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It's said the simplest solution is usually the right one — but there's nothing simple about the complications that arise when their primary suspect for the white rabbit killer shows up on Malcolm and Seong-Jae's doorstep, dead and mutilated beyond recognition. All it takes is one body to make their entire case timeline fall apart.

Unless it's not the body of their suspect at all.

With a suspiciously cooperative Aanga Joshi on board, Malcolm and Seong-Jae take a trip into the white rabbit's past in the hopes of predicting his future. Nothing can divert them from their course — not decoys, not lies, not even the discovery of motives driving the killer's choice of victim.

Until one fateful phone call.

And a connection that could spell the end for the people they love.

207 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2021

18 people are currently reading
332 people want to read

About the author

Cole McCade

67 books1,529 followers
Slender. 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...

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5 stars
310 (52%)
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208 (35%)
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64 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
Profile Image for Simone - on indefinite hiatus  -.
751 reviews40 followers
March 14, 2021
Dear author,

you have a way of lulling me into a false sense of security - into some kind of blissful contentment -, only to knock me on my ass with a twist in a second flat.

Love it! Welllll, ... for now. We'll see if that's still the case after Episode #10 and even more so after Season #3... *glares at said author* I swear, we are having words if you do any harm to my favorite detective!!!

You also have a way of melting me like no other and since I can't get enough of your books and read them from cover to cover... I acknowledge your words and give them right back at you. This convo gave me fun at a difficult time, so thank you and also my lovelies, Lisa and Ariana! ❤️

Cheers,
an avid reader
Profile Image for Celia {Hiatus until August}.
750 reviews139 followers
April 27, 2022
description
Still confusing, bodies still pile up in Malcolm and Seong's way, and even they are starting to understand things more, they're not closer to get the rabbit...
description
A lot of questions without answers, who are the queen and king?
description
When they think they have all figured out, the rabbit is always ahead...
In this one, Malcolm and Seong go to Normand house. And Malcolm have a lot of problems with abandoned houses and horror movies... It's kind of funny him in there.
descriptiondescription
Seong remember something that Sila said to him and think they are in the right way.
description
“He told me not all oceans are water. Some are green, and turn silver in the wind .”
Aanga finally stops being an asshole, he was really getting on my nerves!!! And start to be a professional and making the case pushing forward.
In Baltimore Gage and Adelaide (I think they are so sweet), are getting closer...
descriptiondescription
Loved the scene that Seong had with the dogs (I'm loving him more after this):
“Closing his eyes, he rested his cheek to Tess’s flank, just breathing in her scent and letting it flood and cleanse that dark place inside him, listening to the wet slurping sounds of her tongue lapping frantically at the water.
“Never would’ve pegged you for a dog person,” Malcolm said quietly, his voice heavy.
“I am an animal person, period,” Seong-Jae replied, opening his eyes reluctantly. “They do not ever need anything from me except that I am myself, and that I love them. If only people were so uncomplicated, life would be much simpler.”
Malcolm half-smiled. “Maybe we should look into getting a pet.”
“Perhaps,” Seong-Jae said.
Yet why would they need a pet, when he already had a loyal, steadfast old wolf?”

description
And now a new threat is on the way...
Malcolm's parents are still safe?
Ohhh... Of course, the sex between the two of them it's still hot...
Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews193 followers
March 12, 2021
What can I say about this series that I haven't already? Mal & Seong-Jae continue to swoon me. I love watching them work a case, the way they play one off the other to make the pieces fit.

I love the guys together, I absolutely love how their relationship continues to evolve and deepen. I hate to repeat myself *except not really, LOL* but the intimacy CMcC is able to create between them on-page is so real and palpable that sometimes I feel like I should look away. 🥰 *Not that I ever will 😁*

And I will always hate Aanga Joshi, no matter how "cooperative" he may be in catching the killer. 🤬 He is 💯 head to toe asshole.

We're definitely coming down to the wire in the inevitable face-to-face between our guys and TGRK. Not sure how or where Sila will show up but you know that little bastard will. The tension, which is always high, is tightening. And with the cliffy we got this time, so is the terror for Mal & Seong-Jae, and us.

And now, always the WORST part.....we wait. 😕
Profile Image for Layla .
1,468 reviews71 followers
December 18, 2022
Reread #1

Malcolm smiled to himself and shouldered both their bags, then opened the passenger’s side door, gently unbuckled Seong-Jae, and lifted him into his arms. Heavy—but pleasantly so, a solid weight pressing into Malcolm and making him hold Seong-Jae that much tighter.

DEAD
...............

4.5 stars
You know... I don't really know what to say anymore with this series without repeating myself.

I swooned because Mal and SJ intimacy knows no bound. Simple hand holding is so much more with them. A simple kiss, a simple hug or cuddle.

The love making... and yes ut is absolutely LOVE MAKING and never just sex with them. The level of connection that Cole manages to portray is just overwhelmingly good.

The banter... oh god the banter that is always ON POINT. SJ's dry humor and Mal's... well Mal's everything. Gah. Love them both so much.

I also found a quote that perfectly portrays what Cole Mccade has done with me in this series...

"How have you captured me so thoroughly, that you have such a stranglehold on my body and heart…and yet I have no desire to be free?"

Just perfection. Yes Cole, you gave absolutely captured me, have a stranglehold on my mind and my heart.

I Stan Mal and SJ from now until forever.
Profile Image for Rina Pride.
362 reviews104 followers
June 26, 2025
Eu nunca pensei que leria mais de 20 livros com os mesmos protagonistas, mas eu fiz e o mais incrível é que não enjoei dessa história porque o escritor é muito criativo em manter nossa atenção. Cole não precisa de nada apelativo para isso porque ele sabe escrever, ele sabe o que é uma boa história de investigação criminal, sabe criar momentos tensos, momentos românticos do jeito certo e na medida certa. Mais um livro ótimo de Criminal Intentions 💯💯💯💯💯
Profile Image for Ariana  (mostly offline).
1,669 reviews94 followers
March 15, 2021
I had to scoop my gooey self up from the floor quite a few times during this episode:
Malcolm and Seong-Jae have the melting power of a nuclear furnace.

.) That banter! The scene at the ‘haunted’ house is so precious. I totally share Malcolm’s aversion against anything ‘horror’, and the mention of would have sent me running in no time, so I really appreciate where he is coming from!
Still couldn’t help grinning like a Cheshire cat throughout!

.) That love scene! So much NOT a sex scene. So bursting with feels and love, and Seong-Jae so willing to give everything. Argh! So different from season 1. No words can really describe it.🥰

”Make me feel helpless,” he whispered. “And then make me feel safe.” Because Malcolm was the only one who could do that to him.
No matter how they touched, kissed, fucked, each time he was trusting Malcolm not to break his heart that last unbearable time…and that mattered more than anything.


.) The way they work together so seamlessly. The way they are so ‘together’.

And as for the case:
It is moving forward, even if it’s slow and gradual. And (claps her shoulder 😂) I did not panic over the cliffhanger this time. Well, maybe just a teeny bit, … reading the Q&A at the end always helps!

And as for Aanga:
Wow. That was unexpected, but very welcome! Dare I say - without going overboard - that I almost, very nearly, felt a touch of sympathy for the man? Yes, really! But then he did THAT to Malcolm, and my sympathy went right down the drain!

There is this feeling that things are coming to a head. And although Malcolm and Seong-Jae are very solid at this very moment, Cole understands to knock us off center and make us WORRY.
*Points at cliffhanger*....

Fabulous!
Profile Image for Lau ♡.
568 reviews594 followers
June 24, 2021
“Tell me,” Malcolm snarled huskily. “Tell me what you want from me right now, omr. Tell me how you want to feel.”

Seong-Jae fought for words, sought to find some clarity past the haze of heat enveloping his mind, struggled to articulate what that needy feeling inside him wanted, demanded, craved. ()


How have you captured me so thoroughly, that you have such a stranglehold on my body and heart… and yet I have no desire to be free?

He knew, then, what he wanted.

“Make me feel helpless,” he whispered. “And then make me feel safe.”

Because Malcolm was the only one who could do that to him.



DAMN. Another sexy episode by the master of words. I’m so excited for Gage and Adelaide’s romance!! I’m ready for the slow burn *prepares the popcorns*

For those who read the book:
Profile Image for MarianR.
235 reviews68 followers
June 12, 2021
This defines what Cole did to me with this series:

"How have you captured me so thoroughly, that you have such a stranglehold on my body and heart…and yet I have no desire to be free?"

Fun quote:
"Hey,” Malcolm rumbled, rich with unspoken laughter, as he jostled Seong-Jae gently. “What are you thinking about with that dreamy look on your face?”
“Your kitchen.” Seong-Jae opened his eyes, tilting his head back to look up at the old wolf. “You in it. The smell of cupcakes.”
“…I have never once seen you look at me the way you look when thinking of my cupcakes.”

Lovely quote:
Seong-Jae glowered at him—but that one light kiss had already melted his resistance when he wanted more, leaning in closer; he would not ask, but damn it… “Because you love me.”
Malcolm’s smile grew, his eyes lidding, his head tilting to brush his nose to Seong-Jae’s. “You’ve gotten a lot easier with saying that.”
“I may,” Seong-Jae retorted loftily, aching with the distance between their lips, “have come to find it socially acceptable.”

I love them so much. 💕💕 That ending!! ☠️
On to the next!!
Profile Image for Han.
327 reviews491 followers
July 18, 2023
3.75 Stars

“How have you captured me so thoroughly, that you have such a stranglehold on my body and heart…and yet I have no desire to be free?”

Cole, why the cliffhanger? 😭

_______________________

It's the way I can never get enough of Mal&SJ!

BR with my love, lila! 💜
Profile Image for Rosabel.
723 reviews259 followers
March 11, 2021
Well, well, well, there is not much to say without spoiling it but as always is a pleasure to come back to my boys. 🥰❤

The case it's getting clearer with every book and in here we have a definite answer, we also found very interesting new discoveries and a long overdue conversation with Joshi, Fuck him btw! I'll never like him and never will at this point.

Our boys and their love it's a thing of wonders and the cliffhanger was just cruel, but the next one is soon so I won't freak out much. Lovely as always. ❤💜
Profile Image for haletostilinski.
1,514 reviews642 followers
March 12, 2021
Loved this. So worth the wait. Things are really starting to ramp up. We have our GRK for sure, there is no concern as to who is.

Malcom and Seong-Jae continue to be so amazing together, I love them to death. Their love, their intimacy, the way their working relationship is almost seamless in how they work together, and how strong their personal relationship has become over the course of this season...it's just wonderful. I love everything about them and more.

We get to learn a little more about TGRK as well, like some of his origin story, as Mal and Seong-Jae head to basically the middle of nowhere, Nebraska, to learn more about it. We get to have so many moments of just them, and their relationship, but also learning more in depth about the terrible serial killer than is TGRK, and parts of the plot move forward.

Especially with that cliffhanger!!! Which was NOT fair, Mr. McCade! No sir, I don't appreciate it one single bit! or we're going to have WORDS, mister! Nuh uh.

So, safe to say there IS a cliffhanger at the end of this, but thank god, the next one comes out in only 10 days - although at the same time, 10 days is too long to wait! Gah!

We didn't get to see any of the others back in Baltimore, really, except for Adelaide and Gabe who are adorable already. I want more of them. Although where it left off with Gabe had me scared for him. Gabe better be okay too! He's a sweetheart already and I am attached, mmkay.

And all this leads me to...Joshi. *sighhhhh* Sir. I am done with you. Just done. And I think, his character is being wrapped up in this story too. It feels that way, anyway. I mean...not everyone in Mal and Seong-Jae's lives is going to be a lifelong friend, so...Joshi is not going be one.

He got better in this one, he did. So much better. He was being agreeable, he was being nicer to both our guys, he wasn't being short or a total asshole to them.

He and Seong-Jae even have a convo near the end and Joshi did pretty well in it. He seemed better, he seemed to finally, truly, be letting go of Seong-Jae, I was even rooting for him a little. Because I could stand him so much more lol. And I wanted to see him redeem himself a little, even if I'll never really like him.

But I wonder if Mr. McCade just wanted a character who isn't evil or anything, but is still shitty and isn't really all that redeemable. Because what he does to Malcom at the end -

So yeah, that's that on Joshi. Ugh.

But anyway, moving on. That ending! I can't cope! I need the next one already, pronto pls and thank. Highly recommend this, definitely worth reading. Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me! I'll be waiting on baited breath for the next one.
Profile Image for ~✿ Tala✿~ .
164 reviews43 followers
June 7, 2021
So many things happened worth mentioning and raving over but my brain can't focus on them because that ending has me STRESSED!!

Real depiction of me finishing this episode:

description

sfksjdfsahfsakfd COLE MCCADE WHY
Profile Image for Deborah.
3,820 reviews495 followers
July 31, 2021
4.5*

This series is so addictive and don’t get me started on that cliffhanger.

Yes there’s drama, murder and gore. But also this…

It shouldn’t be this easy to love someone this much.
So much there was almost no room in Malcolm’s chest for his heart, and every beat swelled it so large he thought it would break his body to pieces from within.


Straight onto the next book for me. What cliffhanger?
Profile Image for nark.
706 reviews1,757 followers
June 24, 2021
ah-mazing as usual!!!

the cliffhanger? how dare you???? that fucking asshole rabbit…. can’t wait till they catch him. sick fucker🤨

as usual i’m an absolute sucker for malcolm & seong-jae, their love makes so gooey and mushy inside. i ADORE them.

and omg… i cannot handle joshi. dude constantly goes back and forth between someone i sort of like & pity to an absolute prick. that there at the end??? HOW dare you do that.

i’m truly scared to read the next episode. i know everything will turn out fine but i can’t even imagine how scared malcolm will be, my poor sweet man 😢

also!!! where the hell is nico?? i know sila sent him off somewhere but WHERE is he👀
Profile Image for juli✨.
1,168 reviews145 followers
May 13, 2022
[𝟺.𝟸𝟻 / 𝟻 ✩]


well, fuck .. 😭🫠


❝If we were the protagonists in a novel,❞ Malcolm said, ❝this would be the darkest moment of despair where the heroes almost give up, before some light illuminates the way forward.❞



not the ending of occam's razor coming out of nowhere and punching me in the face.



description



as simone so eloquently stated,


❛you [cole mccade] have a way of lulling me into a false sense of security - into some kind of blissful contentment -, only to knock me on my ass with a twist in a second flat.❜



ngl, that ending has me shooketh.
and no,
i am not okay
but thanks for asking.


┍━━━━✩━━━━┑
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.
┕━���━━✩━━━━┙
Profile Image for Nelly S..
668 reviews166 followers
September 10, 2023
”You can be a bit of a terror, you know that?”
“Only for you,” Seong-Jae admitted. “You told me I am all or nothing. Either I have no interest… or for you, I am insatiable. So.” He frowned, and flicked Malcolm‘s nipple again. “Bored. Sex.”
“Oy.” Laughing silently, shoulders shaking, Malcolm caught Seong-Jae’s fingers and enfolded them in his own, caging him in warmth. “That is not a button to turn me on or off. You want to have sex because you’re bored?”
Scowling, Seong-Jae tugged at his hand, leaning away. Insufferable old wolf. “No, I want to have sex because I want to have sex, but you continue to refuse me my socially acceptable excuses.”


OMG I can’t with that cliffhanger!!!
And just when I thought Joshi couldn’t be more of a dick he goes on to surpass his dickiest heights…
Profile Image for Gerbera_Reads.
1,669 reviews155 followers
March 13, 2021
This was so worth the wait. I love the connection Mal and Seong-Jae have and the trust and affection they so freely show to each other, but I also adore Seong-Jae's prickly attitude and Mal's amusement over the said attitude. They are too cute for words.

Things are starting to unravel for our killer. As always the author throws us some red herrings as well as proven facts that start bringing everything together. Oh the suspense! Oh the tension! Oh the frustration! But... Oh the smugness of finally being right. It was so good.

The dots are slowly being connected, the events are being pieced together, the convoluted case seems to be coming to an end. I enjoyed a touch of humor and passion as well as finally chance the characters got to put things to rest. The investigation and the ever present bloody gore was detailed and well written, the brainstorming was just a pleasure to read and follow the thought process of two wickedly smart detectives on the hunt for a monster. I enjoyed it from start to finish. Can't wait to get my hands on the next one. Copy received for my honest and unbiased review
Profile Image for Ele.
1,319 reviews40 followers
October 28, 2021
*4.5 stars*

Holy shit! What is even happening.

P.S. I admit I had a tiny bit of pity for Sila in the past books. Well, it's all gone now.
Profile Image for Sana⁷.
380 reviews166 followers
July 20, 2023
Okay, Marta.
Maybe I'm not gonna make you wait that long after all.
Hope you ain't been too lonely.



This book felt like a short stop between the previous one and the next one. It based on the lie that The Golden Ratio Killer tried to sell to the detectives and we needed to spend more time on finding evidence of the identity of the killer.

And more people died because of it. Yay.

This book confirmed what we already knew, just added some information about the killer's personal life as a child. I could probably feel sorry for the guy. I probably would, if I didn't know how many lives he had taken from this world (and in such cruel way). And what was it all for? Was it all made only for revenge? For personal satisfaction? How many people will he kill until he will finally be caught?

[Greg still hadn't been found. He does not seem to be a priority. And I guess, he's long time dead.]

[I hope that Duke and Marta had met in a better world.]

The only highlight of this book is the scene between Adelaide and Gage. It was hilarious and adorable, I had so much fun! I found myself smiling like an idiot through the whole scene 😂 These two really need to be together (will we get a scene of their date in any of the books??), I will not accept any other ending for them 😌

[But what is the connection between Gage and Matheson? How do they know each other? Is Gage some kind of double agent?]

I will not speak about the Khalaji x Yoon x Aanga thing, because it's too exhausting at this point. I hope that they had finally talked everything through and focus on the most important matter (like catching The Golden Ratio Killer), but I had the same hopes last time. What I want to write is that I didn't like how Malcolm and Seong-Jae still barked at Aanga while Aanga clearly tried his best to break the ice between them. I don't understand what their problem is.


Okay, I think that's it for now. I wonder what will happen next considering the ending of this book. Will someone we know and love die? 😢




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)
Profile Image for yaishin.
903 reviews116 followers
March 18, 2021
Another. Fucking. Cliffhanger.

It's been some time since I read a nice (relatively) crime book and I'd almost forgotten how it felt to have your heart racing along with the protagonists. Such a heady feeling.

Most of the things in this episode were somewhat expected except for the cliffhanger (one hell of a cliffhanger that) and the part Joshi punches Malcolm. I was so proud of Malcolm then. He just subdued Joshi. He didn't punch back no he was better than that.

The only thing I'm not happy about is that I have to wait who-knows-how-long for the next episode to come (freaking Cole McCade).
Profile Image for Donna.
493 reviews29 followers
May 28, 2021
Talk about a cliffhanger!!!. Oh crap!!
Profile Image for h o l l i s .
2,720 reviews2,300 followers
August 21, 2021
I have to believe that Aanga is not going to survive this series. I have to. It's the only way his behaviour makes sense. Because this guy is not redeemable, no matter that we get these tiny glimpses that humanize him, or expose his grief, or show that this isn't all he is. But. How someone that old, that successful in his career, that (purportedly, I haven't seen it) smart, is so.. ugh. Anyway. His behaviour aside, we got some closure conversations in this episode and that's just as much a redflag as when people in horror movies either a) have sex or b) make plans for the future. So, hurry up and please die.

While I definitely thought something had to be coming with one or more of our season two newbies, otherwise why bring them to the fore, I have to say I'm sad to have seen set-up for something less than awesome with Lombardi. Particularly after that painfully adorable scene with Adelaide. Insert "oh no. oh no. oh nonononono" tiktok audio here. But considering who was on the other end of that phone, and considering his connection with Adelaide, and considering Anji is likely going to bring Adelaide onto her Scooby Doo team, maybe they can bring Lombardi into the fold and go double agent or.. something. Who knows. I'm just spitballing here.

As for the story itself, overall this wasn't quite as tense or exciting, though we did get some reveals on backstory (though nothing terribly juicy), so this wasn't quite as good as the last few. And I was back to skimming some sexies because I'm not here for that anymore. But we're getting so close to the end and I'm sure, considering how this one ended, next one will be fraught.
Profile Image for GeishaX .
381 reviews39 followers
August 12, 2022
4.2 Stars

This was an especially exciting book of the series. I seem to like the ones better when the focus of the story is mainly on the criminal case and the relationship between Mal and Seong-Jae take the backseat. I thought the tension was handled very well here. The small steps the detectives take to unravel if the discovered body is that of their primary suspect or if their primary suspect just wants them to think that. Because clearly why else should the body be this mutilated unless to make it hard for them to identify it?

I also like the way the relationship between Mal and Seong-Jae sounds so secure. I can't quite warm up to Aanga, not only because he is the element of jealousy here but because I don't get him. He keeps saying he's over it and behaving like he's not.

But yes, great episode, here's to hoping the series will continue like this.
Profile Image for Smutty  Sully.
895 reviews244 followers
June 1, 2024
**Time to admit my goal of writing a detailed review for each episode was just a pipe dream. Instead, I'm adding the notes I jot down quickly between episodes.

These will all have major spoilers, read at your own risk.**

Criminal S2.9 22:

Weird Joshi mood swings and behavioral changes, in the end apologies and punches M. Asshole.
Ends with Rabbit in Baltimore watching M's family

(Vouchsafing driving me nuts)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for BevS.
2,852 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2021
Hells Bells, can this series get any more tense? My nails are utterly shredded, and the finale is yet to come 🤯. My guess at the start of the series has become a certainty...and just what is going on with Matheson and Detective Gage Lombardi? Some pretty descriptive and gruesome deaths in this one...and that's saying something considering we've had a shedload of horrendous deaths in both series. Oh, and this one finishes on a pretty stressful WTH note...
Profile Image for ♥Sharon♥.
985 reviews139 followers
March 24, 2021
Uggghhh! That ending!!!! #10 better be out really soon. 😬

By now you’d think I couldn’t love these two guys anymore than I already do but things between Mal & Seong-Jae have gotten to a place that at one point I wasn’t sure they would reach. I love it! ❤️❤️

I still have this big knot in my belly. They are closing in on this sicko and I’m scared for what might happen. The pieces are falling into place and while I want them to catch this guy I’m worried for what’s to come.
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