Fool's Gold

Ira Adler #3

by Jess Faraday

For once, Ira Adler has it easy. He has money in his pocket, a comfortable arrangement with an undemanding young man, and no one’s punched, chased, or shot at him in years. Suddenly, an explosion turns everything upside down.Eager to leave London, Ira accompanies his friends to America to settle a family matter. But though a handsome lawman and a trip aboard a luxurious ocean liner provide welcome distraction, Ira soon finds himself embroiled in a plot that stretches from London’s back alleys to the dusty dirt roads of California. Before he knows it, Ira is up to his neck in train robbers, rattlesnakes, unscrupulous cattle kings, and persistent young women driven to frenzy by his exotic accent.Just when he’s ready to flee back to Britain, Ira gets a fistful of second chances. But London is calling. Will Ira answer? Or will he embrace a new life abroad?

Genres: Historical, Mystery, M M Romance, Historical Fiction, LGBT, Historical Mystery, Queer

322 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2015

About the author

Jess Faraday is the author of the award-winning Ira Adler historical mysteries, the standalone steampunk adventure The Left Hand of Justice and a number of historical adventures in short story and novella form.

Her novella, The Strange Case of the Big Sur Benefactor, won a Rainbow Award for Lesbian Historical. Fool's Gold won a Rainbow Award for Best Gay Historical, and was a runner-up for Best Gay Novel. Turnbull House was a runner-up for Best Gay Historical, and The Affair of the Porcelain Dog was both a Lambda Awards finalist, and won Honorable Mention for Best Novel of the Year from Speak Its Name.

She has edited several award-winning short story collections for Elm Books, including Death and a Cup of Tea (one of Foreword Review's top Indie mysteries of 2015), Undeath and the Detective (Finalist for a Silver Falchion Award for Best Multi-Author Anthology), and Fae Love, which won an Aspen Gold Reader's Choice Award.

You can read more about Jess and her books at http://www.jessfaraday.com

Reviews

[Kaje Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up. I got into this series here on book 3, and although that can be done and enjoyed, (as you see), I'm going to go back to book one when I can and start from the beginning. The characters carry forward and the hints of past adventures are intriguing. I think it would enrich this book to read in order.

In 1895 London, Ira Adler is a one-time rent boy, one-time crime lord's kept man, now out on his own and making good. He's had a couple of easier years without violence, and has a lightweight relationship with a like-minded young man. But when his powerful ex-lover, the man he truly gave his heart once, wants to meet with him, he can't help going to the man's house. Only to see the place come down in an explosion. Ira is shaken and grieving, more than he ever expected.

So a friend's invitation to come along on a trip to California holds a lot of appeal. A new start, new adventures, good friends to cheer him up. There's no sign that from the first day onboard ship this too will get complicated.

This is a lighthearted adventure, with more adventure than angst. I wasn't deeply touched by Ira's emotions, but I enjoyed his character, the plot, the secondary personages and the historical touches. I've always wanted to see the historical black Marshall who is thought to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger in a work of fiction, and there he was as a foil to Ira as the mystery builds across America to California. This series is clearly more mystery than romance, although Ira does form relationships for both sex and potentially more. But at the end of the book there is at best a tenuous HFN. I look forward to going and exploring the adventures that brought Ira to this point, and I hope there will be a book 4.

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great writing as usual. A good one, where Ira keeps missing the boat, or jumping from one boat onto another and Ms Faraday made me jump along with him, leaving me unsure on my feet right till the end.

I like the Marshal but I've spent three books thinking that Ira and Cain would work things out, so the Marshal is still such a new 'man' for me to get used to immediately. I had been on and off with Cain for so long that it takes getting used to. Though I think that feeling is the one Ira has, so Faraday making me feel this way also is great writing. With this Faraday keeps challenging the normal tropes of romance where love usually triumphs. Not so here, here Faraday shows that sometimes love is not all it takes and I do like this exploration even though I long for the utopian ending of the usual romance. Faraday keeps her feet on the ground and follows the characters true. Dreamy happy ever afters, nicely tied with a bow are a thing of other books, not this one. This makes me appreciate more and more the pockets of happiness Ira finds through his ups and downs. But always it is great seeing the growth she has acheived in Ira and how she is able to remind us of the Ira we first knew whilst at the same time seeing how much he has grown.

This one closes up some threads but opens up a vast new panorama for him to explore and for us to follow.


BR with Lena 23rd June 2015

[LenaRibka · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars!

Jess Faraday knows exactly how to shock me(at the beginning), to make me forget about a RL(because I can't put her book down), to keep me on the edge of my seat("wtf is going on?!"), to convince me with her unexpected decisions(yes) and to make me happy at the end(*sight*).

And her writing!.. (*sigh*sigh*sigh*)

Fool's Gold:

** London 1895 vs. California 1895

** Victorian England vs. the Wilde Wide West.

** Sherlock Holmes vs. Bass Reeves. In the best Indiana Jones style.

** Historically accurate researches.

** A main character who grows and develops along with the current of the significant events in his life.

** A very quick pace of the story.

** Surprising twists and turns. UNPREDICTABLE.

** ADVENTURE. You have no idea!..

** Very atmospheric settings.

** Beautiful writing.

** HEA.

I can't recommend this series highly enough!


Special thanks to my buddy Sofia for a great company through Ira's adventure!

[Desertdryad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a couple of days for me to decide how to rate and review this book, but I'm tentatively giving it a 4.5, based on the author's comment that there is more to come for Ira Adler. I loved the book, but didn't feel that the ending satisfied as an end to the series as a whole.

HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!!!

I absolutely loved the first two Ira Adler books. He is one of my favorite fictional people to observe, as he constantly grows in character, knowledge, and experience. Fool's Gold was no exception, and it was interesting to see him in a new environment, making use of his unique skill-set while completely out of his comfort zone. Literally, even. But as I said before, I have some satisfaction issues with the ending. Maybe a lot of people will disagree with this, but after the first two books, I was expecting that Cain would reflect and redeem himself in book three, and Ira would take him back as an equal. At the end of "Turnbull House", Ira narrated regarding Cain, "He'd not encountered anything, as far as I knew, that would have made him question who he was or how he was making his way through this world." And after being emotionally invested in their relationship for two books, I was waiting for that. You could see small changes occurring in Cain just from Ira withdrawing, and while he was still an amoral bastard in general, as well as an utter piece of something-or-other for the alley incident, I was counting on that question-provoking encounter to change everything. So when his house blew up at the beginning of Fool's Gold, I didn't believe for a moment that he was actually dead, and I thought, "Oh, this might be the swift spiritual kick to his head!" But then I was horrified when Marcus showed up with the mystery guy in the wheelchair, thinking "Oh no, please don't let that be Cain, I will not be happy if they are together." (My other initial guess that caused me horror was that maybe the angry mob from book one hadn't been as effective as I initially believed against Acton's vile ass and he was coming after our heroes, which I was relieved to see was not the case.) My unhappiness when I realized that it WAS Cain stemmed from my desire to see him with Ira in the end, without something unpleasant happening with Marcus first to pave the way. Because despite Ira's decision to walk away from Cain on multiple occasions, Ira and Cain still love and long for each other on some level. But now Cain is with Marcus, Ira is with Sutter, and the last conversation between Ira and Cain seems to imply that they will never see each other again. I didn't really cope well with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for brave and sexy marshals, and was happy to see Ira in a relationship of trust and equality, but when it comes to Ira's ultimate relationship destiny, the person he stays with in the end, I would need to see a whole lot more of his relationship with Sutter before I could become emotionally invested in them to the degree that I was with Cain and Ira. So I'm going to wait and see what happens in future writings, hoping in the meantime (probably unrealistically) that the current relationships eventually end with no bad feelings (or death) on either side, and Ira and Cain find a way to be together as lovers, friends, and equals, with Cain finally successful in academia and Ira doing whatever it is that he ultimately wants to do. And not being Cain's secretary.

[Jess Faraday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third Ira Adler mystery, in which Previous Questions are answered, and new questions are posed.

Adventure! Romance! Explosions! Buffalo!

And a plot that stretches from the mean streets of Victorian London to the sun-drenched trails of the Old West.

If you liked Porcelain Dog and Turnbull House, you're sure to like Ira's third adventure, Fool's Gold.

Coming in April 2015 from Bold Strokes Books.

[Veronica of V's Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this historical M/M mystery/suspense adventure.

I will preface this review with the statement that I have not read any of the previous books in this series, and had no trouble jumping right into this one.

Ira Adler is a 30 y/o gay man in 1895 London. He has been an orphan, a prostitute, a consort to a mafia boss and now he's a secretary. He lives alone in a tiny flat, makes a stable living, and has a regular bed partner. He is summoned to the home of his former consort--Cain Goddard--for a meeting of dubious intent. Ira had last seen Goddard when Goddard was beating him to a pulp in a dark alley several years before. Ira and Goddard had had an amiable, loving relationship prior to that--Goddard is in fact the reason Ira is no longer a prostitute. En route to this meeting, Ira has mixed feelings and turns up an hour late. While approaching Goddard's townhouse, the house explodes. The investigation is not legit, and Ira is left with many questions about his former lover--none of which are answered by his inheritance of 250K Pounds.

Grief-stricken, Ira is convinced to travel to California with his good friends Tim and Bess Lazarus to change his pace and to assist settling a land dispute surrounding Bess' mother. Aboard ship, Ira becomes embroiled in a theft investigation that surrounds Col. Wilkes, a war hero whose valet is Ira's long-time acquaintance (and former prostitute too), Marcus. The travel by rail from NYC to central California is not without intrigue. Think train robbers, thieves, Bison stampedes and unlikely Marshals. Marshal Sutton, the only Black Marshal, becomes a big player in the later plot, and possibly the next book.

Ira gets by on his ingenuity, and helps to foil a plot destined to destroy local native relations. Plus, he finds a new partner with whom he can share true intimacy. I had to laugh when Tim Lazarus (also a former lover of Ira's) remarked about how Ira can't go a week without finding a man to jump into his bed.

I did like the constant motion of the plot. It is clear that there is a LOT of research in this story, shining through the setting and the speech. Having been a resident of the San Joaquin valley, it was fun to experience this post-Gold Rush adventure in Tulare, Visalia and Porterville. The historical context was very compelling, and I will admit to being stunned in the author's notes regarding the whitewashing of the Lone Ranger. Ira seems to be a crack investigator with a curious mind and a pragmatic outlook. He is fully likeable, and a compelling lead. It is not hard to cheer for him to solve the many smaller plot crises that arise.

That said, I was torn regarding Ira's sorrow over Goddard. I wondered if he suffered a bit of battered man syndrome, his conflict was so great. For a gay book, there is remarkably little sex on the page. I did enjoy this caper, but would have liked just a bit more steam. The end is a bona fide HEA, with ample room for Ira's next adventure in sleuthing to begin.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Ira Adler series, which was until now set in the criminal subaltern of 1890s London, so I will admit, after having read the other two previous books in this series I was not at all expecting to read a Western when I picked this up! But, naturally, it's the same time period, and Oscar Wilde even toured the Wild West himself, and I love Westerns! So a nice surprise.

The story begins with Ira, against his best judgement, agreeing to meet Cain Goddard, the crime lord who Ira previously lived with as a kept man. However, Goddard's house explodes minutes before their appointment. Grieving not just Cain but also the lack of proper resolution to his complicated feelings for him, he reluctantly accepts an invitation from his friend Lazarus to come to America with his family. There, natually, the real story begins.

The book includes some of the thematic elements that make the Western such a distinct genre of historical fiction: learning where your physical and mental edges are and then pushing them, learning when to stand on your own and when to accept help, and a certain mental restlessness that keeps your character moving through the entire book. But it also includes some more challenging emotional content, with untidy romantic resolutions, and worthwhile relationships that take more work than the ultimately empty ones.

The Ira Adler books are one of the rare mystery series out there that includes active character development. So there's no magic end of book reset button on characters and you do need to read them in order! These continue to be an undeservedly under-read series of books with the gay historicals set, and I highly recommend them.

I received a reviewer's copy of this book from the publisher.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. I absolutely love this series and this is the third book. The very endearing and very entertaining Ira Adler heads to the wild west of 1895 America and has suitably wild adventures. This book is a lot of fun and I enjoyed it immensely. Ira's sparkling commentary is vivid and often very amusing and his adventures are very entertaining. This is a thoroughly wonderful book.

[Shriya Uday · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great ending. Especially since it feels like a beginning. I absolutely love how Ira and Tim's friendship has grown. I love the romantic resolution of Ira's part and can't wait to read more about that. The whole Cain thing is honestly unbelievably funny especially since I was sure what was happening. Certainly a very different tone from the previous books

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this is the end of Jess Faraday’s series featuring Ira Adler, it’s a very satisfying conclusion. I’ve enjoyed watching Ira grow from naïve kept-boy to independent businessman, his move from the shadier side of life to legitimate. I’ve enjoyed watching his friendships grow, especially with Tim and Bess Lazarus. Unlike many mystery authors, who don’t allow their main and supporting characters to change except in superficial ways, Faraday has allowed all of her main characters to grow over the course of these three books; Ira more-so than the rest. And he continues to grow through the events of this book, as the last vestiges of his naivete (but not his good will) are taken away and replaced with a maturity and world-awareness the Ira of The Affair of the Porcelain Dog could never have possessed.

Of course, even with that increased maturity, Ira is still prone to misunderstandings, often arising from not being able to read the signals other people are sending him. Watching Ira navigate his romantic entanglements has always been fun, whether they end up connected to the larger case Ira is investigating or not. This time there are several such romantic or almost-so encounters, at least one of which is downright humorous to watch so long as you’re not the one whose motives are being misunderstood.

Since this is an Ira Adler book, there’s also plenty of action, lots of perceived and actual duplicitousness, and more than a fair share of near-death experiences. These have been the trademark of the Adler books, and they are all abundant here. The over-arcing mystery is a classic one that I won’t spoil here except to say that the plot twists are fun and sensible and the final reveal is satisfactory … fully worthy of the Great Detective in whose shadow Ira lives.

The previous two Ira novels have taken place in the heart of London. As the book description notes, this time Faraday takes Ira and his closest associates to the United States. Some genre authors would be content with setting such a tale in New York or Boston, cities even then large enough to partially mirror and partially contrast late 1800’s London. Faraday drops her urban characters into rural California, and turns her Victorian urban mystery series into a western. A full-blown western, as well, with abandoned mines, shady landowners and not one but two damsels-in-distress. And by doing so, the author shows her remarkable range, her ability to work with the tropes of just about any genre and give them breath and interesting life. If Faraday returns to the world of Ira Adler for future volumes, I’ll be happy. But I’ll just as happily follow her now to other genres and other characters.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts with a literal bang, and romps along from there, from London to New York to Wyoming to California. The change of scene does Ira a power of good, and changes his view of a great many things. The sentimental fool is a little slow coming to certain conclusions about the late Cain Goddard, but it's very satisfying when he's finally able to let the man go.

I love a book that teaches me something, and I learned a fair bit about America in 1895 from this one. The author has a deft hand, and research and backstory are part of the story; it's tight and smooth and wonderful to read.

I'm sorry to see the end of Ira's adventures, but if this is the last we'll see of him, I'll believe him happy in his new life in a new place with new people. He certainly earned his happy ending. Ira is very much a product of the time and place where he had lived all his life, and yet his decision to stay in America felt right: earned and yet inevitable. I think I felt the same frisson of delight when it occurred to him that he didn't have to return to London if he didn't want to. Ah, freedom!

[Claire Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing in Fool's Gold is absolutely flawless. It is filled with non-stop adventures and very intriguing mysteries. Several new characters were introduced in this book, and as always, I absolutely love their individuality. One thing I particularly adore about this book is the racial diversity, and the references to actual historical people. It was a very fun book to read.

[Jordan Tyler Quinn Farkas · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent adventure through the tail-end of the 19th century. From Victorian England to the romantic wild West of early America, Fool's Gold is a historically accurate page turner worthy of your time and money to say the least.

[Claudia Marcela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una explosión destruye la última oportunidad de reencuentro entre Ira y Cain. Afligido por su ex amante, Ira acompaña a la familia Lazarus a Estados Unidos para arreglar un asunto familiar, pero durante todo el viaje les surgen problemas.

~~~

Han pasado 4 años desde que Ira le dijo adiós a Cain definitivamente; por eso le extraña que Cain vuelva a convocarlo a su casa. Curioso, pero decidido a no dejarse avasallar por el consumado seductor, acude a la cita... solo para ver que la casa explota frente a sus ojos y los bomberos sacan el cadáver de Cain de entre los escombros. Aunque su relación tenía muchos años de haber terminado, Ira se sume en una tristeza desgarradora por lo que pudo haber sido y ya nunca será; pero no puede dejar de notar que la explosión no fue accidente, y parece que un antiguo socio de negocios de Cain está detrás, y no quiere que nadie investigue. Pero su buen amigo Tim Lazarus le propone que acompañe a la familia de 3 a California para lidiar con unos asuntos familiares. Desgraciadamente, en el barco ocurre un robo, y es Ira el único sospechoso, pero el Coronel afectado no presenta cargos. Parece que dejaron el incidente atrás, hasta que un asaltante en el tren rumbo a California exige que le entreguen la llave que robó. Sin entender nada y poco dispuesto a poner en riesgo a la familia Lazarus, con ayuda de un oficial encubierto consigue vencer el peligro. Pero al llegar a la granja familiar descubre que la casa fue incendiada, en un claro intento de forzar a la familia de Bess Lazarus a vender sus tierras, pero ¿qué tiene de valiosa la propiedad para que alguien se tome tantas molestias?

Volvemos a encontrarnos con el encantador y despreocupado Ira Adler, bien asentado en su vida de secretario. Turnbull House ha prosperado, así que no necesita pasarse tanto por allí, y disfruta de sus encuentros casuales con el amante de turno; pero no puede evitar pensar que la vida debería ofrecerle algo más; y su viaje al nuevo continente podría ofrecérselo. Y vaya que la travesía está cargada de un montón de entuertos que solo podrían sucederle a Ira Adler y salir bien librado de todos ellos. Hay asalto en el tren, estampida y ataque indio incluidos, todo demasiado cliché de los folletines del viejo oeste, pero sirven para lucimiento del nuevo interés amoroso de Ira; aunque no sabemos qué papel jugara en la vida de Ira hasta casi el 70% del libro. Pero justamente tantos acontecimientos pocos probables sucedidos uno tras otro hicieron que disfrutara menos este libro que los dos anteriores. No olvidemos que Ira empezó siendo un toyboy de los barrios bajos de Londres; que lo pongan en medio de una estampida de bisontes parece un tanto fuera de carácter. Más como el capítulo de relleno de una serie cuando a los escritores se les acabaron las ideas.

Encontramos a nuestros secundarios queridos como Tim (ya seguro de su vida familiar), Bess, su retoño Claire (bastante irritante a veces), St. Andrews y a un nuevo grupo de personajes; incluyendo 3 intereses amorosos para Ira... es que este hombre es tan irresistible que basta una mirada para seducir a cualquiera XD

El hilo conductor de la trama es la serie de misterios sobre la explosión en la casa de York Street, el robo ocurrido en el barco a cierto Coronel con el que no dejan de toparse durante todo el trayecto, y cuya identidad ya se dejaba entrever para cualquier lector esperanzado. Seguido por el misterio de lo que hay en las tierras de la familia de Bess. Pero también influye mucho en la historia la inestabilidad emocional de Ira, ya que su única relación seria ha quedado en el pasado, ¿qué tipo de vida quiere llevar? ¿Debe saltar de cama en cama sin tener nunca a alguien que le ofrezca su corazón completamente? ¿Puede confiar en alguien lo suficiente para arriesgarse a una relación seria? Ultimadamente, más allá de los misterios, lo que nos interesa es que Ira sea feliz, y aunque no sentí esa chispa entre Ira y Sutter, las situaciones entre vida o muerte que experimentaron juntos, supongo que acelera los sentimientos de cualquiera.

Pese a todos los sinsabores, esperaba que Cain se reformara y tuviera una segunda oportunidad con Ira. Y lloré amargamente cuando descubrí que no, cada quien sigue su camino. Entiendo que mi decepción es irracional, porque pensando fríamente, habían pasado 6 años desde que Ira se alejó de Cain, y no podía esperar que el hombre le guardara fidelidad por el resto de su vida. Sí se la guardó durante 5 años al menos, hasta que empezó algo serio con Marcus. Y realmente me alegra que el chico adicto que conocimos en el primer libro pudiera superarse y conseguir una vida mejor... pero ¿es Cain el único gay en Londres? Ciertamente no, y aun más, gracias a ese último ofrecimiento que le hizo Cain a Ira de estar juntos, sabemos que Marcus es un sustituto, lo fue al inicio cuando Cain se acercó a él en la librería y lo sigue siendo un año después, a pesar de sus planes de iniciar una vida juntos en California. Me da tristeza por Marcus, pero también me da tristeza por Ira, porque gracias a él Cain empezó a cambiar y dejó de ver las cosas en relación a qué ganancia podían ofrecerle, pero es Marcus el que va a acompañarlo en esa vida de hombre respetable de negocios y fundador de una universidad. El hombre intelectual que Ira siempre quiso conocer más a fondo.
Pero tras mucha reflexión, comprendo que la autora así lo tenía planeado desde el principio. Por eso hizo que nos encariñáramos con Marcus en el libro 2 y no nos dejó conocer a Cain más que como el despiadado hombre de negocios turbios, que mantenía a Ira lejos de sus asuntos, por eso Cain hizo aquello imperdonable en el callejón. Pero es frustrante haber visto cómo se obraba el cambio en Cain al final del libro anterior y descubrir que no era en beneficio de Ira, y el que nos introduzcan a un nuevo interés amoroso que Ira llega a conocer mejor en un par de semanas que a Cain en esos ocho años de interacción, habla mucho de cuál relación es más sana. Pero discúlpenme si no puedo desprenderme tan fácilmente de un personaje que llevo 2 libros amando y odiando, esperando su redención, y no amo inmediatamente al sujeto que conocí apenas medio libro, por más feliz que haga a Ira.
Un detalle curioso es que en este libro se describe la primer escena sexual explícita, mientras que en el primer libro se fundía la escena en negro y en el segundo es un poco detallada pero es una relación no consensual, así que deja un mal sabor; y en este tercer libro por primera vez vemos a Ira disfrutando. Al principio creí que la autora tenía finalmente la confianza de escribir una escena explícita, pero mientras escribía el párrafo anterior se me ocurrió que tal vez también tenía la intención de mostrarnos las diferencias entre ambas relaciones. Con Cain siempre se trató de una relación comercial, aunque existieran sentimientos, siempre estaba el estatus de "inferior y superior" de por medio. Ahora que tiene una relación de igual a igual, Ira puede disfrutar en toda la extensión de la palabra.

En general es un buen final para la trilogía, vemos la completa maduración de Ira, lejos del muchachito vanidoso que conocimos al principio. Y no podemos más que alegrarnos por su futuro brillante.

¿Qué Disfruté?
Que Ira pudiera mirar adelante y encontrar un nuevo prospecto de vida, fuera de su zona de confort, pero siendo Ira igualmente, perdido en el mundo pero siendo buen amigo, buscando amor y arriesgándose para encontrarlo.

¿Qué Prefiero Olvidar?
El beso del adiós me dejó destrozada. Me despertó mucho más sentimientos (y lágrimas amargas) que la declaración de amor y fidelidad entre Ira y el nuevo galán.
Que magistral manera de describir los sentimientos de Ira. Anhela los buenos tiempos, también piensa en lo que podría ser, pero también está consciente de el poder que ostenta Cain y que por más que haya cambiado, Ira tendría que volver a doblarse a su voluntad y ya no es esa persona.

Cuantos sentimientos encontrados me ha dejado... Felicidad por Ira y su relación nueva, tristeza porque la relación más importante de su vida no se pudo reparar. Felicidad porque Cain y Marcus pueden ser felices juntos... tristeza porque Marcus es un sustituto. Felicidad porque Cain se reformó y va a cumplir su sueño de volver a ser profesor... tristeza porque no fue suficiente para recuperar a Ira.

Citas
I realized that, aside from Marcus's brief stint in the brothel where he and I had met all those years ago, his relationship with Goddard was the only stable situation he'd ever known. Of course he would defend it with everything in him. It struck me then, how few decisions stood between my own life and one much like his.

And for the first time, I felt like the muddy, bloody, trampled ground betwen us was finally washed clean. It was right. It was as it should be, and one day my heart would recognize what my mind had already known for some time.

Then, before I could draw back, he cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. It was a kiss full of tenderness, full of apology, full of memories of every good thing that had passed between us, and everything we had wanted to say, but hadn't. I kissed him back with all my heart and soul.
I kissed him good-bye.

[TrashConnoisseur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go back to sherlockian London and meet Ira Adler, trouble magnet extraordinaire.

3,5 intriguing stars

The story is initially set in London, in times of tailored suits and corsets. Ira Adler is on the way to meet his former lover and mastermind criminal Cain Goddard when an explosion turns his life upside down. Someone had planted a bomb in Goddard's house and Ira finds himself suddenly rich and grieving more than he would've imagined.
Soon, he finds out via a broken nose that the case is more dangerous than expected, but he can't help but dig deeper in order to find out the who and why. He asks his friend Andrews St. Andrew, a detective, for help. His oldest friend, Doctor Lazarus thinks a change of scenery would do Ira good and urges him to go together with his family to America where his wife's family lives.
Unnecessary to say that, when Ira decides his best friend is right and agrees to accompany them to America, trouble is a constant for the party and Ira always seems to be right in the middle of it. And, as coincidence will, the solution of the case Ira is distancing himself from seems to be thousands of miles away from London and every mile added brings him closer to finding out what happened.


I got this book as a free read from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The review can be found on my blog as well

In the beginning I didn't even realise that there were two volumes previous to Fool's Gold (which is kind of stupid considering that it is written on the cover) and the author does a great job at making you not notice that fact. Honestly, I'm a bit glad that I didn't read the previous books because even though in Fool's Gold Ira and Goddard aren't together I shipped them with all my heart and if I had read a book where they actually were together I probably couldn't bear to read about Ira with someone else.
Goddard reminded me of Moriarty and the whole book I kind of just waited for him to return from the dead. Which he did.

Ira Adler is a likable character and Faraday's writing lets you understand every decision he makes. There is neither a 'omg what is he doing?!' moment nor a scene where her characters are so perfect that you doubt there existence (haha, pun intended). They are quite human and sometimes they make shitty human decisions or do foolish things, but that's what makes them real.

Even if you haven't read the first two books you can read this one without getting confused during some events because you lack background knowledge. So I can recommend this to anyone who wants the faint smell of an interesting whodunit, the taste of adventuring through a new country (at least from Ira's POV) and the overall theme of finding a new path in ones life.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't say that this was my favourite book in the series....because I have adored them all equally :) I'm pretty sure I laughed more during this one though, despite a rather surprising twist at the beginning that forces Adler to reconsider his current life in London and ends up heading for the Wild, Wild West with Bess and Tim as they deal with a pressing family matter on Bess's side in California. This being Ira, though, there is never a dull moment as he finds himself embroiled in one misadventure after another on his travels. I think this book was the funniest of the three as I found myself laughing out loud on several ocassions. Also, it was nice to see Ira growing up, letting the past go and focusing on future with someone special. I've not checked to see if any other books have been planned but I do hope the author revisits Adler in the future. I would love to see where all his (mis)adventures lead him next. 4 stars

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just fabulous. Review coming soon.

[Elisa Rolle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fool's Gold by Jess Faraday: http://reviews-and-ramblings.dreamwid... 2015 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)

[nisie draws · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Gay romance novel that reads like good historical fiction! I enjoyed every minute of it! It was good to see Ira finally put Goddard behind him and get an even better love interest. Calvin Sutter is an awesome character who completely stole the show for much of the book! I've enjoyed this series so much, and enjoying watching the characters grow from lovable archetypes into distinct, complex people. The plot is just as entertaining as in the other two books, and I'm satisfied by the ending!

side note:
It was a bit surreal reading this book however because so many of the locations in it are close to where I grew up. My wife and I had our first date at an Oil Museum that had artifacts from the setting of the story. It's strange to think of a book character wandering the same streets as yourself, when the streets are in a boring backwater.

[Novel Ninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series

I ve loved this series and Fools Gold has been a fitting end. I’d love to see where Ira and Sutton end up. I’ve enjoyed Ira’s entire journey, and I hope he finds contentment in the US.

[Stonemagpie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very hard to rate this one. I enjoyed it a lot, but in my heart I was left unsatisfied.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would be PERFECTLY happy to CONTINUE to follow Ira's life going forward.
Just saying.

Or even CAIN's life going forward, which is certain to be fascinating.

This trilogy following Ira from about age 23 to about age 30 has been a great experience.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

** 4.5 Stars **

[emily curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written series set in the Victorian era. Well written and researched with likeable characters. There are three books so far and I really hope there will be at least one more.

[Reader (Show me, don't tell me) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books, The Porcelain Dog and Turnbull House, much better than Fool's Gold.

I was terribly, terribly disappointed that Cain and Ira did not end up together. Aren't there are other loose ends (Sudworth, Watkins, Liza even Marcus 'cause who knows what he's really about?) to knot back in England, perhaps more so for Cain than Ira?

Unless. . . dare I hope, Ira and Calvin being together now is just a side step in Ira and Cain's journey and there will be a book 4??