What do you think?
The Last Picks #1
Mystery Magnet
He was born to write mysteries. Now, he has to solve them.
When Dashiell Dawson Dane moves across the country to a small seaside town called Hastings Rock, he has one get away from his ex. Okay, two goals - because he wouldn't mind a little help from his new boss, celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver. With Vivienne's mentorship, Dash is sure he can get over this blasted case of writer's block and start telling his own stories again.
The only problem? Vivienne is murdered on Dash's first night at Hemlock House. And when police find a secret passage that connects Dash's bedroom to Vivienne's, they're sure they know who did it. Now Dash has to prove his innocence - and the only way to do that is to figure out who really killed Vivienne Carver.
When Dashiell Dawson Dane moves across the country to a small seaside town called Hastings Rock, he has one get away from his ex. Okay, two goals - because he wouldn't mind a little help from his new boss, celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver. With Vivienne's mentorship, Dash is sure he can get over this blasted case of writer's block and start telling his own stories again.
The only problem? Vivienne is murdered on Dash's first night at Hemlock House. And when police find a secret passage that connects Dash's bedroom to Vivienne's, they're sure they know who did it. Now Dash has to prove his innocence - and the only way to do that is to figure out who really killed Vivienne Carver.
Audible Audio
First published April 24, 2024
About the author
Gregory Ashe
152 books1,888 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 266 reviews
September 1, 2026
I'll be watching my phone ring, won’t even hesitate to... ignore you / And now I’m going loco, I’ll go go… right outta here (Run Away – HYBS).
Another day, another gay cozy mystery where a twink moves to a small town to work in the literary field and ends up solving an inordinate amount of murders. I would put the “if I had nickel… it’s weird that it happened twice” joke from Phineas and Ferb here if I were a Reddit user, but I hate how overused that quote is with a burning passion. Besides, I've never found the whole "amateur sleuth" thing all that farfetched because it's not like cops are solving murders either. The only thing they're good at is administering parking tickets, which sounds like a dig, but that's literally the only thing Detective Bobby, the love-interest, does throughout this entire book! Okay look, I know I’m coming in hot with the haterade this time around, Heated Rivals where the "heated" refers to how mad I am, but you need to know that I am capable of doing other things aside from endlessly complaining. I’m multifaceted! Please believe me. For one, I do a killer Anderson Paak impression! It's really good, ready for it? Okay, here it goes… “oooooh!” Granted, the effect is lost a bit in text format where you can't hear, but trust me, if you were right here with me, then you’d know I just nailed the hell out of that Anderson Paak! "What you doin'?Where you at? Oh, you got plans? Don't say that" or whatever. Anyway, all of that is besides the point, what I was trying to get at before blowing your mind with my impressive impression work is the fact that I’m starting to feel bad for the protagonists of these contemporary mysteries, you know? Ellery, Jackson, Dashiell… Kip from the Kip O'Connor Mysteries whose only dating prospects was his childhood bully, these dudes need a serious break… and some dick that isn’t painted blue. More like bareback the blue, am I right? Actually that has me thinking, I might have to go and create a Sims household for them where they can chill without the stress of crime always around the corner. And hey, perhaps through the power of friendship with other sims that I've made like Max Caulfield and Jacob Batalon will end up helping them date literally anybody who’s not a pig!No but really, I know my tone would indicate that I’m tired of this general format, but the truth is that I wouldn’t keep reading these kinds of books it I were really growing tired of them. It's kind of like how my go-to movies are of the horror variety because they're the easiest flicks to garner an emotional response from me.
Cozy mysteries are addictive, and while the “cozy” aspect of the genre indicates that there’s no on-page violence, I’ve personally come to think of the coziness as coming from the fact that outcasts who've never quite fit in are finally able to find a family in each other. Look, I’m sure people are getting a little exhausted with all the “found family” stuff considering that’s the only kind of story James Gunn seems to be able to write, but it’s a winning formula for a reason. Wow, people who have always been alone have found their true selves in the company of other fuck-ups? I love it every time! Anybody can relate and aspire to wanting to find people you can be yourself around. And no cozy mystery series has felt more in line with this “celebrate the weirdos” mantra more than The Last Picks has. It’s in the name! They were picked last in gym class, just like we all were! We're on a The Breakfast Club kind of vibe, and that's pretty great because that movie rocks. I loved Mystery Magnet especially because it felt like a return to form for the genre seeing as most of the focus narrowed back in on the kinds of characters who don’t often get the spotlight. We have the gay protagonist who makes up for his anxiety with sardonic wit, the loudmouth “nosy neighbor” archetype that’s portrayed as endearingly sweet rather than a nuisance, the chef lady whose quiet repose evokes Shohreh Aghdashloo, and the self-loathing artist, and they get to be the heroes! Oh yeah, there's also a kid who's mute like Skylar from the Gives Light books. So yeah, It's really fun how on the first read of their on-page descriptions, most if not all of these characters would have been the suspects in most other mystery novels, but because they’re completely fleshed out and given their dues in Mystery Magnet, it never even enters our mind as the reader that any one of these folks could have committed murder. And even though I would absolutely love it if one of these days a mystery novel has a big Gone Girl twist where someone we like does end up being the killer, I still enjoyed how this book played with any preconceived notion that the reader may have already had. Hey, so if you’ve read a cozy mystery before, then you probably already know the premise, and this book definitely isn't breaking any new ground in that regard, but let’s talk about it anyway!
“I spent the rest of the evening in my room, alternating between reading and watching cat videos on my phone.”
After reaching that specific fork in the road of life that many young people do (a quarter life crisis, if you will) instead of facing his problems, an aspiring mystery author and chocolate cake enthusiast named Dashiell decides to run away to a small Oregon town so he can work as an assistant to famous writer, Vivienne Carver. Now, this book gave me a good impression right off the bat because Oregon is the perfect place for a crazy ass mystery, Gravity Falls, Life is Strange… there’s always some weird shit going on in Oregon! But yeah, it seems like nothing can ever go quite right for our hero Dash, because not even a day after he arrives he finds himself smack dab in the middle of Vivienne’s murder, of which he’s the main suspect. Dun dun dunnnn! Now, if you know anything about me, then you’re probably already aware that my least favorite kind of mystery is the ones where the main character has to prove their innocence to the public. People pointing and throwing accusations around... yikes, it’s just too stressful for me! Leave Dash alone, you The Hills Have Eyes mfs!! But yeah, I think the reason it really worked for me here in Mystery Magnet is because of one reason and one reason only; Dash wasn’t a pushover. He calls his lawyer rather than letting the shitty small town police force bully him, he investigates in order to clear his name despite the fact that the love-interest cop tries to dissuade him from doing so, and he constantly talks back to people who are giving him a hard time, it’s just… I don’t know… it’s just pretty cool. You’re my hero Dash! Sorry, in a genre rife with spineless bootlickers, it's hard not to get a little emotional in the wake of a protagonist who will stand up for themselves, you know? I guess what I really hate in a book isn’t when bad things are happening to the protagonist, but rather having to endure an ultra-kind, doe-eyed, do-gooder ass narrator who'll let everyone walk all over them. It’s maddening, really. Because there’s nothing worse than a hero who lets the plot happen to them rather than, you know, being the change they want to see or whatever dentist office cliché I can whip out. Have you ever played an RPG? It stands for “role-playing games,” and they’re whole thing is that they basically give the player a lot more control over the narrative than other mediums. It's awesome, from being able to make your own character to deciding what they should say in different situations, they're probably my favorite kinds of games to play.
Though, every now and then I stumble across a forum discussion where folks are complaining about a perceived “lack of control” in certain role-playing games, all talking about how it’s not a true “immersive” experience because they can’t just tell everybody they come across to fuck off. Sure, the genre sells itself on having choices and "player input" and blah blah blah. I'm just saying, that’s a wild line of thinking, no? This is still a story and events need to happen in said story in order for it to be a story! The main character can’t just avoid the main plot because otherwise there’s no plot!! Do you want to be immersed, or do you want to experience a good narrative!!! Look, I’m starting to repeat myself like I’ve run out of dialogue options, but all I’m saying is that audience entitlement has gotten to the point where we’re complaining that the main character is proactive enough to want to get involved in the story they’re currently the main character of. Listening to these LARPers is precisely why the ending of Mass Effect 3 was such a dud! The writers got it into their head that the players should be able to decide if the bad guys should be destroyed or controlled, rather than simply focusing on how they should be defeated. See, the "how" is the most important part because it should have never been up in the air as to what Commander Shepard's going to do with The Reapers. The only player choice should have been on how successful we were in killing them. Choice is important, but it should come at the expense of a good story. That’s how I feel about mystery books as well, because as someone who’s read quite a few of these things by now, there are a surprising amount of them where the protagonist will deadass stop investigating the murder simply because the cop love-interest tells them to. Where’s the curiosity, the drive!? Do you need a Scooby Snack or something, you're a mystery book protagonist! If the hero doesn't want to be here, then why should I? That’s why I love Mystery Magnet so much, because it feels like it's setting a new trend by going back to the basics. It's that one Mario Party gif of Luigi winning by standing still while everybody else knocks each other off the edge. Anyway, with everything out in the open, the only thing left to say is… you’d best start believing in murder mysteries [twink who has moved to a small town to work in the literary field and has ended up solving an inordinate amount of murders], because you’re in one!
No one's gonna pull me down, I will never hit the ground / Call me Barry Allen, go ahead and chase me.
Another day, another gay cozy mystery where a twink moves to a small town to work in the literary field and ends up solving an inordinate amount of murders. I would put the “if I had nickel… it’s weird that it happened twice” joke from Phineas and Ferb here if I were a Reddit user, but I hate how overused that quote is with a burning passion. Besides, I've never found the whole "amateur sleuth" thing all that farfetched because it's not like cops are solving murders either. The only thing they're good at is administering parking tickets, which sounds like a dig, but that's literally the only thing Detective Bobby, the love-interest, does throughout this entire book! Okay look, I know I’m coming in hot with the haterade this time around, Heated Rivals where the "heated" refers to how mad I am, but you need to know that I am capable of doing other things aside from endlessly complaining. I’m multifaceted! Please believe me. For one, I do a killer Anderson Paak impression! It's really good, ready for it? Okay, here it goes… “oooooh!” Granted, the effect is lost a bit in text format where you can't hear, but trust me, if you were right here with me, then you’d know I just nailed the hell out of that Anderson Paak! "What you doin'?Where you at? Oh, you got plans? Don't say that" or whatever. Anyway, all of that is besides the point, what I was trying to get at before blowing your mind with my impressive impression work is the fact that I’m starting to feel bad for the protagonists of these contemporary mysteries, you know? Ellery, Jackson, Dashiell… Kip from the Kip O'Connor Mysteries whose only dating prospects was his childhood bully, these dudes need a serious break… and some dick that isn’t painted blue. More like bareback the blue, am I right? Actually that has me thinking, I might have to go and create a Sims household for them where they can chill without the stress of crime always around the corner. And hey, perhaps through the power of friendship with other sims that I've made like Max Caulfield and Jacob Batalon will end up helping them date literally anybody who’s not a pig!No but really, I know my tone would indicate that I’m tired of this general format, but the truth is that I wouldn’t keep reading these kinds of books it I were really growing tired of them. It's kind of like how my go-to movies are of the horror variety because they're the easiest flicks to garner an emotional response from me.
Cozy mysteries are addictive, and while the “cozy” aspect of the genre indicates that there’s no on-page violence, I’ve personally come to think of the coziness as coming from the fact that outcasts who've never quite fit in are finally able to find a family in each other. Look, I’m sure people are getting a little exhausted with all the “found family” stuff considering that’s the only kind of story James Gunn seems to be able to write, but it’s a winning formula for a reason. Wow, people who have always been alone have found their true selves in the company of other fuck-ups? I love it every time! Anybody can relate and aspire to wanting to find people you can be yourself around. And no cozy mystery series has felt more in line with this “celebrate the weirdos” mantra more than The Last Picks has. It’s in the name! They were picked last in gym class, just like we all were! We're on a The Breakfast Club kind of vibe, and that's pretty great because that movie rocks. I loved Mystery Magnet especially because it felt like a return to form for the genre seeing as most of the focus narrowed back in on the kinds of characters who don’t often get the spotlight. We have the gay protagonist who makes up for his anxiety with sardonic wit, the loudmouth “nosy neighbor” archetype that’s portrayed as endearingly sweet rather than a nuisance, the chef lady whose quiet repose evokes Shohreh Aghdashloo, and the self-loathing artist, and they get to be the heroes! Oh yeah, there's also a kid who's mute like Skylar from the Gives Light books. So yeah, It's really fun how on the first read of their on-page descriptions, most if not all of these characters would have been the suspects in most other mystery novels, but because they’re completely fleshed out and given their dues in Mystery Magnet, it never even enters our mind as the reader that any one of these folks could have committed murder. And even though I would absolutely love it if one of these days a mystery novel has a big Gone Girl twist where someone we like does end up being the killer, I still enjoyed how this book played with any preconceived notion that the reader may have already had. Hey, so if you’ve read a cozy mystery before, then you probably already know the premise, and this book definitely isn't breaking any new ground in that regard, but let’s talk about it anyway!
“I spent the rest of the evening in my room, alternating between reading and watching cat videos on my phone.”
After reaching that specific fork in the road of life that many young people do (a quarter life crisis, if you will) instead of facing his problems, an aspiring mystery author and chocolate cake enthusiast named Dashiell decides to run away to a small Oregon town so he can work as an assistant to famous writer, Vivienne Carver. Now, this book gave me a good impression right off the bat because Oregon is the perfect place for a crazy ass mystery, Gravity Falls, Life is Strange… there’s always some weird shit going on in Oregon! But yeah, it seems like nothing can ever go quite right for our hero Dash, because not even a day after he arrives he finds himself smack dab in the middle of Vivienne’s murder, of which he’s the main suspect. Dun dun dunnnn! Now, if you know anything about me, then you’re probably already aware that my least favorite kind of mystery is the ones where the main character has to prove their innocence to the public. People pointing and throwing accusations around... yikes, it’s just too stressful for me! Leave Dash alone, you The Hills Have Eyes mfs!! But yeah, I think the reason it really worked for me here in Mystery Magnet is because of one reason and one reason only; Dash wasn’t a pushover. He calls his lawyer rather than letting the shitty small town police force bully him, he investigates in order to clear his name despite the fact that the love-interest cop tries to dissuade him from doing so, and he constantly talks back to people who are giving him a hard time, it’s just… I don’t know… it’s just pretty cool. You’re my hero Dash! Sorry, in a genre rife with spineless bootlickers, it's hard not to get a little emotional in the wake of a protagonist who will stand up for themselves, you know? I guess what I really hate in a book isn’t when bad things are happening to the protagonist, but rather having to endure an ultra-kind, doe-eyed, do-gooder ass narrator who'll let everyone walk all over them. It’s maddening, really. Because there’s nothing worse than a hero who lets the plot happen to them rather than, you know, being the change they want to see or whatever dentist office cliché I can whip out. Have you ever played an RPG? It stands for “role-playing games,” and they’re whole thing is that they basically give the player a lot more control over the narrative than other mediums. It's awesome, from being able to make your own character to deciding what they should say in different situations, they're probably my favorite kinds of games to play.
Though, every now and then I stumble across a forum discussion where folks are complaining about a perceived “lack of control” in certain role-playing games, all talking about how it’s not a true “immersive” experience because they can’t just tell everybody they come across to fuck off. Sure, the genre sells itself on having choices and "player input" and blah blah blah. I'm just saying, that’s a wild line of thinking, no? This is still a story and events need to happen in said story in order for it to be a story! The main character can’t just avoid the main plot because otherwise there’s no plot!! Do you want to be immersed, or do you want to experience a good narrative!!! Look, I’m starting to repeat myself like I’ve run out of dialogue options, but all I’m saying is that audience entitlement has gotten to the point where we’re complaining that the main character is proactive enough to want to get involved in the story they’re currently the main character of. Listening to these LARPers is precisely why the ending of Mass Effect 3 was such a dud! The writers got it into their head that the players should be able to decide if the bad guys should be destroyed or controlled, rather than simply focusing on how they should be defeated. See, the "how" is the most important part because it should have never been up in the air as to what Commander Shepard's going to do with The Reapers. The only player choice should have been on how successful we were in killing them. Choice is important, but it should come at the expense of a good story. That’s how I feel about mystery books as well, because as someone who’s read quite a few of these things by now, there are a surprising amount of them where the protagonist will deadass stop investigating the murder simply because the cop love-interest tells them to. Where’s the curiosity, the drive!? Do you need a Scooby Snack or something, you're a mystery book protagonist! If the hero doesn't want to be here, then why should I? That’s why I love Mystery Magnet so much, because it feels like it's setting a new trend by going back to the basics. It's that one Mario Party gif of Luigi winning by standing still while everybody else knocks each other off the edge. Anyway, with everything out in the open, the only thing left to say is… you’d best start believing in murder mysteries [twink who has moved to a small town to work in the literary field and has ended up solving an inordinate amount of murders], because you’re in one!
No one's gonna pull me down, I will never hit the ground / Call me Barry Allen, go ahead and chase me.
January 17, 2024
*The audiobook is out! You might be thinking “who’s Andrew Gibson?” but fear not, he and Blake Lockheart are one and the same. We love a pseudonym! https://www.audible.com/pd/Mystery-Ma...
Regarding the epilogue
*The story is now available to read on his patron site 😊: https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus...
1. The term “epilogue” in the romance genre sense is a misnomer here, where bonus or extra content would fit perfectly. If you're looking for more fun interactions/scenarios between the characters after the big mystery is wrapped up, that's where you can get that extra bit of shenanigans. But rest assured, you won't be missing out on any details important in the grand scheme of the series nor do I consider it a must-read. The book can stand completely on its own without detracting from the experience.
2. Gregory Ashe’s patron site has multiple tiers (as well as a free 30-day trial for newcomers). You can access bonus content like this epilogue at an Intermediate or Advanced tier level - the annual cost is $100/$150 respectively, but there is a monthly option available at $10/$15 per month.
GA consistently offers free content via his newsletter (the day before each new release, he sends out a short story to read before the main event) and Facebook/Discord groups (more bonus stories!), so we’ve been begging him to offer an alternative for us to return the favor. He graciously set up a patron site this year, but is still figuring out how best to integrate exclusive content with his regularly scheduled programming, so any feedback is much appreciated. Please reach out if you have any other comments/questions, and I'll do my best to relay them!
—————
[4.4~4.5] not the antidote to my jet lag after two days of messy travel that my physical shell needed (my bum, back, and neck are out of service. sleep? who dat) because getting proper shuteye was the last thing on my mind, but mentally and spiritually?
(Millie voice) ABSOLUTELY.
mysteries have always sat on a special throne in my bibliophile heart: the thrill of the chase and exacting justice; of pitting myself against an author’s writerly machinations of red herrings and misdirections - all from the distanced safety of fictional pages and my bed. cozy mysteries, what i consider a (mostly) no-frills whodunit, is a subgenre thankfully resurging in an age when we need it most, and for GA to be one of those taking up the cozy gauntlet, i couldn’t be happier.
our Last Picks crew already has my heart: from Fox’s first floor nap of lamentation, Millie’s steadfast purity and vocal chords of steel, the mystery that is teenage Keme (#1 forever besties with Dash, calling it now), Indira’s strict and (literal) food-for-the-soul motherly instincts, and last but not least, Dash, our lovable, caffeine-fueled narrator with a sarcastic streak for centuries (and dare i say GA’s healthy outlet to air out any internal writerly grief? 😂).
no surprises then that the writing carries a markedly lighter and fresh undertone that - while possibly taking a few chapters to get into the rhythm of - never fails to capture the quintessentially cheeky ethos we see in varying capacities across all his characters and dialogue. in fact, it has its own added charm-filled luster when cushioned by the whimsical offerings of small-town settings and amateur sleuthing. case in point: i hope GA is still intact after all the intense curse word dodging (think Neo in The Matrix) and fourth wall breakages (Hulk smashing through brick walls)!
this first book alone is proof enough that The Last Picks will be infinitely marathonable, and i’m already looking forward to all 12(+1) books being out so we can make it official.
for my romance buds looking for the (vague) scoop:
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
———pre-release thoughts———
we all know Gregory Ashe as the King of Angst, the Deliverer of Tears, the Breaker of Hearts. so what happens when this feared writer takes up the mighty pen…to write a cozy mystery?!?!
if you’re in disbelief, know that you’re not alone. it’s one of those statements that requires a thorough background check of the messenger, and a tangible link to behold with your own eyes to deem truthful. but you read that right: a cozy mystery, never before seen from the likes of the man himself, is coming our way - featuring our leading star, Dashiell Dawson Dane (who doesn’t love an alliterative name?), and the small town of Hastings Rock, or better known as “soon-to-be home to a few (or thirty) corpses.”
if you’ve never dipped your toes into the World of Sir Gregaroni because of the intimidatingly long list of content warnings, or the equal parts extensive & intricate web of Hazardverse lore, this is no better place to start. (edit: and yes, gird those loins for the slow-burn romance storyline!)
and who knows? there may be a special something around the corner to commemorate this new series release 😉
stay tuned for the latest updates and more murder and mayhem (of the cozy variety)!
Regarding the epilogue
*The story is now available to read on his patron site 😊: https://patrons.gregoryashe.com/bonus...
1. The term “epilogue” in the romance genre sense is a misnomer here, where bonus or extra content would fit perfectly. If you're looking for more fun interactions/scenarios between the characters after the big mystery is wrapped up, that's where you can get that extra bit of shenanigans. But rest assured, you won't be missing out on any details important in the grand scheme of the series nor do I consider it a must-read. The book can stand completely on its own without detracting from the experience.
2. Gregory Ashe’s patron site has multiple tiers (as well as a free 30-day trial for newcomers). You can access bonus content like this epilogue at an Intermediate or Advanced tier level - the annual cost is $100/$150 respectively, but there is a monthly option available at $10/$15 per month.
GA consistently offers free content via his newsletter (the day before each new release, he sends out a short story to read before the main event) and Facebook/Discord groups (more bonus stories!), so we’ve been begging him to offer an alternative for us to return the favor. He graciously set up a patron site this year, but is still figuring out how best to integrate exclusive content with his regularly scheduled programming, so any feedback is much appreciated. Please reach out if you have any other comments/questions, and I'll do my best to relay them!
—————
[4.4~4.5] not the antidote to my jet lag after two days of messy travel that my physical shell needed (my bum, back, and neck are out of service. sleep? who dat) because getting proper shuteye was the last thing on my mind, but mentally and spiritually?
(Millie voice) ABSOLUTELY.
mysteries have always sat on a special throne in my bibliophile heart: the thrill of the chase and exacting justice; of pitting myself against an author’s writerly machinations of red herrings and misdirections - all from the distanced safety of fictional pages and my bed. cozy mysteries, what i consider a (mostly) no-frills whodunit, is a subgenre thankfully resurging in an age when we need it most, and for GA to be one of those taking up the cozy gauntlet, i couldn’t be happier.
our Last Picks crew already has my heart: from Fox’s first floor nap of lamentation, Millie’s steadfast purity and vocal chords of steel, the mystery that is teenage Keme (#1 forever besties with Dash, calling it now), Indira’s strict and (literal) food-for-the-soul motherly instincts, and last but not least, Dash, our lovable, caffeine-fueled narrator with a sarcastic streak for centuries (and dare i say GA’s healthy outlet to air out any internal writerly grief? 😂).
no surprises then that the writing carries a markedly lighter and fresh undertone that - while possibly taking a few chapters to get into the rhythm of - never fails to capture the quintessentially cheeky ethos we see in varying capacities across all his characters and dialogue. in fact, it has its own added charm-filled luster when cushioned by the whimsical offerings of small-town settings and amateur sleuthing. case in point: i hope GA is still intact after all the intense curse word dodging (think Neo in The Matrix) and fourth wall breakages (Hulk smashing through brick walls)!
this first book alone is proof enough that The Last Picks will be infinitely marathonable, and i’m already looking forward to all 12(+1) books being out so we can make it official.
for my romance buds looking for the (vague) scoop:
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
———pre-release thoughts———
we all know Gregory Ashe as the King of Angst, the Deliverer of Tears, the Breaker of Hearts. so what happens when this feared writer takes up the mighty pen…to write a cozy mystery?!?!
if you’re in disbelief, know that you’re not alone. it’s one of those statements that requires a thorough background check of the messenger, and a tangible link to behold with your own eyes to deem truthful. but you read that right: a cozy mystery, never before seen from the likes of the man himself, is coming our way - featuring our leading star, Dashiell Dawson Dane (who doesn’t love an alliterative name?), and the small town of Hastings Rock, or better known as “soon-to-be home to a few (or thirty) corpses.”
if you’ve never dipped your toes into the World of Sir Gregaroni because of the intimidatingly long list of content warnings, or the equal parts extensive & intricate web of Hazardverse lore, this is no better place to start. (edit: and yes, gird those loins for the slow-burn romance storyline!)
and who knows? there may be a special something around the corner to commemorate this new series release 😉
stay tuned for the latest updates and more murder and mayhem (of the cozy variety)!
June 17, 2024
* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 5 AUDIO 2024 :･ﾟ☘︎ *
4.5***** stars
I believe this is going to be an epic new series by Gregory Ashe. Referring to Alyssa’s review for more eloquent elaboration on that statement.
Looking forward to seeing more of Dash and the other last picks. There isn’t much of a romantic subplot here in this first one but there totally is a blooming one between Dash and Deputy Bobby. And it was actually quite enough for me. (well, this time)
Andrew Gibson (aka Blake Lockheart) did a fantastic job narrating. I’m totally hooked and can’t wait for the next one to come to audio. Hopefully very soon.
****************
The Last Picks Series
Book 1 - Mystery Magnet - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Dude Magnet - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Doom Magnet - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Broken Bird - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Between You and Me - wait for audio
Book 6 - Again with Feeling - release 12/24
Book 7 - By the Book - release 02/25
4.5***** stars
I believe this is going to be an epic new series by Gregory Ashe. Referring to Alyssa’s review for more eloquent elaboration on that statement.
Looking forward to seeing more of Dash and the other last picks. There isn’t much of a romantic subplot here in this first one but there totally is a blooming one between Dash and Deputy Bobby. And it was actually quite enough for me. (well, this time)
Andrew Gibson (aka Blake Lockheart) did a fantastic job narrating. I’m totally hooked and can’t wait for the next one to come to audio. Hopefully very soon.
****************
The Last Picks Series
Book 1 - Mystery Magnet - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Dude Magnet - 4.5 stars
Book 3 - Doom Magnet - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Broken Bird - 4.5 stars
Book 5 - Between You and Me - wait for audio
Book 6 - Again with Feeling - release 12/24
Book 7 - By the Book - release 02/25
April 20, 2024
I've never read a "cozy mystery" before, and I'd never have begun except that this is Gregory Ashe, for whom I am a notorious stan. So, let's face it, I'll be reading this series, and it will be fun ... but on the basis of my n of 1 so far, cozy mysteries are never going to be anything I seek out by any other writer.
The mystery here is enjoyably twisty and the mansion setting is Ridiculous Gothic turned up to 11 (secret passageways galore!). Dash x smoldering looks exchanged with brown-eyed, less than happily partnered Deputy Bobby: promise of future romance with, I assume, less mutual damage inflicted than by GA's other couples (looking at you, J-H and Emery). I loved Fox, the funniest drama llama every to drama:
My chief reason for giving Mystery Magnet four stars rather than five -- because, really, even if cozy mystery is never ever going to be a go-to genre for me, I can identify good work when I see it -- is the character of Millie. Think Shaw, but minus the smarts and sensitivity: she's loud and intrusive and she comes off as frankly stupid. I quailed every time she showed up and if GA decides to kill her off, or at least put her on a regular dose of benzodiazepines, I will be glad.
Many thanks, as always, to GA for the ARC. Despite Millie.
The mystery here is enjoyably twisty and the mansion setting is Ridiculous Gothic turned up to 11 (secret passageways galore!). Dash x smoldering looks exchanged with brown-eyed, less than happily partnered Deputy Bobby: promise of future romance with, I assume, less mutual damage inflicted than by GA's other couples (looking at you, J-H and Emery). I loved Fox, the funniest drama llama every to drama:
“Dashiell is going to be joining us at Hemlock House, Fox. Do you have any words of wisdom for him as he settles in at Hastings Rock?”
“Never love or cherish or hope for anything,” Fox said in a broken voice. “Life is a trap.”
My chief reason for giving Mystery Magnet four stars rather than five -- because, really, even if cozy mystery is never ever going to be a go-to genre for me, I can identify good work when I see it -- is the character of Millie. Think Shaw, but minus the smarts and sensitivity: she's loud and intrusive and she comes off as frankly stupid. I quailed every time she showed up and if GA decides to kill her off, or at least put her on a regular dose of benzodiazepines, I will be glad.
Many thanks, as always, to GA for the ARC. Despite Millie.
April 30, 2024
✰ 3 stars ✰
“But the reality was that, as far as the sheriff and most of the town was concerned, the case was already solved: I had murdered Vivienne, and now they were just gathering evidence until they were ready to arrest me.
So, if someone was going to find Vivienne’s killer, it would have to be me.”
I've only read Gregory Ashe's Holloway Holmes series and it was one of the most memorable reads for me last year - if not, one of my favorites. So, while I know it is probably impossible for me to completely ingrain myself in all of his past series, I wanted to give Mystery Magnet the first book in his new cozy mystery series a shot. ✨
Dashiel Dawson Dane or Just Dash, as he spends most of his time correcting everyone, knows what it's like having a chip on his shoulder. It's burdened and followed him for years, leading him to have to escape that existence of a life, by hiding out - well, moving to Hasting Rocks, a tourist town, on the opposite side of Rhode Island from whence he came. Hoping that he can leave behind the shadows of his successful mystery writer parents and the murder of a successful relationship - in the figurative sense, of course. But when his new employer, Vivienne Carver is discovered dead the night of his arrival, it's likely that Dash may very well be an unwitting magnet that draws murder towards him wherever he goes. 😟
It was strange how parts of the writing worked and some parts didn't. I liked the attention to detail to Dash's feelings and surroundings; very multi-layered and descriptive. At the same time, I didn't quite appreciate how character descriptions were written, by mentioning that this person was white or said person was black; it felt odd and rather misplaced in the manner that it could have been portrayed differently. Maybe it had been done before in Holmes series and I didn't notice it, but it stood out for me this time. 🙁 Apart from that, the writing was a pleasant one. Dash was an enjoyable protagonist that I look forward to getting to know more about. 'A snoop at heart - occupational hazard of being a writer', but who somehow treats himself as a burdensome problems for others, it was sad to see how he chanced upon inconvenient, if not unpleasant happenings without his accord; but, I liked being in his head and watching him to try to make some semblance of relief to his unfortunate misfortunes. 👍🏻 I didn't feel sorry for him entirely, but his backstory and personality do make for a unique combo that I'm curious to see what sort of situations await him in the future; if he'll survive the current charges against him, that is. 😥
“And it felt cozy, too. The vibe, for lack of a better word, of these people was good. They seemed to like each other.”
There's a little bit of everyone in The Last Picks that readers will relate to - an odd bunch of sorts, but each blessed with a helping hand of helping those in need. They made Dash's life a lot more interesting than he was prepared for, enough for him to rid his mind of what Will Gower would do and try to figure out what his next move would be. Their enthusiasm, while almost too outlandish for my tastes at times, was palpable and ever-present; Millie, especially was a bit too LOUD, for me, but I'm curious to see how they'll each play a part in helping Dash be a better person than who he was before he moved here. 🥺 In their own way, they helped Dash challenge himself to be braver and encourage him to think outside of the box, so to speak. They were enough to make him care about their well-being - small victories, and all, which I liked, as well as their strong sense of camaraderie and eagerness to help each other out. Almost like Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang, if I'm being completely honest - in a good way! 😅
The scenes shared between Deputy Bobby and Dash were my favorite; it was those moments where I saw why I had been drawn to GA's writing. From their first meeting to the steady teasing way he kept appearing to assist him, it was really sweet. The subtlety of attraction and the kindness in the quiet actions of exasperated caring and muted thoughtfulness with that silent, electric charge, which made their interactions all the more appealing and enjoyable to read. 🥹 Their repartee was light-hearted and funny, tinged with this hopeful unspoken want from both of them, with how he made Dash feel so much more relaxed and safe in his presence. There is a slight restraint to Deputy Bobby's actions, which intrigue me at how their dynamic will play out in the later installments - that is, if he does make a reappearance, of course. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“But the problem with that was the problem of every locked-room mystery, and that’s what this was: a real-life locked-room mystery.”
Mysteries are fun for me to read, especially when I can piece together the clues with the protagonist, so maybe, cozy mysteries and I are not a good fit. While plenty of action happened, it also progressed at a rapid pace, not allowing more time to pass between the police's suspicions of his involvement and Dash's own search for piecing together what really happened - a creative and well-thought out one. But, to keep that in play, the actual reveal of the culprit, itself, was not necessarily one that I'm a fan of, leading me to believe that locked-room mysteries are not my cup of tea. 😕 I guess I lean more towards the steady build-up to mysteries, where pieces fall into place gradually and a confession feels more believable and hard-earned; how the actual reveal of the culprit was handled here - was not one that I'm normally a fan of. But, if the basis of the series is to highlight the personal growth of Dash's involvement with the other members of the last picks, then I can see how it fits in that regard. 😔
I was caught off guard when I read that the epilogue was an exclusive for patron members only; which was rather unsettling. I can understand bonus epilogues or bonus povs, but to have the actual epilogue for the book only to be accessible for paying members - why? 🤔 I mean, why give a sneak preview into the next book, when you could have made that a patron privilege, instead? I get that it is a way to incite other readers to join a selective group, but what about those who don't have means to pay for a subscription? 😢 This way, the story, for me - who cannot view the epilogue - feels unresolved and incomplete. I know it sounds like I'm complaining - and, I'm not, really - since I do respect that GA and all other authors are entitled to share their content as they deem fit, but this was an unexpected surprise. 🤷🏻♀️ It makes me more wary now, and even more hesitant to pick up future GA works, with the notion that the possibility of this happening again is more likely than not. 😟
*EDIT* - I have been told that the epilogue does serve more as an extra bonus scene rather than a must-read conclusion to the story, so that is something that I can live with. And honestly, if it had been just phrased as a bonus scene rather than as an epilogue, then I would have never pointed it out at all.
“But the reality was that, as far as the sheriff and most of the town was concerned, the case was already solved: I had murdered Vivienne, and now they were just gathering evidence until they were ready to arrest me.
So, if someone was going to find Vivienne’s killer, it would have to be me.”
I've only read Gregory Ashe's Holloway Holmes series and it was one of the most memorable reads for me last year - if not, one of my favorites. So, while I know it is probably impossible for me to completely ingrain myself in all of his past series, I wanted to give Mystery Magnet the first book in his new cozy mystery series a shot. ✨
Dashiel Dawson Dane or Just Dash, as he spends most of his time correcting everyone, knows what it's like having a chip on his shoulder. It's burdened and followed him for years, leading him to have to escape that existence of a life, by hiding out - well, moving to Hasting Rocks, a tourist town, on the opposite side of Rhode Island from whence he came. Hoping that he can leave behind the shadows of his successful mystery writer parents and the murder of a successful relationship - in the figurative sense, of course. But when his new employer, Vivienne Carver is discovered dead the night of his arrival, it's likely that Dash may very well be an unwitting magnet that draws murder towards him wherever he goes. 😟
It was strange how parts of the writing worked and some parts didn't. I liked the attention to detail to Dash's feelings and surroundings; very multi-layered and descriptive. At the same time, I didn't quite appreciate how character descriptions were written, by mentioning that this person was white or said person was black; it felt odd and rather misplaced in the manner that it could have been portrayed differently. Maybe it had been done before in Holmes series and I didn't notice it, but it stood out for me this time. 🙁 Apart from that, the writing was a pleasant one. Dash was an enjoyable protagonist that I look forward to getting to know more about. 'A snoop at heart - occupational hazard of being a writer', but who somehow treats himself as a burdensome problems for others, it was sad to see how he chanced upon inconvenient, if not unpleasant happenings without his accord; but, I liked being in his head and watching him to try to make some semblance of relief to his unfortunate misfortunes. 👍🏻 I didn't feel sorry for him entirely, but his backstory and personality do make for a unique combo that I'm curious to see what sort of situations await him in the future; if he'll survive the current charges against him, that is. 😥
“And it felt cozy, too. The vibe, for lack of a better word, of these people was good. They seemed to like each other.”
There's a little bit of everyone in The Last Picks that readers will relate to - an odd bunch of sorts, but each blessed with a helping hand of helping those in need. They made Dash's life a lot more interesting than he was prepared for, enough for him to rid his mind of what Will Gower would do and try to figure out what his next move would be. Their enthusiasm, while almost too outlandish for my tastes at times, was palpable and ever-present; Millie, especially was a bit too LOUD, for me, but I'm curious to see how they'll each play a part in helping Dash be a better person than who he was before he moved here. 🥺 In their own way, they helped Dash challenge himself to be braver and encourage him to think outside of the box, so to speak. They were enough to make him care about their well-being - small victories, and all, which I liked, as well as their strong sense of camaraderie and eagerness to help each other out. Almost like Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang, if I'm being completely honest - in a good way! 😅
The scenes shared between Deputy Bobby and Dash were my favorite; it was those moments where I saw why I had been drawn to GA's writing. From their first meeting to the steady teasing way he kept appearing to assist him, it was really sweet. The subtlety of attraction and the kindness in the quiet actions of exasperated caring and muted thoughtfulness with that silent, electric charge, which made their interactions all the more appealing and enjoyable to read. 🥹 Their repartee was light-hearted and funny, tinged with this hopeful unspoken want from both of them, with how he made Dash feel so much more relaxed and safe in his presence. There is a slight restraint to Deputy Bobby's actions, which intrigue me at how their dynamic will play out in the later installments - that is, if he does make a reappearance, of course. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“But the problem with that was the problem of every locked-room mystery, and that’s what this was: a real-life locked-room mystery.”
Mysteries are fun for me to read, especially when I can piece together the clues with the protagonist, so maybe, cozy mysteries and I are not a good fit. While plenty of action happened, it also progressed at a rapid pace, not allowing more time to pass between the police's suspicions of his involvement and Dash's own search for piecing together what really happened - a creative and well-thought out one. But, to keep that in play, the actual reveal of the culprit, itself, was not necessarily one that I'm a fan of, leading me to believe that locked-room mysteries are not my cup of tea. 😕 I guess I lean more towards the steady build-up to mysteries, where pieces fall into place gradually and a confession feels more believable and hard-earned; how the actual reveal of the culprit was handled here - was not one that I'm normally a fan of. But, if the basis of the series is to highlight the personal growth of Dash's involvement with the other members of the last picks, then I can see how it fits in that regard. 😔
I was caught off guard when I read that the epilogue was an exclusive for patron members only; which was rather unsettling. I can understand bonus epilogues or bonus povs, but to have the actual epilogue for the book only to be accessible for paying members - why? 🤔 I mean, why give a sneak preview into the next book, when you could have made that a patron privilege, instead? I get that it is a way to incite other readers to join a selective group, but what about those who don't have means to pay for a subscription? 😢 This way, the story, for me - who cannot view the epilogue - feels unresolved and incomplete. I know it sounds like I'm complaining - and, I'm not, really - since I do respect that GA and all other authors are entitled to share their content as they deem fit, but this was an unexpected surprise. 🤷🏻♀️ It makes me more wary now, and even more hesitant to pick up future GA works, with the notion that the possibility of this happening again is more likely than not. 😟
*EDIT* - I have been told that the epilogue does serve more as an extra bonus scene rather than a must-read conclusion to the story, so that is something that I can live with. And honestly, if it had been just phrased as a bonus scene rather than as an epilogue, then I would have never pointed it out at all.
May 3, 2024
I love me some Gregory Ashe, but I have to admit that much of his stuff is too gritty for me when I want a lighter read. I jumped at the chance to read a gay cozy mystery from him and I'm so glad I did. I can't wait for book two and to see where it all goes, especially the burgeoning romance.
April 27, 2024
RTC - I have so many thoughts on this little book!
But if I was trying to catch your attention with just one sentence, it would be:
A new Gregory Ashe series without all that lovely pain and suffering! 👀
(I know, right? Is it really a GA series without that?)
But if I was trying to catch your attention with just one sentence, it would be:
A new Gregory Ashe series without all that lovely pain and suffering! 👀
(I know, right? Is it really a GA series without that?)
April 7, 2024
AMAZING. All of the witty humor, reluctantly emotionally complex and vulnerable leads, quirky small town side characters, and engaging murder mysteries you know Gregory Ashe delivers, but with a cozy and warm setting.
I loved every character, Millie, Fox, Keme, Indira, Bobby, and of course DASH!!! It’s a cozy found family feeling that really brings out the cozy in the story, and gives us these sweet multigenerational friendships between this little crew of young adults to middle-aged “Last Picks.”
I loved Fox’s drama, Millie’s very loud enthusiasm, Indira’s reserved protective nurturing, Keme’s quiet steady loyalty. And I’m team Bobby all the way. I love that he keeps trying to sternly and kindly help Dash, but still gives him parking tickets every time.
I loved Dash so much!! He’s such an indecisive anxious mess, but he’s OUR mess and we love him. One of those fantastic leads that is appropriately flawed and relatable, but still likable enough that you get how he ends up making connections in this cozy town.
I am such a sucker for a distinctive and funny first person narrator, and Dash is absolutely it. His internal narration is so uniquely him and full of his voice and I loved every minute of it.
I particularly loved the way we see both his preoccupation with writing and his own self-judgment and feelings of inadequacy with how he compares himself to how his fictional mystery detective Will Gower would handle a situation. It’s such a uniquely Dash thing, adds humor and insight without making Dash too self-aware, and just made me adore him even more.
The kickstarter just ended ($28000/2000 funded, 14 thousand percent!) but you can search Gregory Ashe or The Last Picks to see art of the characters and a map of the town. I kept pulling it up while reading and it was such a treat to be able to reference.
I’m so glad I backed the audio because this lighter, quicker cozy series is sure to be a go-to comfort relisten in the future!
I received an ARC copy and am providing an honest review of my own volition.
I loved every character, Millie, Fox, Keme, Indira, Bobby, and of course DASH!!! It’s a cozy found family feeling that really brings out the cozy in the story, and gives us these sweet multigenerational friendships between this little crew of young adults to middle-aged “Last Picks.”
I loved Fox’s drama, Millie’s very loud enthusiasm, Indira’s reserved protective nurturing, Keme’s quiet steady loyalty. And I’m team Bobby all the way. I love that he keeps trying to sternly and kindly help Dash, but still gives him parking tickets every time.
I loved Dash so much!! He’s such an indecisive anxious mess, but he’s OUR mess and we love him. One of those fantastic leads that is appropriately flawed and relatable, but still likable enough that you get how he ends up making connections in this cozy town.
I am such a sucker for a distinctive and funny first person narrator, and Dash is absolutely it. His internal narration is so uniquely him and full of his voice and I loved every minute of it.
I particularly loved the way we see both his preoccupation with writing and his own self-judgment and feelings of inadequacy with how he compares himself to how his fictional mystery detective Will Gower would handle a situation. It’s such a uniquely Dash thing, adds humor and insight without making Dash too self-aware, and just made me adore him even more.
The kickstarter just ended ($28000/2000 funded, 14 thousand percent!) but you can search Gregory Ashe or The Last Picks to see art of the characters and a map of the town. I kept pulling it up while reading and it was such a treat to be able to reference.
I’m so glad I backed the audio because this lighter, quicker cozy series is sure to be a go-to comfort relisten in the future!
I received an ARC copy and am providing an honest review of my own volition.
June 18, 2024
Mystery Magnet by Gregory Ashe is cosy mystery at its best. It may very well be my favourite cosy mystery!
We follow mystery author Dashiell Dawson Dane as he moves to a small seaside town for new job, working for celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver. His plan to get past his writers block and move past some personal drama is put on the backburner as his new boss is murdered the very first night he's staying at Hemlock House. And it seems he's being set up to take the fall. Surely those mysteries he's writen will come in handy to help slove the case and clear his name.
This was an amazing start to a series and I'm really excited to get to the next one. I loved Dash and the other regulars at Hemlock House. I'm also revy interested to see how things develop with Deputy Bobby!
I listened to the audio of this and it's narrated by Andrew Gibson who does a brilliant job. He's a new to me narrator and I'll be for sure checking out his other works.
We follow mystery author Dashiell Dawson Dane as he moves to a small seaside town for new job, working for celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver. His plan to get past his writers block and move past some personal drama is put on the backburner as his new boss is murdered the very first night he's staying at Hemlock House. And it seems he's being set up to take the fall. Surely those mysteries he's writen will come in handy to help slove the case and clear his name.
This was an amazing start to a series and I'm really excited to get to the next one. I loved Dash and the other regulars at Hemlock House. I'm also revy interested to see how things develop with Deputy Bobby!
I listened to the audio of this and it's narrated by Andrew Gibson who does a brilliant job. He's a new to me narrator and I'll be for sure checking out his other works.
April 30, 2024
Liked Dash and the gang.
Cozies are cute, but I need
the pain and the blood.
Cozies are cute, but I need
the pain and the blood.
April 7, 2024
I've given this a B+ at AAR, 4.5 stars
The cosy mystery is not a genre I’m generally drawn to. I’ve read a few (mostly Josh Lanyon’s Secrets and Scrabble series and a few others) and the words “Gregory Ashe” and “cosy mystery” were not, until now, ones I’d have expected ever to see written in the same sentence. But here we are at the beginning of a new series of cosy mysteries by Gregory Ashe – and I will admit that I wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of a GA book with no gut-twisting angst, inventive swearing (or sex).
BUT. He’s an immensely talented writer and I’ve reached the stage where I’ll read anything he writes, so there was never a chance I wasn’t going to at least give his latest The Last Picks series a try.
Book one (of a proposed twelve!), Mystery Magnet, is exactly what you’d expect from a cosy mystery. It’s fairly short, the protagonist is endearing with a distinctive voice, there’s a quirky secondary cast, and a decent – though not especially complex – mystery to be solved. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book and Mr. Ashe clearly demonstrates that yes, he absolutely can write a successful cosy mystery.
Our narrator is Dashiell (“just Dash”) Dawson Dane, an aspiring mystery writer whose parents are both very successful authors of dark mysteries and thrillers:
I’d grown up with parents who specialized in the macabre, where talking and reading and thinking about things like exotic murders and due process and, yes, homicide interviews were part of daily life.
- and are way too wrapped up in their own drama to be bothered overmuch about their son. After breaking up with his boyfriend, Hugo, Dash gets a job as PA to celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver and drives across the country from his home in Providence to the small Oregon town of Hastings Rock and Vivienne’s coast-side mansion, Hemlock House. It’s certainly different, and Dash is looking forward not only to starting his new job, but also hoping that the new location will blow the cobwebs off his own writing process, which has been stalled for some time.
His new job gets off to a terrible start, however, when, the very next morning, Dash is returning from a coffee-run in town and sees a body floating in the water just beyond the cliffs – a body wearing the very distinctive red sweater Vivienne was wearing the day before. When the sheriff and his deputies arrive, they are very suspicious of the new guy on the block; Dash can’t prove he was alone and asleep all last night, and when a secret passageway is discovered, connecting his bedroom with Vivienne’s, he’s convinced he’s the prime suspect in her murder. And what is any self-respecting mystery writer to do in those circumstances? Why, he must turn amateur sleuth to prove his innocence by catching the real killer, of course!
I haven’t read too many cosies, but it seems that where they really stand or fall is on the quality of the characterisation – and one of the many things Gregory Ashe excels at is creating layered, nuanced and likeable characters. Dash is awkward and endearing, he clearly has self-esteem problems and anxiety issues, and his narrative voice is full of humour - with a delicious streak of snark - and self-awareness. I liked him a lot, and thankfully, his determination to get to the truth isn’t characterised by his doing really dumb things that put him in danger all the time! And although this is Dash’s show, there’s a lively and well-characterised secondary cast on hand to liven things up; we have Millie, who completely lacks an ‘inside voice’ and WHOSE ENTHUSIASM FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS BARELY CONTAINABLE, Indira, the very enigmatic live-in cook and housekeeper, Fox, a local artist prone to dramatic gestures and woeful lamentations “Never love or cherish or hope for anything,” the mysterious Keme, who seems to have taken an instant dislike to Dash, and Deputy Bobby, sternly helpful purveyor of parking tickets, and who I’m guessing will turn out to be Dash’s love interest.
The writing is deft and fresh; the use of language and descriptions are still recognisably Gregory Ashe, but there’s a lighter note overall that is perfect for the genre. It’s also the shortest Ashe book I’ve ever read (not counting the short stories that take place between his longer titles) – I read it in one evening. The mystery itself is entertaining and there’s a nice twist near the end, the dialogue is sharp and witty and I really liked the emerging relationships and the interactions between the characters. It’s early days so it’s a bit ‘bare bones’ at the moment, but I’m looking forward to watching Dash as he settles into Hastings Rock and seeing how all the relationships develop.
I’m never going to be able to call myself a fan of cosy mysteries, but Mystery Magnet was a lot of fun and is a book I’d definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick, lighthearted read filled with interesting characters, great dialogue and a snarky, engaging protagonist.
The cosy mystery is not a genre I’m generally drawn to. I’ve read a few (mostly Josh Lanyon’s Secrets and Scrabble series and a few others) and the words “Gregory Ashe” and “cosy mystery” were not, until now, ones I’d have expected ever to see written in the same sentence. But here we are at the beginning of a new series of cosy mysteries by Gregory Ashe – and I will admit that I wasn’t overjoyed at the prospect of a GA book with no gut-twisting angst, inventive swearing (or sex).
BUT. He’s an immensely talented writer and I’ve reached the stage where I’ll read anything he writes, so there was never a chance I wasn’t going to at least give his latest The Last Picks series a try.
Book one (of a proposed twelve!), Mystery Magnet, is exactly what you’d expect from a cosy mystery. It’s fairly short, the protagonist is endearing with a distinctive voice, there’s a quirky secondary cast, and a decent – though not especially complex – mystery to be solved. I enjoyed it enough to want to read the next book and Mr. Ashe clearly demonstrates that yes, he absolutely can write a successful cosy mystery.
Our narrator is Dashiell (“just Dash”) Dawson Dane, an aspiring mystery writer whose parents are both very successful authors of dark mysteries and thrillers:
I’d grown up with parents who specialized in the macabre, where talking and reading and thinking about things like exotic murders and due process and, yes, homicide interviews were part of daily life.
- and are way too wrapped up in their own drama to be bothered overmuch about their son. After breaking up with his boyfriend, Hugo, Dash gets a job as PA to celebrity mystery author Vivienne Carver and drives across the country from his home in Providence to the small Oregon town of Hastings Rock and Vivienne’s coast-side mansion, Hemlock House. It’s certainly different, and Dash is looking forward not only to starting his new job, but also hoping that the new location will blow the cobwebs off his own writing process, which has been stalled for some time.
His new job gets off to a terrible start, however, when, the very next morning, Dash is returning from a coffee-run in town and sees a body floating in the water just beyond the cliffs – a body wearing the very distinctive red sweater Vivienne was wearing the day before. When the sheriff and his deputies arrive, they are very suspicious of the new guy on the block; Dash can’t prove he was alone and asleep all last night, and when a secret passageway is discovered, connecting his bedroom with Vivienne’s, he’s convinced he’s the prime suspect in her murder. And what is any self-respecting mystery writer to do in those circumstances? Why, he must turn amateur sleuth to prove his innocence by catching the real killer, of course!
I haven’t read too many cosies, but it seems that where they really stand or fall is on the quality of the characterisation – and one of the many things Gregory Ashe excels at is creating layered, nuanced and likeable characters. Dash is awkward and endearing, he clearly has self-esteem problems and anxiety issues, and his narrative voice is full of humour - with a delicious streak of snark - and self-awareness. I liked him a lot, and thankfully, his determination to get to the truth isn’t characterised by his doing really dumb things that put him in danger all the time! And although this is Dash’s show, there’s a lively and well-characterised secondary cast on hand to liven things up; we have Millie, who completely lacks an ‘inside voice’ and WHOSE ENTHUSIASM FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING IS BARELY CONTAINABLE, Indira, the very enigmatic live-in cook and housekeeper, Fox, a local artist prone to dramatic gestures and woeful lamentations “Never love or cherish or hope for anything,” the mysterious Keme, who seems to have taken an instant dislike to Dash, and Deputy Bobby, sternly helpful purveyor of parking tickets, and who I’m guessing will turn out to be Dash’s love interest.
The writing is deft and fresh; the use of language and descriptions are still recognisably Gregory Ashe, but there’s a lighter note overall that is perfect for the genre. It’s also the shortest Ashe book I’ve ever read (not counting the short stories that take place between his longer titles) – I read it in one evening. The mystery itself is entertaining and there’s a nice twist near the end, the dialogue is sharp and witty and I really liked the emerging relationships and the interactions between the characters. It’s early days so it’s a bit ‘bare bones’ at the moment, but I’m looking forward to watching Dash as he settles into Hastings Rock and seeing how all the relationships develop.
I’m never going to be able to call myself a fan of cosy mysteries, but Mystery Magnet was a lot of fun and is a book I’d definitely recommend to anyone looking for a quick, lighthearted read filled with interesting characters, great dialogue and a snarky, engaging protagonist.
June 28, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Horrified by the realization that I might actually like cozies.
As a devotee of GA's normal ADHD-style (ADHD: Angst, Dysfunction, Head trauma, Daddy issues), I was rather skeptical of this going in. But I really enjoyed it, much more than expected honestly. Dash is just a likable, relatable character to hang out with -- smart, self-deprecating but not so much that it gets tiresome (it's a tricky balance), and, for all his low-level anxiety and awkwardness, actually pretty resilient and able to roll with the punches. Deputy Bobby is a hunky, competent delight. (My favorite kind.) The mystery is clever and neatly wrapped up, and if it's all a bit hand-wavy, well, that's cozy for you. The friend group took a bit of time to gel, but they got there in the end. I should note, however, that Millie probably would have annoyed me more had I not been warned going in by the invaluable ancientreader. I was expecting They Who Shall Not Be Named-level hijinks, and she was A LOT, but she wasn't as bad as I feared.
One thing, though: there is a prequel story to this series that I got as a newsletter subscriber, and that focuses on Dash's relationship with his ex, Hugo. I'm not sure if this is freely available anymore (it will probably be released with other stories at the end of the series, per GA's habit), but it made a huge difference to my understanding of Dash's headspace that I'm not sure I would have gotten if I went in cold. The takeaway -- and I'm not putting this under spoiler tags because it is technically a prequel, and it relates to character dynamics rather than plot/ mystery spoilers, but let me know if you feel otherwise in the comments -- is that Hugo, perfect Hugo, is actually extremely, but subtly, controlling: not in a way evident to outsiders -- indeed, the point of the story is Dash starting to pick up on these red flags that are only visible from inside the relationship -- but in a way that, we the readers understand, will only intensify and get more coercive as Hugo gets more successful and Dash continues to founder. So the Dash we get here is someone who has extricated himself from a relationship that, to everyone else, looked perfect; indeed, to everyone else, looked like he was the lucky one while Hugo was the patient, generous one. For all his purported indecisiveness, Dash trusts his own judgment enough to act on his gut feeling that something was deeply wrong in the relationship; but he still, understandably, second-guesses himself since his own experience of it is so dramatically at odds with other people's perceptions. We get hints of this dynamic in an exchange between Dash and Deputy Bobby later in the book, but it's much more thoroughly explored and articulated in the prequel story.
Rounding down primarily because GA tends to hit his stride in later books in his series, so I want to leave some room at the top.
Anyway, 2024 may be a shitshow, but Cat Sebastian writing KD Casey fanfic and Gregory Ashe writing Cat Sebastian fanfic certainly is making it go down a bit easier.
Horrified by the realization that I might actually like cozies.
As a devotee of GA's normal ADHD-style (ADHD: Angst, Dysfunction, Head trauma, Daddy issues), I was rather skeptical of this going in. But I really enjoyed it, much more than expected honestly. Dash is just a likable, relatable character to hang out with -- smart, self-deprecating but not so much that it gets tiresome (it's a tricky balance), and, for all his low-level anxiety and awkwardness, actually pretty resilient and able to roll with the punches. Deputy Bobby is a hunky, competent delight. (My favorite kind.) The mystery is clever and neatly wrapped up, and if it's all a bit hand-wavy, well, that's cozy for you. The friend group took a bit of time to gel, but they got there in the end. I should note, however, that Millie probably would have annoyed me more had I not been warned going in by the invaluable ancientreader. I was expecting They Who Shall Not Be Named-level hijinks, and she was A LOT, but she wasn't as bad as I feared.
One thing, though: there is a prequel story to this series that I got as a newsletter subscriber, and that focuses on Dash's relationship with his ex, Hugo. I'm not sure if this is freely available anymore (it will probably be released with other stories at the end of the series, per GA's habit), but it made a huge difference to my understanding of Dash's headspace that I'm not sure I would have gotten if I went in cold. The takeaway -- and I'm not putting this under spoiler tags because it is technically a prequel, and it relates to character dynamics rather than plot/ mystery spoilers, but let me know if you feel otherwise in the comments -- is that Hugo, perfect Hugo, is actually extremely, but subtly, controlling: not in a way evident to outsiders -- indeed, the point of the story is Dash starting to pick up on these red flags that are only visible from inside the relationship -- but in a way that, we the readers understand, will only intensify and get more coercive as Hugo gets more successful and Dash continues to founder. So the Dash we get here is someone who has extricated himself from a relationship that, to everyone else, looked perfect; indeed, to everyone else, looked like he was the lucky one while Hugo was the patient, generous one. For all his purported indecisiveness, Dash trusts his own judgment enough to act on his gut feeling that something was deeply wrong in the relationship; but he still, understandably, second-guesses himself since his own experience of it is so dramatically at odds with other people's perceptions. We get hints of this dynamic in an exchange between Dash and Deputy Bobby later in the book, but it's much more thoroughly explored and articulated in the prequel story.
Rounding down primarily because GA tends to hit his stride in later books in his series, so I want to leave some room at the top.
Anyway, 2024 may be a shitshow, but Cat Sebastian writing KD Casey fanfic and Gregory Ashe writing Cat Sebastian fanfic certainly is making it go down a bit easier.
Read
May 13, 2024This was a quaint cosy mystery. I liked it. I felt the book was okay as it stood. But. BUT. The author pissed me off because what I don't like is a marketing ploy over craft integrity.
I did NOT like this whole holding an epilogue to ransom business by the author asking, 'want the epilogue? Become a patron'.
I pay for a writer's book. I expect the full book, not a carrot.
There are people who have OCD about completing something in its entirety. That can create pressure.
There are readers out there, especially in these complex economic times, who live from paycheque to paycheque and can't afford both your book and to be your "patron" and other things they want or need.
I refuse to be a patron because I don't care about being a member of your club. Which is fine if a reader chooses to do so. Although there are better ways to recruit, surely?
I just want the FULL book I'm reading. Not a marketing gimmick.
I did NOT like this whole holding an epilogue to ransom business by the author asking, 'want the epilogue? Become a patron'.
I pay for a writer's book. I expect the full book, not a carrot.
There are people who have OCD about completing something in its entirety. That can create pressure.
There are readers out there, especially in these complex economic times, who live from paycheque to paycheque and can't afford both your book and to be your "patron" and other things they want or need.
I refuse to be a patron because I don't care about being a member of your club. Which is fine if a reader chooses to do so. Although there are better ways to recruit, surely?
I just want the FULL book I'm reading. Not a marketing gimmick.
November 30, 2024
4+⭐
Disclaimer:
While this 1st book of the series can be considered a fun, cosy mystery, I feel people should be forewarned that the main relationship will be going through your normal Gregory Ashe angst wringer, and it doesn't really sit well with the other aspects of the story that try to remain cosy, light, and fun. I ended up dropping the series and basically hoping I hadn't even started it. I also decided I'm not going to read Ashe anymore, since if his main characters can behave this horribly in a cosy setting, and I feel physically ill reading these books, it's just too much for me. The Lamb and the Lion series is messy and painful too, but that one I can still recommend, because I actually like those characters and can sympathise with them.
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Original review on Nov 2024:
Most of my life I've considered myself edgier than cosy mysteries but during the recent years I've figured out that I've always liked them. I've preferred the Poirot TV series to Christie's actual novels, because they really show us the delicious setting and all the eccentric characters. And yeah, we definitely have our share of eccentrics here. It's over-the-top, it's stupid really, but still... I'm entertained.
Ashe definitely has some writing chops but my heart has not been prepared for his angst-fests (after being totally wrecked by the "gentler" The Lamb and the Lion series), so I decided to give this one a go. Honestly, I'm still kind of scared about the slow burn. I am pretty sure Ashe can stomp on my heart even in this series. But I will read on.
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2nd read after 3 months because it's short and I will continue series. Still fun, though I was eager to get to the second book.
Disclaimer:
While this 1st book of the series can be considered a fun, cosy mystery, I feel people should be forewarned that the main relationship will be going through your normal Gregory Ashe angst wringer, and it doesn't really sit well with the other aspects of the story that try to remain cosy, light, and fun. I ended up dropping the series and basically hoping I hadn't even started it. I also decided I'm not going to read Ashe anymore, since if his main characters can behave this horribly in a cosy setting, and I feel physically ill reading these books, it's just too much for me. The Lamb and the Lion series is messy and painful too, but that one I can still recommend, because I actually like those characters and can sympathise with them.
-----
Original review on Nov 2024:
Most of my life I've considered myself edgier than cosy mysteries but during the recent years I've figured out that I've always liked them. I've preferred the Poirot TV series to Christie's actual novels, because they really show us the delicious setting and all the eccentric characters. And yeah, we definitely have our share of eccentrics here. It's over-the-top, it's stupid really, but still... I'm entertained.
Ashe definitely has some writing chops but my heart has not been prepared for his angst-fests (after being totally wrecked by the "gentler" The Lamb and the Lion series), so I decided to give this one a go. Honestly, I'm still kind of scared about the slow burn. I am pretty sure Ashe can stomp on my heart even in this series. But I will read on.
-----
2nd read after 3 months because it's short and I will continue series. Still fun, though I was eager to get to the second book.
August 21, 2025
Mystery Magnet by Gregory Ashe
The Last Picks series #1.
Murder mystery. LGBTQ M-M romance.
Dashiell Dawson Dane moved to the small seaside town Hastings Rock where he promptly got a ticket. A wonderful start getting away from his ex, his parents, and hopefully outrunning his writer’s block. Working for the famous crime writer, Vivienne Carter, should get his creative jump started. It does, but not quite in the way he expected.
Vivienne Carter has been killed and Dash is the prime suspect.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook performed by Andrew Gibson. The performance is wonderful and mostly amusing with creative voices for the various characters and emotions that are clear.
As usual, I listened at and above 1.5 to match local conversational speed.
Poor Dash. Thrown into a mystery he’s definitely not prepared for. At least Detective Bobby is helpful even if he does like to write tickets.
Cozy, slow burn mystery with fun characters on the Last Picks team.
Enjoyed and look forward to reading more of this series when I can.
The Last Picks series #1.
Murder mystery. LGBTQ M-M romance.
Dashiell Dawson Dane moved to the small seaside town Hastings Rock where he promptly got a ticket. A wonderful start getting away from his ex, his parents, and hopefully outrunning his writer’s block. Working for the famous crime writer, Vivienne Carter, should get his creative jump started. It does, but not quite in the way he expected.
Vivienne Carter has been killed and Dash is the prime suspect.
🎧 I listened to an audiobook performed by Andrew Gibson. The performance is wonderful and mostly amusing with creative voices for the various characters and emotions that are clear.
As usual, I listened at and above 1.5 to match local conversational speed.
Poor Dash. Thrown into a mystery he’s definitely not prepared for. At least Detective Bobby is helpful even if he does like to write tickets.
Cozy, slow burn mystery with fun characters on the Last Picks team.
Enjoyed and look forward to reading more of this series when I can.
April 23, 2024
This was fun and fast paced with a main character that must be protected at all costs and his new friends, who are so delightful! This was a great start to this new series, which is a huge departure for Gregory Ashe. I love cozy mysteries and Josh Lanyon’s Secrets and Scrabble series is at the top of my list but this paid homage to parts of that and reminded me subtly of it. I ate that up!
I am excited for this change from Ashe who is usually the king of slow burn, crazy mysteries that hurt as much as they are enjoyable. I’ve sold my soul long ago and I am now completely at the mercy of whatever pain he will put me through. It’s a good thing this series seems to be lighter, even though the slow burn is already set up. Which I cannot get enough of!
The mystery was fabulous! Taking place in a mansion in a coastal Oregon town I was whisked away to memories of reading my beloved Nancy Drew books as a teenager with the secret passageways and damp and drafty rooms. It seems Dashiell (call me Dash) has stumbled into a bit of a mess but what he is gaining is a new home and the most interesting friends. Then there’s Deputy Bobby who has a story I can’t wait to know more about.
This started a tiny bit slow for me but before long I was sucked into the story. This really can only get better. I am so ready for it!!!!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
I am excited for this change from Ashe who is usually the king of slow burn, crazy mysteries that hurt as much as they are enjoyable. I’ve sold my soul long ago and I am now completely at the mercy of whatever pain he will put me through. It’s a good thing this series seems to be lighter, even though the slow burn is already set up. Which I cannot get enough of!
The mystery was fabulous! Taking place in a mansion in a coastal Oregon town I was whisked away to memories of reading my beloved Nancy Drew books as a teenager with the secret passageways and damp and drafty rooms. It seems Dashiell (call me Dash) has stumbled into a bit of a mess but what he is gaining is a new home and the most interesting friends. Then there’s Deputy Bobby who has a story I can’t wait to know more about.
This started a tiny bit slow for me but before long I was sucked into the story. This really can only get better. I am so ready for it!!!!
ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own
April 8, 2024
I've made no secret that Ashe is one of my absolute favorite authors...and his first foray into cozy was amazing! I honestly thought I had the mystery figured out at about 85%-and had come up with a hilarious pun for my review- but alas, my hope of being witty was Dashed (see what I did there) because I was COMPLETELY WRONG. Like I might as well have been on the moon I was so far from the answer. So well done Greg, you got me good.
I was thoroughly entertained through the entire story. It had all the wit and banter I can expect from an Ashe story, but somehow it never gets stale as each character is truly unique and just amazing in their own right. I can tell I'm going to get frustrated with Dash, and empathize with Dash, and love Dash in equal measures. And his merry gang of misfits were just fun, there's no other way to put it. I'm also liking the little hints of Officer Bobby (not a cartoon character) as a love interest, but I'm never quite sure what Greg has up his sleeve so I'll just sit back (and anxiously/excitedly) wait for the next book!
I was thoroughly entertained through the entire story. It had all the wit and banter I can expect from an Ashe story, but somehow it never gets stale as each character is truly unique and just amazing in their own right. I can tell I'm going to get frustrated with Dash, and empathize with Dash, and love Dash in equal measures. And his merry gang of misfits were just fun, there's no other way to put it. I'm also liking the little hints of Officer Bobby (not a cartoon character) as a love interest, but I'm never quite sure what Greg has up his sleeve so I'll just sit back (and anxiously/excitedly) wait for the next book!
December 5, 2025
This has been sat on my Kindle for ages waiting for all of the rest of the books to be released because I had a hunch that I would love Dash and want to binge read his series once I started it - I was totally not disappointed!
Millie made me both laugh and want to scream; Fox's dramatics were weirdly relatable and highly entertaining; Indira is still a mystery to me; Keme is a sweet baby angel and I love him so much, the end; Bobby is very interesting.... But Dash is just relatable on so many levels and I really enjoyed beginning to get to know him - although it did make me laugh that he was moaning about being cold in his t-shirt! For me, t-shirt weather doesn't end until we get to about 8 degrees celsius, but on the other hand I will literally feel like I'm dying from heat exhaustion as soon as it gets over 21 degrees celsius 😂
The mystery reminded me of the daytime murder mysteries that my grandad used to watch and it felt nostalgic and fun. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series but I am going to have to wait until after Christmas because I have so many books on my Kindle that I want to read - I need more hours in the day!
Millie made me both laugh and want to scream; Fox's dramatics were weirdly relatable and highly entertaining; Indira is still a mystery to me; Keme is a sweet baby angel and I love him so much, the end; Bobby is very interesting.... But Dash is just relatable on so many levels and I really enjoyed beginning to get to know him - although it did make me laugh that he was moaning about being cold in his t-shirt! For me, t-shirt weather doesn't end until we get to about 8 degrees celsius, but on the other hand I will literally feel like I'm dying from heat exhaustion as soon as it gets over 21 degrees celsius 😂
The mystery reminded me of the daytime murder mysteries that my grandad used to watch and it felt nostalgic and fun. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series but I am going to have to wait until after Christmas because I have so many books on my Kindle that I want to read - I need more hours in the day!
May 3, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Mystery Magnet is the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new cozy mystery series, The Last Picks. I am a big fan of Ashe’s writing, so I was really excited to check out his foray into the cozy genre. Just to be clear, this is definitely a different style and tone than many of Ashe’s other mystery/suspense books and this story is about as far as you can get from something like Hazard and Somerset. Personally, I really loved the way this book takes Ashe’s strengths as a mystery writer and puts them to use in a softer story that is light and fun and less intense than some of his other work.
Overall, I found this one a really fun story and it just clicked for me so well. I am looking forward to going on this cozy mystery journey with Ashe and am excited for more installments.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Mystery Magnet is the first book in Gregory Ashe’s new cozy mystery series, The Last Picks. I am a big fan of Ashe’s writing, so I was really excited to check out his foray into the cozy genre. Just to be clear, this is definitely a different style and tone than many of Ashe’s other mystery/suspense books and this story is about as far as you can get from something like Hazard and Somerset. Personally, I really loved the way this book takes Ashe’s strengths as a mystery writer and puts them to use in a softer story that is light and fun and less intense than some of his other work.
Overall, I found this one a really fun story and it just clicked for me so well. I am looking forward to going on this cozy mystery journey with Ashe and am excited for more installments.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
May 5, 2024
Is it possible for the king of riveting angst and procedural drama to write a cozy murder series? Mais bien sûr gentle readers! MC Dash arrives in (of course) a tourist seaside township and forms his very own Famous Five club so to avoid being railroaded into a conviction of murder; each of these supportive character being wonderfully crafted and at least one bearing some vague resemblance to a notorious Shaw A. Deputy Bobby (think a blend of Phryne Fisher's Constable Collins and Agatha Raisin's DC Bill Wong) bears all the hallmarks of a potential love interest so we can expect a long drawn out relational curve before any form of romance will be consummated (and might well be a fade to black thing given the cozy status of the series). This first book gave me a few enjoyable hours of escapist reading - 4.5 stars.
June 22, 2024
3,5*
Disclaimer - this is my very first Gregory Ashe read and I have to admit, I didn't read the synopsis very closely and didn't know it was a cozy mystery. It's possible that affected my enjoyment because I can't say I was in the mood for something that lighthearted.
EDIT - it is, in fact, not my first book by him, I completely forgot I'd read The Strangest Forms 😦
I really liked the writing style, so easy to read but still quite immersive. I'm pretty sure I won't remember the plot in three days, it's a classic cozy murder mystery, but the cast of characters stood out, they were all eccentric and/or lovable (and a bit OTT in some cases) and I want to read more about them. Keme especially caught my eye, that boy is like a surly black cat that's very affectionate once you win him over ❤️
Recommend for the fans of Josh Lanyon's Secrets and Scrabble series.
Disclaimer - this is my very first Gregory Ashe read and I have to admit, I didn't read the synopsis very closely and didn't know it was a cozy mystery. It's possible that affected my enjoyment because I can't say I was in the mood for something that lighthearted.
EDIT - it is, in fact, not my first book by him, I completely forgot I'd read The Strangest Forms 😦
I really liked the writing style, so easy to read but still quite immersive. I'm pretty sure I won't remember the plot in three days, it's a classic cozy murder mystery, but the cast of characters stood out, they were all eccentric and/or lovable (and a bit OTT in some cases) and I want to read more about them. Keme especially caught my eye, that boy is like a surly black cat that's very affectionate once you win him over ❤️
Recommend for the fans of Josh Lanyon's Secrets and Scrabble series.
November 1, 2024
This was EXCELLENT! The mystery part was well written and I appreciated all the little clues the author had left throughout the book. The burgeoning romance, which appears to be a slow burn that will develop over several books, already has me feeling invested in the couple. Dash is a very likable main character and the supporting characters are interesting and likable as well. Looking forward to starting book 2 very soon.
April 22, 2024
Bobby 😍
April 9, 2024
Gregory Ashe writing a COZY? Picture me surprised. *laughs* And it is a very good one (try to act surprised, I'll wait here :P)
What we have here is a motley crew of picturesque characters, a found family of the best kind in a tourist town in Oregon, who find themselves including Dash under their collective wings when the matron of the house (and Matron of Murder!) is killed short after Dash arrives to take a job. Oh, the irony *laughs*
The story is told from Dash perspective, and I love his voice. He's a neurotic mess, sure, but he's also smart, quick-witted and determined when it really counts. Decide what milk he wants for his coffee? Worth hyperventilating. Decide to pursue a murderer to clear his name? No biggie :P
The gang is composed of such a different cast of people: serious, motherly Indra; silent and somehow troubled Keme; drama queen Fox; and overenthusiastic Millie. They shouldn't work, and yet, they do, beautifully. Fair warning, Millie is an acquired taste, it took me a while to warm to her *laughs*
Then, we have Deputy Bobby who not only is a good policeman but a kind one. And yes, there are possibilities there, even as he has a boyfriend. A gorgeous one, according to Dash. But you'll agree with me after you read a late-night conversation between him and Dash *smiles*
And you know what I loved the most? That there was a very obvious clue as to who the culprit was but I totally missed it. Because only becomes that obvious (to me, at least) after the fact *laughs*
A fantastic first book in a series that promises to be long and twisty. Oh, yes, I'm looking forward to all those books and to learn more about all the characters in them :D
What we have here is a motley crew of picturesque characters, a found family of the best kind in a tourist town in Oregon, who find themselves including Dash under their collective wings when the matron of the house (and Matron of Murder!) is killed short after Dash arrives to take a job. Oh, the irony *laughs*
The story is told from Dash perspective, and I love his voice. He's a neurotic mess, sure, but he's also smart, quick-witted and determined when it really counts. Decide what milk he wants for his coffee? Worth hyperventilating. Decide to pursue a murderer to clear his name? No biggie :P
The gang is composed of such a different cast of people: serious, motherly Indra; silent and somehow troubled Keme; drama queen Fox; and overenthusiastic Millie. They shouldn't work, and yet, they do, beautifully. Fair warning, Millie is an acquired taste, it took me a while to warm to her *laughs*
Then, we have Deputy Bobby who not only is a good policeman but a kind one. And yes, there are possibilities there, even as he has a boyfriend. A gorgeous one, according to Dash. But you'll agree with me after you read a late-night conversation between him and Dash *smiles*
And you know what I loved the most? That there was a very obvious clue as to who the culprit was but I totally missed it. Because only becomes that obvious (to me, at least) after the fact *laughs*
A fantastic first book in a series that promises to be long and twisty. Oh, yes, I'm looking forward to all those books and to learn more about all the characters in them :D
May 12, 2024
Well, this worked surprisingly well. Book 2 preordered.
I hadn't read Ashe before, and I grabbed this nearly at random in hopes of an enjoyable break from another book which had become rather dreary in the middle.
I don't generally like when authors make the protagonist a writer, or musician, or artist, or any other choice that reeks of self-insert. (Yes, ultimately all characters come from the writer's head and are in some sense them, but for fuck sake at least pretend you made an effort.) Dash, however, was quite charming. His shyness and insecurity is cute and relatable, and I think the first person narration was essential in selling that. His occasional comments on the text were just the sort of fourth-wall breaking I like, one of the few meta-type elements I can handle in a story (ask me to do multiple levels of unreality or pay attention to symbolism or that sort of nonsense and my brain just goes fuck it, i'm out and I might as well dnf.)
And I think if I looked too hard at the plot here, I might find nits to pick as far as how I think mysteries should be written.
However, I'm looking forward to seeing more of Dash and Deputy Bobby and our cast of misfits in the next volume and luckily there's not too long to wait.
I hadn't read Ashe before, and I grabbed this nearly at random in hopes of an enjoyable break from another book which had become rather dreary in the middle.
I don't generally like when authors make the protagonist a writer, or musician, or artist, or any other choice that reeks of self-insert. (Yes, ultimately all characters come from the writer's head and are in some sense them, but for fuck sake at least pretend you made an effort.) Dash, however, was quite charming. His shyness and insecurity is cute and relatable, and I think the first person narration was essential in selling that. His occasional comments on the text were just the sort of fourth-wall breaking I like, one of the few meta-type elements I can handle in a story (ask me to do multiple levels of unreality or pay attention to symbolism or that sort of nonsense and my brain just goes fuck it, i'm out and I might as well dnf.)
And I think if I looked too hard at the plot here, I might find nits to pick as far as how I think mysteries should be written.
However, I'm looking forward to seeing more of Dash and Deputy Bobby and our cast of misfits in the next volume and luckily there's not too long to wait.
June 6, 2024
Fun Cozy Mystery & Fabulous Narration!! 🩷🩷
This was a lovely cozy mystery. Gregory Ashe’s first?
What worked for me:
-The narrator was amazing at differentiating the voices of the characters!
-The setting on the Oregon Coast…I could feel it!
-The second half of the book
-I had no idea who dunnit 😱
What didn’t work for me:
-I didn’t care for the MC in the first half of the book. He almost seems like a different person at the beginning: a blurter, bumbling, just very meh. In the second half, the blurting stops & he seems a lot more confident. Regardless, I’m glad he changed because I didn’t like the MC at the beginning.
My rec? If you’re a cozy mystery fan, go for it. If you’re a Gregory Ashe fan, go for it. Heck, if you just want to kick back and play detective with a lovely cup of tea at your side, go for it!
This was a lovely cozy mystery. Gregory Ashe’s first?
What worked for me:
-The narrator was amazing at differentiating the voices of the characters!
-The setting on the Oregon Coast…I could feel it!
-The second half of the book
-I had no idea who dunnit 😱
What didn’t work for me:
-I didn’t care for the MC in the first half of the book. He almost seems like a different person at the beginning: a blurter, bumbling, just very meh. In the second half, the blurting stops & he seems a lot more confident. Regardless, I’m glad he changed because I didn’t like the MC at the beginning.
My rec? If you’re a cozy mystery fan, go for it. If you’re a Gregory Ashe fan, go for it. Heck, if you just want to kick back and play detective with a lovely cup of tea at your side, go for it!
June 18, 2024
Me voilà dans une toute nouvelle série de Gregory Ashe, une série version cosy mystery, un genre que je ne lis pas habituellement (je crois d'ailleurs que c'est mon premier), mais on parle de Gregory Ashe là hein, donc forcément que j'y saute les deux pieds joints les yeux fermés XD
Nous suivons Dashiell Dawson Dane, surnommé Dash, qui déboule dans une nouvelle ville, avec un nouveau job. Dash est auteur, du moins auteur en devenir, ses parents étant ultra connus dans le milieu. Dash vit aussi avec Will Gower, enfin vit, pas tout à fait, disons que Will est un détective fictif sorti tout droit de l'imagination de Dash, ce dernier le questionnant sur ce qu'il aurait fait dans des situations. Seul hic, Vivienne Carver, son employeur, va être retrouvée assassinée, et Dash est le suspect numéro un !
J'ai craqué direct pour Dash dans la nouvelle qui se situe juste avant de premier opus, où on voit Dash quitter son petit-ami. J'adore Dash, son humour, ses diarrhées verbales, autant introspectives que orales, sa répartie. Son courage aussi, car c'est quelqu'un qui a du cran.
Dans cette ville, il va devoir y trouver sa place, la cerise sur le gâteau étant qu'il est suspecté de meurtre, ce qui ne va pas lui faciliter la tâche. Il va rencontrer tout un groupe de personnages, surnommé The Last Picks, comprenez les derniers pris, en tout, ceux choisis en dernier en cours de sport, par exemple. Bref, toute une panoplie de personnages, dont certains sont franchement barrés (coucou Millie) et uniques en leurs genres, vraiment !
Point de romance par ici (du moins pas encore, je la vois venir cependant mouhaha), mais mes moments préférés étaient ceux entre Dash et le Deputy Boddy, sans aucun doute. J'aime tellement les interactions entre les personnages de Gregory Ashe, c'est sa patte en fait, et j'adore ^^
L'intrigue est plaisante, même si j'avais compris la finalité bien assez tôt. Et une fois celui-ci terminé, je me suis empressée de lire le tome suivant !
Nous suivons Dashiell Dawson Dane, surnommé Dash, qui déboule dans une nouvelle ville, avec un nouveau job. Dash est auteur, du moins auteur en devenir, ses parents étant ultra connus dans le milieu. Dash vit aussi avec Will Gower, enfin vit, pas tout à fait, disons que Will est un détective fictif sorti tout droit de l'imagination de Dash, ce dernier le questionnant sur ce qu'il aurait fait dans des situations. Seul hic, Vivienne Carver, son employeur, va être retrouvée assassinée, et Dash est le suspect numéro un !
J'ai craqué direct pour Dash dans la nouvelle qui se situe juste avant de premier opus, où on voit Dash quitter son petit-ami. J'adore Dash, son humour, ses diarrhées verbales, autant introspectives que orales, sa répartie. Son courage aussi, car c'est quelqu'un qui a du cran.
Dans cette ville, il va devoir y trouver sa place, la cerise sur le gâteau étant qu'il est suspecté de meurtre, ce qui ne va pas lui faciliter la tâche. Il va rencontrer tout un groupe de personnages, surnommé The Last Picks, comprenez les derniers pris, en tout, ceux choisis en dernier en cours de sport, par exemple. Bref, toute une panoplie de personnages, dont certains sont franchement barrés (coucou Millie) et uniques en leurs genres, vraiment !
Point de romance par ici (du moins pas encore, je la vois venir cependant mouhaha), mais mes moments préférés étaient ceux entre Dash et le Deputy Boddy, sans aucun doute. J'aime tellement les interactions entre les personnages de Gregory Ashe, c'est sa patte en fait, et j'adore ^^
L'intrigue est plaisante, même si j'avais compris la finalité bien assez tôt. Et une fois celui-ci terminé, je me suis empressée de lire le tome suivant !
April 18, 2024
What a wonderful start to the The Last Picks series!
Let’s begin with Dash. Dashiell Dawson Dane is our protagonist in Mystery Magnet, and he’s an utterly charming character to be in the POV of. He’s snarky, endearingly complicated, and delightfully relatable. He’s a superb addition to the band of lovable outcasts — The Last Picks — and watching him find his way with his fellow castaways is a joy to experience.
Sometimes I struggle with cosy mysteries. I think there’s a stigma that they cannot have complex characters or deep storylines, but Gregory Ashe certainly doesn’t fall into this trap, as Mystery Magnet is a wellspring of heart and soul. Dash is carrying the heavy weight of a recent breakup and a career slump on his shoulders, and he is thrust — almost immediately — into a murder investigation by a town he is yet to find his place in. Mystery Magnet is proof that cosy mysteries can be compelling, engaging, and wonderfully thought-provoking.
The murder mystery itself is a sweeping and involving story. Gregory Ashe has this brilliant way of setting up the clues, the investigation, and the reveal so beautifully — so masterfully — that the reader is caught pleasantly between complete surprise and total satisfaction. A real murder mystery will make you work for it and that’s what Mystery Magnet does. Nothing comes easily to Dash, or to the reader, who are both equally (and frantically) trying to put everything together.
After reading Gregory’s last book, The Evening Wolves, which was a torrent of emotion and high-octane drama (in the absolute best way), it was very pleasurable to step in to this new world, and into the idyllic town of Hastings Rock. The world-building is so solid, so carefully considered, that the reader can’t help but be sucked in. I want to grab a coffee at Chipper and be scream-greeted by Millie. I want to go to The Otter Slide and grab one of those delicious burgers. I want to explore all the secret passageways of Hemlock House and help solve an impossible murder.
What I love most, though, about what you get from a Gregory Ashe book, is escapism. Acceptance. Security that you, the reader, are protected in this world. Gregory’s work creates a safe space for all — not just the LGBTQ+ community (though, that is a huge part of it), but for readers everywhere who want to lose themselves in a book with a gripping storyline, lovable characters, and an abundance of emotion.
To summarise: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I genuinely cannot wait for the next one!
Let’s begin with Dash. Dashiell Dawson Dane is our protagonist in Mystery Magnet, and he’s an utterly charming character to be in the POV of. He’s snarky, endearingly complicated, and delightfully relatable. He’s a superb addition to the band of lovable outcasts — The Last Picks — and watching him find his way with his fellow castaways is a joy to experience.
Sometimes I struggle with cosy mysteries. I think there’s a stigma that they cannot have complex characters or deep storylines, but Gregory Ashe certainly doesn’t fall into this trap, as Mystery Magnet is a wellspring of heart and soul. Dash is carrying the heavy weight of a recent breakup and a career slump on his shoulders, and he is thrust — almost immediately — into a murder investigation by a town he is yet to find his place in. Mystery Magnet is proof that cosy mysteries can be compelling, engaging, and wonderfully thought-provoking.
The murder mystery itself is a sweeping and involving story. Gregory Ashe has this brilliant way of setting up the clues, the investigation, and the reveal so beautifully — so masterfully — that the reader is caught pleasantly between complete surprise and total satisfaction. A real murder mystery will make you work for it and that’s what Mystery Magnet does. Nothing comes easily to Dash, or to the reader, who are both equally (and frantically) trying to put everything together.
After reading Gregory’s last book, The Evening Wolves, which was a torrent of emotion and high-octane drama (in the absolute best way), it was very pleasurable to step in to this new world, and into the idyllic town of Hastings Rock. The world-building is so solid, so carefully considered, that the reader can’t help but be sucked in. I want to grab a coffee at Chipper and be scream-greeted by Millie. I want to go to The Otter Slide and grab one of those delicious burgers. I want to explore all the secret passageways of Hemlock House and help solve an impossible murder.
What I love most, though, about what you get from a Gregory Ashe book, is escapism. Acceptance. Security that you, the reader, are protected in this world. Gregory’s work creates a safe space for all — not just the LGBTQ+ community (though, that is a huge part of it), but for readers everywhere who want to lose themselves in a book with a gripping storyline, lovable characters, and an abundance of emotion.
To summarise: I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I genuinely cannot wait for the next one!
April 7, 2024
A brand new series is always something to look forward. A brand new series by Gregory Ashe that is twelve stories long and short enough that we can binge them easily? Perfection.
If there's one thing GA is excellent at, it's characters. Our main character, Dash, is so awkward and anxiety-ridden and just can't seem to stop getting parking tickets that I was immediately drawn to him and his bumbling realness. But while this story is first person POV from Dash's perspective and Dash's perspective only, that doesn't mean the side characters aren't bursting with life. They all captured my heart in different ways:
Millie with her complete lack of an inside voice; Fox and their dramatics (maybe my favorite character so far); Teenage Keme with his wariness and ability to see far more than anyone else; Indira as the unofficial mother of the whole crew, always ensuring they've eaten; and Deputy Bobby with his firm kindness but inability to not write a parking ticket.
Once I really got into (around chapter three), I couldn't stop. I stayed up late (okay, late for me) because every time I told myself, "one more chapter," I kept going. That, my friends, is the sign of a good book: when you just can't put it down because you need to see what happens next.
I will admit that I've not had much experience with the cozy mystery genre. I'm a big mystery fan but I, much like Dash himself, haven't delved much into cozies. Mostly that is due to my exposure to them being primarily of the knitting variety. 😂 This story was like a breath of fresh air and it made me rethink my position on the subgenre.
Wholeheartedly recommend and, as noted above, if you're not a cozy reader, don't let that deter you: you might be surprised!
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If there's one thing GA is excellent at, it's characters. Our main character, Dash, is so awkward and anxiety-ridden and just can't seem to stop getting parking tickets that I was immediately drawn to him and his bumbling realness. But while this story is first person POV from Dash's perspective and Dash's perspective only, that doesn't mean the side characters aren't bursting with life. They all captured my heart in different ways:
Millie with her complete lack of an inside voice; Fox and their dramatics (maybe my favorite character so far); Teenage Keme with his wariness and ability to see far more than anyone else; Indira as the unofficial mother of the whole crew, always ensuring they've eaten; and Deputy Bobby with his firm kindness but inability to not write a parking ticket.
Once I really got into (around chapter three), I couldn't stop. I stayed up late (okay, late for me) because every time I told myself, "one more chapter," I kept going. That, my friends, is the sign of a good book: when you just can't put it down because you need to see what happens next.
I will admit that I've not had much experience with the cozy mystery genre. I'm a big mystery fan but I, much like Dash himself, haven't delved much into cozies. Mostly that is due to my exposure to them being primarily of the knitting variety. 😂 This story was like a breath of fresh air and it made me rethink my position on the subgenre.
Wholeheartedly recommend and, as noted above, if you're not a cozy reader, don't let that deter you: you might be surprised!
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2024
Like our protagonist Dash, I'm typically not drawn to cozy mysteries, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Mystery Magnet has a charming cast of characters, witty dialogue, and a fun well-paced murder mystery plot. Dash is a really funny and endearing narrator, and the first person POV is a good choice here. The Last Picks (named for being the last picks in any given situation) quickly welcome Dash as part of their group and the ragtag bunch give off strong found family vibes. There's also the beginnings of a slowburn romance and I already love the connection formed between Dash and his potential love interest.
If you've been apprehensive about reading Gregory Ashe because you've heard about his gritty, angsty work and prefer something lighter, then Mystery Magnet is a great way to check out his writing. On the other hand, if you love his gritty procedurals but aren't so sure about a cozy, then rest assured this still has all the other hallmarks of a Gregory Ashe novel: clear, strong prose, compelling characters with the potential for amazing relationships and character growth, and funny, clever dialogue.
If you've been apprehensive about reading Gregory Ashe because you've heard about his gritty, angsty work and prefer something lighter, then Mystery Magnet is a great way to check out his writing. On the other hand, if you love his gritty procedurals but aren't so sure about a cozy, then rest assured this still has all the other hallmarks of a Gregory Ashe novel: clear, strong prose, compelling characters with the potential for amazing relationships and character growth, and funny, clever dialogue.
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