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Criminal Intentions #20
Triangulation
ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Less than a day.
Less than a day of peace, of calm, of comfort before the white rabbit returns to tear Malcolm and Seong-Jae's lives apart. An eerie video presents them with a deadly ultimatum, which leaves our intrepid pair racing to discover the identity of the latest victim — and desperate to protect their families from the threat hanging over their heads.
As tension rises to a screaming point and conflict comes to a head between Mal, Seong-Jae, and Aanga Joshi, the detectives dive deeper into the pasts of their remaining suspects, searching for the clue that will unmask the white rabbit once and for all.
Two men. One killer. And that tenuous connection to the darkness of Seong-Jae's past, now cast into doubt as Sila's true identity comes clear. For Malcolm and Seong-Jae, there seems no escape from this endless night.
Unless they trust each other.
And trust the love between them to light the way.
ABOUT SEASON TWO
Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon are back on the case — and partnering with the FBI on a horrific serial murder case that will test Malcolm's faith and revive the darkest parts of Seong-Jae's past. With an enigmatic killer leading them on a wild goose chase through city after city and body after body, both Mal and Seong-Jae will find themselves pushed to their limits as they discover the worst of what humanity can do.
Even two minds against one may not be enough as they track the devious Golden Ratio Killer, and try to find the key to his pattern. But the trail of breadcrumbs left by the white rabbit will lead them suspiciously close to home, and a connection they never could have predicted. With their worlds exploding around them and everyone they know suddenly cast into doubt...
Can their partnership — and their love — survive the greatest trial of their lives?
Less than a day.
Less than a day of peace, of calm, of comfort before the white rabbit returns to tear Malcolm and Seong-Jae's lives apart. An eerie video presents them with a deadly ultimatum, which leaves our intrepid pair racing to discover the identity of the latest victim — and desperate to protect their families from the threat hanging over their heads.
As tension rises to a screaming point and conflict comes to a head between Mal, Seong-Jae, and Aanga Joshi, the detectives dive deeper into the pasts of their remaining suspects, searching for the clue that will unmask the white rabbit once and for all.
Two men. One killer. And that tenuous connection to the darkness of Seong-Jae's past, now cast into doubt as Sila's true identity comes clear. For Malcolm and Seong-Jae, there seems no escape from this endless night.
Unless they trust each other.
And trust the love between them to light the way.
ABOUT SEASON TWO
Malcolm Khalaji and Seong-Jae Yoon are back on the case — and partnering with the FBI on a horrific serial murder case that will test Malcolm's faith and revive the darkest parts of Seong-Jae's past. With an enigmatic killer leading them on a wild goose chase through city after city and body after body, both Mal and Seong-Jae will find themselves pushed to their limits as they discover the worst of what humanity can do.
Even two minds against one may not be enough as they track the devious Golden Ratio Killer, and try to find the key to his pattern. But the trail of breadcrumbs left by the white rabbit will lead them suspiciously close to home, and a connection they never could have predicted. With their worlds exploding around them and everyone they know suddenly cast into doubt...
Can their partnership — and their love — survive the greatest trial of their lives?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2020
37 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Cole McCade
67 books1,529 followersSlender. Angry. (Part) Asian.
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Yeah, that about sums me up.
Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.
Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.
That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.
There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.
But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.
...or you can poke me via:
* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/
And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
November 18, 2021
4.5 stars
Wow! This was more case driven and I freaking enjoyed everything about it. Cole is an amazing talented writer. This series is top when it comes to mystery/detective type thingy.
Mal and Seong-Jae work chemistry is amazing to read.
Joshi can go to hell.
I can see and amazing friendship forming between Cara (I love Cara) and Adelaide. I am here for all that.
That ending. Wooooooo!!! Definitely edge of my seat worthy.
Wow! This was more case driven and I freaking enjoyed everything about it. Cole is an amazing talented writer. This series is top when it comes to mystery/detective type thingy.
Mal and Seong-Jae work chemistry is amazing to read.
Joshi can go to hell.
I can see and amazing friendship forming between Cara (I love Cara) and Adelaide. I am here for all that.
That ending. Wooooooo!!! Definitely edge of my seat worthy.
February 28, 2022
This is getting more and more confusing...
Who is the Killer Bunny?!? 🤔
Somehow, I have a feeling that Sila/Seth/Luca/Mik is behind all and maybe, just maybe Normand or Karl aren't the ones in control...
With twists and turns, I'm sad about Aanga, he deserved better, tough is been an asshole with Malcolm, it's not fair...
Cara and Adelaide are great.
I just love Malcolm dad
“Remember,” Arash said softly. “Remember that light that could defeat any monster? That bright glow against the dark?”
Malcolm smiled tiredly. “Funny you should ask…I was just thinking of that.”
“Good.” Arash’s voice warmed. “You are that light, my son. You and that partner of yours. Shine bright. I believe in you. I believe that light will never go out.”
Malcolm is becoming a way too soft for my taste and ruining the character, but still sweet.
For me, the big question is: Who is Sila after all? If they could figured out this question, I think they have is case solved... Can't help the feeling they're all puppets in Sila's hands, even the Killer Bunny...
Who is the Killer Bunny?!? 🤔
Somehow, I have a feeling that Sila/Seth/Luca/Mik is behind all and maybe, just maybe Normand or Karl aren't the ones in control...
With twists and turns, I'm sad about Aanga, he deserved better, tough is been an asshole with Malcolm, it's not fair...
Cara and Adelaide are great.
I just love Malcolm dad
“Remember,” Arash said softly. “Remember that light that could defeat any monster? That bright glow against the dark?”
Malcolm smiled tiredly. “Funny you should ask…I was just thinking of that.”
“Good.” Arash’s voice warmed. “You are that light, my son. You and that partner of yours. Shine bright. I believe in you. I believe that light will never go out.”
Malcolm is becoming a way too soft for my taste and ruining the character, but still sweet.
For me, the big question is: Who is Sila after all? If they could figured out this question, I think they have is case solved... Can't help the feeling they're all puppets in Sila's hands, even the Killer Bunny...
September 30, 2020
***4.5 Stars***
I guess it was too much to ask to remain in that pure bliss from last episode, right? *sigh*
This installment made...
~ my nerve-endings fray with anxiety and nail-biting anticipation
~ my mind spin from all the profiling going on and from all those bloody but clever twists - those possibilities -
~ my brain conjure one wild theory after the other...
And I have to explicitly point out that I STILL DON'T TRUST SEONG-JAE'S EX-BOYFRIEND! And with that I don't mean Sila, because that's a given. *grrr*
I guess it was too much to ask to remain in that pure bliss from last episode, right? *sigh*
This installment made...
~ my nerve-endings fray with anxiety and nail-biting anticipation
~ my mind spin from all the profiling going on and from all those bloody but clever twists - those possibilities -
~ my brain conjure one wild theory after the other...
And I have to explicitly point out that I STILL DON'T TRUST SEONG-JAE'S EX-BOYFRIEND! And with that I don't mean Sila, because that's a given. *grrr*
![Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645500038i%2F37448930._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 17, 2021
im sorry, but why is joshi so damn petty?? it's srsly hard to like him at times. he's supposedly in his 50s, but acts like a child in a professional setting? especially the way he kept on provoking mal when they should have been focusing on the case (tho i admit i felt bad for him when but still. ugh)
anyways, loved mal and sj as always (is that even a surprise?), i simply adore mal's dad and cara is best girl. 🥺 the stakes for everyone's lives (both mcs + side characters) are definitely much higher this season and im starting to get nervous with
closing off with some of my fav mal x sj moments:
↠ "We take each moment as it comes, and with everything in us we fight back. And when we can't fight for ourselves...we fight for each other. We fight for the people we love."
Seong-Jae smiled faintly. "Those are not two mutually exclusive groups."
"No?" Malcolm's smile was a thing felt in the movement of his jaw, the change in the pressure of his cheek against Seong-Jae's arm, the whisper of his beard. "Oh, that's right...I do seem to recall a certain prickly bastard telling me he loved me last night."
"...do not rub it in, or you will never hear it again."
Malcolm let out a laugh that shook them both, quiet but deep. "I want to hear it again. And again and again and again. So..." He exhaled, warm breaths filtering through Seong-Jae's hair. "That's what I fight for, omr-am. When I don't know what else to do, I keep moving so I can get through this, and hear you tell me that for another day."
The pang that struck Seong-Jae was like that laugh: quiet, but deep. He tightened his fingers between Malcolm's, squeezing hard. "You are entirely too much, sometimes," he whispered.
↠ "We will figure it out. One way or the other." Dark eyes lidded. "But that means we must go back in there, now that we have all had a moment to calm down. Do you think you can handle that?"
"I can. I'm fine. I'm over it."
A skeptical brow rose. "...over it."
"...not over it." Mal smirked. "But able to contain it. I'm fine, Seong-Jae. As much as I can be in the middle of all this..." He pulled a hand away from Seong-Jae with a helpless gesture. "All this this.
"This darkness," Seong-Jae answered softly. "Endless expanses of it, without any light."
"No. Not without any light."
Malcolm drew back reluctantly, smiling as he traced his thumb along Seong-Jae's lower lip, stealing one last echo of its warmth against his skin. "You are every light within me, Seong-Jae."
AREN'T THEY SO BEAUTIFUL?
anyways, loved mal and sj as always (is that even a surprise?), i simply adore mal's dad and cara is best girl. 🥺 the stakes for everyone's lives (both mcs + side characters) are definitely much higher this season and im starting to get nervous with
closing off with some of my fav mal x sj moments:
↠ "We take each moment as it comes, and with everything in us we fight back. And when we can't fight for ourselves...we fight for each other. We fight for the people we love."
Seong-Jae smiled faintly. "Those are not two mutually exclusive groups."
"No?" Malcolm's smile was a thing felt in the movement of his jaw, the change in the pressure of his cheek against Seong-Jae's arm, the whisper of his beard. "Oh, that's right...I do seem to recall a certain prickly bastard telling me he loved me last night."
"...do not rub it in, or you will never hear it again."
Malcolm let out a laugh that shook them both, quiet but deep. "I want to hear it again. And again and again and again. So..." He exhaled, warm breaths filtering through Seong-Jae's hair. "That's what I fight for, omr-am. When I don't know what else to do, I keep moving so I can get through this, and hear you tell me that for another day."
The pang that struck Seong-Jae was like that laugh: quiet, but deep. He tightened his fingers between Malcolm's, squeezing hard. "You are entirely too much, sometimes," he whispered.
↠ "We will figure it out. One way or the other." Dark eyes lidded. "But that means we must go back in there, now that we have all had a moment to calm down. Do you think you can handle that?"
"I can. I'm fine. I'm over it."
A skeptical brow rose. "...over it."
"...not over it." Mal smirked. "But able to contain it. I'm fine, Seong-Jae. As much as I can be in the middle of all this..." He pulled a hand away from Seong-Jae with a helpless gesture. "All this this.
"This darkness," Seong-Jae answered softly. "Endless expanses of it, without any light."
"No. Not without any light."
Malcolm drew back reluctantly, smiling as he traced his thumb along Seong-Jae's lower lip, stealing one last echo of its warmth against his skin. "You are every light within me, Seong-Jae."
AREN'T THEY SO BEAUTIFUL?
June 21, 2021
“Remember that light that could defeat any monster? That bright glow against the dark? () You are that light, my son. You and that partner of yours. Shine bright. I believe in you. I believe that light will never go out.”
Malcolm’s parents are goals. I’ve said this one hundred times and I’d say it again: this series has the best main and side characters ever and I would be completely broken when I run out of books.
(Highlight of the Q&A for those who read the books:)
Q. I don’t get Aanga.
A. Aanga doesn’t get himself.
Malcolm’s parents are goals. I’ve said this one hundred times and I’d say it again: this series has the best main and side characters ever and I would be completely broken when I run out of books.
(Highlight of the Q&A for those who read the books:)
Q. I don’t get Aanga.
A. Aanga doesn’t get himself.
June 23, 2021
i struggle writing reviews for this series because what else can i say that hasn’t been said already? what a great series??? yeah duh. no shit!!!
as usual malcolm and seong-jae make my heart flutter. the hate for sila keeps growing. joshi is still as confusing as ever, even though i do sort of pity the guy. malcolm’s dad is truly DAD GOALS. what a man! the killer keeps getting more & more psycho but who’s surprised. also cara is an absolute queen and i love her. i also wonder just how the conversation between anjulie and gabi went. 👀
very intrigued to see how everything is gonna line up in the end. trying to slow down with reading this series so i don’t have to wait for a new episode as long, but damn, it’s hard. 🥴
as usual malcolm and seong-jae make my heart flutter. the hate for sila keeps growing. joshi is still as confusing as ever, even though i do sort of pity the guy. malcolm’s dad is truly DAD GOALS. what a man! the killer keeps getting more & more psycho but who’s surprised. also cara is an absolute queen and i love her. i also wonder just how the conversation between anjulie and gabi went. 👀
very intrigued to see how everything is gonna line up in the end. trying to slow down with reading this series so i don’t have to wait for a new episode as long, but damn, it’s hard. 🥴
February 5, 2021
4.5 Stars
Can we have another episode like the last one please, because things got heavy too quickly!!! 😫 Can’t believe Aanga is a Divisional Chief. That man needs to stand down! From his fumbled handling of the case to his total lack of professionalism; he’s either really obtuse or just plain untrustworthy. Why does he persistently ignore Seong-Jae’s speculations? He hired Seong-Jae for this very reason! As for that ending, OMG 😱 One thing’s for sure, I’ll be hyperventilating if/when our duo cross paths with these psychopaths!
Can we have another episode like the last one please, because things got heavy too quickly!!! 😫 Can’t believe Aanga is a Divisional Chief. That man needs to stand down! From his fumbled handling of the case to his total lack of professionalism; he’s either really obtuse or just plain untrustworthy. Why does he persistently ignore Seong-Jae’s speculations? He hired Seong-Jae for this very reason! As for that ending, OMG 😱 One thing’s for sure, I’ll be hyperventilating if/when our duo cross paths with these psychopaths!
November 10, 2022
Reread #1
My heart hurts for these two 😢
4.5 stars.
MY POOR BABIES 😭😭
They couldn't even have 1 day to just be together? And after SJ says what he says... The Golden Ratio Killer walks all over it 😭
Gahhhh
Fave quotes...
"Only one man has a place within my soul."
“You are every light within me, Seong-Jae.”
“…you must stop saying things like that,” Seong-Jae huffed, and yet without a single ounce of force or firmness."
"That's what I fight for, omr-am. When I don't know what else to do, I keep moving so I can get through this, and hear you tell me that for another day.
Also Aanga YOU PETTY BASTARD. I don't like you!
My heart hurts for these two 😢
4.5 stars.
MY POOR BABIES 😭😭
They couldn't even have 1 day to just be together? And after SJ says what he says... The Golden Ratio Killer walks all over it 😭
Gahhhh
Fave quotes...
"Only one man has a place within my soul."
“You are every light within me, Seong-Jae.”
“…you must stop saying things like that,” Seong-Jae huffed, and yet without a single ounce of force or firmness."
"That's what I fight for, omr-am. When I don't know what else to do, I keep moving so I can get through this, and hear you tell me that for another day.
Also Aanga YOU PETTY BASTARD. I don't like you!
June 9, 2021
4.5⭐
The White Rabbit turned his game against them.
Malcom and Seong-Jae don't give up, but the paths that THR leaves them lead nowhere. Plus the tension between them complicating the case and yes, Joshi, i say this because of you😤. Joshi is not well, he's out of control, and with what happened in the end, I don't know how much longer he can take.
A quote from my boys, because they always give me joy:
Malcom pulled Seong-Jae in close, letting go of his hand to wrap his arms around Seong-Jae's waist and bury his face against his shoulder. That scent- smoke and diesel and maleness, the crispness of soap and shampoo, the softer smells of skin, cotton. Malcom breathed them in deep, just feeling the warmth of Seong-Jae's body, the taut breadth of his shoulder against Malcolm's cheek, the beat of his heart caged between them.
"This, " he whispered. "This is what I need to be okay."
Can I be part of your hug? I'll stay in the middle😇🤭.
On to the next!👀
The White Rabbit turned his game against them.
Malcom and Seong-Jae don't give up, but the paths that THR leaves them lead nowhere. Plus the tension between them complicating the case and yes, Joshi, i say this because of you😤. Joshi is not well, he's out of control, and with what happened in the end, I don't know how much longer he can take.
A quote from my boys, because they always give me joy:
Malcom pulled Seong-Jae in close, letting go of his hand to wrap his arms around Seong-Jae's waist and bury his face against his shoulder. That scent- smoke and diesel and maleness, the crispness of soap and shampoo, the softer smells of skin, cotton. Malcom breathed them in deep, just feeling the warmth of Seong-Jae's body, the taut breadth of his shoulder against Malcolm's cheek, the beat of his heart caged between them.
"This, " he whispered. "This is what I need to be okay."
Can I be part of your hug? I'll stay in the middle😇🤭.
On to the next!👀
July 20, 2023
"Now Detectives," he said jovially, raising his hands as if conducting a symphony, that doll resting bloody and limp on the table before him. "Thirty-one left. The blood of thirty-one on your hands, making you sinners in Marvin's stead. Can you do what I ask of you? Or will we play another game... before Queen and court and all the merry jesters in the world?"
There was a video message. From The Golden Ratio Killer. For Khalaji and Yoon. Clearly threatening people's lives - Khalaji and Yoon's family's lives as well. So I was supposed to feel the threat, right? I was supposed to care, sit on the edge of my seat in fear and anticipation of what will gonna happen next.
And I felt it. Until I realized that there will be more talking than actually doing something.
Unfortunately, I found myself losing my focus more than a couple of times. The characters were talking about the two potential suspects, there was so much information, but I don't remember any word.
The highlight of this episode was for me the Adelaide and Cara scene. Their interaction was something I didn't know I needed and I hope that I will get more of it!
What I didn't like was the Aanga bashing and the Aanga vs Malcolm scenes. I didn't need any of that. It made sense in the first two, maybe three or four books, but the more it happens, the more tiring and unnecessary it feels. Let Aanga deal with his feelings in peace instead of making him the source of the drama. He is not the bad guy, he is just a lost man trying to deal with his feelings.
Let's not forget Shane Luxe. I will never forgive the thing that had happened. Never. I wanted for the two of them to find each other's anchors. I wanted to be each other's happy endings.
AND NOW IT'S ALL SHATTERED, THANKS FOR NOTHING 😒
Anyways, I'm diving immediately into the next book. I hope that it will be better (please, let it be better!)
P.S. I'm so sorry for the whole Christiansen family, especially for the little Mik. I hope that Sila will go to hell were he belongs!
Criminal Intentions Season Two - my rating:
S02E01 The Golden Ratio: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E02 In Sequence: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E03 Cold Calculation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4,5/5)
S02E04 Hard Angle: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E05 Deep Spiral: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
S02E06 Divine Proportion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
S02E07 Triangulation: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E08 Trajectory: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E09 Occam's Razor: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E10 Fractal Recursion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E11 Convergence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E12 White Rabbit Part I: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E13 White Rabbit Part II: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
There was a video message. From The Golden Ratio Killer. For Khalaji and Yoon. Clearly threatening people's lives - Khalaji and Yoon's family's lives as well. So I was supposed to feel the threat, right? I was supposed to care, sit on the edge of my seat in fear and anticipation of what will gonna happen next.
And I felt it. Until I realized that there will be more talking than actually doing something.
Unfortunately, I found myself losing my focus more than a couple of times. The characters were talking about the two potential suspects, there was so much information, but I don't remember any word.
The highlight of this episode was for me the Adelaide and Cara scene. Their interaction was something I didn't know I needed and I hope that I will get more of it!
What I didn't like was the Aanga bashing and the Aanga vs Malcolm scenes. I didn't need any of that. It made sense in the first two, maybe three or four books, but the more it happens, the more tiring and unnecessary it feels. Let Aanga deal with his feelings in peace instead of making him the source of the drama. He is not the bad guy, he is just a lost man trying to deal with his feelings.
Let's not forget Shane Luxe. I will never forgive the thing that had happened. Never. I wanted for the two of them to find each other's anchors. I wanted to be each other's happy endings.
AND NOW IT'S ALL SHATTERED, THANKS FOR NOTHING 😒
Anyways, I'm diving immediately into the next book. I hope that it will be better (please, let it be better!)
P.S. I'm so sorry for the whole Christiansen family, especially for the little Mik. I hope that Sila will go to hell were he belongs!
Criminal Intentions Season Two - my rating:
S02E01 The Golden Ratio: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E02 In Sequence: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E03 Cold Calculation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4,5/5)
S02E04 Hard Angle: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E05 Deep Spiral: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
S02E06 Divine Proportion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
S02E07 Triangulation: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E08 Trajectory: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E09 Occam's Razor: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E10 Fractal Recursion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E11 Convergence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
S02E12 White Rabbit Part I: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
S02E13 White Rabbit Part II: ⭐⭐ (2/5)
November 22, 2020
Holy shit!!! And....WTF!
The walls are closing in. 😳
I just love these two guys.
Malcolm ❤️
Seong Jae ❤️
Joshi is acting like a prick. Something is off with this guy.
I just love Sten. She’s great.
Looking forward to S2 E8!!
The walls are closing in. 😳
I just love these two guys.
Malcolm ❤️
Seong Jae ❤️
Joshi is acting like a prick. Something is off with this guy.
I just love Sten. She’s great.
Looking forward to S2 E8!!
July 30, 2021
Re-read 28th - 30th July 2021
There’s no way I could continue on without a re-read. It’s been too long.
I was so glad I did, ideally I should have re-read the whole series. But I’m too impatient for that.
Brilliant so bring on the next one.
Original review
No.....there’s no more books ready to read.
This has been the right series at the right time for me. I found myself with unlimited reading time but nothing I could settle on. Until I started this series.
I’ve read all 20 books. Moving from one to the next but now I have to wait.
This was another great read. Tension is mounting and that revelation at the end. Wow.
Not sure what’s going on with Aanga.
There’s no way I could continue on without a re-read. It’s been too long.
I was so glad I did, ideally I should have re-read the whole series. But I’m too impatient for that.
Brilliant so bring on the next one.
Original review
No.....there’s no more books ready to read.
This has been the right series at the right time for me. I found myself with unlimited reading time but nothing I could settle on. Until I started this series.
I’ve read all 20 books. Moving from one to the next but now I have to wait.
This was another great read. Tension is mounting and that revelation at the end. Wow.
Not sure what’s going on with Aanga.
September 27, 2020
4.5 stars. It never gets less amazing! It never gets less heartbreaking and terrifying either, so there's that. *sigh*
Every reader of this series knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we'd be paying for the sweetness before this, and holy hell, pay we did. All we can do is pray the price doesn't go much higher.
Everything is either fraught with panic, pain, rage or emotional exhaustion. Sometimes all of them at once. TGRK has struck too close to home for Mal & Seong-Jae this time, and they frantically scramble to ensure that everyone they care about is safe and protected. But how can you really do that when the target for a madman might be anyone you've ever known? The pressure on our guys is near breaking point and sooner or later, something is going to explode. 🤯
Something already has, actually. Aanga Joshi is back to being a first class bastard, about something that will never, ever change. He treats Mal so terribly here and Malcolm would be completely justified in ripping him a new asshole. Even the damn analysts on the task force can see how Joshi is behaving. But that's not how Mal rolls *though he really, really wants to* and he is the better person and walks away. Seong-Jae, however, feels no such restraint *my hero* and gives Aanga a much deserved verbal lashing. 🤬 Though by the end of this, Aanga is suffering more than I could ever have wished for him.
Though sweet Simone already put this bug in my ear, I'm really starting to wonder about something. There is something defintely off.
The connection and love between our guys and the tender, tentative expression of it by Seong-Jae is the only bright spot in the hellscape of this episode. Given all that's going on, there's no passion in this instance, other than the intense emotion each feels for each other. 🥰 But the sweetness and comfort they give each other is, I think, the only thing that's stopping either of them from snapping under the strain they bear right now.
I have to also mention Sten as a point of light here. *though she'd totally stink-eye me, LOL* Her giving Adelaide relationship advice and then *as Adelaide said* deciding that Cara was going to be her friend and just doing it was both hilarious and sweet. I've said it before, Sten is the best BFF ever. 😍
And Sila is on his way, but to where? It's scary as hell, everything is really. I am a little confused by one thing though. I'm not kidding, everything is frightening. 😰
With all that said, though Seong-Jae and Mal are nearly shredded by worry for those they love, they're closing in on the killer and Sila. The answers are there, dangling just out of sight. And our guys will get those answers. I'm here for aaalllll that. ❤️
Every reader of this series knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that we'd be paying for the sweetness before this, and holy hell, pay we did. All we can do is pray the price doesn't go much higher.
Everything is either fraught with panic, pain, rage or emotional exhaustion. Sometimes all of them at once. TGRK has struck too close to home for Mal & Seong-Jae this time, and they frantically scramble to ensure that everyone they care about is safe and protected. But how can you really do that when the target for a madman might be anyone you've ever known? The pressure on our guys is near breaking point and sooner or later, something is going to explode. 🤯
Something already has, actually. Aanga Joshi is back to being a first class bastard, about something that will never, ever change. He treats Mal so terribly here and Malcolm would be completely justified in ripping him a new asshole. Even the damn analysts on the task force can see how Joshi is behaving. But that's not how Mal rolls *though he really, really wants to* and he is the better person and walks away. Seong-Jae, however, feels no such restraint *my hero* and gives Aanga a much deserved verbal lashing. 🤬 Though by the end of this, Aanga is suffering more than I could ever have wished for him.
Though sweet Simone already put this bug in my ear, I'm really starting to wonder about something. There is something defintely off.
The connection and love between our guys and the tender, tentative expression of it by Seong-Jae is the only bright spot in the hellscape of this episode. Given all that's going on, there's no passion in this instance, other than the intense emotion each feels for each other. 🥰 But the sweetness and comfort they give each other is, I think, the only thing that's stopping either of them from snapping under the strain they bear right now.
I have to also mention Sten as a point of light here. *though she'd totally stink-eye me, LOL* Her giving Adelaide relationship advice and then *as Adelaide said* deciding that Cara was going to be her friend and just doing it was both hilarious and sweet. I've said it before, Sten is the best BFF ever. 😍
And Sila is on his way, but to where? It's scary as hell, everything is really. I am a little confused by one thing though. I'm not kidding, everything is frightening. 😰
With all that said, though Seong-Jae and Mal are nearly shredded by worry for those they love, they're closing in on the killer and Sila. The answers are there, dangling just out of sight. And our guys will get those answers. I'm here for aaalllll that. ❤️
August 24, 2024
Did this brilliant author write any dark romances? because as much as I dislike them, after reading that Sila chapter, I feel like I would enjoy reading one as long as it’s by Cole Mccade!
@Sarah @Sully damn! I completely understand why you don’t like Joshi😂ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HE DID TO MY PRECIOUS MAL, BUT….. I honestly still like him for some reason and want him to have a happy ending with this Luxe guy! *written before 82%* I also lovvved SJ putting him in his place, yikes! can’t wait for the ’we told you so, bitch.’😂 ….what? I still like him.
AND HOLY FORK THIS CASE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE INTERESTING! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?? COLE MCCADE, YOU ARE A GENIUS, SIR 🙌🏻
@Sarah @Sully damn! I completely understand why you don’t like Joshi😂ESPECIALLY AFTER WHAT HE DID TO MY PRECIOUS MAL, BUT….. I honestly still like him for some reason and want him to have a happy ending with this Luxe guy! *written before 82%* I also lovvved SJ putting him in his place, yikes! can’t wait for the ’we told you so, bitch.’😂 ….what? I still like him.
AND HOLY FORK THIS CASE IS GETTING MORE AND MORE INTERESTING! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?? COLE MCCADE, YOU ARE A GENIUS, SIR 🙌🏻
May 13, 2022
[𝟹.𝟻 / 𝟻 ✩]
𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝´ˎ˗
The case …
had me bored to tears.
i don't know what happened but i literally had NO INTEREST in anything that was happening with the white rabbit.
that said, this appears to be a hot ass take, so feel free to ignore me.
Joshi …
take a lap, sir.
but also … i'm intrigued by him.
Mal and Seong-Jae …
my loves <3
every time they say "i luv u" my heart happy sighs.
Other side characters …
oh hi, how are you guys doing?
sten>>>>>>>>>everyone else
The upcoming angst …
i'm convinced Cole McCade likes to torture us 🤪
*this is also partially why i put off reading this book for so long.
┍━━━━✩━━━━┑
𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜: 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸𝙸
𝟷𝟺. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟻. 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟼. 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟷𝟽. 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟷𝟾. 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚕 ~ 𝟺.𝟼
𝟷𝟿. 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟻.
𝟸𝟶. 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟷. 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟸𝟸. 𝙾𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚖'𝚜 𝚁𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚛 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟹. 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟺. 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟻. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟼. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸𝙸 ~ 𝟺.
┕━━━━✩━━━━┙
❝You are every light within me, Seong-Jae.❞
❝…you must stop saying things like that,❞ Seong-Jae huffed, and yet without a single ounce of force or firmness.
❝Nah. Sorry. You just have to deal with knowing how I feel about you.❞
𝙸'𝚖 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚊 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚎𝚝´ˎ˗
The case …
had me bored to tears.
i don't know what happened but i literally had NO INTEREST in anything that was happening with the white rabbit.
that said, this appears to be a hot ass take, so feel free to ignore me.
Joshi …
take a lap, sir.
but also … i'm intrigued by him.
Mal and Seong-Jae …
my loves <3
every time they say "i luv u" my heart happy sighs.
Other side characters …
oh hi, how are you guys doing?
sten>>>>>>>>>everyone else
The upcoming angst …
i'm convinced Cole McCade likes to torture us 🤪
*this is also partially why i put off reading this book for so long.
┍━━━━✩━━━━┑
𝙲𝚛𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝙸𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜: 𝚂𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙸𝙸
𝟷𝟺. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙶𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟻. 𝙸𝚗 𝚂𝚎𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟺.
𝟷𝟼. 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟷𝟽. 𝙷𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙰𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟷𝟾. 𝙳𝚎𝚎𝚙 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚊𝚕 ~ 𝟺.𝟼
𝟷𝟿. 𝙳𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟻.
𝟸𝟶. 𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟷. 𝚃𝚛𝚊𝚓𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 ~ 𝟺.𝟻
𝟸𝟸. 𝙾𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚖'𝚜 𝚁𝚊𝚣𝚘𝚛 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟹. 𝙵𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 ~ 𝟺.𝟸𝟻
𝟸𝟺. 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟻. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸 ~ 𝟹.𝟻
𝟸𝟼. 𝚆𝚑𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚋𝚋𝚒𝚝: 𝙸𝙸 ~ 𝟺.
┕━━━━✩━━━━┙
March 20, 2024
This book was a hardship… not because of the story of the case, but because it dragged like a motherfucker…
300 pages of digesting through stuff that already been said, planing to do things case related that already from the start said they have to investigate … and the timeline of this was 1 day… sorry guys but White Rabbit is playing with you, so wake up smell the coffee and go catch him!
Add the stupid childish behavior of Aanga that come out of nowhere…
The last 20% were good and this book could just be sum up to 100 pages of useful information… I feel that Cole has to make 13 books because it’s a season and it’s what was planned, but it doesn’t make since to write just to fill pages… and in this season it’s dragging big time! Is has some very special moments, and I’ll loved them.
So why 4 ⭐️ and not less? Because I love Seong-Jae and Malcom to death and they ARE THIS STORY THROUGH AND THROUGH!
300 pages of digesting through stuff that already been said, planing to do things case related that already from the start said they have to investigate … and the timeline of this was 1 day… sorry guys but White Rabbit is playing with you, so wake up smell the coffee and go catch him!
Add the stupid childish behavior of Aanga that come out of nowhere…
The last 20% were good and this book could just be sum up to 100 pages of useful information… I feel that Cole has to make 13 books because it’s a season and it’s what was planned, but it doesn’t make since to write just to fill pages… and in this season it’s dragging big time! Is has some very special moments, and I’ll loved them.
So why 4 ⭐️ and not less? Because I love Seong-Jae and Malcom to death and they ARE THIS STORY THROUGH AND THROUGH!
July 14, 2023
4.5 Stars
Great episode! Loved the plot twists 👀
Not in the mood to review (in the middle of buying a house and moving 😬) but I still absolutely adore this series. GRK is getting creepier by the minute, Malcolm and Seong-Jae get more precious with every episode, and I love that the author keeps shaking up what we think is the truth. I know that the reveal of GRK is coming soon so I am both excited and nervous! 😬😅
Great episode! Loved the plot twists 👀
Not in the mood to review (in the middle of buying a house and moving 😬) but I still absolutely adore this series. GRK is getting creepier by the minute, Malcolm and Seong-Jae get more precious with every episode, and I love that the author keeps shaking up what we think is the truth. I know that the reveal of GRK is coming soon so I am both excited and nervous! 😬😅
October 3, 2020
Wow, the level of emotional tension and angst is so high between these men as they, Aanga, Seong-Jae and Malcolm, navigate the most horrendous serial killer case of their lives. But when they put their minds to it, what comes out is pure beauty! Such detailed profiling and investigative process was just a joy to dig into. And Mal and Seong-Jae are so sweet and supportive of each other. *sigh*
The case is so complicated and tangled, and the author ends the story with such a huge revelation that validates everything Mal and Seong-Jae know and believe. Just wow, simply brilliant. I can't wait to see what happens in the next episode. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review.
P.S. The villains of the story are so devious. I love it!
The case is so complicated and tangled, and the author ends the story with such a huge revelation that validates everything Mal and Seong-Jae know and believe. Just wow, simply brilliant. I can't wait to see what happens in the next episode. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review.
P.S. The villains of the story are so devious. I love it!
July 25, 2021
4.5 stars and straight on to the next one
October 23, 2021
*4.25 stars*
Damn. After all those books and the author can still surprise me.
Damn. After all those books and the author can still surprise me.
August 21, 2021
I don't need to equivocate much over this one. This isn't a round up. It was that good.
It was also a whole less erotica-leaning which was a nice change. Things were going a little hard (hah) there for a while. Appreciate the breather.
That said, there was hardly any breath with all the twists and turns and false leads about a certain someone but I NEVER LOST FAITH. I was holding strong to my convictions and voila, c'est bon. That end chapter was.. I hate to say delicious but it was. Clever cleverrrr.
Less clever was Aanga, a fifty year old fucking c h i l d, but at least he got called out multiple times (the bit from a side character's POV was so funny). Hate that we were then lead into a moment to feel bad for him, though. Well played, McCade. But he's still an obsessive unprofessional toddler. Brutal.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Adelaide, one of our season two newbs, but the chapter or two with her and Stenson.. pretty great. I really loved seeing that side of Sten. But also I just really love her, period, so.
I think I've covered most of this and I'm tired but hope to crush the last few of these this weekend.
It was also a whole less erotica-leaning which was a nice change. Things were going a little hard (hah) there for a while. Appreciate the breather.
That said, there was hardly any breath with all the twists and turns and false leads about a certain someone but I NEVER LOST FAITH. I was holding strong to my convictions and voila, c'est bon. That end chapter was.. I hate to say delicious but it was. Clever cleverrrr.
Less clever was Aanga, a fifty year old fucking c h i l d, but at least he got called out multiple times (the bit from a side character's POV was so funny). Hate that we were then lead into a moment to feel bad for him, though. Well played, McCade. But he's still an obsessive unprofessional toddler. Brutal.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of Adelaide, one of our season two newbs, but the chapter or two with her and Stenson.. pretty great. I really loved seeing that side of Sten. But also I just really love her, period, so.
I think I've covered most of this and I'm tired but hope to crush the last few of these this weekend.
September 5, 2023
4.5 stars
“Malcolm nudged his own satchel away, moving it to the headboard and making room so that Seong-Jae could claim his side like the sulky cat Seong-Jae could so often be. There was a certain way he had of leaning against Malcolm, silent yet utterly and endearingly demanding with the pressure of his weight—an insistence that, like any cat, he wanted to be petted now, but any man who might point out how much he needed affection would find himself with a face full of claws and teeth.”
Oh the suspense…
The feels…
Sheer poetry of Cole McCade’s writing🤌
“Malcolm nudged his own satchel away, moving it to the headboard and making room so that Seong-Jae could claim his side like the sulky cat Seong-Jae could so often be. There was a certain way he had of leaning against Malcolm, silent yet utterly and endearingly demanding with the pressure of his weight—an insistence that, like any cat, he wanted to be petted now, but any man who might point out how much he needed affection would find himself with a face full of claws and teeth.”
Oh the suspense…
The feels…
Sheer poetry of Cole McCade’s writing🤌
September 27, 2020
4.5 stars!
Oh how I love this series. Unfortunately for Mal and Seong-Jae, they aren't having as good a time as me reading these.
After the end of the last book, which was a nice reprieve from the endless horror show that is TGRK and which had such glorious Mal and Seong-Jae moments, shit got real...or more real than it has been, as TGRK left something for Mal and Seong-Jae and it was the worst present ever. As in it was horrifying.
Sooo, it's back to the horror we go.
And also, I find myself not being able to say much, as this was a lot of case related stuff of an episode and not much else. The other stuff was there, and we had a few good Mal and Seong-Jae moments, some sweet moments, but there wasn't enough for me, as greedy as I am, so I had to round down instead of up.
Because as interesting as the case can be, don't get me wrong, I like more of a balance between that and the romance between our two main leads, and this was lacking a lot of that. Not even the no sex, I was fine with that (okay, do I wish there was sex? Yes. It's hella sexy between these two, mmkay? But I could live with it), but the lack of romance. It was there in these little moments, but Mal and Seong-Jae were mostly "all work and no play" as it were and that made this drag a tad for me, enough for me to round down.
Plus there was more change in POVs and as I've said before, I like less POVs. Honestly if the main POVs just stuck to mainly Mal and Seong-Jae, and also Anjulie and Gabi as secondary, I'd be a happy camper. Although I do have to say that Adelaide is growing on me, and her budding romance with the officer - Gage, I think his name is...so I wouldn't mind more of her. But the rest I'm not much a fan of.
I get the necessary shorter chapters from Sila's POV or TGRK to get at what they're doing and what's going on this twisted AF heads, but they are thankfully few and far between.
But like...Aanga Joshi...still don't care for his POV, or him particularly. He's an asshole. I get that he's a complicated human being and all that, but...asshole. Hmph.
And then there were a few other POV changes, like even the cop they've been working with in Arizona, I think, and I was like....*sigh* As much as I get that all these POVs advanced the plot forward, I wasn't interested in them as characters, so it made this a longer read for me than usual. Hence, the rounding down.
Anyway. Aside from that, the plot was still good and rich and interesting, and what character moments we did get were interesting too, so still very good overall.
Can't wait for the next installment, and Cole said we'll find out for sure who TGRK is in the next ep or ep 9, depending, so I'm excited. Onto the next!
Oh how I love this series. Unfortunately for Mal and Seong-Jae, they aren't having as good a time as me reading these.
After the end of the last book, which was a nice reprieve from the endless horror show that is TGRK and which had such glorious Mal and Seong-Jae moments, shit got real...or more real than it has been, as TGRK left something for Mal and Seong-Jae and it was the worst present ever. As in it was horrifying.
Sooo, it's back to the horror we go.
And also, I find myself not being able to say much, as this was a lot of case related stuff of an episode and not much else. The other stuff was there, and we had a few good Mal and Seong-Jae moments, some sweet moments, but there wasn't enough for me, as greedy as I am, so I had to round down instead of up.
Because as interesting as the case can be, don't get me wrong, I like more of a balance between that and the romance between our two main leads, and this was lacking a lot of that. Not even the no sex, I was fine with that (okay, do I wish there was sex? Yes. It's hella sexy between these two, mmkay? But I could live with it), but the lack of romance. It was there in these little moments, but Mal and Seong-Jae were mostly "all work and no play" as it were and that made this drag a tad for me, enough for me to round down.
Plus there was more change in POVs and as I've said before, I like less POVs. Honestly if the main POVs just stuck to mainly Mal and Seong-Jae, and also Anjulie and Gabi as secondary, I'd be a happy camper. Although I do have to say that Adelaide is growing on me, and her budding romance with the officer - Gage, I think his name is...so I wouldn't mind more of her. But the rest I'm not much a fan of.
I get the necessary shorter chapters from Sila's POV or TGRK to get at what they're doing and what's going on this twisted AF heads, but they are thankfully few and far between.
But like...Aanga Joshi...still don't care for his POV, or him particularly. He's an asshole. I get that he's a complicated human being and all that, but...asshole. Hmph.
And then there were a few other POV changes, like even the cop they've been working with in Arizona, I think, and I was like....*sigh* As much as I get that all these POVs advanced the plot forward, I wasn't interested in them as characters, so it made this a longer read for me than usual. Hence, the rounding down.
Anyway. Aside from that, the plot was still good and rich and interesting, and what character moments we did get were interesting too, so still very good overall.
Can't wait for the next installment, and Cole said we'll find out for sure who TGRK is in the next ep or ep 9, depending, so I'm excited. Onto the next!
July 20, 2022
DNF ~60%
I'm honestly just not enjoying this series anymore. I truly don't understand what the point of the Aanga character is, unless it's to make me dislike everybody involved. It really just seems oddly drawn out and OTT, and I'm so fucking over it. The overly flowerly writing and ooey-gooey established relationship stuff is also just very much not my jam.
I'm honestly just not enjoying this series anymore. I truly don't understand what the point of the Aanga character is, unless it's to make me dislike everybody involved. It really just seems oddly drawn out and OTT, and I'm so fucking over it. The overly flowerly writing and ooey-gooey established relationship stuff is also just very much not my jam.
May 25, 2021
Definitely knew the last book was the calm before the storm. And things are just picking up more and more.
All of the characters are wonderfully done. Even the psychos.
But... Joshi. Words can't even. 🤬
I'd write more but I'm jumping immediately to the next...!
All of the characters are wonderfully done. Even the psychos.
But... Joshi. Words can't even. 🤬
I'd write more but I'm jumping immediately to the next...!
October 5, 2020
4,5 stars
Malcolm and Seong Jae’s breathing time of “unrestrained and unweighted” happiness in episode 6 doesn’t last long. Tbh, it’s blooming painful that (as the blurb tells us) they get …
“Not one day. Not even one. Fucking. Day.”
Not that we expected anything else. It was always clear that TGRK would home in on them, threatening everyone they love and know. Here the situation becomes truly horrifying, and I was left with fearing not only for all the good people Malcolm and Seong-Jae have in their lives, but themselves, too.
Emotionally and physically, both men are walking on a precipice, and I couldn’t help wondering how long they can possibly cope with it all:
the intense worry and emotional strain, the exhaustion that comes with not sleeping and trying to be highly functioning, the physical fatigue, the desperation and the helplessness of their situation, the “psychological warfare”, as the TGRK is starting to tighten the thumb screws.
The intensity of the writing is breath-taking, and I FELT every single emotion Mal and Seong-Jae are going through thousand-fold.
While episode 6 is very relationship based, this episode concentrates on the case and how it progresses (or not). Not in any other book or TV series have I ever been part of such a brilliantly detailed description of profiling. I loved it and found it really fascinating.
As if all this wasn’t enough, Aanga Joshi and his spite towards Malcolm is adding a huge amount of further stress and tension. I’ve never fully trusted this guy, and I couldn’t believe his almost juvenile behaviour. The way he is falling apart raised alarm bells in the back of my mind. But more to the point:
Other highlights:
.) the way Malcolm and Seong-Jae support each other, hold each other up, stand up for the other man. Absolutely beautiful.
”You are every light within me, Seong-Jae.” “…you must stop saying things like that,”Seong-Jae huffed, and yet without a single ounce of force or firmness.
.) They know each other so well by now but are still learning new facets of each other’s personalities. So well done!
.) I love Cara Sten and wanted to hug her for the way she’s helping Adelaide here.
And yes, there are a couple of moments that made me smile and grin:
.) Mal, adopting SJ’s nonverbial habits. (“hnnn”)
.) SJ’s reaction to the haphazard patterns and shrill colours of furniture in a safe house:
“This is an offense against all visual and possibly even olfactory senses.”
.) or lines like this:
“There was a reason why the Black girl never died in horror movies. ‘Cause she got her Black ass out of there before shit got real."
Brilliant writing as always.
Digging my heels in for the next one.
Malcolm and Seong Jae’s breathing time of “unrestrained and unweighted” happiness in episode 6 doesn’t last long. Tbh, it’s blooming painful that (as the blurb tells us) they get …
“Not one day. Not even one. Fucking. Day.”
Not that we expected anything else. It was always clear that TGRK would home in on them, threatening everyone they love and know. Here the situation becomes truly horrifying, and I was left with fearing not only for all the good people Malcolm and Seong-Jae have in their lives, but themselves, too.
Emotionally and physically, both men are walking on a precipice, and I couldn’t help wondering how long they can possibly cope with it all:
the intense worry and emotional strain, the exhaustion that comes with not sleeping and trying to be highly functioning, the physical fatigue, the desperation and the helplessness of their situation, the “psychological warfare”, as the TGRK is starting to tighten the thumb screws.
The intensity of the writing is breath-taking, and I FELT every single emotion Mal and Seong-Jae are going through thousand-fold.
While episode 6 is very relationship based, this episode concentrates on the case and how it progresses (or not). Not in any other book or TV series have I ever been part of such a brilliantly detailed description of profiling. I loved it and found it really fascinating.
As if all this wasn’t enough, Aanga Joshi and his spite towards Malcolm is adding a huge amount of further stress and tension. I’ve never fully trusted this guy, and I couldn’t believe his almost juvenile behaviour. The way he is falling apart raised alarm bells in the back of my mind. But more to the point:
Other highlights:
.) the way Malcolm and Seong-Jae support each other, hold each other up, stand up for the other man. Absolutely beautiful.
”You are every light within me, Seong-Jae.” “…you must stop saying things like that,”Seong-Jae huffed, and yet without a single ounce of force or firmness.
.) They know each other so well by now but are still learning new facets of each other’s personalities. So well done!
.) I love Cara Sten and wanted to hug her for the way she’s helping Adelaide here.
And yes, there are a couple of moments that made me smile and grin:
.) Mal, adopting SJ’s nonverbial habits. (“hnnn”)
.) SJ’s reaction to the haphazard patterns and shrill colours of furniture in a safe house:
“This is an offense against all visual and possibly even olfactory senses.”
.) or lines like this:
“There was a reason why the Black girl never died in horror movies. ‘Cause she got her Black ass out of there before shit got real."
Brilliant writing as always.
Digging my heels in for the next one.
October 3, 2020
Intensity at it’s finest- Malcolm and Seong Jae are pushed to their limits in this installment and I must say I am hoping for a conclusion soon ! This white rabbit is a nasty fuck and I’d like to see him finished !! No doubt more twists & turns are on the way 😮😬
Want to read
October 22, 2020Can someone explain to me how I've signed up for approximately 184910 newsletters and alerts to find out exactly when the next installment of CIS2 would come out and I still only found out because I manually decided to check to see if there was anything.
How do I still get e-mails from the shuttle company that I would take from the Malpensa airport to my boarding school 10 fucking years ago but I don't get an e-mail saying "Hey, I've got some new Malcolm and Seong Jae for you"??
How do I still get e-mails from the shuttle company that I would take from the Malpensa airport to my boarding school 10 fucking years ago but I don't get an e-mail saying "Hey, I've got some new Malcolm and Seong Jae for you"??
January 9, 2021
After the last episode, which was strong on feelings, this one is just as strong ... but not as positive
I really feel for Malcolm and Seong-Jae ....and even for Joshi. This episode is strong on profiling and a lot of second-guessing and frustration.
And there are some new revelations.
I am so glad that I waited to read this one till the next episode was available cause Cole's writing and his ability to hold us on the edge is strong as ever
I really feel for Malcolm and Seong-Jae ....and even for Joshi. This episode is strong on profiling and a lot of second-guessing and frustration.
And there are some new revelations.
I am so glad that I waited to read this one till the next episode was available cause Cole's writing and his ability to hold us on the edge is strong as ever
June 12, 2021
3.5 ⭐️ I love Malcolm and Seong-Jae and their incredible relationship. The deep they go in their relationship signifies that how much understanding they become to each other.
The serial killer was a lot to take. He was always ten steps ahead of Malcolm and Seong-Jae. The conflict between Joshi and Malcolm was ridiculously high. Didn't like that part. Can't complain about the drama part though. Love it ❤️
The serial killer was a lot to take. He was always ten steps ahead of Malcolm and Seong-Jae. The conflict between Joshi and Malcolm was ridiculously high. Didn't like that part. Can't complain about the drama part though. Love it ❤️
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