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Thomas Lynch #2
Idyll Fears
Two weeks before Christmas, Police Chief Thomas Lynch faces a crisis when Cody Forrand, a six-year-old with a life-threatening medical condition, goes missing during a blizzard. Lynch's suspicions about who abducted Cody are met with scorn by his detectives, some of whom can't handle the fact that's he's gay. When half the station calls in sick with flu, Lynch seeks outside help. It arrives in the shape of an FBI agent for whom Lynch feels an immediate attraction.
To complicate matters, local crime is on the rise and Lynch finds himself the target of prank calls and hate speech that he worries is the work of a colleague. Time is ticking away, Lynch is struggling to discover who is behind Idyll's crime spree, and he's beginning to doubt that Cody will ever be found ...
To complicate matters, local crime is on the rise and Lynch finds himself the target of prank calls and hate speech that he worries is the work of a colleague. Time is ticking away, Lynch is struggling to discover who is behind Idyll's crime spree, and he's beginning to doubt that Cody will ever be found ...
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 5, 2017
32 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Gayle
5 books136 followersStephanie Gayle is the author of Idyll Threats, Idyll Fears, and Idyll Hands (Seventh Street Books) and My Summer of Southern Discomfort (William Morrow.) She's been twice nominated for a Pushcart prize for her short fiction, which has appeared in Kenyon Review Online, Potomac Review, and Minnetonka Review. She created the popular reading series, Craft on Draft, in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 28, 2017
I read a lot of literary fiction, some of it difficult, some of it bleak, some of it exhausting. I read enough books that I need variety and my genre of choice is the crime novel. But there's this problem these days, there only seem to be two kinds of crime novels: the literary crime novel and the thriller. (I am not including the cozy because I do not read them.) The literary crime novel is something I enjoy very much, but I am not always in the mood for it. It makes me go slow and sometimes I just want to race through a mystery. The thriller isn't enough, it is mostly made up of plots and characters I've seen many times before, trying to constantly up the ante with plot twists or gore. What I want most from the crime novel is the old school procedural. I want to follow one major mystery from start to finish. Agatha Christie was my introduction to crime novels and she fits more in this category than literary or thriller, she is my old reliable, my gold standard.
All this intro is to say that I'm happy to report that Stephanie Gayle's Thomas Lynch series is the exact kind of book I am so often looking for. I wish there were already 6 of them. In the first book, Lynch moved from big city cop to small town police chief and found himself outed as gay to the entire town, which mattered a lot in the 90's when it's set.
IDYLL FEARS' central mystery is the disappearance of a boy with a genetic disorder that means he can't feel pain, and with him out in a snowstorm in the middle of winter he's in serious danger. There are some B plots, too, and we get to know Lynch better in this book. There's still a few too many police officers for me to keep straight and a few FBI agents thrown into the mix didn't help any, but it's a quibble. I almost always have quibbles with procedurals, that's one of the reasons I know it's good. If I have similar issues with a thriller or literary crime novel I will just roll my eyes because reality feels so far removed.
As the child at the center of this book has a disability, if that can be a hard plot for you you may want to give this one a pass. Nothing is gratuitous, but you may find a disabled child in peril difficult and you may find the attitudes people have about a disabled child and their family frustrating.
Now just find me 10 other series just like this one so I have a regular supply of procedurals and I will be a very happy reader.
All this intro is to say that I'm happy to report that Stephanie Gayle's Thomas Lynch series is the exact kind of book I am so often looking for. I wish there were already 6 of them. In the first book, Lynch moved from big city cop to small town police chief and found himself outed as gay to the entire town, which mattered a lot in the 90's when it's set.
IDYLL FEARS' central mystery is the disappearance of a boy with a genetic disorder that means he can't feel pain, and with him out in a snowstorm in the middle of winter he's in serious danger. There are some B plots, too, and we get to know Lynch better in this book. There's still a few too many police officers for me to keep straight and a few FBI agents thrown into the mix didn't help any, but it's a quibble. I almost always have quibbles with procedurals, that's one of the reasons I know it's good. If I have similar issues with a thriller or literary crime novel I will just roll my eyes because reality feels so far removed.
As the child at the center of this book has a disability, if that can be a hard plot for you you may want to give this one a pass. Nothing is gratuitous, but you may find a disabled child in peril difficult and you may find the attitudes people have about a disabled child and their family frustrating.
Now just find me 10 other series just like this one so I have a regular supply of procedurals and I will be a very happy reader.
December 17, 2024
It’s two weeks before Christmas and nothing but crime is stirring in town. Arson, break-ins, kidnappings, and more have all hit Chief Lynch’s little community of Idyll, Connecticut. Pair that with most of the police force coughing and hacking or home sick and well…you get one grumpy Chief. You’ll love him! Come see.
Idyll Fears is book two in Stephanie Gayle’s Thomas Lynch series, where readers follow the ups and downs of investigations in a small town in 1997. The main case being a missing 6-year-old boy. We see how each and every detail, sighting, or interview seems to feed off of each other. Step by step the cases proceed or stall or overlap. It’s both frustrating and fascinating to watch. This character-driven police procedural shows it all from strong leads to the piles of paperwork. I was captivated right from the start.
There are a lot of characters to track in this book, but just keep your eye on Thomas Lynch. He’s new to town, the job, and being out. Chief Lynch is gay and now everyone in town knows it. And he’s struggling with hate from the community and even his own men. But Lynch fights back. Head on! He doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind and finding out the truth. I love him. The man makes me laugh, think, and proud. He’s got one or two flaws too. Don’t worry, he’s not perfect. Just ask Mrs. Dunsmore, his very intimidating secretary. Lynch and the whole Idyll station are fun to follow and root for.
What struck me here though was how the officers and detectives and agents never truly clock out. Lynch is thinking about the job all the time. On the road, in the food store, or lounging in his recliner. The job, the case, the hunt for the truth is always right there with him. It’s obvious Lynch loves his job. I would think you’d have to the way the work seeps into everything you are and do.
“It’s the best feeling there is, when a case like this is about to go down.” It was. Everything tingled, from my scalp to my toes. It felt like it did before a big thunderstorm.
“The best feeling?” Cisco said. He gave me a look that made me wonder, about more than one thing.
“Second-best, then.”
Come meet Chief Thomas Lynch for yourself. I highly recommend the series. I’m already looking forward to book three.
p.s. I adore the 1997 technology. It makes me smile every time it makes an appearance…like typewriters, VCRs, and *69! I forgot about *69. :)
September 8, 2017
I read so many novels, a majority of them being police procedurals, and I find that many of them feel the same. Same old jaded detectives, same old love interests. Which is why I was so pleased when I read Idyll Fears, the second novel in the Detective Lynch series. What a breath of fresh air Thomas Lynch is. An openly gay police chief is not something I am used of seeing in a police procedural novel and I was so pleased to be able to read a story that featured a character like Lynch!
Although this book is the second in a series featuring this dynamic detective, I had no issues reading this one as a standalone and found that Gayle did a phenomenal job at making sure enough of Lynch’s character was brought into the plot for those joining in.
This story follows the race to find a missing six-year-old boy who wanders out into a snowstorm. With a rare genetic disorder that makes it so he cannot feel pain, there is a serious race against time to find the boy before it is too late. I was pretty much captivated right away by Gayle’s prose and found it easy to settle into the story.
I did find that were a lot of secondary characters (mostly others on the police force and members of Idyll) that I found very confusing. I’m not sure if that was because I wasn’t introduced to them in the first book or just because there were so many; I did find that a little bit distracting but it didn’t really take away from the general plot.
Overall, I think this series seems to be worth looking into. I’ll likely go back and read the first!
Although this book is the second in a series featuring this dynamic detective, I had no issues reading this one as a standalone and found that Gayle did a phenomenal job at making sure enough of Lynch’s character was brought into the plot for those joining in.
This story follows the race to find a missing six-year-old boy who wanders out into a snowstorm. With a rare genetic disorder that makes it so he cannot feel pain, there is a serious race against time to find the boy before it is too late. I was pretty much captivated right away by Gayle’s prose and found it easy to settle into the story.
I did find that were a lot of secondary characters (mostly others on the police force and members of Idyll) that I found very confusing. I’m not sure if that was because I wasn’t introduced to them in the first book or just because there were so many; I did find that a little bit distracting but it didn’t really take away from the general plot.
Overall, I think this series seems to be worth looking into. I’ll likely go back and read the first!
September 4, 2017
3.75 stars rounded up
Two weeks before Christmas 1997 and crime is rising in sleepy town Idyll, Connecticut. First, six-year-old Cody Forrand is missing. Cody suffers from a rare nervous system disorder; he cannot feel pain which means he cannot fell the cold like everyone else, which means it's urgent for him to be found quickly. In other news, there is a break-in on the town’s candy store motivated by anti-gay hate speech, as well as prank calls and vandalism with homophobic slurs targeted on Idyll's own gay chief of police, Thomas Lynch. It doesn't help that most of Idyll's detectives seem to catch a bad case of cold...
I read the first book, Idyll Threats, back in June and I really liked it. I thought it was a good start of a series. Plus, at the end of the first book, Thomas comes out to his detectives -- and to that extent, the town. So I was intrigued to read further how Thomas' life after that announcement.
I definitely loved this book better than the first one. Thomas Lynch as a character grew on me -- on the first book, I was quite annoyed with how he dealt with his possible involvement with the crime. In here, at times I thought Thomas to be a little patronizing towards his detectives. Fact, I was very happy when he was scolded by his secretary Mrs. Dunsmore *laugh*.
But at other times I knew that Thomas wanted to do his best for this town he had settled in or the cases that came to the department. Thomas may not be perfect, he can be prickly especially when people poke on him (either regarding his sexuality or his professional decisions), but that's what makes his character feels quite well-balanced for me.
I loved ALL the mystery here -- and I loved the procedural investigation that happened for all the cases. It felt realistic -- nobody felt like they got the answer out of nowhere; there was frustration when the detectives received wrong tips or witnesses that didn't provide anything helpful.
At one point, the FBI entered the scene because the missing child became a kidnapping of a minor, and even this felt like it should. When I arrived at the revelation and motivation behind the the missing child it kind of broke my heart. That means Gayle was successfully made me care for the case and everybody involved.
There were a couple of things that I thought didn't fully answered here ... but it didn't completely ruined my enjoyment.
I hope this series continues *cross fingers*
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
Two weeks before Christmas 1997 and crime is rising in sleepy town Idyll, Connecticut. First, six-year-old Cody Forrand is missing. Cody suffers from a rare nervous system disorder; he cannot feel pain which means he cannot fell the cold like everyone else, which means it's urgent for him to be found quickly. In other news, there is a break-in on the town’s candy store motivated by anti-gay hate speech, as well as prank calls and vandalism with homophobic slurs targeted on Idyll's own gay chief of police, Thomas Lynch. It doesn't help that most of Idyll's detectives seem to catch a bad case of cold...
I read the first book, Idyll Threats, back in June and I really liked it. I thought it was a good start of a series. Plus, at the end of the first book, Thomas comes out to his detectives -- and to that extent, the town. So I was intrigued to read further how Thomas' life after that announcement.
I definitely loved this book better than the first one. Thomas Lynch as a character grew on me -- on the first book, I was quite annoyed with how he dealt with his possible involvement with the crime. In here, at times I thought Thomas to be a little patronizing towards his detectives. Fact, I was very happy when he was scolded by his secretary Mrs. Dunsmore *laugh*.
But at other times I knew that Thomas wanted to do his best for this town he had settled in or the cases that came to the department. Thomas may not be perfect, he can be prickly especially when people poke on him (either regarding his sexuality or his professional decisions), but that's what makes his character feels quite well-balanced for me.
I loved ALL the mystery here -- and I loved the procedural investigation that happened for all the cases. It felt realistic -- nobody felt like they got the answer out of nowhere; there was frustration when the detectives received wrong tips or witnesses that didn't provide anything helpful.
At one point, the FBI entered the scene because the missing child became a kidnapping of a minor, and even this felt like it should. When I arrived at the revelation and motivation behind the the missing child it kind of broke my heart. That means Gayle was successfully made me care for the case and everybody involved.
There were a couple of things that I thought didn't fully answered here ... but it didn't completely ruined my enjoyment.
I hope this series continues *cross fingers*
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Edelweiss+ for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
August 27, 2017
A terrific follow-up to Idyll Threats. Review to come.
January 1, 2021
A police procedure novel set in 1997 follow a cop who is gay. It's the second novel in the series and while I didn't Love this as much as the first I highly enjoyed it anywho. It's very interesting following the cops work and the case with the missing sick boy is a bit nail bitting. It's sub plot about the difficulty bring gay in the 90,s is very interesting yet makes you a bit mad. Hope I will enjoy the rest of the series as much
September 8, 2017
Idyll Fears is the second book in the Thomas Lynch series, where the gay Chief of Police must deal with homophobic opposition as well as a frantic search for a missing six-year-old with a rare, life-threatening medical condition.
Thomas Lynch is the Chief of Police in Idyll, a small fictional town in Connecticut. Part of the drama in Idyll Threats—the first book in the series—was Lynch being outed as gay. While still a big deal today, back in 1997—when this book is set—it was an even bigger deal for a high-ranking public figure to be gay. Particularly in a small town. It was big news, it was scandalous, and not everyone wanted (or wants) to be a poster child or role model for underrepresented groups.
Chief Lynch is now dealing with the fall out of being outed, and he’s not sure if he’ll stay in Idyll. The town is still buzzing, and Lynch is still getting to know the town, the men on the police force, and his formidable secretary, Mrs. Dunsmore, an older woman who has been in her position for a long, long time. Anonymous, homophobic phone calls are being made both to his home number and the police station. The calls are logged, complete with the caller’s phone number thanks to the new technology of *69, which the callers aren’t sophisticated enough to realize is being used. “Homo,” “Queer,” “We don’t want your kind here.” Happy Holidays, Chief!
Read more of this review on Criminal Element at https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs...
Thomas Lynch is the Chief of Police in Idyll, a small fictional town in Connecticut. Part of the drama in Idyll Threats—the first book in the series—was Lynch being outed as gay. While still a big deal today, back in 1997—when this book is set—it was an even bigger deal for a high-ranking public figure to be gay. Particularly in a small town. It was big news, it was scandalous, and not everyone wanted (or wants) to be a poster child or role model for underrepresented groups.
Chief Lynch is now dealing with the fall out of being outed, and he’s not sure if he’ll stay in Idyll. The town is still buzzing, and Lynch is still getting to know the town, the men on the police force, and his formidable secretary, Mrs. Dunsmore, an older woman who has been in her position for a long, long time. Anonymous, homophobic phone calls are being made both to his home number and the police station. The calls are logged, complete with the caller’s phone number thanks to the new technology of *69, which the callers aren’t sophisticated enough to realize is being used. “Homo,” “Queer,” “We don’t want your kind here.” Happy Holidays, Chief!
Read more of this review on Criminal Element at https://www.criminalelement.com/blogs...
July 27, 2018
This second-in-series not only did not disappoint, it surpassed my expectations – which almost never happens… A couple of weeks ago I introduced you to Thomas Lynch, 1990s era Idyll, Connecticut’s now openly-gay police chief (“the first in the state!” as the locals proclaim with a mixture of pride and distaste). The first book was really good – I thoroughly enjoyed the establishment of personalities, the teasing out of backstory, and of course the murder at the heart of it all. In this second installment, Gayle has outdone herself though, and the characters really came alive for me. Lynch is a great protagonist, a strong personality fighting against prejudice (internal and external, real and projected) in a way that rings true and feels genuine. He is surrounded by a supporting cast that is a great melange of personalities, secrets, fears, dreams, quirks, and hidden depths.
Then there’s the setting, and it’s here that I think Gayle does such a great job bringing her books alive. 1998 was not long ago – at least not in my mind – but Lynch’s world is in many ways light-years away from modern sensibilities in some regards, and unfortunately all too reminiscent of them in others.
Cell phones are not ubiquitous, nor is online activity. No one has GPS. The Idyll cops still smoke in their office. Crime has a different feel – more personal, less ideological and fanatical. Neighbors not only know one another, they watch each other – and not out of a sense of pure paranoia. Hate and fear and prejudice – of race, of sexuality – feel both subtle and blatant at the same time. It’s a world that is just that much removed from our own (twenty years is not even a generation, yet the technological and world shifts since then make it seem light years apart), and I find it (even when dark, depressing, or dreadful) somewhat comforting to fall back into it because it’s the world of my early adulthood (I was 25 in 1998) and a world that formed a lot of aspects of my personality.
But characters and setting alone don’t make a book – or at least not a series book. There also has to be some action, and this time the action is disturbing because it involves a child. A very sick child. A very sick child who doesn’t feel pain. And if those words don’t send your mind to some dark places, I don’t know what will. There’s kidnapping, arson, hate crime, unexplained death, a surprising amount of flirtation, and a lot of self-discovery going on in this book, and the blend of it all is spot-on perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed watching things unfold. Some of it I saw coming, some I did not – it’s a testament to Gayle’s storytelling skills that I enjoyed both aspects equally.
I have the third book on my shelf thanks to the publisher, and it’s review will be forthcoming as soon as it’s available commercially in the U.S. (September 4), so check back in a couple of weeks to see if Gayle can continue her unabashed winning streak – I strongly suspect she shall!
My review copy was generously provided by Seventh Street Books.
Then there’s the setting, and it’s here that I think Gayle does such a great job bringing her books alive. 1998 was not long ago – at least not in my mind – but Lynch’s world is in many ways light-years away from modern sensibilities in some regards, and unfortunately all too reminiscent of them in others.
Cell phones are not ubiquitous, nor is online activity. No one has GPS. The Idyll cops still smoke in their office. Crime has a different feel – more personal, less ideological and fanatical. Neighbors not only know one another, they watch each other – and not out of a sense of pure paranoia. Hate and fear and prejudice – of race, of sexuality – feel both subtle and blatant at the same time. It’s a world that is just that much removed from our own (twenty years is not even a generation, yet the technological and world shifts since then make it seem light years apart), and I find it (even when dark, depressing, or dreadful) somewhat comforting to fall back into it because it’s the world of my early adulthood (I was 25 in 1998) and a world that formed a lot of aspects of my personality.
But characters and setting alone don’t make a book – or at least not a series book. There also has to be some action, and this time the action is disturbing because it involves a child. A very sick child. A very sick child who doesn’t feel pain. And if those words don’t send your mind to some dark places, I don’t know what will. There’s kidnapping, arson, hate crime, unexplained death, a surprising amount of flirtation, and a lot of self-discovery going on in this book, and the blend of it all is spot-on perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed watching things unfold. Some of it I saw coming, some I did not – it’s a testament to Gayle’s storytelling skills that I enjoyed both aspects equally.
I have the third book on my shelf thanks to the publisher, and it’s review will be forthcoming as soon as it’s available commercially in the U.S. (September 4), so check back in a couple of weeks to see if Gayle can continue her unabashed winning streak – I strongly suspect she shall!
My review copy was generously provided by Seventh Street Books.
September 5, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Here is another great read from the Thomas Lynch series. Like the first book in the series, Idyll Threats, this book keeps Thomas Lynch as our first-person narrator. I like having such an intimate view into his thought processes. Taken together, there is such a robust depiction of the character Lynch, he’s hard not to like…or get mad at when he acts stupid (and he does). It’s also impressive how, no matter the trivial nature of some of the scenes, they all work together to reveal a character entirely dedicated to his job.
For example, although there are actually three hate crime-related threads in the book (Lynch’s car getting tagged, Lynch getting hate speech phone calls, and an alleged hate crime at the local candy shop owned by a gay couple) and although Lynch is determined to solve each of these crimes, he does so because they’re crimes more than he feels affronted at the bigotry of others. In other words, rather than making Lynch play the victim or get outraged at the blatant discrimination, he grits his teeth and gets payback. I, for one, found it very entertaining to see his smug satisfaction at letting the guilty know they’ve been caught and they’re going to be held accountable for their crimes.
Much of the narration revolves around watching Lynch interact with the details, people, and situations of the cases. The action is not strictly contained within the police station, either. We see Lynch out in town organizing search parties for Cody, interviewing witnesses, following up on tips. At each of these changes of scene, Lynch absorbs the details like a sponge. Even when he’s in his own home, he’s thinking about work and sometimes the most mundane of home-owner tasks can lead him to a fantastic conclusion regarding a case.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Here is another great read from the Thomas Lynch series. Like the first book in the series, Idyll Threats, this book keeps Thomas Lynch as our first-person narrator. I like having such an intimate view into his thought processes. Taken together, there is such a robust depiction of the character Lynch, he’s hard not to like…or get mad at when he acts stupid (and he does). It’s also impressive how, no matter the trivial nature of some of the scenes, they all work together to reveal a character entirely dedicated to his job.
For example, although there are actually three hate crime-related threads in the book (Lynch’s car getting tagged, Lynch getting hate speech phone calls, and an alleged hate crime at the local candy shop owned by a gay couple) and although Lynch is determined to solve each of these crimes, he does so because they’re crimes more than he feels affronted at the bigotry of others. In other words, rather than making Lynch play the victim or get outraged at the blatant discrimination, he grits his teeth and gets payback. I, for one, found it very entertaining to see his smug satisfaction at letting the guilty know they’ve been caught and they’re going to be held accountable for their crimes.
Much of the narration revolves around watching Lynch interact with the details, people, and situations of the cases. The action is not strictly contained within the police station, either. We see Lynch out in town organizing search parties for Cody, interviewing witnesses, following up on tips. At each of these changes of scene, Lynch absorbs the details like a sponge. Even when he’s in his own home, he’s thinking about work and sometimes the most mundane of home-owner tasks can lead him to a fantastic conclusion regarding a case.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
August 2, 2018
Cody Farrand, a small boy with a rare disease has gone missing. Chief Lynch of the Idyll police force needs to find him quickly, before he gets hurt. But, he's just learning who he can trust in force, both for policing skills and for willingness to work for and accept a gay police chief in the late 90s. Throw in hate crimes and the Christmas season and you have enough backstory for a good mystery. But this book isn't just good, it's a twisty story with nuanced characters. HIGHLY recommended!
September 8, 2017
Chief Lynch is back and this time he is looking for missing 6-year old, Cody Forrand. In a blizzard no less. Time is key as Cody has a rare disorder called CIPA and can't feel pain, which puts him in harms way at every turn. Not only does Lynch have to find this boy, he has to do it while dealing with the backlash of coming out to his entire office. Prank calls, vandalism and veiled threats pepper his days and now he's on a mission to find Cody and the vandals.
From book one to book two, we see Lynch grow from depressed new Chief of Idyll to a more determined person in every aspect. Dealing with all the prejudice while still trying to do his job can be a formidable task. I enjoyed seeing him make his way through each predicament in his snarky fashion and felt vindicated when he was. I still think he makes some stupid mistakes, but that seems to be within the realm of his character so I just go with it now. 😁 Although I do think he still needs to think with the right head in certain given situations. Luckily things start to look up for Lynch in all departments.
Still loving on the humor riddled throughout the book. Another mystery solved and pieced together nicely. Further character development settles you into each person so you want to continue to learn about them in upcoming books in this series. While I did think there were a few things left hanging, it didn't detract from the feel of the book. The ending, like with the first, leaves you with just enough of a dangling carrot but still completing the book as a whole. Fans of police procedurals that re light on the procedure and heavier on the police will love this series.
From book one to book two, we see Lynch grow from depressed new Chief of Idyll to a more determined person in every aspect. Dealing with all the prejudice while still trying to do his job can be a formidable task. I enjoyed seeing him make his way through each predicament in his snarky fashion and felt vindicated when he was. I still think he makes some stupid mistakes, but that seems to be within the realm of his character so I just go with it now. 😁 Although I do think he still needs to think with the right head in certain given situations. Luckily things start to look up for Lynch in all departments.
Still loving on the humor riddled throughout the book. Another mystery solved and pieced together nicely. Further character development settles you into each person so you want to continue to learn about them in upcoming books in this series. While I did think there were a few things left hanging, it didn't detract from the feel of the book. The ending, like with the first, leaves you with just enough of a dangling carrot but still completing the book as a whole. Fans of police procedurals that re light on the procedure and heavier on the police will love this series.
September 15, 2017
Idyll Fears is a page-turning mystery that I raced to finish even as I never wanted it to end. In this second novel in the Thomas Lynch mystery series, Chief Lynch is wrestling with fallout from coming out as gay at the same time he’s investigating the possible kidnapping of Cody Forrand, a young boy with a rare genetic disorder that prevents him from feeling pain. It’s just before Christmas, there’s a snowstorm, and Cody could easily die from the cold. Tension rises as Lynch and his team encounter many twists and turns in their search for Cody. The police department in the small town of Idyll is stretched thin and it doesn’t help that Lynch must also investigate homophobic hate crimes that make him wonder if he can trust everyone in his own department. Lynch navigates all of this with wisdom, honesty, and humor. I loved him in Idyll Threats and now I love this complex, intrepid, and incredibly likable police chief even more.
As in the best noir mysteries setting is extremely important in Idyll Fears. Gayle’s vivid evocation of the small town of Idyll comes replete with Christmas cookies, cocoa, caroling, and the sort of small-town banter that is both comforting and unsettling. Idyll is like a glitter-strewn Christmas card that hides darker truths, and Lynch’s sardonic, deadpan narration made me feel Raymond Chandler had somehow wandered into Stars Hollow. The ending was surprising and satisfying but I was sorry to have to step out of the snow globe and leave Idyll and Chief Lynch behind. Can’t wait for the next book in this wonderful series!
As in the best noir mysteries setting is extremely important in Idyll Fears. Gayle’s vivid evocation of the small town of Idyll comes replete with Christmas cookies, cocoa, caroling, and the sort of small-town banter that is both comforting and unsettling. Idyll is like a glitter-strewn Christmas card that hides darker truths, and Lynch’s sardonic, deadpan narration made me feel Raymond Chandler had somehow wandered into Stars Hollow. The ending was surprising and satisfying but I was sorry to have to step out of the snow globe and leave Idyll and Chief Lynch behind. Can’t wait for the next book in this wonderful series!
September 24, 2017
4.25 stars
Firstly, if you're looking for MM romance, this isn't your book. This is a very well written murder mystery that happens to feature a gay protagonist. That might change over time in this series, but at the juncture Police Chief Thomas Lynch has no love interest. Hook-ups yes, romance no.
As with the first in the series, Idyll Threats, the story is very well crafted and edited. The storyline throws the readers off the beaten path with clever twists and turns. It is atmospheric and the procedurals feels real. As with the first book, the secondary characters are a thing of beauty... finely drawn and fully realized. My only niggles include: a wish for more detailed world building and of course a love interest for Thomas who is out of the closet in this second story.
Highly recommended to murder mystery lovers.
Firstly, if you're looking for MM romance, this isn't your book. This is a very well written murder mystery that happens to feature a gay protagonist. That might change over time in this series, but at the juncture Police Chief Thomas Lynch has no love interest. Hook-ups yes, romance no.
As with the first in the series, Idyll Threats, the story is very well crafted and edited. The storyline throws the readers off the beaten path with clever twists and turns. It is atmospheric and the procedurals feels real. As with the first book, the secondary characters are a thing of beauty... finely drawn and fully realized. My only niggles include: a wish for more detailed world building and of course a love interest for Thomas who is out of the closet in this second story.
Highly recommended to murder mystery lovers.
June 27, 2018
SO. GOOD. A page turner from start to finish, and Thomas Lynch is such an interesting, fully realised character. I really hope there are more books in this series in the works because they're great.
September 8, 2017
Thanks to Prometheus Books for the copy in exchange for my honest review.
Here we are with book 2 in the Thomas Lynch series! IDYLL FEARS by Stephanie Gayle continues the story of Police Chief Thomas Lynch in the small town of Idyll, Connecticut. Lynch is faced with a new mystery to solve and a child to save, all while dealing with a crime wave sweeping Idyll.
Just before Christmas, 6 year old Cody Forrand goes missing. Cody has a rare genetic disorder that can be life-threatening as he can't feel pain. In the middle of winter with a snow storm, he could be in grave danger. Lynch has an uphill battle with his fellow investigators as he tries to solve the case. He must call in reinforcements to help, so the FBI now becomes involved in the abduction case.
While this is going on, Idyll is experiencing a crime wave. Lynch finds himself to be the target of prank calls, hate speech, and he suspects it's all started by a coworker. Now he must try to stop the crime wave AND find Cody before it's too late.
Once again, Gayle does a phenomenal job with this police procedural. It's not too heavily focused on the investigation to make it too technical (I know that can lose a lot of people and drag on). We get to learn more about Thomas as a person and the struggles he is now facing. Trying to find Cody is the main focus of this novel, but the subplot of the crime spree doesn't take away too much or feel rushed. A solid continuation of this series and I really hope that she continues with Thomas Lynch!
Overall, I loved the further character development and the investigation kept me flipping the pages. It's refreshing when a series is solid throughout since many can fall flat. If you want a good suspense with a unique main character, then I recommend grabbing book one (IDYLL THREATS) and diving into this series.
I give this 4.5/5 stars!
Here we are with book 2 in the Thomas Lynch series! IDYLL FEARS by Stephanie Gayle continues the story of Police Chief Thomas Lynch in the small town of Idyll, Connecticut. Lynch is faced with a new mystery to solve and a child to save, all while dealing with a crime wave sweeping Idyll.
Just before Christmas, 6 year old Cody Forrand goes missing. Cody has a rare genetic disorder that can be life-threatening as he can't feel pain. In the middle of winter with a snow storm, he could be in grave danger. Lynch has an uphill battle with his fellow investigators as he tries to solve the case. He must call in reinforcements to help, so the FBI now becomes involved in the abduction case.
While this is going on, Idyll is experiencing a crime wave. Lynch finds himself to be the target of prank calls, hate speech, and he suspects it's all started by a coworker. Now he must try to stop the crime wave AND find Cody before it's too late.
Once again, Gayle does a phenomenal job with this police procedural. It's not too heavily focused on the investigation to make it too technical (I know that can lose a lot of people and drag on). We get to learn more about Thomas as a person and the struggles he is now facing. Trying to find Cody is the main focus of this novel, but the subplot of the crime spree doesn't take away too much or feel rushed. A solid continuation of this series and I really hope that she continues with Thomas Lynch!
Overall, I loved the further character development and the investigation kept me flipping the pages. It's refreshing when a series is solid throughout since many can fall flat. If you want a good suspense with a unique main character, then I recommend grabbing book one (IDYLL THREATS) and diving into this series.
I give this 4.5/5 stars!
November 12, 2022
I did not read the first in this series, but that did not impact my enjoyment of this. Thomas Lynch is a gay Police Chief in Connecticut in the late 90s. Much of what occurs shows Lynch observing and interpreting other's actions through the lens of being gay in a position and location where this was not as accepted by everyone as it should be. The mystery involves a missing child with a rare disorder. The weather is brutal and contributes to the urgency and frustration of everyone involved. Along with the main mystery, there are also side plots involving hate crimes that are occurring in the town. I liked the writing, I tend to enjoy reads where the environment or climate has an impact on the story. I will read another in this series.
October 29, 2017
As a mother, I am drawn to missing children stories. Call me crazy, I love to torture myself... This one is unique, since Cody has a genetic disease. He is last seen outside, playing in the snow, but he doesn't feel pain. That's problematic...
I liked this book. I haven't read the first one in the series and still felt bad for Thomas Lynch when he had heated encounters with anti-gay individuals.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book. I haven't read the first one in the series and still felt bad for Thomas Lynch when he had heated encounters with anti-gay individuals.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2018
So I confess that even though this is the second book in the series, it's the first one I read, and it absolutely works as a standalone novel. The mystery is so interesting--young boy with a rare condition (he can't feel pain) goes missing. The protagonist, a gay police chief in a small town in the 1990s, has to not only find the boy but battle the growing harassment and hate crimes against gays in his town. I loved Chief Lynch and the story kept me guessing right up until the end. I'll definitely be reading the others in this series.
November 7, 2017
4.5 stars!
Good fun to read, character(s) growth and exploration, and a good mystery!
Good fun to read, character(s) growth and exploration, and a good mystery!
September 24, 2017
This series is about the gay police chief in a small town in 1997. Nice mystery series.
April 16, 2018
Thomas Lynch is one of my favorite detectives EVER. I love this series and would give this book 10 stars if I could. The author masterfully creates unforgettable characters. The crime is fresh and interesting without straining credibility or being over the top.
I can't wait for book 3!!!
I can't wait for book 3!!!
December 22, 2017
I liked this book. An unusual take on a crime novel in that it has a gay Chief of Police as the main character. It was engaging and I plan to read the first book in the series Idyll Threats. I didn't realize this was the second book. Still enjoyed it. A very sympathetic story about being gay and working in a very macho, homophobic setting.
Read
October 2, 2017Finally a follow up to the first book, must get this for my library.
September 13, 2017
My Mystery Scene magazine review of the book can be seen here: http://www.mysteryscenemag.com/26-rev...
September 6, 2017
The uptick in crime in the otherwise sleepy town of Idyll, Connecticut is keeping Chief of Police Thomas Lynch busy.
At the end of Stephanie Gayle’s Idyll Threats, Thomas came out in a rather spectacular public fashion. In small town America, circa 1997, he took a huge risk doing so, especially since he hasn’t tried very hard to make Idyll his home—Idyll was just the most convenient option, job-wise, after the death of his partner saw him fleeing New York City. Thomas is still the outsider, both to the townspeople and the guys on the Idyll police force, and now there are folks who want to make things more uncomfortable for him. But, the ownership over some of that distance rests on Thomas himself. He isn’t a warm and fuzzy kind of guy, and he’s keeping everyone at arm’s length, his detectives included, because it’s easier that way. If he doesn’t get close, he doesn’t become invested.
After solving a murder in the last book, Thomas and his detectives are faced with a rash of criminal activity in Idyll Fears, the more pressing being the kidnapping of a boy with a rare genetic disorder. It’s a race-against-the-clock to find the boy and bring him home safely, but there are other distractions that spread the small Idyll force thin as well. There’s an apparent homophobic hate crime against the gay couple who own the local candy store, and on a more personal note, there’s the case of anonymous phone calls Thomas and the guys are fielding, the ones that make it clear a gay police chief isn’t welcome in Idyll. If that isn’t enough, there’s also the tagging of Thomas’s police car with an ugly slur, and an arson fire that the Mayor wants kept on the down-low. Things are hectic in Idyll and not in a good way. The guys on the force are somewhat out of their element, to put a finer point on it, and Thomas’s nerves are stretched thin, to say the least.
Once again, author Stephanie Gayle unpacks a taut mystery in Idyll Fears, and I love the bare-bones, noir style of the series. The disappearance of Cody Forrand, not once but twice, and the subsequent investigation produces plenty of red herrings, false leads, as well as drawing out some common stereotypes that are unflattering but are also, unfortunately, realistic. Which is why they’re stereotypes. In the end, the Occam’s Razor of Cody’s kidnapping, when the impossible is eliminated and we’re left with the truth, is as stunning as it is believable in its ripped-from-the-headlines sensationalism, and Gayle’s writing in the final climactic moments is crisp, fast paced, and rife with tension.
As for the side mysteries, those were handled with the appropriate gravitas, providing more character revelation than their being central to the overall plot. The store vandalism, in particular, was an added dimension to the town and Cody’s kidnapping in that it illustrated even small towns have a seedy underbelly, and beneath the surface, all is not idyllic. No one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors, do we? And, the identity of the tagger was such a great reveal, as it parallels and mirrors Thomas’s own story to some degree.
While I believe Gayle gives readers enough information that this book can be read as a standalone, I’ll also stress that if you like to know your characters from their inception, read Idyll Threats first. Mrs. Dunsmore, Thomas’s secretary, is especially revealing of Thomas’s character, and I loved learning this through the way he projects his own defensiveness and expectations on others, rightfully so in some cases. The end of this book left me with the feeling that Thomas may well have found a place to put down roots, might even make some friends in the process, and while one-offs are still the norm for him, the potential for something more is in the air. This is shaping up to be a favorite mystery series, and I’m so looking forward to seeing what sort of mischief and intrigue visits Idyll and its residents next.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
At the end of Stephanie Gayle’s Idyll Threats, Thomas came out in a rather spectacular public fashion. In small town America, circa 1997, he took a huge risk doing so, especially since he hasn’t tried very hard to make Idyll his home—Idyll was just the most convenient option, job-wise, after the death of his partner saw him fleeing New York City. Thomas is still the outsider, both to the townspeople and the guys on the Idyll police force, and now there are folks who want to make things more uncomfortable for him. But, the ownership over some of that distance rests on Thomas himself. He isn’t a warm and fuzzy kind of guy, and he’s keeping everyone at arm’s length, his detectives included, because it’s easier that way. If he doesn’t get close, he doesn’t become invested.
After solving a murder in the last book, Thomas and his detectives are faced with a rash of criminal activity in Idyll Fears, the more pressing being the kidnapping of a boy with a rare genetic disorder. It’s a race-against-the-clock to find the boy and bring him home safely, but there are other distractions that spread the small Idyll force thin as well. There’s an apparent homophobic hate crime against the gay couple who own the local candy store, and on a more personal note, there’s the case of anonymous phone calls Thomas and the guys are fielding, the ones that make it clear a gay police chief isn’t welcome in Idyll. If that isn’t enough, there’s also the tagging of Thomas’s police car with an ugly slur, and an arson fire that the Mayor wants kept on the down-low. Things are hectic in Idyll and not in a good way. The guys on the force are somewhat out of their element, to put a finer point on it, and Thomas’s nerves are stretched thin, to say the least.
Once again, author Stephanie Gayle unpacks a taut mystery in Idyll Fears, and I love the bare-bones, noir style of the series. The disappearance of Cody Forrand, not once but twice, and the subsequent investigation produces plenty of red herrings, false leads, as well as drawing out some common stereotypes that are unflattering but are also, unfortunately, realistic. Which is why they’re stereotypes. In the end, the Occam’s Razor of Cody’s kidnapping, when the impossible is eliminated and we’re left with the truth, is as stunning as it is believable in its ripped-from-the-headlines sensationalism, and Gayle’s writing in the final climactic moments is crisp, fast paced, and rife with tension.
As for the side mysteries, those were handled with the appropriate gravitas, providing more character revelation than their being central to the overall plot. The store vandalism, in particular, was an added dimension to the town and Cody’s kidnapping in that it illustrated even small towns have a seedy underbelly, and beneath the surface, all is not idyllic. No one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors, do we? And, the identity of the tagger was such a great reveal, as it parallels and mirrors Thomas’s own story to some degree.
While I believe Gayle gives readers enough information that this book can be read as a standalone, I’ll also stress that if you like to know your characters from their inception, read Idyll Threats first. Mrs. Dunsmore, Thomas’s secretary, is especially revealing of Thomas’s character, and I loved learning this through the way he projects his own defensiveness and expectations on others, rightfully so in some cases. The end of this book left me with the feeling that Thomas may well have found a place to put down roots, might even make some friends in the process, and while one-offs are still the norm for him, the potential for something more is in the air. This is shaping up to be a favorite mystery series, and I’m so looking forward to seeing what sort of mischief and intrigue visits Idyll and its residents next.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
October 13, 2017
I was prepared to not like this novel. As several of my friends have complained to me recently, too often when there are gay or lesbian leads in a story be it on TV, a movie, or in written fiction, the focus is on how difficult it is to be gay/lesbian. "Idyll Fears" is set in 1997, this story could have easily focused on the difficult things or done the unrealistic reverse and made it just an accepted fact of one character's life. Stephanie Gayle has done an excellent job balancing and the result is an engaging lead, an intense and complex series of mysteries, and honest emotional content that makes the characters understandable and relatable no matter your sexual orientation.
I'm not sure why it is labeled "#2" because my understanding of this book is that it is the first in a new series focused on our main character, Chief of Police Thomas Lynch. Lynch has been out as gay for about a year in the context of the book. We get the impression that things didn't go smoothly and they are not going perfectly smoothy in the last two weeks before Christmas. While Lynch is out, I got the feeling he wasn't OUT even though others are trying to make him so. He has a job, he has a life, when he can keep them separate he tries to do that for his own sanity. I could appreciate this angry at homophobia several times, I wouldn't have been as patient myself.
I don't want to give away any of the mysteries and how they are solved but it didn't require grand leaps of logic, visiting ghosts, or illegal activities three factors I've seen far too often in mysteries. At the end I felt satisfied and I'm intrigued enough by Lynch to want to read what happens next in his life and in Idyll.
I'm not sure why it is labeled "#2" because my understanding of this book is that it is the first in a new series focused on our main character, Chief of Police Thomas Lynch. Lynch has been out as gay for about a year in the context of the book. We get the impression that things didn't go smoothly and they are not going perfectly smoothy in the last two weeks before Christmas. While Lynch is out, I got the feeling he wasn't OUT even though others are trying to make him so. He has a job, he has a life, when he can keep them separate he tries to do that for his own sanity. I could appreciate this angry at homophobia several times, I wouldn't have been as patient myself.
I don't want to give away any of the mysteries and how they are solved but it didn't require grand leaps of logic, visiting ghosts, or illegal activities three factors I've seen far too often in mysteries. At the end I felt satisfied and I'm intrigued enough by Lynch to want to read what happens next in his life and in Idyll.
April 6, 2021
I really liked this story. It's such a good procedural!
We have the main case: a little kid, with a rare genetic disorder, is missing during a snowstorm. Police and neighbours are searching for him, in a race against time. But, strangely, the kid shows up unharmed at the parking lot of a grocery store and he's brought back to his family, although the mystery about who took him is still buggering Thomas.
But there are more cases to keep him occupied: an arson, a burglary at the sweets shop, and finding who wrote a big, orange FAG! in his patrol car.
And then, the kid disappears again.
This time, the FBI gets involved, but even when they follow all the leads, and they find who took him, Cody is still missing when Christmas arrives. The FBI leaves town, and they are still looking for him but... after so much time there isn't a lot of hope of finding him alive.
The mystery is really well done. We all have our suspicions but there is no certainty about what really happened.
And I really liked that we got to know Thomas a some of the secondary characters a bit better. And that Thomas is proven wrong in one of his dearest assumptions *laughs*
Only one book in this series left. Why aren't more? :(
We have the main case: a little kid, with a rare genetic disorder, is missing during a snowstorm. Police and neighbours are searching for him, in a race against time. But, strangely, the kid shows up unharmed at the parking lot of a grocery store and he's brought back to his family, although the mystery about who took him is still buggering Thomas.
But there are more cases to keep him occupied: an arson, a burglary at the sweets shop, and finding who wrote a big, orange FAG! in his patrol car.
And then, the kid disappears again.
This time, the FBI gets involved, but even when they follow all the leads, and they find who took him, Cody is still missing when Christmas arrives. The FBI leaves town, and they are still looking for him but... after so much time there isn't a lot of hope of finding him alive.
The mystery is really well done. We all have our suspicions but there is no certainty about what really happened.
And I really liked that we got to know Thomas a some of the secondary characters a bit better. And that Thomas is proven wrong in one of his dearest assumptions *laughs*
Only one book in this series left. Why aren't more? :(
January 13, 2018
This book started out as a low key small town police procedural and I thought it would continue as such but the characters grew on me and I really liked it by the end.
The main story is that of a missing boy with CIPA. The cops make slow progress and eventually the Feds are called in. The plot is a true procedural with the cops looking for and finding clues and following up on them. There are a couple of smaller crimes thrown in and solved as well.
The protagonist is Tom Lynch, the newish police chief of the small town Idyll. The supporting characters are members of his police force and the feds. There are a lot of characters in the book but the author makes it work. At first it was hard to keep track of who's who but I got to know them as they worked themselves into the story.
I liked the book because I thought the author did a good job of fleshing out the characters and making them real. The kidnapping itself wasn't particularly edge of the seat thrilling but I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and the realism of a small town police department. I would definitely read another one in this series.
I got this book as a free ARC.
The main story is that of a missing boy with CIPA. The cops make slow progress and eventually the Feds are called in. The plot is a true procedural with the cops looking for and finding clues and following up on them. There are a couple of smaller crimes thrown in and solved as well.
The protagonist is Tom Lynch, the newish police chief of the small town Idyll. The supporting characters are members of his police force and the feds. There are a lot of characters in the book but the author makes it work. At first it was hard to keep track of who's who but I got to know them as they worked themselves into the story.
I liked the book because I thought the author did a good job of fleshing out the characters and making them real. The kidnapping itself wasn't particularly edge of the seat thrilling but I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and the realism of a small town police department. I would definitely read another one in this series.
I got this book as a free ARC.
October 13, 2018
I enjoyed book two in the Thomas Lynch series a little bit more than the first book, Idyll Threats. Chief Lynch is now having to deal with being out of the closet in a small town in 1997. He’s getting anonymous, threatening phone calls from people who don’t want an openly gay police chief working in their town. On top of his personal troubles a young boy with serious medical troubles goes missing right in the middle of a blizzard.The squad races to try and find the boy while Chief Lynch tries to figure out if one of his own officers is behind the anti-gay harassment.
As with the first book, there was nothing super special about this installment. The writing was still pretty average. However the plot and the side characters were improved upon from the last novel. The mystery kept me more engaged than the one in the first book. However parts of the plot still seemed a little bit ridiculous or over the top. I think the biggest improvement came from the side characters. They were more fleshed out and had unique personalities instead of all blending together.
This still wasn’t an amazing book. But it was a nice enough way to spend a few hours.
As with the first book, there was nothing super special about this installment. The writing was still pretty average. However the plot and the side characters were improved upon from the last novel. The mystery kept me more engaged than the one in the first book. However parts of the plot still seemed a little bit ridiculous or over the top. I think the biggest improvement came from the side characters. They were more fleshed out and had unique personalities instead of all blending together.
This still wasn’t an amazing book. But it was a nice enough way to spend a few hours.
August 5, 2017
- 4/5. I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads giveaway.
"Idyll Fears" is the second instalment in Stephanie Gayle's Thomas Lynch series. The name character, Thomas Lynch is the police chief in small-town Idyll, Connecticut, having moved from being a big-city homicide detective.
Already dealing with homophobic colleagues and bad winter weather, Lynch is called to the scene of a missing child, Cody Forrand- a six year old with CIPA, a medical condition which makes his missing persons case even more critical. With the eventual help of the FBI, Lynch works to solve this case and bring Cody home for good.
Of all the recent thrillers/mysteries that I've read lately, Thomas Lynch is by far one of the most interesting characters. Living in a time and place where his lifestyle is not accepted, Lynch has to work even harder to be accepted professionally. While this book did work as a standalone in terms of the actual mystery, I do wish that I'd read the first book previously, as it seems like it would have given more background on Lynch.
In terms of the mystery itself, the book was fast-paced and I was hooked pretty much right from the beginning. From the start, the author did a great job of capturing the scene of Cody being missing in a blizzard, and kept the pace from there. There were also more than enough suspects and side plots for each to keep me guessing.
Overall, this was a great mystery with the added bonus of a great lead character, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for other additions to the series.
"Idyll Fears" is the second instalment in Stephanie Gayle's Thomas Lynch series. The name character, Thomas Lynch is the police chief in small-town Idyll, Connecticut, having moved from being a big-city homicide detective.
Already dealing with homophobic colleagues and bad winter weather, Lynch is called to the scene of a missing child, Cody Forrand- a six year old with CIPA, a medical condition which makes his missing persons case even more critical. With the eventual help of the FBI, Lynch works to solve this case and bring Cody home for good.
Of all the recent thrillers/mysteries that I've read lately, Thomas Lynch is by far one of the most interesting characters. Living in a time and place where his lifestyle is not accepted, Lynch has to work even harder to be accepted professionally. While this book did work as a standalone in terms of the actual mystery, I do wish that I'd read the first book previously, as it seems like it would have given more background on Lynch.
In terms of the mystery itself, the book was fast-paced and I was hooked pretty much right from the beginning. From the start, the author did a great job of capturing the scene of Cody being missing in a blizzard, and kept the pace from there. There were also more than enough suspects and side plots for each to keep me guessing.
Overall, this was a great mystery with the added bonus of a great lead character, and I'll definitely keep an eye out for other additions to the series.
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