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Sunset Lake
Reverend Brian Lucas has a secret his congregation in the Nine Mile Methodist Church knows nothing about, and he'd really like to keep it that way. But even his earth-shattering secret takes a backseat to what else is happening in his tiny hometown.
Murders usually do that.
Brian's "close friend," Sam, is urging a resolution to their little problem, but Brian's brother, Boyd, the County Sheriff, is more caught up in chasing down a homicidal maniac who is slaughtering little old ladies.
When Brian's secret and Boyd's mystery run into each other head on, and Boyd's fifteen-year-old son, Jesse, gets involved, all hell breaks loose. Then a fourth death comes to terrify the town, and it is Brian who begins to see what is taking place in their little corner of the Corn Belt. But even for a Methodist minister, it will take more than prayer to set it right.
Murders usually do that.
Brian's "close friend," Sam, is urging a resolution to their little problem, but Brian's brother, Boyd, the County Sheriff, is more caught up in chasing down a homicidal maniac who is slaughtering little old ladies.
When Brian's secret and Boyd's mystery run into each other head on, and Boyd's fifteen-year-old son, Jesse, gets involved, all hell breaks loose. Then a fourth death comes to terrify the town, and it is Brian who begins to see what is taking place in their little corner of the Corn Belt. But even for a Methodist minister, it will take more than prayer to set it right.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2015
10 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
John Inman
42 books442 followersA Lambda Literary Award finalist and the author of over forty novels, John has been writing fiction for as long as he can remember. Born on a small farm in Indiana, he now resides in San Diego, California where he spends his time gardening, pampering his pets, hiking and biking the trails and canyons of San Diego, and of course, writing. He and his partner share a passion for theater, books, film, and the continuing fight for marriage equality. If you would like to know more about John, check out his website at----
http://www.johninmanauthor.com/John_I... or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/john.inman.79
http://www.johninmanauthor.com/John_I... or follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/john.inman.79
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 21, 2017
Audible
4,5 stars.
It was time for my first John Inman. Now I understand why this author is so popular among my GR friends.
Though if I had to judge this book on it’s 1 person POV narrator, Reverend Brian Lucas, it would be difficult for me to rate it. Reverend Brian Lucas is not an easy person to be fond of. Not for me anyway. But luckily I stopped long ago to judge a book on the fact how likable I found the characters in it. Otherwise my favorite books were a boring idyllic conflict-free stories with unreal exemplary MCs who never do mistake and meet always the right decision. Awful, isn’t it?
A small community of a tiny provincial town Nine Miles, where everyone knows each other, is profoundly shocked by the brutal murder of an old lady, a member of the local Methodist Church, where Brian has the post of a Methodist minister two years ago.
Though it is not just cruelty of the crime that spreads fear among the inhabitants of Nine Miles, but a message with an announcement of further killing that has been left by the murderer at the victim’s home.
Brian’s brother Boyd, the County Sheriff, believes that it wasn’t a bad joke and that it’s just a matter of time, when the next murder happens. And he is right. The next victim is also an old woman and a member of Brian’s congregation, and this time the murderer is even more cruel than the first time.
But WHY? And WHO?
Even if there are more than two dead bodies at the end and a series killer that has to track down, I don’t see this book as an unconditional mystery.
Because the main focus isn’t set on hunting the killer. A mystery part is rather a subplot for me – even if many readers maybe won’t agree with me here. A mystery, killings are just tools to learn the characters and their surroundings, to try to understand their decisions.
Sunset Lake is a BOOK OF DECISIONS. Decisions that were met in the past and that have to be met in the future. The right ones, the bad ones, the ones, that will leave you thinking and asking and wondering whether they could be considered as rights or bad ones. It is about to find a courage to MAKE a
John Inman tells his story of DECISIONS quietly but powerfully. His writing is beautiful and yet he remains fully grounded in his writing style.
Sunset Lake won’t let you go even days after you finish it.
Audio books are a bit tricky. A very good narrator can turn an average book into a jewel, and a bad narrator can ruin a good written book. I enjoyed the narrating of Randal Schaffer. My only complaining – that luckily wasn’t that IMPORTANT for this story, but that could have been a big disadvantage with another kind of story – he doesn’t sound like a twenty-eight-year old guy (the age of Brain, our first person POV teller), but much older.
*** ARC provided to Gay Book Reviews by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
October 6, 2024
That down there was a late night, just finished the book, gotta say something review. It is now half way through the day after and I am still thinking about this book.
I think I had one suspect in mind while reading and honestly, I was dead wrong. Not at first mind you because jeez, there were just not enough specific clues for that. There were a couple of things said and done that made me suspect this person but then I kind of started thinking of someone else and until the end I wavered back and forth. There were a lot of people that could have been the killer though and I loved that. I loved the individual conversations with different characters that would give you a tiny push to “is it them?” and then the “nah, it can’t be them, that doesn’t make sense”. The mystery was very well done. The author did a fantastic job in keeping you guessing until the end.
What an end huh? What else can you do? I just felt so very bad for, well, never mind that. Believe me, I just felt really bad at the end but totally got it.
I have a lot of questions though, and not in regards to the mystery. The non-mystery part of the story didn’t make much sense to me and I was left a little confused. I just didn’t understand Bryan and my heart hurt a lot for Sam. I know that the romance was kind of an extra to the main story but it was there and I needed a better understanding. I would have liked a bit more dialogue from Sam too. It seemed the conversations they did have were always the same and in the same place. I didn’t really get to know him at all. I honestly felt like I knew more about the secondary characters.
Overall this completely held my attention and was really a great mystery with very disturbing crimes. Very disturbing. I liked it. And, well, I am still thinking about it, that really is telling.
-------
Yowza. Shit. I think I knew but I am not sure. I was a little put off by the religion but overall it was a small town mystery and it had me turning the pages. But, I hated the religion aspect. Seriously. Poor Sam who seemed to have no voice.
I think I had one suspect in mind while reading and honestly, I was dead wrong. Not at first mind you because jeez, there were just not enough specific clues for that. There were a couple of things said and done that made me suspect this person but then I kind of started thinking of someone else and until the end I wavered back and forth. There were a lot of people that could have been the killer though and I loved that. I loved the individual conversations with different characters that would give you a tiny push to “is it them?” and then the “nah, it can’t be them, that doesn’t make sense”. The mystery was very well done. The author did a fantastic job in keeping you guessing until the end.
What an end huh? What else can you do? I just felt so very bad for, well, never mind that. Believe me, I just felt really bad at the end but totally got it.
I have a lot of questions though, and not in regards to the mystery. The non-mystery part of the story didn’t make much sense to me and I was left a little confused. I just didn’t understand Bryan and my heart hurt a lot for Sam. I know that the romance was kind of an extra to the main story but it was there and I needed a better understanding. I would have liked a bit more dialogue from Sam too. It seemed the conversations they did have were always the same and in the same place. I didn’t really get to know him at all. I honestly felt like I knew more about the secondary characters.
Overall this completely held my attention and was really a great mystery with very disturbing crimes. Very disturbing. I liked it. And, well, I am still thinking about it, that really is telling.
-------
Yowza. Shit. I think I knew but I am not sure. I was a little put off by the religion but overall it was a small town mystery and it had me turning the pages. But, I hated the religion aspect. Seriously. Poor Sam who seemed to have no voice.
August 1, 2015
Please follow the link to see my full review posted at Sinfully...Addicted to All Male Romance
It’s been three days since I finished reading and I’m still thinking about this story.
Nine Mile is a rural Midwestern farm town, Population 327, where daily life revolves around work, family and friends. As the story opens we are introduced to a number of the town’s residents as they attend the Methodist Church’s Basket Dinner under the direction of Rev. Brian Lucas, the town’s twenty-eight year old Methodist minister who has a penchant for thinking snarky, unchristian thoughts about his parishioners. Other than leaving for college, Brian is a lifelong resident of Nine Mile. He and his best friend, Sam have been secret lovers since they were sixteen, but Sam is more than ready for them to leave town and start over somewhere that they can be openly together without fear of being run out of town or worse. Other than Sam’s elderly aunt, Mrs. Shanahan, nobody knows about the relationship, not even Brian’s brother. Although Brian knows Sam is right, and he knows Sam is hurting, he can’t bring himself to leave his church and the town.
It is during the basket dinner that Brian gets a call from his older brother Boyd, who is also the County Sheriff, explaining that one of the elderly women in his congregation has been murdered and that there is an indication that there will be more to come. The nature of the crime is a clear indication to Boyd that they are dealing with a “maniac”, but when a note arrives indicating a second murder has or will occur, the possibility that this maniac is also a religious fanatic draws Brian into the investigation.
As Brian and Sam go to Sunset Lake to finish work on the new church camp set to open later in the summer, with Boyd’s teenage son Jesse, his best friend Kyle, Mrs. Shanahan and a few other day workers at the camp, the murders continue. While the pool of suspects is small, evidence is slim and a motive elusive, with the only apparent connection between the victims being that they are members of the congregation. As if all of this is not enough, something is going on with Jesse and Brian can’t figure out what it is.
I would definitely classify this as a mystery/suspense story with a romance plot woven in. Even though Sam and Brian are a well-established couple when the book starts, I had no problem getting immediately invested in their happiness. The anguish and pain, especially Sam’s desperation, at their situation and the cross roads they are obviously at was heartbreaking. The moments they are able to steal away together at Sunset Lake cemented their love for each other, but also served to shine a light on how the guilt Brian feels towards Sam over their secrets and hiding and the real fear that Sam might not wait much longer is wearing them down.
If you’ve only read John Inman’s lighter romances, you may be surprised at how well he does darker suspense. The victims aren’t just random bodies showing up in the story as each of them has been introduced earlier in one way or another, and their murders are hauntingly brutal, and set up like something straight out of a horror movie. It is not a procedural and any inside information on the investigation or crime scenes comes from Boyd asking Brian for help or Brian’s observations.
John Inman’s descriptive writing had me right in the middle of Nine Mile and the camp at Sunset Lake. His descriptions of the town and the people really drew me in. Every secondary character had a story and a personality. This was more than just a mystery. It was a story about family. Brian’s relationships with Sam, with his brother, with his nephew and with the outspoken Mrs. Shanahan were all unique and fully formed. There is love and respect throughout, even for Mrs. Shanahan who is both the bane of his existence and one of his greatest supporters. He has a relationship with his teenage nephew Jesse that is growing stronger by the day and Brian does all he can to make Kyle’s life easier, even hiring his seemingly good for nothing father to be a caretaker at the camp. He is devoted to Sam and although his inability to make a decision on what they will do is eating at them both, their love for each other seems unbreakable. There is also a sense of humor that pops up even at the oddest times.
The mystery was so well crafted, it kept me guessing throughout. I was making notes whenever I thought someone might be the killer, ranging from “it looks like him, but probably not”, “I hope it’s her” and “please don’t let it be him!” Just when I thought things were going to be resolved, the killer outed, I had the horrifying realization that something just wasn’t right. To say that the resolution of the mystery and the events that followed left me gutted and unsettled is an understatement. While Brian and Sam are able to come to a decision and move on with their lives and their HEA, things will never be the same.
In the end it’s about family, love, and sacrifice. What would you do to ensure the safety of those who are closest to you? What would you sacrifice?
It’s been three days since I finished reading and I’m still thinking about this story.
Nine Mile is a rural Midwestern farm town, Population 327, where daily life revolves around work, family and friends. As the story opens we are introduced to a number of the town’s residents as they attend the Methodist Church’s Basket Dinner under the direction of Rev. Brian Lucas, the town’s twenty-eight year old Methodist minister who has a penchant for thinking snarky, unchristian thoughts about his parishioners. Other than leaving for college, Brian is a lifelong resident of Nine Mile. He and his best friend, Sam have been secret lovers since they were sixteen, but Sam is more than ready for them to leave town and start over somewhere that they can be openly together without fear of being run out of town or worse. Other than Sam’s elderly aunt, Mrs. Shanahan, nobody knows about the relationship, not even Brian’s brother. Although Brian knows Sam is right, and he knows Sam is hurting, he can’t bring himself to leave his church and the town.
It is during the basket dinner that Brian gets a call from his older brother Boyd, who is also the County Sheriff, explaining that one of the elderly women in his congregation has been murdered and that there is an indication that there will be more to come. The nature of the crime is a clear indication to Boyd that they are dealing with a “maniac”, but when a note arrives indicating a second murder has or will occur, the possibility that this maniac is also a religious fanatic draws Brian into the investigation.
As Brian and Sam go to Sunset Lake to finish work on the new church camp set to open later in the summer, with Boyd’s teenage son Jesse, his best friend Kyle, Mrs. Shanahan and a few other day workers at the camp, the murders continue. While the pool of suspects is small, evidence is slim and a motive elusive, with the only apparent connection between the victims being that they are members of the congregation. As if all of this is not enough, something is going on with Jesse and Brian can’t figure out what it is.
I would definitely classify this as a mystery/suspense story with a romance plot woven in. Even though Sam and Brian are a well-established couple when the book starts, I had no problem getting immediately invested in their happiness. The anguish and pain, especially Sam’s desperation, at their situation and the cross roads they are obviously at was heartbreaking. The moments they are able to steal away together at Sunset Lake cemented their love for each other, but also served to shine a light on how the guilt Brian feels towards Sam over their secrets and hiding and the real fear that Sam might not wait much longer is wearing them down.
If you’ve only read John Inman’s lighter romances, you may be surprised at how well he does darker suspense. The victims aren’t just random bodies showing up in the story as each of them has been introduced earlier in one way or another, and their murders are hauntingly brutal, and set up like something straight out of a horror movie. It is not a procedural and any inside information on the investigation or crime scenes comes from Boyd asking Brian for help or Brian’s observations.
John Inman’s descriptive writing had me right in the middle of Nine Mile and the camp at Sunset Lake. His descriptions of the town and the people really drew me in. Every secondary character had a story and a personality. This was more than just a mystery. It was a story about family. Brian’s relationships with Sam, with his brother, with his nephew and with the outspoken Mrs. Shanahan were all unique and fully formed. There is love and respect throughout, even for Mrs. Shanahan who is both the bane of his existence and one of his greatest supporters. He has a relationship with his teenage nephew Jesse that is growing stronger by the day and Brian does all he can to make Kyle’s life easier, even hiring his seemingly good for nothing father to be a caretaker at the camp. He is devoted to Sam and although his inability to make a decision on what they will do is eating at them both, their love for each other seems unbreakable. There is also a sense of humor that pops up even at the oddest times.
The mystery was so well crafted, it kept me guessing throughout. I was making notes whenever I thought someone might be the killer, ranging from “it looks like him, but probably not”, “I hope it’s her” and “please don’t let it be him!” Just when I thought things were going to be resolved, the killer outed, I had the horrifying realization that something just wasn’t right. To say that the resolution of the mystery and the events that followed left me gutted and unsettled is an understatement. While Brian and Sam are able to come to a decision and move on with their lives and their HEA, things will never be the same.
In the end it’s about family, love, and sacrifice. What would you do to ensure the safety of those who are closest to you? What would you sacrifice?
July 18, 2015
If I have you with me, I know I’ll be happy.
That’s all I’ve ever really wanted, Sam.
A little happiness. And you.”
After reading on Facebook that John Inman has written a new murder mystery I felt like these guys…
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on his latest work.
The blurb got me all riled up, though. A gay reverend deep in the closet? Really John?
But I loved every single book John Inman has written so far and I decided to just trust him and give Sunset Lake a go.
Anyway, it didn’t take me long to find out that I had no problems with Bry, the reverend and his lover Sam. I adored them, along with Sam’s aunt, the wonderful Mrs. Shanahan, Bry’s brother Boyd and his son Jesse… and a few other supporting characters.
As for the murderer… I had no freaking idea who he was. Even after John had let the cat out the bag I didn’t want to believe it. I was like…
All in all, as each and every single one of John's books this story kept me on the edge of my seat and it was almost impossible to put it down. Definitely another masterpiece created by John Inman.
Chapeau, John!
May 30, 2016
Quietly horrifying.
I really can’t come up with a better way to describe John Inman’s Sunset Lake. The setting is a quiet small town full of quiet small town folks. Not much new happens and the biggest drama they have is the ongoing debate about, who makes the best peach cobbler for the church’s basket dinner. Reverend Brian is the epitome of a backwoods minister. He’s got an old soul full of kindness and empathy, but his age shows a little in his naiveté and his humor. He’s in his late twenties and I forgot how young he was now and again. The narrator’s voice on first listen sounded too old for Brian, but Brian’s personality had that timeless quality that seems to happen in small towns. To the old guard of the town, he’ll always be that kid who tore around with his best friend Sam, stuck in that limbo that happens between generations. So, the narration, that at first seemed a little too mature for Brian, ended up working for me really well. Shaffer’s voice has that perfect mix of humility and wisdom that fit the setting seamlessly.
Brian and Sam have a secret, they have been one another’s first and only loves since they were teenagers. And while they don’t really have a ton of page/chapter time together, this is a horror story after all, they have SUCH a connection. I could see it in every one of their interactions. I absolutely loved Brian and Sam together. Sam’s sweet and quiet patience with Brian was saint worthy. Imagine being a pastor in a small minded little town with a secret like that. Brian has an incredible amount of loyalty to his flock and Sam understood how hard it would be for Brian to leave and make a life elsewhere. He also knew that ultimatums would be unfair, so he waited. Reading the two of them together was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
Terror comes to town when one of their own is found horrifically murdered in, what should have been, a safe place, her own kitchen. Grace Nugget was not the first victim and the subsequent ones met their own ends just as violently. There didn’t seem to be a connection between the victims and from the scenes that were left behind it was obvious that the murderer was psychopathic. Reverend Brian gets involved by way of being the voice of calm assurance for the town of Nine Mile, but also because his brother Boyd is the town sheriff. Brian and Boyd could not have been more different and I liked listening to the dynamics of their relationship. While they were very different they were both good men through and through, with strong moral compasses and an innate sense of right and wrong. One’s compass is driven by God and the other by the law. I couldn’t help but thing about that a lot at the end of the story with decisions that were made and actions that were taken.
Boyd’s son Jesse is spending the summer outside of Nine Mile at Sunset Lake with his best friend Kyle, Brian, Sam and Mrs. Shanahan (Sam’s aunt). Brian’s been working on a summer camp for the kids of Nine Mile for a long time now and it’s finally time for the inaugural season. There’re a lot of last minute preparations going on and Boyd is pretty thankful that Jesse and Kyle are safe away from the town and the terror that rears its ugly head repeatedly. Mrs. Shanahan is a judgmental, opinionated, tough cookie and she and Brian have a real love/hate relationship. She ended up being one of my favorite characters with her tidbits of opinion and unwavering love for Sam. She’s the only person who knows their secret and her support was inspiring to hear.
I’ve talked a lot about the relationships and not much about murder. That’s what was so incredibly great about Sunset Lake. It’s an overall quiet character study of small town life and what it’s like to live amongst those quirky characters while keeping a huge portion of yourself secret. I’d get lulled into the lives of these people and get caught up in the banter, the scandals and the history and then all of a sudden – WHAM, someone else has met their untimely death and it’s a slander to everything that Nine Mile is. If that seemingly random horror can happen in Nine Mile, then where are we safe? There are no real clues that Boyd can find and his frustration is mounting. There’s an air of paranoia over the town and suspicions are growing regarding just about everyone. None of them have a logical motive though and every conversation is a little questionable. The accusations are not overt, and that’s what makes them even more discomforting. It made even the lighthearted and loving moments moody and darker than they should have been. The pall that the author created and the narrator conveyed over the entire story were perfect.
The ending. The ending is fucked up. It’s fucked up and the absolute best for a true horror fan at the same time. I wanted to give John Inman and hug and then pull back and yell, “how could you?!?!?!?!” Even when I got to the point where I knew what was coming, I didn’t want to believe it could be. Some miracle is going to happen and it’s all going to be a mistake, it has to be.
It wasn’t.
I had questions. Not about the story, nothing was missing there, but I wanted to know what happened right before the ‘resolution’. Resolution is a patronizing word for the ending, but I don’t want to give ANYTHING away. Not knowing what happened is how it should be though, it’s what makes a horror story so delicious. So many things could have gone down, the ending would’ve been the same, but what happened right before? Is my imagination worse than what the author may have had in mind? If it were spelled out? I highly doubt it, but like I said, the mystery makes it better. I want to bribe the author with ridiculous amounts of caffeine, sugar and alcohol and pick his brain about that moment until he’s had enough of my nonsense and flees. This is the moment where I couldn’t help but cogitate about where Boyd, the man of the law and Brian, the man of God, were coming from and how they reconciled the result with their beliefs. It’s a lot to resolve and one of the many reasons this story will stick with me.
So many wonderful and awful things happened in Sunset Lake and I’ll not forget them anytime soon. The characters are with me to stay. I was really happy with the ending for Brian and Sam, but like everything else in Nine Mile, they will be forever changed by Brian’s knowledge of that night. He’s traded one secret for another but at least he’ll have a chance at forever happiness with Sam. I highly recommend the book and the audio version complemented the characters and the story. It’s not an easy read/listen, but it’s worth every heartbreaking moment.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided by the publisher for an honest review**
I really can’t come up with a better way to describe John Inman’s Sunset Lake. The setting is a quiet small town full of quiet small town folks. Not much new happens and the biggest drama they have is the ongoing debate about, who makes the best peach cobbler for the church’s basket dinner. Reverend Brian is the epitome of a backwoods minister. He’s got an old soul full of kindness and empathy, but his age shows a little in his naiveté and his humor. He’s in his late twenties and I forgot how young he was now and again. The narrator’s voice on first listen sounded too old for Brian, but Brian’s personality had that timeless quality that seems to happen in small towns. To the old guard of the town, he’ll always be that kid who tore around with his best friend Sam, stuck in that limbo that happens between generations. So, the narration, that at first seemed a little too mature for Brian, ended up working for me really well. Shaffer’s voice has that perfect mix of humility and wisdom that fit the setting seamlessly.
Brian and Sam have a secret, they have been one another’s first and only loves since they were teenagers. And while they don’t really have a ton of page/chapter time together, this is a horror story after all, they have SUCH a connection. I could see it in every one of their interactions. I absolutely loved Brian and Sam together. Sam’s sweet and quiet patience with Brian was saint worthy. Imagine being a pastor in a small minded little town with a secret like that. Brian has an incredible amount of loyalty to his flock and Sam understood how hard it would be for Brian to leave and make a life elsewhere. He also knew that ultimatums would be unfair, so he waited. Reading the two of them together was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time.
Terror comes to town when one of their own is found horrifically murdered in, what should have been, a safe place, her own kitchen. Grace Nugget was not the first victim and the subsequent ones met their own ends just as violently. There didn’t seem to be a connection between the victims and from the scenes that were left behind it was obvious that the murderer was psychopathic. Reverend Brian gets involved by way of being the voice of calm assurance for the town of Nine Mile, but also because his brother Boyd is the town sheriff. Brian and Boyd could not have been more different and I liked listening to the dynamics of their relationship. While they were very different they were both good men through and through, with strong moral compasses and an innate sense of right and wrong. One’s compass is driven by God and the other by the law. I couldn’t help but thing about that a lot at the end of the story with decisions that were made and actions that were taken.
Boyd’s son Jesse is spending the summer outside of Nine Mile at Sunset Lake with his best friend Kyle, Brian, Sam and Mrs. Shanahan (Sam’s aunt). Brian’s been working on a summer camp for the kids of Nine Mile for a long time now and it’s finally time for the inaugural season. There’re a lot of last minute preparations going on and Boyd is pretty thankful that Jesse and Kyle are safe away from the town and the terror that rears its ugly head repeatedly. Mrs. Shanahan is a judgmental, opinionated, tough cookie and she and Brian have a real love/hate relationship. She ended up being one of my favorite characters with her tidbits of opinion and unwavering love for Sam. She’s the only person who knows their secret and her support was inspiring to hear.
I’ve talked a lot about the relationships and not much about murder. That’s what was so incredibly great about Sunset Lake. It’s an overall quiet character study of small town life and what it’s like to live amongst those quirky characters while keeping a huge portion of yourself secret. I’d get lulled into the lives of these people and get caught up in the banter, the scandals and the history and then all of a sudden – WHAM, someone else has met their untimely death and it’s a slander to everything that Nine Mile is. If that seemingly random horror can happen in Nine Mile, then where are we safe? There are no real clues that Boyd can find and his frustration is mounting. There’s an air of paranoia over the town and suspicions are growing regarding just about everyone. None of them have a logical motive though and every conversation is a little questionable. The accusations are not overt, and that’s what makes them even more discomforting. It made even the lighthearted and loving moments moody and darker than they should have been. The pall that the author created and the narrator conveyed over the entire story were perfect.
The ending. The ending is fucked up. It’s fucked up and the absolute best for a true horror fan at the same time. I wanted to give John Inman and hug and then pull back and yell, “how could you?!?!?!?!” Even when I got to the point where I knew what was coming, I didn’t want to believe it could be. Some miracle is going to happen and it’s all going to be a mistake, it has to be.
It wasn’t.
I had questions. Not about the story, nothing was missing there, but I wanted to know what happened right before the ‘resolution’. Resolution is a patronizing word for the ending, but I don’t want to give ANYTHING away. Not knowing what happened is how it should be though, it’s what makes a horror story so delicious. So many things could have gone down, the ending would’ve been the same, but what happened right before? Is my imagination worse than what the author may have had in mind? If it were spelled out? I highly doubt it, but like I said, the mystery makes it better. I want to bribe the author with ridiculous amounts of caffeine, sugar and alcohol and pick his brain about that moment until he’s had enough of my nonsense and flees. This is the moment where I couldn’t help but cogitate about where Boyd, the man of the law and Brian, the man of God, were coming from and how they reconciled the result with their beliefs. It’s a lot to resolve and one of the many reasons this story will stick with me.
So many wonderful and awful things happened in Sunset Lake and I’ll not forget them anytime soon. The characters are with me to stay. I was really happy with the ending for Brian and Sam, but like everything else in Nine Mile, they will be forever changed by Brian’s knowledge of that night. He’s traded one secret for another but at least he’ll have a chance at forever happiness with Sam. I highly recommend the book and the audio version complemented the characters and the story. It’s not an easy read/listen, but it’s worth every heartbreaking moment.
**a copy of this audiobook was provided by the publisher for an honest review**
February 4, 2020
OMG - what an ending!! I felt emotionally drained by the end and shocked to the core by the graphic descriptions of the horrific murders. There were some lighter bantering and humorous episodes thrown in (thank God). I loved our emotionally insecure investigating priest sleuth, his loving and loyal side-kick (Sam Gangee-esque) lover, the lover's wise-cracking no-nonsense aunt, the sheriff brother and his son ... wonderful cast. There will be many who will strongly dislike the resolution / ending but I totally get why and how things had to be the way they were. The world is not a nice place and people have to somehow make awful decisions to live in it. Four and half stars - John Inman has become a must-read author for me.
May 9, 2018
Audiobook reviewWhy haven’t more people read this book??
Few books have left me truly and utterly speechless, have taken me that much by surprise or left me that much in need of processing what happened. At the moment only this book comes to mind.
That being said, Sunset Lake was just great, perfection really. I was drawn into this story immediately by Inman’s beautiful writing. There was just something about his words that captured me, and held me captive throughout this story.
Sunset Lake is told solely from Brian’s POV, a minister in Nine Mile. It follows the everyday life of his life how he goes about taking care of everyone in the town, preparing for the youth summer camp at Sunset Lake that he wants to start up. It’s a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone and nothing ever happens.
…until it does. Until old ladies are found horribly murdered and leaves the town searching for answers.
We follow Brian’s struggles hiding his sexuality from everyone, hiding the love of his life and never fully embrace that love. Brian and Sam have been in love and together since their late teens, their love is far from new and neither are their struggles. But it has come to a time where something needs to change; it’s time to live openly together or not at all. But taking that step is far from easy in a town where they’d be shunned and lynched for just holding hands.
Do not go into this book expecting a fast paced thriller novel, nothing could be further from the truth, It’s quiet and unassuming, just like the town is. Until it isn’t. Until that message; “Number 1” is left on the answering machine of a murdered old lady and causes mistrust and upheaval through the community.
I’m always wary picking up books with religious themes; they generally don’t hold much interest to me. And nothing turns me off faster than preaching (no matter what religion or topic). However, this book was done brilliantly. Religion was there in the background, it was a religious small town after all, but it wasn’t the important part of the book, it only provided depth and understanding to who these people were. It was never preachy or sprouted religious lines at you, it just provided the setting for the book.
Sunset Lake was the first book I listened to that was narrated by Randal Schaffer and I couldn't be happier. He was the perfect choice for this book. His voice and pacing fit the book to a T, a match made in the bookish heavens. He took you into the story and immersed you in the lives of Nine Mile, to share the lives of all the character, young to old.
This was an incredibly well written murder mystery set in a town full of secrets and lies. And I promise you, you will search for the killer along with everyone in town, look suspiciously at everyone and their neighbour and you will still come up blank. There are many possibilities that don’t quite fit. Until they do… Until it all makes so much horrible sense that you might wish you never knew. That you kept your nose out of it and stopped poking around.
And that ending… I have no words for that ending. I never in a million years would’ve seen that coming, and to be honest I’m still reeling from it! It’s not a cliffhanger in any way. Brian and Sam do get their happily ever after in the end, and we get a conclusion to the murders, but it’s also come at a price.
If you are a fan of great murder mysteries with a romantic subplot, you need to pick this book up, I promise that you won’t regret it.
Highly recommended!
A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2016
THIS BOOK! This book!!!!
What do you do when a book wrecks you? I mean -- demolishes you? Wrings you out and then spits you out so hard and so far that you wonder if you'll ever recover. Ever get back to normal. Ever be whole enough again to continue where you left off.
What do you do when you don't want to read another book? You just want to think and think and THINK?
Well, that's what this book did. It has ruined me. In a good way. But still ... RUINED ME!!!!!!
Will review the actual book soon. When? I don't know. Why the delay? I don't know. I just know I can't right now. Not yet. But I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! Layers of themes and take-away messages.
Just got a phone call (in the middle of this 'review') and learned that my father-in-law just died. I, therefore, may never get back to doing this review. Sorrow on top of the sadness that I felt when this book ended is now a bit too much for me.
What do you do when a book wrecks you? I mean -- demolishes you? Wrings you out and then spits you out so hard and so far that you wonder if you'll ever recover. Ever get back to normal. Ever be whole enough again to continue where you left off.
What do you do when you don't want to read another book? You just want to think and think and THINK?
Well, that's what this book did. It has ruined me. In a good way. But still ... RUINED ME!!!!!!
Will review the actual book soon. When? I don't know. Why the delay? I don't know. I just know I can't right now. Not yet. But I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!! Layers of themes and take-away messages.
Just got a phone call (in the middle of this 'review') and learned that my father-in-law just died. I, therefore, may never get back to doing this review. Sorrow on top of the sadness that I felt when this book ended is now a bit too much for me.
September 5, 2015
Sunset Lake is a place of beauty and joy, reclaimed from a place of devastation and ugliness. You can only reach it down a long, narrow dirt road, pocked with craters and ruts that threaten to break up the undercarriage of all but the sturdiest vehicles. The Rev. Brian Lucas has chosen Sunset Lake as the site for his new Methodist Youth Camp, the land wrested from the state government and the funds to build it from the tight-fisted Methodist officials who control his career. He wants a place where he can bring his congregation’s young people closer to God; a place separated from the prying eyes and well-intentioned interference of the folks of Nine Mile.
It sounds like a set-up for a horror movie, doesn’t it? Isolated camp. Long hazard-filled road through the woods. But no, from the very start, the narrator lets us know that the danger is not at Sunset Lake, but in the town itself. For the first time in many years, a murder has been committed, and it won’t be the only one. Sunset Lake becomes the haven, the safe place.
Imagine the town of Mayberry with a serial killer. Imagine all the comical characters suddenly fearful and suspicious. Add into that mix a closeted gay pastor whose brother is the sheriff. Can you feel the tension? Inman draws us in with sympathy and a smile and then hooks us with fear. As we learn about the folks of Nine Mile, we share in everyone’s growing dread over what might happen next.
The Rev. Brian Lucas is a good man. He’s a local boy, come back from seminary to lead the little flock he grew up in. By his side is his lifelong friend Sam, whose aunt is both Brian’s nemesis and the only keeper of their secret. Brian and Sam are more than friends, and have been since they were teenagers. The truth of the matter is that his role as minister to his flock depends upon keeping his relationship secret, in a town where everyone knows his business and has known both him and Sam since birth.
Like his earlier novel, “A Hard Winter Rain,” this book shows John Inman’s darker side, and how good he is at it. He hooks us with his ability to sustain a growing sense of claustrophobia in the great outdoors, a sense of creeping paranoia in the context of a tight-knight small town in America’s heartland.
The reader, like Sam, is frustrated by Brian’s indecision regarding his relationship. His calling to ministry is genuine; his love of Nine Mile is real. But his love for Sam is, too. Only one of these can survive in small-town (and small-minded) America. Along with the fear that the murders engender, anxiety for his future fills Brian’s thought. The camp at Sunset Lake becomes his excuse to avoid dealing with either one, his personal metaphor for a place away from his worries that embodies his desire to be a good man and do the right thing.
I spent the entire book looking for clues, and never figured it out.
July 13, 2015
So far I haven't read a book by John Inman that I didn't love, but this one might just be my favorite. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.
December 3, 2015
"In a minute, he would rap at my door, and another day of lies would begin. Lies to the world around us, not to each other. Yet somewhere deep in the back of my mind, back where the guilt was blackest, I had begun to suspect even our truths were lies. They had become a way of life, you see. Those lies. I could only wonder how long Sam would continue to abide us living them."
I didn't really like Brian very much in the beginning. I understood him, but I didn't like him. I understood how his very small town was absolutely everything to him. A small farming community with wholesome values, simple lives, and a strong sense of family. I understood why he came back there to be the town's Methodist minister, and I understood what that meant to him. I didn't like him because he hurt Sam every time he rejected him, subtly or not. I empathized with Sam wanting to leave and go somewhere they could be together. And again, I understood Brian's reticence. But I didn't like it.
The horror of the murders is just that. A true horror. Each of these women is murdered in a vicious, disgusting manner, with the killer posing their bodies after the fact. I'll admit the author has a gruesome imagination. Brian's brother, Boyd, is the county sheriff, and he's got nothing. No motive, no evidence, no nothing. Bumpkis, as the people of Nine Mile would say. Then there's a reprieve, at least from the murders, and it's during this time that Brian discovers what Sam and his aunt have known. Jesse, Brian's nephew, and his best friend Kyle have been best friends since they were small boys, and it appears they've followed in Brian and Sam's footsteps, falling in love. And then Kyle's dad disappears, and signs indicate the murderer is back.
This sleepy little town with its simple, plain people and wholesome values had harbored a sociopath gone unseen by everyone until it was too late. I was in absolute shock when the author revealed the murderer to me. I couldn't believe it. What was even more profound was the resolution and the ending. John Inman has completely blown me away by 'Sunset Lake'. I can not begin to recommend it enough, especially for lovers of mystery, suspense, and drama.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
I didn't really like Brian very much in the beginning. I understood him, but I didn't like him. I understood how his very small town was absolutely everything to him. A small farming community with wholesome values, simple lives, and a strong sense of family. I understood why he came back there to be the town's Methodist minister, and I understood what that meant to him. I didn't like him because he hurt Sam every time he rejected him, subtly or not. I empathized with Sam wanting to leave and go somewhere they could be together. And again, I understood Brian's reticence. But I didn't like it.
The horror of the murders is just that. A true horror. Each of these women is murdered in a vicious, disgusting manner, with the killer posing their bodies after the fact. I'll admit the author has a gruesome imagination. Brian's brother, Boyd, is the county sheriff, and he's got nothing. No motive, no evidence, no nothing. Bumpkis, as the people of Nine Mile would say. Then there's a reprieve, at least from the murders, and it's during this time that Brian discovers what Sam and his aunt have known. Jesse, Brian's nephew, and his best friend Kyle have been best friends since they were small boys, and it appears they've followed in Brian and Sam's footsteps, falling in love. And then Kyle's dad disappears, and signs indicate the murderer is back.
This sleepy little town with its simple, plain people and wholesome values had harbored a sociopath gone unseen by everyone until it was too late. I was in absolute shock when the author revealed the murderer to me. I couldn't believe it. What was even more profound was the resolution and the ending. John Inman has completely blown me away by 'Sunset Lake'. I can not begin to recommend it enough, especially for lovers of mystery, suspense, and drama.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews
August 22, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
This story is told from Brian’s POV point of view. Right off, we realize that despite being a minister, Brian has plenty of uncharitable thoughts about the members of his congregation that will leave you in stitches. As the story opens, Brian’s church is holding its annual basket luncheon when he receives a call from his brother, who is supposed to be on his honeymoon, advising him that there was a murder of one of his church members and there may be more to come. Gathering his flock, he tells them of the murder and advises them to be cautious as there is a murderer amongst them.
For Brian, he is happy that he and his loved ones will be heading out of town to the new youth camp he worked so hard founding. With Sam, Mrs. Shanagan (Sam’s aunt), Jesse (his nephew), and Kyle (his nephew’s best friend) in tow, they head out to Sunset Lake to ready the camp for the coming summer session — only to be disturbed when a note with a religious riddle is left in the sheriff’s car taunting them of a second murder. Then a third… and a fourth.
This book is primarily a suspense/mystery/thriller with a bit of romance thrown in. As a mystery, this book hits it out of the park. I was sitting on the edge of my seat from the very first chapters trying to figure out who the murderer was. The list of candidates was endless!
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
This story is told from Brian’s POV point of view. Right off, we realize that despite being a minister, Brian has plenty of uncharitable thoughts about the members of his congregation that will leave you in stitches. As the story opens, Brian’s church is holding its annual basket luncheon when he receives a call from his brother, who is supposed to be on his honeymoon, advising him that there was a murder of one of his church members and there may be more to come. Gathering his flock, he tells them of the murder and advises them to be cautious as there is a murderer amongst them.
For Brian, he is happy that he and his loved ones will be heading out of town to the new youth camp he worked so hard founding. With Sam, Mrs. Shanagan (Sam’s aunt), Jesse (his nephew), and Kyle (his nephew’s best friend) in tow, they head out to Sunset Lake to ready the camp for the coming summer session — only to be disturbed when a note with a religious riddle is left in the sheriff’s car taunting them of a second murder. Then a third… and a fourth.
This book is primarily a suspense/mystery/thriller with a bit of romance thrown in. As a mystery, this book hits it out of the park. I was sitting on the edge of my seat from the very first chapters trying to figure out who the murderer was. The list of candidates was endless!
Read Wendy’s review in its entirety here.
August 6, 2015
Stop what you are doing and read this.
John Inman is incredible in his ability to create worlds and stories to scare the crap out of you. This man is my literary hero.
John Inman is incredible in his ability to create worlds and stories to scare the crap out of you. This man is my literary hero.
July 28, 2016
2.5 Stars ~ I usually am a big fan of John Inman, but I was somewhat reluctant to give Sunset Lake a chance because of the possible religious overtones. I have my reasons to avoid stories that involve this background subject, but hey, this is John Inman and I’ve enjoyed many a story written by him, including his first mystery, A Hard Winter Rain, which hooked me into making him a future auto-buy. So, with a little trepidation, I plugged in my iPod and started listening to this book.
At first I had a little trouble getting into the story because it started off slowly, but then it picked up after the first murder occurred. I also had trouble liking the main character, Reverend Brian Lucas. As I listened to his POV, and learned about his secret, he came off as one who enjoys his religion, his flock, but doesn’t have much faith in his God to take care of him and his secret, nor to protect him from the ridicule of the townspeople or the church.
Randal Schaffer is a new to me narrator, and I was impressed that he gave such an excellent performance. I really was engrossed in the story. My only problem with Sunset Lake was when the big reveal happened—who did it and what happened afterward to this person had me so gut-wrenchingly upset that I was shaking. It made the story drop in rating for me in the blink of an eye, and I would have given anything to undo the picking up and listening to of this audiobook.
I did love Sam’s aunt; she brought a bit of humor into the story, which had me smiling at some of her wit, and even Boyd, Brian’s older brother, was a likeable character. Sam, Brian’s childhood friend was sweet, kind, and ever so patient, and he obviously knew about Brian’s secret.
Obviously, Sunset Lake is not for the faint of heart, which turned out to be me! I don’t enjoy stories that make me feel this way, and even Brian working out his secret and living his happily-ever-after weren’t enough to calm me down.
Reviewed by Kim for The Novel Approach Reviews
At first I had a little trouble getting into the story because it started off slowly, but then it picked up after the first murder occurred. I also had trouble liking the main character, Reverend Brian Lucas. As I listened to his POV, and learned about his secret, he came off as one who enjoys his religion, his flock, but doesn’t have much faith in his God to take care of him and his secret, nor to protect him from the ridicule of the townspeople or the church.
Randal Schaffer is a new to me narrator, and I was impressed that he gave such an excellent performance. I really was engrossed in the story. My only problem with Sunset Lake was when the big reveal happened—who did it and what happened afterward to this person had me so gut-wrenchingly upset that I was shaking. It made the story drop in rating for me in the blink of an eye, and I would have given anything to undo the picking up and listening to of this audiobook.
I did love Sam’s aunt; she brought a bit of humor into the story, which had me smiling at some of her wit, and even Boyd, Brian’s older brother, was a likeable character. Sam, Brian’s childhood friend was sweet, kind, and ever so patient, and he obviously knew about Brian’s secret.
Obviously, Sunset Lake is not for the faint of heart, which turned out to be me! I don’t enjoy stories that make me feel this way, and even Brian working out his secret and living his happily-ever-after weren’t enough to calm me down.
Reviewed by Kim for The Novel Approach Reviews
August 24, 2015
And no, the one star rating is not a mistake. I have given this book one stars because of my own personal feelings for said book, the writing is great, mystery, laughs, yadda, yadda, and I give it five stars for that, I just can't help but hate it and I rate the books here on how they made ME feel.
Even though I've given this book five stars, I'll be deleting it and never reading it again. In fact, I'll probably never even come to this page or look at the cover again. In my life.
The mystery aspect is great, it had it's funny moments, it's a cute romance with mild to no angst so on and so forth.
But I couldn't handle it.
I guess it's not so much the premise of bloody murder, gore or the simply sociopathic and psychotic nature of the real killer in this book, because I handle those pretty damn well. It's the end act of someones need to protect something that's dear to them that turns into unnecessary desperation that got me in.
This book ends with secrets buried under a guise of love and devotion and somehow, I ended up despising it by the last line. Murder, of any kind, isn't tolerable, but sometimes, your principles are questioned and you get to thinking, 'would I do it?'.
In this book, I think that's an unnecessary thing. There is a moral question, and the main character doesn't answer it in a way that I would find acceptable. There could've been more ways to solve the mystery, the murders, get rid of the killer, save basically the good premise of the book.
That's about everything I'm going to say about this. You'll probably figure out who the real killer is in the beginning of the book, not by any clues in the book, but by gut instinct(I did) or by somewhere in the middle. You will also probably laugh and you won't cry. And in the end, if you're anything like me, you'll realize it could've been done much more efficiently(the ending), even though it wouldn't have the same impact. It would be a smidge more believable. At least in my eyes.
Even though I've given this book five stars, I'll be deleting it and never reading it again. In fact, I'll probably never even come to this page or look at the cover again. In my life.
The mystery aspect is great, it had it's funny moments, it's a cute romance with mild to no angst so on and so forth.
But I couldn't handle it.
I guess it's not so much the premise of bloody murder, gore or the simply sociopathic and psychotic nature of the real killer in this book, because I handle those pretty damn well. It's the end act of someones need to protect something that's dear to them that turns into unnecessary desperation that got me in.
This book ends with secrets buried under a guise of love and devotion and somehow, I ended up despising it by the last line. Murder, of any kind, isn't tolerable, but sometimes, your principles are questioned and you get to thinking, 'would I do it?'.
In this book, I think that's an unnecessary thing. There is a moral question, and the main character doesn't answer it in a way that I would find acceptable. There could've been more ways to solve the mystery, the murders, get rid of the killer, save basically the good premise of the book.
That's about everything I'm going to say about this. You'll probably figure out who the real killer is in the beginning of the book, not by any clues in the book, but by gut instinct(I did) or by somewhere in the middle. You will also probably laugh and you won't cry. And in the end, if you're anything like me, you'll realize it could've been done much more efficiently(the ending), even though it wouldn't have the same impact. It would be a smidge more believable. At least in my eyes.
September 6, 2015
♥ ♥ ♥ 3.5 STARS ♥ ♥ ♥
I enjoyed it. I really liked the whole mystery aspect of the book. It was quite entertaining and the killer definitely caught me by surprise. I was not expecting that person at all. I liked the characters, but didn't fall in love with them. While all those suspenseful moments had my interest, the romance didn't, at least not completely. I would have liked more romance and more focus on the relationship between Brian and Sam. There were some moments that did melt my heart but I just hated how they were keeping things between them a secret. Because of that reason and a few other things, I couldn't give this five stars. The writing however, was really good. I also enjoyed the humour that had me chuckling out loud. But overall, it wasn't too bad of a read.
September 20, 2015
John Inman has the gift to create atmosphere, emotions and pictures in my head.
I’ve wished for him to write another crime story since I’ve read “A Hard Winter Rain” and finally he did it.
I’m still searching for words. This is such a well-drawn story, with love in every detail, with such an elaborate set-up.
A gay minister is solving a series of murders, more or less unwillingly, just because he pays attention to what happens in his surroundings and of course because his brother is the sheriff. All the while he is balancing being not out and the love for his best friend, surrounded by well-drawn second characters. The whole story flows like the summer at the lake, a bit lazy but with an undercurrent. It is proof that well written crime doesn't have to keep you on your toes all the time.
And the end, oh my, I hadn’t seen that coming. That was so well done. Sometimes things are not clear, sometimes they are not easy.
Thank you, John, for another exceptional story.
I’ve wished for him to write another crime story since I’ve read “A Hard Winter Rain” and finally he did it.
I’m still searching for words. This is such a well-drawn story, with love in every detail, with such an elaborate set-up.
A gay minister is solving a series of murders, more or less unwillingly, just because he pays attention to what happens in his surroundings and of course because his brother is the sheriff. All the while he is balancing being not out and the love for his best friend, surrounded by well-drawn second characters. The whole story flows like the summer at the lake, a bit lazy but with an undercurrent. It is proof that well written crime doesn't have to keep you on your toes all the time.
And the end, oh my, I hadn’t seen that coming. That was so well done. Sometimes things are not clear, sometimes they are not easy.
Thank you, John, for another exceptional story.
October 8, 2015
Completely Unique and Beautifully Told
John Inman has given me tons of reasons to worship at his keyboard and brain, but this one was a real surprise. Set in a dying rural community with a cast of characters that are both stereotypical and completely off-the-wall, Sunset Lake has a multitude of overlapping plots involving a multitude of delicious, or suspicious, characters--and an denouement that will tear you apart, explode your sensibilities but give you some hope for the future.
From the deeply conflicted wuss Reverend Brian Lucas to his grounded, patient but determined "special friend" Sam, to Sam's incredibly nuanced aunt Mrs. Shanaghan, this crowd spins tale upon tale of corn belt hokum and bigotry that sets fire to a reader's determination to get to the end of what is a most remarkable story. Bravo!
John Inman has given me tons of reasons to worship at his keyboard and brain, but this one was a real surprise. Set in a dying rural community with a cast of characters that are both stereotypical and completely off-the-wall, Sunset Lake has a multitude of overlapping plots involving a multitude of delicious, or suspicious, characters--and an denouement that will tear you apart, explode your sensibilities but give you some hope for the future.
From the deeply conflicted wuss Reverend Brian Lucas to his grounded, patient but determined "special friend" Sam, to Sam's incredibly nuanced aunt Mrs. Shanaghan, this crowd spins tale upon tale of corn belt hokum and bigotry that sets fire to a reader's determination to get to the end of what is a most remarkable story. Bravo!
October 29, 2016
I bought this without even reading the blurb, knowing only that it was a John Inman. That's enough to know for me. And he certainly didn't let me down with this wonderful thriller. It reminded me, in a way, of the Ellery Queen mysteries set in Wrightsville. Here we have a small town, loads of small town folk with small town ideas and jargon, and suddenly we have a series of brutal, horrible murders. Inman kept me guessing so much that at one point or another I suspected nearly everyone...except the actual culprit! The ending is gut-wrenching and will stay with the reader for days.
Randal Schaffer did a pretty good job at the narration, I guess. He provided a great voice for Brian, and in his defense he had a heck of a lot of voices, but why oh why did he make Sam sound like Mortimer Snerd and Boyd sound like Johnny Carson's Aunt Blabby?
Randal Schaffer did a pretty good job at the narration, I guess. He provided a great voice for Brian, and in his defense he had a heck of a lot of voices, but why oh why did he make Sam sound like Mortimer Snerd and Boyd sound like Johnny Carson's Aunt Blabby?
July 7, 2019
For most of this story this book was a 3.5 star rating. On one hand I enjoyed the flowery descriptive writing, on another hand I urged the author to get to the point. Overall interesting story and great mystery, but that ending just blew me away. Whew, gonna need a minute to recover from that one, didn't see it coming!
December 6, 2019
Thought long and hard about why should I give it 4.5 stars/5, and there's no reason not to. I mean honest, it stayed with me long afterwards. That's why.
March 18, 2019
REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK (DNF 
); JULY 1, 2016
Narrator: Randal Schaffer
I wasn't expecting a murder thriller or a fast-paced one, more like a gay Cork O'Connor small-town mystery, but this book was unbearably boring. I bought it because it sounded like a romantic suspense and it probably is but I found the first couple of hours a chore to listen to. Gave up after three.
The narrator's performance was fine but his voice didn't fit the story, somehow. Purely personal, of course, but I would have continued listening if the story had been better.
As always, my 1 star is for DNFing it and not even liking what little I heard.
); JULY 1, 2016Narrator: Randal Schaffer
I wasn't expecting a murder thriller or a fast-paced one, more like a gay Cork O'Connor small-town mystery, but this book was unbearably boring. I bought it because it sounded like a romantic suspense and it probably is but I found the first couple of hours a chore to listen to. Gave up after three.
The narrator's performance was fine but his voice didn't fit the story, somehow. Purely personal, of course, but I would have continued listening if the story had been better.
As always, my 1 star is for DNFing it and not even liking what little I heard.
July 21, 2015
Yet another excellent book from a most excellent author! I really enjoyed how this—and Mr. Inman's last couple of books—leaned more toward thriller/horror than romance. This book kept me guessing until the very end!
August 14, 2015
Once again John Inman gives me a thrill!!
WOOHOO!!
WOOHOO!!
July 17, 2015
Mind=blown.
July 16, 2015
Love this author
October 25, 2016
I KNEW IT!!! I KNEW IT! John Inman you've done it again. Amazing book.
December 9, 2016
Murder. Mystery. Sexy men. What more do you need?
July 16, 2015
That was a great mystery! Wow! You keep writing them; I will keep reading them!
April 28, 2017
⭐️4.5 I really enjoyed the story/mystery aspect of this novel. The character development was complete and interesting reading. I deducted 1/2 ⭐️ due to the fact that religious themes bother me. The actual religious parts were a minimal facet to the entire story it actually didn't keep me from continuing to read on and on, until the end. The mystery reveal was a surprise and was near enough to the end that I was truly surprised. Great book John, keep them coming!
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