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Holmes & Moriarity #4
In Other Words... Murder
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Death reveals all truths...
Mystery author and sometimes amateur sleuth Christopher Holmes is settling into domesticity with his sometimes rival, sometimes nemesis J.X. Moriarity when he learns aa body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home.
To complicate matters, Christopher's ex turns up accusing Christopher of doing away with his former personal assistant--the man David dumped him for.
It's life as usual at Chez Holmes. In other words... Murder.
Death reveals all truths...
Mystery author and sometimes amateur sleuth Christopher Holmes is settling into domesticity with his sometimes rival, sometimes nemesis J.X. Moriarity when he learns aa body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home.
To complicate matters, Christopher's ex turns up accusing Christopher of doing away with his former personal assistant--the man David dumped him for.
It's life as usual at Chez Holmes. In other words... Murder.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2018
146 people are currently reading
923 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
232 books5,426 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 297 reviews
November 12, 2020
Audiobook - 4.5 stars
Story - 3.75 rounded up
I enjoyed some parts and others I did not.
I loved
-Kit and JX's relationship. These two are so good together and very romantic.
-The banter and Kit's dry sense of humor.
-The conversations between Kit and JX and to some extent Gage. Loling hard.
I did not enjoy
-The Mysteries - 3 mysteries and none of them was interesting. I felt like i was listening to a bad slasher flick. The investigation process was iffy for all of them and then voila, it all worked out.
Overall, I had fun with this series and getting to know Kit and JX. Thank you to my buddy readers for the company.
Story - 3.75 rounded up
I enjoyed some parts and others I did not.
I loved
-Kit and JX's relationship. These two are so good together and very romantic.
-The banter and Kit's dry sense of humor.
-The conversations between Kit and JX and to some extent Gage. Loling hard.
I did not enjoy
-The Mysteries - 3 mysteries and none of them was interesting. I felt like i was listening to a bad slasher flick. The investigation process was iffy for all of them and then voila, it all worked out.
Overall, I had fun with this series and getting to know Kit and JX. Thank you to my buddy readers for the company.
December 31, 2018
Christopher Holmes is all set up in his fancy new home: lover and nephew(-in-law) in tow and couldn't be happier. Well, sure, he'd rather not rely on J.X. to pay for their euro-trip, or regularly joke about public indecency in a gondola, nor wish to subject himself to the Halloween Hootenanny... But other than that he's just fine. Ecstatic really, if he may say so.
Being accused of murder by a hysterical ex, was definitely not on the menu. The ensuring murder investigation less so. And the upcoming lawsuit for supposedly selling a house with a dead body in the garden... well, he'd rather not even think about that.
Josh Lanyon has been moaning so much about Amazon's one-strike-and-you're-out policy, that I was having serious second thoughts about even reading this book. Yes, Lanyon is among my favorite authors, but my tolerance to repeated rants is low. Hypocritically so, given the amount of it I practice. Oh there's also the part where his (her, to be technical) last two books that I've read, didn't necessarily blow me out of the water.
Luckily, Holmes is still the excellent narrator that I recall. He was up on his game, ready to entertain with his hilarious grammar-nazi impressions, and other comedic remarks:
I actually had to stop myself from wanting to virtually quote the first 20% of the book, with my GR statuses.
Its one downside, was that half-way through, it started to look as if Holmes has now attracted every single criminal activity in the state of California: his old house having a body buried in the yard, his stalker from book 3 smiling creepily, a jolly clown haunting his neighborhood... it all seemed a bit too much, and too convenient.
Score: 3.7/5 stars
In short, I was grinning like an ecstatic loon all through the reading experience.
============================================
review of the 1st book: Somebody Killed His Editor
review of the 2nd book: All She Wrote
review of the 3rd book: The Boy with the Painful Tattoo
Being accused of murder by a hysterical ex, was definitely not on the menu. The ensuring murder investigation less so. And the upcoming lawsuit for supposedly selling a house with a dead body in the garden... well, he'd rather not even think about that.
Josh Lanyon has been moaning so much about Amazon's one-strike-and-you're-out policy, that I was having serious second thoughts about even reading this book. Yes, Lanyon is among my favorite authors, but my tolerance to repeated rants is low. Hypocritically so, given the amount of it I practice. Oh there's also the part where his (her, to be technical) last two books that I've read, didn't necessarily blow me out of the water.
Luckily, Holmes is still the excellent narrator that I recall. He was up on his game, ready to entertain with his hilarious grammar-nazi impressions, and other comedic remarks:
“Kill. Slang. Three words,” J.X. said. “First word starts with D.”
“Oh. Do away with.”
He was silent as his pencil scratched on paper. He made a disgusted sound. “Elementary, my dear Holmes.”
I glanced at him. “Bad clues, my dear Moriarity. Do away with isn’t slang. It’s a phrasal verb.”
[My 6-year-old nephew] and I eyed each other in complete understanding. He knew I did not want to attend this Halloween Horrorama any more than he wanted me there. He knew, as did I, we neither of us had any choice. It was in these moments that we could actually walk a mile or two in the other’s moccasins—though I admit fuzzy bunny slippers were a tight fit for my ethos.
I actually had to stop myself from wanting to virtually quote the first 20% of the book, with my GR statuses.
Its one downside, was that half-way through, it started to look as if Holmes has now attracted every single criminal activity in the state of California: his old house having a body buried in the yard, his stalker from book 3 smiling creepily, a jolly clown haunting his neighborhood... it all seemed a bit too much, and too convenient.
Score: 3.7/5 stars
In short, I was grinning like an ecstatic loon all through the reading experience.
Before you say it, this isn’t me returning to the scene of my crime. This is me trying to keep my buyers from returning the scene of the crime.
============================================
review of the 1st book: Somebody Killed His Editor
review of the 2nd book: All She Wrote
review of the 3rd book: The Boy with the Painful Tattoo
October 21, 2018
4 Stars
This is probably the best Lanyon series I’ve read to date, and as far as I’m concerned these stories are just getting better and better.
In this long-awaited fourth installment, mystery authors Kit and J.X. are finally in a happy and healthy place in their relationship. They’ve settled into cohabitation well and are even thinking about taking their relationship to the next level. Kit, as always, needs more of a shove in the right direction than J.X. ever does, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, but J.X. is damn good at convincing Kit that what he needs most is him, so things shouldn’t be a problem – at least where their love is concerned.
Then, as is only natural, Kit becomes entangled in yet another murder-mystery, wherein a body is found in the backyard of his old home, landing suspicion squarely at Kit’s feet. But this is Christopher Holmes we’re talking about, so he reluctantly dons his amateur sleuth hat, yet again, and gets to the business of solving not one mystery, but two – because lord knows the cops are basically good for nothing in this series.
Very quickly, Kit and subsequently J.X. are faced with serious matters that are both unwanted and potentially dangerous. Not only is there the matter of the dead body in the backyard to absolve Kit of, but his pesky ex David shows up generally being skeezy and causing a fuss, and even stalker Jerry (from book three) makes a reappearance that puts everyone on edge.
This was a fun read. I love the mystery genre and have always enjoyed the challenge of trying to solve the case before the characters do. Praise must be given to Lanyon here, because I believe I’m yet to truly work anything out while reading this series until Kit himself is in the thick of it during the final acts. I love that the mystery portions in these books get me so engaged yet leave me so utterly stumped as to what is happening or who is responsible. Like I said, it’s a fun reading experience.
When it comes to Kit and J.X.’s romance, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, the progression of their relationship. They just fit so well together and I live for those quieter moments where things between them get tender and intimate. *happy sigh*
It must also be said: I absolutely adore Christopher Holmes! Yup, the dude just gets me. Sure, he can be persnickety at times, but generally his personality it one I relate to a great deal and find endlessly entertaining in a book character. I could happily continue reading about him and his reluctant crime solving for years.
This was a great addition to the series and I’ll be waiting here (im)patiently for the next installment.
Side note: Is it just me or is that GR synopsis completely misleading?!? A) They are not married…yet; and B) Kit never pursued true crime writing, like, ever – his agent simply mentioned it a time or two. So what the frack is up with that synopsis?!?!?!
This is probably the best Lanyon series I’ve read to date, and as far as I’m concerned these stories are just getting better and better.
In this long-awaited fourth installment, mystery authors Kit and J.X. are finally in a happy and healthy place in their relationship. They’ve settled into cohabitation well and are even thinking about taking their relationship to the next level. Kit, as always, needs more of a shove in the right direction than J.X. ever does, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, but J.X. is damn good at convincing Kit that what he needs most is him, so things shouldn’t be a problem – at least where their love is concerned.
Then, as is only natural, Kit becomes entangled in yet another murder-mystery, wherein a body is found in the backyard of his old home, landing suspicion squarely at Kit’s feet. But this is Christopher Holmes we’re talking about, so he reluctantly dons his amateur sleuth hat, yet again, and gets to the business of solving not one mystery, but two – because lord knows the cops are basically good for nothing in this series.
Very quickly, Kit and subsequently J.X. are faced with serious matters that are both unwanted and potentially dangerous. Not only is there the matter of the dead body in the backyard to absolve Kit of, but his pesky ex David shows up generally being skeezy and causing a fuss, and even stalker Jerry (from book three) makes a reappearance that puts everyone on edge.
This was a fun read. I love the mystery genre and have always enjoyed the challenge of trying to solve the case before the characters do. Praise must be given to Lanyon here, because I believe I’m yet to truly work anything out while reading this series until Kit himself is in the thick of it during the final acts. I love that the mystery portions in these books get me so engaged yet leave me so utterly stumped as to what is happening or who is responsible. Like I said, it’s a fun reading experience.
When it comes to Kit and J.X.’s romance, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, the progression of their relationship. They just fit so well together and I live for those quieter moments where things between them get tender and intimate. *happy sigh*
It must also be said: I absolutely adore Christopher Holmes! Yup, the dude just gets me. Sure, he can be persnickety at times, but generally his personality it one I relate to a great deal and find endlessly entertaining in a book character. I could happily continue reading about him and his reluctant crime solving for years.
This was a great addition to the series and I’ll be waiting here (im)patiently for the next installment.
Side note: Is it just me or is that GR synopsis completely misleading?!? A) They are not married…yet; and B) Kit never pursued true crime writing, like, ever – his agent simply mentioned it a time or two. So what the frack is up with that synopsis?!?!?!
November 6, 2018
4 Stars
I’ve waited a long time for this book and it did not disappoint.
Just know that I was entertained as exasperation, indignation, anxiety, worry, snorting, and plenty of swooning commenced.
As always, in and amongst the central murder mystery, Kit and JX continue to evolve in their relationship, this time really solidifying things as Kit makes an effort to not lose or alienate the best thing in his life. Never fear in expecting and getting plenty of smart, biting, and sarcastic wit as Kit solves the whodunnit whether he wants to or not.
Despite this ending at a surprising and disappointing 88%, I’m somewhat mollified with the promise of more to come. Let the impatient waiting begin! *grumbles*
I’ve waited a long time for this book and it did not disappoint.
Just know that I was entertained as exasperation, indignation, anxiety, worry, snorting, and plenty of swooning commenced.
As always, in and amongst the central murder mystery, Kit and JX continue to evolve in their relationship, this time really solidifying things as Kit makes an effort to not lose or alienate the best thing in his life. Never fear in expecting and getting plenty of smart, biting, and sarcastic wit as Kit solves the whodunnit whether he wants to or not.
Despite this ending at a surprising and disappointing 88%, I’m somewhat mollified with the promise of more to come. Let the impatient waiting begin! *grumbles*
October 11, 2018
***4.5 Stars*** Perfect (audio)book was perfect! ❤️
I guess I will never get tired of Kit's dry and sarcastic humor and this series will always be one of my go-to-feel-good happy places whenever I need a good laugh. Sue me! ;-)
I guess I will never get tired of Kit's dry and sarcastic humor and this series will always be one of my go-to-feel-good happy places whenever I need a good laugh. Sue me! ;-)
August 20, 2018
Edit
I read the book, finally. So, for me this is not a 5, but a solid 4 stars rating.
I think in this series Ms Lanyon express at her best her sense of humour. Kit is one of her best characters ever. Self centered, funny, vain, brave, fragile and strong... he's a hella of things.
In this book the criminal plot was almost non existent, and the stalker sublopt was ininfluent, it felt like something thrown in the middle just to leighten the broth.
But, like I said, the humour (and the good writing) won me. Only Ms Lanyon, for the next book please: a better plot, maybe?
Usually, I don't rate a book before reading it.
But in this case I made an exception, because I saw 1 star ratings for this book.
A book that will be published in april 2018.
I dislike this kind of behaviour. So, here is my 5 stars rating.
Eventually I'll change my rating, after reading this book.
Don't stay angry, don't stay foolish ;)
I read the book, finally. So, for me this is not a 5, but a solid 4 stars rating.
I think in this series Ms Lanyon express at her best her sense of humour. Kit is one of her best characters ever. Self centered, funny, vain, brave, fragile and strong... he's a hella of things.
In this book the criminal plot was almost non existent, and the stalker sublopt was ininfluent, it felt like something thrown in the middle just to leighten the broth.
But, like I said, the humour (and the good writing) won me. Only Ms Lanyon, for the next book please: a better plot, maybe?
Usually, I don't rate a book before reading it.
But in this case I made an exception, because I saw 1 star ratings for this book.
A book that will be published in april 2018.
I dislike this kind of behaviour. So, here is my 5 stars rating.
Eventually I'll change my rating, after reading this book.
Don't stay angry, don't stay foolish ;)
July 19, 2018
Aside from the familiar names -- of Holmes and Moriarity -- I admit I didn't remember anything about this series, including Jerry the stalker, who apparently starred in the previous books :p
But it's not really a big deal, because I get right into the story quickly. It's good to see Kit growing up and learns to be better in his relationship with J.X., not making the same mistakes he did with David. And the mystery itself is enjoyable.
One thing that tickled my fancy when reading this is when Kit goes at length "explaining" about cozy mystery genres, about how it becomes popular again (with witches!!), about how now is the era of self-publishing, or .99 cents box-sets -- can't help feeling like reading Lanyon's real life experience (since Lanyon's other pen names are writing cozy mystery series). It's insider's perspectives!!
Oh and also the link provided in this book to subscribe to Sophie Snow's newsletter is a real link and it will take you to Josh Lanyon's newsletter webpage instead. Cute! *grin*
But it's not really a big deal, because I get right into the story quickly. It's good to see Kit growing up and learns to be better in his relationship with J.X., not making the same mistakes he did with David. And the mystery itself is enjoyable.
One thing that tickled my fancy when reading this is when Kit goes at length "explaining" about cozy mystery genres, about how it becomes popular again (with witches!!), about how now is the era of self-publishing, or .99 cents box-sets -- can't help feeling like reading Lanyon's real life experience (since Lanyon's other pen names are writing cozy mystery series). It's insider's perspectives!!
Oh and also the link provided in this book to subscribe to Sophie Snow's newsletter is a real link and it will take you to Josh Lanyon's newsletter webpage instead. Cute! *grin*
August 13, 2024
2024 audio
⬇️⬇️ DITTO ⬇️⬇️
2023 audio
Ditto! :D
2020 audio
Okay, broken record, lol. We have to wait until May 2021 for the next installment?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 😆😆 Totally in love with JX and Kit. 💜💙💚💛💓
June 2019 audio review
Loved it!!! I am going to listen to this whole series again and again. 😁 The narration is so excellent and captures Kit so well. Highly recommend.
Jan 2019 ebook review
First I have to say, WE DON'T GET MORE UNTIL SUMMER 2020?!?!?!?!?! Are you kidding me? JL, you and me are going to have to have words. I can't wait that long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just love this whole series. It's hilarious and OMG, how is it possible Kit is such a murder magnet? Anybody who knows him should look out because they might be the next person found buried under a pergola. :D What can I say about this story? I didn't want to stop, I loved seeing Kit and JX together, Gabe is too funny and I hope we see more of his distrustful 5 year old self. And I can't wait to see what Kit writes for his newest installments to Miss. Butterwith!
I love JX, he is such a strong character and a perfect fit for Kit. At times they seem to be thinking the same thing, which is really cool, except it's about murder and murderers, lol. The cops working the case (body found at Kit's previous home, buried in the back yard) were weird. I don't know if they really didn't like Kit, thought he was guilty, or suspected him of knowing about the body and never telling anyone. Regardless, they treated Kit weird, acted not very professional (of course Kit didn't help), and they seemed to be waiting for Kit to do their work for them.
This was a very good and exciting story, a series I hope JL will continue to write for a long time. Kit is a smart character, able to think on his feet and even though he doesn't always look out for his own safety, I can't help but love the trouble he gets in to. Once again, another JL book I highly recommend, and again again, this cannot be read as a standalone.
5 stars (and I bought the first 2 books in audio so I will be doing a re-read very soon).
⬇️⬇️ DITTO ⬇️⬇️
2023 audio
Ditto! :D
2020 audio
Okay, broken record, lol. We have to wait until May 2021 for the next installment?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 😆😆 Totally in love with JX and Kit. 💜💙💚💛💓
June 2019 audio review
Loved it!!! I am going to listen to this whole series again and again. 😁 The narration is so excellent and captures Kit so well. Highly recommend.
Jan 2019 ebook review
First I have to say, WE DON'T GET MORE UNTIL SUMMER 2020?!?!?!?!?! Are you kidding me? JL, you and me are going to have to have words. I can't wait that long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just love this whole series. It's hilarious and OMG, how is it possible Kit is such a murder magnet? Anybody who knows him should look out because they might be the next person found buried under a pergola. :D What can I say about this story? I didn't want to stop, I loved seeing Kit and JX together, Gabe is too funny and I hope we see more of his distrustful 5 year old self. And I can't wait to see what Kit writes for his newest installments to Miss. Butterwith!
I love JX, he is such a strong character and a perfect fit for Kit. At times they seem to be thinking the same thing, which is really cool, except it's about murder and murderers, lol. The cops working the case (body found at Kit's previous home, buried in the back yard) were weird. I don't know if they really didn't like Kit, thought he was guilty, or suspected him of knowing about the body and never telling anyone. Regardless, they treated Kit weird, acted not very professional (of course Kit didn't help), and they seemed to be waiting for Kit to do their work for them.
This was a very good and exciting story, a series I hope JL will continue to write for a long time. Kit is a smart character, able to think on his feet and even though he doesn't always look out for his own safety, I can't help but love the trouble he gets in to. Once again, another JL book I highly recommend, and again again, this cannot be read as a standalone.
5 stars (and I bought the first 2 books in audio so I will be doing a re-read very soon).
August 5, 2018
Ever had a book come into your life, punch you in the heart then you don't know what to do with yourself?
October 27, 2019
Now that the first excitement over the new book has passed and I can see things more objectively, I'm dropping one star because the mystery was pretty weak. In general, and especially in comparison to the others in this series.
--------------------------------
Original review:
I can't even pretend to be objective when it comes to this series, so here's my "review":
It was worth the wait, it was SO worth the wait.
I was in book heaven from the first word to the last.
--------------------------------
Original review:
I can't even pretend to be objective when it comes to this series, so here's my "review":
It was worth the wait, it was SO worth the wait.
I was in book heaven from the first word to the last.
August 26, 2018
Re-read books 1-3 right before reading this one.
Really loved this addition to the series. It's no secret that Kit is possibly my favorite of Lanyon's characters. I relate to him quite easily.
A few small things, like Kit's incredibly stupid decisions (but it's part of his character and drives the plot, so I get it) and still, I guess I was hoping for J.X. to be a litttttttle more human in this one, as in not always looking perfect, being perfect, and saying all the right things at all the right times. Again, this isn't really something I can hop out with at book 4 and start to complain about. He's been like this throughout the series, except maybe book 1 where he was a little more harsh.
Biggest reason for the 4 instead of 5... **WARNING**... this book ends at 88%. I thought it ended at 100% or maybe 99% but it ends at 88%. I was expecting another 12% of new-story goodness and then BAM, story over. The back is filled with the first bit of The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks, and I mean, if you make it to book #4 in this series, you'd better have already friggin' read TGWYS, I mean, c'mon.
Either way, it was mildly annoying.
But the story was great.
Would I rec? Yes. Absolutely. Just be aware when you buy it that the book ends around 88%.
----
A YEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR?
*fuckin ded*
Really loved this addition to the series. It's no secret that Kit is possibly my favorite of Lanyon's characters. I relate to him quite easily.
A few small things, like Kit's incredibly stupid decisions (but it's part of his character and drives the plot, so I get it) and still, I guess I was hoping for J.X. to be a litttttttle more human in this one, as in not always looking perfect, being perfect, and saying all the right things at all the right times. Again, this isn't really something I can hop out with at book 4 and start to complain about. He's been like this throughout the series, except maybe book 1 where he was a little more harsh.
Biggest reason for the 4 instead of 5... **WARNING**... this book ends at 88%. I thought it ended at 100% or maybe 99% but it ends at 88%. I was expecting another 12% of new-story goodness and then BAM, story over. The back is filled with the first bit of The Ghost Wore Yellow Socks, and I mean, if you make it to book #4 in this series, you'd better have already friggin' read TGWYS, I mean, c'mon.
Either way, it was mildly annoying.
But the story was great.
Would I rec? Yes. Absolutely. Just be aware when you buy it that the book ends around 88%.
----
A YEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR?
*fuckin ded*
August 26, 2018
4 stars plus 1 because I really enjoyed this book, and Kit and J.X have joined my all-time-favorite couples.
There is no doubt about it anymore, I'm completely addicted to Lanyon's stories and I need yearly if not monthly dosage!
There is no doubt about it anymore, I'm completely addicted to Lanyon's stories and I need yearly if not monthly dosage!
January 31, 2019
4.2 Stars
I was on edge this whole book...because Clowns.
Probably distracted me a lot from the story but it was still another solid edition in the H&M series. I simply do adore how Kit would correct others' grammar and how he spoke like I imagine a Cozy Mystery crime writer would communicate. He and JX still remind me a bit of Adrien and Jake, but the similarities are few and far between now (where it was more prominent in the first book of the series).
Also, hearing Kit talk about how much he watches Investigation ID/True Crime shows both pleases me and freaks me out a bit...because I do that as well. (Forensic Files is a not-so-secret guilty pleasure in my house.) And it's always weird to see yourself so clearly in a fictional character and realize you have some really crazy tendencies...
I was on edge this whole book...because Clowns.
Probably distracted me a lot from the story but it was still another solid edition in the H&M series. I simply do adore how Kit would correct others' grammar and how he spoke like I imagine a Cozy Mystery crime writer would communicate. He and JX still remind me a bit of Adrien and Jake, but the similarities are few and far between now (where it was more prominent in the first book of the series).
Also, hearing Kit talk about how much he watches Investigation ID/True Crime shows both pleases me and freaks me out a bit...because I do that as well. (Forensic Files is a not-so-secret guilty pleasure in my house.) And it's always weird to see yourself so clearly in a fictional character and realize you have some really crazy tendencies...
April 5, 2020
This is the fourth book in the series and, much like a fine wine, the series has improved with age. And that’s the nice thing about a series: the author has the time and luxury to let the characters mature and learn and just be.
The story takes place four months after the events of ‘The Boy With the Painful Tattoo’ and we find Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity enjoying domestic bliss. Of course, that comes to a screeching halt when Christopher gets a call from his ex David informing him that a body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home in Los Angeles. To make matters worse, David suggests the body is Christopher’s former assistant (who David ran off with) and accuses him of killing him.
The cops soon appear and Christopher, once again, finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The difference here, is this isn’t his first rodeo and he’s actually been paying attention.
The book is well-plotted and well-paced and there are some surprising (and pleasing) twists and turns in the relationship between Kit and J.X. We’re treated to the hilarous insanity that is Rachel Ving and we also see the return of an old frenemy.
Lanyon (as usual) is at the top of her game with punchy dialogue, most notably Kit’s withering self-assessments and witty asides. Of course, J.X. gets his licks and quips in, too.
However, the real revelation is Kit’s newfound self-awareness and restraint. I found the book to be an eminently satisfying read.
The story takes place four months after the events of ‘The Boy With the Painful Tattoo’ and we find Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity enjoying domestic bliss. Of course, that comes to a screeching halt when Christopher gets a call from his ex David informing him that a body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home in Los Angeles. To make matters worse, David suggests the body is Christopher’s former assistant (who David ran off with) and accuses him of killing him.
The cops soon appear and Christopher, once again, finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The difference here, is this isn’t his first rodeo and he’s actually been paying attention.
The book is well-plotted and well-paced and there are some surprising (and pleasing) twists and turns in the relationship between Kit and J.X. We’re treated to the hilarous insanity that is Rachel Ving and we also see the return of an old frenemy.
Lanyon (as usual) is at the top of her game with punchy dialogue, most notably Kit’s withering self-assessments and witty asides. Of course, J.X. gets his licks and quips in, too.
However, the real revelation is Kit’s newfound self-awareness and restraint. I found the book to be an eminently satisfying read.
May 29, 2025
Great conclusion to this fun series!
July 18, 2018
Kit. I love you so. ❤
August 19, 2018
In Other Words, Murder (Holmes & Moriarty book 4)
By Josh Lanyon
By the Author, 2018
Four stars
Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarty are so typical of Josh Lanyon’s great characters. Both are mystery writers, although of very different types. Both are complex men, no longer really young, but far from old. Both have been through messy life situations and have found each other.
This is the book where they finally move on—in the right direction.
Kit is trying to deflect JX’s talk of honeymoons, simply luxuriating in his new life, new house, new love, and not think about the fact that his career seems to be in the tank. Then things begin to go sideways when his unlamented ex, David, calls out of the blue to more-or-less accuse him of murder. Unwanted people begin to turn up like bad pennies, and Kit once again finds himself drawn into some amateur sleuthing against his better judgment.
What is so good about this fourth in the Homes & Moriarty series is that we get to really know Kit in a way we’ve not known him before. This is a moment of huge transition, and he is resisting it mightily rather than taking it by the horns. Kit’s faith has been shattered by past events, and he finds he has to begin to trust in order to let go of the past and move on with a better future.
Of course, Kit could never do this the easy way, and so Lanyon takes us on the adventure with him, surprising us at every turn. JX is there, solid, confidant, loving. He can’t force Kit to seek happiness; he can only wait patiently until Kit really sees him for what he is.
Lanyon is, as always, a master of words. Wry and poignant by turns, she creates her settings and builds the actors on her stage with professional elegance.
By Josh Lanyon
By the Author, 2018
Four stars
Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarty are so typical of Josh Lanyon’s great characters. Both are mystery writers, although of very different types. Both are complex men, no longer really young, but far from old. Both have been through messy life situations and have found each other.
This is the book where they finally move on—in the right direction.
Kit is trying to deflect JX’s talk of honeymoons, simply luxuriating in his new life, new house, new love, and not think about the fact that his career seems to be in the tank. Then things begin to go sideways when his unlamented ex, David, calls out of the blue to more-or-less accuse him of murder. Unwanted people begin to turn up like bad pennies, and Kit once again finds himself drawn into some amateur sleuthing against his better judgment.
What is so good about this fourth in the Homes & Moriarty series is that we get to really know Kit in a way we’ve not known him before. This is a moment of huge transition, and he is resisting it mightily rather than taking it by the horns. Kit’s faith has been shattered by past events, and he finds he has to begin to trust in order to let go of the past and move on with a better future.
Of course, Kit could never do this the easy way, and so Lanyon takes us on the adventure with him, surprising us at every turn. JX is there, solid, confidant, loving. He can’t force Kit to seek happiness; he can only wait patiently until Kit really sees him for what he is.
Lanyon is, as always, a master of words. Wry and poignant by turns, she creates her settings and builds the actors on her stage with professional elegance.
July 26, 2018
After so many months of waiting and release dates getting pushed back, I would have gladly waited longer if it meant the book did not feel rushed. Because the book was supposed to come out months ago, obviously the author did rush, and the result was an all over the place plot.
I liked where Kit and J.X. were in the book but at the same time, they felt like different characters from what I know them to be. For example, in the previous three books, J.X. seemed to be Kit’s biggest critic when it came to the Miss Butterwith series, saying how Kit could do much better if he challenged himself but in this book, he suddenly doesn’t think that? Obviously this could have been resolved between them but there was no mention of this.
Kit being uncomfortable with J.X. being the more dominant one in bed? That has also been suddenly resolved in one or two pages, after three books of it being a major issue for Kit. Felt very rushed.
There was other stuff, like Kit suddenly liking Gabe, but this stuck out the most to me.
Plot wise there was way too much going on, it was all over the place. Also, Josh Lanyon is obviously famous for her mystery and characters who turn amateur detectives, but In Other Words Murder barely had any of that. Sure, there was some kind of mystery plot but there was no sleuthing. And what was the point of the whole
I did enjoy the moments between Kit and J.X, they were very sweet (though some made me go huh?, like ) but the plot was all over the place and the book was way too short. An extra hundred pages of actual clever crime solving and one major mystery instead of three, would have made this a very good book. This is a prime example of why authors should not be rushed to write books, particularly mystery, because the result is disappointing.
I liked where Kit and J.X. were in the book but at the same time, they felt like different characters from what I know them to be. For example, in the previous three books, J.X. seemed to be Kit’s biggest critic when it came to the Miss Butterwith series, saying how Kit could do much better if he challenged himself but in this book, he suddenly doesn’t think that? Obviously this could have been resolved between them but there was no mention of this.
Kit being uncomfortable with J.X. being the more dominant one in bed? That has also been suddenly resolved in one or two pages, after three books of it being a major issue for Kit. Felt very rushed.
There was other stuff, like Kit suddenly liking Gabe, but this stuck out the most to me.
Plot wise there was way too much going on, it was all over the place. Also, Josh Lanyon is obviously famous for her mystery and characters who turn amateur detectives, but In Other Words Murder barely had any of that. Sure, there was some kind of mystery plot but there was no sleuthing. And what was the point of the whole
I did enjoy the moments between Kit and J.X, they were very sweet (though some made me go huh?, like ) but the plot was all over the place and the book was way too short. An extra hundred pages of actual clever crime solving and one major mystery instead of three, would have made this a very good book. This is a prime example of why authors should not be rushed to write books, particularly mystery, because the result is disappointing.
August 22, 2018
Yes, I know, I said I was done with her. But what can I say - there's aways hope? Let's stick to that:)
Finished - and I liked it more than the two or so books of hers I read before this. But the ending somehow just fizzled out and therefore it was rather anticlimactic.
Finished - and I liked it more than the two or so books of hers I read before this. But the ending somehow just fizzled out and therefore it was rather anticlimactic.
July 19, 2018
Hey, I’m in this one! :-D
This was just as funny and mysterious as the previous books in the series, but with a bit more romance. I could not put this down. Perfect birthday present for me.
This was just as funny and mysterious as the previous books in the series, but with a bit more romance. I could not put this down. Perfect birthday present for me.
April 5, 2020
2.75 stars rounded up
This made me laugh, though not as much as previous installments. It also made me scratch my head and roll my eyes, though not at the characters as much as the story itself.
Once again, Lanyon seems to be trying to make up for a weak mystery plot by stuffing the book full of unnecessary subplots that take over the narrative and page time. David and Dickey - I couldn't have cared less about any of that
The main mystery that Kit also barely tries to solve but ends up doing so incidentally also wasn't given nearly enough page time for me to care. At least Kit wasn't, for once, completely TSTL about that - not that it saved him any trouble. Also, the timing just doesn't work out.
Then there's the stalking plot that pretty much took over the book . I had thought for awhile that maybe
The saving grace was the stuff with J.X. and Kit. Granted, I've never been a huge fan of J.X. and it's been long enough since I've read the previous books that I can't really remember if I ever understood why they were together or not. But it was nice to see how knowing J.X. has changed Kit for the better and how they support each other. Kit's even learning to recognize his triggers and is working on them to not repeat the same mistakes with J.X. that he made with David. And thankfully this is as good a place to leave these characters, since I doubt we'll ever actually see the final book ever.
This made me laugh, though not as much as previous installments. It also made me scratch my head and roll my eyes, though not at the characters as much as the story itself.
Once again, Lanyon seems to be trying to make up for a weak mystery plot by stuffing the book full of unnecessary subplots that take over the narrative and page time. David and Dickey - I couldn't have cared less about any of that
The main mystery that Kit also barely tries to solve but ends up doing so incidentally also wasn't given nearly enough page time for me to care. At least Kit wasn't, for once, completely TSTL about that - not that it saved him any trouble. Also, the timing just doesn't work out.
Then there's the stalking plot that pretty much took over the book . I had thought for awhile that maybe
The saving grace was the stuff with J.X. and Kit. Granted, I've never been a huge fan of J.X. and it's been long enough since I've read the previous books that I can't really remember if I ever understood why they were together or not. But it was nice to see how knowing J.X. has changed Kit for the better and how they support each other. Kit's even learning to recognize his triggers and is working on them to not repeat the same mistakes with J.X. that he made with David. And thankfully this is as good a place to leave these characters, since I doubt we'll ever actually see the final book ever.
September 4, 2018
Charming, adorable, perfect Kit. I can't wait for the audiobook.
April 25, 2025
Once again Kit stumbles on a dead body and gets himself suspect of murder. Add his stalker Jerry and his ex David and things are getting complicated. But, to my surprice, I really liked this one so my rating is 3.5 🤡🤡🤡🤡
July 19, 2018
In Other Words, The One Where Christopher Holmes Grows Up.
This is the fourth book in the series and, much like a fine wine, the series has improved with age. And that’s the nice thing about a series: the author has the time and luxury to let the characters mature and learn and just be.
The story takes place four months after the events of ‘The Boy With the Painful Tattoo’ and we find Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity enjoying domestic bliss. Of course, that comes to a screeching halt when Christopher gets a call from his ex David informing him that a body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home in Los Angeles. To make matters worse, David suggests the body is Christopher’s former assistant (who David ran off with) and accuses him of killing him.
The cops soon appear and Christopher, once again, finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The difference here, is this isn’t his first rodeo and he’s actually been paying attention.
The book is well-plotted and well-paced and there are some surprising (and pleasing) twists and turns in the relationship between Kit and J.X. We’re treated to the hilarous insanity that is Rachel Ving and we also see the return of an old frenemy.
Lanyon (as usual) is at the top of her game with punchy dialogue, most notably Kit’s withering self-assessments and witty asides. Of course, J.X. gets his licks and quips in, too.
However, the real revelation is Kit’s newfound self-awareness and restraint. I found the book to be an eminently satisfying read.
This is the fourth book in the series and, much like a fine wine, the series has improved with age. And that’s the nice thing about a series: the author has the time and luxury to let the characters mature and learn and just be.
The story takes place four months after the events of ‘The Boy With the Painful Tattoo’ and we find Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity enjoying domestic bliss. Of course, that comes to a screeching halt when Christopher gets a call from his ex David informing him that a body has been discovered in the backyard of his former home in Los Angeles. To make matters worse, David suggests the body is Christopher’s former assistant (who David ran off with) and accuses him of killing him.
The cops soon appear and Christopher, once again, finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The difference here, is this isn’t his first rodeo and he’s actually been paying attention.
The book is well-plotted and well-paced and there are some surprising (and pleasing) twists and turns in the relationship between Kit and J.X. We’re treated to the hilarous insanity that is Rachel Ving and we also see the return of an old frenemy.
Lanyon (as usual) is at the top of her game with punchy dialogue, most notably Kit’s withering self-assessments and witty asides. Of course, J.X. gets his licks and quips in, too.
However, the real revelation is Kit’s newfound self-awareness and restraint. I found the book to be an eminently satisfying read.
September 6, 2022
4.5 🌟 The series is following a perfect exponential curve. Every book is better than the last one. IMO the 1st is the least likely candidate to win hearts but stick around and you will be rewarded for your patience.🤩🤩
Kit aka Mr. Holmes is not as endearing as Adrien English but JX(Moriarity) is without doubt one of the best love interests ever written by Josh Lanyon. Actually, I was so fascinated by JX that I wished I could get even a single page from his POV.
And, I know I have asked this question a lot but this time I really, really wanna know….what is it with JL and bad exes? Almost every book of hers has these horrible ones but David is the worst. I wanted Kit to never look at his duchy, cheating face and never blame himself for those 13 awful years. Still, every time JX said, "I have waited so long for you", I felt Kit's appreciation.
I don't think I need to add that I am dying for the next book's release. And, unlike Adrien's English series, I'm sure I'll reread this one.😊😊
Kit aka Mr. Holmes is not as endearing as Adrien English but JX(Moriarity) is without doubt one of the best love interests ever written by Josh Lanyon. Actually, I was so fascinated by JX that I wished I could get even a single page from his POV.
And, I know I have asked this question a lot but this time I really, really wanna know….what is it with JL and bad exes? Almost every book of hers has these horrible ones but David is the worst. I wanted Kit to never look at his duchy, cheating face and never blame himself for those 13 awful years. Still, every time JX said, "I have waited so long for you", I felt Kit's appreciation.
I don't think I need to add that I am dying for the next book's release. And, unlike Adrien's English series, I'm sure I'll reread this one.😊😊
September 4, 2018
Baa humbug .... disliked the murder mystery but loved the furtherance of Kit and JX's life together. After reading the first three books and pretty much mentally bludgeoning Kit constantly for not waking up and realizing that JX is bloody perfect for him, Kit get it. He finally gets it.
April 11, 2021
Again, Kit managed to get caught up in a murder-mystery. This time a body was found in the backyard of his old home and his ex David was quick to accuse Kit of the worst when the police called. And on top, Kit's stalker Jerry seemed to be on the loose again.
The mystery, which were in the end three cases, was.....okay...., not bad but definitely not one of this author's better ones.
The book's charme (and reason for my rating) was the dry sense of Kit's humor, the sweet development of J.X. and Kit's relationships and the great audio narrated by Kevin R. Free.
4.5 stars
The mystery, which were in the end three cases, was.....okay...., not bad but definitely not one of this author's better ones.
The book's charme (and reason for my rating) was the dry sense of Kit's humor, the sweet development of J.X. and Kit's relationships and the great audio narrated by Kevin R. Free.
4.5 stars
August 4, 2018
Christopher Holmes and J.X. Moriarity are (finally) back in their fourth novel, In Other Words…Murder. Taking up not long after the conclusion of book three, this story contains some leftover plot threads from the previous book, but also focuses on a new dead body that needs solving. Especially since the dead man was found buried in Christopher’s old backyard. Christopher’s recent past of being accused of various murders isn’t going to do him any favors with the police, either, especially when they start talking like the dead man might very well be the man whom Christopher’s ex ran off with. But that is not Christopher’s only problem, because he seems to have a very nasty person from his past still haunting his steps…in very big shoes.
With the way this book has been bouncing all over the release calender this year, I ended up not even realizing that it had been published till a week later. But whatever troubles it had in publication, I didn’t notice them reflected in the actual writing. Christopher and J.X. are just as well written, and while I think the mystery could have been a bit more beefed up, it was still well structured. There were enough hints that made total sense in hindsight, but not so obvious that you are yelling at the MCs to get a clue before the half-way point is even reached. I probably wouldn’t call this the best in the series, but it doesn’t let the side down either.
With their relationship having reached some sense of peace by this time, I was a bit worried that Lanyon was going to force some kind of dramatic breakup to liven up the series. This worry doubled l when I realized that Christopher’s ex was going to play a part in this book. But…thank gods…while flirting with a few of the most common troubles of dealing with an ex, nothing played out in such a way that I needed to rage quit the series. And by the end of the story I did feel that Christopher and J.X.’s relationship was still moving forward, not simply retracing old ground.
The thing that is hardest for me in this book is also responsible for a scene that had me cackling like a madman, so I can’t say I wish it was gone, but the whole stalking subplot that carries over from the last book was a bit tough for me. Not because I disliked the idea or the execution, but for some reason I have a hard time reading stalking subplots. It is not something I have had to deal with in real life, but even though I have no problem reading about other horrible things, stalking just gets under my skin. It made the book a bit hard to read at times. Still very well written, though.
I’m mostly left, after this book, looking forward to the upcoming book five. This has been a truly enjoyable series, and while I am sure Christopher could do without tripping over another dead body, I’m all for it!
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
With the way this book has been bouncing all over the release calender this year, I ended up not even realizing that it had been published till a week later. But whatever troubles it had in publication, I didn’t notice them reflected in the actual writing. Christopher and J.X. are just as well written, and while I think the mystery could have been a bit more beefed up, it was still well structured. There were enough hints that made total sense in hindsight, but not so obvious that you are yelling at the MCs to get a clue before the half-way point is even reached. I probably wouldn’t call this the best in the series, but it doesn’t let the side down either.
With their relationship having reached some sense of peace by this time, I was a bit worried that Lanyon was going to force some kind of dramatic breakup to liven up the series. This worry doubled l when I realized that Christopher’s ex was going to play a part in this book. But…thank gods…while flirting with a few of the most common troubles of dealing with an ex, nothing played out in such a way that I needed to rage quit the series. And by the end of the story I did feel that Christopher and J.X.’s relationship was still moving forward, not simply retracing old ground.
The thing that is hardest for me in this book is also responsible for a scene that had me cackling like a madman, so I can’t say I wish it was gone, but the whole stalking subplot that carries over from the last book was a bit tough for me. Not because I disliked the idea or the execution, but for some reason I have a hard time reading stalking subplots. It is not something I have had to deal with in real life, but even though I have no problem reading about other horrible things, stalking just gets under my skin. It made the book a bit hard to read at times. Still very well written, though.
I’m mostly left, after this book, looking forward to the upcoming book five. This has been a truly enjoyable series, and while I am sure Christopher could do without tripping over another dead body, I’m all for it!
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
September 1, 2018
I like this series so much. Christopher is just so incredibly absurd. My biggest peeve is that it's taking a chunk of time for each book to come out (with Lanyon publishing other books in between) so I'm worried that maybe our author doesn't like the series as much as I do. But maybe Lanyon's process just involves having multiple balls in the air at a time and I'm worried for nothing. But given the rate that they're coming out, it's hard for me to remember what happened in previous books.
Regardless, as with previous books, I devoured this book. It was fun, fun, fun. I always love how much of a bumbler Christopher, how he isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, how he keeps doing foolish things, and is just amusing to read. J.X.'s reactions were fun, too, but a lot of what he did was completely nonsensical. Letting Christopher talk to the police without a lawyer? WTF? Leaving Christopher alone for two weeks while someone was actively going after him? On what planet?
But I'm not jazzed at all about the ending be so unresolved. It's not a cliffhanger exactly, but it's not at all wrapped up. If the next book comes out at the same rate as the other books, it'll be 2022 when we see anything more from this series, which is disheartening. And I absolutely get that books take time (certain other authors that I've read have taken even longer to get their books out), it's just not fun to sit here, read a book that you like, and realize, "Wow, it's going to be a long wait before I get any answers to anything in here."
Regardless, as with previous books, I devoured this book. It was fun, fun, fun. I always love how much of a bumbler Christopher, how he isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, how he keeps doing foolish things, and is just amusing to read. J.X.'s reactions were fun, too, but a lot of what he did was completely nonsensical. Letting Christopher talk to the police without a lawyer? WTF? Leaving Christopher alone for two weeks while someone was actively going after him? On what planet?
But I'm not jazzed at all about the ending be so unresolved. It's not a cliffhanger exactly, but it's not at all wrapped up. If the next book comes out at the same rate as the other books, it'll be 2022 when we see anything more from this series, which is disheartening. And I absolutely get that books take time (certain other authors that I've read have taken even longer to get their books out), it's just not fun to sit here, read a book that you like, and realize, "Wow, it's going to be a long wait before I get any answers to anything in here."
Read
January 16, 20193.5 stars
This book felt different than the others. I skimmed through the last two books after I started reading and realized that some names were familiar but I wasn't sure what had happened.
The highlight of this one was Kit and his working on his future plans for writing and really settling in with JX. I like that Kit is growing as a human being and that he is really putting effort into his relationship with JX since realizing that he wants things to work out, but that he is still a grouch with the general population. JX is pretty much the same, almost too perfect guy as always, but I was always in the stories for Kit anyway.
I was engaged with the mystery plots for most of the book and there were a few going on that may or may not have been related. This is where the book eventually lost me. Too much going on to wrap it all up on-page or satisfactorily. I enjoyed the action at the end, Kit does have a TSTL moment or two, but I was still a bit lost as to why it happened the way it did. I really didn't like the way other plotlines that were a major part of the story were dismissed with a line or two, especially after having been so invested in them for a majority of the book.
Finally, the story does end at 88% on my kindle. That always throws me as I'm reading since I'm expecting more to the storyline (fair or not) and here, I felt there could have been a bit more as far as resolving some of the plotlines. I know I'll read the next book, but I can't say I wasn't a bit disappointed in this one.
This book felt different than the others. I skimmed through the last two books after I started reading and realized that some names were familiar but I wasn't sure what had happened.
The highlight of this one was Kit and his working on his future plans for writing and really settling in with JX. I like that Kit is growing as a human being and that he is really putting effort into his relationship with JX since realizing that he wants things to work out, but that he is still a grouch with the general population. JX is pretty much the same, almost too perfect guy as always, but I was always in the stories for Kit anyway.
I was engaged with the mystery plots for most of the book and there were a few going on that may or may not have been related. This is where the book eventually lost me. Too much going on to wrap it all up on-page or satisfactorily. I enjoyed the action at the end, Kit does have a TSTL moment or two, but I was still a bit lost as to why it happened the way it did. I really didn't like the way other plotlines that were a major part of the story were dismissed with a line or two, especially after having been so invested in them for a majority of the book.
Finally, the story does end at 88% on my kindle. That always throws me as I'm reading since I'm expecting more to the storyline (fair or not) and here, I felt there could have been a bit more as far as resolving some of the plotlines. I know I'll read the next book, but I can't say I wasn't a bit disappointed in this one.
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