Southernmost Murder

by C.S. Poe

Aubrey Grant lives in the tropical paradise of Old Town, Key West, has a cute cottage, a sweet moped, and a great job managing the historical property of a former sea captain. With his soon-to-be-boyfriend, hotshot FBI agent Jun Tanaka, visiting for a little R&R, not even Aubrey’s narcolepsy can put a damper on their vacation plans.

But a skeleton in a closet of the Smith Family Historical Home throws a wrench into the works. Despite Aubrey and Jun’s attempts to enjoy some time together, the skeleton’s identity drags them into a mystery with origins over a century in the past. They uncover a tale of long-lost treasure, the pirate king it belonged to, and a modern-day murderer who will stop at nothing to find the hidden riches. If a killer on the loose isn’t enough to keep Aubrey out of the mess, it seems even the restless spirit of Captain Smith is warning him away.

The unlikely partnership of a special agent and historian may be exactly what it takes to crack this mystery wide-open and finally put an old Key West tragedy to rest. But while Aubrey tracks down the X that marks the spot, one wrong move could be his last.

FOR CURIOUS readers, Southernmost Murder takes place between the events of book two and three in the Snow & Winter series but can be read entirely as a standalone.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Crime, LGBT

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2018

About the author

C.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and speculative fiction. She’s a winner of the Next Generation and e-Lit book awards, as well as a finalist of the Lambda Literary award.

She resides in New York City and is a Gilded Age New York historian and board director for the Victorian Society of New York. She loves Romanticism artwork, the films of Buster Keaton, coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, true crime, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.

C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.

Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.

cspoe.com

Reviews

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, we are all tired of the old trope of the narcoleptic, gay historians and their Asian-American FBI boyfriends, but you should give this one a chance anyway.

Our main character is Aubrey. He is a twink with narcolepsy and works as a historian in Key West. He rides to work on his pink vespa that he calls "Princess". He's about to take some vacation time because his FBI boyfriend, Jun, is coming down to visit him. The book is written in Aubrey's POV and he is hilarious all the time.

When Jun speaks Japanese to Aubrey, it is basically like sex-crack to him:

Jun slid his fingers through my hair and spoke something in Japanese in his deep, powerful voice.
Gay baby-making mode, activate!

Well, it's better than that time I heard my grandparents talking dirty to each other.


I couldn't stop puking for a year after that. Then, they died and I was happy again. The point is, it all worked out for Jilly.

Anyway, as always happens in these quirky gay romance novels, the happy couple gets involved in a pirate mystery. If I had a nickel...

The best part of this book was Aubrey, obviously. Jun was a good stabilizing match for him. Strangely, my husband is very stabilizing too. He's hilarious, yes, but he is also the person who puts "the voice of reason" into my head or else we would have 55 dogs, drive a purple pimp car, and sleep in a yurt. As it is, he still gives me crap over blanket forts. Kill joy! What the hell else are we supposed to do with all of these blankets? It's like when you get older suddenly all you ever get is blankets for Christmas. Seriously, assholes? You do realize we live in Houston, Texas, right? How many fucking blankets could we possibly need? (The answer is one. One lightweight blanket.)


Wait, I might have spoken too soon. This blanket! I'll take this one, Santa!

I have to warn you that if you aren't into gay sex scenes, like if my new blanket offends you, you should probably stay away. There are some scorchin' sexy times in between all of the murder and napping.

It's a lot of fun.

[Ms. Smartarse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aubrey Grant is living the charmed life: perfect weather, dream job, hunky long-distance boyfriend coming for a vacation. All set in the picture perfect tropical paradise of Key West. Sure, his narcolepsy regularly knocks him out cold, and a murder gets dumped on his doorstep during the most inconvenient of times, but other than that time off with the lover is great.

Then again, hunky boyfriend's FBI and surprisingly lenient on Aubrey's sleuthing. Up to a point, at least.



In spite of my increasingly frustrating experience with the Snow and Winter series, I decided to give C.S. Poe another chance. Thing is, I didn't dislike everything: mostly just Sebastian being a magnet for insanely dangerous shit.

Now, ideally, I would've chosen a story featuring one of the more fleshed out secondary characters, and Audrey barely counts as a tertiary. Still, there was that a short story from Interludes where Aubrey rightfully calls Seb an idiot... or a bitch Can't remember, and I'm too lazy to look it up. Bottom line: it was totally badass.



I enjoyed getting to know Aubrey and Jun, as they navigated their way through a long distance relationship. I was even tolerant of Aubrey's sleuthing, mostly due to his earnest planning to manage his narcolepsy, and his sleuthing not being entirely self serving. Now don't get me wrong: for a real life person, deciding to sniff around a cordoned off murder scene is never a good idea, but Aubrey's way of doing things was not the deal-breaker that Sebastian's was.

Score: 3.6/5 stars

I'm not a big fan of jumping into established relationships when it comes to romance novels, because I always feel like I'm missing a big chunk of the story. Plus I like getting to see the whole meet-cute, or even hatred at first sight.

However I'm willing to give it some leeway here, because the characters don't feel the need to reminisce very criptically. Not to mention, reading an entire novel(la) worth of online romance would not have been too satisfying for me. And I, of course, dig the whole tropical island setting.

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigh. I loved Aubrey and Jun and just how well C.S. Poe makes them come to life.

Note: I hadn't read Poe's Snow and Winter series before I read Southernmost Murder, and didn't have any trouble following along with the plot or characters.

Aubrey's narcolepsy was particularly interesting, especially the way that it was explained organically and not like a dry medical text, and I really love the wonderful way Jun was with Aubrey about his condition - it was heart-melting for me.

What I was certain of at least was that, after the Mattocalypse, I appreciated men like Jun more.
Men like Jun, who treated me nice, who wasn’t afraid to say he loved me, and practically worshiped the ground I tripped on. I dug that—being treated like a real boyfriend and not a fucktoy. I could definitely see us committed for the long haul. No matter where I lived or where in the world he was working, coming home to Jun was something I think I’d wanted for a long time.

I loved the plot, with the exception of a couple of bone-headed moves by Aubrey. The sexual chemistry between Jun and Aubrey was HOT, and I was completely taken in by the mystery. I honestly didn't see the "bad guy" coming!

I really hope this won't be the only book featuring these characters. The only thing I would have liked better is if it had been a dual, instead of single, POV. I would have loved getting Jun's side of things. But other that, I loved it.

Great book - totally would recommend - and makes me push up the author's other works much higher on my TBR pile.

Advanced Review Galley copy of Southernmost Murder provided by Publisher in exchange of an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 audio
I REALLY wish there was a sequel! I love Ellery and Jun! I'll need to go back to the Snow & Winter series because I think Ellery plays a part in that? I need to keep better notes/cheat sheets. :D LOVED IT! Ellery's snark is THE FREAKIN BEST!!!! And also want Smith and Rogers story!

2020 re-read
Still love this!!! Highly recommend. 5 stars! And I still want Smith and Rogers story, sad though it ends.

2018 review
I really, really enjoyed this! The depth of the treasure mystery was really good and I was impressed with how much planning Ms. Poe had to do to make this all come together. I must say I was surprised details about the home structure weren't discovered before now, and I was surprised nobody had bothered to read ALL of Rogers diaries before now. And it wasn't ever stated what had been the catalyst to get the treasure hunters started. I mean, they didn't just wake up one day with this idea. Something had to prompt them, so what was it?

It was sad to learn the fate of Smith and Rogers. Now that is a story I would love to read, even knowing the ending. I loved the characters here: Jun, Aubrey, Adam, Tillman, even that asshole Bob (who I wouldn't be surprised to find getting his own story despite every appearance of being straight).

As for the relationship between Jun and Aubrey, I felt like I was missing something. I don't remember these characters from anything and I so, so wish I could have had more of a back story for them. But overall I enjoyed seeing them together and seeing them joke and have fun. Granted if I had been Jun my reaction to a certain something Aubrey did wouldn't have been so mild. So I think there could have been more tension between them. It was all very hearts and rainbows.

I still give this 5 stars because I was so very much entertained.

[patrícia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review: Southernmost Murder (loosely connected Snow & Winter series, but mostly a standalone )

MC:Aubrey & Jun | 4 ⭐

And X always, always marks the spot.

Tropes & tags
🏴‍☠️Friends-to-lovers
☠️Protective hero
🏴‍☠️Playful banter
☠️Slow-burn romance
🏴‍☠️Steamy chemistry
☠️Amateur sleuth
🏴‍☠️Historical mystery
☠️Lost treasure
🏴‍☠️Creepy house / Ghostly hints

What an adorable pair these two are—so different, yet that’s exactly what made them fit so perfectly together. Jun completely stole my heart. He’s such a quietly protective man, steady in a way that grounds Aubrey, and I desperately wished we’d gotten a full dual POV to peek inside his mind. Aubrey, on the other hand, is a whirlwind—funny, quirky, sometimes exhausting. His narcolepsy defines much of his daily life, but rather than making him weaker, it makes him more determined. At the same time, he can be reckless and self-centered, reminding me of those “I don’t need saving” heroines who insist they’re independent but then charge into danger and need rescuing anyway. The whole book often centers on Aubrey’s needs, with Jun simply going along for the ride.

Something I missed was the “before.” The texts, Skype calls, and flirty long-distance banter that built their connection prior to the book. We’re told they already know each other well, but we don’t see it. For example, Aubrey mentions in his inner thoughts that Jun likes being told what to do in bed, but we as readers never witnessed that conversation, which made some intimate scenes feel a bit disconnected.

On the flip side, the crime/treasure hunt/historical shenanigans were incredible. C.S. Poe clearly has a passion for this kind of detail, and it enriches the story so much. That balance between suspense and romance worked beautifully, with Aubrey and Jun uncovering history and danger while also solidifying their relationship.

And let me just say: while this isn’t a high-heat book overall, when the spice does happen, it’s surprisingly explicit and very hot. 🔥 Explicit dirty talk, explosive chemistry, and yes, power bottom + submissive-ish top? Sign me up. 🏴‍☠️

I loved Aubrey’s quirky narration, but Jun’s POV was sorely missing. Because he’s so quiet and reserved, it’s harder to truly understand him, and dual POV would have given their romance more balance and emotional depth.
The ending left me unsure—too open for my taste. I wanted more time with them outside of danger, just being a couple. I know the mystery was the main focus, but still, I needed more of their ordinary moments together.

And lastly, that cover… while it’s accurate to their physical descriptions, it feels a bit dated and very “in your face.” 😅

I received a free copy of this book by the author and am voluntarily leaving a review

⚠️TW
Murder
Suspense
Skeletons
Mild sexual content
Mild language
Narcolepsy
Paranormal elements


❣️Book Safety & Content
Cheating: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Sharing: No
Third-Act Breakup: No
Role Dynamics: Strict roles on page, but possible future switch maybe?
POV: 1st person (single) – Aubrey
Format: Standalone (loosely connected to Snow & Winter series)
Ending: HEA
Angst Level: Medium
Spice Level: Medium / High heat
Communication: Strong
Pining: Mild / Mutual

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, Southernmost Murder contains one of my favorite sentences in recent memory:

"And since I was the property manager to one of the most important historical attractions on the island, basically everyone knew of the dick-loving narcoleptic who drove a pink Vespa."

I love how all the elements of this story come together so effortlessly: Aubrey is anxiously awaiting the arrival in Key West of Jun Tanaka, his former boyfriend Matt's FBI partner. They are on the cusp of starting a relationship and plan to spend the next two weeks having hot sex and sightseeing, emphasis on hot sex. But a skeleton found in a false closet plus a murder at the Smith House derails their plans and results in an investigation that goes all the way back to the 1800s and Captain Smith, who may or may not be the celebrated pirate One-Eyed Jack.

The murder mystery is really well-done and kept my interest every page of the way, and I was really surprised at the reveal. In addition, the historical mystery about Captain Smith is heartbreaking and beautifully revealed throughout the book.

Also, I sorta like how Aubrey and Jun's relationship isn't the entire focus of the story. They are still figuring things out (and deliciously discovering that Jun definitely enjoys Aubrey taking the lead) and I loved how understanding and matter-of-a-fact Jun is about Aubrey's narcolepsy. My only complaint is I would have liked Jun's POV rather than just Aubrey's.

4.5 stars and I would definitely like to read more about Aubrey and Jun!

I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[C.S. Poe]

Buy Links:

Ebook, Paperback, and Audio
audio narrated by Wyatt Baker

French edition
with Juno Publishing

German edition
with deadsoft verlag

coming soon... Italian edition with Triskell Edizioni

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 5 out of 5]

The relationship between Aubrey Grant and Jun Tanaka is a long-time coming. But with Jun’s job in the FBI, which has him in foreign countries half the time; Aubrey having moved to the Florida Keys, far from where Jun could usually be found even when he was in the country; and…oh yeah…Aubrey having met Jun while dating the man’s work partner, it isn’t hard to see why it has taken them years to get to a place where their friendship/flirtation could become something more. That is all set to change when Jun takes a vacation down to the Keys for the sole reason of seeing if there is anything more to them than late-night skype calls.

Too bad no one told the skeleton in the closet that the only funny business supposed to be going on was of the bed-sheet variety. Now Aubrey has to deal with dead bodies, Jun has to deal with Aubrey playing detective, and a mysterious treasure-seeker has to deal with the pair constantly bungling his (her?) attempts at a centuries-old find of a lifetime.

This book was pretty much the next-best-thing to getting book three in the Snow & Winter series–to which this book is tangentially tied to. Not to worry if you haven’t yet read those books (I might judge you a little, though), because this book easily stands on its own; but for fans of Snow & Winter it is something to tide us over till a third book in that series can make its way out to us.

To be honest, there is just something about the way that Poe writes mysteries that works for me. Reminiscent of my favorite Josh Lanyon books, Poe constructs stories that can keep you guessing the whole way thru, pulls of twists that make total sense in hindsight, and even more importantly gives us completely compelling characters that make the story have a heart worth worrying over.

I think this story did a good job of balancing the fact that Aubrey was not a detective–so really shouldn’t be poking his nose into the whole dead-people business–with the need to have a compelling, and moving, plot. All the while making sure that he never came off as a massive idiot for constantly throwing himself into danger–danger that he is in no way prepared to handle. Having Jun be an FBI agent helped, certainly, but the secondary mystery (the one not focused on the dead bodies) was enough in Aubrey’s wheelhouse–and far enough removed from the more recent crimes–that for the most part it felt more like a treasure hunt, than a murder mystery. But the two things are tied together, so Jun and Aubrey can’t help but land themselves in hot water occasionally. Which of course made sure that things were never uninteresting.

The use of Aubrey’s narcolepsy was also very well worked into this story. Much like Sebastian Snow‘s color-blindness, Aubrey’s narcolepsy plays an understated part in the story. I like that the plot doesn’t revolve around it, but that its influence on Aubrey’s day-to-day life is certainly felt. It isn’t something new to Aubrey, and he knows exactly how to work his life around and with it, and so it becomes something that adds a unique flavor to the book, but doesn’t take over or need to be constantly pointed out to the reader.

I left this story feeling like I got pretty much everything I went in looking for. A good mystery, an engaging love story, and a couple hours spent with characters and settings that kept me glued to my kindle. I also now have a nagging desire to go back and reread the Snow & Winter books, but that might have to wait till I have a bit more free time. As for Southernmost Murder, well I can say that fans of Poe’s writing are in for a treat, and fans of pirates, treasure-hunts, and mad-dashes through late-night streets after what may or may not be an angry ghost, should get a kick out of it as well.

Read up, me hearties, yo ho!

4.5 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this book. I loved it! Putting the mystery part aside the characters themselves were very unique and so imperfect that it made me love them all the more. The quirkiness of Aubrey Grant was one of the best features - his acceptance of life and his self deprecating humor made him so approachable and just freaking adorable. Jun Tanaka really grew on me. His quiet and shy demeanor, his stoic and observant nature made him the perfect counterpart to Aubrey's spontaneous nature. The personal side of their relationship was a revelation in a good way, and I frankly devoured those pages!

The mystery of Smith Family Historical Home and the subsequent events were adventurous and at the same time heart-breaking when everything came to light. I was happy how it all turned out and a little bitter sweet at the same time. Aubrey's relentless historian's spirit and Jun's stable presence solved the riddle centuries old, put to rights what was wronged and honored those who didn't get it in life. I found this investigation very intriguing and thrilling.

Ms Poe delivered wonderful story with singular fascinating characters and riveting affair shrouded in mystery that survived many years and was finally put to rest. I highly recommend it!

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio Review 08Mar2020: No Change

I loved Wyatt's performance of Aubrey...wasn't as enthused about his Jun-voice, but still - I enjoyed it just as much this time around.

Gonna go and read the shorts on Poe's website next!


Original Review 15Jan2018: 4.1 Stars

OMG this book was ridiculous, silly fun and I don't even care because I had a blast reading it.

Does Aubrey seem like an almost 40-yr old man? That would be a no. But he was so engaging and adorable that it didn't even bother me. The procedural details that weren't up to par? Didn't mind those either (which is like, mind-boggling if you know me at all). Involving a civilian in that capture plan? HAH! Only in fiction. An historical society moving a grave of one of the man it's dedicated toward...within a WEEK? Yeah, no. But the ending needed that closure and so did the dead guys...so, I'll suspend disbelief.

Which, I guess is kinda necessary for the whole book. But not in an *eyeroll* "whatever" way...because even the hokey stuff was somewhat believable. Even when it's not, Aubrey's inner dialogue makes it seem like it is anyway. Plus, I really wanted that Pirate's tale to be true! I love researching obscure historical info, too, and adored the bits where Aubrey is digging into the mystery.

So, I actually like this one better than book 1 of Snow & Winter - I found Aubrey so much more likeable and (despite that very odd medical condition!!) loads more relatable than Sebastian. Jun was very taciturn for the most part but there's something about the big, strong, quiet (but oh-so biddable) type that draws the reader in! (Pssst: Smoking hot sex where Aubrey bottoms Jun so hard. *fans self*)

I will say that I wish I'd read the novellas and the 2nd S&W book because evidently Aubrey and Jun's love story begins somewhere in there and in this book we come in to their relationship after the meet-cute and whatever mating dance they engaged in to get so quickly to the I Love You's here. I'm sure I'll appreciate this one more once I've gotten to those...hopefully I can get it on audio and enjoy it again!

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

Well, that was fun. I wasn’t quite sure how I’d feel about the way the relationship starts but it really worked (nothing bad btw, it just basically starts before the book does).

We’ve got a 5’3, 38 year old spitfire paired with a tall, bespectacled 41 year old badass FBI agent who likes being told what to do in bed. Pretty great dynamic.

The mystery was neat — connecting the present with a 150 ish year old pirate mystery. It was uncomplicated but fun. It was also cool to read about a character with narcolepsy. Not a disability I’ve read a lot of or about.

I listened to the audio and it isn’t in KU, so no quotes, unfortunately. Speaking of audio, Wyatt Baker (fantastic name) is a new-to-me narrator and I thought he was amazing.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Romantic suspense
Long distance/online relationship to irl boyfriends
Disability rep
Narcoleptic MC
Size difference
FBI agent
Murder mystery
Tattoos and piercings
Big FBI agent likes being told what to do in bed
Ghosts?
Humongous dong
Pirate treasure

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Alcohol consumption
Homophobic comments
Graphic details of dead body
MC cheated on by ex (no details)
Explicit sexual content
Gun violence
MC injured
Mention of suicide (historical character)
Near-drowning

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile (no switching on page)
Main characters’ age: 38 and 41
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 253
Happy ending: Yes





You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Iz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Southernmost Murder"! It's been on my TBR for a while, despite me already having read and LOVED most of C.S. Poe's backlist, but it was never the right moment. I'm so glad I got the chance to read it now!

Ever since I met Aubrey Grant in C.S. Poe's Snow & Winter series, I've been intrigued by him. Who is Sebastian's scrappy, twink best friend with a sharp tongue and a penchant for piercings and taking impromptu naps? I've LOVED every single one of his scenes and interactions with Sebastian, and I was also super interested in reading about his and Jun's story.

"Southernmost Murder" was fun! An interesting, compelling murder case, with a really vivid, small-town atmosphere, plus AUBREY! He was a true delight, and I absolutely adored Jun, his love interest too. Sexy, stoic FBI agent? Yes please!
It's super rare to read about already (kinda) established romances, and Aubrey and Jun's arc in that sense was very delightful to follow along with, and it never bored. I would have loved a smidge more backstory, to be honest, but all in all, for such a short book, and a standalone one at that, I'm happy with what we got.

If you've read other books by C.S. Poe or if this is your first foray into her blacklist, I wholly recommend!

Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest opinion.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book…

First of all, Aubrey’s voice of narration is HIGHLY entertaining. I loved reading his thoughts and couldn’t help chuckling with some of the things that came out of his mouth. I loved that Aubrey was passionate about his job. I loved that he was still rather not so certain about Jun’s feeling for him.

And I KNOW for sure I have never read ANYONE with narcolepsy before in any books. This is a first for me, and that makes Southernmost Murder a memorable read.

The story is written solely from Aubrey’s perspective. I didn’t mind though… like I said, I was entertained. Jun seemed like a loyal wonderful boyfriend. Clearly, Jun loved Aubrey and has actually felt so for quite a while. Even before they were together.

The pirate part of this story was also good … and quite a bit heartbreaking there in the end.

Having said that, I did have initial expectations because this book is released by DSP Publications – which I assume will emphasize more on the mystery rather than the romance. I didn’t really feel that, sadly. Jun came to Key West for a holiday, to visit Aubrey, not in his capacity as FBI agent.

Sure, we had missing skeletons and later a dead body… but neither Aubrey nor Jun were ever involved in the active investigation. It was handled by the local PD. There was too much goody-goody of Aubrey and Jun rather than the investigation itself. I guess the mystery-fan in me was a bit disappointed. It was the characters that saved this book for me.

Lastly, despite having connection with C.S. Poe’s Snow and Winter series, rest assured that this can still be read as a stand alone. There are some references here and there about Aubrey’s friend, Sebastian Snow, or the case that brings Jun back to Aubrey’s life, but it’s not distracting. I have not read the Snow and Winter series and I followed the characters and plot just fine.


A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls



The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic mystery! I really enjoyed these characters, and love C.S. Poe's writing style.

Don't shoot me Poe fans, but this is the first novel I've read by Poe alone. I found them from the book they wrote with Gregory Ashe (I highly recommend The Auden and O'Callaghan Mysteries if you haven't tried them yet.

Regardless, I'm so glad I finally found my way to C.S. Poe... and I can see I'm going to have to read the Snow & Winter series, so I can get all of Aubrey and Jun's backstories.

Also, I did this in audio narrated by the wonderful Wyatt Baker who does a superb job with these guys!

[Kaity · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Hooked from page one. Haha, so glad I didn’t have to read the “Snow and White” series to read this!

Jun was way more patient with Aubrey than I would be when Aubrey decided to play Nancy Drew haha I would have been pissed lol.

But besides that annoying blip, this was a great mystery, and so glad to see this couple not cheat on someone before they got together. I have noticed that is a theme for CS Poe.. in her “Snow and White” series (DNF’ed book one) Sebastian cheats on his bf.. and in the “Memento Mori” series Larkin cheats on his husband for a hot second.. while yes they had horrible relationships before the main love interest came about it’s still annoying to see that come up. So i was pleasantly surprised that there was no cheating in this book! Haha

And Wyatt Baker did a good job with the narration! Too bad these two don’t have a series, I’d read more on Jun and Aubrey! Haha

[Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at Sinfully.

A literal skeleton in the closet of the supposedly haunted Smith Family Historical Home in Old Town, Key West starts this tale of mystery and romance. Not that the house manager Aubrey Grant believes in ghosts. As things get weirder and deadlier, the possibility that the ghost of Captain Smith may be haunting the place seems the least of Aubrey's problems. Being drawn into a murder mystery isn't the way he expected to spend the 10 days he has with FBI Agent Jun Tanaka, the man he is hoping to claim as his boyfriend after reconnecting last year with the help of his friend Sebastian Snow.

Aubrey is not so much into amateur sleuthing, but the historian can’t resist looking into the possibility that there may be more to the story of Captain Smith than he ever expected. Add in a treasure hunt with pirates, maps and X marking the spot, and it's soon clear that the danger is very real. With the Smith home and legend at the center of it all, it's hard for Aubrey not to be involved. With Jun at his side and having his back, Aubrey just may survive the man or myth that seems out to get him. Infused with historical fact and fiction, the mystery kept me interested. As Aubrey starts collecting clues we are treated to a number of local characters, any of whom may be involved in the murder and mayhem at the Smith house.

Of course, in along with the mystery is the evolving relationship between Aubrey and Jun. What is supposed to be a vacation for Jun and time for the men to reconnect becomes almost another day at the FBI office for Jun. They've known each other for a few years but over the past year have been flirting online. This is the first time they will physically be together in two years and Aubrey is ready to officially make Jun his boyfriend. They had an interesting backstory and it's not just Aubrey who has been doing some wishful/lustful thinking. They are very different physically and personality-wise, but they are perfect for each other.

Jun is a sweetheart, soft-spoken and romantic, a bit passive for a big, bad-ass FBI agent, just rolling with Aubrey's flightiness and his unorthodox schedule and habits that are a part of living with his narcolepsy. Aubrey is snarky and sweet and determined to lay things on the line with Jun, who seems to be everything he ever wanted (and some things he didn't know he wanted) in a partner. At times they seem like they've been together forever while other times, everything is new and many things surprising. While they are happy together in the end, I would love to see where the future takes them.

I’ve really come to enjoy C.S. Poe’s writing style. The mystery is well built, the dialogue is snappy, the characters interesting and the sex scenes are hot. Told from Aubrey's POV, the action starts on page one and I liked him from the start. Through his eyes I also came to quickly adore Jun as well. This is the first time I've read a story where a character had narcolepsy and I definitely learned a few things.

I loved the Key West setting, and not just because I'm looking at 12 inches of snow as I type this. The details of island life and the locales captured the feel and spirit of that unique island paradise. Similar in style to her Snow & Winter books (and with a cameo by Sebastian Snow), fans of those stories will enjoy this one as well, and I can easily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a nice dose of romance.

[Iman (hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️

Another MM Mystery with Hugo 😋

I love how opposite Jun and Aubrey are. One chaotic and one is super calm and patient it was just too cute and funny to handle 🤣 Their love development started out of nowhere - their history was off the page. Surprisingly, that didn’t bother me that much. It was not that bad, but not something I would look for in my type of MCs. There were moments they shared that was soo adorable so that really helps! I do think they’re cute together, mostly because of their opposite personalities and their chemistry :>

For a mystery book, there were lots of cute things to treasure, mostly because of Aubrey’s chaotic personality. The writing was great, it was soo addictive and hard to put down. However, the MCs didn’t really behave like their age - I usually got bothered by that a lot but in this, not so much.

I struggled to understand when Jun and Aubrey started to solve the clues. Mostly because it related to lots history 😅🥴 I felt like reding a whole history book LMAO so it was a funny journey in the middle there. I get some glimpse of the clues, but I can’t pinpoint anything else to come to any conclusions. In my defense, there were too many information to catch up on 😭

And both of me and Hugo’s brain were jammed sooo —🤣 And as he said, “my brain is rusted” LOL FELT THAT 😂💀 But he’s the smarter one, so I bet he wasn’t laughing at himself like I did LOL But, the conclusion to everything was pretty clear towards the end and I finally understood what was going on. The angst was pretty good as well. Can’t deny I kinda dislike the time I was struggling, but I laughed it off a lot 😅😂 I still love the mystery solving concept related to history and pirates, it was fun!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

5 stars

Southernmost Murder is the first book I have read by C.S. Poe and though there are mentions of the characters from her Snow and Winter series, this did not spoil my enjoyment of the story in any way.

In Southernmost Murder, Poe’s characterization is vivid and I could easily visualize Aubrey and Jun. Poe excellently captures the energy of her protagonists in her writing and though I was also swept along with the drama of events, Jun and Aubrey completely captivated me, individually and as a couple. In my opinion, this is very much aided by Poe’s decision to use Aubrey as Southernmost Murder‘s first-person narrator. Aubrey’s voice is natural and candid and it often feels that his questions are directed at the reader.

Not only does this style of narration involve the reader in the story, but I felt as though I was linked to Aubrey’s thoughts and emotions because I was clearly seeing events as they happened.

Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mature aged characters (38 and 41) - ignore the cover! Interesting to have one MC with narcolepsy. Aubrey is chaotic and fun but also a bit of a dum dum. I liked Jun and how his personality counters Aubrey’s, I also like that he has Japanese heritage. The mystery isn’t as complex and fast paced as this authors Momento Mori series but I still enjoyed the writing style.

I would have preferred to see the building of the romance between the characters, as this is a spin off from the Snow and Winter series they start the book having met and known each other in for a few years. Would have loved to see some more of that early tension on page because what they do have in the story is good.

Nice but not my favourite from this author.

[Ronie Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worst vacation ever

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not having read books 1 and 2 of the Snow and Winter series, I felt a bit off kilter at the strength of this relationship from the beginning of the book. Were I to have a do-over, I’d read the other two books even though the author says this can be read as a standalone. Obviously, any UST happened before this book. Well, that’s what I get for jumping the gun and reading a story set somewhere I used to live: Key West.

I enjoyed this book and the mystery Jun, FBI man, and Aubrey, historian, find themselves embroiled in. I had fun trying to picture 5’3” Aubrey with 6’+ Jun, especially when Aubrey was the one giving the orders. Aubrey didn’t feel like a 40 something man, although in Key West, you can easily be stuck in a time loop where one day is just like the day before, and will be just like the day after. Aubrey’s narcolepsy and his random naps also had me chuckling, especially when he warned Jun that sometimes he passed out during sex...hehehe. (I know this is a serious condition, but Poe treated it in a very everyday, witty type of way).

The mystery was interesting. I didn’t guess the perp, so that always makes me happy. And there was a nice little twist at the end while not unexpected, a nice bonus for MM romance readers.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I would have liked this much more. It wasn't bad but... something was off. It's like every time I thought the book was going to deliver, to go to a place I truly liked, it went in the opposite direction...
I wasn't taking this seriously in the first place, and I lowered my expectations when I discovered Aubrey was friends with Sebastian from Snow & Winter series... but still, there's something about the writing that lured me in. But then, Aubrey started to take stupid decisions... who in his right mind would have had sexy times in a police station parking lot with his boyfriend (they only have been boyfriends since the day before), having a house in perfect use order only a short drive away? I can buy that if we were talking about teens sweep in the tides of passion, but... "grown" (note the quotation marks) men, one of them an FBI agent with Organized Crime division... well... NO. Sorry but no. And then, Aubrey took the stupidiest decision in the story of stupid decisions proving me that I was in the right about being wary of him after knowing he was friends with Sebastian... He stole his boyfriend weapon without knowing how to fire it even, to go to investigate something that could have waited. It wasn't a life or death situation, he stole it just because he was bored and wanted to be proved right. And sorry, but no, that's no excuse. He could have waited until morning, ask for permission to enter the house again and look if the map had been stolen. But no, he had to go there at 3 in the morning to look for it in the dark. What would have happened if he would have fired the gun? Where does that leave Jun? He could have lost his job. Sorry, but that isn't justifiable by any means. And well, Jun was mad, but Aubrey didn't face any consecuences for his actions. He was rewarded letting him be part in the investigation instead.
Another thing that I found difficult to buy was their relationship, but well, to each their own. Whatever floats your boat, guys... but I find difficult to believe that love they're trying to sell. They barely know each other, after three years of flirting through Skype. Well, yes, they knew each other because Aubrey was Jun's FBI partner exboyfriend, but they didn't sell the realitionship very well to me, to be honest.
Also, I find difficult to believe law enforcement would conduct an investigation like that, allowing some historian to meddle in it, but well, I suppose I have to resing myself to this kind of thing in some books.
The thing I liked was the mystery about Smith and his lover. I would have loved to read about their love story despite its tragic ending
So... well, I was entertained but that last 25% lost me.

[Anke · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, today is 'sample day' and this sample waited on my kindle for quite some time now. I tried it, I liked it, I bought it:)

Finished and I have to say, this couldn't hold my interest. At least I finished it and I think, this author's not for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's kind of a Mutt & Jeff thing but it works...

This isn't my first dance with this author but it definitely feels like a different song that we're dancing to.

'Southernmost Murder' has a very light and casual undertone to it. I loved these two characters. Aubrey and Jun are in many ways polar opposites and yet they fit together perfectly. Aubrey is a short, feisty little spitfire who use to date Jun's former F.B.I. partner Matt and Jun's been in love with Aubrey for a long time now but he's doesn't poach which firmly placed them both in the category of friend.

Needless to say when things end with Matt in an effort to escape his heartache and start over Aubrey moves on to Key West and Jun figures his love is unrequited until fate brings them back together via the internet. Finally after months of texting and Skyping Jun's taking a vacation and he's going to visit Aubrey in Key West.

I have to admit I'm not sure how I feel about the beginnings of this relationship because Aubrey and Jun have known each other for years as friends, so even though we're technically not coming into the middle of an established relationship at times it felt like it. But I also really enjoyed the way Jun and Aubrey seemed so comfortable with each other...like old friends, which they are.

As the manager of a local historical site that belonged to a former sea captain, Aubrey's feeling settled and happy with his life in Key West and it's the perfect place to start a romance with possibly the perfect man...at least he seems perfect for Aubrey.

Jun knows about Aubrey's narcolepsy and it's definitely not a problem in his eyes. He's wanted Aubrey since the day they met so for Jun having a chance to see if things between them can be as good as he thinks it can is like a dream come true.

Needless to say neither man has factored in a mysterious skeleton, missing treasure, dead bodies and mysterious phone calls warning Aubrey that 'he's next'. The sense of balance between mystery and relationship development worked well for this story and things just flowed together without any abrupt transitions to distract from any aspect of the story.

While there is a connection between this story and the authors 'Snow & Winter' series this book can easily be read without benefit of having read her 'Snow & Winter' series. Aubrey and Sebastian Snow are friends and while I've read that series I can easily see reading this book and enjoying it as much as I did without having read 'Snow & Winter'.

One of the best things about this story was the communication between Aubrey and Jun. It's open and clear there's no silly miscommunications or dramatics scenes because somebody decided they heard something different than what was in fact said. The banter between Jun and Aubrey reads like talk between two friends and given that they've known each other for years as friends it works and adds credence to their previously established friendship.

While I would have liked a little more of Aubrey and Jun when they first met as friends and then when they got together again after Aubrey and Matt ended things and began to reconnect with each other. I don't think it's something that I would have wanted as a book maybe just a short story or a bit of a prequel in this book even, but by the end of the book I was definitely starting to get a feel for them as a couple and I'm looking forward to seeing what's ahead for Aubrey and Jun as a couple and what's going to fall out the closet on them next.

*************************

An ARC of 'Southernmost Murder' was graciously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Aelfwina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I adjusted the characters' ages down by 10 years (which is still older than that cover makes them look), I really liked them :). Nice bit of a mystery book with good writing and bits of humour. Could have been a wee bit longer.

[Bitchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to start out with a bit of a backhanded complaint/compliment. I LOVE the cover, it's so pretty! However, it doesn't reflect the characters at all. The guys on the cover are beautiful, but they look to be mid twenties, tops, and both the MCs in the book are around 40-41. So, pretty cover, but doesn't fit.

But for all positive, I really enjoyed this book! It was funny and a bit quirky, the mystery wasn't (for me, at least) too predictable, and I really hope for more from these guys.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mystery of the Scarpering Skeleton

This was nice. I think it would have been more appealing as a book 2 after 1 about Aubrey and Jun getting to know each other (which as far as I can tell happened entirely off page?).

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southernmost Murder is a standalone romantic mystery that is loosely linked to the author’s Snow & Winter series (in that Aubrey, the main character, is friends with Sebastian Snow), but which can easily be read on its own. I enjoyed it – the mystery is nicely done and I liked Aubrey’s upbeat, wryly humorous narrative voice, plus I don’t think I’ve ever read a character with cataplexy and narcolepsy before. The romance is less successful however as most of the relationship building has taken place prior to the book’s events and off the page.

Historian Aubrey Grant lives in Key West where he’s the manager of the Smith Family Historical Home, an historic house that had once belonged to a prosperous sea captain, Thomas J. Smith. Aubrey loves his job, his home and his pink vespa; he’s quirky and witty, and when the book begins is looking forward to taking some time off to spend with Jun Tanaka, an FBI agent based in New York (his ex’s former work-partner) with whom he’s been emailing, texting and chatting for a couple of years. They’ve met face-to-face only once, and briefly, and Aubrey hopes that this visit will give them a chance to properly define what they are to each other (as well as getting in some serious bedroom action!) But as is the way with all the best laid plans, on the morning Jun is due to arrive, Aubrey, while undertaking a restoration project, discovers a skeleton in a closet (well, behind a false wall) – which not only derails his plan to meet Jun at the airport, but has disappeared by the time the police arrive. And it seems that fate is determined to disrupt their plans further when, in the middle of a hot and heavy make-out session with Jun later in the day, Aubrey gets a call to say that the alarms at the home have been tripped. He’s not too worried as its a fairly common occurrence – although the dead man lying in the middle of the hall on the second floor with a wooden spike sticking out of his chest certainly isn’t. And neither is the ghostly vision Aubrey glimpses standing silhouetted against the darkness close to the body.

C.S. Poe skilfully juggles two mysteries here that seem, at first, not to be connected, but which turn out to be very much intertwined. The murder investigation is run by the local police, as it should be, which leaves Aubrey and Jun on something more like a treasure hunt - complete with pirates, treasure maps and X marking the spot - as Aubrey tries to find out whose skeleton had been put behind the false wall and makes some very interesting and heartrending discoveries along the way.

Aubrey’s is the sole PoV, and his narrative voice is hugely entertaining; I liked his wit and his passion for history, and the way that his narcolepsy is depicted. It defines much of his daily life, but he manages it well and I liked that the author addresses it in such a matter-of-fact and sometimes humorous (but respectful) way – it’s part of who he is but it doesn’t take over the story. On the other hand, though, he can be a bit TSTL and gets himself into trouble from which he needs rescuing (stealing Jun’s service weapon was such a stupid thing to do!) Jun is a sweetheart – softly spoken and supportive, and I liked how accepting he is of the narcolepsy (some of them men Aubrey has been involved with haven’t been); but we don’t get to know him all that well, and because we don’t get his perspective on things, he feels almost like a secondary character in the story who gets caught up in whirlwind Aubrey and just tags along for the ride. They’re very different, both temperamentally and physically, but they’re a good fit and it’s clear that they’re good for each other. (Despite the rather ridiculous decision to get it on in the parking lot of the police station when they had a perfectly good bed just a few minutes away!)

The author’s love of history comes through very strongly, and her attention to detail makes for a richly developed mystery, but as I said at the outset, the romance is less well developed. By the time this book begins, Aubrey and Jun have met (I can’t remember which book that happens in, but the author’s note at the beginning of Southernmost Murder says the story takes place between books two and three of Snow & Winter ) and spent a couple of years emailing, texting, skyping etc., none of which the reader gets to experience, so I felt as though I’d been dropped into an existing relationship with no reference points or background to explain to me what they saw in each other. They have strong chemistry, I really liked their open, clear communication and the sense that they know each other well, but I felt there was something missing in the romance department.

In the end though, Aubrey’s snarky charm and the clever, detailed mystery carried the day with this one, and although it’s probably not a book I’ll go back to, I enjoyed it and would recommend it with the caveat that if you’re a fan of the author’s Memento Mori series, you’ll probably need to downgrade your expectations for the romance in Southernmost Murder.

Note: I’m not sure what the brief for the cover art was; the guys look like they’re members of a boy band but Aubrey is thirty-eight and Jun is forty-one.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

My fourth read from C.S. Poe. Despite being aware of her for years and m/m+crime basically being my preferred genre mix, it was only a few months ago I first picked up anything by her, and started with Madison Square Murders. The fourth in that series being delayed I decided I'd try this older novel in the meantime, and I'm very happy I did.

Like the three installments to date in her Memento Mori series, this was a lot of fun. While each of the books has it's flaws, what C.S. Poe undoubtedly has mastered is the art of the page turner. All the books I've read from her so far are compelling, propulsive reads, and this older novel, no less so.

The flaws in all the books have been minor factual or historical errors, or plausibility issues. While I respect that making a living as a writer is tough and most of those doing it don't have the luxury of perfection, in the Memento Mori books, they annoyed me enough that I rounded down my ratings. Those and this are all in space where it's hard for me to decide between a 4 and a 5, but in this case I'm going to round up. Consider it a kind of cumulative achievement award type thing. But if I had to justify why this one and not one of the others is getting that 5th star, lets say it's because this one is not a serial killer story, and it's more of a standalone. (The Memento Mori ones each close out the foreground mystery but involve a larger sort of background mastermind series arc.) This is much more of a cozy, complete in itself, though honestly, after finishing it, I'm disappointed there aren't any sequels featuring this couple. I liked them a lot.

Here's hoping my next read from C.S. Poe is as good as this.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a skeleton in the closet...literally. Meet Aubrey Grant...a diminutive thirty-something with bleached hair... narcolepsy...and all the street smarts of his native New York. He’s a passionate historian and manages Captain Smith’s historic house museum with professional expertise. On the day his soon-to-be boyfriend, FBI agent Jun Tanaka, arrives for vacation, Aubrey finds the skeleton. This leads to funny and eerie events. It’s not exactly a story of finding love...it’s more about giving love a chance to happen. People keep dying and then there’s the ghost of a long-dead pirate that may be causing all the trouble. This was really a fun ride from beginning to end. I loved Jun and Aubrey finding how they would fit into one another's lives and the mystery was really good also.