What do you think?
Rate this book
Stonewall Investigations Miami #2
Lie with Me
OLIVER BRIGHTLY:
Ok, so imagine this.
I’m halfway across the world in a bar in London celebrating my last year of vet school when I spot the sexiest silver fox I’ve ever seen. We flirt, we kiss, and I have one of the best nights of my life. I’m sure I’ll never see him again, which is why I don’t give him my real name, even though I’m down to give him my address, phone number, and throw in my social security number just to be sure.
Weeks later, I walk into Stonewall Investigations in Miami looking for help and who do I find?
A certain silver-haired fox with a cocky grin and an accent that makes my knees melt.
So… about that help...
BECKHAM NOBLE:
I went back to London so I could bury my father and put our rocky past to rest. I wasn’t expecting to get handed a letter by a woman I’d never seen before, addressed to me in my father’s handwriting.
Opening it on the spot would be the emotionally mature thing to do. Drinking the evening away at a pub would be the emotionally therapeutic thing to do.
I chose the latter. That’s where I met one of the most interesting and attractive guys I’d ever chatted with, one I wanted to get to know from his head to his toes. One I was sure I would never see again.
Cut to three weeks later, when the object of my intense desire walks into my office looking for help with a murder that had been haunting him for years.
This was going to be an interesting case.
________________________
Lie With Me is the second book in the Stonewall Investigations- Miami series. It's a full-length, steamy gay romance novel and can read as a stand-alone.
Ok, so imagine this.
I’m halfway across the world in a bar in London celebrating my last year of vet school when I spot the sexiest silver fox I’ve ever seen. We flirt, we kiss, and I have one of the best nights of my life. I’m sure I’ll never see him again, which is why I don’t give him my real name, even though I’m down to give him my address, phone number, and throw in my social security number just to be sure.
Weeks later, I walk into Stonewall Investigations in Miami looking for help and who do I find?
A certain silver-haired fox with a cocky grin and an accent that makes my knees melt.
So… about that help...
BECKHAM NOBLE:
I went back to London so I could bury my father and put our rocky past to rest. I wasn’t expecting to get handed a letter by a woman I’d never seen before, addressed to me in my father’s handwriting.
Opening it on the spot would be the emotionally mature thing to do. Drinking the evening away at a pub would be the emotionally therapeutic thing to do.
I chose the latter. That’s where I met one of the most interesting and attractive guys I’d ever chatted with, one I wanted to get to know from his head to his toes. One I was sure I would never see again.
Cut to three weeks later, when the object of my intense desire walks into my office looking for help with a murder that had been haunting him for years.
This was going to be an interesting case.
________________________
Lie With Me is the second book in the Stonewall Investigations- Miami series. It's a full-length, steamy gay romance novel and can read as a stand-alone.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 26, 2019
304 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
September 12, 2022
Audiobook 5 stars
Story - 2.75 stars
-It was eeehhh.... I liked the characters enough to listen to the end.
-The mystery was soooo predictable. It should have been solved in the first half.
Anyhoo, the audiobook saved it.
Story - 2.75 stars
-It was eeehhh.... I liked the characters enough to listen to the end.
-The mystery was soooo predictable. It should have been solved in the first half.
Anyhoo, the audiobook saved it.
November 28, 2023
Oliver, man it's danged if you do, and just dang.
On another note. Why are you pulling me along on the break in. I mean there have been 3 more.
And the voice for this book. Great job
On another note. Why are you pulling me along on the break in. I mean there have been 3 more.
And the voice for this book. Great job
May 7, 2021
As someone that went into the Investigations series looking for some fun detective-ing alongside my fun romance, this one let me down on the investigation side. I think partly because unlike the first book only one of the perspectives in this installment works at Stonewall and so there wasn't double the opportunity to have case-related things. Instead, we had to balance Olly's life outside of the case with it. Though I did appreciate the last forty percent or so for focusing on what had reconnected Olly and Beck and finally giving me the content I was looking for.
As for what knocked stars off for me there was just a bunch of little things that added up to make this slightly less enjoyable than the first installment in the series. Namely, the homophobic side character was really gay the whole time. It was also just painful to watch Beck try and make me feel bad for his dad who was horrible to him because of that deathbed letter. That shit just didn't slap. I also just am not sure that romances, where one character is still stuck on the death of their first epic love, are for me. I think that the narrative just didn't have the space for me to feel for Derrick the way that I should have while also rooting for Olly and Beck.
The smut in this one was better. Maybe because Beck and Olly were both secure in their sexuality and so the narrative didn't have to ease one of the characters into accepting that part of themselves. Their romance was cute and I did appreciate them. Like I said, it was more the execution of the plotier elements that dragged down my enjoyment. I'm still undecided as to if I'll wind up picking up the last book in this little trilogy, but because I've enjoyed the Stonewall agency so much it's pretty much all but guaranteed that I will eventually.
As for what knocked stars off for me there was just a bunch of little things that added up to make this slightly less enjoyable than the first installment in the series. Namely, the homophobic side character was really gay the whole time. It was also just painful to watch Beck try and make me feel bad for his dad who was horrible to him because of that deathbed letter. That shit just didn't slap. I also just am not sure that romances, where one character is still stuck on the death of their first epic love, are for me. I think that the narrative just didn't have the space for me to feel for Derrick the way that I should have while also rooting for Olly and Beck.
The smut in this one was better. Maybe because Beck and Olly were both secure in their sexuality and so the narrative didn't have to ease one of the characters into accepting that part of themselves. Their romance was cute and I did appreciate them. Like I said, it was more the execution of the plotier elements that dragged down my enjoyment. I'm still undecided as to if I'll wind up picking up the last book in this little trilogy, but because I've enjoyed the Stonewall agency so much it's pretty much all but guaranteed that I will eventually.
April 1, 2024
4.5 stars
February 7, 2020
4.5
What a positively sweet book. I adored both MC’s. This book was exactly what I needed. Sweet sweeping love, a little dash of suspense, and the best part. Adults communicating! I love how they came together, I loved the age difference and although it was a problem they TALKED about it, and I love that they said I love you way before the end of the book. Thank you author for that.
The writing was on point, the smexy was hawt, and the story was really good
This is a new to me author that I’m going to be looking into more.
What a positively sweet book. I adored both MC’s. This book was exactly what I needed. Sweet sweeping love, a little dash of suspense, and the best part. Adults communicating! I love how they came together, I loved the age difference and although it was a problem they TALKED about it, and I love that they said I love you way before the end of the book. Thank you author for that.
The writing was on point, the smexy was hawt, and the story was really good
This is a new to me author that I’m going to be looking into more.
February 8, 2023
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla, and I normally love Greg Boudreaux, but he’s not great at accents. Having to listen to him do a British accent for an entire book was kind of painful. I thought the relationship was sweet, but the mystery was… well, there basically wasn’t a mystery because it was immediately obvious who did it. Just a very predictable story.
January 3, 2024
This was enjoyable, but if I had to pick maybe my least favourite from Max Walker so far.
The mystery is this was the more predictable so far and the romance had the least buy in from me yet.
That being said I found their banter fun and Florida is as a setting still quite fiery.
The mystery is this was the more predictable so far and the romance had the least buy in from me yet.
That being said I found their banter fun and Florida is as a setting still quite fiery.
May 8, 2024
Tre stelline e mezzo.
Read
August 22, 2022Another surprisingly heart warming story. This one had more the feel i was expecting, but still surprisingly sweet. I adore the kismet feel of the romance. Met half way around the world only to discover they more connected back home than they can imagine. The mystery was way darker than the first book and the ending way sadder. I have to confess figuring it out about half way through, but damn, i spent the rest of the book hoping i was wrong. What is it about Max Walker's characters that draw you in a make you love them so much?
August 27, 2019
Max Walker is such an amazing writer, details, story line and of course a fantastic HEA! Oliver has been dealt with the loss of his boyfriend, murdered and died in his arms. 6 years and it still hurts, no closure, no one to pay for the crime.
Beckham has been alone a long time, kicked out of his home at a very young age, eventually leaving his home country to the US. Now working at Stonewall Investigations, now 40 years old, going back to London for his father’s funeral.
That night Beck meets the most incredible day of sunshine as he was leaving the bar, Oliver. Weeks later in Miami, in walks Oliver to Beck’s office needing someone to find out who killed his boyfriend. Those sparks from London were just as bright in Miami.
Working the case, getting to know each other, falling head over heals, things go well until someone doesn’t want them investigating and threats start. Oliver is scared and Beck will do anything to protect him.
Can Beck figure out who and why someone killed Derrek? Will he and Oliver be able to move forward, make a life together? Lots of twist and turns, laughs lots of laughs and there are two sexy guys heading up the sheets! It’s an absolutely fabulous book, little angst, a little nail biting and a lot of awe moments! Enjoy this read, the entire series so far has been awesome!
Beckham has been alone a long time, kicked out of his home at a very young age, eventually leaving his home country to the US. Now working at Stonewall Investigations, now 40 years old, going back to London for his father’s funeral.
That night Beck meets the most incredible day of sunshine as he was leaving the bar, Oliver. Weeks later in Miami, in walks Oliver to Beck’s office needing someone to find out who killed his boyfriend. Those sparks from London were just as bright in Miami.
Working the case, getting to know each other, falling head over heals, things go well until someone doesn’t want them investigating and threats start. Oliver is scared and Beck will do anything to protect him.
Can Beck figure out who and why someone killed Derrek? Will he and Oliver be able to move forward, make a life together? Lots of twist and turns, laughs lots of laughs and there are two sexy guys heading up the sheets! It’s an absolutely fabulous book, little angst, a little nail biting and a lot of awe moments! Enjoy this read, the entire series so far has been awesome!
August 28, 2019
Beck & Olly
I loved Beck and Olly’s story! Their chemistry was through the roof hot from the moment their eyes landed on each other. You could really feel it coming off the page! I thought it was so cute how they met! Clumsiness and nerves threw up a roadblock between Beck and Olly being able to communicate again. Just when neither thought their paths would ever cross again, they did in a most unexpected way for both! I thought their story was super sweet, and I appreciated the way the Beck always put Oliver’s needs and happiness first! The underlying mystery of the latest Stonewall investigation was great, and kept me on my toes trying to figure out who the culprit was! If you’re looking for a great mystery, age gap, smoking hot chemistry and super hot sexy times then this is a must-read! I couldn’t recommend it more!
I loved Beck and Olly’s story! Their chemistry was through the roof hot from the moment their eyes landed on each other. You could really feel it coming off the page! I thought it was so cute how they met! Clumsiness and nerves threw up a roadblock between Beck and Olly being able to communicate again. Just when neither thought their paths would ever cross again, they did in a most unexpected way for both! I thought their story was super sweet, and I appreciated the way the Beck always put Oliver’s needs and happiness first! The underlying mystery of the latest Stonewall investigation was great, and kept me on my toes trying to figure out who the culprit was! If you’re looking for a great mystery, age gap, smoking hot chemistry and super hot sexy times then this is a must-read! I couldn’t recommend it more!
Read
October 25, 2023Quality: 4 stars
Enjoyment: 2.5-3-ish stars (totally a me-thing)
Beckham is a 40 year old gay white cis man who prefers younger partners (well, it seems like that’s the case for a while but then somehow later he mentions Oliver is the first younger guy he’s ever liked, but that’s confusing because before that he mentions how he keeps having issues with younger guys finding him boring), but is self-conscious because he’s fit but not ripped and he’s now a “daddy” in the gay bar scene because of his age, though not his sex preferences (he tends to top like 75% of the time, but is not an actual daddy). He gets sad when his young partners constantly grow bored with him because he’s 40 and doesn’t want to dance the night away. Until he meets Oliver, who is the perfect young age (24) but doesn’t judge Beckham for being old (40).
Oliver is a vet student in his last year before he graduates and is a full vet (I don’t think vet school is only 2 years total in real life, it’s like 4-5 years after undergrad, but this way Oliver gets to be the young twinky guy that Beckham needs and wants). He’s got PTSD and anxiety from when his boyfriend was killed in a hate attack on them both for being gay. He’s Jonah’s younger brother mentioned in the first book.
The guys meet and almost have sex in London, and then run into each other 3 weeks later in Miami at Stonewall and start their romance (and also the investigation of Oliver’s boyfriend’s murder). They start dating soon after that. As is usual with this author it’s almost a soulmates trope but without the actual soulmates. It kind of cool.
Age gap stories are hit or miss for me, mostly miss. This one was not a hit for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, I just never felt connected to the characters individually or as a couple. And I appreciated the lack of daddy play, and that with emotional maturity the two of them were pretty similar. It’s just a pretty big age gap and it didn’t really work for me. This is a me thing and the story itself was a well done dramatic romance with a hint of mystery. For me it was just a little bland, but again I think it’s because it had a lot of tropes I tend not to like but was hoping I would because I’ve enjoyed this author’s other works. I guess it didn’t work out for me.
Not bad but not my thing I guess. I’m hoping I enjoy the next one more.
Enjoyment: 2.5-3-ish stars (totally a me-thing)
Beckham is a 40 year old gay white cis man who prefers younger partners (well, it seems like that’s the case for a while but then somehow later he mentions Oliver is the first younger guy he’s ever liked, but that’s confusing because before that he mentions how he keeps having issues with younger guys finding him boring), but is self-conscious because he’s fit but not ripped and he’s now a “daddy” in the gay bar scene because of his age, though not his sex preferences (he tends to top like 75% of the time, but is not an actual daddy). He gets sad when his young partners constantly grow bored with him because he’s 40 and doesn’t want to dance the night away. Until he meets Oliver, who is the perfect young age (24) but doesn’t judge Beckham for being old (40).
Oliver is a vet student in his last year before he graduates and is a full vet (I don’t think vet school is only 2 years total in real life, it’s like 4-5 years after undergrad, but this way Oliver gets to be the young twinky guy that Beckham needs and wants). He’s got PTSD and anxiety from when his boyfriend was killed in a hate attack on them both for being gay. He’s Jonah’s younger brother mentioned in the first book.
The guys meet and almost have sex in London, and then run into each other 3 weeks later in Miami at Stonewall and start their romance (and also the investigation of Oliver’s boyfriend’s murder). They start dating soon after that. As is usual with this author it’s almost a soulmates trope but without the actual soulmates. It kind of cool.
Age gap stories are hit or miss for me, mostly miss. This one was not a hit for me. It wasn’t bad by any means, I just never felt connected to the characters individually or as a couple. And I appreciated the lack of daddy play, and that with emotional maturity the two of them were pretty similar. It’s just a pretty big age gap and it didn’t really work for me. This is a me thing and the story itself was a well done dramatic romance with a hint of mystery. For me it was just a little bland, but again I think it’s because it had a lot of tropes I tend not to like but was hoping I would because I’ve enjoyed this author’s other works. I guess it didn’t work out for me.
Not bad but not my thing I guess. I’m hoping I enjoy the next one more.
April 8, 2020
I so wanted to love this book, but while it starts out interesting it bogs down throughout most of the book...with dating and navel gazing about their age differences.
Ways it coulda been better....
1. My life is boring. I read to escape. Let’s make their life more interesting than mine, ok.
2. This is a romance. I never felt romance. Beck is nurturing Ollie to a point they are not equal partners. Also, I know in new relationships you think sexy times or admire your new lovers body but this eclipsed any romance.
3. All the navel gazing because Beck is 40 and Ollie is a very young 24 with Ollie worried he won’t be interesting or experienced and Beck worried his wrinkles and grey hair will eventually doom the relationship...repeated ad nauseum is not good for the romance.
4. Have at least a somewhat decent mystery if it is a big component of the storyline. Their relationship is in part the investigation of the dead boyfriend. There wasn’t much of a mystery and I guessed that early. So the fact Beck didn’t figure it out? 🙄 caused me to smh.
5. Leave out the equivalent of the dumb blonde running from the killer in hills motif. Someone wants Ollie and Beck to stop investigating and Ollie moves in with Beck. BUT Ollie leaves his pets home and is constantly going to his house even when it’s obvious someone has broken in recently and Beck lets him go alone? 🤷♀️ Also, Beck chases a suspect (he’s a PI who works in an office full of PIs) but he never calls for backup 🤦♀️ It’s like a B movie.
I did enjoy Becks story and learning what was in the letter Becks father wrote. The contents are a bit hokey (I think one component made me go..uh what? OTT) but I think his father’s sentiments toward his son were sweet. I really liked Beck but Ollies character was just too silly and annoying so my crystal ball sees the reality of them as HFN.
Ways it coulda been better....
1. My life is boring. I read to escape. Let’s make their life more interesting than mine, ok.
2. This is a romance. I never felt romance. Beck is nurturing Ollie to a point they are not equal partners. Also, I know in new relationships you think sexy times or admire your new lovers body but this eclipsed any romance.
3. All the navel gazing because Beck is 40 and Ollie is a very young 24 with Ollie worried he won’t be interesting or experienced and Beck worried his wrinkles and grey hair will eventually doom the relationship...repeated ad nauseum is not good for the romance.
4. Have at least a somewhat decent mystery if it is a big component of the storyline. Their relationship is in part the investigation of the dead boyfriend. There wasn’t much of a mystery and I guessed that early. So the fact Beck didn’t figure it out? 🙄 caused me to smh.
5. Leave out the equivalent of the dumb blonde running from the killer in hills motif. Someone wants Ollie and Beck to stop investigating and Ollie moves in with Beck. BUT Ollie leaves his pets home and is constantly going to his house even when it’s obvious someone has broken in recently and Beck lets him go alone? 🤷♀️ Also, Beck chases a suspect (he’s a PI who works in an office full of PIs) but he never calls for backup 🤦♀️ It’s like a B movie.
I did enjoy Becks story and learning what was in the letter Becks father wrote. The contents are a bit hokey (I think one component made me go..uh what? OTT) but I think his father’s sentiments toward his son were sweet. I really liked Beck but Ollies character was just too silly and annoying so my crystal ball sees the reality of them as HFN.
April 7, 2024
Beckham returns home to England to bury his father and meets someone who he connects with almost instantly. Returning to Miami and finding out his new client was the man he met overseas is a big surprise. Oliver is looking for justice on a crime from six years ago and finding Beck again is a surprise he’s very happy with. Only thing is his ex boyfriend may have been murdered six years before but the threats he’s receiving now are very new.
Reasons I Recommend:
1) Little twist at the end (I guessed) but still enjoyed it
2) Oliver is Jonah’s brother and he and Beck connect quickly and instantly on many levels and
3) A high speed chase, a difficult case, and a HEA.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This quote just made me laugh out loud! It perfectly fits Oliver’s personality!
Quote: The flowers were such a sweet gesture, they made me happy just looking at them. I gave them an appreciative whiff, taking in the delicate scent, feeling like a full Disney princess in that moment. I half expected a pigeon or something to fly in through my window, but then I realized it would have to break through the screen barrier and figured that would be startling for all parties involved.
So, actually, Ixnay on the Disney princess thing.
#briereads #brierecommends #2024goodreadsreadingchallenge #reviewedongoodreads #reviewedoninstagram #bookworm #lovetoread #idratherbereading #mmromance #romanticsuspense #mystery #fiction #liewithme #stonewallinvestigationseries #stonewallinvestigationsmiami #maxwalker @maxwalkerwrites
Reasons I Recommend:
1) Little twist at the end (I guessed) but still enjoyed it
2) Oliver is Jonah’s brother and he and Beck connect quickly and instantly on many levels and
3) A high speed chase, a difficult case, and a HEA.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This quote just made me laugh out loud! It perfectly fits Oliver’s personality!
Quote: The flowers were such a sweet gesture, they made me happy just looking at them. I gave them an appreciative whiff, taking in the delicate scent, feeling like a full Disney princess in that moment. I half expected a pigeon or something to fly in through my window, but then I realized it would have to break through the screen barrier and figured that would be startling for all parties involved.
So, actually, Ixnay on the Disney princess thing.
#briereads #brierecommends #2024goodreadsreadingchallenge #reviewedongoodreads #reviewedoninstagram #bookworm #lovetoread #idratherbereading #mmromance #romanticsuspense #mystery #fiction #liewithme #stonewallinvestigationseries #stonewallinvestigationsmiami #maxwalker @maxwalkerwrites
March 4, 2024
I enjoy everything Max Walker writes, and I thought this was a better than average addition to the Stonewall saga. The main characters were delightful and narration, as always, was terrific. Don’t get hung up in the at-times-imperfect British accent, it’s plenty good.
Oliver is a smart, queer, confident veterinary student who has anxiety and some triggers from a previous assault in which his boyfriend was murdered. You expect a melancholy guy but instead get adorable sunshine and a little neuroticism. He’s the best type of younger partner you find in younger/older tropes. He knows himself, he knows what he wants, he’s young, but he’s not dumb.
Declan may be older, more experienced, and even a little wiser, but the power gets balanced in this relationship by his own insecurities. His confidence has an asterisk.
The Oliver-Declan relationship develops quickly, but is really well crafted. There is no annoying fake drama or crisis inserted like we almost always see in the second act in romance novels that breaks them up. They communicate clearly and well, there are no weird intimacy hangups; it’s a sweet, equal (and very steamy) relationship.
Your feeling about the mystery will depend on your tolerance for suspense. I have none and so love being spoonfed all the clues, it makes me feel very smart when we reach the big reveal. 😆 I enjoyed this one better than most.
4 solid stars.
Oliver is a smart, queer, confident veterinary student who has anxiety and some triggers from a previous assault in which his boyfriend was murdered. You expect a melancholy guy but instead get adorable sunshine and a little neuroticism. He’s the best type of younger partner you find in younger/older tropes. He knows himself, he knows what he wants, he’s young, but he’s not dumb.
Declan may be older, more experienced, and even a little wiser, but the power gets balanced in this relationship by his own insecurities. His confidence has an asterisk.
The Oliver-Declan relationship develops quickly, but is really well crafted. There is no annoying fake drama or crisis inserted like we almost always see in the second act in romance novels that breaks them up. They communicate clearly and well, there are no weird intimacy hangups; it’s a sweet, equal (and very steamy) relationship.
Your feeling about the mystery will depend on your tolerance for suspense. I have none and so love being spoonfed all the clues, it makes me feel very smart when we reach the big reveal. 😆 I enjoyed this one better than most.
4 solid stars.
February 23, 2023
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Star Rating: 4.5/5
What a sweet and romantic story. I love a ‘fated’ element to a story. Two men meet in London, spending one night that leaves them both wanting more. Only to find themselves face to face when Ollie walks into Stonewall Investigations looking for a detective. So cute.
I love how easily these two come together and just truly enjoy each other. They may be under a lot of stress with Ollie’s case and a murderer who clearly doesn’t want the investigation to happen, along with Beckham and his team being targeted with hate, but they both provide so much light and happiness to the other.
Even if you’ve figured out who the bad guy is, it’s quite a ride to figure out how it gets solved.
The subplot around Beckham’s dad was heartbreaking, but I loved how great Ollie’s parents were.
Ultimately I’m a little jealous of Ollie, I mean he snagged a sexy british silver fox!
I enjoy these stories as an audiobook, they are entertaining and so the time just flies when you’re listening. As always narrator Greg Boudreaux delivers.
Star Rating: 4.5/5
What a sweet and romantic story. I love a ‘fated’ element to a story. Two men meet in London, spending one night that leaves them both wanting more. Only to find themselves face to face when Ollie walks into Stonewall Investigations looking for a detective. So cute.
I love how easily these two come together and just truly enjoy each other. They may be under a lot of stress with Ollie’s case and a murderer who clearly doesn’t want the investigation to happen, along with Beckham and his team being targeted with hate, but they both provide so much light and happiness to the other.
Even if you’ve figured out who the bad guy is, it’s quite a ride to figure out how it gets solved.
The subplot around Beckham’s dad was heartbreaking, but I loved how great Ollie’s parents were.
Ultimately I’m a little jealous of Ollie, I mean he snagged a sexy british silver fox!
I enjoy these stories as an audiobook, they are entertaining and so the time just flies when you’re listening. As always narrator Greg Boudreaux delivers.
April 5, 2020
I’m going to start by saying if you are considering listening to the audiobook, DO IT! Greg Boudreaux is one of my favorite narrators, and his skill really shines here.
This is the second book in the Stonewall Investigations: Miami series, but it can be read as a standalone pretty easily, although there is clearly a series-long mystery of seemingly homophobic hate crimes against the Stonewall Investigations detectives that is being set up in both the first book and this book.
Anyone who has read the first book knows of Oliver’s tragic past, and in this book we get to find out what really happened that tragic night six years ago. I thought the “whodunnit” aspect of the book was pretty obvious, but the mystery and suspense was well executed regardless.
The characters and romance are fantastic! Oliver is such an amazing character and his personality injects a lot of humor into the story. I was constantly laughing out loud and getting strange looks from people around me.
This is the second book in the Stonewall Investigations: Miami series, but it can be read as a standalone pretty easily, although there is clearly a series-long mystery of seemingly homophobic hate crimes against the Stonewall Investigations detectives that is being set up in both the first book and this book.
Anyone who has read the first book knows of Oliver’s tragic past, and in this book we get to find out what really happened that tragic night six years ago. I thought the “whodunnit” aspect of the book was pretty obvious, but the mystery and suspense was well executed regardless.
The characters and romance are fantastic! Oliver is such an amazing character and his personality injects a lot of humor into the story. I was constantly laughing out loud and getting strange looks from people around me.
September 10, 2023
this really captured my attention. I think my favorite part was that in book one beck actually hits on Jonah and Jonah actually like ends up like recommending or mentioning that his brother is actually gay and then this book Ollie and beck do you end up together. I thought that was so funny. I really enjoyed Oliver in the first book. He seems like such a fun character and that’s exactly what he was his cats veterinary school, his humor and just his personality. He was just such a cool character and then we have beck. Was so sad to me that made me literally wanna cry like a baby and then he’s just really interesting. I found them together to be such a cool combo. They suited each other really well. Please, the mystery aspect of you know, trying to figure out who had attacked Oliver and murdered Derek holy crap. That was not what I was expecting, and especially towards the end I was on my toes. It was good as hell.
March 29, 2020
Oliver has had a hard life. His boyfriend was killed right in front of him. He's in London trying to blow off some steam when he spots and incredibly handsome older man across the bar and has an amazing night with him. So Oliver's beyond shocked when, he walks into his brother's Florida investigation office to ask for help finding out what happened on that long ago night and... encounters the same man.
Beckham is just as shocked as Oliver. Having returned from England and his dad's funeral, to see the young'un right there in his office. But the attraction is still there and while Beckham works on Oliver's case, they also grow a bit closer.
I like how Walker creates characters. There was a lot going on this book and it only loosely wove together. I wish that we had seen more of Beck and Oliver's relationship outside the bedroom but overall a nice book.
Beckham is just as shocked as Oliver. Having returned from England and his dad's funeral, to see the young'un right there in his office. But the attraction is still there and while Beckham works on Oliver's case, they also grow a bit closer.
I like how Walker creates characters. There was a lot going on this book and it only loosely wove together. I wish that we had seen more of Beck and Oliver's relationship outside the bedroom but overall a nice book.
December 29, 2023
I am glad that Ollie found some closure. In the previous book, he was introduced as Jonah's brother. Jonah became a police officer because of the death of his brother's partner. The social commentary regarding law enforcement maintained a rather narrow view of law enforcement despite the fact that the main character's brother was law enforcement. This bothered me a bit. I really wanted to see this story affect the law enforcement community in some meaningful fashion even if that isn't reality.
The heat factor was pretty high once again. The mystery wasn't all that terribly mysterious, but these books are basically a romance with a dash of mystery to give the characters opportunities to hook up in unusual situations. If you like that type of focus for the plot, you will enjoy the story.
The heat factor was pretty high once again. The mystery wasn't all that terribly mysterious, but these books are basically a romance with a dash of mystery to give the characters opportunities to hook up in unusual situations. If you like that type of focus for the plot, you will enjoy the story.
September 9, 2025
Trigger Warnjng: major age difference, 24 and 40. At least they don't have any kind of boss/employee, teacher student, doctor/client, etc.
Yay to a character getting therapy instead of relying on his partner to make him all better.
I like that this series "hints" (i.e., tells) at the next book's character.
Two gay guys in a romance novel who have normal, non-muscled up bodies?
No way someone in 2020 will have vet school student loans paid off in 20 years. Vet schools are about four years lonh and highly competitive to get into, and they require a bachelor's degree first. A vet would be lucky to pay that all off by 50 years of age. Although if his loans are only $100k, he probably had some scholarships or financial aid.
The idea that it is age that stops a 40 year old man in 2020 from knowing how to use social media is ridiculous.
Yay to a character getting therapy instead of relying on his partner to make him all better.
I like that this series "hints" (i.e., tells) at the next book's character.
Two gay guys in a romance novel who have normal, non-muscled up bodies?
No way someone in 2020 will have vet school student loans paid off in 20 years. Vet schools are about four years lonh and highly competitive to get into, and they require a bachelor's degree first. A vet would be lucky to pay that all off by 50 years of age. Although if his loans are only $100k, he probably had some scholarships or financial aid.
The idea that it is age that stops a 40 year old man in 2020 from knowing how to use social media is ridiculous.
May 13, 2021
Miami Murder Mystery
Nightmares haunt Olly of the horrors from 6 years ago when his heart was ripped apart and he was left to survive, struggling under a mask of cheerful sparkle. But if you looked closer he felt one could sense the emptiness that threatened to engulf him in the darkness. Enter silver fox Beckham who for his own reasons is hollowly shadowing through his existence, rebuilding a life one small brick at a time. Chance encounters rarely have repeats, especially when they occur on another continent, but when they find themselves again in the same room back home the sparks are ignited. Will they fizzle out or can they be fed with fuel enough to explode?
Nightmares haunt Olly of the horrors from 6 years ago when his heart was ripped apart and he was left to survive, struggling under a mask of cheerful sparkle. But if you looked closer he felt one could sense the emptiness that threatened to engulf him in the darkness. Enter silver fox Beckham who for his own reasons is hollowly shadowing through his existence, rebuilding a life one small brick at a time. Chance encounters rarely have repeats, especially when they occur on another continent, but when they find themselves again in the same room back home the sparks are ignited. Will they fizzle out or can they be fed with fuel enough to explode?
July 7, 2024
Grab this story when you need intrigue, a mystery to solve and a soul mate romance!
Silver fox Beck has resolved to being alone the rest of his life, at 40 that's a terrible perspective. While in another Country there is a chance encounter brings about some feelings he not sure how to handle. Oliver is out & about with his best friend Will when one decision and the response seems irrelevant but puts a missing link into place that definitely impacts his future. I don't want to "spoil" the mystery, so I'll just say you will enjoy it throughout but then end whew!!! MM Steamy Romance.
Silver fox Beck has resolved to being alone the rest of his life, at 40 that's a terrible perspective. While in another Country there is a chance encounter brings about some feelings he not sure how to handle. Oliver is out & about with his best friend Will when one decision and the response seems irrelevant but puts a missing link into place that definitely impacts his future. I don't want to "spoil" the mystery, so I'll just say you will enjoy it throughout but then end whew!!! MM Steamy Romance.
April 30, 2024
Carina la storia, la parte ambientata a Londra mi è piaciuta molto, frizzante e scoppiettante, poi però il libro è diventato scontato, secondo me ci sono state troppe scene di sesso, inutili e che hanno allungato la storia. La parte gialla che all’inizio sembrava interessante dopo poco, appena ho azzeccato il colpevole, che secondo me è davvero troppo facile da indovinare visto i molti indizi che l’autore butta in giro, dicevo che la parte gialla diventa scontata, peccato perché sarebbe potuta essere avvincente se il colpevole fosse rimasto misterioso fin verso il finale.
January 18, 2021
Great Intro to Max!
I seem to have an annoying habit of picking up books out of order - this book was no exception. I enjoyed the story as much as i enjoyed Walker's writing. The expertise in the way he tells the story doesn't leave his readers wondering about details from another book. He weaves back and forth between Oliver and Beckham so that each chapter is in the voice of one or the other. Still with all the clues he drops Walker doesn't give away the ending. Well done!
I seem to have an annoying habit of picking up books out of order - this book was no exception. I enjoyed the story as much as i enjoyed Walker's writing. The expertise in the way he tells the story doesn't leave his readers wondering about details from another book. He weaves back and forth between Oliver and Beckham so that each chapter is in the voice of one or the other. Still with all the clues he drops Walker doesn't give away the ending. Well done!
January 6, 2023
Yikes.....this was bad. It's an #OwnVoices queer m/m thriller with a romance, and this book was bad. From the inconsistent pacing, inconsistent plot points and details (clothes worn, places/events that they were attending, the overall mystey, etc). The only reason that this book gets one star from me is that the start of the book was actually great because of the potential that it had. I will not be reading Walker by choice anytime soon.
July 14, 2021
4.25 Dead Ass Stars!
This is my first book by max walker and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Both Ollie and Beck were fantastic characters and the romance in this was great. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly but I did not come here for the mystery I came for the romance!
8/10 would recommend
This is my first book by max walker and I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. Both Ollie and Beck were fantastic characters and the romance in this was great. I figured out the mystery pretty quickly but I did not come here for the mystery I came for the romance!
8/10 would recommend
November 5, 2023
Another great installment in the Stonewall Investigations universe. I started the book without reading the summary so I was elated when Oliver was one of the MCs. Having met Ollie in the previous installment, it was wonderful to get his story. I listened to the audiobook, and have to say Greg Boudreaux did a great job as usual with the different accents and intonations with the characters.
August 14, 2024
Max Walker's Stonewall universe is one I really enjoy.
In this story, we meet Oliver and Beckham, and get treated to a sweet and emotional tale of romance, hardship and friendship. With a big dose of humour, off course.
Greg is one of my all time favourite narrators, so listening to him is always a treat!
In this story, we meet Oliver and Beckham, and get treated to a sweet and emotional tale of romance, hardship and friendship. With a big dose of humour, off course.
Greg is one of my all time favourite narrators, so listening to him is always a treat!
August 12, 2020
CW: graphic violence, homophobia, ptsd, casual racism & fat phobia
Mostly cute. In desperate need of a dev edit—the timeline and location of the cats kept changing, among other things. The resolution was a lil too shiny wrapping with bows on top, like that’s not how trauma works, tho I get it.
Mostly cute. In desperate need of a dev edit—the timeline and location of the cats kept changing, among other things. The resolution was a lil too shiny wrapping with bows on top, like that’s not how trauma works, tho I get it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews