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In Deep
Arriving on a remote Scottish island to investigate an unexplained death, Ted Harris finds himself entangled in the life of the community – and becomes attracted to Athol, his enigmatic landlord. Soon they’re working together, depending on each other for survival in perilous circumstances, and slowly unravelling the mystery. Will they ever figure out exactly how and why Kieran Parnes died and who was responsible for his death, and what will it do to the island – and to the tentative beginnings of their relationship – if they tell anybody what they know?
70,000 words
70,000 words
ebook
First published November 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Adam Fitzroy
12 books20 followersImaginist and purveyor of tall tales Adam Fitzroy is a UK resident who has been successfully spinning male-male romances either part-time or full-time since the 1980s, and has a particular interest in examining the conflicting demands of love and duty.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 6, 2015
** 4.5 Stars **
The mystery plot was good and there was lots of room for 'Arm-Chair' detective work! The Scottish Island has an atmosphere of its own and provided here a wonderful setting. The spectacular and raw landscape makes the story even more affecting. Ted & Athol are very intriguing and convincing characters. I love this type of 'slow-paced' suspense/mystery novel!
March 2, 2024
2/24 Bumping this up to four stars because I loved it the second time. The author, who is female btw, is now going by M A Fitzroy. Now that she has changed her name back I hope she writes some more.
Original review: More suspenseful than romantic, but if you love Fitzroy or Harper Fox do not miss this one.
He completely nails the drama and setting in his usual masterful way and the characters are very winning. It's just that their happy ending doesn't have many obstacles to overcome.
Original review: More suspenseful than romantic, but if you love Fitzroy or Harper Fox do not miss this one.
He completely nails the drama and setting in his usual masterful way and the characters are very winning. It's just that their happy ending doesn't have many obstacles to overcome.
November 28, 2015
Very british. Great mystery
June 18, 2016
Hang on to your hats, people! Because the narrator of this story is (I'll make a bullet list to properly blow your mind)
- a widower who had been married to a woman (ok, not so mind blowing quite yet. GFY is probably going to ensue - *yawn*)
- a former police officer (yawn, hats don't even move yet)
- a self-professed bisexual man (okay, so there goes GFY - but this actually raises the hold-on-to-your-hats-bar. Bisexual? Begone, begone, unclean!)
- retired at the age of *wait for it* 57 years. So he is 57 years old.
...
...
It shouldn't be a thing. Right? Right?
Further fun-facts: There may be room to argue that it's not even a real romance (TM) because the romance plot takes up very little space. Stripped down to its bones it is more of a cozy mystery (the author even plays with the use of profanity but never mind that).
So, WhatAStrangeDuck, you ask - why are we still hanging on to our hats?
Because in M/M it is more likely to get an MC who is a hedgehog/rat/duck/elephant shape-shifter or a billionaire T-Rex dom or what have you, than a sad, aging man who does not dive into love but rather lowers himself gingerly into it.
It's not the best book in the world and the narration is kind of slow and (horror of horrors!) there is a mild infusion of dialect (which didn't bother me but be warned) but the simple fact that I could recite a long list of MCs that stretched my suspension bridge of disbelief by a mile, but fail to come up with more than two or three books with MCs significantly over 40 turns a 3.5 stars into 4.
[EDIT: Oh, and it's a nice, well written book. Read it and judge for yourselves :-).]
- a widower who had been married to a woman (ok, not so mind blowing quite yet. GFY is probably going to ensue - *yawn*)
- a former police officer (yawn, hats don't even move yet)
- a self-professed bisexual man (okay, so there goes GFY - but this actually raises the hold-on-to-your-hats-bar. Bisexual? Begone, begone, unclean!)
- retired at the age of *wait for it* 57 years. So he is 57 years old.
...
...
It shouldn't be a thing. Right? Right?
Further fun-facts: There may be room to argue that it's not even a real romance (TM) because the romance plot takes up very little space. Stripped down to its bones it is more of a cozy mystery (the author even plays with the use of profanity but never mind that).
So, WhatAStrangeDuck, you ask - why are we still hanging on to our hats?
Because in M/M it is more likely to get an MC who is a hedgehog/rat/duck/elephant shape-shifter or a billionaire T-Rex dom or what have you, than a sad, aging man who does not dive into love but rather lowers himself gingerly into it.
It's not the best book in the world and the narration is kind of slow and (horror of horrors!) there is a mild infusion of dialect (which didn't bother me but be warned) but the simple fact that I could recite a long list of MCs that stretched my suspension bridge of disbelief by a mile, but fail to come up with more than two or three books with MCs significantly over 40 turns a 3.5 stars into 4.
[EDIT: Oh, and it's a nice, well written book. Read it and judge for yourselves :-).]
May 1, 2016
Actual rating was 2.5
Ted Harris is a retired policeman who travels to a remote Scottish island under the pretense of leisure travel. In reality, he's unofficially investigating a death that occurred several years before...
What I liked
+ The setting
I've never been to Scotland (and the island that Ted visits doesn't exist in real life), but Fitzroy did a superb job in creating an image of a location that is so far away it might be in another world. The easiest thing to do (since this is a mystery) would've been to amp up a feeling of creepiness because Ted (and the reader) was so removed from everything he'd known about life.
Instead, Fitzroy focused on the theme of isolation looking at both the positive and negatives of it. And then, he took on the notion of what makes a small community survive adding an extra twist about feeling hopeless that anything would ever change in such a place.
+ The characters
FWIW, it's not that I found any of them particularly likable, but I felt like I knew who they were through their connections (familial and otherwise). There was a very slow reveal about some backstories that caught me by surprise.
+ A complicated bisexual guy.
I do give props to Fitzroy for having a guy who is in his late 50s and labeling himself as bisexual because that's who he is.
Once the book takes a closer look, though, things get shaken up a bit. OTOH, Ted talked about how much loved his (now dead) wife while keeping his bisexuality well-hidden. OTOH, he made a sharp division between what loving his wife meant and the compromises he made with himself. For, the easiest way to keep his life together was to have anonymous sex with men while hiding that fact from his wife.
It could almost be explained as a generation thing, but the incredibly cold rationalization on his part about duty as love vs. wanting to fulfill a sexual aspect in his life put me off.
What I didn't like
- There is very little M/M romance
Ted is attracted to Athol Grey, the owner of the house Ted's staying at. Athol also does a little bit of everything (from driving the island's only taxi to working with the rescue unit)--which is a neat callback to how closed-off the community is.
Even though the novel's told from Ted's perspective, he's someone who has compartmentalized everything in his life for so long that it's hard to get to really know him. His discussions with Athol about what kind of relationship both would find fulfilling was detached, nearly clinical. There wasn't much (if any) passion in their moments together either.
It left me thinking that there's such a thing as being too practical when it comes to romance.
- The mystery
It was a bit of a doozy. By which means that it turned out to be intriguing enough to keep me reading. The reveal as to what had really happened broke a few pieces of my heart. Even more because of the decisions that get made after everything comes to light.
My gripe about the mystery had to do with pacing. Ted would be ready to question someone only to end up having to wait because said person wasn't due to return from the mainland in three days' time. This happened several times which slowed down the story some.
TL;DR: A small town mystery that tried my patience due to how sluggish the narrative became in some places. It didn't help that I never connected with the characters on an emotional level or that there was almost no romance to speak of. Basically, this book was 'meh'.
Ted Harris is a retired policeman who travels to a remote Scottish island under the pretense of leisure travel. In reality, he's unofficially investigating a death that occurred several years before...
What I liked
+ The setting
I've never been to Scotland (and the island that Ted visits doesn't exist in real life), but Fitzroy did a superb job in creating an image of a location that is so far away it might be in another world. The easiest thing to do (since this is a mystery) would've been to amp up a feeling of creepiness because Ted (and the reader) was so removed from everything he'd known about life.
Instead, Fitzroy focused on the theme of isolation looking at both the positive and negatives of it. And then, he took on the notion of what makes a small community survive adding an extra twist about feeling hopeless that anything would ever change in such a place.
+ The characters
FWIW, it's not that I found any of them particularly likable, but I felt like I knew who they were through their connections (familial and otherwise). There was a very slow reveal about some backstories that caught me by surprise.
+ A complicated bisexual guy.
I do give props to Fitzroy for having a guy who is in his late 50s and labeling himself as bisexual because that's who he is.
Once the book takes a closer look, though, things get shaken up a bit. OTOH, Ted talked about how much loved his (now dead) wife while keeping his bisexuality well-hidden. OTOH, he made a sharp division between what loving his wife meant and the compromises he made with himself. For, the easiest way to keep his life together was to have anonymous sex with men while hiding that fact from his wife.
It could almost be explained as a generation thing, but the incredibly cold rationalization on his part about duty as love vs. wanting to fulfill a sexual aspect in his life put me off.
What I didn't like
- There is very little M/M romance
Ted is attracted to Athol Grey, the owner of the house Ted's staying at. Athol also does a little bit of everything (from driving the island's only taxi to working with the rescue unit)--which is a neat callback to how closed-off the community is.
Even though the novel's told from Ted's perspective, he's someone who has compartmentalized everything in his life for so long that it's hard to get to really know him. His discussions with Athol about what kind of relationship both would find fulfilling was detached, nearly clinical. There wasn't much (if any) passion in their moments together either.
It left me thinking that there's such a thing as being too practical when it comes to romance.
- The mystery
It was a bit of a doozy. By which means that it turned out to be intriguing enough to keep me reading. The reveal as to what had really happened broke a few pieces of my heart. Even more because of the decisions that get made after everything comes to light.
My gripe about the mystery had to do with pacing. Ted would be ready to question someone only to end up having to wait because said person wasn't due to return from the mainland in three days' time. This happened several times which slowed down the story some.
TL;DR: A small town mystery that tried my patience due to how sluggish the narrative became in some places. It didn't help that I never connected with the characters on an emotional level or that there was almost no romance to speak of. Basically, this book was 'meh'.
November 21, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: In Deep by Adam Fitzro
1) Plot was a bit slow to get moving, as the reader doesn't learn the protagonist's goal/agenda for far too many pages, imho. Once that comes out, the stakes are clear and this complex "isolated village" story lights up. The fierce setting is a major character in the story, literally a force of nature. The nuanced and believable main characters are well drawn in a writing style both dense and elegant, especially the protagonist. I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant, measured, thoughtful read. A very satisfying mystery.
2) This was a carefully constrained story, unfolding step by step as the protagonist searches for answers in the death of his step son. Fitzroy does a beautiful job creating a world isolated both geographically and emotionally, the characters are roughly hewn from the landscape and finely detailed and nuanced in character so that everything, every step the protagonist takes, seems compelling and inevitable, and the love affair realistic.
3) I loved the writing style and the realism of the book. It was slower moving, but highly entertaining.
4) A premise (and a cover) I've seen more than once, but this story stands out because its slightly older protagonists are convincingly mature and thoughtful. Good plot, fine attention to detail, and characters who actually think before they act. A nice change from the impulsive and often dim-witted youngsters in many stories.
1) Plot was a bit slow to get moving, as the reader doesn't learn the protagonist's goal/agenda for far too many pages, imho. Once that comes out, the stakes are clear and this complex "isolated village" story lights up. The fierce setting is a major character in the story, literally a force of nature. The nuanced and believable main characters are well drawn in a writing style both dense and elegant, especially the protagonist. I thoroughly enjoyed this poignant, measured, thoughtful read. A very satisfying mystery.
2) This was a carefully constrained story, unfolding step by step as the protagonist searches for answers in the death of his step son. Fitzroy does a beautiful job creating a world isolated both geographically and emotionally, the characters are roughly hewn from the landscape and finely detailed and nuanced in character so that everything, every step the protagonist takes, seems compelling and inevitable, and the love affair realistic.
3) I loved the writing style and the realism of the book. It was slower moving, but highly entertaining.
4) A premise (and a cover) I've seen more than once, but this story stands out because its slightly older protagonists are convincingly mature and thoughtful. Good plot, fine attention to detail, and characters who actually think before they act. A nice change from the impulsive and often dim-witted youngsters in many stories.
June 1, 2016
A bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a protagonist who finds there is value in living rather than just existing.
March 12, 2017
This quiet book set on a Scottish island like I've seen many brought back lovely memories. There is a mystery, a 57 years old MC (!), some romance, a quiet pace, not too much sex (nowadays a plus point ;-), great writing. I loved it.
May 14, 2016
A great story, set in a place that is both home and yet so far away geographically.
I liked Athol, local yet not, slightly on the outside if things whilst involved, taciturn yet caring.
Ted gradually unfurled, finding more purpose than just finding out the how and why of Kieran's death.
I liked the descriptions of Ellisay, the close community, the knowing everyone's business, the keeping of secrets, the circling of wagons mentality to safeguard one of their own. The seemingly unrelated events with the young kids leading to Ted finding out what happened.
And all the while Ted and Athol doing the dance before succumbing.
I liked Athol, local yet not, slightly on the outside if things whilst involved, taciturn yet caring.
Ted gradually unfurled, finding more purpose than just finding out the how and why of Kieran's death.
I liked the descriptions of Ellisay, the close community, the knowing everyone's business, the keeping of secrets, the circling of wagons mentality to safeguard one of their own. The seemingly unrelated events with the young kids leading to Ted finding out what happened.
And all the while Ted and Athol doing the dance before succumbing.
August 17, 2016
Hand me a mystery set on a small Scottish island and I'm reading. I really enjoyed every aspect of this book and I would have no hesitation is recommending it to others.
Ted wants to know what happened to his stepson, Kieran, who was found drifting in water surrounding the island which he had called home while completing his studies. When I finally found out how Kieran died I was really upset. Such a waste of a young life.
The book is not long but the pace not rushed. There is some sex on page as Ted and Athol's relationship develops.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be reading more by this author.
Ted wants to know what happened to his stepson, Kieran, who was found drifting in water surrounding the island which he had called home while completing his studies. When I finally found out how Kieran died I was really upset. Such a waste of a young life.
The book is not long but the pace not rushed. There is some sex on page as Ted and Athol's relationship develops.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be reading more by this author.
March 15, 2017
I liked the Scottish setting for this story, and usually like Adam Fitzroy’s writing style. The plot sounded interesting. However, as I progressed through the story, there were a couple of problems. Firstly, the way the main character Ted, who considers himself bi-sexual and was married to a woman, felt he had to take secretive breaks to have sex with men. It was a need, and he couldn’t stop from fulfilling it. He felt uncomfortable lying by omission to his wife, but felt it was a “don’t ask, don’t tell” situation. If/when he ends up with the man he meets and is attracted to in Scotland, will he feel the need to sneak off and have sex with women? Problematic at best.
Secondly, as I reached the end of the story I felt very uncomfortable with the denouement, both in regards to the way Kieran died, and the decisions taken by Ted after discovering what had happened. It was a no-win situation, but I was left feeling unsettled and disturbed. ** 2.5 stars
Secondly, as I reached the end of the story I felt very uncomfortable with the denouement, both in regards to the way Kieran died, and the decisions taken by Ted after discovering what had happened. It was a no-win situation, but I was left feeling unsettled and disturbed. ** 2.5 stars
November 19, 2015
3 Heart Review by Amber
First I think it needs to be mentioned that this is 90% a mystery story. I wouldn’t even call this romance. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you know that going in. I thought there would be tension, undeniable attraction, and passion in this story and there isn’t really any of that. These characters almost get together for lack of other options which in my mind was disappointing.
I do think it’s important to mention also that this writer is very talented. As far as mysteries go this one was expertly told. The plot is solid, the landscape was beautiful in its description, and the characters were well developed. The whole place was so intriguing, the way the town worked and how they all were related somehow. I was captivating that’s for sure.
I don’t want to give too much away about the mystery itself but essentially Ted, a retired cop, finds himself in a tiny town investigating the death of a man. We find out later why he’s there and who the man was to Ted. Athol, a local, owns the bed and breakfast that Ted is staying at while he’s doing his investigating.
Like I mentioned there’s very little as far as romance goes but if you like a good mystery I think you’ll enjoy this story because the writing it very good. But don’t go into this thinking this is going to be a steamy romance, because it’s not.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
First I think it needs to be mentioned that this is 90% a mystery story. I wouldn’t even call this romance. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you know that going in. I thought there would be tension, undeniable attraction, and passion in this story and there isn’t really any of that. These characters almost get together for lack of other options which in my mind was disappointing.
I do think it’s important to mention also that this writer is very talented. As far as mysteries go this one was expertly told. The plot is solid, the landscape was beautiful in its description, and the characters were well developed. The whole place was so intriguing, the way the town worked and how they all were related somehow. I was captivating that’s for sure.
I don’t want to give too much away about the mystery itself but essentially Ted, a retired cop, finds himself in a tiny town investigating the death of a man. We find out later why he’s there and who the man was to Ted. Athol, a local, owns the bed and breakfast that Ted is staying at while he’s doing his investigating.
Like I mentioned there’s very little as far as romance goes but if you like a good mystery I think you’ll enjoy this story because the writing it very good. But don’t go into this thinking this is going to be a steamy romance, because it’s not.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
March 1, 2018
2.5* rounded up to 3* on GR.
A quiet story in a remote island setting with cold case type of mystery and a very mild May-December romance.
The writing was good; flowing easily and keeping my attention until the end. The vivid descriptions of the island truly helped with building the atmosphere for the story. I could guess the ones responsible for the death, but I was really surprised when the how and why was revealed. That way of death has never crossed my mind when I was reading this story!
Anyway, the reason I only gave this 2.5* was because I had expected more romance than that, but I didn't get it.
A quiet story in a remote island setting with cold case type of mystery and a very mild May-December romance.
The writing was good; flowing easily and keeping my attention until the end. The vivid descriptions of the island truly helped with building the atmosphere for the story. I could guess the ones responsible for the death, but I was really surprised when the how and why was revealed. That way of death has never crossed my mind when I was reading this story!
Anyway, the reason I only gave this 2.5* was because I had expected more romance than that, but I didn't get it.
January 17, 2017
I liked the mystery, the small town, older MC, quiet heroics and no in your face sex
May 23, 2024
Solidly 4 star read. More a mystery with a romance chaser, but a very interesting portrayal of an insular island community. I really enjoy this author and am doling out the books.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews