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An Auden & O'Callaghan Mystery #1
A Friend in the Dark
Rufus O’Callaghan has eked out a living on the streets of New York City by helping the police put away criminals as a confidential informant. But when Rufus shows up for an arranged meeting and finds his handler dead, his already-uncertain life is thrown into a tailspin. Now someone is trying to kill Rufus too, and he’s determined to find out why.
After leaving the Army under less than desirable circumstances, Sam Auden has drifted from town to town, hitching rides and catching Greyhounds, until he learns that a former Army buddy, now a police detective in New York City, has died by suicide. Sam knows that’s not right, and he immediately sets out to get answers.
As Rufus and Sam work together to learn the truth of their friend’s death, they find themselves entangled in a web of lies, cover-ups, and accelerating danger. And when they witness a suspect killed in cold blood, they realize they’re running out of time.
After leaving the Army under less than desirable circumstances, Sam Auden has drifted from town to town, hitching rides and catching Greyhounds, until he learns that a former Army buddy, now a police detective in New York City, has died by suicide. Sam knows that’s not right, and he immediately sets out to get answers.
As Rufus and Sam work together to learn the truth of their friend’s death, they find themselves entangled in a web of lies, cover-ups, and accelerating danger. And when they witness a suspect killed in cold blood, they realize they’re running out of time.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 8, 2020
198 people are currently reading
1364 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,796 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
September 8, 2020
4.5 Stars!
The collaboration between these two authors really worked for me. I really enjoyed the book.
I'm not as familiar with C.S. Poe as I am with Gregory Ashe's writing, but I definitely will be checking out her work.
Rufus and Sam are both dealing with the loss of Jake their mutual friend. Sam had a past with Jake that was intimate while Rufus's relationship was more of a working one. Jake was a detective and Rufus was his CI (confidential informant). Sam served with Jake. Recently Sam had been getting disturbing emails from Jake right before his death. Sam doesn't believe Jake would ever kill himself and comes to town to find answers. Rufus was a witness to the fact that Jake didn't take his life and soon finds out he was supposed to be a victim too. On his arrival Sam finds out that Jake's death was declared a suicide even though evidence said otherwise. He realizes something shady is going on and he'll have to figure it out on his own. Well, that is until he comes upon Rufus snooping in Jake's apartment. Rufus and Sam come to conclusion that they will need to help each other if they want to find their answers.
These two clashed and came together in greatness. The snark and sass was so good. I loved them together. They both tried really hard to find their footing with each other and to not set each others triggers off. They are both damaged and complex characters who are pretty lonely in life. We don't get to know them that well. We get piece's, but I feel like this was more of a set-up of what is to come. I'm used to that with Ashe's work. It's all a slow burn of a build up as to what is to come which always brings me back for more.
That ending was swift and threw me off a bit. It is really my only complaint.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I received an ARC from one of the authors (GA) in exchange for an honest review.
The collaboration between these two authors really worked for me. I really enjoyed the book.
I'm not as familiar with C.S. Poe as I am with Gregory Ashe's writing, but I definitely will be checking out her work.
Rufus and Sam are both dealing with the loss of Jake their mutual friend. Sam had a past with Jake that was intimate while Rufus's relationship was more of a working one. Jake was a detective and Rufus was his CI (confidential informant). Sam served with Jake. Recently Sam had been getting disturbing emails from Jake right before his death. Sam doesn't believe Jake would ever kill himself and comes to town to find answers. Rufus was a witness to the fact that Jake didn't take his life and soon finds out he was supposed to be a victim too. On his arrival Sam finds out that Jake's death was declared a suicide even though evidence said otherwise. He realizes something shady is going on and he'll have to figure it out on his own. Well, that is until he comes upon Rufus snooping in Jake's apartment. Rufus and Sam come to conclusion that they will need to help each other if they want to find their answers.
These two clashed and came together in greatness. The snark and sass was so good. I loved them together. They both tried really hard to find their footing with each other and to not set each others triggers off. They are both damaged and complex characters who are pretty lonely in life. We don't get to know them that well. We get piece's, but I feel like this was more of a set-up of what is to come. I'm used to that with Ashe's work. It's all a slow burn of a build up as to what is to come which always brings me back for more.
That ending was swift and threw me off a bit. It is really my only complaint.
Happy reading dolls! xx
I received an ARC from one of the authors (GA) in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2021
I really enjoyed this collaboration between Ashe and CS Poe. Though being so familiar with the rhythm of GA's writing and never having read CSP made it a little weird for me. I'm definitely going to have to check out some of CS Poe's other books soon.
Rufus and Sam meet when Sam comes to New York to investigate the supposed suicide of Jake, a cop and more-than-friend that Sam served with in the Army. Rufus was Jake's CI (confidential informant) and is just trying to keep his head down, as he saw something he shouldn't have and he just wants to stay alive. Both of these guys have some extreme issues, that we get a picture of through their actions and things that happen, but there's no real explanation offered, just hints here and there. This bothered me a bit because those issues played such a major part of their behavior as well as the physical and mental well-being of both men, I wanted to know why. I'm counting on finding out at some point.
Both the situation and the setting, the underbelly of New York that Rufus has always existed in, is grim and dark. This is relieved somewhat by the amazing banter and teasing between these two, which is so starkly different from the way they interact with everyone else. They seem to get each other, right from the start. The chemistry is there from the beginning, though it's clear that neither one of them really knows what to do with it. As they work together, almost despite themselves, they grow closer and what's between them is warm and sweet. It can in no way be called a relationship, but it feels like it could be, though there are so many emotional landmines in the way to being that.
The plot is pretty fast paced, and there's danger and action mixed in with some slower, steamy moments between Rufus and Sam *which are largely off-page*. All this kept me turning pages and I was really loving where they seemed to be going...until the super abrupt cliffhanger ending that made me feel like I'd been sucker punched.
While I definitely had a couple of issues, they're minor enough and I really loved the characters enough to want to see where they might go from here.
Rufus and Sam meet when Sam comes to New York to investigate the supposed suicide of Jake, a cop and more-than-friend that Sam served with in the Army. Rufus was Jake's CI (confidential informant) and is just trying to keep his head down, as he saw something he shouldn't have and he just wants to stay alive. Both of these guys have some extreme issues, that we get a picture of through their actions and things that happen, but there's no real explanation offered, just hints here and there. This bothered me a bit because those issues played such a major part of their behavior as well as the physical and mental well-being of both men, I wanted to know why. I'm counting on finding out at some point.
Both the situation and the setting, the underbelly of New York that Rufus has always existed in, is grim and dark. This is relieved somewhat by the amazing banter and teasing between these two, which is so starkly different from the way they interact with everyone else. They seem to get each other, right from the start. The chemistry is there from the beginning, though it's clear that neither one of them really knows what to do with it. As they work together, almost despite themselves, they grow closer and what's between them is warm and sweet. It can in no way be called a relationship, but it feels like it could be, though there are so many emotional landmines in the way to being that.
The plot is pretty fast paced, and there's danger and action mixed in with some slower, steamy moments between Rufus and Sam *which are largely off-page*. All this kept me turning pages and I was really loving where they seemed to be going...until the super abrupt cliffhanger ending that made me feel like I'd been sucker punched.
While I definitely had a couple of issues, they're minor enough and I really loved the characters enough to want to see where they might go from here.
October 29, 2020
Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe lay the groundwork for an incredible series with their novel A Friend in the Dark. Ending in a true cliffhanger, this exciting story had me clamoring for more! The connection between the main characters is the high point for me, but there’s also an engrossing mystery woven in with the romance. I know fans of these two outstanding authors are going to be very happy with An Auden & O’Callaghan Mysteries series.
Thrust together after the murder of their mutual friend, Sam and Rufus literally stumble upon each other and join forces to find the killer. Following clues like breadcrumbs, they gradually uncover a whopper of a mystery… which I’m not about to spoil here. But the threads of this one run deep, and I can tell we’ve got something great to look forward to in the upcoming books in this series.
Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe build these complex characters gradually, revealing key details throughout the story. Sam and Rufus are struggling with some serious impediments, like fears, phobias, and underlying issues with serious mental illness. It's fascinating to see how they communicate.
For me, it’s all about the romance, and the chemistry between Sam and Rufus is so compelling. With casual hook-ups as their norm, their growing intimacy affects them differently, and just as they begin to open up… Oh, that gut wrenching cliffhanger ending!
I’ve said it before, Gregory Ashe is a master of the slow-burn, and together with C.S. Poe, they’ve crafted a great one with Sam and Rufus.
Just as an interesting aside, in his newsletter Gregory Ashe describes the writing process for A Friend in the Dark. I think it's pretty cool that these two authors were physically together, writing on the same Google Doc. Lucky for us, Mr. Ashe also states that four more books are already planned. Looks like we’ve got a lot more Sam and Rufus in our futures.
Thrust together after the murder of their mutual friend, Sam and Rufus literally stumble upon each other and join forces to find the killer. Following clues like breadcrumbs, they gradually uncover a whopper of a mystery… which I’m not about to spoil here. But the threads of this one run deep, and I can tell we’ve got something great to look forward to in the upcoming books in this series.
Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe build these complex characters gradually, revealing key details throughout the story. Sam and Rufus are struggling with some serious impediments, like fears, phobias, and underlying issues with serious mental illness. It's fascinating to see how they communicate.
For me, it’s all about the romance, and the chemistry between Sam and Rufus is so compelling. With casual hook-ups as their norm, their growing intimacy affects them differently, and just as they begin to open up… Oh, that gut wrenching cliffhanger ending!
I’ve said it before, Gregory Ashe is a master of the slow-burn, and together with C.S. Poe, they’ve crafted a great one with Sam and Rufus.
Just as an interesting aside, in his newsletter Gregory Ashe describes the writing process for A Friend in the Dark. I think it's pretty cool that these two authors were physically together, writing on the same Google Doc. Lucky for us, Mr. Ashe also states that four more books are already planned. Looks like we’ve got a lot more Sam and Rufus in our futures.
June 21, 2023
An unexpected pairing of IMPERFECT MEN! 👏👏🤗
AUDIOBOOK June 2023: Great voices, some longish pauses. Super story, still!
Original EBOOK review Jan 21:
I adored this unconventional mystery & men—one a loner and full of demons; the other a thief living in the edges of society.
Slow burn
Mystery
Murder
Conspiracy
Sexy
Hot
Sex
I can’t wait for the next one! ❤️😍👏👏
AUDIOBOOK June 2023: Great voices, some longish pauses. Super story, still!
Original EBOOK review Jan 21:
I adored this unconventional mystery & men—one a loner and full of demons; the other a thief living in the edges of society.
Slow burn
Mystery
Murder
Conspiracy
Sexy
Hot
Sex
I can’t wait for the next one! ❤️😍👏👏
September 5, 2020
New series collaboration between two prolific authors C.S. Poe and Gregory Ashe. We get a fast-paced suspenseful plot, two flawed and maybe slightly damaged men who live their lives precariously and the stirrings of a relationship that can be great if only Rufus and Sam give it a chance.
A murder of a mutual friend brings two men together and brings to light their connection to the deceased, how much they didn't and did know about him and what secrets he guarded. I liked how both Sam and Rufus kept discovering things about Jake and how it sometimes rocked them to their core. I enjoyed vibrant gritty descriptions of New York and its dark corners that set the tone for the novel from the start - tough, angsty and complicated just like the city of lights and all who live in it.
Rufus and Sam are both complex characters presented through tough guy facade and bravado interspersed with bouts anguish and panic. Their relationship starts off physical and heats up fast but lack of knowledge and trust makes it impossible to communicate even though they do try (thank you authors for making your men talk to each other, however incoherent their revelations at the time are which I am sure is so on purpose).
The ending is so blunt it feels like a door in the face. I do hope that the next book comes soon since I was left feeling both angry at and sorry for Sam and Rufus for how they left things off. The novel is told in dual POV with low amount of steam between MCs and also on page s*e*x between one MC and strangers. (argh, my personal pet peeve). Overall, it was good. The characters were a bit too abrasive for my taste but I hope the edges will smooth over in the coming books. Both authors did good here.
A murder of a mutual friend brings two men together and brings to light their connection to the deceased, how much they didn't and did know about him and what secrets he guarded. I liked how both Sam and Rufus kept discovering things about Jake and how it sometimes rocked them to their core. I enjoyed vibrant gritty descriptions of New York and its dark corners that set the tone for the novel from the start - tough, angsty and complicated just like the city of lights and all who live in it.
Rufus and Sam are both complex characters presented through tough guy facade and bravado interspersed with bouts anguish and panic. Their relationship starts off physical and heats up fast but lack of knowledge and trust makes it impossible to communicate even though they do try (thank you authors for making your men talk to each other, however incoherent their revelations at the time are which I am sure is so on purpose).
The ending is so blunt it feels like a door in the face. I do hope that the next book comes soon since I was left feeling both angry at and sorry for Sam and Rufus for how they left things off. The novel is told in dual POV with low amount of steam between MCs and also on page s*e*x between one MC and strangers. (argh, my personal pet peeve). Overall, it was good. The characters were a bit too abrasive for my taste but I hope the edges will smooth over in the coming books. Both authors did good here.
October 17, 2020
This was an amazingly weird book to me, still not entirely sure what happened, but I liked it.
Two entirely different people get together by a death friend. We got Rufus who is an informant, street smart and survivor, then we have Sam, ex army guy, a little bit sensitive to a lot of stuff and strong. The mystery was not some big puzzle but it did had structure, steps and it was entertaining enough. The book was well written, the development was interesting and the sex was not described, it was implied, didn't like that fact but I can survive it.
The weird thing is the relationship between the two main characters and sometimes, they were just plain weird. Sam has to be in the spectrum or has to have a condition or something! He can watch a game in his head (inside his head), a movie or just listen to music, doesn't like people touching him, it's sensitive to clothes and noises and tends to get overwhelm a lot. Why I think is weird? Because the book didn't explain him, there's a sequel but his behavior was talked a lot in here and nada, not a word.
Rufus was a troubled character and very lonely too, with him I had no questions until the end, his behavior and the way he handled what he feels is a sensitive theme was very stupid in my eyes. And sometimes the conversation between the two of them was not descriptive enough, I had to reread some stuff because WTF, and sometimes I just didn't understand what they were feeling.
But overall it was interesting, engaging and even the weirdness made it enjoyable in some weird sort of way. I'll wait happily for the next one to get answers. 🥰❤
Two entirely different people get together by a death friend. We got Rufus who is an informant, street smart and survivor, then we have Sam, ex army guy, a little bit sensitive to a lot of stuff and strong. The mystery was not some big puzzle but it did had structure, steps and it was entertaining enough. The book was well written, the development was interesting and the sex was not described, it was implied, didn't like that fact but I can survive it.
The weird thing is the relationship between the two main characters and sometimes, they were just plain weird. Sam has to be in the spectrum or has to have a condition or something! He can watch a game in his head (inside his head), a movie or just listen to music, doesn't like people touching him, it's sensitive to clothes and noises and tends to get overwhelm a lot. Why I think is weird? Because the book didn't explain him, there's a sequel but his behavior was talked a lot in here and nada, not a word.
Rufus was a troubled character and very lonely too, with him I had no questions until the end, his behavior and the way he handled what he feels is a sensitive theme was very stupid in my eyes. And sometimes the conversation between the two of them was not descriptive enough, I had to reread some stuff because WTF, and sometimes I just didn't understand what they were feeling.
But overall it was interesting, engaging and even the weirdness made it enjoyable in some weird sort of way. I'll wait happily for the next one to get answers. 🥰❤
dnf
September 28, 2020DNF 48%
I absolutely hated the setting of this book. New York City and its grimy, trashy underbelly. So grim. I also didn’t care for the choppy style of writing, nor with half the book under my belt did I like anyone. Called it and walked away.
I absolutely hated the setting of this book. New York City and its grimy, trashy underbelly. So grim. I also didn’t care for the choppy style of writing, nor with half the book under my belt did I like anyone. Called it and walked away.
October 18, 2020
I've given this an A- at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars
The first book in a projected series of four in the Arden & O’Callaghan Mysteries , A Friend in the Dark is an enjoyable introduction to our two quirky protagonists as well as an entertaining – if not especially complex – murder mystery. Gregory Ashe and C.S Poe kind of snuck up on us with this one – they announced their collaboration only a few weeks ago, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain; I’m a massive fan of Gregory Ashe’s work (which is a secret to exactly NO-ONE around here) and I’ve enjoyed books by Ms. Poe, so I was eager to see what they’d come up with together. The verdict? A thoroughly engrossing read.
The story opens as Rufus O’Callaghan discovers the dead body of Jake Brower – the detective for whom Rufus has acted as a confidential informant for a number of years – in the shower room in a set of abandoned offices. It’s clearly murder – Jake was shot in the middle of the forehead – but before Rufus can process much, he’s being shot at, too, and gets out as quickly as he can. He makes his way to Jake’s apartment to see if he can find what Jake wanted him to pick up in the first place and, filled with sadness at the memories of the only friend he’s really ever had, Rufus decides he owes it to Jake to at least find a scrap of information he can take to the NYPD to help find the murderer.
Sam Auden – a former army (and fuck) buddy of Jake’s – arrives in New York looking for answers. The email Jake sent him just two days before he died set all sorts of alarm bells ringing, and even though Jake’s death has, so far, been ruled a suicide, Sam knows there’s absolutely no way in hell Jake took his own life. His visit to Jake’s precinct yields little apart from a sneaking suspicion that something’s not right there, so he makes his way to Jake’s apartment – and is suspicious when he discovers the door is unlocked. He bursts into the room, gun at the ready – to find a skinny kid with a mop of red hair sitting in an armchair, calmly munching his way through a bag of chips.
The story follows Rufus and Sam over the next few days as they try to find out why Jake was killed, and land in a fair amount of hot water themselves. The mystery plot isn’t especially complicated, although it’s suspenseful and provides enough intrigue to propel the story forward; the real delight in this book is in getting to know the main characters, watching their interactions and their relationship grow as they start to work out what makes the other tick and start to trust one another. These guys are complex and damaged (even by normal Gregory Ashe standards!) – opposites in some ways, alike in others, and I adored both of them.
Rufus isn’t a kid at all; he’s in his early thirties and has clearly had a tough life, which he doesn’t talk about it much – if at all – and he’s prone to panic attacks. There’s clearly a lot going on beneath that snarky, street-smart surface, and we barely scratch it in this book. He’s tough, sharp, and resourceful; he clearly cared about Jake and Jake looked out for him, the only person in Rufus’ life ever to have shown him any affection or thought he was worth a damn.
Sam is a big, tough ex-army guy who had a relationship – of sorts – with Jake years earlier that he was clearly more invested in than Jake was. Sam is a complex mixture of traits; he’s brutally honest and says whatever he’s thinking, which can give the impression he’s a blunt instrument who lacks subtlety, but he’s also perceptive and observant, and quickly learns when to push Rufus and when to leave him alone. He’s got a very dry sense of humour – which is a good foil for Rufus’ brand of snark – and although displays a rather laid back attitude at times, he’s also prone to anxiety, albeit for different reasons; he doesn’t like crowds and lots of noise, so being in New York is akin to torture for him.
Their investigation takes them through various NYC locations – including the subway (which is more torture for Sam!) – and the settings are described vividly and in such a way as to put the reader right there with the characters. The story moves at a fast pace which aptly reflects the hustle and bustle of the city, but the authors don’t stint on the character and relationship development; this is a steamy-slow burn, but – a word of caution – don’t expect an HEA in this book. The case is wrapped up and the murder solved, but in terms of where Rufus and Sam go from here… be prepared for that to be continued.
I was really interested in what the authors had to say about their writing process, as I think it differs to the way many authors collaborate. I suspect the most common practice is for the authors to write alternating PoV chapters, but in this book, while the PoV does alternate, Mr. Ashe and Ms. Poe wrote via Google Doc and were, I gather, each pitching in at various times so it’s a pretty cohesive effort. They did say which of them wrote which character, but I’m not going to tell – if you don’t already know, I’ll let you work it out for yourselves! My one quibble really is that the secondary characters seem more peripheral and less well-developed than in other books by Gregory Ashe (specifically – I’ve read his work most recently so the comparison is easier to make), but I did appreciate the firm focus on the two leads.
Funny, sexy and intensely readable, with a pair of captivating protagonists and enough banter to satisfy my snark-loving heart, A Friend in the Dark is a terrific introduction to the Auden & O’Callaghan Mysteries and I’m eagerly looking forward to boo
The first book in a projected series of four in the Arden & O’Callaghan Mysteries , A Friend in the Dark is an enjoyable introduction to our two quirky protagonists as well as an entertaining – if not especially complex – murder mystery. Gregory Ashe and C.S Poe kind of snuck up on us with this one – they announced their collaboration only a few weeks ago, but I certainly wasn’t going to complain; I’m a massive fan of Gregory Ashe’s work (which is a secret to exactly NO-ONE around here) and I’ve enjoyed books by Ms. Poe, so I was eager to see what they’d come up with together. The verdict? A thoroughly engrossing read.
The story opens as Rufus O’Callaghan discovers the dead body of Jake Brower – the detective for whom Rufus has acted as a confidential informant for a number of years – in the shower room in a set of abandoned offices. It’s clearly murder – Jake was shot in the middle of the forehead – but before Rufus can process much, he’s being shot at, too, and gets out as quickly as he can. He makes his way to Jake’s apartment to see if he can find what Jake wanted him to pick up in the first place and, filled with sadness at the memories of the only friend he’s really ever had, Rufus decides he owes it to Jake to at least find a scrap of information he can take to the NYPD to help find the murderer.
Sam Auden – a former army (and fuck) buddy of Jake’s – arrives in New York looking for answers. The email Jake sent him just two days before he died set all sorts of alarm bells ringing, and even though Jake’s death has, so far, been ruled a suicide, Sam knows there’s absolutely no way in hell Jake took his own life. His visit to Jake’s precinct yields little apart from a sneaking suspicion that something’s not right there, so he makes his way to Jake’s apartment – and is suspicious when he discovers the door is unlocked. He bursts into the room, gun at the ready – to find a skinny kid with a mop of red hair sitting in an armchair, calmly munching his way through a bag of chips.
The story follows Rufus and Sam over the next few days as they try to find out why Jake was killed, and land in a fair amount of hot water themselves. The mystery plot isn’t especially complicated, although it’s suspenseful and provides enough intrigue to propel the story forward; the real delight in this book is in getting to know the main characters, watching their interactions and their relationship grow as they start to work out what makes the other tick and start to trust one another. These guys are complex and damaged (even by normal Gregory Ashe standards!) – opposites in some ways, alike in others, and I adored both of them.
Rufus isn’t a kid at all; he’s in his early thirties and has clearly had a tough life, which he doesn’t talk about it much – if at all – and he’s prone to panic attacks. There’s clearly a lot going on beneath that snarky, street-smart surface, and we barely scratch it in this book. He’s tough, sharp, and resourceful; he clearly cared about Jake and Jake looked out for him, the only person in Rufus’ life ever to have shown him any affection or thought he was worth a damn.
Sam is a big, tough ex-army guy who had a relationship – of sorts – with Jake years earlier that he was clearly more invested in than Jake was. Sam is a complex mixture of traits; he’s brutally honest and says whatever he’s thinking, which can give the impression he’s a blunt instrument who lacks subtlety, but he’s also perceptive and observant, and quickly learns when to push Rufus and when to leave him alone. He’s got a very dry sense of humour – which is a good foil for Rufus’ brand of snark – and although displays a rather laid back attitude at times, he’s also prone to anxiety, albeit for different reasons; he doesn’t like crowds and lots of noise, so being in New York is akin to torture for him.
Their investigation takes them through various NYC locations – including the subway (which is more torture for Sam!) – and the settings are described vividly and in such a way as to put the reader right there with the characters. The story moves at a fast pace which aptly reflects the hustle and bustle of the city, but the authors don’t stint on the character and relationship development; this is a steamy-slow burn, but – a word of caution – don’t expect an HEA in this book. The case is wrapped up and the murder solved, but in terms of where Rufus and Sam go from here… be prepared for that to be continued.
I was really interested in what the authors had to say about their writing process, as I think it differs to the way many authors collaborate. I suspect the most common practice is for the authors to write alternating PoV chapters, but in this book, while the PoV does alternate, Mr. Ashe and Ms. Poe wrote via Google Doc and were, I gather, each pitching in at various times so it’s a pretty cohesive effort. They did say which of them wrote which character, but I’m not going to tell – if you don’t already know, I’ll let you work it out for yourselves! My one quibble really is that the secondary characters seem more peripheral and less well-developed than in other books by Gregory Ashe (specifically – I’ve read his work most recently so the comparison is easier to make), but I did appreciate the firm focus on the two leads.
Funny, sexy and intensely readable, with a pair of captivating protagonists and enough banter to satisfy my snark-loving heart, A Friend in the Dark is a terrific introduction to the Auden & O’Callaghan Mysteries and I’m eagerly looking forward to boo
December 2, 2024
4,5 stars
Reread Dec 24
I can’t believe how much I had forgotten about these two. As the third book has just been released, I definitely needed a reminder who is who and what is going on. Loved it all over again.
Original review:
Two men.
One friend.
And lots of questions.
That’s how it all starts. And I was hooked right from the beginning.
As always Gregory Ashe brings complex, multi-layered characters to life who you can’t help to root for.
Rufus and Sam are both damaged by the past and the scars go very deep. Now in their thirties, they’ve found ways and means to get by, to survive and deal with their issues, but both are so lonely it actually hurts reading it.
I really really liked both men:
Rufus, a thief and police informer, is one of those guys who never got a chance to break free from the constraints of his upbringing, or rather the lack of it. I loved his resilience, his savvy ways and the sheer vulnerability he breathes. Running, hiding and surviving are his only MO. And although his craving for friendship and maybe even more is soul deep, the notion feels alien and unreal to him.
Sam, an ex-soldier, is struggling with a number of medical problems after leaving the army. Travelling around, sticking to his own company and having one-night stands is how he spends his life. But what a caring and protective guy under all his layers of ‘don’t care’!
Despite his grumbles and communication problems, Sam felt like a big teddy bear to me, a reliable guy who you can count on.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship development here, although tbh, what they have so far isn’t quite a relationship yet. Both men have ‘never done’ anything like that before, and it was cute, heart-warming and at times quite funny to see them make their first attempts at it. (great banter here!)
But it’s so obvious (to us) how much potential there is for them to fit beautifully.
Of course, this being book 1, we are far off that stage. Actually, the last scene hit me rather unexpectedly and left me rather gutted. Just as well book 2 will be out tomorrow!
I have to say that
LOVED the whole idea about Rufus and Sam ’things’ but would have liked a little bit more on page steam, even if the UST and chemistry is spot on.
This, together with a rather entertaining crime plot, made for a great read. It’s clear these guys have to go a long, long way, not only in their own development, but also as a couple. Looking very much forward to the journey!
Reread Dec 24
I can’t believe how much I had forgotten about these two. As the third book has just been released, I definitely needed a reminder who is who and what is going on. Loved it all over again.
Original review:
Two men.
One friend.
And lots of questions.
That’s how it all starts. And I was hooked right from the beginning.
As always Gregory Ashe brings complex, multi-layered characters to life who you can’t help to root for.
Rufus and Sam are both damaged by the past and the scars go very deep. Now in their thirties, they’ve found ways and means to get by, to survive and deal with their issues, but both are so lonely it actually hurts reading it.
I really really liked both men:
Rufus, a thief and police informer, is one of those guys who never got a chance to break free from the constraints of his upbringing, or rather the lack of it. I loved his resilience, his savvy ways and the sheer vulnerability he breathes. Running, hiding and surviving are his only MO. And although his craving for friendship and maybe even more is soul deep, the notion feels alien and unreal to him.
Sam, an ex-soldier, is struggling with a number of medical problems after leaving the army. Travelling around, sticking to his own company and having one-night stands is how he spends his life. But what a caring and protective guy under all his layers of ‘don’t care’!
Despite his grumbles and communication problems, Sam felt like a big teddy bear to me, a reliable guy who you can count on.
I particularly enjoyed the relationship development here, although tbh, what they have so far isn’t quite a relationship yet. Both men have ‘never done’ anything like that before, and it was cute, heart-warming and at times quite funny to see them make their first attempts at it. (great banter here!)
But it’s so obvious (to us) how much potential there is for them to fit beautifully.
Of course, this being book 1, we are far off that stage. Actually, the last scene hit me rather unexpectedly and left me rather gutted. Just as well book 2 will be out tomorrow!
I have to say that
LOVED the whole idea about Rufus and Sam ’things’ but would have liked a little bit more on page steam, even if the UST and chemistry is spot on.
This, together with a rather entertaining crime plot, made for a great read. It’s clear these guys have to go a long, long way, not only in their own development, but also as a couple. Looking very much forward to the journey!
March 9, 2025
Interesting collaboration, I liked this! Nice take on the murder mystery with one MC a criminal informant whose handler is killed and the other a concerned ex-Army buddy of the dead guy. There was no time spent on police procedurals or hanging out at the precinct, this was amateur sleuthing all the way.
I think the authors gelled pretty well considering they are still finding their feet with their first book together, the pace was quick and the action ratcheted up nicely. There are key characteristics of both Ashe and Poe’s writing here that was fun to notice. The case isn’t over yet so I can’t comment too much on that. I haven’t loved this as much as Madison Square Murders which is one of my fave series by C.S Poe but this was still a solid read.
Rufus and Sam are a bit of an odd couple, I wasn’t really vibing their chemistry and their relationship progression felt a little weird but I liked them for their differences and the ending between them was certainly intense! Can’t wait to jump into book 2.
I think the authors gelled pretty well considering they are still finding their feet with their first book together, the pace was quick and the action ratcheted up nicely. There are key characteristics of both Ashe and Poe’s writing here that was fun to notice. The case isn’t over yet so I can’t comment too much on that. I haven’t loved this as much as Madison Square Murders which is one of my fave series by C.S Poe but this was still a solid read.
Rufus and Sam are a bit of an odd couple, I wasn’t really vibing their chemistry and their relationship progression felt a little weird but I liked them for their differences and the ending between them was certainly intense! Can’t wait to jump into book 2.
September 9, 2020
Having just finished this book, I'm stunned. Well, mostly right now because of the unexpected what the hell cliffhanger at the end, but also because this book grabs you by the throat and drags you into the world of Rufus O'Callaghan and Sam Auden - two damaged, lonely men brought together by the death of their mutual friend, detective Jake Brower.
Sam knew Jake from their time in the military, as well as a complicated relationship of sorts (It was fun, let's not pretend it was anything else). Jake's death, coupled with blackout drunk emails from Jake hinting at a police cover-up, bring Sam to NYC in order to find the killer, where he quickly meets Rufus, who has the same mission.
The authors dole out small crumbs of information about each man, and I suspect we'll be learning details through every page of the remaining three books in the series. While it's frustrating in one sense, it is equally heartbreaking.
The plot draws you in as Sam and Rufus slowly unravel the conspiracy, at times a bit too slowly, but it is tightly focused and well-developed. I don't want to say too much because it is so well-done and I don't want to give an spoilers.
Combined with the revelations about their respective pasts, as well as this fragile new relationship between Rufus and Sam, "A Friend in the Dark" is a tantalizing introduction to what looks to be an amazing new series. 5 stars and I highly recommend this book!
I received an ARC from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Sam knew Jake from their time in the military, as well as a complicated relationship of sorts (It was fun, let's not pretend it was anything else). Jake's death, coupled with blackout drunk emails from Jake hinting at a police cover-up, bring Sam to NYC in order to find the killer, where he quickly meets Rufus, who has the same mission.
The authors dole out small crumbs of information about each man, and I suspect we'll be learning details through every page of the remaining three books in the series. While it's frustrating in one sense, it is equally heartbreaking.
Alone wasn't new to Sam; he'd always had a part of himself that he kept separate, isolated. The part that wanted more than a one-off. The part that thought about stupid things like the future. But Rufus took alone to a new level. Sam had been with him for almost twenty-four hours now, and he hadn't seen any sign that Rufus had anyone in his life. [...] Who did Rufus hang out with, go to the movies with, shoot the shit with? In a city of almost nine million people, it seemed impossible that the answer was no one.Rufus, with a long lean frame and flame-red hair, has this "crazy, sexy, nerd vibe" with a mind like a steel trap and a voracious appetite for knowledge, underlaid with unknown tragedy. Sam is barely described in the book - other than he looks like a "big-ass action figure" - but he has a lot of sensory issues; he can't process noise, being touched, he wears his tee and socks inside out because of the seams, etc.
The plot draws you in as Sam and Rufus slowly unravel the conspiracy, at times a bit too slowly, but it is tightly focused and well-developed. I don't want to say too much because it is so well-done and I don't want to give an spoilers.
Combined with the revelations about their respective pasts, as well as this fragile new relationship between Rufus and Sam, "A Friend in the Dark" is a tantalizing introduction to what looks to be an amazing new series. 5 stars and I highly recommend this book!
I received an ARC from the authors in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
November 5, 2022
Audiobook review 11/4/22
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration 5 stars
What a difference a great narrator makes. When I first read this book I liked it but I wasn’t totally in love with it. Listening to it narrated by Garrett Kiesel I loved it. He brought these characters to life so perfectly.
I still adore Rufus! He’s so sweet and I want to hug him and take care of him. He’d hate that though! lol Sam is much better for me this second time around but I still haven’t totally warmed up to him.
I enjoyed the mystery much more than I did the first time also. I forgot a lot of what happened so that helped make the story “new” to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 stars
When two of your favorite authors team up it’s like Christmas came early and when you get an ARC of the book it’s like Christmas and your birthday rolled into one!!!! I was so excited, obviously, for this collaboration and when I got an ARC from C.S. Poe’s Facebook giveaway I was such a happy girl!!!!
This book reads like a Gregory Ashe book to me in many parts. I love his writing and I love the way his mysteries unravel. Add the setting of NYC and quirky tidbits and that’s where I felt a lot of Poe’s influence. Rufus and Sam covered a lot of the city on foot, by subway and by car. There were a lot of explanations of where they were going. I both liked that and didn’t at the same time. It just felt like too much was focused on the surroundings at times and it took up a lot of the story.
Rufus was my favorite character, I loved him and his smart mouth. He was genuine and a bit vulnerable. Sam, on the other hand, really seemed like an ass at first but I knew Rufus would break him down. Together they work to solve the death of the man they both have in common, Jake.
The mystery was good but was a tad predictable and while the story focused more on Rufus and Sam and their inner thoughts (plus those descriptions of where they were going) this felt like the mystery was more in the background. That wasn’t a bad thing because I loved learning about Rufus and Sam. The ratio of them versus mystery was well balanced for the story.
This ends, not on a cliffhanger, but with things up in the air. I hope we don’t have to wait too long to read more! This collaboration I never knew I needed is definitely working well and I can’t wait for more!
*ARC provided by author in exchange for review
Story: 4.5 stars
Narration 5 stars
What a difference a great narrator makes. When I first read this book I liked it but I wasn’t totally in love with it. Listening to it narrated by Garrett Kiesel I loved it. He brought these characters to life so perfectly.
I still adore Rufus! He’s so sweet and I want to hug him and take care of him. He’d hate that though! lol Sam is much better for me this second time around but I still haven’t totally warmed up to him.
I enjoyed the mystery much more than I did the first time also. I forgot a lot of what happened so that helped make the story “new” to me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4 stars
When two of your favorite authors team up it’s like Christmas came early and when you get an ARC of the book it’s like Christmas and your birthday rolled into one!!!! I was so excited, obviously, for this collaboration and when I got an ARC from C.S. Poe’s Facebook giveaway I was such a happy girl!!!!
This book reads like a Gregory Ashe book to me in many parts. I love his writing and I love the way his mysteries unravel. Add the setting of NYC and quirky tidbits and that’s where I felt a lot of Poe’s influence. Rufus and Sam covered a lot of the city on foot, by subway and by car. There were a lot of explanations of where they were going. I both liked that and didn’t at the same time. It just felt like too much was focused on the surroundings at times and it took up a lot of the story.
Rufus was my favorite character, I loved him and his smart mouth. He was genuine and a bit vulnerable. Sam, on the other hand, really seemed like an ass at first but I knew Rufus would break him down. Together they work to solve the death of the man they both have in common, Jake.
The mystery was good but was a tad predictable and while the story focused more on Rufus and Sam and their inner thoughts (plus those descriptions of where they were going) this felt like the mystery was more in the background. That wasn’t a bad thing because I loved learning about Rufus and Sam. The ratio of them versus mystery was well balanced for the story.
This ends, not on a cliffhanger, but with things up in the air. I hope we don’t have to wait too long to read more! This collaboration I never knew I needed is definitely working well and I can’t wait for more!
*ARC provided by author in exchange for review
Read
October 22, 2024Buy Links:
Ebook, Paperback, and Audio
audio narrated by Garrett Kiesel
coming soon... Italian edition with Ikigai Collettivo
Ebook, Paperback, and Audio
audio narrated by Garrett Kiesel
coming soon... Italian edition with Ikigai Collettivo
September 1, 2021
***3.5***
I've been on an Ashe binge (likely to continue) and I thought this collab with C.S. Poe would be a good step to the side. It was a happy marriage of their two styles.
Murder brings together two screwed up guys: Sam is out of the army but dragging a plethora of issues; Rufus is existing in a sort of arrested development after an unhappy childhood. Good times. Given their personal issues and the span of the narrative the ending isn't even a HFN, understandably so. Luckily book 2 is already out and I'm diving right in.
It was also an excuse to try out a new narrator, Garrett Kiesel. I liked him, his voice(s), and it's always good to have a new voice, however, and maybe it's more of a production issue, the pacing can use some improvement.
I've been on an Ashe binge (likely to continue) and I thought this collab with C.S. Poe would be a good step to the side. It was a happy marriage of their two styles.
Murder brings together two screwed up guys: Sam is out of the army but dragging a plethora of issues; Rufus is existing in a sort of arrested development after an unhappy childhood. Good times. Given their personal issues and the span of the narrative the ending isn't even a HFN, understandably so. Luckily book 2 is already out and I'm diving right in.
It was also an excuse to try out a new narrator, Garrett Kiesel. I liked him, his voice(s), and it's always good to have a new voice, however, and maybe it's more of a production issue, the pacing can use some improvement.
January 8, 2022
That ending was so stressful! 4.5 stars.
I love Gregory Ashe's characters; they are imperfect, haunted, abused, dysfunctional, depressed, struggling with mental illness, human. I've only read a couple of CS Poe books. I’ve enjoyed them but something about them didn't seem real enough and felt too simplistic.
I would have loved this book to be longer; to know more about the characters lives and backgrounds. Their attraction felt a little too sudden and deep for me, but I rarely feel attraction in general and never for someone I haven't known for months.
Starting the next book right now.
I love Gregory Ashe's characters; they are imperfect, haunted, abused, dysfunctional, depressed, struggling with mental illness, human. I've only read a couple of CS Poe books. I’ve enjoyed them but something about them didn't seem real enough and felt too simplistic.
I would have loved this book to be longer; to know more about the characters lives and backgrounds. Their attraction felt a little too sudden and deep for me, but I rarely feel attraction in general and never for someone I haven't known for months.
Starting the next book right now.
September 12, 2020
WOW loved it ! Great start to a new series ... fast, twisted and great paced. Inhaled this one
January 27, 2022
While I liked the writing and somewhat liked the story... It was way too dirty (not in the good way) and gritty for me.
March 25, 2024
I've given this a B- for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals
A Friend in the Dark is book one (of four) in a new series of m/m romantic suspense novels co-authored by Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe, and it’s a strong start, boasting a well-paced and interesting mystery and two quirky, engaging central characters I’m eager to spend more time with. Narrator Garret Kiesel is new-to-me and, it seems, quite new to audiobook narration in general; so far he has narrated a few non-fiction books with this as his sole venture into fiction. I’m always apprehensive when listening to a new narrator, especially one who is narrating a book I’ve enjoyed; thankfully however, Mr. Kiesel acquits himself reasonably well , but there’s a serious production issue that irritated me, especially during the latter half of the audiobook.
Rufus O’Callaghan has, for a number of years, acted as a CI (confidential informant) for Detective Jake Brower of the NYPD, and over that time, they’ve become friends of a sort. Jake looks out for Rufus – the only person in Rufus’ life ever to have done so – and Rufus feels safe with him, which means a lot to someone whose meagre means keep him barely off the streets. Rufus runs errands for Jake at times, and when the book opens, is on his way to meet with him to pick up a package. When Rufus arrives at the specified location though, there’s no sign of Jake, so he carefully makes his way through the abandoned offices – finding Jake’s body slumped in a shower room, a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead. Rufus barely has time to process this before he’s being shot at, too; he manages to escape and quickly makes his way to Jake’s apartment, to see if he can find any clue as to what was in the package he was supposed to pick up. Horrified, filled with grief and sadness at the loss of the only friend he’s ever really had, Rufus decides he owes it to Jake to find out what he can and take it to the NYPD to help find his murderer.
When Sam Auden – Jake’s former army (and fuck) buddy – hears that his old friend has committed suicide, he doesn’t buy it. No way in hell would Jake have taken his own life, and that conviction, combined with the odd email Jake sent him two days before he died, sends Sam to New York looking for answers. When he arrives, he makes straight for the precinct Jake worked out of, but his conversation with Jake’s partner yields little – other than to make him even more certain that something isn’t right. Arriving at Jake’s apartment, Sam is immediately on the alert when he finds the door unlocked; bursting in, gun at the ready, he’s not at all expecting what he finds – a skinny kid with a mop of red hair sitting in an armchair calmly munching his way through a bag of chips.
That’s the set-up; the rest of the story follows Sam and Rufus over the next few days as they attempt to find out why Jake was killed, and a bigger picture emerges, one of betrayal and corruption and some very dirty dealings indeed. It’s perhaps simpler than the mysteries I’m used to finding in Gregory Ashe’s books, but it’s intriguing and suspenseful enough to hold the listener’s interest and to keep the story moving forward at a brisk pace. But the big draw (as it is in any Ashe book) the central characters, and A Friend in the Dark provides two appealing and interesting leads who are, at first glance, total opposites, but who nonetheless strike sparks off each other and who just – ‘click’ as a pairing.
Rufus is far from the kid Sam initially imagines him to be; he’s thirty-three and has clearly had a tough life, although he doesn’t talk about it much. Or at all. He’s tough, smart, resourceful and prone to panic attacks; there’s a lot going on beneath that snarky exterior, but we barely scratch the surface in this book, and I can’t wait to learn more about him as the series progresses. Sam is a few years older, big, brawny and brutally honest, saying what’s in his head without thinking and not really giving a shit. His laid-back demeanour can give the impression he’s something of a bull in a china shop, but while he may lack subtlety, he’s perceptive and observant with a very dry sense of humour, which is a good foil for Rufus’ particular brand of snark. Like Rufus, Sam is also prone to anxiety, although for different reasons; he hates crowds and noise and feeling closed-in, so being in New York is really difficult for him.
The various NYC locations are vividly described (I felt so sorry for Sam being squished onto the subway :() , and the story is well-paced, with moments of introspection and intimacy nicely placed amid the danger and the hustle and bustle of the busy, vibrant city. The character and relationship development is well-done – but be warned, this relationship is a slow burn and while there are some sexytimes, there’s no HEA in sight right now, although I trust both authors enough be sure that there will be one. (When they’re ready!) Also, while the mystery is solved by the end, this book ends on a cliffhanger for Rufus and Sam; the release of book two, A Friend in the Fire, is imminent at time of writing, so there’s not too long to wait to find out what’s next for them in print at least.
As I said at the outset, Garrett Kiesel is fairly new to the world of audiobook narration, and overall, he does a decent job with this book. His pacing is good, his voice is easy to listen to and his characterisation of both leads works, but there are a number of mispronunciations along the way that should have been corrected (he pronounces the word “brooch” as it’s spelled, instead of “broach”, for example). His portrayal of Sam is really good; in fact I’d go so far as to say that Sam sounds pretty much as I’d expected he would, with a deeper pitch and a touch of gravel that accurately conveys his size and his gruff manner. Mr. Kiesel does a good job in capturing Rufus’ prickly, snarky personality, but the pitch and tone he uses are often too close to those of his “narrator” voice, so sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was listening to narrative or dialogue. There are a handful of secondary characters who are all fairly well differentiated, although his female voices are inconsistent and maybe need a bit of work.
As to the production issue I mentioned. I noticed it throughout, but in the second part of the book it seemed to get worse. There are a lot – and I mean a LOT – of unnecessary pauses; between dialogue and tags (he said etc.), between alternating dialogue in conversations – which makes the whole conversation seem stilted – between sentences, between paragraph breaks… and it was difficult to ignore or “unhear” it. A second or two of silence is a long time in an audiobook, and some of these pauses were long enough to have caused me to wonder if my phone battery had died. I’m pretty sure it’s a production issue rather than a narrator issue because, as far as I can recall, none of these pauses occur during phrases or sentences; they’re always at the end/between and again, should have been picked up and fixed during the editing process. (It’s something I come across when working as an audiobook proofer, but never to this extent).
As I’m reviewing the performance as a whole, I have to take this issue into account when awarding a grade for the narration, although it’s perfectly possible that others won’t find it to be as much of an issue as I did.
A Friend in the Dark is a funny, swiftly moving and tightly-plotted story with enough witty banter to satisfy my snark-loving heart, and a couple of endearing protagonists with great chemistry and a strong connection. Garrett Kiesel’s performance is definitely promising and I would listen to him again; hopefully the issue I’ve mentioned won’t be a problem in future books in the series.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
A Friend in the Dark is book one (of four) in a new series of m/m romantic suspense novels co-authored by Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe, and it’s a strong start, boasting a well-paced and interesting mystery and two quirky, engaging central characters I’m eager to spend more time with. Narrator Garret Kiesel is new-to-me and, it seems, quite new to audiobook narration in general; so far he has narrated a few non-fiction books with this as his sole venture into fiction. I’m always apprehensive when listening to a new narrator, especially one who is narrating a book I’ve enjoyed; thankfully however, Mr. Kiesel acquits himself reasonably well , but there’s a serious production issue that irritated me, especially during the latter half of the audiobook.
Rufus O’Callaghan has, for a number of years, acted as a CI (confidential informant) for Detective Jake Brower of the NYPD, and over that time, they’ve become friends of a sort. Jake looks out for Rufus – the only person in Rufus’ life ever to have done so – and Rufus feels safe with him, which means a lot to someone whose meagre means keep him barely off the streets. Rufus runs errands for Jake at times, and when the book opens, is on his way to meet with him to pick up a package. When Rufus arrives at the specified location though, there’s no sign of Jake, so he carefully makes his way through the abandoned offices – finding Jake’s body slumped in a shower room, a bullet hole in the centre of his forehead. Rufus barely has time to process this before he’s being shot at, too; he manages to escape and quickly makes his way to Jake’s apartment, to see if he can find any clue as to what was in the package he was supposed to pick up. Horrified, filled with grief and sadness at the loss of the only friend he’s ever really had, Rufus decides he owes it to Jake to find out what he can and take it to the NYPD to help find his murderer.
When Sam Auden – Jake’s former army (and fuck) buddy – hears that his old friend has committed suicide, he doesn’t buy it. No way in hell would Jake have taken his own life, and that conviction, combined with the odd email Jake sent him two days before he died, sends Sam to New York looking for answers. When he arrives, he makes straight for the precinct Jake worked out of, but his conversation with Jake’s partner yields little – other than to make him even more certain that something isn’t right. Arriving at Jake’s apartment, Sam is immediately on the alert when he finds the door unlocked; bursting in, gun at the ready, he’s not at all expecting what he finds – a skinny kid with a mop of red hair sitting in an armchair calmly munching his way through a bag of chips.
That’s the set-up; the rest of the story follows Sam and Rufus over the next few days as they attempt to find out why Jake was killed, and a bigger picture emerges, one of betrayal and corruption and some very dirty dealings indeed. It’s perhaps simpler than the mysteries I’m used to finding in Gregory Ashe’s books, but it’s intriguing and suspenseful enough to hold the listener’s interest and to keep the story moving forward at a brisk pace. But the big draw (as it is in any Ashe book) the central characters, and A Friend in the Dark provides two appealing and interesting leads who are, at first glance, total opposites, but who nonetheless strike sparks off each other and who just – ‘click’ as a pairing.
Rufus is far from the kid Sam initially imagines him to be; he’s thirty-three and has clearly had a tough life, although he doesn’t talk about it much. Or at all. He’s tough, smart, resourceful and prone to panic attacks; there’s a lot going on beneath that snarky exterior, but we barely scratch the surface in this book, and I can’t wait to learn more about him as the series progresses. Sam is a few years older, big, brawny and brutally honest, saying what’s in his head without thinking and not really giving a shit. His laid-back demeanour can give the impression he’s something of a bull in a china shop, but while he may lack subtlety, he’s perceptive and observant with a very dry sense of humour, which is a good foil for Rufus’ particular brand of snark. Like Rufus, Sam is also prone to anxiety, although for different reasons; he hates crowds and noise and feeling closed-in, so being in New York is really difficult for him.
The various NYC locations are vividly described (I felt so sorry for Sam being squished onto the subway :() , and the story is well-paced, with moments of introspection and intimacy nicely placed amid the danger and the hustle and bustle of the busy, vibrant city. The character and relationship development is well-done – but be warned, this relationship is a slow burn and while there are some sexytimes, there’s no HEA in sight right now, although I trust both authors enough be sure that there will be one. (When they’re ready!) Also, while the mystery is solved by the end, this book ends on a cliffhanger for Rufus and Sam; the release of book two, A Friend in the Fire, is imminent at time of writing, so there’s not too long to wait to find out what’s next for them in print at least.
As I said at the outset, Garrett Kiesel is fairly new to the world of audiobook narration, and overall, he does a decent job with this book. His pacing is good, his voice is easy to listen to and his characterisation of both leads works, but there are a number of mispronunciations along the way that should have been corrected (he pronounces the word “brooch” as it’s spelled, instead of “broach”, for example). His portrayal of Sam is really good; in fact I’d go so far as to say that Sam sounds pretty much as I’d expected he would, with a deeper pitch and a touch of gravel that accurately conveys his size and his gruff manner. Mr. Kiesel does a good job in capturing Rufus’ prickly, snarky personality, but the pitch and tone he uses are often too close to those of his “narrator” voice, so sometimes I wasn’t sure if I was listening to narrative or dialogue. There are a handful of secondary characters who are all fairly well differentiated, although his female voices are inconsistent and maybe need a bit of work.
As to the production issue I mentioned. I noticed it throughout, but in the second part of the book it seemed to get worse. There are a lot – and I mean a LOT – of unnecessary pauses; between dialogue and tags (he said etc.), between alternating dialogue in conversations – which makes the whole conversation seem stilted – between sentences, between paragraph breaks… and it was difficult to ignore or “unhear” it. A second or two of silence is a long time in an audiobook, and some of these pauses were long enough to have caused me to wonder if my phone battery had died. I’m pretty sure it’s a production issue rather than a narrator issue because, as far as I can recall, none of these pauses occur during phrases or sentences; they’re always at the end/between and again, should have been picked up and fixed during the editing process. (It’s something I come across when working as an audiobook proofer, but never to this extent).
As I’m reviewing the performance as a whole, I have to take this issue into account when awarding a grade for the narration, although it’s perfectly possible that others won’t find it to be as much of an issue as I did.
A Friend in the Dark is a funny, swiftly moving and tightly-plotted story with enough witty banter to satisfy my snark-loving heart, and a couple of endearing protagonists with great chemistry and a strong connection. Garrett Kiesel’s performance is definitely promising and I would listen to him again; hopefully the issue I’ve mentioned won’t be a problem in future books in the series.
This review originally appeared at AudioGals .
December 11, 2024
What a strange, angsty, dark, funny, and sweet story all at once. Rufus and Sam are both broken and flawed and each is vulnerable in his own way; they’re totally opposites in character and yet they make sense together. I enjoyed the relationship development, as well as the mystery. It ends on a hell of a cliffhanger.
November 27, 2024
Grading on a curve. I had pretty low expectations going into this, as I tend to be skeptical of writer collabs -- the unspeakable offenses Lauren Blakely committed against KD Casey's impeccable authorship are burned on my brain -- and I have, shall we say, a bumpy history with CS Poe. But there was enough in here that was recognizably GA*; and while it was a bit insta for my tastes, and the mystery was [shrug emoji], it was a satisfying enough read, if lacking the kind of emotional investment that GA usually generates.
* Recognizably GA: gruff MCs with loosely sketched tragic backstories, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and head trauma
* Recognizably GA: gruff MCs with loosely sketched tragic backstories, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and head trauma
September 19, 2020
REVIEWED BY ULYSSES DIETZ
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL GUILD REVIEW TEAM
Here’s to collaborations! I am a huge admirer of Gregory Ashe’s writing, but I confess that the sheer physical and emotional brutality in which he takes such delight in the Hazard & Somerset books makes them very difficult for me. The Borealis Investigations series is easier on my soul. In this, the tantalizing first offering in the O’Callaghan & Auden series, it’s clear that C.S. Poe’s gentler, more romantic touch has leavened the darkness. Coupled with Ashe’s sharp, engaging prose and well-built plot, this pretty much had me craving the second book by the end – in spite of what is intentionally a less-than-satisfying denouement for book one.
The premise for this murder mystery is clever and off-kilter: an urban cipher, a thirty-three-year-old lost boy, finds the detective for whom he is a paid informant brutally murdered. Simultaneously, a self-styled traveler (a drifter in film noir parlance), the dead detective’s longtime war buddy and onetime lover, sets out on a journey to New York to find out why the death has been publicly classed a suicide. These two men, Rufus O’Callaghan and Sam Auden, form a tenuous alliance based on their mutual attachment to the dead Jake Brower.
Together, their patchwork of on-the-ground experience and non-academic intelligence gives them the tools they need to dig into what becomes an exceedingly ugly story of corruption and greed. This isn’t a short book, but the action moves fast, and the story’s vision of New York City is as relentlessly unromantic as any I’ve read – and uncomfortably accurate.
Our first impression of the two main characters is rough and grimy. Rufus is a broken boy for whom Jake was the only source of light. Sam is a wounded soldier in whose life Jake represents rejection and lost love. Both men live on the edge of invisibility, with nobody to mourn their passing. But Rufus’s shock of red hair is a symbol of the unquenched fire in his spirit, a bright beacon of possibility…if only. Sam, for his part, is the model of a superhero – big and handsome and strong. Both of them are brimming with potential, and they each see that potential in the other, if not in themselves. This sets up a dynamic that promises massive frustration in the Ashe mode; but also tenderness and succor in the Poe mode. Oh, you know there’ll be pain; but you also trust that it won’t end in pain – ultimately.
Ashe likes his readers pissed off and frustrated; Poe likes them hopeful but angsty. I found both Rufus and Sam totally endearing, as their gritty exteriors were peeled away to make the beauty inside them visible. Oh, yeah, they’re badly damaged, but that’s nothing new for readers of both of these authors. Like Rufus and Sam have to learn to trust each other, the reader has to trust these authors. I do. You will, too.
MEMBER OF THE PARANORMAL GUILD REVIEW TEAM
Here’s to collaborations! I am a huge admirer of Gregory Ashe’s writing, but I confess that the sheer physical and emotional brutality in which he takes such delight in the Hazard & Somerset books makes them very difficult for me. The Borealis Investigations series is easier on my soul. In this, the tantalizing first offering in the O’Callaghan & Auden series, it’s clear that C.S. Poe’s gentler, more romantic touch has leavened the darkness. Coupled with Ashe’s sharp, engaging prose and well-built plot, this pretty much had me craving the second book by the end – in spite of what is intentionally a less-than-satisfying denouement for book one.
The premise for this murder mystery is clever and off-kilter: an urban cipher, a thirty-three-year-old lost boy, finds the detective for whom he is a paid informant brutally murdered. Simultaneously, a self-styled traveler (a drifter in film noir parlance), the dead detective’s longtime war buddy and onetime lover, sets out on a journey to New York to find out why the death has been publicly classed a suicide. These two men, Rufus O’Callaghan and Sam Auden, form a tenuous alliance based on their mutual attachment to the dead Jake Brower.
Together, their patchwork of on-the-ground experience and non-academic intelligence gives them the tools they need to dig into what becomes an exceedingly ugly story of corruption and greed. This isn’t a short book, but the action moves fast, and the story’s vision of New York City is as relentlessly unromantic as any I’ve read – and uncomfortably accurate.
Our first impression of the two main characters is rough and grimy. Rufus is a broken boy for whom Jake was the only source of light. Sam is a wounded soldier in whose life Jake represents rejection and lost love. Both men live on the edge of invisibility, with nobody to mourn their passing. But Rufus’s shock of red hair is a symbol of the unquenched fire in his spirit, a bright beacon of possibility…if only. Sam, for his part, is the model of a superhero – big and handsome and strong. Both of them are brimming with potential, and they each see that potential in the other, if not in themselves. This sets up a dynamic that promises massive frustration in the Ashe mode; but also tenderness and succor in the Poe mode. Oh, you know there’ll be pain; but you also trust that it won’t end in pain – ultimately.
Ashe likes his readers pissed off and frustrated; Poe likes them hopeful but angsty. I found both Rufus and Sam totally endearing, as their gritty exteriors were peeled away to make the beauty inside them visible. Oh, yeah, they’re badly damaged, but that’s nothing new for readers of both of these authors. Like Rufus and Sam have to learn to trust each other, the reader has to trust these authors. I do. You will, too.
April 8, 2022
Ookay. *takes a deep breath*
I am extremely skewed by the ending right now. It was completely contradictory to all the things that had just been said and the behavior of the characters. I get wanting to make people come back but it completely turned me off. I was already waffling between reading the next or not and that ending was a hard stop. On many different accounts.
So. I was soo frustrated.
I enjoyed the rest of the story for the most part. I seemed rather farfetched but I could look the other way. It was super obvious what was going on real quick but that also didn't take away from it much. All-in-all I was already going for a 3 star - maybe on the higher end. That ending, though. Lower end of 3 now, boarding 2. I will never get over it. It was just so unnecessary. Out of nowhere. I might come back and edit this but I honestly don't think I'll be able to think of anything else for a long while...
/rant
I wish I had made notes throughout to add more to this but... Guess that also says a lot.
Would I check out C.S Poe again? Yes. I don't feel like I can judge based off this especially being a colab.
I am extremely skewed by the ending right now. It was completely contradictory to all the things that had just been said and the behavior of the characters. I get wanting to make people come back but it completely turned me off. I was already waffling between reading the next or not and that ending was a hard stop. On many different accounts.
So. I was soo frustrated.
I enjoyed the rest of the story for the most part. I seemed rather farfetched but I could look the other way. It was super obvious what was going on real quick but that also didn't take away from it much. All-in-all I was already going for a 3 star - maybe on the higher end. That ending, though. Lower end of 3 now, boarding 2. I will never get over it. It was just so unnecessary. Out of nowhere. I might come back and edit this but I honestly don't think I'll be able to think of anything else for a long while...
/rant
I wish I had made notes throughout to add more to this but... Guess that also says a lot.
Would I check out C.S Poe again? Yes. I don't feel like I can judge based off this especially being a colab.
April 28, 2021
Not a bad start to the series [Greg says there will be 4 books]. As regular readers of any Gregory Ashe series know, to say I'm a big fan of his is a HUGE understatement, and the fact that I've now read over 30 of his stories in just a little over 2 years, is testament to how good I think his writing is.
Unfortunately, I wasn't thrilled when I saw that he was co-authoring with someone whose work I haven't touched since I 2-starred The Mystery of Nevermore...which I thought was poor. Anyone who imitates/tries to imitate Josh Lanyon is not going to win any prizes in my book anyhoo, I'm not that impressed with JL stories as a whole cos the baddies are usually blindingly obvious.
This particular story has two very complex and strangely vulnerable MC's in Rufus and Sam but...on the downside, the bad guys had light bulbs over their heads 💡💡, and there was also a touch of insta-love...which I'm not that big a fan of. Having said that, I will take a look at the next one in the series, A Friend In The Fire, just to see if we get to the bottom of the trafficking conundrum...we've only caught the infantrymen guys, not the generals.
Unfortunately, I wasn't thrilled when I saw that he was co-authoring with someone whose work I haven't touched since I 2-starred The Mystery of Nevermore...which I thought was poor. Anyone who imitates/tries to imitate Josh Lanyon is not going to win any prizes in my book anyhoo, I'm not that impressed with JL stories as a whole cos the baddies are usually blindingly obvious.
This particular story has two very complex and strangely vulnerable MC's in Rufus and Sam but...on the downside, the bad guys had light bulbs over their heads 💡💡, and there was also a touch of insta-love...which I'm not that big a fan of. Having said that, I will take a look at the next one in the series, A Friend In The Fire, just to see if we get to the bottom of the trafficking conundrum...we've only caught the infantrymen guys, not the generals.
May 25, 2021
This is one of those mysteries where the setting is a character. You can feel the heat and oppressiveness in New York. It's tense enough that I cringed, remembering my own discomfort in the city.
I like both authors' books and hoped that their collaboration would pay off. I wasn't disappointed. You can feel the grit and edge that Gregory Ashe brings to his mysteries and the unique character traits and quirks that C.S. Poe specializes in. Their skills as authors compliment each other well, and I'm excited for the next installment.
Merged review:
Two Great Writers Who Write Well Together.
This is one of those mysteries where the setting is a character. You can feel the heat and oppressiveness in New York. It's tense enough that I cringed, remembering my own discomfort in the city.
I like both authors' books and hoped that their collaboration would pay off. I wasn't disappointed. You can feel the grit and edge that Gregory Ashe brings to his mysteries and the unique character traits and quirks that C.S. Poe specializes in. Their skills as authors compliment each other well, and I'm excited for the next installment.
I like both authors' books and hoped that their collaboration would pay off. I wasn't disappointed. You can feel the grit and edge that Gregory Ashe brings to his mysteries and the unique character traits and quirks that C.S. Poe specializes in. Their skills as authors compliment each other well, and I'm excited for the next installment.
Merged review:
Two Great Writers Who Write Well Together.
This is one of those mysteries where the setting is a character. You can feel the heat and oppressiveness in New York. It's tense enough that I cringed, remembering my own discomfort in the city.
I like both authors' books and hoped that their collaboration would pay off. I wasn't disappointed. You can feel the grit and edge that Gregory Ashe brings to his mysteries and the unique character traits and quirks that C.S. Poe specializes in. Their skills as authors compliment each other well, and I'm excited for the next installment.
May 9, 2021
When I got the newsletter announcing this book, I was thrilled. Two of my favourite authors, co-writing together. Typically, I am not a fan of co-authored books, but if I had to pick a dream team, I don't know if I could have picked a better duo than Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe.
I did find myself putting this down quite a bit, versus reading it in one sitting, but that was strictly because I didn't want it to end. And now it has, and my only complaint is that now I have to play the waiting game for the next book to come out.
I'm really impressed with how distinct the alternating POVs are, while fitting together seamlessly.
Gah! Now I'm kicking myself for not waiting till the whole series was finished before reading, as the wait will be pure torture, especially with the way things ended.
6 out of 5 stars.
I did find myself putting this down quite a bit, versus reading it in one sitting, but that was strictly because I didn't want it to end. And now it has, and my only complaint is that now I have to play the waiting game for the next book to come out.
I'm really impressed with how distinct the alternating POVs are, while fitting together seamlessly.
Gah! Now I'm kicking myself for not waiting till the whole series was finished before reading, as the wait will be pure torture, especially with the way things ended.
6 out of 5 stars.
September 12, 2020
I was not sure I was going to like this. I'm a big fan of Ashe's books but Poe is meh for me and honestly I didn't see their styles meshing well. Fortunately I ended up really enjoying this. Both MC's are complicated and unique. I like how their relationship is unfolding. There were a lot of things we aren't told that I hope are answered in the next book. I hope we get more detailed on the MC's. The book ends in a way that leaves the reader having no idea what we're in for next. I like that in a book and will definitely read the next one as soon as it comes out.
September 16, 2020
4 1/2 stars. This was a really well written mystery with two intriguing new characters. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series.
April 22, 2021
4.5 stars
Really liked this! Cliffhanger ending but luckily book 2 is coming out next week.
Really liked this! Cliffhanger ending but luckily book 2 is coming out next week.
September 8, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
Today Jay and Michelle are joining forces for a Buddy Review of A Friend in the Dark by Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe. Check out their chat about the book!
Read the review in its entirety here.
4 stars
Today Jay and Michelle are joining forces for a Buddy Review of A Friend in the Dark by Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe. Check out their chat about the book!
Read the review in its entirety here.
September 11, 2020
Um, not sure what to think about this one or how to rate it.
No HEA or HFN. The mystery is kind of solved ( unless it continues in book 2) and the 2 MCs are just there. I did like both MCs but I am not sure of the chemistry yet.
No HEA or HFN. The mystery is kind of solved ( unless it continues in book 2) and the 2 MCs are just there. I did like both MCs but I am not sure of the chemistry yet.
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