What do you think?
Rate this book
Playing With Fire
Jim Crawford was born wealthy, but he turned his back on it to become a police officer. Add that to his being gay, and he's definitely the black sheep of the family.
Dr. Barty Halloran grew up with lessons instead of friends and toys and as a result, became a gifted psychologist... with only an academic understanding of people and emotions.
When Jim's pursuit of a serial killer goes nowhere, he turns to Dr. Halloran for help, and Barty thinks he can get inside the shooter's mind. In many ways, they're two sides of the same coin, which both scares and intrigues him. Together, Jim and Barty make progress on the case-until the stakes shoot higher when the killer turns his attention toward Barty.
To protect Barty, Jim offers to let Barty stay with him, where he discovers the doctor has a heart to go along with his brilliant mind after all. But as they close in on their suspect, the killer becomes desperate, and he'll do anything to elude capture-even threaten those closest to Jim.
Dr. Barty Halloran grew up with lessons instead of friends and toys and as a result, became a gifted psychologist... with only an academic understanding of people and emotions.
When Jim's pursuit of a serial killer goes nowhere, he turns to Dr. Halloran for help, and Barty thinks he can get inside the shooter's mind. In many ways, they're two sides of the same coin, which both scares and intrigues him. Together, Jim and Barty make progress on the case-until the stakes shoot higher when the killer turns his attention toward Barty.
To protect Barty, Jim offers to let Barty stay with him, where he discovers the doctor has a heart to go along with his brilliant mind after all. But as they close in on their suspect, the killer becomes desperate, and he'll do anything to elude capture-even threaten those closest to Jim.
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2016
13 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Dirk Greyson
21 books115 followersDirk is very much an outside kind of man. He loves travel and seeing new things.
Dirk worked in corporate America for way too long and now spends his days writing, gardening, and taking care of the home he shares with his partner of more than two decades.
He has a Master’s Degree and all the other accessories that go with a corporate job. But he is most proud of the stories he tells and the life he's built.
Dirk lives in Pennsylvania in a century old home and is blessed with an amazing circle of friends.
Dirk worked in corporate America for way too long and now spends his days writing, gardening, and taking care of the home he shares with his partner of more than two decades.
He has a Master’s Degree and all the other accessories that go with a corporate job. But he is most proud of the stories he tells and the life he's built.
Dirk lives in Pennsylvania in a century old home and is blessed with an amazing circle of friends.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 30, 2016
“Playing with Fire” is mainly a mystery/crime novel with a secondary plot of romance between the MCs. The crime part starts off great with a dramatic ending in which the killer gets caught. The characters were well developed but I was not able to connect with them. The romance between the MCs lacked in emotion and heat and I was not sold on their “I love you”s at the end.
The story is well paced and the investigation behind the shootings was nicely written. Barty is a gifted criminal psychologist and his whole method of profiling the shooter was on point and I liked it a lot. As for the investigation/crime part, this story was able to pull off the whole “pull our brains together to catch the psychopath” nicely. My problem was with the romance and the overall development of it.
Barty is a brilliant guy who can read a criminal like a book but when it came to normal interactions with humans, he was at a complete loss. He is direct and says what’s on his mind. He is innocent in many ways and very lonely with only his cat for company. Jim is drawn in by Barty’s smarts and his innocence. While they work together Barty starts feeling something for Jim which he can’t explain. He is attracted to Jim and is very direct about his feelings for Jim.
Jim on the other hand has a thing for nerdy, glass-wearing professors. Barty’s no-nonsense outlook is refreshing to Jim and he finds himself falling in love. So, you must be thinking what’s wrong with this entire scenario??? First, the emotions involved in Barty’s opening up to Jim or Jim’s feelings for Barty were very bland without any excitement or the required amount of feels. Second, there were too many dialogues exchanged with very less emotions involved. Barty and Jim were attracted to each other but the eventual development from attraction to love was not handled properly. It was very dry. As I said, I could not connect with the characters or the feels regarding the emotional toll the case had on them.
Overall, this story has a good mystery but the romance part could not keep up with it. They were not properly balanced so even though I enjoyed the investigation I could not get excited over the romance. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading mysteries without any high expectations from the romance department.
The story is well paced and the investigation behind the shootings was nicely written. Barty is a gifted criminal psychologist and his whole method of profiling the shooter was on point and I liked it a lot. As for the investigation/crime part, this story was able to pull off the whole “pull our brains together to catch the psychopath” nicely. My problem was with the romance and the overall development of it.
Barty is a brilliant guy who can read a criminal like a book but when it came to normal interactions with humans, he was at a complete loss. He is direct and says what’s on his mind. He is innocent in many ways and very lonely with only his cat for company. Jim is drawn in by Barty’s smarts and his innocence. While they work together Barty starts feeling something for Jim which he can’t explain. He is attracted to Jim and is very direct about his feelings for Jim.
Jim on the other hand has a thing for nerdy, glass-wearing professors. Barty’s no-nonsense outlook is refreshing to Jim and he finds himself falling in love. So, you must be thinking what’s wrong with this entire scenario??? First, the emotions involved in Barty’s opening up to Jim or Jim’s feelings for Barty were very bland without any excitement or the required amount of feels. Second, there were too many dialogues exchanged with very less emotions involved. Barty and Jim were attracted to each other but the eventual development from attraction to love was not handled properly. It was very dry. As I said, I could not connect with the characters or the feels regarding the emotional toll the case had on them.
Overall, this story has a good mystery but the romance part could not keep up with it. They were not properly balanced so even though I enjoyed the investigation I could not get excited over the romance. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading mysteries without any high expectations from the romance department.
April 21, 2020
Through a mixture of luck, wild guesses and a vestigial appreciation of the bleeding obvious, our MCs postulate that the serial killer they are after might be:- male, well-educated, used to planning ahead, possibly an economics professor, someone who has just been professionally demoted. It's been hard work getting thus far, and they take time out to go to a stressful garden party neither of them wants to attend.
I really have no time for books where I can't even begin to respect the MCs and where the author clearly has no respect for his readers. Don't even get me started on procedural stuff.
I really have no time for books where I can't even begin to respect the MCs and where the author clearly has no respect for his readers. Don't even get me started on procedural stuff.
November 4, 2016
At first glance, ‘Playing with Fire’ may look like a murder mystery around a too-clever serial killer, and it is that in spades, but it is also so much more. The two main characters are fascinatingly complicated men, each in his own way, and between the hurt and disappointments they have both survived and their current reticence toward relationships of the intimate kind, it is a miracle they ever get beyond working together on a professional level. Added to a plot with more twists and turns, red herrings, and outright surprises than I expected, this novel made for a very suspenseful, emotional, and psychologically intriguing read.
Jim is a dedicated police officer and he is lonely. He is estranged from his wealthy parents and not exactly close to his academically brilliant sister, and added to the fact that he is gay, this means he has become the black sheep of the family no matter how good he is at his job. He has two failed relationships with university professors, but is still attracted to Barty from the moment they meet. It’s a slowly growing attraction the more they work together. The increased danger when the killer suddenly makes Barty his target makes Jim realize how important Barty has become for him.
Barty is a genius-level psychologist, but his understanding of the human mind is theoretical. He was never close to other children when he grew up, finished school and college too quickly to form real friendships, and he is at a loss when asked to work in a team. His insights are brilliant and he wants to try to make friends, but his bluntness is a real issue for most people. His fear of being too much like the killer is very real for him – and even though it helps him support Jim to solve the case, it also makes him think he will always watch from a distance.
Jim and Barty both have issues with intimacy, and even if the reasons are very different, the effect is the same. Progress on the relationship level is slow, halting, and sometimes it felt like they took one step forward only to fall two steps back. Luckily both are curious enough to persevere, and the slowly building trust between them was great to see. Jim’s young nieces and Barty’s cat, Penelope, also deserve mention since they added a much-needed lighter note in between the more intense events. This story begins with some puzzling initial cases and grows into an ever-tightening spiral of suspense when clue after clue proves useless, or is discarded only to come back to haunt Jim’s team.
If you like murder mysteries with a touch of romance, if you believe that two men who seem destined to be alone deserve a chance to discover love, and if you’re looking for an intense read that will keep your attention until you turn the final page, then you will probably like this novel. I think it’s masterful on more than one level, and had to read it in one go.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Jim is a dedicated police officer and he is lonely. He is estranged from his wealthy parents and not exactly close to his academically brilliant sister, and added to the fact that he is gay, this means he has become the black sheep of the family no matter how good he is at his job. He has two failed relationships with university professors, but is still attracted to Barty from the moment they meet. It’s a slowly growing attraction the more they work together. The increased danger when the killer suddenly makes Barty his target makes Jim realize how important Barty has become for him.
Barty is a genius-level psychologist, but his understanding of the human mind is theoretical. He was never close to other children when he grew up, finished school and college too quickly to form real friendships, and he is at a loss when asked to work in a team. His insights are brilliant and he wants to try to make friends, but his bluntness is a real issue for most people. His fear of being too much like the killer is very real for him – and even though it helps him support Jim to solve the case, it also makes him think he will always watch from a distance.
Jim and Barty both have issues with intimacy, and even if the reasons are very different, the effect is the same. Progress on the relationship level is slow, halting, and sometimes it felt like they took one step forward only to fall two steps back. Luckily both are curious enough to persevere, and the slowly building trust between them was great to see. Jim’s young nieces and Barty’s cat, Penelope, also deserve mention since they added a much-needed lighter note in between the more intense events. This story begins with some puzzling initial cases and grows into an ever-tightening spiral of suspense when clue after clue proves useless, or is discarded only to come back to haunt Jim’s team.
If you like murder mysteries with a touch of romance, if you believe that two men who seem destined to be alone deserve a chance to discover love, and if you’re looking for an intense read that will keep your attention until you turn the final page, then you will probably like this novel. I think it’s masterful on more than one level, and had to read it in one go.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 7, 2016
Uuuuuhhhhmmmm, I am definitely in the minority here, but this book did not work for me.
The dialogue was stilted, the POV shifts were messy, there were WAY too many repetitions of information already given and the plot was... Too fast? Annoying? Too slow? (Yeah I know, it can't both be too fast and too slow, but it was... Weird!)
Also there were so many opportunities for 'using' Barty's brilliance and his awkwardness in his interactions with people, to SHOW that he was awkward and didn't know how to interact with people. However, Barty was assertive (both with Jim, the Captain and Jim's family) and at the garden party, where he was supposed to be out-of-his-depth, he ended up talking to people left and right, whereas Jim was standing in a corner.
So Jim is a police officer in a small, rich town near Philadelphia. He's gay and out (not shouting it from the roof tops, but no hiding in a closet here.)
He's the 'black sheep' of the family since he chose a career in law enforcement instead of doing something with money like his rich family.
His grandfather left him a BIG house, where he lives alone, after his previous relationship went the way of the Dodo. (No real explanation for that either, it is just mentioned more than once, that Jim is weary of a new relationship with a geeky type because of Garrett.)
A shooter is spreading panic in town, where he kills one person in front of a mall every few weeks, and the police have no clue who he is.
Jim suggests that they get help, and here Barty is introduced. He's a psychologist with a focus on serial killers, working for a University and he is CRAZY smart.
Jim and Barty start working together, and Barty is trying to get 'into the killer's mind'.
At the same time somebody is stalking Barty, and Jim is having some issues with his family (the issues are not new, but I never found out if his sister Deidre was a BITCH as stated in the beginning, or if Jim actually cared for her?!)
This book COULD have been brilliant, but the extra stalker-plot, the telling-NOT-showing, the repititions and the discrepancy between Barty's behavior and how he was presented did not work for me.
The dialogue was stilted, the POV shifts were messy, there were WAY too many repetitions of information already given and the plot was... Too fast? Annoying? Too slow? (Yeah I know, it can't both be too fast and too slow, but it was... Weird!)
Also there were so many opportunities for 'using' Barty's brilliance and his awkwardness in his interactions with people, to SHOW that he was awkward and didn't know how to interact with people. However, Barty was assertive (both with Jim, the Captain and Jim's family) and at the garden party, where he was supposed to be out-of-his-depth, he ended up talking to people left and right, whereas Jim was standing in a corner.
So Jim is a police officer in a small, rich town near Philadelphia. He's gay and out (not shouting it from the roof tops, but no hiding in a closet here.)
He's the 'black sheep' of the family since he chose a career in law enforcement instead of doing something with money like his rich family.
His grandfather left him a BIG house, where he lives alone, after his previous relationship went the way of the Dodo. (No real explanation for that either, it is just mentioned more than once, that Jim is weary of a new relationship with a geeky type because of Garrett.)
A shooter is spreading panic in town, where he kills one person in front of a mall every few weeks, and the police have no clue who he is.
Jim suggests that they get help, and here Barty is introduced. He's a psychologist with a focus on serial killers, working for a University and he is CRAZY smart.
Jim and Barty start working together, and Barty is trying to get 'into the killer's mind'.
At the same time somebody is stalking Barty, and Jim is having some issues with his family (the issues are not new, but I never found out if his sister Deidre was a BITCH as stated in the beginning, or if Jim actually cared for her?!)
This book COULD have been brilliant, but the extra stalker-plot, the telling-NOT-showing, the repititions and the discrepancy between Barty's behavior and how he was presented did not work for me.
July 3, 2017
***3.38 stars***
Okay, I have said it before and I will say it again. We have a character (Barty) that is a virgin and we didn’t get to read about his first time bottoming. For goodness' sakes, Jim was his first kiss! So, I will have to assume that it happens behind the scenes. So sad, because that could have been so hot!
With that out-of-the-way, I did enjoy the story for the most part.
What I liked:
The contrast between Jim and Bartys’ lives.
The attraction that builds between Jim and Barty. Especially given Barty's circumstances.
How Barty's character was able to grow emotionally (and safely) with Jim.
What I didn't like:
The flow of the book at the end. Between the second to the last chapter and the Epilogue I became confused about the timeline. Prior tot the Epilogue they had known each other a little over a week; then suddenly it's Christmastime. Exactly how much time has passed?
I fell like something was missing from the book. From the time victim number four was found until the shooting at the party, it just felt too abrupt. As if more dialogue needs to be added to the mystery/suspense part of the story.
I felt like the animosity over his choice of job with his family's wealth is really not needed. Especially since it wasn't really delved into when he was around his parents at his sisters party.
Unfortunately, I cannot go into further detail, because in doing so I might give away the shooter and/or the intended victims. If I do that, then really there is no need to read this book since the romance aspect is secondary to the story itself and Barty's personal growth as a character.
I am one of many reviewers at Gay Book Reviews and can be found here: http://gaybook.reviews/author/steph/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I have said it before and I will say it again. We have a character (Barty) that is a virgin and we didn’t get to read about his first time bottoming. For goodness' sakes, Jim was his first kiss! So, I will have to assume that it happens behind the scenes. So sad, because that could have been so hot!
With that out-of-the-way, I did enjoy the story for the most part.
What I liked:
The contrast between Jim and Bartys’ lives.
The attraction that builds between Jim and Barty. Especially given Barty's circumstances.
How Barty's character was able to grow emotionally (and safely) with Jim.
What I didn't like:
The flow of the book at the end. Between the second to the last chapter and the Epilogue I became confused about the timeline. Prior tot the Epilogue they had known each other a little over a week; then suddenly it's Christmastime. Exactly how much time has passed?
I fell like something was missing from the book. From the time victim number four was found until the shooting at the party, it just felt too abrupt. As if more dialogue needs to be added to the mystery/suspense part of the story.
I felt like the animosity over his choice of job with his family's wealth is really not needed. Especially since it wasn't really delved into when he was around his parents at his sisters party.
Unfortunately, I cannot go into further detail, because in doing so I might give away the shooter and/or the intended victims. If I do that, then really there is no need to read this book since the romance aspect is secondary to the story itself and Barty's personal growth as a character.
I am one of many reviewers at Gay Book Reviews and can be found here: http://gaybook.reviews/author/steph/
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2016
I liked this book a great deal and want to read more by Dirk Greyson.
Here's my Prism Alliance review:
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
Here's my Prism Alliance review:
http://www.prismbookalliance.com/2016...
February 5, 2017
Hooked, that's for sure
November 4, 2016
Without a question Dirk Greyson writes some of the best mysteries I’ve read in a long time. Playing with Fire is truly fabulous. Jim is a detective trying to unravel the mystery of a rooftop serial killer who shoots people with one shot and disappears.
When they keep hitting dead ends Jim calls his sister who sets him up with a Psychologist who just might be what he needs to figure out this murderer.
Barty is a geeky, socially awkward, genius. Love isn’t something he’s ever had and he’s utterly lonely. Jim is recovering from a broken heart, his family isn’t the most accepting, and now he has this killer to find. All the while Barty and Jim get closer and give each other neither has ever had… unconditional love.
Building a love story within a riveting mystery takes great balance and creativity. The author engages you at all angles. There’s a lot of layers to this story and almost no issues at all. I had only two but I can’t at all mention them without giving away the story so I’m going to let it go. When writing something this detailed a minor thing is not a huge deal. It didn’t affect the story, plot, or outcome.
I adored both MCs thoroughly. Literally the entire time. Neither of them angered or annoyed me and I couldn’t pick which I liked more.
Dirk Greyson is a terrific mystery writer and this is an amazing book if you’re a mystery lover like me!
When they keep hitting dead ends Jim calls his sister who sets him up with a Psychologist who just might be what he needs to figure out this murderer.
Barty is a geeky, socially awkward, genius. Love isn’t something he’s ever had and he’s utterly lonely. Jim is recovering from a broken heart, his family isn’t the most accepting, and now he has this killer to find. All the while Barty and Jim get closer and give each other neither has ever had… unconditional love.
Building a love story within a riveting mystery takes great balance and creativity. The author engages you at all angles. There’s a lot of layers to this story and almost no issues at all. I had only two but I can’t at all mention them without giving away the story so I’m going to let it go. When writing something this detailed a minor thing is not a huge deal. It didn’t affect the story, plot, or outcome.
I adored both MCs thoroughly. Literally the entire time. Neither of them angered or annoyed me and I couldn’t pick which I liked more.
Dirk Greyson is a terrific mystery writer and this is an amazing book if you’re a mystery lover like me!
June 9, 2017
I enjoyed this story. The police procedural with the obligatory psychology highlight worked and worked well. This was just like reading any other romantic suspense book with the only difference being that the romance was between two men. It was a thoroughly entertaining story and my first by this author.
November 21, 2016
3,5 stars
November 4, 2016
I adore Dirk Greyson’s books. You may know him by his other nom de plume, Andrew Grey, but as Dirk his writing style is a bit more gritty. These are still romance stories but wrapped up in the romance is murder, mystery, and characters who are not always nice.
Jim Crawford is a police detective who has had two lovers who broke his heart. He’s moved from the big city of Philadelphia to the small town he calls home to start over and this time he doesn’t want to find love. He just wants to carry on with the career he loves and live a peaceful life. Of course, the first major case that smacks him in the face is a serial killer who has a deadeye aim and a reason to kill that has not yet been discovered. Frustrated with the case he seeks the help of an expert in the field.
Dr. Barty Halloran has a personality that most would call cold, but he does know his stuff in determining what the motives are for a killer and even anticipating the killer’s next move. What Jim doesn’t anticipate is the killer turning his gun on Barty, right when Jim is becoming attracted to the handsome college professor.
This story has more twists and turns than a road around mountains. There are red herrings (or are they?) family members and friends who will turn on each other at the slightest provocation, and a plot that thickens like pudding. I loved this book and could not put it down! The main thing to keep in mind is the killer is a genius and so is Barty. In fact, they are so much alike it is scary.
This my favorite of Dirk’s books. I see this author becoming more and more skilled at building an audience and a style of writing mysteries. Join the party and see if you can figure out who the murderer is and who his or her next victim will be before the big reveal.
Jim Crawford is a police detective who has had two lovers who broke his heart. He’s moved from the big city of Philadelphia to the small town he calls home to start over and this time he doesn’t want to find love. He just wants to carry on with the career he loves and live a peaceful life. Of course, the first major case that smacks him in the face is a serial killer who has a deadeye aim and a reason to kill that has not yet been discovered. Frustrated with the case he seeks the help of an expert in the field.
Dr. Barty Halloran has a personality that most would call cold, but he does know his stuff in determining what the motives are for a killer and even anticipating the killer’s next move. What Jim doesn’t anticipate is the killer turning his gun on Barty, right when Jim is becoming attracted to the handsome college professor.
This story has more twists and turns than a road around mountains. There are red herrings (or are they?) family members and friends who will turn on each other at the slightest provocation, and a plot that thickens like pudding. I loved this book and could not put it down! The main thing to keep in mind is the killer is a genius and so is Barty. In fact, they are so much alike it is scary.
This my favorite of Dirk’s books. I see this author becoming more and more skilled at building an audience and a style of writing mysteries. Join the party and see if you can figure out who the murderer is and who his or her next victim will be before the big reveal.
November 3, 2016
Playing with Fire by Dirk Greyson
3.5 stars
M/M Mystery, Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jim is the black sheep of his prominent family. Rather than follow in his father's footsteps, or go in to something that his parents felt was more respectable, Jim became a police officer. When a serial killer targets his town, Jim works his butt off to figure out why and who is terrorizing the citizens. He works very hard, but doesn't really have much of a social life.
Then you have Barty. He is a genius and could also be on the autism spectrum. His behaviors are regimented and he tries very hard to figure people out. He has difficulty with understanding social behaviors, despite dedicating his life to studying behavior. Barty is good at getting inside the killers' heads. And, while he's amazing at his job, he does have an internal worry that he is just like the killers that he studies.
While the story was well planned, I do think that the relationship aspect was somewhat tame and lacked chemistry. Jim and Barty, while they want to be a good match, seem to miss something. The mystery aspect was somewhat jumbled for me in the sense that it seemed to end very abruptly. I really enjoyed the twists while the mystery was active, but once it was figured out - and it wasn't too hard to figure out, then the story just seemed to end.
Overall, this was had some great aspects.
3.5 stars
M/M Mystery, Romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Jim is the black sheep of his prominent family. Rather than follow in his father's footsteps, or go in to something that his parents felt was more respectable, Jim became a police officer. When a serial killer targets his town, Jim works his butt off to figure out why and who is terrorizing the citizens. He works very hard, but doesn't really have much of a social life.
Then you have Barty. He is a genius and could also be on the autism spectrum. His behaviors are regimented and he tries very hard to figure people out. He has difficulty with understanding social behaviors, despite dedicating his life to studying behavior. Barty is good at getting inside the killers' heads. And, while he's amazing at his job, he does have an internal worry that he is just like the killers that he studies.
While the story was well planned, I do think that the relationship aspect was somewhat tame and lacked chemistry. Jim and Barty, while they want to be a good match, seem to miss something. The mystery aspect was somewhat jumbled for me in the sense that it seemed to end very abruptly. I really enjoyed the twists while the mystery was active, but once it was figured out - and it wasn't too hard to figure out, then the story just seemed to end.
Overall, this was had some great aspects.
January 20, 2017
I'm not a big mystery reader, now and then I like something different. This book ticked all my boxes. I have to say I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
January 10, 2018
Oh I love these guys. Barty is so akward and loveable and brilliant. He isn´t the same nuisance then Sheldon Cooper. He is more like Dr. Temperance Brennan, a bit socially inadebt and truthful to a fault even if it hurts somebody and he doesn´t understand why people say one thing and it has the meaning of something total different.
Then there is Jim. Son of socialites who wanted to pave his own way and became a cop. He has to find a serialkiller who is randomly shooting people and asks Barty for help. What he didn´t count on was falling for the professor and having him and his niece being a target for the shooter.
The relationship is a real one. You realy can feel the connection between the characters and I do hope they will solve more crimes together aka that there will be a next book.
Then there is Jim. Son of socialites who wanted to pave his own way and became a cop. He has to find a serialkiller who is randomly shooting people and asks Barty for help. What he didn´t count on was falling for the professor and having him and his niece being a target for the shooter.
The relationship is a real one. You realy can feel the connection between the characters and I do hope they will solve more crimes together aka that there will be a next book.
August 2, 2017
I really wanted to like this one. It had so much potential but fell flat. I couldn't connect with either character and I couldn't connect them together. Barty's awkwardness did not read as awkwardness as much as maybe just naivety. Jim just came off as a good cop with a glasses fetish. I needed more. More depth. More emotion. I actually wonder if I hadn't read something so similar but done so well that I would have liked this one more.
October 26, 2017
Very fun mystery
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of trying to figure out who the killer was in this book. I loved the misdirection and the confusion of facts that helped bring questions about the obvious suspects. Ultimately, the killer was brought to justice in a way that I didn't anticipate, but thought was fitting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of trying to figure out who the killer was in this book. I loved the misdirection and the confusion of facts that helped bring questions about the obvious suspects. Ultimately, the killer was brought to justice in a way that I didn't anticipate, but thought was fitting.
November 13, 2016
That book was an okay reading material with interesting MC's but the police case on its own was a little bit fishy.
January 3, 2017
Filled with Drama and action. I loved the dynamics of these two such opposite characters. There is plenty of action and police procedure, overall a good thriller. Loved it.
January 29, 2017
Fun read..
Sweet with a HEA. Enjoyed the book quite a bit. Plot was good, the love story was perfect. They even stuck a fun epilogue at the end
Sweet with a HEA. Enjoyed the book quite a bit. Plot was good, the love story was perfect. They even stuck a fun epilogue at the end
June 21, 2017
4.5 stars
March 5, 2018
This was a very intriguing and entertaining story about a sexy, brilliant (but socially inept) psychologist and a sexy, smart cop. A little mystery and drama too - great for afternoon read!
March 24, 2018
Fire
Very good book! Liked how Jim refers to Penelope, the princess. Book had humor and mystery. Enjoyed reading the story.
Very good book! Liked how Jim refers to Penelope, the princess. Book had humor and mystery. Enjoyed reading the story.
October 28, 2022
Jim Crawford and Dr. Barty Halloran.
MM.
Enjoyable read.
MM.
Enjoyable read.
November 3, 2016
Dang this book was so incredibly amazing. I am not sure that I can even find the right words to express just how good I think it was. I can say that this book was intriguing, mysterious, complicated, and such an amazing transformation for one of the main characters. This is one of those books that grabs your attention and captures your heeet at the same time.
Barty is one of those people that when you first start reading about him you think, is this guy a robot or something. Does he not have any feelings in his body what so ever. But then the more you read the more you come to understand that Barty does have a heart, a huge one, but he does not know how to express himself when it comes to anything other than facts and theories. That was how he was raised by his parents and they treated him differently all because he is super smart. In a way I feel like that was actually more of a curse for Barty because his parents were ignorant and treated him as nothing more then a tool and so he missed several vital parts of growing up. That in turn really and truly hindered Barty.
Being pulled into this murder mystery as a profiler was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to Barty. Because of excepting this job with the police department Barty was finally woken up to emotions he never knew he could possess.
Jim is the complete opposite of Barty. He grew up with lots of emotions to go around. Both good and bad. He had lots of money at his disposal but honestly all he really wanted was to make his own way and so he became a cop. When these murders started happening and then started to escalate Jim took this all as a personal failure for not being able to stop the killer before his next victim. He knew he was in over his head and needed help and that is where Barty came into the picture.
Jim took a liking to him immediately even though Barty was so different from anyone he had ever met. These two men was able to work well together and to bounce ideas off the other. They was slowly getting one step closer to figuring out what was truly going on with each other's help.
Along the way things started to change between these two men and not just in a sexual way. They each brought out a different side in the other. Because if Jim, Barty got his first taste of what feeling instead of just living life was truly about. This was a turning point for Barty and right before my eyes, Barty became a totally different person. Barty was starved for human touch and love and because of Jim he was able to finally have that. Jim was so strung tight that Barty was able to talk Jim down from the ledge so to speak on several different occasions and helped him to look at things with new eyes.
These two men May have been complete opposites but they complimented the other perfectly. The only thing that stands in their way is the Killers sights are now firmly set on Barty and also Jim's family. The question is can they figure out what is truly going on and who is behind it. Wrote the Killer is able to accomplish what he is set out to do? And if so, will both Barty and Jim be able to walk away from this mess with the killer without one or both of them ending up at the end of the gun the killer is so firmly holding?
This book was full of so many twist and turns. I was truly not able to figure out who was behind all of the murders until Dirk Greyson was willing to reveal their identity. I sooooooo enjoyed taking this journey with both these men. They both captured my heart and I truly enjoyed reading their story.
Cudos to Dirk Greyson for writing such an incredible story and I look forward to more books in the future.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
Barty is one of those people that when you first start reading about him you think, is this guy a robot or something. Does he not have any feelings in his body what so ever. But then the more you read the more you come to understand that Barty does have a heart, a huge one, but he does not know how to express himself when it comes to anything other than facts and theories. That was how he was raised by his parents and they treated him differently all because he is super smart. In a way I feel like that was actually more of a curse for Barty because his parents were ignorant and treated him as nothing more then a tool and so he missed several vital parts of growing up. That in turn really and truly hindered Barty.
Being pulled into this murder mystery as a profiler was probably the best thing that could have ever happened to Barty. Because of excepting this job with the police department Barty was finally woken up to emotions he never knew he could possess.
Jim is the complete opposite of Barty. He grew up with lots of emotions to go around. Both good and bad. He had lots of money at his disposal but honestly all he really wanted was to make his own way and so he became a cop. When these murders started happening and then started to escalate Jim took this all as a personal failure for not being able to stop the killer before his next victim. He knew he was in over his head and needed help and that is where Barty came into the picture.
Jim took a liking to him immediately even though Barty was so different from anyone he had ever met. These two men was able to work well together and to bounce ideas off the other. They was slowly getting one step closer to figuring out what was truly going on with each other's help.
Along the way things started to change between these two men and not just in a sexual way. They each brought out a different side in the other. Because if Jim, Barty got his first taste of what feeling instead of just living life was truly about. This was a turning point for Barty and right before my eyes, Barty became a totally different person. Barty was starved for human touch and love and because of Jim he was able to finally have that. Jim was so strung tight that Barty was able to talk Jim down from the ledge so to speak on several different occasions and helped him to look at things with new eyes.
These two men May have been complete opposites but they complimented the other perfectly. The only thing that stands in their way is the Killers sights are now firmly set on Barty and also Jim's family. The question is can they figure out what is truly going on and who is behind it. Wrote the Killer is able to accomplish what he is set out to do? And if so, will both Barty and Jim be able to walk away from this mess with the killer without one or both of them ending up at the end of the gun the killer is so firmly holding?
This book was full of so many twist and turns. I was truly not able to figure out who was behind all of the murders until Dirk Greyson was willing to reveal their identity. I sooooooo enjoyed taking this journey with both these men. They both captured my heart and I truly enjoyed reading their story.
Cudos to Dirk Greyson for writing such an incredible story and I look forward to more books in the future.
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
November 6, 2016
I'm sure most people know this by now but I am a sucker for sexy detectives. I mean what could be better? Except maybe a sexy detective falling for a hot, geeky, socially awkward professor who keeps me laughing. That's one of the best things about Dirk Greyson's Playing With Fire.
Detective Jim Crawford is desperate to solve his latest case of a serial killer who seems to be randomly shooting people in town and leaving little to no evidence at the scene for law enforcement to go off of. With his options running out before he's forced to call in the FBI, Jim decides to try bringing in a consultant. Someone who'll be able to give insight into the mind of the killer. Of course, the last thing he expected was how Barty would seem to tick all his boxes making it hard for Jim to not want to get to know the man on a personal level as well.
Dr. Barty Halloran isn't quite sure what to think of Jim. While he is intrigued by the idea of being able to help catch a killer who's terrorizing the city and figure out how his mind works, Barty also finds himself drawn to the gorgeous detective. It could be the easy acceptance he seems to find when he and Jim spend time together or the way his body feels whenever they are close. Whatever it is, Barty can't stop thinking about Jim and what it might be like to kiss him.
The more time Jim and Barty spend together, the more dangerous things become. The killer is feeling threatened by Dr. Halloran's involvement in the case and now he makes it clear that he will not be stopped and will do anything to keep the authorities from getting to him even if it means putting Barty in the crosshairs. But things get even more complicated when Jim realizes it's not just Barty who might be in danger but others Jim cares about as well.
I really liked both Jim and Barty. Barty, though, was definitely my favorite. I get a kick out of the inner dialogue of characters who are a bit awkward when it comes to interaction with other people. Barty is just so precise and earnest in his thinking. He doesn't quite understand simple nuances that most of us do. It's hard for him to read people on a more simple scale even though he's a master at the human mind. This along with a very sheltered and isolated childhood have made it extremely difficult for him to interact with people. His oblivious nature and insecurities with social cues have led to embarrassment of himself and those around him. Jim at one point says that Barty is like a less annoying version of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory (I love Sheldon).
The case itself is very well written and quite intriguing. It's a scary thought that a person could be sitting on a rooftop randomly shooting and killing people just for kicks. I'm not going to pretend that I could guess who the killer was right away. I had to figure it out as the story went on, which made it that much more enjoyable.
I really give the author credit for not turning this into a case of instalove also. I mean, of course the two men are attracted to one another from the very beginning, but they are good about not letting it come to the forefront of all their interactions. They aren't focused on getting each other in bed, Jim keeps the case and Barty's safety as his main priorities. The sexual aspect of the romance is mostly secondary to the rest of the story. There's much more focus on the men working together on the case and getting to know one another.
I really enjoyed this book and its characters and have no qualms about recommending it to my friends.
4.5 Stars!
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Detective Jim Crawford is desperate to solve his latest case of a serial killer who seems to be randomly shooting people in town and leaving little to no evidence at the scene for law enforcement to go off of. With his options running out before he's forced to call in the FBI, Jim decides to try bringing in a consultant. Someone who'll be able to give insight into the mind of the killer. Of course, the last thing he expected was how Barty would seem to tick all his boxes making it hard for Jim to not want to get to know the man on a personal level as well.
Dr. Barty Halloran isn't quite sure what to think of Jim. While he is intrigued by the idea of being able to help catch a killer who's terrorizing the city and figure out how his mind works, Barty also finds himself drawn to the gorgeous detective. It could be the easy acceptance he seems to find when he and Jim spend time together or the way his body feels whenever they are close. Whatever it is, Barty can't stop thinking about Jim and what it might be like to kiss him.
The more time Jim and Barty spend together, the more dangerous things become. The killer is feeling threatened by Dr. Halloran's involvement in the case and now he makes it clear that he will not be stopped and will do anything to keep the authorities from getting to him even if it means putting Barty in the crosshairs. But things get even more complicated when Jim realizes it's not just Barty who might be in danger but others Jim cares about as well.
I really liked both Jim and Barty. Barty, though, was definitely my favorite. I get a kick out of the inner dialogue of characters who are a bit awkward when it comes to interaction with other people. Barty is just so precise and earnest in his thinking. He doesn't quite understand simple nuances that most of us do. It's hard for him to read people on a more simple scale even though he's a master at the human mind. This along with a very sheltered and isolated childhood have made it extremely difficult for him to interact with people. His oblivious nature and insecurities with social cues have led to embarrassment of himself and those around him. Jim at one point says that Barty is like a less annoying version of Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory (I love Sheldon).
The case itself is very well written and quite intriguing. It's a scary thought that a person could be sitting on a rooftop randomly shooting and killing people just for kicks. I'm not going to pretend that I could guess who the killer was right away. I had to figure it out as the story went on, which made it that much more enjoyable.
I really give the author credit for not turning this into a case of instalove also. I mean, of course the two men are attracted to one another from the very beginning, but they are good about not letting it come to the forefront of all their interactions. They aren't focused on getting each other in bed, Jim keeps the case and Barty's safety as his main priorities. The sexual aspect of the romance is mostly secondary to the rest of the story. There's much more focus on the men working together on the case and getting to know one another.
I really enjoyed this book and its characters and have no qualms about recommending it to my friends.
4.5 Stars!
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by the author/publisher for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
October 28, 2016
Can a reserved genius discover what love is by working with a small-town detective?
Jim Crawford left the small town he grew up in for the big city of Philadelphia. After years working on the police force and ascending to Detective, he got tired of the crime of a big city and moved back to his hometown. Crime followed him, however, in the form of a shooter. As the lead detective on this case, he worked long hours to find the culprit, but kept coming up empty. It was hard to admit, but he needed help. So, he contacts the University's Crime Psychologist to help out.
Dr. Barty Halloran was discovered, early on, as being a genius. His parents nurtured his learning, but in school he coudn't understand people and relationships. This caused him to get teased and ridiculed.
This shrinking violet graduated early and, in college, decided to pursue a psychology degree. Later, he got his doctorate and became a professor in the local University.
Barty, now one of the best criminal psychologist, is approached by Detective Jim to help out in his case. Barty proves very helpful.
Over the course of the investigation, Barty and Jim grow very close and rely on each other more and more. When things become too dangerous for Barty, Jim has him stay at his house. This is where things start to get very interesting and they grow even closer.
The investigation has a lot of twists and turns which leads to a dramatic ending and a wonderful HEA for Jim and Barty.
The foundation of the story is the crime, the mystery, the shooter. Who is the shooter and why is he randomly shooting people? The overlay is the relationship of Jim and Barty. The mystery, the Who-done-it is brilliantly written. It really had me going till the end. I could not figure it out.
The relationship of Jim and Barty was perfect. Their chemistry really balanced each other. Barty with his frankness and saying what he means without regard, perfectly balances Jim's worldliness and cautiousness. Jim is also very smart, and that helps Jim in understanding Barty, which Barty receives like a breath of fresh air. Witnessing their journey towards each other was also very sweet and beautiful.
The beginning of the book, gives some background and a peek into the life of the main characters. The rest of the book focuses on the investigation and their growing relationship. I feel that the pace of the investigation, which is the foundation of the story, was perfect. It wasn't rushed and it wasn't slow. It was just right.
The last few chapters was dramatic and surprising and shocking. I never saw it coming. The epilogue is a beautiful look into the lives of Jim and Barty. I love that epilogue. I wish it would have been longer.
I Highly recommend this book. If you love a true mystery that is hard to figure out and if you love a professor bookworm type paired with a hard-nosed with-a-heart Detective then you will love this book. Go out and get a copy.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Gay Book Reviews.
Jim Crawford left the small town he grew up in for the big city of Philadelphia. After years working on the police force and ascending to Detective, he got tired of the crime of a big city and moved back to his hometown. Crime followed him, however, in the form of a shooter. As the lead detective on this case, he worked long hours to find the culprit, but kept coming up empty. It was hard to admit, but he needed help. So, he contacts the University's Crime Psychologist to help out.
Dr. Barty Halloran was discovered, early on, as being a genius. His parents nurtured his learning, but in school he coudn't understand people and relationships. This caused him to get teased and ridiculed.
This shrinking violet graduated early and, in college, decided to pursue a psychology degree. Later, he got his doctorate and became a professor in the local University.
Barty, now one of the best criminal psychologist, is approached by Detective Jim to help out in his case. Barty proves very helpful.
Over the course of the investigation, Barty and Jim grow very close and rely on each other more and more. When things become too dangerous for Barty, Jim has him stay at his house. This is where things start to get very interesting and they grow even closer.
The investigation has a lot of twists and turns which leads to a dramatic ending and a wonderful HEA for Jim and Barty.
The foundation of the story is the crime, the mystery, the shooter. Who is the shooter and why is he randomly shooting people? The overlay is the relationship of Jim and Barty. The mystery, the Who-done-it is brilliantly written. It really had me going till the end. I could not figure it out.
The relationship of Jim and Barty was perfect. Their chemistry really balanced each other. Barty with his frankness and saying what he means without regard, perfectly balances Jim's worldliness and cautiousness. Jim is also very smart, and that helps Jim in understanding Barty, which Barty receives like a breath of fresh air. Witnessing their journey towards each other was also very sweet and beautiful.
The beginning of the book, gives some background and a peek into the life of the main characters. The rest of the book focuses on the investigation and their growing relationship. I feel that the pace of the investigation, which is the foundation of the story, was perfect. It wasn't rushed and it wasn't slow. It was just right.
The last few chapters was dramatic and surprising and shocking. I never saw it coming. The epilogue is a beautiful look into the lives of Jim and Barty. I love that epilogue. I wish it would have been longer.
I Highly recommend this book. If you love a true mystery that is hard to figure out and if you love a professor bookworm type paired with a hard-nosed with-a-heart Detective then you will love this book. Go out and get a copy.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Gay Book Reviews.
November 5, 2016
Blog Post: http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/11/0...
Jim Crawford is a detective with the New Cynood Police Department, he’s been pursuing a serial killer for several weeks and he’s no closer to catching the killer now than at the beginning. Jim decides it’s time to bring in a psychology professor to help him understand exactly what it is that the killer wants. This is when Jim meets Dr. Bartholomew “Barty” Halloran.
Barty has absolutely no experience in dealing with people. Barty finds himself constantly recalling what his nana taught him about appropriate emotional responses to other people when he comes across situations requiring an emotional response of some description. Because Barty was found to be a genius when he was incredibly young his parents didn’t know how to deal with him. They put him in every class they could find, every music lesson everything except with other children so he never learnt how to interact with other people. When he meets Jim, Barty is confused by the things he starts feeling and thinking but he’s so excited to be working with him he starts to relax and let down his guard. Barty has known he’s gay since he was a teenager but there has never been an opportunity to do anything about it so, he is still a virgin who hasn’t even been kissed.
The interaction between Jim and Barty is wonderful to read, Jim knows Barty is uncomfortable around people so he nudges him gently in the right direction with every interaction. He never makes fun of Barty for which Barty is very thankful and the more Jim displays genuine affection towards him the more Barty comes out of his shell. Jim is Barty’s first kiss, his first hand holding partner, his first lover, pretty much his first everything! The only complaint I have about this is the fact that we don’t read about Barty’s first time bottoming
It’s fascinating to read about Barty and Jim’s relationship and the way Jim is so gentle with him. Jim has of course had relationships in the past but the last one hurt him so bad he vowed to stay away from nerdy professor types who wore glasses, this lasted until he met Barty! You can feel Barty’s innocence jumping off the page at you but what is impressive is the way he puts Jim’s parents in their place when they start to attack him over his job. Because he comes from money no-one in his family has any comprehension of why Jim wants to be a police officer instead of going into something more befitting someone of his standing.
I’m going to leave it there. I know I’ll let out too many spoilers if I go any farther! You’ll have to get you’re copy of Playing With Fire to find out who the killer is and how Jim with Barty’s help find and catch him!
Jim Crawford is a detective with the New Cynood Police Department, he’s been pursuing a serial killer for several weeks and he’s no closer to catching the killer now than at the beginning. Jim decides it’s time to bring in a psychology professor to help him understand exactly what it is that the killer wants. This is when Jim meets Dr. Bartholomew “Barty” Halloran.
Barty has absolutely no experience in dealing with people. Barty finds himself constantly recalling what his nana taught him about appropriate emotional responses to other people when he comes across situations requiring an emotional response of some description. Because Barty was found to be a genius when he was incredibly young his parents didn’t know how to deal with him. They put him in every class they could find, every music lesson everything except with other children so he never learnt how to interact with other people. When he meets Jim, Barty is confused by the things he starts feeling and thinking but he’s so excited to be working with him he starts to relax and let down his guard. Barty has known he’s gay since he was a teenager but there has never been an opportunity to do anything about it so, he is still a virgin who hasn’t even been kissed.
The interaction between Jim and Barty is wonderful to read, Jim knows Barty is uncomfortable around people so he nudges him gently in the right direction with every interaction. He never makes fun of Barty for which Barty is very thankful and the more Jim displays genuine affection towards him the more Barty comes out of his shell. Jim is Barty’s first kiss, his first hand holding partner, his first lover, pretty much his first everything! The only complaint I have about this is the fact that we don’t read about Barty’s first time bottoming
It’s fascinating to read about Barty and Jim’s relationship and the way Jim is so gentle with him. Jim has of course had relationships in the past but the last one hurt him so bad he vowed to stay away from nerdy professor types who wore glasses, this lasted until he met Barty! You can feel Barty’s innocence jumping off the page at you but what is impressive is the way he puts Jim’s parents in their place when they start to attack him over his job. Because he comes from money no-one in his family has any comprehension of why Jim wants to be a police officer instead of going into something more befitting someone of his standing.
I’m going to leave it there. I know I’ll let out too many spoilers if I go any farther! You’ll have to get you’re copy of Playing With Fire to find out who the killer is and how Jim with Barty’s help find and catch him!
November 4, 2016
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by DreamSpinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
Playing With Fire is a mystery/crime novel and this the first time I've read anything from Dirk Greyson.
Police Detective Jim Crawford left the big city for a quieter, safer town but now he's faced with solving the mystery of a serial killer shooting from rooftops. As Jim struggles to discover the killer's identity, he's given permission to seek assistance from a criminologist. He meets Dr. Barty Halloran, a gifted psychologist that struggles to identify with people but is able to get into the mindset of a serial killer. Jim and Barty make progress on the case, which draws the attention of the killer to Barty. To protect Barty, Jim moves him into his house. Jim doesn't expect to have feelings for Barty, and Barty certainly doesn't ever expect to have feelings about anyone.
I love stories like this that engage the reader. The mystery and crime drama was really well done, though I was pretty confident in who the killer was as soon as he's introduced in the story, but the author did a great job of making me question myself. I would absolutely change nothing about this portion of the story, and honestly, I'd love to read more about Jim and Barty working together to catch killers, though that's unlikely since they live in such a small town. Where I did struggle was with Jim and Barty. For some reason, I just felt no connection to them. I liked both characters and they both had really interesting backstories. Jim is the all-around nice guy who comes from a wealthy family and is still a nice guy. He's a police officer because he wants to help. Barty is the child prodigy that had his brilliance encouraged but no thought given to all the other areas of development that are important in social development. He's awkward around people and is completely clueless about attraction. He understands sex only as a scientist from research methods but has no idea how to relate that to another person.
If you like crime dramas and mysteries, you absolutely must read this book! The case is dissected and allows the reader to work alongside Jim and Barty to try to figure out who is committing these crimes.
Rating: 4 stars
Playing With Fire is a mystery/crime novel and this the first time I've read anything from Dirk Greyson.
Police Detective Jim Crawford left the big city for a quieter, safer town but now he's faced with solving the mystery of a serial killer shooting from rooftops. As Jim struggles to discover the killer's identity, he's given permission to seek assistance from a criminologist. He meets Dr. Barty Halloran, a gifted psychologist that struggles to identify with people but is able to get into the mindset of a serial killer. Jim and Barty make progress on the case, which draws the attention of the killer to Barty. To protect Barty, Jim moves him into his house. Jim doesn't expect to have feelings for Barty, and Barty certainly doesn't ever expect to have feelings about anyone.
I love stories like this that engage the reader. The mystery and crime drama was really well done, though I was pretty confident in who the killer was as soon as he's introduced in the story, but the author did a great job of making me question myself. I would absolutely change nothing about this portion of the story, and honestly, I'd love to read more about Jim and Barty working together to catch killers, though that's unlikely since they live in such a small town. Where I did struggle was with Jim and Barty. For some reason, I just felt no connection to them. I liked both characters and they both had really interesting backstories. Jim is the all-around nice guy who comes from a wealthy family and is still a nice guy. He's a police officer because he wants to help. Barty is the child prodigy that had his brilliance encouraged but no thought given to all the other areas of development that are important in social development. He's awkward around people and is completely clueless about attraction. He understands sex only as a scientist from research methods but has no idea how to relate that to another person.
If you like crime dramas and mysteries, you absolutely must read this book! The case is dissected and allows the reader to work alongside Jim and Barty to try to figure out who is committing these crimes.
Rating: 4 stars
November 4, 2016
Jim Crawford made detective in the big city. When he’d finally had enough, he went to work in New Cynwood, Pennsylvania. But, crime doesn’t lessen in a small town. There’s a serial killer on the loose, and as the killings escalate, Jim faces more and more pressure to solve the crimes. He seeks advice from a friend who gets him a meeting with a criminal psychologist.
Dr. Barty Halloran is a professor of psychology, and a genius in the field of criminal psychology. He’s no-nonsense, innocent, and is never sure how to interact with people. When Jim meets with Barty to seek his professional help, Barty sees it as a good opportunity. As the murderer starts to get bolder, Barty moves in with Jim for protection, and he brings his best girl, Penelope, with him. The move gives Barty and Jim time to start learning about each other; not only about their jobs but their personal lives too. They actually are a good balance for each other. When Jim and Barty combine their different skills to solve the murders, they make a great team.
Even though Jim and Barty have parents and siblings, they have more of a special connection to their grandparents. Jim’s family tries to ignore the fact that he’s gay, and he’s always felt a special connection with his grandpa—Jim believes his grandpa always knew he was different.
Once Barty’s parents realized how gifted he was, they never thought he should be treated normally. They could no longer handle him, so he was sent to live with his Nana, who helped him more with his social skills. Even as Barty grew older, he never felt comfortable being around other people, but he always reflects on his Nana’s advice.
Dirk Greyson delivers a really good psychological mystery, and delves deep into the investigation and the profiling of a killer. The plot was focused on solving the murders, and offered some danger, suspense, and had some twists that I never saw coming. If you like a good mystery with intricate profiling, give Playing with Fire a shot.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
Dr. Barty Halloran is a professor of psychology, and a genius in the field of criminal psychology. He’s no-nonsense, innocent, and is never sure how to interact with people. When Jim meets with Barty to seek his professional help, Barty sees it as a good opportunity. As the murderer starts to get bolder, Barty moves in with Jim for protection, and he brings his best girl, Penelope, with him. The move gives Barty and Jim time to start learning about each other; not only about their jobs but their personal lives too. They actually are a good balance for each other. When Jim and Barty combine their different skills to solve the murders, they make a great team.
Even though Jim and Barty have parents and siblings, they have more of a special connection to their grandparents. Jim’s family tries to ignore the fact that he’s gay, and he’s always felt a special connection with his grandpa—Jim believes his grandpa always knew he was different.
Once Barty’s parents realized how gifted he was, they never thought he should be treated normally. They could no longer handle him, so he was sent to live with his Nana, who helped him more with his social skills. Even as Barty grew older, he never felt comfortable being around other people, but he always reflects on his Nana’s advice.
Dirk Greyson delivers a really good psychological mystery, and delves deep into the investigation and the profiling of a killer. The plot was focused on solving the murders, and offered some danger, suspense, and had some twists that I never saw coming. If you like a good mystery with intricate profiling, give Playing with Fire a shot.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach Reviews
December 12, 2016
Playing with Fire is hot, is sexy, is complicated, is different, is…. Yes, it is all those things and more. When Dirk set out to write a suspense mystery that had an MC that was not your usual, he scored with this story. Now, we all know that Dirk isn’t know for just going with the flow, he tends to step outside the box, but Barty is more than just a little different, he’s not like anyone Jim’s ever met, or like many real people have dealt with. Mind you, I know a few people that remind me greatly of Barty, which only made me love this story more. Having an MC that was not suave, cool, experienced, and more was refreshing as too often the MCs in stories are all that and more. I mean, I know that past high school, many are at least experienced, but really, if everyone was a “real catch” and everyone could see it, they wouldn’t still be single, right?
As for the story itself, wow. The community-building, the writing, the plot (and it’s twisting), and how it all comes together, were masterfully done. This was a one night read for me that will be reread more than once, I’m sure. It was fun, engaging, and made me have to flip the page. Mind you, that meant it was well past when I ought to have been asleep when I finished it (bad Dirk! And I didn’t even get sex Sad smile ) .
Watching as Jim and Barty not only raced against time and the killer, but danced around each other was wonderful. The chemistry was hot and the suspense will have you clutching your reader (be careful… they aren’t indestructible, lol) as you root for the couple both as a couple and as investigators. One of the nice things about Dirk’s writing is that his secondary characters are “real” too, so the story is not one of robust vs flat, but one of love, one of good vs evil, one of acceptance in the face of pain. It is a story you won’t want to miss! This is a great read and one I’m thrilled to have read. Thank you Dirk for writing all you do.
As for the story itself, wow. The community-building, the writing, the plot (and it’s twisting), and how it all comes together, were masterfully done. This was a one night read for me that will be reread more than once, I’m sure. It was fun, engaging, and made me have to flip the page. Mind you, that meant it was well past when I ought to have been asleep when I finished it (bad Dirk! And I didn’t even get sex Sad smile ) .
Watching as Jim and Barty not only raced against time and the killer, but danced around each other was wonderful. The chemistry was hot and the suspense will have you clutching your reader (be careful… they aren’t indestructible, lol) as you root for the couple both as a couple and as investigators. One of the nice things about Dirk’s writing is that his secondary characters are “real” too, so the story is not one of robust vs flat, but one of love, one of good vs evil, one of acceptance in the face of pain. It is a story you won’t want to miss! This is a great read and one I’m thrilled to have read. Thank you Dirk for writing all you do.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews