to see whether it unfolds more in the vein of the Dave Brandstetter or Evander Mills books, or if Leon’s love life will chart its own course forward.
What I thoroughly enjoyed was how little the romance was the focus of the story. Instead, the author chose to center the mystery itself and Leon’s internal personal life to propel the narrative forward. I relished every second I spent with Leon as a character—getting to know his conflicted relationship with his family, right down to his grudging love of the two cats sharing his space. I enjoyed the way his mind works as he puzzles out the targets of the bombings or why there’s a decades-old dead body in a condemned pub.
It’s in Leon that this book truly shines, and why I’ll continue the series. The mysteries themselves are simple without being boring. I just wish there were a little more complexity involved, but I understand that with two separate investigations, neither was able to be fleshed out as much as I would have preferred. I plan on seeing how the second book goes before I start getting too picky about how the author handles the mystery element.
As for the romance itself, it doesn’t even begin until the last few pages. While I’m curious to see if it develops further, it won’t be what keeps me turning the next page. It feels like the romance will remain in the background, which I’m more than okay with. I’ll wait to see whether it unfolds more in the vein of the Dave Brandstetter or Evander Mills books, or if Leon’s love life will chart its own course forward.
October 17, 2024
Murder Under Construction (Detective Leon Peterson Mysteries Book 1) is a great read with two wonderful three dimensional main characters: Detective Inspector Leon Peterson and Detective Sergeant Jasmine Todd. Leon is a gay forty five year old man still recovering from a breakup from a past relationship we do not find out much about here. He also has a mother in a care home and a couple of cats to come home to. Leon is focused on doing the best job he can regardless of whom he might upset. Jas is of much the same mind and has her own issues, family pressure being one of them. They work well together and trust each other. There is a good dynamic going on between them. Their interactions with each other and other characters are realistic and natural.
The story begins with them being taken off a terrorist investigation just as they are about to make arrests and put on a forty year old cold case instead. Leon finds it difficult to let go of the terrorist case when he sees mistakes being made by the new team working on it. The cold case brings them into contact with a range of characters, some more sinister than others and a couple of very attractive ones.
The cold case proves to be a lot less clear cut the more they delve into it. It brings up some painful memories relating to Leon’s childhood and his father. It also brings to light some links to the present day. A lot of the questions they raise get answered and some don’t. As a result I am really looking forward to the next in the series particularly with the possibility of some romance in Leon’s life courtesy of hunky Ben, one of the witnesses.
I received an advance readers copy and am reviewing this on my own volition.
The story begins with them being taken off a terrorist investigation just as they are about to make arrests and put on a forty year old cold case instead. Leon finds it difficult to let go of the terrorist case when he sees mistakes being made by the new team working on it. The cold case brings them into contact with a range of characters, some more sinister than others and a couple of very attractive ones.
The cold case proves to be a lot less clear cut the more they delve into it. It brings up some painful memories relating to Leon’s childhood and his father. It also brings to light some links to the present day. A lot of the questions they raise get answered and some don’t. As a result I am really looking forward to the next in the series particularly with the possibility of some romance in Leon’s life courtesy of hunky Ben, one of the witnesses.
I received an advance readers copy and am reviewing this on my own volition.
October 24, 2024
If you’re a fan of engaging murder mysteries and m/m romance, then Murder Under Construction is a must-read. This captivating novel, the first in the Detective Leon Peterson series, intertwines thrilling suspense with multifaceted characters, making for an unforgettable reading experience.
In this gripping tale, we follow Detective Leon Peterson as he navigates a web of complexities. Leon is not just solving a case but dealing with personal turmoil. His boss has a disdain for him, his mother is gravely ill, and lingering questions about his father’s disappearance plague his mind. Balancing professional and personal challenges, Leon is determined to uncover the truth behind two chilling murders while simultaneously juggling a case linked to potential terrorist bombings.
Leon is accompanied by his insightful sidekick, Jasmine, whose dynamic adds depth to the narrative. Together, they face the daunting task of investigating a cold case that hints at a murder, only to be drawn into the chaos of a fresh homicide. This layer of suspense keeps readers on edge, continuously guessing the outcomes of both cases. The well-constructed characters enrich the plot, making every interaction engaging. With its emotional stakes and intricate plot twists, Murder Under Construction is a remarkable novel that entices mystery and M/M romance lovers alike.
In this gripping tale, we follow Detective Leon Peterson as he navigates a web of complexities. Leon is not just solving a case but dealing with personal turmoil. His boss has a disdain for him, his mother is gravely ill, and lingering questions about his father’s disappearance plague his mind. Balancing professional and personal challenges, Leon is determined to uncover the truth behind two chilling murders while simultaneously juggling a case linked to potential terrorist bombings.
Leon is accompanied by his insightful sidekick, Jasmine, whose dynamic adds depth to the narrative. Together, they face the daunting task of investigating a cold case that hints at a murder, only to be drawn into the chaos of a fresh homicide. This layer of suspense keeps readers on edge, continuously guessing the outcomes of both cases. The well-constructed characters enrich the plot, making every interaction engaging. With its emotional stakes and intricate plot twists, Murder Under Construction is a remarkable novel that entices mystery and M/M romance lovers alike.
October 27, 2024
When DI Leon Peterson and his assistant DS Jasmine Todd are pulled off a high profile terrorism case and reassigned to the cold case of a newly discovered body he can’t help thinking that someone higher in the chain of command is sabotaging him. But he throws himself into the case even if it means dredging up some old memories from his childhood. What he discovers is a plot that goes back 40 years and is coming to the fore only in the present.
It’s an intriguing mystery, involving police politics, old prejudices, and family secrets, along with some good old-fashioned detective work. Peterson is an interesting character, with some psychic battle scars from a previous relationship, and his assistant, Todd, is entertaining and a smart support, as well. The two of them manage to solve the puzzle just in time and tie the many disparate threads together quite nicely.
If I have a quibble with the novel, it might be that it’s trying to do too much at once in setting up the backstory of Peterson, along with his family history and his being caught in internal police politics, while solving the mystery. I’m hoping that we get to spend a bit more time with him and his potential new boyfriend in the next book. And I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of Jasmine and her bantering.
It’s an intriguing mystery, involving police politics, old prejudices, and family secrets, along with some good old-fashioned detective work. Peterson is an interesting character, with some psychic battle scars from a previous relationship, and his assistant, Todd, is entertaining and a smart support, as well. The two of them manage to solve the puzzle just in time and tie the many disparate threads together quite nicely.
If I have a quibble with the novel, it might be that it’s trying to do too much at once in setting up the backstory of Peterson, along with his family history and his being caught in internal police politics, while solving the mystery. I’m hoping that we get to spend a bit more time with him and his potential new boyfriend in the next book. And I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of Jasmine and her bantering.
October 27, 2024
This was one of the best mysteries I have ever read! I have read books by all of the writers and enjoyed them and was really impressed with this story. Leon was a very sympathetic character and I loved his relationship with Jasmine and hated Hooker and how he was looked down on and then furious when they took away the terrorism case he had worked so hard on and given to a woman who was omg the fast track for promotion and annoyed when she ignored Leon's help. The cold case that was given to him in his old stomping grounds quickly became very complicated. After you knew that the body was not Leon's long lost father he feared that the young man had been a victim perhaps of a cop. You learned how his memory of his father was not a good man or cop. The handsy MP was such a creep and I admit that I wondered if he was a Tory(not that Labour has not had bad MPs of their own). The death of the friend of the young man and remembering how people with AIDS were mistreated for so long brought back many painful memories of that time. I loved that Leon was able to thwart the terrorist attack and that Morales acknowledged that he was right and that he was offered a new job. Really looking forward to the next book.
October 24, 2024
I really liked this book - I'm a big fan of 2 of the authors (Alex Henry is the pen name for a 3-author collab, I really like Ripley Hayes and JL Merrow's work and I'm definitely going to check out Sue Brown after reading Murder Under Construction), and the combined work did not disappoint. Leon is such an appealing MC with an interesting, as yet not fully solved back story - at least I'm assuming there may be more to come about his father's disappearance. His sidekick DS Jasmine Todd is also great - she is fully formed and we get a real sense for her and her dynamic with Leon and how well they work together. This is much more of a mystery/detective story with a tiny glimmer of possible romance, so if you go into it expecting an MM mystery romance you may be disappointed. I expect there will be more to come in the relationship arena in subsequent books, and I'm there for it. I'm glad to see that a book 2 is in the works and I hope it will grow into an ongoing series - Murder Under Construction is a solid, very enjoyable start!
October 29, 2024
I've been so looking forward to this collaboration from three wonderful authors and the result is even better than I anticipated!
Murder Under Construction is an excellent MM romance police procedural series starter, introducing the MC, DI Leon Peterson, supporting characters, including his feisty sidekick DS Jasmin Todd and the outer environs of the Metropolitan Police.
The main mystery was cleverly plotted and satisfyingly resolved, with intriguing story arcs left open to develop during the stories to follow.
I found Leon a very sympathetic character. Dogged and resolute in his professional role, and unable to play politics to the point where his competence is overlooked by his superiors. There are hints of a recent relationship break up, which causes him to return to his childhood home, bringing up the past and subsequently opening up further lines of enquiry. During the story, there's an opportunity for a slow burn romance, and I look forward to seeing that progress as the series progresses. Consider me hooked!
Murder Under Construction is an excellent MM romance police procedural series starter, introducing the MC, DI Leon Peterson, supporting characters, including his feisty sidekick DS Jasmin Todd and the outer environs of the Metropolitan Police.
The main mystery was cleverly plotted and satisfyingly resolved, with intriguing story arcs left open to develop during the stories to follow.
I found Leon a very sympathetic character. Dogged and resolute in his professional role, and unable to play politics to the point where his competence is overlooked by his superiors. There are hints of a recent relationship break up, which causes him to return to his childhood home, bringing up the past and subsequently opening up further lines of enquiry. During the story, there's an opportunity for a slow burn romance, and I look forward to seeing that progress as the series progresses. Consider me hooked!
October 17, 2024
I just finished "Murder Under Construction" by Alex Henry. M/M Detective/Police stories are some of my favorites and I really enjoyed this one. The story took place in London, so I am not as familiar with some of the names for items/places, etc. as I would be if it took place in the U.S. Even so, I found the plot very good. The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me was the back story about Leon's father, which I didn't think added very much to the overall plot (that's just me though as I don't enjoy backstories very much).
I recommend this book for those that enjoy mysteries, police procedurals and M/M genres. I look forward to reading the next in the series!
I received an ARC of this book for an unbiased review.
I recommend this book for those that enjoy mysteries, police procedurals and M/M genres. I look forward to reading the next in the series!
I received an ARC of this book for an unbiased review.
October 18, 2024
DI Leon is complicated, trust me, and his DS Jasmine is feisty!
I think I used Google almost constantly figuring out all the initials that were used, but it certainly did not stop me from enjoying this story!
Bombings and murder are happening all around and Leon's boss makes you wonder if the old fart is on the take!
Leon and Jasmine were pulled off the terrorist case they have almost completed to investigate a 40 year old murder. Much of the murder case crosses into Leon's personal life as the murder was committed the same night his dad dissappeared.
Loved every minute of this book and can't wait to dive into the next mystery solved by those two!
I think I used Google almost constantly figuring out all the initials that were used, but it certainly did not stop me from enjoying this story!
Bombings and murder are happening all around and Leon's boss makes you wonder if the old fart is on the take!
Leon and Jasmine were pulled off the terrorist case they have almost completed to investigate a 40 year old murder. Much of the murder case crosses into Leon's personal life as the murder was committed the same night his dad dissappeared.
Loved every minute of this book and can't wait to dive into the next mystery solved by those two!
October 25, 2024
4.25 stars. One of the more enjoyable police murder mysteries I've read, showing great potential for this new series. Leon was a character to really appreciate, an introverted type who doesn't play along with the awful in-house politics. He also has a personal unsolved mystery with his missing father who may have been involved on the wrong side of the law. His police partner, Jasmine, was great. There were a number of questions left open for the next part, but no unpleasant cliffhanger. There was also the potential for an interesting romance later for him, something to look forward to.
November 9, 2024
It's a nice one.
The author choice of words is recommendable.
I don't really like how Leon Peterson is being treated by his superior at work.
Jasmine is lovely and likable.
The was no element of suprise in this book everything was so predictable from the terrorist group to cold case murder.
Leon was very irritated by Ben codona on the first day, the next day he became attracted to him which I don't even find interesting .
I still think Arthur's wife is the killer not Arthur himself because he doesn't fit the profile .
I hope to see suspense in the next book
The author choice of words is recommendable.
I don't really like how Leon Peterson is being treated by his superior at work.
Jasmine is lovely and likable.
The was no element of suprise in this book everything was so predictable from the terrorist group to cold case murder.
Leon was very irritated by Ben codona on the first day, the next day he became attracted to him which I don't even find interesting .
I still think Arthur's wife is the killer not Arthur himself because he doesn't fit the profile .
I hope to see suspense in the next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2024
This is my first book by Alex which I received a free arc copy as I have previously been really disappointed with mm mystery books! However this certainly lived up to it's trope and has a great plot with plenty of mystery. I especially liked all the characters both main and secondary who really helped captivate me and left me avidly awaiting the next book to follow Leon's journey and I hope a relationship with Ben!
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
November 25, 2024
Received ARC of this book. Loved it. Nice characters (spoiler, m/m relationships briefly mentioned) with development. No graphic sex. This is a detective mystery. Good pacing of action throughout, and decent plot. When I posted the original review in response of the ARC, it disappeared into the internet's black hole. I believe in the book and urge readers to give it a try. Believed enough to plonk down hard cash to own a copy (the author(s) deserve that support.
December 16, 2024
New detective series
I was pretty pumped when I saw that several of my favorite authors were working together under this pen name on a new detective series. The book introduced us to our MC, Leon Peterson and his work partner/subordinate, Jasmine as they are on the hunt to solve multiple crimes, both in the past and in the near future. It also had a peek into some possible future romance for our main guy with the intro of Ben. Can’t wait for more to come.
I was pretty pumped when I saw that several of my favorite authors were working together under this pen name on a new detective series. The book introduced us to our MC, Leon Peterson and his work partner/subordinate, Jasmine as they are on the hunt to solve multiple crimes, both in the past and in the near future. It also had a peek into some possible future romance for our main guy with the intro of Ben. Can’t wait for more to come.
January 26, 2025
I have to agree with James’ review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
(Although there’s nothing wrong with loving cats, but even they took advantage of him!)
I was disappointed with this. After recently reading a couple of British police series featuring strong detectives, I thought it was surprising that Leon had achieved the rank of DI, as he was weak and unable to stand up for himself.
(Although there’s nothing wrong with loving cats, but even they took advantage of him!)
I was disappointed with this. After recently reading a couple of British police series featuring strong detectives, I thought it was surprising that Leon had achieved the rank of DI, as he was weak and unable to stand up for himself.
March 29, 2025
NEW author for me!
WOW, this story sure did read fast! I think this series is going to be a winner!!! 🥰
Jumping straight into Murder Under Ground as the 3rd book should be out before the end of the month...
So many books... never enough reading time... 😭
WOW, this story sure did read fast! I think this series is going to be a winner!!! 🥰
Jumping straight into Murder Under Ground as the 3rd book should be out before the end of the month...
So many books... never enough reading time... 😭
May 7, 2025
4.5 stars from me - but only because I had hoped for a bit more in the romance departement.
The whole setting (airport and its living areas around it) is really well done, you can see the row of houses, the mix of old, neglected, new.
The characters are really rounded, real people, with real issues. I love that.
The murder mystery was well done, well, a bit obvious but still, well done.
Really recommended.
The whole setting (airport and its living areas around it) is really well done, you can see the row of houses, the mix of old, neglected, new.
The characters are really rounded, real people, with real issues. I love that.
The murder mystery was well done, well, a bit obvious but still, well done.
Really recommended.
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