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Criminal Intentions #12
The Hatter's Game: Part I
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Broken trust. Shattered hearts. Secrets exposed--and yet still no closer to the truth. When Malcolm and Seong-Jae's relationship hits a wall, their partnership fragments as well...and they may not be able to withstand the crushing tide when protests over Tomasz Kowalczyk's death turn into deadly riots. Too many familiar faces return, and one will be leaving in a bodybag.
But for the puppetmaster guiding their every move, the chaos that descends on Baltimore is the perfect opportunity to capture his mark.
And when Sila sets his eyes on Malcolm...
Malcolm will discover that nowhere is safe. There's no one he can trust.
And no one to save him from the man who taught Seong-Jae to love through pain. Through suffering. Through hatred. Through lies.
Through betrayal, when nothing and no one are what they seem.
Part I of the thrilling Season One finale!
Broken trust. Shattered hearts. Secrets exposed--and yet still no closer to the truth. When Malcolm and Seong-Jae's relationship hits a wall, their partnership fragments as well...and they may not be able to withstand the crushing tide when protests over Tomasz Kowalczyk's death turn into deadly riots. Too many familiar faces return, and one will be leaving in a bodybag.
But for the puppetmaster guiding their every move, the chaos that descends on Baltimore is the perfect opportunity to capture his mark.
And when Sila sets his eyes on Malcolm...
Malcolm will discover that nowhere is safe. There's no one he can trust.
And no one to save him from the man who taught Seong-Jae to love through pain. Through suffering. Through hatred. Through lies.
Through betrayal, when nothing and no one are what they seem.
Part I of the thrilling Season One finale!
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2019
48 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Cole McCade
65 books1,530 followersSlender. Angry. (Part) Asian.
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
June 21, 2021
me looking at all the 4 and 5 star reviews:
November 16, 2019
4.5 stars
Can't talk! Onto the next!!!
Can't talk! Onto the next!!!
May 28, 2021
“Sometimes there is no outcome that is completely positive. Sometimes we are faced with a decision between a hard choice, and an even harder one. At those times the only right thing to do is the one that gives the best possible outcome, even if it is not necessarily a good one.”
I need Sila to die. Please, or I'll have to do dark magic to get inside the book and make him suffer for that...
As always, this series is too addictive for my own good.✨
I need Sila to die. Please, or I'll have to do dark magic to get inside the book and make him suffer for that...
As always, this series is too addictive for my own good.✨
May 2, 2023
3.5 “I can’t do my job without my partner.” Stars
Thoughts:
Coming off of the high from a 5 star quality book in the series right before, book/episode 12 didn’t hit the mark as much. Reasonings: anticlimactic reveals after books and books of build up leading to that moment, and the filler book feels which came as a surprise to me with this book being the last one prior to the finale.
All of that said the addictive quality of needing to know what happens next did not leave me! My brain waves are focused on following the Seong-Jae and Malcolm frequency at all times!
Enough of the negatives! Here are the goods we get:
-Cole McCade time and time again bringing important and tough topics of current times into the light, and handling it with care!
-Side character ship magic! Finallyyyy!
-Angst, and angst and more angst
-Protective and adorable even when angry moments
-Painful stabs to the heart with words
-Ride or die (literally) partners for life!
-Cliff hanger feels prior to the big ending!!
I don’t know if I am ready to handle what comes next! However, I do miss them terribly and these are hard to put down, so see you next review!!
BR with my lovely bestie, lila! <3 So close to the end!
Would I recommend this and to who:
Crime junkies and slow burn romance lovers
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book - Kindle Unlimited (always comes in clutch!)
How did I discover this:
lila - who would I be without SJ & Mal & you now? *tears glistening*
Pace:
Fast
POV:
Multi - Malcolm and Seong-Jae primarily
Quotes:
“Loving them is the only thing that’s kept me halfway human, all these years.”
“Being in love fucking sucks, doesn’t it?”
SO MALCOLM WAS IN LOVE with a fucking asshole.
“Sometimes,” Seong-Jae said after a careful moment of consideration, “there is no outcome that is completely positive. Sometimes we are faced with a decision between one hard choice, and an even harder one. At those times the only right thing to do is the one that gives the best possible outcome, even if it is not necessarily a good one.
“You don’t treat people you care about this way. You just don’t. You don’t shut off like this and refuse to let them even help.”
“I thought I knew you pretty well,” the old wolf said softly. “And I thought you knew me.”
“I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you.”
Triggers:
Addiction, Emotional Abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Death, Murder, Graphic Horrific Details, Swearing, Injury, Gore, Toxic Relationships, etc.
____________________________
3.5 stars ~ Full RTC soon!
Mal & SJ deserve 5 stars, but the anticlimactic reveal does! 😔 This gave very much filler book, but wasn't has it had 2 important plot moments.
Thoughts:
Coming off of the high from a 5 star quality book in the series right before, book/episode 12 didn’t hit the mark as much. Reasonings: anticlimactic reveals after books and books of build up leading to that moment, and the filler book feels which came as a surprise to me with this book being the last one prior to the finale.
All of that said the addictive quality of needing to know what happens next did not leave me! My brain waves are focused on following the Seong-Jae and Malcolm frequency at all times!
Enough of the negatives! Here are the goods we get:
-Cole McCade time and time again bringing important and tough topics of current times into the light, and handling it with care!
-Side character ship magic! Finallyyyy!
-Angst, and angst and more angst
-Protective and adorable even when angry moments
-Painful stabs to the heart with words
-Ride or die (literally) partners for life!
-Cliff hanger feels prior to the big ending!!
I don’t know if I am ready to handle what comes next! However, I do miss them terribly and these are hard to put down, so see you next review!!
BR with my lovely bestie, lila! <3 So close to the end!
Would I recommend this and to who:
Crime junkies and slow burn romance lovers
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book - Kindle Unlimited (always comes in clutch!)
How did I discover this:
lila - who would I be without SJ & Mal & you now? *tears glistening*
Pace:
Fast
POV:
Multi - Malcolm and Seong-Jae primarily
Quotes:
“Loving them is the only thing that’s kept me halfway human, all these years.”
“Being in love fucking sucks, doesn’t it?”
SO MALCOLM WAS IN LOVE with a fucking asshole.
“Sometimes,” Seong-Jae said after a careful moment of consideration, “there is no outcome that is completely positive. Sometimes we are faced with a decision between one hard choice, and an even harder one. At those times the only right thing to do is the one that gives the best possible outcome, even if it is not necessarily a good one.
“You don’t treat people you care about this way. You just don’t. You don’t shut off like this and refuse to let them even help.”
“I thought I knew you pretty well,” the old wolf said softly. “And I thought you knew me.”
“I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you.”
Triggers:
Addiction, Emotional Abuse, Police brutality, Violence, Death, Murder, Graphic Horrific Details, Swearing, Injury, Gore, Toxic Relationships, etc.
____________________________
3.5 stars ~ Full RTC soon!
Mal & SJ deserve 5 stars, but the anticlimactic reveal does! 😔 This gave very much filler book, but wasn't has it had 2 important plot moments.
July 28, 2024
Poof! And there went any eloquence I might have possessed out of the window in a cloud of dust...
Sorry for this non-review, but all I can give you for this ending at the moment is a heartfelt: F.*.C.K!
I swear to God, a certain someone is trying to kill me! The only reason I won't return the favor is that he took pity on me and will release book #13 soon. Thank heaven for small favors!
Sorry for this non-review, but all I can give you for this ending at the moment is a heartfelt: F.*.C.K!
I swear to God, a certain someone is trying to kill me! The only reason I won't return the favor is that he took pity on me and will release book #13 soon. Thank heaven for small favors!
May 1, 2024
Lovely, lovely angst....💔💔💔
May 19, 2021
*screaming inside*
THAT ENDING!!!!
Finally, we know what is in that file.
"Stay,” he whispered. “Even if you hate me now…stay with me while I read it.”
The secrets are being revealed.
When you can't breathe with all the doubts that are drowning you, the faith they give you can be the air you need.
"I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you. I believe the man I love."
The hunter sets his bait and waits for his prey.
"This was a message, crafted just for him in heartbreak and in sorrow; in fury and in the violent pounding of his blood against his temples; in the scouring ash of his breaths inside his chest."
The screams of "No justice, no peace" are louder and echo through the streets.
"Their rousing voices, their calls of No justice, no peace! drowned him out."
The last clash... is near. *collapses*☠️☠️
THAT ENDING!!!!
Finally, we know what is in that file.
"Stay,” he whispered. “Even if you hate me now…stay with me while I read it.”
The secrets are being revealed.
When you can't breathe with all the doubts that are drowning you, the faith they give you can be the air you need.
"I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you. I believe the man I love."
The hunter sets his bait and waits for his prey.
"This was a message, crafted just for him in heartbreak and in sorrow; in fury and in the violent pounding of his blood against his temples; in the scouring ash of his breaths inside his chest."
The screams of "No justice, no peace" are louder and echo through the streets.
"Their rousing voices, their calls of No justice, no peace! drowned him out."
The last clash... is near. *collapses*☠️☠️
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 15, 2021
verdict: im fighting Sila so he can leave my bb Mal and SJ alone. 😀👊🏼
April 3, 2024
Vai aparecer assim no jornal : Garota morre de nervoso lendo livro 😅
EU PRECISO DORMIR, MAS SEI QUE SÓ VOU CONSEGUIR QUANDO TERMINAR ESSA PRIMEIRA TEMPORADA. TOMO CAFÉ COM CRIMINAL INTENTIONS, ALMOÇO, LANCHO E JANTO COM CRIMINAL INTENTIONS.
EU PRECISO DORMIR, MAS SEI QUE SÓ VOU CONSEGUIR QUANDO TERMINAR ESSA PRIMEIRA TEMPORADA. TOMO CAFÉ COM CRIMINAL INTENTIONS, ALMOÇO, LANCHO E JANTO COM CRIMINAL INTENTIONS.
July 25, 2021
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Need The Next One*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
Another cliffhanger. Thank god I have the next book ready to read. Overall, I didn't like how apart Mal and Seong-Jae was, but I do understand it. I have to be honest and say it was rather... anti-climatic with the file. At least for me. I had excepted something MUCH worse. Anyways, I need to hear the three words from those guys. Really. It's about damn time. On to the next one.
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The Characters:
The list is a bit long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book Twelve.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Malcolm ‘Mal’ Khalaji.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes, I think so.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Unsure...
Rating - 3 stars.
March 22, 2022
3.75 stars**
January 18, 2025
Nonetheless, he wasn’t prepared for the feeling of being punched in the chest when he walked into the homicide bullpen— and saw Seong- Jae already waiting in the Captain’s office, poised stiffly in one of the chairs across from her desk.
And wearing his old long black felted peacoat, instead of Malcolm’s “borrowed” racing jacket that had somehow become Seong- Jae’s own.
It felt like an unspoken rejection; a redrawing of the lines between them, and a quiet expulsion of little parts of Malcolm from Seong- Jae’s life.
The way that I would have torn my hair out at that cliff hanger if I was stuck waiting for the next (AND FINAL) release as these books were coming out. I had a feeling that we were going to go down this path a few books ago, so I'm not shocked but I'm also not mad about it.
The angst was delicious. A whole ass book of both of these idiots falling to pieces cause they're so in love and lost without the other but also that Seong-Jae is a traumatised fool who doesn't know how to have a functional relationship with healthy communication.
I feel like Silas' gas lighting of Seong-Jae was more evident here than it has been previously cause I have to admit that I didn't think that Seong-Jaes big background reveal was all that big of a deal? certainly not the world ending degree that he seems to think it is to caused all this massive amounts of pain and drama.
My heart really bled for Mal in this one. The 180 of heart break that Seong-Jae put him through here was brutal and I completely understand every moment of anger, despair, love and frustration that he had in this book. Seong-Jae better be ready to do a little grovelling for being such a dumbo (I still ate that angst up though yum yum yum).
I can't believe the next book is the last one. I mean aside from other 15 of them that are available 😂😂 but I will not be reading those just yet. People who do all 28 are a stronger breed than I am.
And wearing his old long black felted peacoat, instead of Malcolm’s “borrowed” racing jacket that had somehow become Seong- Jae’s own.
It felt like an unspoken rejection; a redrawing of the lines between them, and a quiet expulsion of little parts of Malcolm from Seong- Jae’s life.
The way that I would have torn my hair out at that cliff hanger if I was stuck waiting for the next (AND FINAL) release as these books were coming out. I had a feeling that we were going to go down this path a few books ago, so I'm not shocked but I'm also not mad about it.
The angst was delicious. A whole ass book of both of these idiots falling to pieces cause they're so in love and lost without the other but also that Seong-Jae is a traumatised fool who doesn't know how to have a functional relationship with healthy communication.
I feel like Silas' gas lighting of Seong-Jae was more evident here than it has been previously cause I have to admit that I didn't think that Seong-Jaes big background reveal was all that big of a deal? certainly not the world ending degree that he seems to think it is to caused all this massive amounts of pain and drama.
My heart really bled for Mal in this one. The 180 of heart break that Seong-Jae put him through here was brutal and I completely understand every moment of anger, despair, love and frustration that he had in this book. Seong-Jae better be ready to do a little grovelling for being such a dumbo (I still ate that angst up though yum yum yum).
I can't believe the next book is the last one. I mean aside from other 15 of them that are available 😂😂 but I will not be reading those just yet. People who do all 28 are a stronger breed than I am.
May 18, 2019
Emotional carnage. (as expected)
Mounting tension. (as expected)
The plot arc coming to a head. (as expected)
Hurt and pain galore. (as expected)
It doesn't matter how much I expected any of those things - when they hit (and they did!), it was simply blooming awful. And it hurt on the deepest level. There are only very few characters I have cared so much about.
Malcolm's broken heart, his total confusion why Seong-Jae cuts him off so deeply, and Seong-Jae beating himself up in the most self-destructive way when he so desperately needs Malcolm and his love ...
I have no words.
Expertly written (as expected)
Keeping me on the edge of my seat. (as expected)
Counting the seconds until the last episode. (more than expected)
Particularly after THAT ending.
So glad it's only a few days!
And despite all the expectations Cole McCade still manages to throw in the unexpected every single time!
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
Mounting tension. (as expected)
The plot arc coming to a head. (as expected)
Hurt and pain galore. (as expected)
It doesn't matter how much I expected any of those things - when they hit (and they did!), it was simply blooming awful. And it hurt on the deepest level. There are only very few characters I have cared so much about.
Malcolm's broken heart, his total confusion why Seong-Jae cuts him off so deeply, and Seong-Jae beating himself up in the most self-destructive way when he so desperately needs Malcolm and his love ...
I have no words.
Expertly written (as expected)
Keeping me on the edge of my seat. (as expected)
Counting the seconds until the last episode. (more than expected)
Particularly after THAT ending.
So glad it's only a few days!
And despite all the expectations Cole McCade still manages to throw in the unexpected every single time!
*An ARC was provided by the author, publisher or a promotional service and I have chosen to publish a fair and honest review*
October 24, 2024
Reread #2 :
“I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you.”
PLEASE MALCOLM IS SO PRECIOUS.
.........................................
Reread #1
THIS EPISODE HURT!
................................
GOD DAMN IT COLE
GOD F@CKING DAMMIT
“I don’t believe their skepticism, or their cynicism. I believe you.”
PLEASE MALCOLM IS SO PRECIOUS.
.........................................
Reread #1
THIS EPISODE HURT!
................................
GOD DAMN IT COLE
GOD F@CKING DAMMIT
February 3, 2025
This series has been almost all I’ve read for the last 2 weeks and has been so incredibly binge-worthy. Love me some angst. How the hell did the author write these last 3 books in a month?! Once again I urge anyone reading this to go to the end of the books and read the authors QandA and personal notes. They are the perfect mix of humour and gut punching reality about how the book has come about.
It’s interesting to read McCade’s decisions on inclusions of minority groups, POC, queer, trans people etc in his books vs having them as victims/sufferers and whether his readers should have to see representations of themselves suffering. It’s not simply a case of chucking them in for “POC rep” but chosen with thought and sensitivity.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t prepared for the feeling of being punched in the chest when he walked into the homicide bullpen—and saw Seong-Jae already waiting in the Captain’s office, poised stiffly in one of the chairs across from her desk.
And wearing his old long black felted peacoat, instead of Malcolm’s “borrowed” racing jacket that had somehow become Seong-Jae’s own.
It felt like an unspoken rejection; a redrawing of the lines between them, and a quiet expulsion of little parts of Malcolm from Seong-Jae’s life. 💔
It’s interesting to read McCade’s decisions on inclusions of minority groups, POC, queer, trans people etc in his books vs having them as victims/sufferers and whether his readers should have to see representations of themselves suffering. It’s not simply a case of chucking them in for “POC rep” but chosen with thought and sensitivity.
Nonetheless, he wasn’t prepared for the feeling of being punched in the chest when he walked into the homicide bullpen—and saw Seong-Jae already waiting in the Captain’s office, poised stiffly in one of the chairs across from her desk.
And wearing his old long black felted peacoat, instead of Malcolm’s “borrowed” racing jacket that had somehow become Seong-Jae’s own.
It felt like an unspoken rejection; a redrawing of the lines between them, and a quiet expulsion of little parts of Malcolm from Seong-Jae’s life. 💔
May 18, 2019
Oh my poor heart. Full review of parts one and two of Criminal Intentions: The Hatter’s Game HERE and fear not, no spoilers.
A threshold had been crossed, and there was no turning back.”
A threshold had been crossed, and there was no turning back.”
May 28, 2021
4 stars 💫
Omg, WTF just happened? Finally, we knew what was in that damn file. 😳 But I'm so mad at the fact that SJ has so little faith in Malcolm. I knew Mal would accept him no matter what. He loves SJ.
This series would have given me a fucking heart attack. The book ended with a massive cliffhanger. I truly wish the last book would be the answer to all the chaos. Because I'm so tired of being worried and annoyed by that Sila guy. ☹️
On to the next book.
Omg, WTF just happened? Finally, we knew what was in that damn file. 😳 But I'm so mad at the fact that SJ has so little faith in Malcolm. I knew Mal would accept him no matter what. He loves SJ.
This series would have given me a fucking heart attack. The book ended with a massive cliffhanger. I truly wish the last book would be the answer to all the chaos. Because I'm so tired of being worried and annoyed by that Sila guy. ☹️
On to the next book.
May 20, 2019
Swear to God, Cole McCade must be the most sadistic author I know!! To actually give me that one small kernel of hope right there at the end and then BANG!!! Right through the heart. *runs off to next part of episode!!*
May 17, 2019
4.5 stars overall!
Yep, .5 taken off for Seong-Jae being a frustrating asshole. I get it, but also it was supremely frustrating and my heart hurt for Malcom who has only ever been kind and sweet and loving to Seong-Jae. When he hurt, I hurt. And Seong-Jae has such a wall up, even worse than in the start of the series, that if we hadn't gotten his POV you would think he was almost unaffected by their maybe-who-the-fuck-knows-possible break-up.
But! Good news is we do get his POV, and underneath the walls, underneath the pretend of not feeling anything, he very much is feeling a lot. A lot that makes me understand him and feel for him too, no matter how frustrating he's being, no matter how much of an asshole he's being.
Because he's scared, scared of what Malcolm will think of him, and is kind of doing that..."best to lose you now before you really hate me" kind of thing. I mean, I don't think it's fair at all for Seong-Jae to just assume what Malcolm will think of him and feel about him, but that's kind of a thing we humans do a lot, sometimes without even realizing it - assuming what others are thinking and feeling or will think and feel.
Because of course
I truly believe that if it were just this that was a problem between them, and Sila wasn't such a huge creepy threat, that they could have talked about this and eventually moved past it.
BUT...Sila is a part of it and he's the WORST. A total psychopath, and okay Cole McCade, that ending was just fucking rude! Since we know from the 13th books blurb that Malcolm is taken by Sila, I can say without spoiling that...well, he's taken by Sila. Malcolm is super suspicious of Sila because he knows he's the dude he slept with before he met Seong-Jae that once, but also Sila is showing his one blue, one green eyes, and so Malcolm knows there's something off about him and he's somehow involved in Seong-Jae's past.
And he can now tell that Sila is faking emotion and feelings and such, but because he's such a good person, and also a cop and it's his duty, he goes after Sila when Sila says some guys took this girl to an alley during the protest.
Okay, first, LIES. And Malcolm feels like it's a lie, but he has to check anyway...of COURSE he does. This is what good people do, heroes really, and Malcom is that 100%. So of course he goes into that alley and of course Sila is fucking with him and of course he's creepy as fuck and then takes Malcolm. *Grrrr*
I'm so glad the last book of the season is coming out in a few days because I would NOT have been able to wait a month for the next book in this series, I just wouldn't have. This ends on the cliffhanger of Malcolm being taken, and Seong-Jae finding out and with that preview! Just! UGH! I can't believe this!
Also, it might be petty of me, but I hope Seong-Jae, while he's looking for Malcolm, has a thought of "I should have told him about Sila" because damn right he should have told Malcolm. Malcolm was suspicious of Sila and saw more than just the surface at the end here, sure, but he doesn't really know how far Sila will or go or how horrible he truly is.
Well, guess he's about to find out...*sigh* SO. RUDE!
Yep, .5 taken off for Seong-Jae being a frustrating asshole. I get it, but also it was supremely frustrating and my heart hurt for Malcom who has only ever been kind and sweet and loving to Seong-Jae. When he hurt, I hurt. And Seong-Jae has such a wall up, even worse than in the start of the series, that if we hadn't gotten his POV you would think he was almost unaffected by their maybe-who-the-fuck-knows-possible break-up.
But! Good news is we do get his POV, and underneath the walls, underneath the pretend of not feeling anything, he very much is feeling a lot. A lot that makes me understand him and feel for him too, no matter how frustrating he's being, no matter how much of an asshole he's being.
Because he's scared, scared of what Malcolm will think of him, and is kind of doing that..."best to lose you now before you really hate me" kind of thing. I mean, I don't think it's fair at all for Seong-Jae to just assume what Malcolm will think of him and feel about him, but that's kind of a thing we humans do a lot, sometimes without even realizing it - assuming what others are thinking and feeling or will think and feel.
Because of course
I truly believe that if it were just this that was a problem between them, and Sila wasn't such a huge creepy threat, that they could have talked about this and eventually moved past it.
BUT...Sila is a part of it and he's the WORST. A total psychopath, and okay Cole McCade, that ending was just fucking rude! Since we know from the 13th books blurb that Malcolm is taken by Sila, I can say without spoiling that...well, he's taken by Sila. Malcolm is super suspicious of Sila because he knows he's the dude he slept with before he met Seong-Jae that once, but also Sila is showing his one blue, one green eyes, and so Malcolm knows there's something off about him and he's somehow involved in Seong-Jae's past.
And he can now tell that Sila is faking emotion and feelings and such, but because he's such a good person, and also a cop and it's his duty, he goes after Sila when Sila says some guys took this girl to an alley during the protest.
Okay, first, LIES. And Malcolm feels like it's a lie, but he has to check anyway...of COURSE he does. This is what good people do, heroes really, and Malcom is that 100%. So of course he goes into that alley and of course Sila is fucking with him and of course he's creepy as fuck and then takes Malcolm. *Grrrr*
I'm so glad the last book of the season is coming out in a few days because I would NOT have been able to wait a month for the next book in this series, I just wouldn't have. This ends on the cliffhanger of Malcolm being taken, and Seong-Jae finding out and with that preview! Just! UGH! I can't believe this!
Also, it might be petty of me, but I hope Seong-Jae, while he's looking for Malcolm, has a thought of "I should have told him about Sila" because damn right he should have told Malcolm. Malcolm was suspicious of Sila and saw more than just the surface at the end here, sure, but he doesn't really know how far Sila will or go or how horrible he truly is.
Well, guess he's about to find out...*sigh* SO. RUDE!
June 28, 2021
Oh Em Gee! I can't even with that ending and that's before I even get started on Seong-Jae still being all things bloody STUPID!
October 22, 2021
𝟬𝟱/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 ~ 𝟰 ✩
𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 ~ 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 ♫
— 𝗺𝘆. 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹. 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.
Oof. Another tough one, not gonna lie. I really really disliked Seong-Jae in this book. It just felt like he was being OVERLY mean and rude to Malcolm, and honestly… was it even warranted? Cause, like… the file reveal was a touch underwhelming. (and it didn't help that the case was really rushed and a touch boring). I love Seong-Jae, I really do, but… Idk… the way he was treating Malcolm this book (and last book) felt a bit over the line.
That said, I get it. Seong-Jae was in an unbelievably abusive relationship, and he's had an extremely hard life. He's the type of person who has extreme cases of fight-or-flight mode, and unfortunately… He fights and takes flight. Ultimately, I understood why Seong-Jae was reacting the way he was, but… that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Malcolm. What else is there to say other than, I love you. And I want to give you the biggest hug. *giant bearhug*
┍━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┑
𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟮. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟲 ✩
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟱 ✩
𝟲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟳. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟴. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟳𝟱/𝟱 ✩
𝟵. 𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟭. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜 - 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗜 - 𝟰 ✩
┕━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┙
°
°
°
°
°
Literally me reading about how upset and sad Mal was because all he wanted to do was reach out to Seong-Jae and help him!
What the hell do you do, when the person you love is falling apart and doesn’t want you to help them stay in once piece? How far did respecting boundaries go when it came to watching someone self-destruct, possibly even kill themselves?
But yeah, I literally can't talk because I've got to go and read the final book in season 1!
𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 ~ 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
❝You don’t treat people you care about this way. You just don’t. You don’t shut off like this and refuse to let them even help.❞
𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 ♫
— 𝗺𝘆. 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹. 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.
Oof. Another tough one, not gonna lie. I really really disliked Seong-Jae in this book. It just felt like he was being OVERLY mean and rude to Malcolm, and honestly… was it even warranted? Cause, like… the file reveal was a touch underwhelming. (and it didn't help that the case was really rushed and a touch boring). I love Seong-Jae, I really do, but… Idk… the way he was treating Malcolm this book (and last book) felt a bit over the line.
That said, I get it. Seong-Jae was in an unbelievably abusive relationship, and he's had an extremely hard life. He's the type of person who has extreme cases of fight-or-flight mode, and unfortunately… He fights and takes flight. Ultimately, I understood why Seong-Jae was reacting the way he was, but… that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Malcolm. What else is there to say other than, I love you. And I want to give you the biggest hug. *giant bearhug*
❝Malcolm…?❞ ...
❝Yeah?❞
I love you. I am sorry. ❝…nothing,❞ he said, after a moment of thick and broken breaths.
┍━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┑
𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘
𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟮. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟲 ✩
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟱 ✩
𝟲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟳. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟴. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟳𝟱/𝟱 ✩
𝟵. 𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟭. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜 - 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗜 - 𝟰 ✩
┕━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┙
°
°
°
°
°
Literally me reading about how upset and sad Mal was because all he wanted to do was reach out to Seong-Jae and help him!
What the hell do you do, when the person you love is falling apart and doesn’t want you to help them stay in once piece? How far did respecting boundaries go when it came to watching someone self-destruct, possibly even kill themselves?
But yeah, I literally can't talk because I've got to go and read the final book in season 1!
April 20, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐. 5
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!
This is what a season finale should look like. The feelings are so raw. I wanted SJ to stop hurting Mal and just talk but then again, reading his internal thoughts, I felt his pain too. Something is about to explode.
Buddy read with Banseh
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?!
This is what a season finale should look like. The feelings are so raw. I wanted SJ to stop hurting Mal and just talk but then again, reading his internal thoughts, I felt his pain too. Something is about to explode.
Buddy read with Banseh
December 31, 2022
4.25 Stars
EXCUSE ME?? What was that?! 😫
The next book better fix all this and the boys better be okay again 😖
EXCUSE ME?? What was that?! 😫
The next book better fix all this and the boys better be okay again 😖
May 15, 2020
Holy Cliffhanger!
Talk about a wind up that leaves you hanging. At one point in the book the protestors' anger and frustration were described as gradually building magma, waiting for the right (wrong) moment for it all to blow. Everything in this installment felt like that...escalating tension and drama.
And as if there was any doubt that Malcolm would find anything in that file to loose faith in, or doubt his love for, his omr-an.
Seriously cannot wait to start the next one.
Also, once again this should be a television series. But made by the Brits because the BBC wouldn't drag 12/13 episodes into a season long 22-23 like the networks here in the US. Oooh, or Netflix could do it!
Talk about a wind up that leaves you hanging. At one point in the book the protestors' anger and frustration were described as gradually building magma, waiting for the right (wrong) moment for it all to blow. Everything in this installment felt like that...escalating tension and drama.
And as if there was any doubt that Malcolm would find anything in that file to loose faith in, or doubt his love for, his omr-an.
Seriously cannot wait to start the next one.
Also, once again this should be a television series. But made by the Brits because the BBC wouldn't drag 12/13 episodes into a season long 22-23 like the networks here in the US. Oooh, or Netflix could do it!
August 18, 2021
Welcome to 'Notes from my Phone Because the Wifi Was Down All Night'.
There has to be more to Yoon's past then that. Please. Because if that's it then that’s a whole lot of pointless build up..
Also MALCOLM WTF rookie move to not use your walkie to radio position. You couldn't even send a sneaky text? What the hell.
There has to be more to Yoon's past then that. Please. Because if that's it then that’s a whole lot of pointless build up..
Also MALCOLM WTF rookie move to not use your walkie to radio position. You couldn't even send a sneaky text? What the hell.
July 27, 2025
4.0 ⭐️
September 2, 2021
OMG!!! The angst! The ending!
Still scared though.
Still scared though.
September 17, 2020
Oh wow - Sila makes his move.
That’s all you’re getting from me.
Huge cliffhanger and the final book to read...
That’s all you’re getting from me.
Huge cliffhanger and the final book to read...
May 15, 2019
The time has come to reveal the secrets of the past. After the misunderstanding between Malcolm and Seong-Jae escalates into a fallout of epic proportions, we see how both men deal with emotional pain. While Mal is trying to bridge the gap between them, Seong-Jae reverts to his controlled cold self that we first encounter when both detectives initially meet. It shows stark contrast between how things were when they started and just how much Mal and Seong-Jae feel for each other. But there is no time for heart-to-heart talk since the city of Baltimore is about to tear itself apart with riots and protests. If that is not bad enough, a group of radicals decides to use this opportunity to commit horrible acts of murder against POC.
Mal and Seong-Jae try to be professional but too many things have changed between them. Even though it seems that nothing can be fixed, when Seong-Jae's body finally gives up the fight Malcolm is there to catch him. The accursed folder is like an anvil hanging over their heads. Fear is a living thing in Seong-Jae, and after reading the contents Malcolm sees why Seong-Jae had such a visceral reaction to him having it. But Malcolm, steadfast and loyal Malcolm, shows Seong-Jae that he believes him and in him. That pivotal moment between them turns the tide of their relationship. There is hope for them yet.
Due to diligence, hard work and sheer luck Malcolm and Seong-Jae stop the perpetrators from killing their next innocent victim. This time it's not the name of the villain that matters but the heinous nature of their crime, and how easily circumstances can be manipulated to someone's advantage. But the time of reckoning has come. Sila finally makes his move, and Malcolm is in his way to get to Seong-Jae. Will Seong-Jae get to him in time? Will Malcolm escape unscathed from the hands of the puppet master?
Emotionally charged, full of angst (low steam this time) criminal drama! Finally the questions that have been bugging me for so long start being answered. But the main event is still coming! I can't wait! Loved it!!!! Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
Mal and Seong-Jae try to be professional but too many things have changed between them. Even though it seems that nothing can be fixed, when Seong-Jae's body finally gives up the fight Malcolm is there to catch him. The accursed folder is like an anvil hanging over their heads. Fear is a living thing in Seong-Jae, and after reading the contents Malcolm sees why Seong-Jae had such a visceral reaction to him having it. But Malcolm, steadfast and loyal Malcolm, shows Seong-Jae that he believes him and in him. That pivotal moment between them turns the tide of their relationship. There is hope for them yet.
Due to diligence, hard work and sheer luck Malcolm and Seong-Jae stop the perpetrators from killing their next innocent victim. This time it's not the name of the villain that matters but the heinous nature of their crime, and how easily circumstances can be manipulated to someone's advantage. But the time of reckoning has come. Sila finally makes his move, and Malcolm is in his way to get to Seong-Jae. Will Seong-Jae get to him in time? Will Malcolm escape unscathed from the hands of the puppet master?
Emotionally charged, full of angst (low steam this time) criminal drama! Finally the questions that have been bugging me for so long start being answered. But the main event is still coming! I can't wait! Loved it!!!! Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
April 16, 2020
Broken trust. Shattered hearts. Secrets exposed--and yet still no closer to the truth.
I am still frustrated with a certain individual. C'mon man, it's not as if you are dealing with an asshole ... you seem to have already dealt with them (assholes) in your past, from what I can gather.
Perfect timing truly.
A time for endings ... and a time for beginnings.
He felt no more pain ...
The crime in this one was secondary as there was just too much going on between these two. I shouldn't have a favourite but, I do.
Let's toddle off to the next episode ...
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