Back in the Rain

Back in the Rain #1

by Elen Chase, Emily Dux Speltz (Editor), Noemi Ruffolo (Illustrator)

Unable to get over his girlfriend’s supposed suicide, Andrew spends his days in the deepest apathy, until one day the realization hits him: his Shallie would have never taken her own life.

As he stands in the pouring rain in front of her grave, a familiar voice calls his name.

Dan once was his best friend, but after seven years apart, Andrew doesn’t know him anymore. He knows he should be angry at Dan for leaving him when he needed him the most. He shouldn’t trust him when he offers to help.

But he does.

A story of two young men who, drawing closer to a terrible truth, find hope in a relationship that could either save them or destroy them completely.

Trigger/content warnings
Back in the rain is a dark mm romance which follows a mystery storyline and it contains themes and content that may be distressing or triggering to some readers. Please be advised of the following potential triggers:

Violence
Death
Suicide
Cult-related themes
Psychological trauma
Explicit sexual content
Dubious consent (dubcon)
Disturbing imagery
Abusive relationship

Reader discretion is advised.

Genres: M M Romance, Dark Romance, Romance, Contemporary

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2019

About the author

Elen Chase is an Italian author of character-driven LGBTQ+ stories that are emotionally devastating in the best way. Her books make readers cry, but a happy ending is always guaranteed, because the world needs more queer joy.

She lives in Florence, Italy, with her partner and their two cats, but part of her heart will always remain in Japan, where she lived for a short but unforgettable time.

Mental health themes are deeply woven into the plots of all Elen’s books. As someone who experiences anxiety and battles with depression, she believes in showing readers that they are not alone, no matter how hard things get.

You can follow Elen at elenchase.com and on social media:
Instagram: @elenchase

TikTok: @elenchase

You can also support her on Ko-Fi for exclusive content: https://ko-fi.com/elenchase

Reviews

[Line]

Freebie at amazon.com right now: https://smile.amazon.com/BACK-RAIN-El...

[L.E. Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

'I'll bring you home.'

Struggling to process the loss of his girlfriend, who died in mysterious circumstances, Andrew returns to her grave, where he meets Dan, his oldest friend, who disappeared when they were teenagers. Determined to solve the mystery of her death, Drew and Dan team up, marking the first step along a journey that will open old wounds, challenge each other, and deepen into something entirely and unexpectedly beautiful.

On the surface, Back in the Rain seems like a mystery novel. Parts of it read like detective fiction, and personally I very much enjoyed Drew's narrative voice. He 'reports' much of the story, much like a classic narrator of the genre, almost as though he were speaking directly to the reader, or perhaps to a private journal. I could imagine him gathering his thoughts on the case as it unfolds, which suited his desired profession of hero/policeman perfectly.

Scratch the surface, though, and it quickly becomes clear that this story is about so much more. Elen Chase gradually drip-feeds the truth of the characters' pasts with such control that in the latter half of the novel I was so deeply invested in them and desperate for them to have a happy ending. Layer by layer, secrets, lies, and intense pain are revealed. Dan, in particular, having suffered so much, and sacrificed himself over so many years, is a strikingly well-developed character, seeming to be one thing when in reality he is quite another.

Parts of this book are undeniably difficult to read, but I applaud the author for going there, because few are brave enough to, or skilled enough to do so with such nuance. Damaged characters will make mistakes, and will make bad choices, and will hurt each other. But the climax of the novel - particularly as we begin learning more through Dan's eyes, and the time that's taken to see the aftermath of the finale and how Drew and Dan are recovering together - broke my heart in the best way. There are some stunningly beautiful lines, and while I can see how the author has developed her themes further in her Italian Romance series, Back in the Rain demonstrates the devastatingly capacity she has for gorgeous, aching love stories and the journey of recovering from deep trauma.

As with everything I read by this author, these characters will stay with me, and when I read her stories, I feel both hopeful and understood.

[Gee Rothvoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

By now I can confidently say that Elen Chase is an auto-buy for me. She could put up for sale a compilation of her grocery lists, and you can bet that I would click the heck out of the "Pre-order" button right on sight. Every single tale she weaves together is a gem, and BitR was no exception.

Originally published in 2018, and re-published in 2024 after undergoing heavy editing, "Back in the Rain" is a dystopian dark MM romance that hits all the right notes within both genres. After the supposed death by suicide of his girlfriend Shallie, Drew has been struggling with severe depression, but when he realises that there's something off in the whole suicide hypothesis he takes it upon himself to find the truth about what happened to Shallie. As he makes this promise to her grave, he meets Dan Price—an old childhood friend that Drew hasn't seen in seven years. Together, Dan and Drew start unravelling a messy thread of shady accidents, sinister rituals and dangerous intentions, which will put their bond to the test as they struggle to survive the truth.

Regardless of what people may say, dystopia isn't dead. In fact, it's alive and kicking, as Elen Chase has seemingly taken it upon herself to resurrect the genre through her beautiful prose, strong characters and unforeseeable plot twists. Rather than starting and ending the dystopian element with the world building, Elen challenges us to look at very difficult topics in the eye. How do we know whether a society is too broken to function? Are individual people responsible for the greater good, even if it entails the possibility of greater evil? How do we carry on after surviving tragedy?

Something I adored in this story—and by "adore" I'd like to clarify that I cried several times while riding the train—was how well-done the dark romance aspect was. Even though Dan and Drew are not the healthiest couple on the record, and have more than questionable interactions at times, they are a byproduct of their circumstances, and their mistakes are never romanticised. In Elen's novel, "unhealthy" does not turn into "toxic", and I'm really happy to say that this book gives dark romance a good name. Both main characters have deep wounds that are still bleeding, and the story neither shies away from the mistakes that hurt people might hurt others with, nor judges them. All it does is show how open wounds can get infected.

The story in and of itself was an action-packed and thrilling ride, which I was ecstatic about from beginning to end! It kept me on the edge of my seat, and although there isn't a lot of information about what's going on at first, the pacing and gradual crescendo in intensity of the reveals were perfect. Far from being meatless, this story balances complexity and nuance with an easy-to-follow prose and structure, which makes it a pleasure to read on. Not once did I find myself feeling lost or confused about the plot, which is quite a feat considering how brutal the brain fog can get when you have an exhausted ADHD brain!

All in all, this is one of my TOP releases of the year, and I can't be more thankful that I gave this extraordinary story a go. Mind you, Elen does bring your feelings through the wringer, but! What's life without a lil pain here and there? :)

[Kristen Lindtvedt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Book Broke My Heart...

Every so often a book will come along that breaks my heart. And, "Back in the Rain" by Elen Chase is one such book.

This story, of Andrew, a twentysomething boy whose life has been riddled with loss. Losses that start in childhood, first with the death of his sister, then his best friend Dan moving away, and finally, with the heart wrenching disappearance and death of his girlfriend Shallie. A death so shrouded in lies and mystery it leads Andrew down an emotionally torturous path of soul splitting pain, danger, intrigue, and rediscovery. Especially as his long-lost friend Dan reappears unexpectedly, bringing with him feelings and issues left unresolved for years. 

While, at first glance, this book may appear to be a fairly straightforward "who-done-it" novel, in reality it is anything but. It is truly a tale about discovering the life being lived beneath the life you actually think exists. About how nothing is ever truly as it appears. About how love, loyalty, need, emotional trauma, and regret, can take forms unfathomable to many. And most importantly, it's about being brave enough to stand still, pay attention to all that is around you, and truly fight for what you know in your heart to be true. No. Matter. What...

It is also a tremendous tale about righting horrific wrongs, and fighting, no matter the personal cost, for those no longer able to fight for themselves.

It is also a story that should be glorious and soul altering, but sadly is not, for mechanical reasons that just should not be.

The main reason being the many, many grammar, transition, and awkward phrasing errors. Errors that smack of non-native English speaking (esl) translation issues that honestly should have been caught and corrected during the editing process. I highlighted numerous instances in every single chapter throughout the first fifteen or so chapters, of nouns used in place of verbs or adjectives, or incorrect adverb and tense usage, or words used in ways that sort of made sense but didn't quite reach the point of understanding. I was honestly so frustrated with all the esl issues I found, I stopped reading in earnest and skimmed from that point on. Because, while some of the issues within are technically grammatically correct, they are not how native english speakers would converse or describe the events at hand. 

The result is sixty plus chapters of choppy, at times confusing prose. Prose so disjointed in its translation it created an awkward formality to the book overall. Leaving something that is off putting and, at times, distracting. Clumsiness that sadly overshadows the wonderful, exhilarating story beneath it all. 

It broke my heart to see, it truly did, because beneath it all, the story framework, the characters, the complexity of the plot, and multifaceted, emotional intelligence afforded to Dan and Drew is sublime. This book has the potential to be great, a potential 5-star read even, but not as it is published in this edition. 

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard book to read. I don't remember seeing it but there should be triggers for this book. Big time. Depression, suicide attempts, rape, abuse, etc. It was intense a lot. The emotional turmoil between the two MCs was just off the hook. With their pasts, especially Dan's, and the future smacking them from both sides. It was tense. In the end it was good. And worth it. But no journey comes without some bumps along the way. And the death of family and a string of murders are definitely some bumps. It's a good book. But it's a lot.

[ThatReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I entered into this book expecting more than a mystery novel, and the author did not let me down. Yes, there is a mystery to unravel, and the intricacies of the plot and how small dots are connected was part of the allure of this novel - I love tales about cults and the only remark I have to do regarding this is that I wish it had been a bit more developed and fleshed out, so I would get all the juicy details and the psychological study behind the cult leaders and members, but that was not at all the point of this book.
The point of this book was realism, in my opinion. In an imaginary world, populated with imaginary people, the author manages to bring to life characters that are realistic and authentic. Their hearts are in the right place, but like all of us (at least, most of us) they will make mistakes, they will screw up, they will make the worst possible choices and take the wrong turns. While Dan and Drew were so intricately fleshed out to the point I was nodding my head in understanding at the shitty and/or stupid things they did to themselves and each other (all the while aware these are kids in their early twenties, and boy, did I eff up when I was that age), I found myself relating a lot to Chloe, in certain parts. She made me feel seen and understood, for reasons only someone who has gone through what she did can understand. I had a harder time connecting and relating both to Sara and Sean (he would have been the bloke I'd be constantly irritated by, irl) but even those I found were solid characters.
The thing I most admired about this book was the author's courage to explore the deeper, darker parts of the human heart, especially where it comes to Drew. While Dan was everyone's - and mine - favourite, Drew was in fact the star, from where I'm standing, because Dan's actions can all be justified in the end by how damaged life has made him. Drew comes up as a spoiled, rich kid who is still struggling with the accidental death of his twin sister and the murder of his girlfriend, but the layers to this boy are just. SO. MANY! And so deep. Drew has a darkness to him which he often confronts through snide remarks and hidden innuendos, and I cannot stop applauding the author for letting him go there, dig deep into his shadows and his demons, some of which have nothing to do with trauma or loss or the aftermath of deaths he can't understand. As someone who often struggles with inner demons that cannot be explained - they just ARE - reading certain of Drew's personal admissions about the wrongness of his emotions was like coming home a little. It was like finding a friend who could actually relate, that some parts of us are broken because they are, some parts of us are darker because they are, and that doesn't make us filthy or unworthy or unsavoury. We are what we are and we must accept what makes us, is the message I took from this tale, and one I very much appreciate. And some parts broke my heart in the most beautiful way.

[Joyfully Jay]

A Joyfully Jay review.

DNF

I was having a difficult time getting into it and, in the parts I read, I felt the plot was muddy and I didn’t find myself connecting to the MCs at all. There was a mystery that could have been interesting, but the clues and details were difficult to follow and I kept having to go back and re-read passages. I would have been able to push through with some effort and give Back in the Rain a low rating. However, at 49%, I decided I couldn’t go any further when they have an encounter where Andrew seems to force sex on Dan.

Read Kenna’s review in its entirety here.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Chase's coming of age M/M novel A Five Minute Kiss, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Back in the Rain to learn more about brooding hero Dan. A troubled young soul, Dan is like the James Dean/Dylan McKay figure - mysterious, alluring and dark, but with a magnetism that draws in everyone he meets. I don't want to give anything away, but this character is one of the most selfless I have had to joy to read. His actions are heroic and heart-wrenching.
Back in the Rain features protagonist Andrew, from an upper-class family in a dystopian future where the city is split into affluent Uptown and gritty Downtown. The journey into the underworld of Downtown spirals into a cultist sect with human sacrifice and a mystery that unravels to a very satisfying conclusion, with a twist I did not see coming.
Just as important as the mystery storyline is the story of Andrew himself, as he grows from a selfish, entitled "brat" as he is called, into a man who learns to stand up for what he believes and comes to terms with his own feelings, shortcomings, and desires. Chase isn't afraid to go to dark places with this novel, and the gritty realism is something I quite enjoyed, as it was not written for shock value, but to flesh out these multi-dimensional characters.
A nice addition to this often dark novel was the character of Sean - he's Andrew's mate and sidekick, and a much welcomed source of comic relief.
Back in the Rain is heart-racing and heart-wrenching. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, so brace yourself for a wild ride!

[Arllau · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story. It is also hard to read dealing with a lot of emotional upheaval, death, love and the evil that exists in the minds of humankind. It is beautifully emotional story of childhood friendship and loss and finding each other again. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Natosha Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very skeptical about this book when I first started reading it but after getting a few pages into this book, I found that there was a huge mystery surrounding the main characters that drew me in. This is not a short read. As a matter of fact it is a very long book but it is one of those books that while you are reading it, it does not seem as long as it truly is. The author puts in just enough information to keep you wanting more.

Trigger Warnings: Graphic Details, abuse, rape, murder, graphic abuse. These trigger warnings should not be taken lightly for this read because the details of these triggers is graphic.

Andrew is broken. A few months back his girlfriend was found dead after being missing for a month and there is no apparent reason for her death. They questions surrounding her disappearance and death where left unanswered for him and this is something he cannot accept. Before losing the love of his life, Shallie, he was no stranger to loss. Before losing her, he knew what loss felt like because his world had come crumbling down around him seven years prior when he lost his best friends, his sister An to death and Dan to leaving him after An’s death. So he knew loss was a powerful thing. If he did not have so many unanswered questions about Shallie’s death then he may have been able to move on.

After several months of not wanting to do or feel anything Drew has finally decided that the unanswered questions is just too much. Drew decides that he needs answers and Shallie deserves the truth to come to light. Drew goes to Shallie’s grave and promises her that he will come back to visit her once he can give her the answers she deserves and some peace surrounding her death. What he does not expect is for his past to walk back into his life that night as well. For one of the losses he felt so strongly in the past to walk back into his life and blow his world apart.

Dan walked away from Drew not long after An was killed when they was younger. He gave his excuses for walking away but the truth is no one expect Dan knew the real reason for his leaving. Yes it killed him to leave Drew behind but Dan knew what he had to do and why. When he went to visit An’s grave he did not expect to run into Drew but he could not walk away either. Dan had already done it once and he just could not do it again. Not after seeing Drew in the state that he was in. Once Drew opened up to Dan about what he plans to do and why he plans to do it, Dan knows he had to help Drew try to find the answers he is seeking. The thing is, Dan is not the same person he used to be and Drew may not accept the person he is now.

So many secrets, mystery, and danger. There are lies, cover ups and much more in this read. Not only that but there is surprises that you may not have seen coming. This book is a great read and I would definitely recommend it if you are not opposed to the warnings. Elen Chase did an incredible job on this book.

Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me. I requested it for review through the Don't Buy My Love program, and I'm really glad I did. Where to start...

First, don't go into this book thinking it will be formulaic in the least. It's a rough ride, in the most tantalizing of ways. I'm usually not much for stories that have tragedy in them that is supposed to be somehow uplifting and enlightening. I know that's a valid plot line/tactic, and involves valid sentiments -- it just usually isn't a good emotional mix for me. And I'll be honest, after reading a few chapters and the book's blurb, I thought that was what this book was going to be. I pushed on, though, and I'm glad I did.

Second, the beginning third or so of the book feels long -- lots of plot to hash out, details that seem excessive at first -- but in thinking back on it, I'm not sure I could point out something that shouldn't have been included. All in all, I thought this book was very well written, particularly with all the many balls to keep in the air with active juggling.

And third, as the plot picked up pace, and the many, many moving parts to the story started to mesh together in some unexpected ways, the story became very rich. It was moving, emotional, scary, trying, volatile, violent at times, and it was also loving and rewarding. Tenacity was the key word for the Drew and Dan. Their history and everything they came to understand about each other and their lives gave new meaning to "it's complicated." But the love they ended up stoking was hard won, and so complete.

If I have a criticism of this book, it is for the female characters, Sara and Chloe. I had a hard time with them. They were at times melodramatic, maybe even a little vapid, but then they would turn around and do something really competent and mature. I couldn't get a handle on what made them tick, and Drew and Dan just seemed to play along (patronize?) with whatever the girls' whims brought in the moment. But Dan and Drew's characters were very well developed, to the point where even if I didn't like the decisions they were making or the actions they were taking, I had a 100% understanding of why and how their characters were motivated to be doing such. This is a really good read. Pay attention to the trigger warnings, do not take them lightly, and be prepared to really think about what goes down in this book in order to get what I believe is the full effect.

[D.P. Haka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book with very small idea on what was to come. I only knew that it has mystery, it's dark, and it has MM romance. Imagine my full-blown surprise as I got deeper & deeper into this story!

What started out as a simple mystery turned out to be something so intricately planned, connecting each event & main characters in ways that I did not expect. The plot is very well thought of, and the world in which it is built upon is very well written, these 2 things alone are reasons enough on why the book deserves a 5-star rating.

But then there are the main characters. Drew is someone you'd naturally like, even if it might seem in the beginning that he judges other people too quickly.
Dan, though, is something else. There are so many facades & layers of him, you'd feel drawn into him in a completely different way.

The depth of these 2 main characters & how the main plot is woven into their characters' development is the thing that surprised me the most, in a pleasant way. Very rarely does a book have it all to really capture your whole attention & excels in all these points. This book is one of them.

Back in the Rain is a must-read if you enjoy dark stories (I mean, just look at the trigger warnings) with a mystery as vast & deep as the ocean and as complex as a thousand spider webs. This is certainly not a light read, as you most likely will pour all your attention to it as you read it.

[Elen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

*If You’ve Read Back in the Rain, Please Read This Too*

It’s come to my attention, through social media and reviews, that Back in the Rain is still sometimes being read and reviewed based on an old, pirated version that is circulating without my permission. That early version is missing much of the heart, editing, and polish that the final, published book went through, including revisions to character development, dialogue, and sensitive content.

If you’re reading the official version released on November 4, 2024 (thank you!!), I hope it’s the story I meant to share: emotional, raw and a little messy, but honest.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone supporting the official release and to those who’ve taken the time to leave kind and constructive feedback. It means more than I can say.

[Daria M Paus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Back in the Rain was an emotional roller coaster! It held my interest from the beginning to the end. I was on the edge of my seat, waiting for new twists and turns, and there’re many of those—a few of which I didn’t see coming. I loved Dan in “a five-minute kiss” by the same author, and I loved to get to know him on a deeper level in this book. And of course, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the protagonist Andrew, as well! ⁣
There’re a lot of dark themes in this book, but if you like an emotional roller coaster with secrets, mysteries, and tragedies, then this book is for you! ⁣

[Victorias' KeepinitReal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I See

This story was ok. It was much longer than it needed to be. I enjoyed the relationship between Dan and Drew. I noticed the author always referred to the male genitalia as "it" and sometimes erection. The author refrained from using descriptive words such as, penis, dick or cock, more commonly used in all M/M books. For me, the word "it" took away from the very intimate and sexual scene. I thought perhaps the author was uncomfortable or simply found more descriptive words unnecessary.

[D. Howlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had me hooked in the beginning, I love me a good murder mystery. But as the story started to deepen and the main character started to reveal themselves more, the less and less I found myself enjoying it. I didn't find the main character likable and I was rooting against him more than for him. the story was also very predictable and, when I was hoping the ending would really be the pay off, it wasn't. I'm all for happy endings, and there was a lot of harrowing scenes that worked well, but overall I felt it dragged way too much without a big BOOM at the end.

[Alina Temirova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have read in a couple of days, couldn't put the book away.
A real page-turner, with unexpected and suspensful plot twists.
Well developed characters in a dystopian setting that looks more and more familiar to many of us.
Highly recommended!

[Sheila M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time, Andrew and his twin sister Ange were best friends with Dan. They met when they were 7 years old, and they all lived in Uptown of the City of Rosedeer, the good part of town. Their world collapsed when they were 14 years old. Ange died in a car accident and Dan had to move with his mother to Downtown, the slums of Rosedeer, where gangs, drug dealers, brothels, and casinos are rampant. Dan and Andrew lost contact because Dan was embarrassed at what he had to do to survive in Downtown. Seven years later, Dan and Andrew meet again at Ange’s grave and resume their friendship tentatively as they get to know each other again, and they work on the mysteries of the death of Ange and Shallie, Drew’s girlfriend. The characters are interlaced with a dangerous sect that sacrifices girls. This story is a slow burn love story about Andrew and Dan, who in reflection had been in love with each other since they were kids. The story can be deeply emotional at times, so check the trigger warnings, because the book can become intense.

The spicy, suspense book is long (550 pages) and has a well-written, complicated plot with many supporting characters and great world building. Even though the book is long, the story is fast paced with tension, plot points, and character building. The characters are complex and are written in a way that makes them both bad and good. Most of the characters are complex with many layers of trauma and emotions. Keep reading through all the twists and turns, as surprise revelations are revealed, it is worth your time!

I think the book cover is important and helps me decide if I want to read a book or not. Ignore the creepy and dark cover. It is the only thing I didn’t like about the story. I sometimes found it hard to determine who is speaking because the chapters do not indicate which character is speaking. Otherwise, this is an awesome book, and I definitely recommend it.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has taken me a few days to process my thoughts for writing this review. The story written in the majority from Drew's POV lets us follow him as he comes to terms with the passing of his girlfriend and his vow to find out what really happened. A chance meeting with Dan an old childhood friend gives him the determination and support to get to the truth.
When you start reading this book you are put into a mystery as you follow Drew trying to find the truth, but this mixed in with this is memories of Drew and Dan when they were younger, secrets are slowly revealed and nothing is black or white.
This was a slow paced book mainly because there was a lot going on with each scene and I had to slow my reading to make sure I did not miss anything. This did cause me to taking longer to read it and near the end the POV swapped and I had to reread a few chapters to get the connection. It took me a few chapters to get into this story and I was glad I persevered with it as it was an emotional rollercoaster of a read. I could not see any TW in the book or in the blurb, but there should be. I know others have mentioned what you will expect to read about, so I will not list them again but if you do not have any trigger warnings then pick up this book

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a poetic and beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, betrayal, sects, sex and secrets. The story starts out with purity and innocence. An and Drew are/were brother and sister and Dan is the non blood (but truly part of the family) best friend. As children and young teens, the three of them are inseparable and have a bunch of chaotic feelings for one another. When tragedy strikes, Dan disappears from Drew's life for a long time.

Seven years later, the men find one another again and they are thrown together to bring closure and justice to murderers. The story is so incredibly complicated and intertwined, but it's beautiful.

Dan is a tortured soul and lives with his demons. Drew is grieving and his innocence is quick to be challenged. The relationship between the two of these men is rough. It's painful and soft and desperate and hot. But they have to get over multiple hurdles to find their happiness.

I really enjoyed it. The story is so good. The translation did leave it feeling a little choppy, but not enough to change anything. Enjoy!

[Angelina Robelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly don't know how to rate it. It was odd? But great! I have to say, it make me scream in frustration a lot, but it make cry as well. I'm confused

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and kept me interested from the start because I was curious about how the story would unfold. The characters were interesting, realistic, and authentic, which made them relatable—not so much in who they are or what they did, but because they are flawed, just like all of us.

Overall, it was a good read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a compelling M/M mystery romance.