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The Finder #1
The Finder
At the age of sixteen, August Goodson developed a strange and mysterious power overnight: he can find people. Victims of murder, suicide, kidnapping, accidents, and rape; August can find them all, usually dead, but sometimes still alive. Nine years later finds August volunteering his services to the police. He's still smarting from the loss of his long-time love Dante, who cheated on him with his best friend, and harbors a deep crush on the incredibly handsome, and oh-so-straight, Detective Luke Williams. But there are bigger concerns on August's mind: a serial killer is loose in the city, one whose victims are a little too much like him for comfort. When August finds a living victim who may be one of the serial killer's, he's drawn even deeper into the case. Will he make it out alive, or will he soon be the one in need of finding?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 2017
154 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
J.E. Lorin
7 books92 followersAuthor of sci fi and fantasy themed gay romance novels. Lives in North County San Diego.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
April 13, 2017
The blurb completely drew me at the mention of August having a psychic gift of finding people. He finds victims of murder, rape, kidnappings, suicide, and people who are lost or have been in accidents. He unfortunately finds more of the dead than the living. It's been nine years since he came into his gift at the young age of 16 and is now a volunteer consultant for the police department using his gift to help.
I am a sucker for a psychic book. I love them even more when the psychic is evolved in helping a hot detective like, Luke. There is lot happening in this book and it completely swallowed me whole. I didn't want to put it down and come up for air. We have a serial killer on the loose killing young gay men who just happen to resemble Augie. They all have his brown hair and hazel eyes. They are all around his age and are always found naked and strangled. August having the gift for finding is unfortunately the one who gets the first glimpse at them all. But that isn't the only people he finds. But I don't want to say much more because it would give too much away.
I liked that the story had a lot more going on and didn't just focus on the killing's. There were other people being found. All heartbreaking, but some more than others. Then there was August's real job. He has his own business where he has put his other talent of being able to fix all sorts of things to use. I liked that he had such a normal job and one I haven't came across in a book before. We also meet a variety of different characters that were interesting and played a part of the final outcome.
I only have a few complaints. The book was a little longer than needed. Some of the author's explanations of things were a bit long winded. It wasn't needed. The romance was a slow burn. It didn't play a big part in the story. It was there, just not the main attraction. I could have used more to be honest. I really liked him and Luke together and I wanted their relationship to have more page time. But I was still satisfied with the story.
This was really good. I hope more of you give it a shot.
Happy reading, dolls! xx
January 25, 2019
The main thing I can say about this book is that it kept my interest enough for me to finish it.
I really liked the scenario, the touch of paranormal, and there is a lot of scope for a really good story.
It is a shame this didn't quite work out, and I hope the following points will be taken as positive criticism rather than a huge moan.
.) The writing doesn't flow enough. The author has a tendency to use too many short/shortish sentences which often makes the narrative read more like a list. This felt particularly strange when the author describes sex scenes.
It started with a cuddle session. Then we moved on to making out. Heavy petting followed. Finally, after a few weeks, we managed to grind to completion.
.) There is too much superficial telling and not enough in depth showing. Particularly on the emotional front.
.) There is too much going on. I think the author is trying to follow too many ideas (the serial killer, the twin, the sex problems ... ) and ends up with a bit of everything 'not done in enough depth'.
.) The romance here is only secondary to the rest of the story. Augie and Luke get together about midway of the book and that's it. Their relationship is more part of Augie's development than anything else. This, in itself, is okay if this is what was intended, but I missed the usual relationship development.
I also couldn't feel a lot of spark between Augie and Luke, and certainly no sexual chemistry. We are only getting Augie's POV and the author hasn't done enough to let us know how Luke is feeling.
.) I would like to point out that 8 years is not a huge age gap, as suggested. *g*
So, a lot of promise, but the execution did not quite hit the mark.
I really liked the scenario, the touch of paranormal, and there is a lot of scope for a really good story.
It is a shame this didn't quite work out, and I hope the following points will be taken as positive criticism rather than a huge moan.
.) The writing doesn't flow enough. The author has a tendency to use too many short/shortish sentences which often makes the narrative read more like a list. This felt particularly strange when the author describes sex scenes.
It started with a cuddle session. Then we moved on to making out. Heavy petting followed. Finally, after a few weeks, we managed to grind to completion.
.) There is too much superficial telling and not enough in depth showing. Particularly on the emotional front.
.) There is too much going on. I think the author is trying to follow too many ideas (the serial killer, the twin, the sex problems ... ) and ends up with a bit of everything 'not done in enough depth'.
.) The romance here is only secondary to the rest of the story. Augie and Luke get together about midway of the book and that's it. Their relationship is more part of Augie's development than anything else. This, in itself, is okay if this is what was intended, but I missed the usual relationship development.
I also couldn't feel a lot of spark between Augie and Luke, and certainly no sexual chemistry. We are only getting Augie's POV and the author hasn't done enough to let us know how Luke is feeling.
.) I would like to point out that 8 years is not a huge age gap, as suggested. *g*
So, a lot of promise, but the execution did not quite hit the mark.
March 7, 2020
I am shocked at how good this was. I don't even know how it ended up on my tbr, but I'm so glad I read it. It kept me absorbed in the crime mystery. The romance was almost a side plot as the focus was mostly on the MC August. We learn a lot about him and his life while we're in the middle of solving a serial killer crime. It was fascinating. I was afraid that the psychic aspect would be cheesy since it's not my favorite trope, but it never overwhelmed the story. Instead, it added and augmented was was a really well written crime mystery romance.
August 15, 2017
At first sight, this book screamed my name. It begged me to read it, so I did it. It was entertaining enough but not the best paranormal story I've read.
August Goodson is a 25 young man who developed the ability to find dead or nearly dead people when he was 16.
For me, that’s enough to be sucked into a story. Paranormal is always my go-to-genre.
Obviously, I can’t forget to tell you that August works as a consultant for the police and he has a crush on the very hot and very straight Detective Luke Williams. With that premise, I couldn’t stay away from this book. OH, we have age gap too!
However, it wasn’t as good as I thought it was gonna be. Geez, I hate when my expectations are crushed.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. The mystery was good but it was soooooooooooo slow. The beginning was boring AF. I practically lived August’s everyday routine. That was a thing that lasted like 60% that’s when the mystery and bad things start to pick up.
I have to warn you, even if the blurb talks about August’s crush for Luke: this story doesn’t have much romance going on. The lack of romance and steam made me kind of mad, the story focused too much on August’s problems and everyday routine (that was driving me crazy because it bored me a lot) and it almost didn’t let space for anything else. Then bad things happen and they complicate everything.
There’s lots of character development, that’s something I can’t complain of. I liked the author took her time to do this because having the gift of finding dead people is something that takes a toll after a while and then what happened to August @70% requires some time to heal and good therapy.
I think it would have been better if the author instead of using those pages to describe me August routing (sometimes I felt like copy and paste because it is something that he obviously did EVERY DAY), she would have used them to elaborate August and Luke’s relationship. They spent an awful amount of time apart at the beginning of the book and then when they were together they just talked, pecked each other lips and hold hands. It was so high school relationship that it was frustrating.
At least I cared about August; otherwise, it would have been a chore to get to the end. As I said, the mystery was good, besides, I needed to know if I was right about who the killer was and yey for me because I was right! I don’t know if it was easy or it’s just me that can’t shut down my brain so I inevitably end up guessing. *sigh*
If you don’t mind the lack of romance department and follow the MC’s step-by-step routing, this book is definitely for you.
~3 stars~
August Goodson is a 25 young man who developed the ability to find dead or nearly dead people when he was 16.
For me, that’s enough to be sucked into a story. Paranormal is always my go-to-genre.
Obviously, I can’t forget to tell you that August works as a consultant for the police and he has a crush on the very hot and very straight Detective Luke Williams. With that premise, I couldn’t stay away from this book. OH, we have age gap too!
However, it wasn’t as good as I thought it was gonna be. Geez, I hate when my expectations are crushed.
Don’t get me wrong, I liked it. The mystery was good but it was soooooooooooo slow. The beginning was boring AF. I practically lived August’s everyday routine. That was a thing that lasted like 60% that’s when the mystery and bad things start to pick up.
I have to warn you, even if the blurb talks about August’s crush for Luke: this story doesn’t have much romance going on. The lack of romance and steam made me kind of mad, the story focused too much on August’s problems and everyday routine (that was driving me crazy because it bored me a lot) and it almost didn’t let space for anything else. Then bad things happen and they complicate everything.
There’s lots of character development, that’s something I can’t complain of. I liked the author took her time to do this because having the gift of finding dead people is something that takes a toll after a while and then what happened to August @70% requires some time to heal and good therapy.
I think it would have been better if the author instead of using those pages to describe me August routing (sometimes I felt like copy and paste because it is something that he obviously did EVERY DAY), she would have used them to elaborate August and Luke’s relationship. They spent an awful amount of time apart at the beginning of the book and then when they were together they just talked, pecked each other lips and hold hands. It was so high school relationship that it was frustrating.
At least I cared about August; otherwise, it would have been a chore to get to the end. As I said, the mystery was good, besides, I needed to know if I was right about who the killer was and yey for me because I was right! I don’t know if it was easy or it’s just me that can’t shut down my brain so I inevitably end up guessing. *sigh*
If you don’t mind the lack of romance department and follow the MC’s step-by-step routing, this book is definitely for you.
~3 stars~
August 31, 2019
Re-read 29Aug2019 to refresh my memory of the story before reading Book 2! (I really wish this were on audio.)
Original Review 24Oct2017: 4.3 Stars
Another book I'm pleasantly surprised by! The mystery was a bit typical, if the procedural aspect WAY different, and I had the killer pegged upon the character's introduction. I didn't know the why of it though, so that kept me intrigued - as did the slow building romance between the MCs.
With his abandonment and trust issues, Auggie is slow to realize his crush is not completely one sided, and even with the OMG you almost DIED! trope (earlier on than I expected) he's still wary. I don't blame him. When you read about all the people in his life that have disappointed him you won't blame him either. But, you know what happens? These men *gasp* talk. They talk about their fears, their expectations, their wants...they slowly learn about each other & they work on building a real relationship - but not like in an After School Special or didactic way that would bore you to tears. It's honestly so refreshing that the almost meh plot climax didn't even bother me.
I would truly love another book in this series - with maybe the brothers working together on something and giving Finn his own story?
Original Review 24Oct2017: 4.3 Stars
Another book I'm pleasantly surprised by! The mystery was a bit typical, if the procedural aspect WAY different, and I had the killer pegged upon the character's introduction. I didn't know the why of it though, so that kept me intrigued - as did the slow building romance between the MCs.
With his abandonment and trust issues, Auggie is slow to realize his crush is not completely one sided, and even with the OMG you almost DIED! trope (earlier on than I expected) he's still wary. I don't blame him. When you read about all the people in his life that have disappointed him you won't blame him either. But, you know what happens? These men *gasp* talk. They talk about their fears, their expectations, their wants...they slowly learn about each other & they work on building a real relationship - but not like in an After School Special or didactic way that would bore you to tears. It's honestly so refreshing that the almost meh plot climax didn't even bother me.
I would truly love another book in this series - with maybe the brothers working together on something and giving Finn his own story?
June 2, 2024
3.5 (but not rounded to differentiate the difference in rating between this book and the sequel.)
This is a very simple story, but very enjoyable.
Even though it's not linked properly, there is a sequel to this called The Found. I'd like to read that, too.
This is a very simple story, but very enjoyable.
Even though it's not linked properly, there is a sequel to this called The Found. I'd like to read that, too.
June 8, 2021
I was looking for a mystery with a psychic element and that's exactly what I found in this book.
August has been called by dying people since he was sixteen. It also caused him to be abandoned by his adoptive parents. He helps the police by finding victims for them. He is also in love with one of the policemen - Luke. Now they are working on solving a case of a serial killer who kills young men looking exactly like Augie.
This is a good story that I read very quickly. Though I doubt I will remember its details in a while. But still, a solid story. The plot is fine, although it might be a bit dark for some readers. I guessed who the murderer was, but it's not particularly obvious and I had a lot of fun anyway.
The characters are developed enough. Augie is one of those tragic characters who doesn't get much good in life. Although this may not be entirely true, there were many happy moments and periods in his life. It's just that those sad moments are much more exposed in this book. Luke is a little less developed as a character, but he isn't flat either.
Together, they make a pretty good couple, although they don't seem to fit together at first glance, also because Augie is much younger than Luke. Their relationship doesn't develop slowly, but rather at some point they decide to just be together. But they have to work a lot on their relationship later, so that's okay.
I know there is another book in this series, but I don't know if I will read it. For me, this is a complete, finished story. And while I like Luke and Augie and the other characters, I'm not sure if I need to meet them again. At least for the moment. We will see ...
August has been called by dying people since he was sixteen. It also caused him to be abandoned by his adoptive parents. He helps the police by finding victims for them. He is also in love with one of the policemen - Luke. Now they are working on solving a case of a serial killer who kills young men looking exactly like Augie.
This is a good story that I read very quickly. Though I doubt I will remember its details in a while. But still, a solid story. The plot is fine, although it might be a bit dark for some readers. I guessed who the murderer was, but it's not particularly obvious and I had a lot of fun anyway.
The characters are developed enough. Augie is one of those tragic characters who doesn't get much good in life. Although this may not be entirely true, there were many happy moments and periods in his life. It's just that those sad moments are much more exposed in this book. Luke is a little less developed as a character, but he isn't flat either.
Together, they make a pretty good couple, although they don't seem to fit together at first glance, also because Augie is much younger than Luke. Their relationship doesn't develop slowly, but rather at some point they decide to just be together. But they have to work a lot on their relationship later, so that's okay.
I know there is another book in this series, but I don't know if I will read it. For me, this is a complete, finished story. And while I like Luke and Augie and the other characters, I'm not sure if I need to meet them again. At least for the moment. We will see ...
April 19, 2017
I found this book by a new-to-me author, J.E. Lorin by accident. Saw it on an author's recommended tweet and I was interested with the blurb.
Well, for me The Finder was a SATISFYING read. I loved the romance -- that it moved slowly but surely, and it helped that August and Luke had known each other for years since August worked for the police. I enjoyed the mystery, even if the identity of the serial killer wasn't as surprising but the motive was pretty believable.
I liked the supporting characters too -- sure the girl friend meddled but I didn't find her at the point of being annoying. Besides, Cherry stayed with August during the 'betrayal' and she could be his champion when needed. Would love to read more about Mark and Finn. I also wanted more scenes of Jack, the Golden Labrador though.
The pacing might need a little polishing -- there were times that I thought the story dwindled between the mystery and August's life. Plus because August was not part of the law enforcement, I didn't really get the investigative part of the equation.
BUT, since I was pretty much engaged throughout, I could live with it. It helped that I really liked August as a character -- I liked his ability and I liked his job! I wanted to read more about his 'tinkering' and all aspects of his life, that I wasn't too bothered when the story switched the gear down.
I would love this to be a series!
Well, for me The Finder was a SATISFYING read. I loved the romance -- that it moved slowly but surely, and it helped that August and Luke had known each other for years since August worked for the police. I enjoyed the mystery, even if the identity of the serial killer wasn't as surprising but the motive was pretty believable.
I liked the supporting characters too -- sure the girl friend meddled but I didn't find her at the point of being annoying. Besides, Cherry stayed with August during the 'betrayal' and she could be his champion when needed. Would love to read more about Mark and Finn. I also wanted more scenes of Jack, the Golden Labrador though.
The pacing might need a little polishing -- there were times that I thought the story dwindled between the mystery and August's life. Plus because August was not part of the law enforcement, I didn't really get the investigative part of the equation.
BUT, since I was pretty much engaged throughout, I could live with it. It helped that I really liked August as a character -- I liked his ability and I liked his job! I wanted to read more about his 'tinkering' and all aspects of his life, that I wasn't too bothered when the story switched the gear down.
I would love this to be a series!
August 27, 2019
Despite the romance being a little on the sweeter side and the investigation not too intense, I really liked this story. Detective and psychic pairing is one of my favorite. This book is told from single POV that of August Goodson who is a psychic with really interesting abilities. The steam level is mild with a slow burn romance, the characters are likeable if a bit grumpy at times, the murder is not too gruesome yet interesting enough to keep the story from getting dull. I like mine with a bit more tension but there was something about August and his personality that appealed to me. He was hurt by the people he trusted the most and that made it impossible for him to open up and trust new people. So, this book in a way told a story of learning to trust again and being able to let go of past hurts.
I liked Luke a lot. His affection for August was pretty obvious to everyone except August himself. They were pining for each other without knowing it. Their relationship was so sweet and romantic when they finally acknowledged their feelings. There was plenty of cuddling and talking. Yes, there was a bit of steam but not much and very light almost till the end.
The serial killer was almost evident when all the characters were introduced. But I liked that I had a niggle of doubt. It kept things interesting. There was a bit of angst, some family drama and a lot of soul searching and overcoming some emotional trauma but this was not dark or miserable. It was still rather light-hearted in my opinion. So for those who do not like too much suffering but want a decent suspenseful book this will be a perfect fit. I enjoyed it myself despite it being so mild. I guess August's sometimes crotchety moods and Cherry's enthusiasm as well as Luke's steadfastness grew on me. I recommend it.
I liked Luke a lot. His affection for August was pretty obvious to everyone except August himself. They were pining for each other without knowing it. Their relationship was so sweet and romantic when they finally acknowledged their feelings. There was plenty of cuddling and talking. Yes, there was a bit of steam but not much and very light almost till the end.
The serial killer was almost evident when all the characters were introduced. But I liked that I had a niggle of doubt. It kept things interesting. There was a bit of angst, some family drama and a lot of soul searching and overcoming some emotional trauma but this was not dark or miserable. It was still rather light-hearted in my opinion. So for those who do not like too much suffering but want a decent suspenseful book this will be a perfect fit. I enjoyed it myself despite it being so mild. I guess August's sometimes crotchety moods and Cherry's enthusiasm as well as Luke's steadfastness grew on me. I recommend it.
November 14, 2019
The Finder by J.B. Login is a very intriguing book with so many twist and turns! It's a mystery with a serial killer and a guy that has some paranormal abilities to find people in trouble, dead or alive. He has helped the police so much that they have come to rely upon him at times but this one is baffling. There is so much in here!!! So exciting! It's also a romance, a gay romance. So if this is a turn off for you then you are going to miss out on a great book! I loved it!
April 16, 2017
Slow Burn and Beautiful
This book is exactly the kind of book I love. Paranormal, mystery, cops, danger and love. There was real and authentic character development and a genuine plot that fit perfectly with the world created. Well done. I would love to see more from this author in the same vein. I borrowed this in KU and I am returning it so I can buy it.
This book is exactly the kind of book I love. Paranormal, mystery, cops, danger and love. There was real and authentic character development and a genuine plot that fit perfectly with the world created. Well done. I would love to see more from this author in the same vein. I borrowed this in KU and I am returning it so I can buy it.
July 27, 2018
DNF at 53% I actually forgot about the book and it's now over a year later so little chance I'll return!
Romance - lacklustre, rarely get a first name, but apparently they're 'in a relationship' now.
Mystery - none. Vague on how many killed, detecting if there is any off-page so zero impact and no public panic. Know who the murderer is from within two lines of his intro though.
Paranormal - No idea. He 'finds' people, dead or sometimes alive, then gets on with whatever.
Found the writing uninspiring spelling out unnecessary detail.
Romance - lacklustre, rarely get a first name, but apparently they're 'in a relationship' now.
Mystery - none. Vague on how many killed, detecting if there is any off-page so zero impact and no public panic. Know who the murderer is from within two lines of his intro though.
Paranormal - No idea. He 'finds' people, dead or sometimes alive, then gets on with whatever.
Found the writing uninspiring spelling out unnecessary detail.
September 13, 2019
I liked the plot. I didn't love the writing style. There was just something missing as far as the characters emotional connections to each other went. A lot of telling, not much showing. I figured out who the killer was early on but the overall concept was good. I feel like this had a lot of potential that it didn't live up to. I wouldn't pay for the next book but since it's in KU I will probably give it a try.
April 26, 2017
Whomp Whomp Whomp
Im not saying the story was bad but Im also not saying this story was good.
This would have been a DNF for me but I had to prove myself right on who the killer was.
And HEY I WAS RIGHT.
Here's the thing. There was no connection btwn the MCs, no lingering looks, no butterflies, just a MC who basically described his day like I was reading Dear Diary.....
There was WAY TO MUCH internal monologue. There was just way TO MUCH STORY that didn't need to be in there.
Like the end... we find out who the killer is and then another 5 chapters to explain how this affected the lives of everyone. Seriously. Could have been 1 chapter, you know an Epilogue.
Just too too much.
Mare~Slitsread
Im not saying the story was bad but Im also not saying this story was good.
This would have been a DNF for me but I had to prove myself right on who the killer was.
And HEY I WAS RIGHT.
Here's the thing. There was no connection btwn the MCs, no lingering looks, no butterflies, just a MC who basically described his day like I was reading Dear Diary.....
There was WAY TO MUCH internal monologue. There was just way TO MUCH STORY that didn't need to be in there.
Like the end... we find out who the killer is and then another 5 chapters to explain how this affected the lives of everyone. Seriously. Could have been 1 chapter, you know an Epilogue.
Just too too much.
Mare~Slitsread
March 18, 2017
4,5 give me more stars!
What would you do when at any time people could reach out to you and demand your help, immediately – or you’d have to face the consequences. Never knowing if and when you were needed and what to find when you were, but most often the gruesomest of crimes. This has been the reality for August since he was sixteen.
Picking up books by authors who has very few published books is always a gamble, but this one paid off. I loved this book – a lot! So much that I read it cover to cover in one sitting.
I’ve had this craving for a while; for books with psychics who cooperate with the police to solve crimes, so when I found this one I couldn’t get my hands on it fast enough. And I wasn’t disappointed. It had it all, a bit broken and dented MC, a touch of drama, a lot of mystery and suspense and where things aren’t always what you think or what they look like. And are you truly sure you know who to trust?
But if you are looking for something hot and heavy and steamy, this isn’t the book for you. There were very few sex scenes, and to be honest that felt so refreshing. But the lack of sex doesn’t mean a lack of intimacy or connections, they were there throughout, and they were wonderful.
I wouldn’t mind seeing this one turned into a couple of more books, there is a potential for a good series here, so I guess we just have to wait and see what the author comes up with next. So, when you are in the mood for some romantic suspense with some great characters and a touch of paranormal, you should definitely give this one a try.
October 15, 2017
"When you tell a person who likes to read that you don’t, you might as well be saying you no longer speak the same language. Williams frowned at me like I’d just admitted to clubbing baby seals for sport."
It was a delight to blend mystery, police procedural, psychological thriller, and the paranormal with romance. Recommended.
Both lead men are well-written. The protagonist Finn is fun because he’s flawed, focused, gifted with an unusual talent that’s as much a curse as it is a blessing, and awkward/stumbling at the right, endearing times. Mark’s protectiveness at the beginning was downright sweet, and I ended up loving the guy too – everything from his comforting home and his loyal dog and his worried sister, to his loyal dedicated and charming look at romance.
My favorite romance is when it slowly unravels where the reader can actually sense and live in palpable build-up that makes more sense than instant lightning bolts (Unless it’s a fated-to-be-mated, since those can be fun for a different reason). This one rocked with that – you had pre-existing friendship that mean more, but they’re only now revealing their actual feelings to each other. A sweet relationship that endured in my mind because it was genuine enough to be convincing. More on the charm than the steam in this case, but it all goes together as a satisfying package. If I could describe the romance in this book, it’s “comforting.”
The storyline was actually good with genuine suspense, trauma, and violence. The mystery isn’t an easy solve, although I was starting to suspect the villain at the end. I liked how realistic the author kept the guilt so many characters would feel with all this stuff, since this is something that would likely happen off-page if it happened in actual life too. I also dug that the author provided an extended view of what happened after the main mystery, showing how it affected the character and his relationships. Throw in a great supportive best friend, a neat brotherly bond that develops, and you have a sure winner here.
It was a delight to blend mystery, police procedural, psychological thriller, and the paranormal with romance. Recommended.
Both lead men are well-written. The protagonist Finn is fun because he’s flawed, focused, gifted with an unusual talent that’s as much a curse as it is a blessing, and awkward/stumbling at the right, endearing times. Mark’s protectiveness at the beginning was downright sweet, and I ended up loving the guy too – everything from his comforting home and his loyal dog and his worried sister, to his loyal dedicated and charming look at romance.
My favorite romance is when it slowly unravels where the reader can actually sense and live in palpable build-up that makes more sense than instant lightning bolts (Unless it’s a fated-to-be-mated, since those can be fun for a different reason). This one rocked with that – you had pre-existing friendship that mean more, but they’re only now revealing their actual feelings to each other. A sweet relationship that endured in my mind because it was genuine enough to be convincing. More on the charm than the steam in this case, but it all goes together as a satisfying package. If I could describe the romance in this book, it’s “comforting.”
The storyline was actually good with genuine suspense, trauma, and violence. The mystery isn’t an easy solve, although I was starting to suspect the villain at the end. I liked how realistic the author kept the guilt so many characters would feel with all this stuff, since this is something that would likely happen off-page if it happened in actual life too. I also dug that the author provided an extended view of what happened after the main mystery, showing how it affected the character and his relationships. Throw in a great supportive best friend, a neat brotherly bond that develops, and you have a sure winner here.
May 7, 2017
2,25 stars
I didn't hate this book. I think even dislike would be going too far. But I didn't really like this either. The book as a whole was like a glass of room temperature water. You'll drink it if you're too lazy to get up for a refill, but you'd really prefer an ice cold bubbly one.
The reason I even finished this book was probably just the anticipation of the story picking up and a hope for a surprising twist. Then, when the killer was exactly who I thought it would be from the first mention of the character, and when even the relationship with the love interest only got lukewarm (no pun intended) at best, I was only reading to finish the damn thing and not have wasted hours on another DNF.
On the surface the story wasn't horrible or anything, but there was something about the writing that just didn't click for me. I generally don't prefer first person narration, but I can enjoy it if it's well done. In this one, the narration felt somehow emotionless and I had a really hard time empathizing with anything or anyone. It sort of felt like someone was recounting a memory they had no emotional connection to anymore, but they were still trying to tell you what they think they felt at the time.
Another thing that made this a poor choice for me was the romance. I just really didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, even though I did appreciate the fact that the story focused more on the emotions instead of plain old lust. I think I would have enjoyed this more with out the sex scenes altogether, because those felt pretty flat.
So, nowhere near the worst thing I've ever read (not even the worst I've read this year) but I don't think I'll be picking up anything more from this author.
I didn't hate this book. I think even dislike would be going too far. But I didn't really like this either. The book as a whole was like a glass of room temperature water. You'll drink it if you're too lazy to get up for a refill, but you'd really prefer an ice cold bubbly one.
The reason I even finished this book was probably just the anticipation of the story picking up and a hope for a surprising twist. Then, when the killer was exactly who I thought it would be from the first mention of the character, and when even the relationship with the love interest only got lukewarm (no pun intended) at best, I was only reading to finish the damn thing and not have wasted hours on another DNF.
On the surface the story wasn't horrible or anything, but there was something about the writing that just didn't click for me. I generally don't prefer first person narration, but I can enjoy it if it's well done. In this one, the narration felt somehow emotionless and I had a really hard time empathizing with anything or anyone. It sort of felt like someone was recounting a memory they had no emotional connection to anymore, but they were still trying to tell you what they think they felt at the time.
Another thing that made this a poor choice for me was the romance. I just really didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, even though I did appreciate the fact that the story focused more on the emotions instead of plain old lust. I think I would have enjoyed this more with out the sex scenes altogether, because those felt pretty flat.
So, nowhere near the worst thing I've ever read (not even the worst I've read this year) but I don't think I'll be picking up anything more from this author.
March 16, 2017
Augie was a bit of a jerk. Luke was one dimensional. There was very little passion or intensity to their relationship and I just wasn't convinced they were romantically in love so don't read this for the romance. The mystery and the psychic storyline were mildly interesting simply because I had a difficult time caring about Augie. If he had been more likeable I would have been more invested. Not what I was hoping for!
December 6, 2020
**4 stars**
Very good book. It kept me engaged. I loved the fantasy aspect, plus you have cops! What more can you ask for?
This is definitely a suspense 1st, romance 2nd. I didn't particularly mind because I like to mix it up. It's a slow burn and not much heat. However, the mystery part of the story made up for lack of bedroom time lol. Secondary characters were interesting as well. Nicely done.
Very good book. It kept me engaged. I loved the fantasy aspect, plus you have cops! What more can you ask for?
This is definitely a suspense 1st, romance 2nd. I didn't particularly mind because I like to mix it up. It's a slow burn and not much heat. However, the mystery part of the story made up for lack of bedroom time lol. Secondary characters were interesting as well. Nicely done.
June 6, 2017
3.5 Stars
I liked this. It kept me entertained.
This was too long. It could have been shorter, but it was still a good read. It started to get a little sappy and it really pulled me out of the story. Also MAJOR oops
Overall, glad I read it. I need to pick up more psychic books.
I liked this. It kept me entertained.
This was too long. It could have been shorter, but it was still a good read. It started to get a little sappy and it really pulled me out of the story. Also MAJOR oops
Overall, glad I read it. I need to pick up more psychic books.
September 25, 2017
Unexpectedly fun and satisfying. I say unexpectedly only because I'd never read this author before and because I'm glutted on gay, psychic MCs. Turns out that August is a fairly memorable dude, and I really enjoyed following his POV. Lorin's style is solid and devoid of highly distracting errors.
+ Thriller/suspense elements well done
+ Sweet friends-to-lovers progression
+ Comfort/care vibe
+ Optimistic tone despite some dark subject matter
- Not a difficult whodunit in regards to the attacks, but that's not what I was expecting from this book, anyway.
+/- Lower end of the steam spectrum; heavy on emotion and communication with relatively few explicit scenes (what's there is great, though). It works well for this story, and I'd rather have a few significant scenes than so much sex that I start skimming to get back to the plot.
+ Thriller/suspense elements well done
+ Sweet friends-to-lovers progression
+ Comfort/care vibe
+ Optimistic tone despite some dark subject matter
- Not a difficult whodunit in regards to the attacks, but that's not what I was expecting from this book, anyway.
+/- Lower end of the steam spectrum; heavy on emotion and communication with relatively few explicit scenes (what's there is great, though). It works well for this story, and I'd rather have a few significant scenes than so much sex that I start skimming to get back to the plot.
April 15, 2017
*2,5 STARS
Well, I do love psychic stories, so I was expecting to love this one. While I did enjoy it, I have to say it had some problems that made it into a so-so book for me.
First the good: August’s ability was interesting and I found I liked the way he collaborated with the police. The other thing I really liked was Finn.
The story itself was a little longer than it needed, with some scenes and explanations that could have been easily avoided. The mystery was fine at first, but I discovered the identity of the murderer pretty early, so that took away the surprise factor that’s always good in this sort of stories.
The MCs were very standard, and the romance, while not bad, just didn’t have anything special to it. I didn’t like Cherry, though. I always dislike her type of character, by that I mean the sister/best friend figure that we so often see in gay romance books, who meddles in the life of our main character with the excuse of looking after him and trying to help him out. I’ve grown to hate those characters, and they seem to always be there, annoying the hell out of me and the MC.
Well, I do love psychic stories, so I was expecting to love this one. While I did enjoy it, I have to say it had some problems that made it into a so-so book for me.
First the good: August’s ability was interesting and I found I liked the way he collaborated with the police. The other thing I really liked was Finn.
The story itself was a little longer than it needed, with some scenes and explanations that could have been easily avoided. The mystery was fine at first, but I discovered the identity of the murderer pretty early, so that took away the surprise factor that’s always good in this sort of stories.
The MCs were very standard, and the romance, while not bad, just didn’t have anything special to it. I didn’t like Cherry, though. I always dislike her type of character, by that I mean the sister/best friend figure that we so often see in gay romance books, who meddles in the life of our main character with the excuse of looking after him and trying to help him out. I’ve grown to hate those characters, and they seem to always be there, annoying the hell out of me and the MC.
April 25, 2017
Great YA/NA read 
CLICK HERE FOR PROPER BLOG REVIEW
The Finder is J.E. Loran’s third novel and although I don’t read much YA/NA these days this one caught my eye and I’m really glad it did. The amount of genre’s this book encompasses is rather vast and all of them are valid too. It’s not often you come across a book like this, but when it works it makes for excellent reading. It’s also a very well written book and aside from the main storyline its sub-plots really make this book. I had no idea where it was heading and I loved that because I didn’t come across a single clue or hint from the author as to where this ride was going. It also accelerates as it progresses and it keeps turning the corner at high speed when you’re not expecting it.
I’ll admit I initially found it a bit angst ridden but that’s only when August’s back story is being told. However it quickly turns away from what I thought was going to be angst as you begin to see the hard life of sixteen year old August and what he’s been through. That said though it then turns into quite a dark, crime fighting, psychological thriller and what a ride it takes you on for a YA/NA novel.
The Finder begins with August aged twenty five and starts off with what August does second best in his opinion. Not that he has any say in the matter and he doesn’t like it either. It gets right into it from the first page as he’s awoken in the early hours. He hears a voice calling out to him saying help me. As he’s had a late night out with his best friend Cherry and her girlfriends at one of the local gay bars, he then feels the familiar tug in his stomach, informing him immediately it was no dream that woke him. He throws on some clothes and is off out the door.
August is psychic and hears the call of people in all types of distress, most of the time they’re dead but that’s not always the case. It began on his sixteenth birthday and although he still has no idea how or why it works, he knows better than trying to ignore it. As he’s also adopted his parents can’t help him either, in fact they hate it so much that as soon as he graduated they literally threw some money at him and fled the state, putting two thousand miles between them, completely refusing to have anything more to do with him. Since he had no idea what the voices in his head wanted help for at age sixteen, he learnt the hard way. He’s never told a soul that if he ignores their calls, they come to haunt him. Staring silently at him and wouldn’t relent until he found their body.
There’s currently a serial killer on the loose in his city and August fits his profile demographic right down to the letter – mid twenties, slim and gay. He keeps finding these men naked, raped and strangled to death. The pull he’s currently feeling is leading him directly to a gay bar that he frequents regularly. As he turns the corner to head down the laneway beside the club he finds the victim and immediately calls an ambulance. There’s a difference to this situation though, this guy is still dressed and has been beaten so severely that August can’t believe he’s still alive, none of the others this psycho has killed had been beaten and left clothed.
As he goes to stand, the victim shoots a hand out and holds August in a vice like grip. For the first time since this all began, the victim begs him not to leave his side, but he’s pleading to August mind to mind. He yelps and drops his phone in shock and because he’s fallen over, once he’s recovered he grabs his phone to hear the frantic dispatch worker, who all know him well by now and is frantically calling to him to make sure he’s OK. He quickly calms her down and she tells him that Detective’s Gladstone and Williams are also en route.
Five years earlier after one too many call-ins locating dead bodies, August, or Augie to his friends, falls under the suspicion of the police very quickly. It’s not hard for them to realise he’s no killer and is assigned two Detectives. They aren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth because he’s given them the highest closure rates on cases. Gladstone can’t stand him and even after five years still doesn’t trust him whereas his partner Williams is the total opposite. He treats August with real concern and compassion and August is hopelessly in love with him, but it’s a dream of unrequited love that’s never going to happen.
Williams wife died six years ago and he’s straight, poor August is one grief stricken, sarcastic, and occasionally rude and angry young man. He is completely oblivious to how much of a screaming hot mess he still is. After deciding to move to the city with one of his childhood friends and his boyfriend of five years while they attend college, the three of them are inseparable. Life for August couldn’t be more perfect. He can’t afford college and decides to open a shop instead. He can literally fix anything that’s given to him and slowly builds up a steady clientele.
An unplanned trip home during a work day though shatters August’s perfect life as he finds his boyfriend and best friend Ivy having sex on the couch. They’d been cheating on him and his sensitive soul ends up shutting out three months of his life after the fallout. Lucky for him that Cherry, who is three years older and also Ivy’s sister, has finished college. She had missed Ivy and August so much because her college was out of state so she had moved to the city to be with them. She also quickly takes a devastated August’s side over her own sister’s actions. She is thoroughly disgusted by her sister and because she’s known Augie for so long he’s like her little brother. She doesn’t think twice about losing her unusual sister over the outgoing and exuberant friend that she’d known for most of her life. The problem was though, he was no longer there. The breakup also cost him all of his friends, even though he was the one that had been shafted. He no longer trusted people or his decision to choose the right people to trust.
This is what I thought was the onset of an angst ridden YA novel descending but it’s not at all. It’s actually showing you what has become of a beautiful person who’s inner light has been snuffed out. It’s been four years now and August has no idea that he has literally shut down. He has Cherry in his life now and refuses to let anyone else in, if someone gets too close he cuts them off. He has no idea how much of a rude shit he’s become either, even though he dislikes Cherry’s new man, Paul, who kindly and genuinely goes out of his way to include August; even into their circle of friends because he knows how important he is to Cherry. August would rather stick pins in his eyes especially to stay away from all of their friends when they get together. He just manages to deal with Paul for Cherry’s sake as he treats her well and is a nice guy, but he despises Paul’s friends. Both Cherry and Paul have begun to really pressure him into seeing them as much as possible. Cherry keeps guilt tripping him over get togethers and dinner parties and he absolutely hates it.
In August’s eyes they’re all wealthy stuck up arseholes and with his business keeping him afloat, he thinks they’re judgemental and sneer down their noses at him. They make it blatantly obvious that they don’t like him, yet August doesn’t help the situation. He’s unaware that it’s a two way street and just like them prejudging him, he has done the same. He just assumed that when they’d initially tried to get to know him it was out of polite society obligation. Cherry constantly inviting him over and buying him new clothes to play dress up, thinking it will help him feel more relaxed and fit in. It’s having the total opposite effect and making it so much worse because she’s so concerned she’s begun to smother him. Add to that the dead bodies piling up and Augie never having dealt with his abandonment issues. First being adopted, then having his parents ditch him, then his best friend and boyfriend cheating on him. He begins pushing Cherry away too because she’s getting way too pushy for him to deal with. It’s all too much for him and even the Detective’s notice he’s never been the same since they’d worked with him for a year before it all went down. That was four years ago now and if anything August is getting worse.
After Cherry guilts August into another dinner party at Paul’s behest, Cherry keeps filling up his wine glass to help him relax. August doesn’t like to drink in case he gets summoned to find someone, to his relief he hears a call, making it easy for him to leave without Cherry getting angry. Cherry and Paul see him out and Paul manages to word something as August leaves that he possibly knows of August’s gift. If true this is such a huge betrayal to him he’s furious and heads off in the direction he’s being pulled. To add lemon juice to a paper cut August looses his shit when he finds a kid at the end of the trail. He’s not a victim of the serial killer but can’t be any older than twelve, he’s drunk and finally lets it all out and just sobs before calling it in. When the detective’s arrive and find him drunk they are furious with him. They drive him home in a tense silence and Williams follows him inside and tears August a new one. August is shocked by the anger exploding from Williams but then proceeds to attack him right back with a stinging ferocity that Williams was not expecting at all.
Shocking each other into submission Williams asks August why he just doesn’t give it up. Because he’s drunk August finally blurts out that if he doesn’t go find them immediately, they haunt him until he does. This in turn disarms Williams and he tells August he considers him a friend, that he is extremely concerned for his welfare. He has been ever since his break up four years ago and right now it’s far too dangerous for August to go out wandering alone. They never socialise outside of work but Williams demands that August now calls him immediately from now on every time August gets summoned. No matter the time or place, from now on he’s to call Williams and they’ll drive to the location.
Since August is never wrong and the detective’s always end up where he’s lead to, why aren’t they driving him from the get go? This isn’t mentioned in the book but it should have been. It’s the only flaw in the book that I think should have been addressed after he’d been working with them after a week. Let alone for five years with a serial killer on the loose. They should have at least provided him this service and protection. It’s not like they’re paying him because he has to do it and becomes a volunteer civilian consultant that is never wrong, knowing that the detective’s will always be called to his location anyway. Not to mention he can’t afford a car.
He’s so paranoid about people finding out and ending up a lab rat in a top secret government facility he starts blowing Cherry off in fury. He had hardly told anyone during his life and Cherry told Paul after six months of dating. Cherry doesn’t take this well but August is so pissed he just doesn’t care because she tries to justify her actions. If anything it pushed him further into complete isolation. This doesn’t go unnoticed by Cherry, Paul and Detective Williams though. They’ve all become extremely concerned for him and his well being as August’s reckless abandon for his own life is becoming more apparent.
The next day is Sunday and to clear his head he decides to go into work for a distraction. That is until he finds himself standing outside the hospital of a coma patient. He’d been told by the Detectives that the doctors don’t expect him to ever recover, but he’d subconsciously been pulled there by his gift. He has the overwhelming urge to touch the guys arm but at the same time he wants to flee. He finally gives in and as soon as they touch August is launched into the unidentified man’s mind and is shown a memory. He’s not sure how long it goes on for but realises that it’s the guy in the bed arguing with someone in a factory just before he was beaten. As he comes out of it he begins to fall, he didn’t notice the doctor who’d entered that rushes to his side and helps him into a chair.
The book really takes off from here as his friendship with Cherry begins to disintegrate, the killer ramps up his murder spree and body count, and August begins to spend more time with the mystery man in a coma. He receives a call from the doctor looking after him who informs August that after every visit to the hospital the coma victim’s brain activity begins to improve substantially. August begins to visit him regularly and finds solace pouring his heart out to someone he doesn’t know. He gets a terrible foreboding wash over him about it though, about everything.
** MAJOR SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS! **
August gets this terrible feeling that he’s missing something vital. A nasty accusing visit at work the next day from Gladstone and Williams, when they storm in pissed as all hell calling him a liar, is confounding to August. He’s at a loss for words. They keep grilling him about how he knows the coma victim. August is pissed at being called a liar but because Gladstone is so angry he’s scaring him, he has no clue what they’re on about. He tells them for the third time that he is positive he has no idea who he is. Williams looks disappointed with August, who’s slowly beginning to lose it as he keeps denying the fact he’s ever met the guy in his entire life. Gladstone then demands from him why the hell was he looking for you everywhere that night. They finally tell him that he’d been searching for August the night he’d been beaten and still don’t believe him until Williams drops a bombshell.
This is where the book has finished its maintenance checks, the countdown hits zero and someone presses the launch button to deploy a clusterfuck bomb. Williams tells Augie that a bartender that they’d missed on round one of interviews told them that he’d seen August that night. He was really surprised to see that you’d gone back to being a natural blond. He even tried to call you over to him for a chat but he said you couldn’t hear him. You were talking to another group of guys, he got busy and forgot all about it. Then they ask him if he has any other family members and August goes pale. His reply shocks them when he tells them that actually might be possible. They just stare at him until he says I’m adopted. That shuts them up for a brief pause and they demand to know why he didn’t you them before. He replies it never came up and you never asked. August went numb as the possibility that a family member had come looking for him. He was in a touch of shock and they ask him for a DNA sample, which he agrees too. He’d always wondered if he had another living blood relative out there once his adoptive parents left him. Now he’s about to find out.
** SPOILER ALERT OVER **
August is then dragged through hell as he believes that the things the serial killer begins to do is all connected to him somehow. His crush on Detective Luke Williams gets stronger as they’re forced into spending more time together. He believes that this is somehow connected to August but no one can figure out how or why. Did the unknown guy in a coma bring this trouble with him or was he just another person in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does August’s affection to Williams evolve and does Gladstone finally manage to find a stick big enough to help him remove the gigantic bug up his arse? Then will Cherry and Augie finally manage to resolve their differences? Will poor August make it through this entire ordeal? Because what I’ve reviewed was the happy, fluffy stuff. This book takes a dark turn but it’s really worth the read.
I know this seems long and it’s like I’m giving the entire story away but I’ve only touched lightly on the first twenty or so percent of this book. Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t read many YA/NA novel’s these days but if I’d had books like this to read when I was eighteen to twenty five I would have been in heaven. I’m a huge fan of paranormal novels that have characters with believable psychic powers, as in they’re not over the top. Add to it that this is also a psychological thriller with plot points I didn’t see coming and it’s an extra bonus. This was no formulaic book and it also contained another style of writing that I’m not overly fond of. That is having the main character doing a lot of narration about himself. However the way J. E. Lorin wrote this I didn’t find it grating on my nerves. I enjoyed the way the story was conveyed so I immediately read another of the author’s novels – Peril – which was also excellent.
There is so much more to this book but I can’t write another word without ruining it.
CLICK HERE FOR PROPER BLOG REVIEW
The Finder is J.E. Loran’s third novel and although I don’t read much YA/NA these days this one caught my eye and I’m really glad it did. The amount of genre’s this book encompasses is rather vast and all of them are valid too. It’s not often you come across a book like this, but when it works it makes for excellent reading. It’s also a very well written book and aside from the main storyline its sub-plots really make this book. I had no idea where it was heading and I loved that because I didn’t come across a single clue or hint from the author as to where this ride was going. It also accelerates as it progresses and it keeps turning the corner at high speed when you’re not expecting it.
I’ll admit I initially found it a bit angst ridden but that’s only when August’s back story is being told. However it quickly turns away from what I thought was going to be angst as you begin to see the hard life of sixteen year old August and what he’s been through. That said though it then turns into quite a dark, crime fighting, psychological thriller and what a ride it takes you on for a YA/NA novel.
The Finder begins with August aged twenty five and starts off with what August does second best in his opinion. Not that he has any say in the matter and he doesn’t like it either. It gets right into it from the first page as he’s awoken in the early hours. He hears a voice calling out to him saying help me. As he’s had a late night out with his best friend Cherry and her girlfriends at one of the local gay bars, he then feels the familiar tug in his stomach, informing him immediately it was no dream that woke him. He throws on some clothes and is off out the door.
August is psychic and hears the call of people in all types of distress, most of the time they’re dead but that’s not always the case. It began on his sixteenth birthday and although he still has no idea how or why it works, he knows better than trying to ignore it. As he’s also adopted his parents can’t help him either, in fact they hate it so much that as soon as he graduated they literally threw some money at him and fled the state, putting two thousand miles between them, completely refusing to have anything more to do with him. Since he had no idea what the voices in his head wanted help for at age sixteen, he learnt the hard way. He’s never told a soul that if he ignores their calls, they come to haunt him. Staring silently at him and wouldn’t relent until he found their body.
There’s currently a serial killer on the loose in his city and August fits his profile demographic right down to the letter – mid twenties, slim and gay. He keeps finding these men naked, raped and strangled to death. The pull he’s currently feeling is leading him directly to a gay bar that he frequents regularly. As he turns the corner to head down the laneway beside the club he finds the victim and immediately calls an ambulance. There’s a difference to this situation though, this guy is still dressed and has been beaten so severely that August can’t believe he’s still alive, none of the others this psycho has killed had been beaten and left clothed.
As he goes to stand, the victim shoots a hand out and holds August in a vice like grip. For the first time since this all began, the victim begs him not to leave his side, but he’s pleading to August mind to mind. He yelps and drops his phone in shock and because he’s fallen over, once he’s recovered he grabs his phone to hear the frantic dispatch worker, who all know him well by now and is frantically calling to him to make sure he’s OK. He quickly calms her down and she tells him that Detective’s Gladstone and Williams are also en route.
Five years earlier after one too many call-ins locating dead bodies, August, or Augie to his friends, falls under the suspicion of the police very quickly. It’s not hard for them to realise he’s no killer and is assigned two Detectives. They aren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth because he’s given them the highest closure rates on cases. Gladstone can’t stand him and even after five years still doesn’t trust him whereas his partner Williams is the total opposite. He treats August with real concern and compassion and August is hopelessly in love with him, but it’s a dream of unrequited love that’s never going to happen.
Williams wife died six years ago and he’s straight, poor August is one grief stricken, sarcastic, and occasionally rude and angry young man. He is completely oblivious to how much of a screaming hot mess he still is. After deciding to move to the city with one of his childhood friends and his boyfriend of five years while they attend college, the three of them are inseparable. Life for August couldn’t be more perfect. He can’t afford college and decides to open a shop instead. He can literally fix anything that’s given to him and slowly builds up a steady clientele.
An unplanned trip home during a work day though shatters August’s perfect life as he finds his boyfriend and best friend Ivy having sex on the couch. They’d been cheating on him and his sensitive soul ends up shutting out three months of his life after the fallout. Lucky for him that Cherry, who is three years older and also Ivy’s sister, has finished college. She had missed Ivy and August so much because her college was out of state so she had moved to the city to be with them. She also quickly takes a devastated August’s side over her own sister’s actions. She is thoroughly disgusted by her sister and because she’s known Augie for so long he’s like her little brother. She doesn’t think twice about losing her unusual sister over the outgoing and exuberant friend that she’d known for most of her life. The problem was though, he was no longer there. The breakup also cost him all of his friends, even though he was the one that had been shafted. He no longer trusted people or his decision to choose the right people to trust.
This is what I thought was the onset of an angst ridden YA novel descending but it’s not at all. It’s actually showing you what has become of a beautiful person who’s inner light has been snuffed out. It’s been four years now and August has no idea that he has literally shut down. He has Cherry in his life now and refuses to let anyone else in, if someone gets too close he cuts them off. He has no idea how much of a rude shit he’s become either, even though he dislikes Cherry’s new man, Paul, who kindly and genuinely goes out of his way to include August; even into their circle of friends because he knows how important he is to Cherry. August would rather stick pins in his eyes especially to stay away from all of their friends when they get together. He just manages to deal with Paul for Cherry’s sake as he treats her well and is a nice guy, but he despises Paul’s friends. Both Cherry and Paul have begun to really pressure him into seeing them as much as possible. Cherry keeps guilt tripping him over get togethers and dinner parties and he absolutely hates it.
In August’s eyes they’re all wealthy stuck up arseholes and with his business keeping him afloat, he thinks they’re judgemental and sneer down their noses at him. They make it blatantly obvious that they don’t like him, yet August doesn’t help the situation. He’s unaware that it’s a two way street and just like them prejudging him, he has done the same. He just assumed that when they’d initially tried to get to know him it was out of polite society obligation. Cherry constantly inviting him over and buying him new clothes to play dress up, thinking it will help him feel more relaxed and fit in. It’s having the total opposite effect and making it so much worse because she’s so concerned she’s begun to smother him. Add to that the dead bodies piling up and Augie never having dealt with his abandonment issues. First being adopted, then having his parents ditch him, then his best friend and boyfriend cheating on him. He begins pushing Cherry away too because she’s getting way too pushy for him to deal with. It’s all too much for him and even the Detective’s notice he’s never been the same since they’d worked with him for a year before it all went down. That was four years ago now and if anything August is getting worse.
After Cherry guilts August into another dinner party at Paul’s behest, Cherry keeps filling up his wine glass to help him relax. August doesn’t like to drink in case he gets summoned to find someone, to his relief he hears a call, making it easy for him to leave without Cherry getting angry. Cherry and Paul see him out and Paul manages to word something as August leaves that he possibly knows of August’s gift. If true this is such a huge betrayal to him he’s furious and heads off in the direction he’s being pulled. To add lemon juice to a paper cut August looses his shit when he finds a kid at the end of the trail. He’s not a victim of the serial killer but can’t be any older than twelve, he’s drunk and finally lets it all out and just sobs before calling it in. When the detective’s arrive and find him drunk they are furious with him. They drive him home in a tense silence and Williams follows him inside and tears August a new one. August is shocked by the anger exploding from Williams but then proceeds to attack him right back with a stinging ferocity that Williams was not expecting at all.
Shocking each other into submission Williams asks August why he just doesn’t give it up. Because he’s drunk August finally blurts out that if he doesn’t go find them immediately, they haunt him until he does. This in turn disarms Williams and he tells August he considers him a friend, that he is extremely concerned for his welfare. He has been ever since his break up four years ago and right now it’s far too dangerous for August to go out wandering alone. They never socialise outside of work but Williams demands that August now calls him immediately from now on every time August gets summoned. No matter the time or place, from now on he’s to call Williams and they’ll drive to the location.
Since August is never wrong and the detective’s always end up where he’s lead to, why aren’t they driving him from the get go? This isn’t mentioned in the book but it should have been. It’s the only flaw in the book that I think should have been addressed after he’d been working with them after a week. Let alone for five years with a serial killer on the loose. They should have at least provided him this service and protection. It’s not like they’re paying him because he has to do it and becomes a volunteer civilian consultant that is never wrong, knowing that the detective’s will always be called to his location anyway. Not to mention he can’t afford a car.
He’s so paranoid about people finding out and ending up a lab rat in a top secret government facility he starts blowing Cherry off in fury. He had hardly told anyone during his life and Cherry told Paul after six months of dating. Cherry doesn’t take this well but August is so pissed he just doesn’t care because she tries to justify her actions. If anything it pushed him further into complete isolation. This doesn’t go unnoticed by Cherry, Paul and Detective Williams though. They’ve all become extremely concerned for him and his well being as August’s reckless abandon for his own life is becoming more apparent.
The next day is Sunday and to clear his head he decides to go into work for a distraction. That is until he finds himself standing outside the hospital of a coma patient. He’d been told by the Detectives that the doctors don’t expect him to ever recover, but he’d subconsciously been pulled there by his gift. He has the overwhelming urge to touch the guys arm but at the same time he wants to flee. He finally gives in and as soon as they touch August is launched into the unidentified man’s mind and is shown a memory. He’s not sure how long it goes on for but realises that it’s the guy in the bed arguing with someone in a factory just before he was beaten. As he comes out of it he begins to fall, he didn’t notice the doctor who’d entered that rushes to his side and helps him into a chair.
The book really takes off from here as his friendship with Cherry begins to disintegrate, the killer ramps up his murder spree and body count, and August begins to spend more time with the mystery man in a coma. He receives a call from the doctor looking after him who informs August that after every visit to the hospital the coma victim’s brain activity begins to improve substantially. August begins to visit him regularly and finds solace pouring his heart out to someone he doesn’t know. He gets a terrible foreboding wash over him about it though, about everything.
** MAJOR SPOILER ALERT IN NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS! **
August gets this terrible feeling that he’s missing something vital. A nasty accusing visit at work the next day from Gladstone and Williams, when they storm in pissed as all hell calling him a liar, is confounding to August. He’s at a loss for words. They keep grilling him about how he knows the coma victim. August is pissed at being called a liar but because Gladstone is so angry he’s scaring him, he has no clue what they’re on about. He tells them for the third time that he is positive he has no idea who he is. Williams looks disappointed with August, who’s slowly beginning to lose it as he keeps denying the fact he’s ever met the guy in his entire life. Gladstone then demands from him why the hell was he looking for you everywhere that night. They finally tell him that he’d been searching for August the night he’d been beaten and still don’t believe him until Williams drops a bombshell.
This is where the book has finished its maintenance checks, the countdown hits zero and someone presses the launch button to deploy a clusterfuck bomb. Williams tells Augie that a bartender that they’d missed on round one of interviews told them that he’d seen August that night. He was really surprised to see that you’d gone back to being a natural blond. He even tried to call you over to him for a chat but he said you couldn’t hear him. You were talking to another group of guys, he got busy and forgot all about it. Then they ask him if he has any other family members and August goes pale. His reply shocks them when he tells them that actually might be possible. They just stare at him until he says I’m adopted. That shuts them up for a brief pause and they demand to know why he didn’t you them before. He replies it never came up and you never asked. August went numb as the possibility that a family member had come looking for him. He was in a touch of shock and they ask him for a DNA sample, which he agrees too. He’d always wondered if he had another living blood relative out there once his adoptive parents left him. Now he’s about to find out.
** SPOILER ALERT OVER **
August is then dragged through hell as he believes that the things the serial killer begins to do is all connected to him somehow. His crush on Detective Luke Williams gets stronger as they’re forced into spending more time together. He believes that this is somehow connected to August but no one can figure out how or why. Did the unknown guy in a coma bring this trouble with him or was he just another person in the wrong place at the wrong time? Does August’s affection to Williams evolve and does Gladstone finally manage to find a stick big enough to help him remove the gigantic bug up his arse? Then will Cherry and Augie finally manage to resolve their differences? Will poor August make it through this entire ordeal? Because what I’ve reviewed was the happy, fluffy stuff. This book takes a dark turn but it’s really worth the read.
I know this seems long and it’s like I’m giving the entire story away but I’ve only touched lightly on the first twenty or so percent of this book. Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t read many YA/NA novel’s these days but if I’d had books like this to read when I was eighteen to twenty five I would have been in heaven. I’m a huge fan of paranormal novels that have characters with believable psychic powers, as in they’re not over the top. Add to it that this is also a psychological thriller with plot points I didn’t see coming and it’s an extra bonus. This was no formulaic book and it also contained another style of writing that I’m not overly fond of. That is having the main character doing a lot of narration about himself. However the way J. E. Lorin wrote this I didn’t find it grating on my nerves. I enjoyed the way the story was conveyed so I immediately read another of the author’s novels – Peril – which was also excellent.
There is so much more to this book but I can’t write another word without ruining it.
September 23, 2018
I'm kind of at a loss with my thoughts about this book. One one hand, I found the mystery/pyschic storyline fascinating. Like, leave me the F alone so I can get back to this thing, fascinating. And on the other hand I found the romance, at first, super cute with August being so absolutely clueless but then it kind of evolved into this middle school "be my boyfriend but we'll just rub off together 'cause sex is a suuuper big deal" kind of thing. It just didn't seem to fit with grown ass men who were together all the time, one of which was just giving bjs in the club bathroom a couple of weeks ago.
Also, I was just reading other reviews and I read Erica's spoiler and yeah, WTF is that? Ha, made me crack up because I totally missed it.
I would for sure read other books by this author especially ones involving the characters from this book so all in all, time well spent.
Also, I was just reading other reviews and I read Erica's spoiler and yeah, WTF is that? Ha, made me crack up because I totally missed it.
I would for sure read other books by this author especially ones involving the characters from this book so all in all, time well spent.
August 8, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Though I was initially attracted to The Finder by the premise, I was compelled to keep reading because of August’s journey to find himself, which is actually the heart of the story, rather than the serial killer plot line or even his mysterious gift. Since August can be “called” at any time, he has built a flexible career around it and dedicates his life to trying to do the right thing, but after all the pain he suffered, he lost himself. His life basically consists of fixing and finding. He only trusts his best friend, Cherry, and having no real interest in learning how to trust again, he doesn’t/can’t allow himself to make any kind of emotional connections with new people.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Though I was initially attracted to The Finder by the premise, I was compelled to keep reading because of August’s journey to find himself, which is actually the heart of the story, rather than the serial killer plot line or even his mysterious gift. Since August can be “called” at any time, he has built a flexible career around it and dedicates his life to trying to do the right thing, but after all the pain he suffered, he lost himself. His life basically consists of fixing and finding. He only trusts his best friend, Cherry, and having no real interest in learning how to trust again, he doesn’t/can’t allow himself to make any kind of emotional connections with new people.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
March 11, 2021
I absolutely loved this. This is the first book by this author I've read and I will definitely read more. It was so well done.
I loved the mystery, August's ability, the characters and the writing. I really liked the recovery period too - how they talk more about everything and take things slow; especially how seeing a therapist is portrayed here. It isn't mocked or shamed at all, but encouraging.
The killer was rather obvious, but I still really enjoyed the mystery and everything it entailed. It was brutal. Both for the deaths and emotionally.
I loved the mystery, August's ability, the characters and the writing. I really liked the recovery period too - how they talk more about everything and take things slow; especially how seeing a therapist is portrayed here. It isn't mocked or shamed at all, but encouraging.
The killer was rather obvious, but I still really enjoyed the mystery and everything it entailed. It was brutal. Both for the deaths and emotionally.
December 7, 2019
Like the idea, disliked the execution. Hated the MC.
April 12, 2017
This book was incredible! J.E. Lorin is a new author to me and am looking forward to discovering more and more!! There was so much more to this fantastic book, it truly blew me away. There was so much more to August than I initially thought. His character was completely fleshed out and there was even more to him as the book goes on. Luke was amazing not only as a good guy, but a good cop. Seeing these two together made me feel so good, even when things happened, knowing the absolute love between the two seriously made the entire book wonderful. So many things going on and so many surprises, I think anyone who reads this will be extremely happy.
June 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Yes, there were flaws and it was easy to predict who the killer was, yet it didn’t stop me from enjoying the overall story. I was originally afraid this was going to be gruesome dark, but found the author handled it well, giving the impression of the gruesome murders without the goriest details. My only complaint was the romance got a little too mushie-sappy near the end. Otherwise it’s a great premise for a series. I would love to read a Finn story.
September 18, 2020
I really like this book alot! I do agree it has more mystery than romance, but it's still really enjoyable. I am BEYOND excited we get a sequel in a few days! I can't wait!!!
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