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Birchwood Academy Files #1
Murder at Birchwood Pond
Darian Winter is settling in as a new instructor at Birchwood Academy, an exclusive boys’ prep school in New England. As a reasonably open gay man with two devoted moms in a same-sex marriage, Darian has to be careful in the school’s formal and somewhat conservative atmosphere. One morning, he is jogging near the campus pond when he comes across a shocking scene: Timothy Pryor, an 18-year-old student taking a gap year at the school, is floating dead in the water.
Timothy stood out at Birchwood for many reasons, and none of them involved his academic prowess. Wealthy, brash, and completely at ease with his sexuality, Timothy routinely bragged of having affairs with students and faculty members alike. Now someone has murdered him right on school grounds—and Darian might be the prime suspect thanks to his sexuality and his familiarity with the victim.
Soon the quiet campus is abuzz with law enforcement personnel, including the town’s dour but undeniably attractive sheriff, Arthur “Argo” Sullivan. Though Darian is outraged when Argo seems to consider him a suspect in Timothy’s death, he soon discovers that the sheriff, like almost everyone at Birchwood Academy, is hiding a shocking secret. While Darian struggles to figure out exactly how the various strands weave together, another death jolts the small community. If he can’t work out the answer in time, he knows there will be more.
Timothy stood out at Birchwood for many reasons, and none of them involved his academic prowess. Wealthy, brash, and completely at ease with his sexuality, Timothy routinely bragged of having affairs with students and faculty members alike. Now someone has murdered him right on school grounds—and Darian might be the prime suspect thanks to his sexuality and his familiarity with the victim.
Soon the quiet campus is abuzz with law enforcement personnel, including the town’s dour but undeniably attractive sheriff, Arthur “Argo” Sullivan. Though Darian is outraged when Argo seems to consider him a suspect in Timothy’s death, he soon discovers that the sheriff, like almost everyone at Birchwood Academy, is hiding a shocking secret. While Darian struggles to figure out exactly how the various strands weave together, another death jolts the small community. If he can’t work out the answer in time, he knows there will be more.
331 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2020
55 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Jade Astor
87 books48 followersJade Astor is a longtime fan of both paranormal and
male-male love stories. She was delighted to find a thriving
community of like-minded writers and readers in the ebook
industry. Moon Lake Wolves is her first trilogy to be
published by Silver.
When she is not writing, Jade enjoys sculpting,
tinkering with computers, and training (and retraining) her
small herd of unruly but adorable rescued Chihuahuas.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 3, 2021
2.5 stars
This could have been great. I actually liked the story. It just got dragged out too long. Every character we met was suspicious. Let's confuse the reader even more by adding one more character. I got frustrated with it when the sheriff's sister's husband who was living miles and miles away was drawn into it.
At first the killer's identity was way too obvious, but I was wrong. Still he had a hand in it, so I wasn't far off. It was almost like the author changed their mind at the last minute.
I wasn't feeling the so-called spark between the MCs. And their early interactions were hostile, on both sides. I don't know how they even got to the kissing part. When they actually partnered together during the investigation, I liked those conversations between them, some of them ran emotionally deeper.
But Darian is the worst amateur sleuth ever. And Argo is no BAU Sam Kennedy either, no matter how hard he tries. The ending is proof of that. Wow it was obvious at that point.
The writing was good, some repetition here and there, but liked it. It's very readable.
And there was some suspense to the story which kept me going.
So in short the potential was there, but it just fell a little short.
This could have been great. I actually liked the story. It just got dragged out too long. Every character we met was suspicious. Let's confuse the reader even more by adding one more character. I got frustrated with it when the sheriff's sister's husband who was living miles and miles away was drawn into it.
At first the killer's identity was way too obvious, but I was wrong. Still he had a hand in it, so I wasn't far off. It was almost like the author changed their mind at the last minute.
I wasn't feeling the so-called spark between the MCs. And their early interactions were hostile, on both sides. I don't know how they even got to the kissing part. When they actually partnered together during the investigation, I liked those conversations between them, some of them ran emotionally deeper.
But Darian is the worst amateur sleuth ever. And Argo is no BAU Sam Kennedy either, no matter how hard he tries. The ending is proof of that. Wow it was obvious at that point.
The writing was good, some repetition here and there, but liked it. It's very readable.
And there was some suspense to the story which kept me going.
So in short the potential was there, but it just fell a little short.
August 1, 2022
I'm currently reading book 4 and enjoyed all books so far. It's a solid nice mystery series. The books concentrate on the mystery aspect, the romance between the MCs is really just a side note. Therefore, it's fade to black and sometimes the intimacy between the MCs is a bit lacking.
But - the crimes are imaginative, I have the same problems as Argo to find the killer - it's fun that it's not to obvious, who's done it. Usually I know that way before the charcters in the books but in this series I'm as clueless as the rest and that makes them real pageturners for me.
But - the crimes are imaginative, I have the same problems as Argo to find the killer - it's fun that it's not to obvious, who's done it. Usually I know that way before the charcters in the books but in this series I'm as clueless as the rest and that makes them real pageturners for me.
August 17, 2022
Good
It unfortunately dragged on and on. The mystery was good but dear God it took forever to get to the point. It was boring in the middle. I will continue because I like the characters.
It unfortunately dragged on and on. The mystery was good but dear God it took forever to get to the point. It was boring in the middle. I will continue because I like the characters.
June 14, 2021
2.5 stars
Started out with the promise of an interesting murder mystery, went steadily downhill to an overlong, overwrought conclusion. I suppose you can call it a romance but I felt no connection with the main characters or any others. No steam if you’re looking for it, just one brief, awkward description of a sex act. Should have been left out.
Started out with the promise of an interesting murder mystery, went steadily downhill to an overlong, overwrought conclusion. I suppose you can call it a romance but I felt no connection with the main characters or any others. No steam if you’re looking for it, just one brief, awkward description of a sex act. Should have been left out.
March 22, 2022
Truly enjoyable!
I'm glad I decided to try this series. The mystery was pretty good, and I'm enjoying the romance between Darian, a teacher, and Argo, the sheriff. Darian in particular is easy to like. I'm going on to the next book in the series and looking forward to more mysteries and the development of the relationship.
I'm glad I decided to try this series. The mystery was pretty good, and I'm enjoying the romance between Darian, a teacher, and Argo, the sheriff. Darian in particular is easy to like. I'm going on to the next book in the series and looking forward to more mysteries and the development of the relationship.
September 19, 2021
I liked this story overall but found parts of it great and parts I had a hard time moving past the annoying aspects. I felt it was 3.5 but gave it a 4. I plan to read the others in the series and hope it gets better. It has been a few years since I have read this author.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews