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A Mitch O'Reilly Mystery #1
A Body in a Bathhouse
This is a whodunnit mystery novel.
On the verge of bankruptcy, private investigator, Mitch O’Reilly takes any gig that comes his way, while running his Eye Spy Supply shop in a forgotten Los Angeles strip mall. After two tours in Afghanistan, Mitch’s life amounts to operating his store, coping with his fun-loving sister, Josie, and scoring with anonymous men he meets online. That changes when he gets a break. A beloved comedy scriptwriter is murdered at a bathhouse, and Mitch is hired to prove the innocence of the club custodian. Adapting from a two-bit gumshoe to a high-profile sleuth proves more challenging than he expected.
As if Mitch didn’t have enough to deal with, charismatic bathhouse operator, Trent Nakos, enters his life. After a heartbreaking past, the manager is the definition of a man the brooding P.I. actively avoids.
Following leads from sprawling mansions to sketchy hoods is demanding but becomes more troublesome when deadly threats jeopardize the biggest opportunity of his career.
While there is an element of romance in the story, this is not a m/m romance novel.
On the verge of bankruptcy, private investigator, Mitch O’Reilly takes any gig that comes his way, while running his Eye Spy Supply shop in a forgotten Los Angeles strip mall. After two tours in Afghanistan, Mitch’s life amounts to operating his store, coping with his fun-loving sister, Josie, and scoring with anonymous men he meets online. That changes when he gets a break. A beloved comedy scriptwriter is murdered at a bathhouse, and Mitch is hired to prove the innocence of the club custodian. Adapting from a two-bit gumshoe to a high-profile sleuth proves more challenging than he expected.
As if Mitch didn’t have enough to deal with, charismatic bathhouse operator, Trent Nakos, enters his life. After a heartbreaking past, the manager is the definition of a man the brooding P.I. actively avoids.
Following leads from sprawling mansions to sketchy hoods is demanding but becomes more troublesome when deadly threats jeopardize the biggest opportunity of his career.
While there is an element of romance in the story, this is not a m/m romance novel.
409 pages, Paperback
First published March 14, 2019
108 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Brad Shreve
6 books44 followersAt far too young an age, Brad developed a love for political satire and became an avid fan of the Doonesbury comic strip. He spent years taking art classes and designing his own strips before realizing he enjoyed writing the stories more than the visual art. His thoughts turned to being a writer someday.
The earliest adult novels he devoured were science fiction until he started reading mysteries. He was hooked. Authors Lawrence Block, Sue Grafton, Gregory Mcdonald and Robert B. Parker, had strong influences on him.
He was thrilled when he discovered LGBTQ mysteries are a thing, and the list of authors who inspired him to write in the subgenre are too numerous to mention. He published his first novel in 2019.
Brad produced Queer Writers of Crime, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with LGBTQ authors of mystery, suspense, and thriller fiction. Episodes are still available. He currently produces the podcast Queer We Are.
He lives in the California High Desert with his best friend and husband Maurice.
The earliest adult novels he devoured were science fiction until he started reading mysteries. He was hooked. Authors Lawrence Block, Sue Grafton, Gregory Mcdonald and Robert B. Parker, had strong influences on him.
He was thrilled when he discovered LGBTQ mysteries are a thing, and the list of authors who inspired him to write in the subgenre are too numerous to mention. He published his first novel in 2019.
Brad produced Queer Writers of Crime, a weekly podcast featuring interviews with LGBTQ authors of mystery, suspense, and thriller fiction. Episodes are still available. He currently produces the podcast Queer We Are.
He lives in the California High Desert with his best friend and husband Maurice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 24, 2019
Rating 4.5!
Author Brad Shreve’s debut novel is a winner! The novel harkens back to those classic gay mysteries of the 80s and 90s we all loved, when the genre (including beloved series) came on the literary scene and gained in popularity. Reading A Body in a Bathhouse reminded me of the early gay mysteries written by such early greats as Michael Nava, Grant Michaels and Mark Zubro, to name but a few. The plot has everything going for it – a fledgling private detective who also happens to own a struggling retail spyware business, a body discovered in an otherwise unsavory establishment, and a cast of quirky characters who drive the narrative through a bevy of twists and turns that has the reader flipping (swiping right) page after page through a well-developed, deftly plotted novel via POV of the main character; Mitch O’Reilly.
The novel had me guessing throughout, and even though I felt pretty sure “who done it”, I end up only half-right, which made the reading experiencing even more enjoyable. Shreve pens in clear, deliberative prose, avoiding such pitfalls as overusing clichés and unnecessary filler just to keep the plot moving along; a fine, well-written, tightly plotted mystery that keeps the reader engaged and guessing. I am looking forward to reading more about Mitch O’Reilly and his struggles to succeed in business and in life.
Author Brad Shreve’s debut novel is a winner! The novel harkens back to those classic gay mysteries of the 80s and 90s we all loved, when the genre (including beloved series) came on the literary scene and gained in popularity. Reading A Body in a Bathhouse reminded me of the early gay mysteries written by such early greats as Michael Nava, Grant Michaels and Mark Zubro, to name but a few. The plot has everything going for it – a fledgling private detective who also happens to own a struggling retail spyware business, a body discovered in an otherwise unsavory establishment, and a cast of quirky characters who drive the narrative through a bevy of twists and turns that has the reader flipping (swiping right) page after page through a well-developed, deftly plotted novel via POV of the main character; Mitch O’Reilly.
The novel had me guessing throughout, and even though I felt pretty sure “who done it”, I end up only half-right, which made the reading experiencing even more enjoyable. Shreve pens in clear, deliberative prose, avoiding such pitfalls as overusing clichés and unnecessary filler just to keep the plot moving along; a fine, well-written, tightly plotted mystery that keeps the reader engaged and guessing. I am looking forward to reading more about Mitch O’Reilly and his struggles to succeed in business and in life.
March 21, 2019
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.25 stars
I love crime stories and the blurb for this one was definitely intriguing. Shreve is a new-to-me author, and I’m always looking for a good murder mystery with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. However, there were some major points against this story, and it made it difficult to enjoy at times.
I liked Mitch a lot. He was tenacious without being too overbearing. At least most of the time. And he has a strong moral compass to do what is right. On the whole, he was likeable, and even charming at times. So he was a good narrator for the tale.
The mystery itself wasn’t too complicated, and I thought the author did a reasonable job planting clues to move the story along. I will also say that while I suspected who had done the murders, the culprit wasn’t my only suspect, which was refreshing. A lot of times, it’s easy to see who the killer is right off the bat. So I appreciated that I was unsure until close to the end, and that everything fit well together.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.25 stars
I love crime stories and the blurb for this one was definitely intriguing. Shreve is a new-to-me author, and I’m always looking for a good murder mystery with a healthy dose of romance thrown in. However, there were some major points against this story, and it made it difficult to enjoy at times.
I liked Mitch a lot. He was tenacious without being too overbearing. At least most of the time. And he has a strong moral compass to do what is right. On the whole, he was likeable, and even charming at times. So he was a good narrator for the tale.
The mystery itself wasn’t too complicated, and I thought the author did a reasonable job planting clues to move the story along. I will also say that while I suspected who had done the murders, the culprit wasn’t my only suspect, which was refreshing. A lot of times, it’s easy to see who the killer is right off the bat. So I appreciated that I was unsure until close to the end, and that everything fit well together.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
January 9, 2021
A fine first novel from Brad Shreve, author and host of the Gay Mystery Podcast I have come to listen and love. Brad's first book, A Body in the Bathhouse begins as a slow burn. The story unfolds in a familiar way to mystery lovers. Brad connects the dots and before you know it, his MC Mitch O'Reilly uncovers not one, but three murders. Mitch's lack of a romantic life also comes into play. I loved the tension and disclosure which happens in the second half of the book after Brad sets up Mitch and the murders. Great ending which makes me excited for book 2!
Listened to the audiobook thanks to winning a contest from author Brad Shreve. So much fun revisiting Mitch and the other characters again. Great hiding the identity of the killer. Look forward to book 2!
Listened to the audiobook thanks to winning a contest from author Brad Shreve. So much fun revisiting Mitch and the other characters again. Great hiding the identity of the killer. Look forward to book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2020
A Body in a Bathhouse by Brad Shreve is like the grown-up, gay cousin to a cozy mystery. The premise of how Mitch investigates is similar to a cozy with him leaving his spyware business in the hands of others (his twin sister) to work while he’s off all over the city chasing clues and talking to suspects.
And there is the start of a relationship, although this one isn’t with the typical person in law enforcement or a lawyer.
But, and that really should be a but with a capital B, that is where the similarities end since there is swearing, an uptick in violence, sexual paraphernalia, and some graphic (and very hot) sex. Any of these things would make your classic cozy reader faint or leave a scathing review.
I liked it though… a lot! As much as I enjoy a good cozy, it was wonderful to have a mystery with more grit. There is a lot of depth to Mitch and the other characters, and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books. Mitch’s sister, Josie, is a wonderful counter-balance to him, and Mitch’s lover could be so good for him.
Shreve does a great job portraying a character with PTSD, and as far as the mystery goes, he had me guessing until the end. I was partially correct, but then he threw in a twist. And at one point I was certain it was a particular person, and was really glad when it turned out not to be.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Shreve and to see where Mitch’s life and business takes him.
And there is the start of a relationship, although this one isn’t with the typical person in law enforcement or a lawyer.
But, and that really should be a but with a capital B, that is where the similarities end since there is swearing, an uptick in violence, sexual paraphernalia, and some graphic (and very hot) sex. Any of these things would make your classic cozy reader faint or leave a scathing review.
I liked it though… a lot! As much as I enjoy a good cozy, it was wonderful to have a mystery with more grit. There is a lot of depth to Mitch and the other characters, and I can’t wait to see more of them in future books. Mitch’s sister, Josie, is a wonderful counter-balance to him, and Mitch’s lover could be so good for him.
Shreve does a great job portraying a character with PTSD, and as far as the mystery goes, he had me guessing until the end. I was partially correct, but then he threw in a twist. And at one point I was certain it was a particular person, and was really glad when it turned out not to be.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Shreve and to see where Mitch’s life and business takes him.
March 14, 2019
When I first started reading this, I wasn't sure what to think. It's a mystery so I loved that, but Mitch, who is the PI, a 'good guy’, but he seemed so callous. Rude. But the more you get to know him, the more you understand why he is the way he is and he's really not a bad guy at all. Just…’broken’.
I have to say, this one actually stumped me. I didn't figure it out to the murderer was revealed. I had a feeling of one of the people involved but I missed the clues for the rest of it. It's a good mystery, too. The only problem I really had is there are some grammatical errors that need to be fixed and a couple of times parts of a sentence was missing. Other than that, it's a good read.
Being a private investigator isn't all it's cracked up to be. But after leaving the military, Mitch really didn't want to be a cop, per se. So his sister got him a job where he earned his PI license and then he opened the Eye Spy shop. Business isn't exactly booming, so Mitch is grateful for the case he's gotten, but the problem is, it brings up old memories that cause PTSD. A murder in a Bathhouse. And his job is to find evidence or something that can clear the janitor and lover of the victim. All while trying to somewhat avoid the hunky manager of the place, Trent. The suspects in this one add up. Seems like everyone argued with the victim before he died. And the two biggest suspects are two of the victims lovers. Yes, lovers. The more Mitch digs, the more he finds out about the victim. The man had lovers galore, including a 20 year open relationship. Several people had motives, and all of them have secrets they want no one to know. One so bad, they are threatening Mitch and his family, even Trent's family. More people are getting murdered and Mitch has to figure out what's going on before with whom before it's too late.
Mitch is a character for sure. Having dealt with the whole Afghanistan tours, I don't know how anyone stays sane, especially Mitch. And at times, he barely does. When he first got out, it wasn't a pretty picture. Thankfully, he had his sister to help him back on his feet some. When reading about what really happened over there for him, my heart broke. When you first read him, I will be surprised if you guys don't come up with the same conclusion I did. That he comes across crass, callous, and very much an ass sometimes. In spite of being very attracted to Trent, he ends up hurting him. And then you get the whole story.
For Trent, I admire the man. He gets hurt, yes, but he still tries to keep a smile on his face. Still tries to keep going. Still tries to bring out the good smiles from Mitch. He's good for Mitch. Really good. He made Mitch further look into himself and realize a few things. And it's all for the better.
There's quite a few good characters in this. Josie, Mitch’s sister. *Snorts* that girl needs a keeper sometimes lol. Trent's aunt Ada. She's amazing. It's just a good cast of characters. Good, bad, and ugly. If you all figure out who did it pretty quick, I will have to feel ashamed for sure. Lol.
I recommend! Get your thinking caps on and find the clues!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
I have to say, this one actually stumped me. I didn't figure it out to the murderer was revealed. I had a feeling of one of the people involved but I missed the clues for the rest of it. It's a good mystery, too. The only problem I really had is there are some grammatical errors that need to be fixed and a couple of times parts of a sentence was missing. Other than that, it's a good read.
Being a private investigator isn't all it's cracked up to be. But after leaving the military, Mitch really didn't want to be a cop, per se. So his sister got him a job where he earned his PI license and then he opened the Eye Spy shop. Business isn't exactly booming, so Mitch is grateful for the case he's gotten, but the problem is, it brings up old memories that cause PTSD. A murder in a Bathhouse. And his job is to find evidence or something that can clear the janitor and lover of the victim. All while trying to somewhat avoid the hunky manager of the place, Trent. The suspects in this one add up. Seems like everyone argued with the victim before he died. And the two biggest suspects are two of the victims lovers. Yes, lovers. The more Mitch digs, the more he finds out about the victim. The man had lovers galore, including a 20 year open relationship. Several people had motives, and all of them have secrets they want no one to know. One so bad, they are threatening Mitch and his family, even Trent's family. More people are getting murdered and Mitch has to figure out what's going on before with whom before it's too late.
Mitch is a character for sure. Having dealt with the whole Afghanistan tours, I don't know how anyone stays sane, especially Mitch. And at times, he barely does. When he first got out, it wasn't a pretty picture. Thankfully, he had his sister to help him back on his feet some. When reading about what really happened over there for him, my heart broke. When you first read him, I will be surprised if you guys don't come up with the same conclusion I did. That he comes across crass, callous, and very much an ass sometimes. In spite of being very attracted to Trent, he ends up hurting him. And then you get the whole story.
For Trent, I admire the man. He gets hurt, yes, but he still tries to keep a smile on his face. Still tries to keep going. Still tries to bring out the good smiles from Mitch. He's good for Mitch. Really good. He made Mitch further look into himself and realize a few things. And it's all for the better.
There's quite a few good characters in this. Josie, Mitch’s sister. *Snorts* that girl needs a keeper sometimes lol. Trent's aunt Ada. She's amazing. It's just a good cast of characters. Good, bad, and ugly. If you all figure out who did it pretty quick, I will have to feel ashamed for sure. Lol.
I recommend! Get your thinking caps on and find the clues!
http://lovebytesreviews.com
April 20, 2021
A Body in a Bathhouse (A Mitch O’Reilly Mystery, 1)
By Brad Shreve
Beeson Press, 2019
Five stars
A Body in a Bathhouse (Mitch O’Reilly Mystery 1)
By Brad Shreve
Beeson Press, 2019
Four stars
I’d been saving this book for a while, but had the uncanny sense that I’d already read it as I plowed through Brad Shreve’s first Mitch O’Reilly mystery. Pandemic brain? Then I found my Goodreads review when I went to post this one: so I'm replacing that one with this one.
There is something pleasantly offbeat about Mitchell O’Reilly, and about the author’s low-key writing style. Irritating editing flubs aside, Shreve gives us a curious, compassionate, reluctant private-eye, whose damage is gradually revealed over the course of the book. He’s a soft-boiled detective in a hard, fragile shell. He’s the kind of gay PI that I like—unconsciously masculine but also out and proud. His twin sister Josephine (Josie) acts as his twice-divorced Greek Chorus, providing both some comic relief and poignant insight into her beloved brother’s profound emotional distress.
The setting for this book is one I particularly enjoy: the “ordinary people” margins of Los Angeles, those struggling and striving folks who make up the bulk of the sprawling city’s population, and who only come into contact with its most glittering denizens under difficult circumstances. In this instance, Mitch is chosen by a sleazy bottom-feeder lawyer to try to clear a Latino towel-boy of the murder of his semi-famous screenwriter lover—the body in the aforesaid bathhouse.
Trent Nakos, the manager of the bathhouse, becomes another sort of Greek Chorus to Mitch—and I don’t mean because of his ethnicity. Trent is a kind of counterpoint to Josie, offering Mitch the potential of romantic love as Josie offers a constant, necessary source of familial love. And therein lies the problem: Mitch is profoundly suppressed in the emotional area, for reasons that become all too clear. He seeks what he doesn’t really want because he feels that he doesn’t deserve his heart’s true desire. This is never spelled out in quite such a bald-faced way, but it is at the core of Mitch’s internal dilemma. He is driven to seek justice for others, while unable to deal with his own unhappiness. Mitch is a disheveled soul, his chronically messy office becoming a visual metaphor for his mental state.
I usually find that in mysteries like this the solution itself is less important than the development of the central characters. Shreve makes this ugly, complicated murder plot matter, right to the end. The victims and the suspects are all unhappy, each in their own way (to invoke the opening lines of War and Peace). Mitch is just one of them, sensitive to other people’s motives because of his own finely-honed misery.
I desperately want Mitch to be happy, but given that this is a series, I suspect the author’s going to drag me through a lot of sadness before it gets better. I enjoyed this book and its characters enough that I think the ride will be worth it.
By Brad Shreve
Beeson Press, 2019
Five stars
A Body in a Bathhouse (Mitch O’Reilly Mystery 1)
By Brad Shreve
Beeson Press, 2019
Four stars
I’d been saving this book for a while, but had the uncanny sense that I’d already read it as I plowed through Brad Shreve’s first Mitch O’Reilly mystery. Pandemic brain? Then I found my Goodreads review when I went to post this one: so I'm replacing that one with this one.
There is something pleasantly offbeat about Mitchell O’Reilly, and about the author’s low-key writing style. Irritating editing flubs aside, Shreve gives us a curious, compassionate, reluctant private-eye, whose damage is gradually revealed over the course of the book. He’s a soft-boiled detective in a hard, fragile shell. He’s the kind of gay PI that I like—unconsciously masculine but also out and proud. His twin sister Josephine (Josie) acts as his twice-divorced Greek Chorus, providing both some comic relief and poignant insight into her beloved brother’s profound emotional distress.
The setting for this book is one I particularly enjoy: the “ordinary people” margins of Los Angeles, those struggling and striving folks who make up the bulk of the sprawling city’s population, and who only come into contact with its most glittering denizens under difficult circumstances. In this instance, Mitch is chosen by a sleazy bottom-feeder lawyer to try to clear a Latino towel-boy of the murder of his semi-famous screenwriter lover—the body in the aforesaid bathhouse.
Trent Nakos, the manager of the bathhouse, becomes another sort of Greek Chorus to Mitch—and I don’t mean because of his ethnicity. Trent is a kind of counterpoint to Josie, offering Mitch the potential of romantic love as Josie offers a constant, necessary source of familial love. And therein lies the problem: Mitch is profoundly suppressed in the emotional area, for reasons that become all too clear. He seeks what he doesn’t really want because he feels that he doesn’t deserve his heart’s true desire. This is never spelled out in quite such a bald-faced way, but it is at the core of Mitch’s internal dilemma. He is driven to seek justice for others, while unable to deal with his own unhappiness. Mitch is a disheveled soul, his chronically messy office becoming a visual metaphor for his mental state.
I usually find that in mysteries like this the solution itself is less important than the development of the central characters. Shreve makes this ugly, complicated murder plot matter, right to the end. The victims and the suspects are all unhappy, each in their own way (to invoke the opening lines of War and Peace). Mitch is just one of them, sensitive to other people’s motives because of his own finely-honed misery.
I desperately want Mitch to be happy, but given that this is a series, I suspect the author’s going to drag me through a lot of sadness before it gets better. I enjoyed this book and its characters enough that I think the ride will be worth it.
August 24, 2019
As the first book in a series, "A Body in a Bathhouse" gives us a solid beginning - Our MC is Mitch O'Reilly, a P.I. with a background as an MP and a life-changing accident during his last tour of Afghanistan, a dying store called Eye Spy Supplies and a meddling twin sister far too interested in assisting him in investigations.
Mitch is hired to gather evidence to exonerate a suspect charged with murdering a man in the Club Silver Lake bathhouse, a place Mitch is intimately familiar with. "Familiar? It had been almost five years since I'd been inside, but I would never shake the lure of sheer self-indulgence that consumed my life after I left the army." There's a long list of suspects in the murder, but the only problem is that the suspects kept getting killed one after another, so the murder mystery really holds your interest as Mitch slowly unravels this case.
Mitch also has to confront his past and his reluctance to enter into a relationship with Trent after so many years of pushing people away and the book gives us a HFN ending with lots more to explore and discover about these two men. 4 strong stars for "A Body in a Bathhouse" and I'll be reading the next book in the series - "A Body on the Hill" - this fall.
Mitch is hired to gather evidence to exonerate a suspect charged with murdering a man in the Club Silver Lake bathhouse, a place Mitch is intimately familiar with. "Familiar? It had been almost five years since I'd been inside, but I would never shake the lure of sheer self-indulgence that consumed my life after I left the army." There's a long list of suspects in the murder, but the only problem is that the suspects kept getting killed one after another, so the murder mystery really holds your interest as Mitch slowly unravels this case.
Mitch also has to confront his past and his reluctance to enter into a relationship with Trent after so many years of pushing people away and the book gives us a HFN ending with lots more to explore and discover about these two men. 4 strong stars for "A Body in a Bathhouse" and I'll be reading the next book in the series - "A Body on the Hill" - this fall.
March 14, 2019
A crime mystery thriller is not my usual cup of tea in book genres, but I don’t know why the blurb of this book had caught my attention and raised a deep curiosity in me. And the next thing I know I signed for the arc of this book and I must preparing myself for any challenges this book gave me.
The first thing I notice when I read the first few chapters is…I have a bit struggling with the author writing and the ‘humors’ he put in this thriller mystery. I was expecting the story will grab me in, but I find myself can’t connected with the main characters and the story quite well.
But even though I have some troubles connecting with the story, I must admit that there’s a part of me that still enjoying it. The guessing part and the way the author trying to blurring the suspect and drove the readers to multiple suspects are fun enough. Well at least it almost satisfied the Sherlock side in me.
Overall the book is interesting enough to follow, but the way the author ‘solved’ the mystery at nearly end of the book was far from what I expected and that quite a bummer for me.
February 20, 2022
Enjoyed meeting Mitch and his sister Josie. Though a bit thin in places, the plot and pacing are good and the mystery full of twists and loopholes enough to keep you guessing.
A bit more show and less tell would help with Josie's development as a character (we're told she's fun loving and a great jokester, but never actually shown this side of her personality). Also, I'd like to see how Mr. Shreve further develops Mitch's skills as a PI and his relationship with Trent, who might become an asset in the future.
A bit more show and less tell would help with Josie's development as a character (we're told she's fun loving and a great jokester, but never actually shown this side of her personality). Also, I'd like to see how Mr. Shreve further develops Mitch's skills as a PI and his relationship with Trent, who might become an asset in the future.
March 21, 2019
Twists, turns, and tons of laughs
The debut novel from Brad Shreve has everything you could want in a mystery novel; from the characters you hate, love, and love to hate; to the twist and turns one would expect in any good whodunnit; to the occasional action scene; and even a bit of romance to round things out.
If you enjoy a good, engaging read like I do, then I highly recommend that you check out "A Body in A Bathhouse"!!
The debut novel from Brad Shreve has everything you could want in a mystery novel; from the characters you hate, love, and love to hate; to the twist and turns one would expect in any good whodunnit; to the occasional action scene; and even a bit of romance to round things out.
If you enjoy a good, engaging read like I do, then I highly recommend that you check out "A Body in A Bathhouse"!!
March 14, 2019
Following a character around while they ask questions should not be this enjoyable.
If you ask me exactly what attracts me to this book, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint it. It's just one of those reads that are altogether entertaining.
We have a sarcastic lead, nice details that sometimes sound as if listed off, but since we see the story unfold from the POV of a PI, it makes sense, and there's also a mystery and I love me a good mystery.
By the way, this is like the old-fashioned detective stories, not like the modern, action-pack ones so until we get to the climax, expect a more chill pace.
But back to the mystery and detective work.
We are given as much info as Mitch - obviously, since it's his POV - so if you like to think alongside the detective in your crime novels, you'll be able to do that here. However... We were not given sufficient information to figure out who did it until the very end.
On one hand, that's good, because we wouldn't know for sure by the time we are fifty percent into the book and spend the rest of our reading time screaming at Mitch "It's obvious that so-and-so did it!"
On the other, we didn't get that satisfying "I figured who and why!" moment that makes us so proud of ourselves... Or at least makes me proud of myself when I solve the crime before the end of a novel.
Even so, I very much enjoyed this book and it's got me hyped up for future Mitch O’Reilly mysteries.
If I have to point out a particular scene that I thought was weak, I'd go for the sex one (read the book and you'll know which I mean). It didn't really titillate me and it's not something I'd remember from this book.
I'd recommend A Body in a Bathhouse to people who enjoy a more realistic approach to PI work.
If you ask me exactly what attracts me to this book, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint it. It's just one of those reads that are altogether entertaining.
We have a sarcastic lead, nice details that sometimes sound as if listed off, but since we see the story unfold from the POV of a PI, it makes sense, and there's also a mystery and I love me a good mystery.
By the way, this is like the old-fashioned detective stories, not like the modern, action-pack ones so until we get to the climax, expect a more chill pace.
But back to the mystery and detective work.
We are given as much info as Mitch - obviously, since it's his POV - so if you like to think alongside the detective in your crime novels, you'll be able to do that here. However... We were not given sufficient information to figure out who did it until the very end.
On one hand, that's good, because we wouldn't know for sure by the time we are fifty percent into the book and spend the rest of our reading time screaming at Mitch "It's obvious that so-and-so did it!"
On the other, we didn't get that satisfying "I figured who and why!" moment that makes us so proud of ourselves... Or at least makes me proud of myself when I solve the crime before the end of a novel.
Even so, I very much enjoyed this book and it's got me hyped up for future Mitch O’Reilly mysteries.
If I have to point out a particular scene that I thought was weak, I'd go for the sex one (read the book and you'll know which I mean). It didn't really titillate me and it's not something I'd remember from this book.
I'd recommend A Body in a Bathhouse to people who enjoy a more realistic approach to PI work.
March 21, 2019
I rarely write reviews, but I want to encourage more stories from this author and more readers. The book has a combination of elements I especially like -- gay characters, mystery, humor, just a bit of romance/sex (although I wouldn't mind more when appropriate), and a compelling writing style. I also have a particular fondness for stories focused on clubs, bars, bath houses and such settings, so the title caught my attention.
April 11, 2019
A Body In A Bathhouse is an excellent murder mystery detective novel that will keep you guessing and have you, and keep you, on the edge of your seat. Its an easy book to read and it makes you want to read more. The characters are likable (most of the time) and entertaining (all of the time). They are introduced to the reader in stages. We're given new information about them throughout the novel. I felt I could identify (at least in part) with most of them. The story and the characters are so real, they could easily have been pulled from the pages of the L.A. Times. There are big and small twists to the story line that keep you interested, sometimes scratching your head and thinking "I didn't see THAT coming!" Elements of humor are also sprinkled throughout. Its a great whodunit novel that had me guessing right up the end. This writer knows his stuff when it comes to a good murder mystery. I look forward to more adventures with Mitch.....soon I hope.
March 11, 2019
Mitch is a private detective with a spyware store on the side. Barely eaking out a living, he get a job trying to prove the innocence of a man accused of murder.
Trent manages the bathhouse where the man was killed. Mitch is interested in Trent but tries to be professional and not become involved with a person pertinent to the case. Of course he fails.
I loved the twists and turns in this book. I’ll admit I didn’t figure out who the murderer was till near the end. Good story with a lot of characters intriguing in their own right. Little bit of romance. Overall a good whodunnit.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
Trent manages the bathhouse where the man was killed. Mitch is interested in Trent but tries to be professional and not become involved with a person pertinent to the case. Of course he fails.
I loved the twists and turns in this book. I’ll admit I didn’t figure out who the murderer was till near the end. Good story with a lot of characters intriguing in their own right. Little bit of romance. Overall a good whodunnit.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
March 12, 2022
Gay Mystery. 3.5 stars.
A by-the-numbers murder mystery. The plot chugs along at a pleasant pace, with plenty of red herrings and wrong turns. The mystery is engaging and the conclusion is satisfying. The writer does a good job of portraying the gay scene in modern day Los Angeles, but the main character is a little bland. No eccentricities, no quirks, nothing to make him stand out (all of the other characters are more interesting). Perhaps as the series progresses, we’ll find out more about him and he’ll become more engaging.
A by-the-numbers murder mystery. The plot chugs along at a pleasant pace, with plenty of red herrings and wrong turns. The mystery is engaging and the conclusion is satisfying. The writer does a good job of portraying the gay scene in modern day Los Angeles, but the main character is a little bland. No eccentricities, no quirks, nothing to make him stand out (all of the other characters are more interesting). Perhaps as the series progresses, we’ll find out more about him and he’ll become more engaging.
July 9, 2020
DNF @ 17%.
Is this supposed to be a parody? Or serious. Either way, it missed the mark.
Mitch seems to bumbling things quite a bit for a PI and ex-MP. I'm not crazy over him as a character, not that I saw much of it in the few chapters I read. I didn't really like a single side character either.
The writing, specifically the dialogue, didn't really work for me. I was hoping to find another great MM mystery series, but this was a miss for me and I don't really feel like plodding through reading it.
Is this supposed to be a parody? Or serious. Either way, it missed the mark.
Mitch seems to bumbling things quite a bit for a PI and ex-MP. I'm not crazy over him as a character, not that I saw much of it in the few chapters I read. I didn't really like a single side character either.
The writing, specifically the dialogue, didn't really work for me. I was hoping to find another great MM mystery series, but this was a miss for me and I don't really feel like plodding through reading it.
July 29, 2019
Good steady whodunnit with a likeably flawed and broken PI. I was unable to work out the identity of the serial killer until the very end. A good start to a new series.
November 3, 2020
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Mitch O’Reilly, after leaving the US Military Police Corps and getting his Private Investigator license, is now the rather hapless owner of Eye Spy Supply, a store where he sells “the latest surveillance equipment, computer monitoring devices, GPS trackers, and bug detectors”. He is still doing the odd investigation, too, in order to keep financially afloat. One day Attorney Eve Aiken waltzes in to hire him. Victor Verboom, staff writer for a successful TV comedy, has just been murdered in the Club Silver Lake bathhouse, and young custodian Ernesto Torres, his lover, has been arrested. The bathhouse manager, sizzling hot Trent Nakos, has asked Aiken to try to find evidence that Ernesto is innocent. Mitch accepts the job because, as always, he is in dire need of cash—he is two months late for the rent of his shop, after all. The first thing he discovers as he starts digging into Victor’s past is that Victor and his longtime companion Warren Barone, owner of a flower shop and inveterate gambler, have been leading an open and somewhat tumultuous relationship. Proof: Victor not only had an affair with young Ernesto but also with haughty and hunky Christian Freeman, a gogo-dancer. An intriguing fact for all three of them—Ernesto, Christian, and Warren—were in the bathhouse at the time of Victor’s death.
Little by little, obstinately, Mitch manages to gather clue after clue, and the circle of suspects grows. There is bathhouse Office Supervisor Seth Snider, for instance; or Heather Verboom, Victor’s daughter, and her aggressive fiancé Kevin Daniels; or Pam Hernandez, Victor’s sisters, and her husband Rodrigo, who has been seen in the bathhouse as well. And of course, Mitch finds motives aplenty: first of all, money. Victor was quite well-off, after all, and his companion Warren had gathered enormous gambling debts. Victor’s daughter and her boyfriend are living in quite squalid conditions. Then ambition: was Christian Freeman expecting Victor to launch him as the ultimate porn star? Thirdly, the fear of exposure: Rodrigo, Victor’s brother-in-law, is gay but as a financially successful and married businessman very much in the closet. Last but not least, Mitch cannot rule out that Ernesto is behind Victor’s untimely demise, either; the young man was deeply in love with Victor and turns out to be emotionally unbalanced. And what is Mitch to make of his unwanted attraction to Trent, who might be another suspect, after all?
This was an intriguing read, a murder mystery I would really define as unputdownable and a page-turner where I got plenty of clues but had the impression I remained clueless almost till the end. Of course, I followed the main character’s leads, which turned out to be dead ends (literally) one after the other. What I really liked was the tone of the book together with the sure and steady hand with which it was written—this seems to be Brad Shreves’s first novel, but it is already an accomplished book. The story is set in Los Angeles; not the postcard city tourists might encounter nor the glitzy enclave of Hollywood stars, but a grimy, grisly, pulsating, and sometimes dangerous metropolis that holds an important place in the plot. The interesting characters were the second element of note. Mitch O’Reilly tells the story in first person, and he is a man with a difficult past. His two stints in Afghanistan have left him wounded and scarred in many ways, and he is struggling to keep his head above water, not only financially but also morally and mentally. Yet he is an astute investigator, stubborn and nonjudmental at the same time. His main concern is to gather evidence not to base his job on clumsy suppositions.
The other characters felt just as real as he, with a special mention for sweet and hunky Trent, who could just be the one man to heal Mitch’s wound (yes, there’s a timid but cute romantic sub-plot that filled me with hope for the main character). Everyone had a story to tell, struggles to cope with (and more often than not, to hide), ambitions and hungers, edges and wounds. How pleasant it was to read a book that didn’t want to show me a pink-colored fictional bubble, but reality and modern-day life as it is. Most of the people in this novel simply try to get on with their lives as best as they can, which leads to some savory dialogs and sallies—for instance when Attorney Eve Aiken, a notorious homophobe, hires gay Mitch to investigate the murder of another gay man and says with a shrug, “it doesn’t matter which way the wind blows, as long as the cash is green”. An excellent read with blood, sweat, and tears as well as a hunt for the culprit that drew me in from the first page.
Mitch O’Reilly, after leaving the US Military Police Corps and getting his Private Investigator license, is now the rather hapless owner of Eye Spy Supply, a store where he sells “the latest surveillance equipment, computer monitoring devices, GPS trackers, and bug detectors”. He is still doing the odd investigation, too, in order to keep financially afloat. One day Attorney Eve Aiken waltzes in to hire him. Victor Verboom, staff writer for a successful TV comedy, has just been murdered in the Club Silver Lake bathhouse, and young custodian Ernesto Torres, his lover, has been arrested. The bathhouse manager, sizzling hot Trent Nakos, has asked Aiken to try to find evidence that Ernesto is innocent. Mitch accepts the job because, as always, he is in dire need of cash—he is two months late for the rent of his shop, after all. The first thing he discovers as he starts digging into Victor’s past is that Victor and his longtime companion Warren Barone, owner of a flower shop and inveterate gambler, have been leading an open and somewhat tumultuous relationship. Proof: Victor not only had an affair with young Ernesto but also with haughty and hunky Christian Freeman, a gogo-dancer. An intriguing fact for all three of them—Ernesto, Christian, and Warren—were in the bathhouse at the time of Victor’s death.
Little by little, obstinately, Mitch manages to gather clue after clue, and the circle of suspects grows. There is bathhouse Office Supervisor Seth Snider, for instance; or Heather Verboom, Victor’s daughter, and her aggressive fiancé Kevin Daniels; or Pam Hernandez, Victor’s sisters, and her husband Rodrigo, who has been seen in the bathhouse as well. And of course, Mitch finds motives aplenty: first of all, money. Victor was quite well-off, after all, and his companion Warren had gathered enormous gambling debts. Victor’s daughter and her boyfriend are living in quite squalid conditions. Then ambition: was Christian Freeman expecting Victor to launch him as the ultimate porn star? Thirdly, the fear of exposure: Rodrigo, Victor’s brother-in-law, is gay but as a financially successful and married businessman very much in the closet. Last but not least, Mitch cannot rule out that Ernesto is behind Victor’s untimely demise, either; the young man was deeply in love with Victor and turns out to be emotionally unbalanced. And what is Mitch to make of his unwanted attraction to Trent, who might be another suspect, after all?
This was an intriguing read, a murder mystery I would really define as unputdownable and a page-turner where I got plenty of clues but had the impression I remained clueless almost till the end. Of course, I followed the main character’s leads, which turned out to be dead ends (literally) one after the other. What I really liked was the tone of the book together with the sure and steady hand with which it was written—this seems to be Brad Shreves’s first novel, but it is already an accomplished book. The story is set in Los Angeles; not the postcard city tourists might encounter nor the glitzy enclave of Hollywood stars, but a grimy, grisly, pulsating, and sometimes dangerous metropolis that holds an important place in the plot. The interesting characters were the second element of note. Mitch O’Reilly tells the story in first person, and he is a man with a difficult past. His two stints in Afghanistan have left him wounded and scarred in many ways, and he is struggling to keep his head above water, not only financially but also morally and mentally. Yet he is an astute investigator, stubborn and nonjudmental at the same time. His main concern is to gather evidence not to base his job on clumsy suppositions.
The other characters felt just as real as he, with a special mention for sweet and hunky Trent, who could just be the one man to heal Mitch’s wound (yes, there’s a timid but cute romantic sub-plot that filled me with hope for the main character). Everyone had a story to tell, struggles to cope with (and more often than not, to hide), ambitions and hungers, edges and wounds. How pleasant it was to read a book that didn’t want to show me a pink-colored fictional bubble, but reality and modern-day life as it is. Most of the people in this novel simply try to get on with their lives as best as they can, which leads to some savory dialogs and sallies—for instance when Attorney Eve Aiken, a notorious homophobe, hires gay Mitch to investigate the murder of another gay man and says with a shrug, “it doesn’t matter which way the wind blows, as long as the cash is green”. An excellent read with blood, sweat, and tears as well as a hunt for the culprit that drew me in from the first page.
April 18, 2020
Solid murder mystery introducing PI Mitch O'Reilly, whose money troubles lead him to accept a potentially lucrative job to prove the innocence of a murder suspect - a task with which he might just have bitten off more than he can chew, especially once more people start turning up dead.
While I occasionally wished the pace would pick up a bit, the mystery came with enough twists to keep me hooked.
While I occasionally wished the pace would pick up a bit, the mystery came with enough twists to keep me hooked.
April 21, 2019
What makes a Whodunit a pleasure to read is the detective. In Body in a Bathhouse, Brad Shreve has done a great job with PI Mitch O’Reilly. Mitch’s wisecracking exterior hides his innermost flaws. His personal life is a train wreck, yet he steadfastly motors on to solve the case. You can’t help rooting for him. O’Reilly’s twin sister, Josie, is also compellingly drawn.
For me, who was behind everything came as a complete surprise. Usually by the time the ending rolls around, I have forgotten who most of the suspect are. Shreve handles the entourage in Bathhouse well. He does not hid any clues from the reader and reprises everyone’s motives more than once as the story moves along.
An additional character in the book is the city of Los Angeles, especially the west side. I live there myself, and Shreve’s descriptions are spot on.
For me, who was behind everything came as a complete surprise. Usually by the time the ending rolls around, I have forgotten who most of the suspect are. Shreve handles the entourage in Bathhouse well. He does not hid any clues from the reader and reprises everyone’s motives more than once as the story moves along.
An additional character in the book is the city of Los Angeles, especially the west side. I live there myself, and Shreve’s descriptions are spot on.
March 28, 2019
What a fun little book. It has a plethora of characters which are carefully introduced. The characters are fully developed. The plot is a little complex but it’s never confusing. It carefully unfolds in an entertaining manner. Not a heavy book but it’s fun and entertaining. Good escapism.
May 3, 2019
This book was an entertaining, suspenseful and humorous ride through Los Angeles and its environs. The protagonist was likeable and real. The other characters augmented the story and kept you interested. A rewarding who-done-it !
July 7, 2021
A Body in a Bathhouse is innocuous, if forgettable, book I wasn't particularly wowed by.
The premise lacks originality to begin with: down and out loner of a PI, who is also a former soldier suffering from PTSD, falls for super hot, super nice guy involved in the murder he is at first reluctantly investigating until he becomes a little obsessed by it. I feel I've followed that storyline a few times before.
Although the main characters are all well-rounded, and nice people, they are not actually particularly likeable, which takes a lot away from the M/M element of the story. The murder mystery part is decent enough but again failed to really grip me. It also felt a teensy bit... similar to? inspired by? Fatal Shadows .
Finally there is the writing; never something to hold high expectations about in a genre novel, I admit. After a worrying start (see quote below), things improve but only to reach another lacklustre level of inoffensiveness.
"Eve scowled as she combed my shabby storeroom office, with its dimmed fluorescent lighting and dark wood paneling. Stacked boxes slanted, ready to fall at any moment. A stool next to the desk barely balanced a mountain of bills on top, all stamped "past due"." (p2)
It was "ok" but I probably won't come back for more of this series.
The premise lacks originality to begin with: down and out loner of a PI, who is also a former soldier suffering from PTSD, falls for super hot, super nice guy involved in the murder he is at first reluctantly investigating until he becomes a little obsessed by it. I feel I've followed that storyline a few times before.
Although the main characters are all well-rounded, and nice people, they are not actually particularly likeable, which takes a lot away from the M/M element of the story. The murder mystery part is decent enough but again failed to really grip me. It also felt a teensy bit... similar to? inspired by? Fatal Shadows .
Finally there is the writing; never something to hold high expectations about in a genre novel, I admit. After a worrying start (see quote below), things improve but only to reach another lacklustre level of inoffensiveness.
"Eve scowled as she combed my shabby storeroom office, with its dimmed fluorescent lighting and dark wood paneling. Stacked boxes slanted, ready to fall at any moment. A stool next to the desk barely balanced a mountain of bills on top, all stamped "past due"." (p2)
It was "ok" but I probably won't come back for more of this series.
April 29, 2019
Not sure of the age level for this novel because the writing was appropriate for middle school but with a bathhouse as a backdrop, it had to be adult oriented. It wasn't that hard to figure out who the murderer was if you read closely. Various bathhouse members were well represented but the ditzy sister was too over-the-top and not funny at all. The ending certainly left the option for future books.
June 4, 2021
I liked the idea of this story and I did like Mitch - he wasn’t a self loathing, deprecating character. And the overall story was good. What was a bit testing was the endless interviews - Mitch just went form one person too the next and back again. It’s fine if you like that kind of a story, but there is absolutely no action at all here, except for the very last pages. It did seem that the book was about 100 pages too long.
June 11, 2022
An excellent debut novel. The mystery is well-laid and well played, though I did guess the murderer, though not the motive or the characters' interrelationship. Both the author and his PI mature as the novel spins along so that, by the end, I bought into both of them and am looking forward to the second book. Since Brad is the host of the Queer Writers of Crime podcast that has introduced me to so many detective series to read, I was happy that his own writing is as good as it is.
June 17, 2019
An excellent concept that failed a little in the execution. A body found in a bathhouse and a gay PI who runs his own spy store in a strip mall with his twin sister. Fun! Only not so fun, really. No development on the secondary characters, no humour, and an unbelievable marine back story.
March 25, 2019
Rating: 3.5 stars
A Body in a Bathhouse is the first book in the A Mitch O’Reilly Mystery series by Brad Shreve. I’m a sucker for mysteries so I went into this book without knowing anything about the author or his writing style and just wanted to read the mystery.
Supposedly Mitch O’Reilly is a private investigator and has actually worked for a large company before going out on his own. I found this surprising as he seemed to come across as clueless, with no idea what he was doing when it came to investigating. I had a hard time connecting, liking, or feeling more than indifferent with Mitch, and it could certainly be something that builds the more you read the series. He had a close relationship with his twin sister, who I also didn’t like and who was involved in helping him.
I struggled a little with the writing of this book, and that could certainly be just me. I’ve mentioned many times that the first book in a series can be a lot because the author just gives too much in building the series and that once you get past the first book and settle into the series, it’s more enjoyable. This book just had a lot. One specific thing that just annoyed me, and it happened more than once, was Mitch would be “interviewing” someone regarding a mystery but it wouldn’t be an opportune time or place. So it would be Mitch talking, someone shouting a drink order, interviewee answering question, someone saying something from somewhere else, Mitch talking, someone interrupting, interviewee talking, someone bumping into them, etc. I understood the author was trying to bring alive the busyness of the coffee shop, or other areas, but it was just too much for me. For me, I felt it didn’t add anything to the story and was a detractor. And had this happened one time, fine, but it wasn’t one time.
As for the mystery, I suspected who was responsible for the murder but didn’t have all the parts figured out. I think the author did a great job with the mystery parts, I just hope he tightens up all the parts surrounding those. This is the first published book for this author and he definitely put the work into it, which I can appreciate. I’ll certainly read the second book to see if Mitch grows on me, and if the writer and series settles into the book, as has been my experience with other mystery series.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
A Body in a Bathhouse is the first book in the A Mitch O’Reilly Mystery series by Brad Shreve. I’m a sucker for mysteries so I went into this book without knowing anything about the author or his writing style and just wanted to read the mystery.
Supposedly Mitch O’Reilly is a private investigator and has actually worked for a large company before going out on his own. I found this surprising as he seemed to come across as clueless, with no idea what he was doing when it came to investigating. I had a hard time connecting, liking, or feeling more than indifferent with Mitch, and it could certainly be something that builds the more you read the series. He had a close relationship with his twin sister, who I also didn’t like and who was involved in helping him.
I struggled a little with the writing of this book, and that could certainly be just me. I’ve mentioned many times that the first book in a series can be a lot because the author just gives too much in building the series and that once you get past the first book and settle into the series, it’s more enjoyable. This book just had a lot. One specific thing that just annoyed me, and it happened more than once, was Mitch would be “interviewing” someone regarding a mystery but it wouldn’t be an opportune time or place. So it would be Mitch talking, someone shouting a drink order, interviewee answering question, someone saying something from somewhere else, Mitch talking, someone interrupting, interviewee talking, someone bumping into them, etc. I understood the author was trying to bring alive the busyness of the coffee shop, or other areas, but it was just too much for me. For me, I felt it didn’t add anything to the story and was a detractor. And had this happened one time, fine, but it wasn’t one time.
As for the mystery, I suspected who was responsible for the murder but didn’t have all the parts figured out. I think the author did a great job with the mystery parts, I just hope he tightens up all the parts surrounding those. This is the first published book for this author and he definitely put the work into it, which I can appreciate. I’ll certainly read the second book to see if Mitch grows on me, and if the writer and series settles into the book, as has been my experience with other mystery series.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
July 5, 2020
As a 24 year old LGBTQ Latino man, this book really hit hard for me in a number of ways. I identified with so many aspects of not only Mitch O’Rielly, but nearly each character who floats through the bathhouses & bars- even the unexpected ones.
Underneath the gripping story and relatable daily thoughts, the book carries a heartfelt love letter to the city of Los Angeles; from the beaches to the valleys, and every dark, seedy, glamorous and glamorless place in between. The book itself is not a portal to some other world- instead it is a map that can be traced and followed along standstill freeways and iconic boulevards. There’s some rich history and tidbits placed throughout, which can be enjoyed and appreciated by almost any reader- whether they call Los Angeles home or not.
Beyond that, is a modern day real world “situationship” that can be found throughout both the LGBTQ and straight communities. From bars and clubs to bathhouses and online forums, hookup culture is explored and enjoyed. There’s certainly some steamy scenes, which exist even outside the pun of the bathouse, which can be enjoyed by anyone with some time to themself.
The case itself is full of deep layers that gradually become more gruesome and intriguing. Subtle clues are there, but it really is a maelstrom of a reveal. This being my first murder mystery novel, of the LGBTQ murder mystery genre at that, I thoroughly enjoyed and would reccomend this book to almost anyone. Once I was able to toss my idea of what a film noir private eye is, I was able to enjoy the natural and realistic flow of this modern murder mystery. I hope this series continues for as long as there are people like me who can be pleasantly surprised by discovering themselves in the last place they would ever suspect.
Underneath the gripping story and relatable daily thoughts, the book carries a heartfelt love letter to the city of Los Angeles; from the beaches to the valleys, and every dark, seedy, glamorous and glamorless place in between. The book itself is not a portal to some other world- instead it is a map that can be traced and followed along standstill freeways and iconic boulevards. There’s some rich history and tidbits placed throughout, which can be enjoyed and appreciated by almost any reader- whether they call Los Angeles home or not.
Beyond that, is a modern day real world “situationship” that can be found throughout both the LGBTQ and straight communities. From bars and clubs to bathhouses and online forums, hookup culture is explored and enjoyed. There’s certainly some steamy scenes, which exist even outside the pun of the bathouse, which can be enjoyed by anyone with some time to themself.
The case itself is full of deep layers that gradually become more gruesome and intriguing. Subtle clues are there, but it really is a maelstrom of a reveal. This being my first murder mystery novel, of the LGBTQ murder mystery genre at that, I thoroughly enjoyed and would reccomend this book to almost anyone. Once I was able to toss my idea of what a film noir private eye is, I was able to enjoy the natural and realistic flow of this modern murder mystery. I hope this series continues for as long as there are people like me who can be pleasantly surprised by discovering themselves in the last place they would ever suspect.
September 18, 2020
Mitch O'Reilly is an ex MP. He had something really horrific happen to him while in Afghanistan and took a discharge after four years. Now he's working as a PI while trying to get his struggling Eye Spy Supply shop off the ground. He usually does cheating spouse cases but has been retained to find information to clear a possible murder suspect. This may be the step up in his career that he needs. He has a twin sister Josie that is fun loving and a perfect opposite to him. Josie doesn't mind telling Mitch, every chance she gets, that she's older than him (she's twelve minutes older).
This is a really engaging murder mystery. Once I started reading the book I had a hard time putting it down. It is well written and flows well. By the end of the book I had narrowed down the murderer to two people but I didn't see the complete twist at the end, so that makes it a good mystery IMO. I like that there's a little romance in the book (as romance is my preferred genre) but it doesn't overpower the mystery. Mitch is a work in progress and I'm anxious to see where his character goes. This book has a cast of characters that are colorful and well fleshed out. There are some really funny moments in this book as well. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery.
ARC provided for an honest review.
This is a really engaging murder mystery. Once I started reading the book I had a hard time putting it down. It is well written and flows well. By the end of the book I had narrowed down the murderer to two people but I didn't see the complete twist at the end, so that makes it a good mystery IMO. I like that there's a little romance in the book (as romance is my preferred genre) but it doesn't overpower the mystery. Mitch is a work in progress and I'm anxious to see where his character goes. This book has a cast of characters that are colorful and well fleshed out. There are some really funny moments in this book as well. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery.
ARC provided for an honest review.
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