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The Phisher King #3
Penetration Test
Sequel to Rainbow Award-winning gay romantic thriller "The Phisher King" and its sequel "False Flag."
For years, brainy, charming FBI techie Sam Dupre has helped Hunter Walsh and Cal Riggs solve their cases. He's also become one of Hunter's closest friends, someone Hunter counts on when things get tough.
After the events of "False Flag," Riggs is no longer the agency's golden boy, so when Hunter suspects a gay couple has been murdered in a hate crime in an exclusive gated community in Olympia, he takes the tip to Sam instead. While Riggs and Hunter contend with workplace politics and Riggs's recovery, Sam Dupre drives the case forward, even securing a partner for his undercover field work: handsome, popular recent transfer Rob Crawford.
Crawford's a seasoned field agent who doesn't bat an eye at posing as a gay married couple, but Sam can't help feeling like Crawford's mocking him. They rub each other in all the wrong ways in private even as they pretend to be a doting married couple in front of the neighbors...at least, until they start rubbing each other the right way.
Sam's dysphoria-and his HIV status-has held him back, but as he bonds with Crawford, he starts to feel seen for who he truly is. Surrounded by mystery and danger, now is not the time to blur professional lines, but how can Sam help himself?
Featuring: An #ownvoices trans character feeling his oats, a dreamboat foreign terrorism agent trying his hand at a domestic (teehee) case, and a supercute adopted housecat. With a special appearance by Callum Riggs, excessive trolling by Hunter Walsh, and, of course, a happy ending!
For years, brainy, charming FBI techie Sam Dupre has helped Hunter Walsh and Cal Riggs solve their cases. He's also become one of Hunter's closest friends, someone Hunter counts on when things get tough.
After the events of "False Flag," Riggs is no longer the agency's golden boy, so when Hunter suspects a gay couple has been murdered in a hate crime in an exclusive gated community in Olympia, he takes the tip to Sam instead. While Riggs and Hunter contend with workplace politics and Riggs's recovery, Sam Dupre drives the case forward, even securing a partner for his undercover field work: handsome, popular recent transfer Rob Crawford.
Crawford's a seasoned field agent who doesn't bat an eye at posing as a gay married couple, but Sam can't help feeling like Crawford's mocking him. They rub each other in all the wrong ways in private even as they pretend to be a doting married couple in front of the neighbors...at least, until they start rubbing each other the right way.
Sam's dysphoria-and his HIV status-has held him back, but as he bonds with Crawford, he starts to feel seen for who he truly is. Surrounded by mystery and danger, now is not the time to blur professional lines, but how can Sam help himself?
Featuring: An #ownvoices trans character feeling his oats, a dreamboat foreign terrorism agent trying his hand at a domestic (teehee) case, and a supercute adopted housecat. With a special appearance by Callum Riggs, excessive trolling by Hunter Walsh, and, of course, a happy ending!
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2019
10 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2021
This book stands alone reasonably well. Unlike the first two books, this one focuses on Sam, a trans guy who's made a very successful career in the FBI by being excellent at what he does, which has so far all been on the tech/computer side. But he's a fit, active guy and willing to dive in when assigned along with Agent Crawford to go undercover in an intolerant gated community, investigating the disappearance of a gay couple. Department politics make this something Hunter and Riggs (from the previous books) need to stay away from.
There is a notable feel of edginess to this story set in the FBI under the Trump administration, where priorities and ethics were significantly warped. In particular, the strong suspicion that the gated community is a religious, white-supremacy enclave, and that homophobia led to the gay couple's disappearance, makes this investigation something that has to stay off the bigger radar. Under an administration sympathetic to white supremacy, particularly in religious clothing, and very unsympathetic to LGBTQ folk, it's useful that Hunter can provide some resources off the books.
At first, Sam assumes Crawford is the typical cis, het, bro type of agent he usually steers clear of. But Crawford has secrets, worries, and more in common than Sam realizes. I enjoyed the characters and (as a cis ally) felt the trans rep was well done. Sam's concerns and moments of dysphoria were well-judged, neither too angsty nor totally absent. The sex combined heat and vulnerability, on the part of both men.
The plot played out plausibly, with a twist, although I wanted just a bit more closure at the end for the hinted other victims. But the highlight of the story is the relationship, and the gradual unmasking and mutual support of the two main characters. This is my favorite of the series I've read so far.
There is a notable feel of edginess to this story set in the FBI under the Trump administration, where priorities and ethics were significantly warped. In particular, the strong suspicion that the gated community is a religious, white-supremacy enclave, and that homophobia led to the gay couple's disappearance, makes this investigation something that has to stay off the bigger radar. Under an administration sympathetic to white supremacy, particularly in religious clothing, and very unsympathetic to LGBTQ folk, it's useful that Hunter can provide some resources off the books.
At first, Sam assumes Crawford is the typical cis, het, bro type of agent he usually steers clear of. But Crawford has secrets, worries, and more in common than Sam realizes. I enjoyed the characters and (as a cis ally) felt the trans rep was well done. Sam's concerns and moments of dysphoria were well-judged, neither too angsty nor totally absent. The sex combined heat and vulnerability, on the part of both men.
The plot played out plausibly, with a twist, although I wanted just a bit more closure at the end for the hinted other victims. But the highlight of the story is the relationship, and the gradual unmasking and mutual support of the two main characters. This is my favorite of the series I've read so far.
September 30, 2019
This book is really special and really good for a lot of different reasons. I loved it because it’s a murder mystery for one, but also because this was more Sam’s story than Hunter and Cal’s. Although, they had spots they came in. It’s also special because we really get to learn more about Sam. We were learning he is trans from the last book but not much more. And I love him so much more now.
Sam had gotten a tip from Hunter that something was going down in a gated community. People were missing and possibly murdered. So Sam threw it in to his bosses to see if something could come out of figuring it out. And it did. He was going undercover with a field agent named Rob, that he wanted to hate. He was that macho bro kinda dude that got on his nerves. But the thing was, once they started this op and got to know each other, things began to change. Especially when it was revealed about the HIV. It was like the flood gates had opened and both finally had someone they could talk to and be themselves with about everything. It took time. And a lot of patience. Both weren’t very trusting and needed time to really open up. Not to mention everything going on around them. The bigotry and hatred. The rules and it felt like Nazi Germany up in there. They were pretty sure the people they were looking for were dead, but they were determined to get to the bottom of it. They almost thought they had it from on particular person but it ended up being she was to scared to say too much. And rightly so. At their “open house” party, things came to a head. Sam had to go find some missing people and Rob was trying to stop a brawl in the backyard. But what ended up happening is Sam almost died and the Rob almost did. And it blew from there. And put everything in perspective. So now they had to decide after this was over officially, did they keep going or let it fizzle out? Could they even let it fizzle out? I mean, they did have shared custody of a cat after all.
I was happy to learn so much about Sam. Some of it made me sad, because being in his shoes was definitely not an easy thing. The life of being gay period is usually not an easy one, but being trans is doubly hard. Especially when it comes in smaller packages and you feel like a Viking. But what I loved about Sam is the more he was around Rob, the more he let his guard down and it became a beautiful thing. For both of them. Because Sam got to see how Rob didn’t care that Sam’s lower have was still “technically” female. To Rob, he was sexy Sam. The man he was falling in love with. He never saw anything other than the beautiful man that Sam was. And Sam got to see someone who cared about him for him. Not for sex, although that was amazing, but for who Sam really was. They may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but it ended in a sensual, beautiful thing.
I absolutely loved this story and this series. I’m hoping there will be more to come. I love these guys. And if you guys haven’t read this series, you are seriously missing out.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
Sam had gotten a tip from Hunter that something was going down in a gated community. People were missing and possibly murdered. So Sam threw it in to his bosses to see if something could come out of figuring it out. And it did. He was going undercover with a field agent named Rob, that he wanted to hate. He was that macho bro kinda dude that got on his nerves. But the thing was, once they started this op and got to know each other, things began to change. Especially when it was revealed about the HIV. It was like the flood gates had opened and both finally had someone they could talk to and be themselves with about everything. It took time. And a lot of patience. Both weren’t very trusting and needed time to really open up. Not to mention everything going on around them. The bigotry and hatred. The rules and it felt like Nazi Germany up in there. They were pretty sure the people they were looking for were dead, but they were determined to get to the bottom of it. They almost thought they had it from on particular person but it ended up being she was to scared to say too much. And rightly so. At their “open house” party, things came to a head. Sam had to go find some missing people and Rob was trying to stop a brawl in the backyard. But what ended up happening is Sam almost died and the Rob almost did. And it blew from there. And put everything in perspective. So now they had to decide after this was over officially, did they keep going or let it fizzle out? Could they even let it fizzle out? I mean, they did have shared custody of a cat after all.
I was happy to learn so much about Sam. Some of it made me sad, because being in his shoes was definitely not an easy thing. The life of being gay period is usually not an easy one, but being trans is doubly hard. Especially when it comes in smaller packages and you feel like a Viking. But what I loved about Sam is the more he was around Rob, the more he let his guard down and it became a beautiful thing. For both of them. Because Sam got to see how Rob didn’t care that Sam’s lower have was still “technically” female. To Rob, he was sexy Sam. The man he was falling in love with. He never saw anything other than the beautiful man that Sam was. And Sam got to see someone who cared about him for him. Not for sex, although that was amazing, but for who Sam really was. They may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but it ended in a sensual, beautiful thing.
I absolutely loved this story and this series. I’m hoping there will be more to come. I love these guys. And if you guys haven’t read this series, you are seriously missing out.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/
March 4, 2021
Fantastic story! I loved the word play and teasing between Dougie and Cay-cay, but everything with Sam and Rob was even better!
September 11, 2019
Okay so in being the person I am and how I love to give my complete honest opinion on th books I read, I have to say that I was on the fence on whether I would like this book or not. Now that I have read it? I am so glad that I did. This was a really good read. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the bad guys where and figure out the mystery of this book the whole way through it. Then you throw in the unexpected attraction between the two main characters and you definitely have yourself and incredible read!!
This is Sam’s book. Sam was mentioned in the previous books. He works for the FBI just like Riggs does but Sam was more of Hunter’s friend then Riggs from the moment the two met. Hunter and Sam clicked friend wise. So when Hunter comes to Sam and asked him to look into a missing person case that no one seems to answers too, Sam becomes intrigued but Hunter brings to him.
After looking into everything, he decides to pursue the case. What he did not expect was to be teamed up with the new guy in the office, Rob. Rob seems to be one of the bros in the office and is not the person that Sam expected to work with. After going over the case together Rob suggest they go undercover as the missing men’s cousins. So Sam and Rob decide to pose as a married couple, Caden and Doug.
When they arrive at Whitewood Assembly gates community they both start to feel that there is more then meets the eye to this community. Not only was welcome more unfriendly then not, from the looks of the Miller’s home, you would never know that they had lived there.
With their first impressions of the community being not so great, Rob and Sam decide to up the game and see what all they can uncover. But what they end up uncovering is not only the answers to the Miller’s disappearance but also they u cover secrets about one another as well. With their new found attraction coming into play, it makes their whole marriage role come that much easier. The uestion though is how will they handle all the truths that come to light about not only the case but about themselves and each other?
This book was such a great read! I truly enjoyed this book and I hope to see more of these two in future books if there is future books in this series. I really hope that there will be!! This series is really good so far!! Definitely a recommended read!!
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
This is Sam’s book. Sam was mentioned in the previous books. He works for the FBI just like Riggs does but Sam was more of Hunter’s friend then Riggs from the moment the two met. Hunter and Sam clicked friend wise. So when Hunter comes to Sam and asked him to look into a missing person case that no one seems to answers too, Sam becomes intrigued but Hunter brings to him.
After looking into everything, he decides to pursue the case. What he did not expect was to be teamed up with the new guy in the office, Rob. Rob seems to be one of the bros in the office and is not the person that Sam expected to work with. After going over the case together Rob suggest they go undercover as the missing men’s cousins. So Sam and Rob decide to pose as a married couple, Caden and Doug.
When they arrive at Whitewood Assembly gates community they both start to feel that there is more then meets the eye to this community. Not only was welcome more unfriendly then not, from the looks of the Miller’s home, you would never know that they had lived there.
With their first impressions of the community being not so great, Rob and Sam decide to up the game and see what all they can uncover. But what they end up uncovering is not only the answers to the Miller’s disappearance but also they u cover secrets about one another as well. With their new found attraction coming into play, it makes their whole marriage role come that much easier. The uestion though is how will they handle all the truths that come to light about not only the case but about themselves and each other?
This book was such a great read! I truly enjoyed this book and I hope to see more of these two in future books if there is future books in this series. I really hope that there will be!! This series is really good so far!! Definitely a recommended read!!
Was given this galley copy for free for an open and honest review
September 14, 2019
Although I haven't had a chance to read False Flag, book 2 in the series, I still really enjoyed Penetration Test. This one follows a different set of MCs, Sam and Rob, and that's probably why I had no problem with having missed a book. I am most certainly going to going to go back and read book 2 because I want to find out what I missed of Riggs and Hunter's story. I enjoyed seeing Sam and Rob's relationship go from adversarial to something quite a bit steamier. I'm really hoping that this is not the last I'll see of these characters, all in all this was a very enjoyable read.
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Gay Book Promotions*
*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Gay Book Promotions*
October 12, 2019
Not bad.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews