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The Gemini Hustle
Two Zodiac agents walk into a bar…
… but it's no joke when Ray Slater's manhunt gets tangled in Harry Finn's covert op, burning both men's covers—along with some of the local real estate.
Now outnumbered and outgunned by enemies old and new, Ray and Harry form an uneasy partnership, one that takes them from the depths of the planet Ócala's understreets to the pinnacle of its pleasure palaces, and straight into the heart of an interstellar crime syndicate.
Here, Ray and Harry find themselves entangled with two of the syndicate's key members, women gifted with psionic abilities—and burdened by secrets—who will change both men’s lives, forever.
One planet, two men, three explosive nights, The Gemini Hustle serves up classic spy fi in a distant, dangerous, future.
… but it's no joke when Ray Slater's manhunt gets tangled in Harry Finn's covert op, burning both men's covers—along with some of the local real estate.
Now outnumbered and outgunned by enemies old and new, Ray and Harry form an uneasy partnership, one that takes them from the depths of the planet Ócala's understreets to the pinnacle of its pleasure palaces, and straight into the heart of an interstellar crime syndicate.
Here, Ray and Harry find themselves entangled with two of the syndicate's key members, women gifted with psionic abilities—and burdened by secrets—who will change both men’s lives, forever.
One planet, two men, three explosive nights, The Gemini Hustle serves up classic spy fi in a distant, dangerous, future.
446 pages, ebook
First published April 28, 2017
88 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 1, 2021
A fun romp in a sci-fi detective story
I love McClure's universes and I think Brown's leavening helps make this story enjoyable. It's got great action, wonderful characters, and a neat universe that is well developed. The main problem I have is that there are too many characters. It's hard to keep track of them all and their interconnected plot lines, but I was willing to put up with them to keep enjoying the universe. You'll find it's a great read, too.
I love McClure's universes and I think Brown's leavening helps make this story enjoyable. It's got great action, wonderful characters, and a neat universe that is well developed. The main problem I have is that there are too many characters. It's hard to keep track of them all and their interconnected plot lines, but I was willing to put up with them to keep enjoying the universe. You'll find it's a great read, too.
June 16, 2017
Fabulously freewheeling action, super spycraft, psionically gifted alien females, and an intergalactic criminal conspiracy top the list of the goodies to be found in The Gemini Hustle. Two undercover agents, one a greying and legendary Marshall, the other a younger and bitter ex-Marine turned government sanctioned black-ops assassin, are set up by their own handler, sent to the same planet, and given overlapping missions. Neither knows the other's assignment, but when they end up in the same bar fight, they reluctantly join forces. Drawing on film and television references from 40's film noir to 60's Bond and Mission Impossible to 70's Star Wars, the authors create two larger than life heroes in the James Bond/Han Solo mold, and put them through their paces - snooping, fighting, wisecracking and digging their way ever deeper into a multi-pronged mysterious criminal conspiracy much larger than they could ever have suspected. Loyal sidekicks, sadistic villains, women willing to aid the cause, and accidental assists from unexpected sources contribute to the twists and turns in a complex plot that is masterfully managed by the writing team of McLure and Brown. Character development is superbly handles also, as intermittent flashbacks illuminate each man's motives and goals, as well as revealing background critical to the plot. Sparkling and witty repartee, humorous alien attempts at English idioms, and well-positioned telepathic interchanges punctuate the action and enliven the relationships among the characters - rivals, adversaries, allies, and lovers alike. If there is any downside to all this, it is the sheer complexity of this highly detailed and richly nuanced spy thriller in space, but it works, it's engrossing, it's charming, and it will entertain even the most jaded of readers. Authors McLure and Brown promise a sequel; sign me up!
February 16, 2021
2.5*
The author’s choice to use 1940-50s as the basis for far-future characters’ language just ruined this book for me. Come on, her undercover agents using Annette Funicello and Frank E Avalon as pseudonyms? Plus ‘booze’ and ‘cheroot’, along with a whole host of other words best left to Humphrey Bogart . . . And then there were all the movie lines and references inserted into the dialogue.
Okay fine you like the period so you make one of your characters a classic film aficionado, but he wasn’t the only one using midcentury slang and it showed up in descriptions as well, so now you’ve got a future fantasy that sounds like a caricature. It also lacks imagination because people only smoke cigars and cigarettes, and they only drink wine, champagne and beer. You have aliens, but everyone drinks human beverages? (Which is the only way one plot device can possibly work.)
The story wasn’t bad, with the characters’ backstories more interesting still—but for me, every time one of these references came up I got shoved right out of whatever was happening and after a while, I had a hard time continuing to read. If the next book in the series is anything like this one, I’m done. The author’s Gideon Quinn stories at least are decent reads and lack the aggravating conceits of this book.
The author’s choice to use 1940-50s as the basis for far-future characters’ language just ruined this book for me. Come on, her undercover agents using Annette Funicello and Frank E Avalon as pseudonyms? Plus ‘booze’ and ‘cheroot’, along with a whole host of other words best left to Humphrey Bogart . . . And then there were all the movie lines and references inserted into the dialogue.
Okay fine you like the period so you make one of your characters a classic film aficionado, but he wasn’t the only one using midcentury slang and it showed up in descriptions as well, so now you’ve got a future fantasy that sounds like a caricature. It also lacks imagination because people only smoke cigars and cigarettes, and they only drink wine, champagne and beer. You have aliens, but everyone drinks human beverages? (Which is the only way one plot device can possibly work.)
The story wasn’t bad, with the characters’ backstories more interesting still—but for me, every time one of these references came up I got shoved right out of whatever was happening and after a while, I had a hard time continuing to read. If the next book in the series is anything like this one, I’m done. The author’s Gideon Quinn stories at least are decent reads and lack the aggravating conceits of this book.
August 31, 2017
Awesome mixture of soap opera , Space Opera, and undercover agents against drug cartels
Harry and Ray are undercover agents who are unaware of each other trying to bring down the Black Rose Sisterhood and the Dress of the Brotherhood (2 cartels dealing in drugs, human/alien trafficking , murder for hire , and gun running).
The Rasalkans are aliens, who run there house by matrichy rule. Ray meets Jesslyn, who is half human and find themselves bonding that could get them killed. Harry is Jesslyn's father. He meets her for the first time on this mission. They begin planning to take down the cartels.
Characters are interesting, believable and dramatic. The plot is a mixture of soap opera, Space Opera, and undercover agents with some bits of humor. It is this makeup bring the whole story together. It keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put the story down. Highly recommended. Can't wait to read the second book.
Harry and Ray are undercover agents who are unaware of each other trying to bring down the Black Rose Sisterhood and the Dress of the Brotherhood (2 cartels dealing in drugs, human/alien trafficking , murder for hire , and gun running).
The Rasalkans are aliens, who run there house by matrichy rule. Ray meets Jesslyn, who is half human and find themselves bonding that could get them killed. Harry is Jesslyn's father. He meets her for the first time on this mission. They begin planning to take down the cartels.
Characters are interesting, believable and dramatic. The plot is a mixture of soap opera, Space Opera, and undercover agents with some bits of humor. It is this makeup bring the whole story together. It keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn't put the story down. Highly recommended. Can't wait to read the second book.
May 4, 2017
This book was incredible. Imagine Star Wars, Wild, Wild West and Leverage all mixed up and you get Gemini Hustle. It was a fun read with lots of adventure, action, twists and surprises. It was NEVER boring.
The characters are authentic with histories that are woven into the story and help you understand why they are the way they are in the situations they are put in. Harry and Ray were great and reminded me kind of the relationship between James T. West and Artemus Gordon.
Marshal Harry Quinn and Force Intel Operative Ray Slater have never met and are unaware of each other in their current lines of work. Their paths will cross because they are chasing after criminals working for the Black Rose Sisterhood. Their meeting literally causes an inferno. Soon they become embroiled in the same mission and in a complicated relationship with the Sisterhood.
The characters are authentic with histories that are woven into the story and help you understand why they are the way they are in the situations they are put in. Harry and Ray were great and reminded me kind of the relationship between James T. West and Artemus Gordon.
Marshal Harry Quinn and Force Intel Operative Ray Slater have never met and are unaware of each other in their current lines of work. Their paths will cross because they are chasing after criminals working for the Black Rose Sisterhood. Their meeting literally causes an inferno. Soon they become embroiled in the same mission and in a complicated relationship with the Sisterhood.
February 25, 2024
I have a very vague recollection of trying to read this title years ago, and my e-reader started a long way into the story; the start was just missing. The memory pinged when I read that bit. I assume it was a file upload error… now fixed.
I do NOT know why it is tagged as MM romance; it is not.
The story is… okay? I mean, I finished it. But the banter and the references made to movies and music are so odd, it is a bit jarring.
Two undercover agents cross paths, unaware that another agent is in the same area, investigating the same gangs. They start to work together.
The aliens are … mostly human? but mostly working in sex work - hand wobble - they are also able to use empathy and touch to manipulate people’s brains physically, emotionally and even heal them, which is a lot plot convenient.
3 stars
I do NOT know why it is tagged as MM romance; it is not.
The story is… okay? I mean, I finished it. But the banter and the references made to movies and music are so odd, it is a bit jarring.
Two undercover agents cross paths, unaware that another agent is in the same area, investigating the same gangs. They start to work together.
The aliens are … mostly human? but mostly working in sex work - hand wobble - they are also able to use empathy and touch to manipulate people’s brains physically, emotionally and even heal them, which is a lot plot convenient.
3 stars
June 25, 2021
Epic and Fun
I get why some folks may stop reading after the first chapter. There’s a pretty steep learning curve. New planets, cities, races, governmental agencies. And slang and jargon not common in English. At least, not the English I speak.
That being said, the characters are thought out and developed. And there’s hints of the humor in the first chapter.
This book is worth it to stick with it.
It reads kind of like a movie with cut scenes and back story.
There’s multiple POVs and a few timelines. But I never felt confused.
I really liked this book and look forward to the continuation of the series.
I get why some folks may stop reading after the first chapter. There’s a pretty steep learning curve. New planets, cities, races, governmental agencies. And slang and jargon not common in English. At least, not the English I speak.
That being said, the characters are thought out and developed. And there’s hints of the humor in the first chapter.
This book is worth it to stick with it.
It reads kind of like a movie with cut scenes and back story.
There’s multiple POVs and a few timelines. But I never felt confused.
I really liked this book and look forward to the continuation of the series.
May 7, 2017
Not kindle unlimited, got this one somehow free, instafreebie or something but couldn't be freebie day or permafree because would show bought through amazon.
Interesting story, and do like space opera type books, just not the romance ick parts because rarely feel it adds much to the story, but if you could overlook that the space opera parts including the bad guys is interesting, and others could easily find this a 5 star book.
Interesting story, and do like space opera type books, just not the romance ick parts because rarely feel it adds much to the story, but if you could overlook that the space opera parts including the bad guys is interesting, and others could easily find this a 5 star book.
August 3, 2019
Enjoyable
The boxed set started slowly as if the 2 authors were getting used to each other's style of writing and initially you could identify the difference. However the differing styles soon settled into a quite frenzied busy storyline with a multitude of diverse and complicated characters. The storyline also settled into an enjoyable read so well do e to the authors for achieving a very good read
The boxed set started slowly as if the 2 authors were getting used to each other's style of writing and initially you could identify the difference. However the differing styles soon settled into a quite frenzied busy storyline with a multitude of diverse and complicated characters. The storyline also settled into an enjoyable read so well do e to the authors for achieving a very good read
October 3, 2020
I don't enjoy giving a poor review, but I gave up on this book. The early chapters showed some promising ideas, but much of the action has been seen many times before, the characters were fairly one dimensional and the use of early 60's character names jarred. Frank E. Avalon, for example. Really? Perhaps the writing and story improved as the tale unfolded, but I felt little incentive to stick around to find out.
June 18, 2017
If I had a spare $20 miles I'd make this a movie
Well written with none of the glaring editing errors that can plague a Kindle book, this is a fun yarn that's halfway between The A-Team and Firefly. Snarky but not condescending, the dialogue flows smoothly and believably while the character development is neither dragged out nor irritatingly omitted.
Well written with none of the glaring editing errors that can plague a Kindle book, this is a fun yarn that's halfway between The A-Team and Firefly. Snarky but not condescending, the dialogue flows smoothly and believably while the character development is neither dragged out nor irritatingly omitted.
December 15, 2017
I beta-read the kindle version of this book & laughed until my sides hurt. It's "spies in space," sort of "The Man from UNCLE" meets "Star Wars." If you like sci-fi, & want some action - adventure that is a little light-hearted & fun to read, try this one. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.
March 15, 2019
This author is a revelation. The drama and humor. The thriller and fantasy. The SF and detective mysteries. Oh, and I can’t leave out it’s both a romance and a 22nd Century “Two Gentlemen of Verona.”
The characters are great (though names hard to keep straight), the jokes are as speedy as the pacing. Definitely the find of the year. I am seeking more of her work.
The characters are great (though names hard to keep straight), the jokes are as speedy as the pacing. Definitely the find of the year. I am seeking more of her work.
May 13, 2019
#PopsugarReadingChallenge2019
Prompt - A book with a zodiac or astrology term in the title
I really wanted to love this; but I didn't. It was a fast-paced, enjoyable spy-fi space opera, but I just couldn't love it the way I wanted to. It was fun though, which I guess is all I usually ask of my space operas in the first place.
Prompt - A book with a zodiac or astrology term in the title
I really wanted to love this; but I didn't. It was a fast-paced, enjoyable spy-fi space opera, but I just couldn't love it the way I wanted to. It was fun though, which I guess is all I usually ask of my space operas in the first place.
October 4, 2019
Overwhelming odds and... complications
The authors provide well developed characters and a rich description of the world they live in. The plot seems a little thin at the beginning but quickly develops into something that's engaging. The details of the interrogations we're a bit much at times for me.
The authors provide well developed characters and a rich description of the world they live in. The plot seems a little thin at the beginning but quickly develops into something that's engaging. The details of the interrogations we're a bit much at times for me.
February 6, 2018
Enjoyed it
I really enjoyed reading this book. A tightly woven and fast moving plot, with main characters that standout while reading. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end. And it looks like there will be another, hopefully soon.
I really enjoyed reading this book. A tightly woven and fast moving plot, with main characters that standout while reading. I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end. And it looks like there will be another, hopefully soon.
September 9, 2018
Rousing space opera
Overall, this is a good book. Good story line and characters. I would note the use of classic sci-fi and movie references for the timeframe here seems a bit out there but fun none the less.
Overall, this is a good book. Good story line and characters. I would note the use of classic sci-fi and movie references for the timeframe here seems a bit out there but fun none the less.
November 21, 2019
Wow this was so much fun right from the start.It didn't let up.so many ways it twisted and turned.
The characters were so much fun together.The story was really well written and I cannot wait to try another one.
Really would make a good movie.
The characters were so much fun together.The story was really well written and I cannot wait to try another one.
Really would make a good movie.
September 25, 2020
Absolutely wonderful and amazing!
A great book that forces you to be attentive so that the story doesn't get lost. Cheeky dialog and enjoyable characters I look forward to reading the book again to pick up some of what I missed the first time.
A great book that forces you to be attentive so that the story doesn't get lost. Cheeky dialog and enjoyable characters I look forward to reading the book again to pick up some of what I missed the first time.
October 14, 2018
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Bit corny in spots and very "star wars-y" but not star wars, but I enjoyed it.
October 14, 2020
Out-STANDING
The kind of book you don't want to end (and it sometimes seems it never will). Enough action, twists and surprises to satisfy any reader
The kind of book you don't want to end (and it sometimes seems it never will). Enough action, twists and surprises to satisfy any reader
November 24, 2020
Great read
This is an out of this world detective story, with humour, love, villains and goodies. A truly enjoyable read that I would recommend to mature audiences
This is an out of this world detective story, with humour, love, villains and goodies. A truly enjoyable read that I would recommend to mature audiences
April 28, 2017
I really enjoyed The Gemini Hustle. The characters and plot were wonderful! I can hardly wait for the next book with Harry, Ray, Jessyn, Mollin, The Lady, and all the rest!
I received a free pre-release ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free pre-release ebook in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2017
I loved this book. It was well written and fast paced with 2 great hero's in one book. Its the story of Harry and Ray, two guys that end up on the same planet undercover at the same time with missions that end up crossing.Loved Harry and Ray. The book was full of plots and subplots that intermingled together. I laughed through most of the book. The bad guys were written beautifully and made me hate them once I was done eye rolling at them. Worth reading if you want a good laugh.
May 6, 2017
This story is not fluff, but has layers. A book to rival Romeo and Juliet. Action galore. A bad guy with a duo personallity, torture experts, and gifted pyschics. True Sci-fi I've been looking for.
didnotfinish
October 6, 2018Because the first chapter deals with two POV who are both in disguise, I found it too hard to follow and it wasn't snagging my attention enough to keep with it. So, just not for me.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews