Arsenic and Old Lies

Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #3

by S.C. Wynne

I assumed I was done running from psychopaths for a while. I guess I was wrong.

Doctor Maxwell Thornton, brilliant ex-surgeon and man most likely to insult you without even trying, seems to have an unwanted penchant for landing in the middle of murder cases.

Since moving from the bustling metropolis of LA to a small town in Texas, Maxwell has struggled to fit in with the eccentric citizens of Rainy Dale. He’s made tiny steps forward, but the only person who truly seems to understand him is Sheriff Royce Callum.

When one of Maxwell’s new patients ends up poisoned to death, the cold blooded killer suspects Maxwell knows a lot more than he actually does. Avoiding homicidal maniacs is always prudent, but once they catch your scent, it’s fight or die.

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, Romance, Fiction, Crime, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller

365 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2021

About the author

S.C. Wynne is a Lambda Award-winning author for Gay Romance. S.C. started writing m/m romance and mystery in 2013. Her characters are usually a little jaded, funny, and ultimately redeemed through love.

If you’d like to contact S.C. Wynne she'd love to hear from you. You can contact her at scwynne@scwynne.com

Reviews

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya casi con 6 meses en el pueblo, el Dr. Thornton se ha acostumbrado un poco a su gente, y la gente a él. Pero se acerca el Día de Acción de Gracias y Royce quiere que conozca a su madre, y él no se siente preparado para eso, su relación con Royce comienza a desmoronarse. Y si eso no fuera poco, llega otro medico a colocar su consulta en el pueblo, así que ahora el Dr. ya no se siente tan bienvenido en el pueblo, quizás deba pensar que hacer de nuevo con su vida. Pero todavía hay un asesino suelto, y el prometió ayudar a Royce con la investigación. Pero que pasará cuando atrapen al asesino? El Dr. será capaz de mantenerse en el pueblo cuando no siente que tiene a nadie más? Será capaz de dejar lo que siente por Royce al lado y volver a la ciudad?

En esta historia, el asesino lo identificamos rápidamente, pero no el porque de los crímenes. Pero también fue un libro mucho mas emocional, porque al fin vemos hasta donde llega la paciencia de Royce y lo mucho que le importa su relación con Dr. Sin embargo, también conocemos un poco más de lo que siente el doctor y como realmente lo afecta todo esto.
He llegado a pensar que el Dr. no solo es así por su crianza, sino también es posible que tenga algo de Asperger o algún nivel de autismo, o por lo menos es la forma como he entendido el personaje.
Ahora quiero saber que va a pasar con ellos dos y si el Dr. se va a ir del pueblo o que va a pasar para que decida quedarse.

[Gustaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I like each of these books in this series a little less than I liked the previous one. The case in this one fell flat for me. I managed to figure it out pretty easily.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Along the way to solving Arsenic and Old Lies murders, the relationship that Maxwell and Royce have just started building completely falls apart.

Love is a definitely a two-way street of give-and take that both men have realized isn’t going to be easy for them.

With four more books in the ‘Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries’ series, I hope (and expect) they’ll get their relationship back on track.

Disappointing as that plot element may be, Arsenic and Old Lies is still a great mystery read.

[PaperMoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little cozy whodunnit ... but I'm still finding it hard to warm up to (much less like) Dr Maxwell. And the relational arc between Royce and Max is being stretched out longer by the latter's emotional roadblocks.

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!!

Arsenic and Old Lies is book 3 in the Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mystery series and it needs to be read in order. 

I absolutely loved Maxwell in this book. I felt so bad for him. He's still socially inept, selfish, and clueless, and Royce's behavior didn't help with clearing things up for him. Never mind all the things he had to endure. I wasn't too happy with Royce this time around, I just felt he blew Maxwell's reaction out of proportion. *shrugs* Still, I love them together, so I hope things get better for them.

I think this has been my favorite installment so far. The mystery portion was really well done and while I had my suspicions, I was still pleasantly surprised by how it all played out and I'm eager to find out what Ms. Wynne has in store for us next. After the way Arsenic and Old Lied ended, I was ecstatic to find out the next book comes out next month (June). Highly recommendable!

*** Copy provided for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75 stars. I really want to round down to 1 star because of how upset this made me, but the mystery was interesting, and contrary to a lot of other people, I actually liked Maxwell…so rounded up to 2 stars.

DO NOT get me started on Royce 🤬

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So .... I still liked it, really, but I am a bit miffed with Royce.
Max is really trying, and Royce acknowledged that in the first third... and then BAM, and it is not good enough anymore.
To be honest, I was confused about his reaction and the hot-and-cold attitude. Not his finest move

The mystery was OK.

All in all, I am on a "Maxwell Thornton " bender and I think I won't stop till book 7 😂
I love when that happens

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good old fashioned whodunit

This third book in the series has a comfortable feeling to it. It is a good old fashioned whodunit with mystery murder, lots of clues, red herrings, and jeopardy for one of the MCs.

Max is starting to get comfortable in this new small town and in his relationship with Royce. Of course, that’s the kiss of death as everything starts to unravel.

The mystery is really not difficult to figure out and it is super annoying that Royce is so dense. Not the brightest bulb in the pack our sheriff. Then we double down when Max also misses an obvious clue that is smacking him in the face. It’s so irritating.



SPOILERS AHEAD!!





While the murder and mystery propels the story a big part of the book is what is going on with Max and Royce’s relationship. It was heart wrenching and all my sympathies were with Max. The crisis seemed a bit contrived to me though not completely unrealistic. Royce suddenly becoming so impatient seemed out of character when his patience and caring had been so emphasized in the first two books. Royce’s “I’ll deal with it later” attitude is a bit off putting, as is his casual attitude about interviewing witnesses. He can’t deal with Max because he has a case to solve but he lets a key witness dictate when she’ll come in for an interview...days later?!

Despite the issues outlined above I did enjoy the book, I am firmly Team Max and actually kind of pulling for him to go back to LA and stick it to Royce. I read the blurb for book 4 which I’m bummed I have to wait for. I’m already irritated at the premise of that book as the whole “financial difficulties” for Max make no sense if he was the in demand star cardio thoracic surgeon in LA we were told he was. There’s no way a practice in a town of 1000 people in Texas would drain his funds...he doesn’t even own the property...or a car, or more than a suitcase worth of personal items. But I guess we shall soon see.

[Dixiecowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing murder mystery with lots of twists and turns.  Max and Royce struggle in this story as they fail to communicate and understand each other amidst the plot twists of finding a murder. The mystery was excellent and I didn't figure it out for a while, so it was very well done.  

I was disappointed that neither man seems to be able to communicate and that even Royce puts off important conversations.  I am not happy that these characters are still at a painful point in their relationship, like not being together and I want more for these guys. Their relationship is about hope and that is what this book was so missing...  the hope of change and love.  Max doesn't have any hope without Royce.  

This is book three of the Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries and should be read in sequence.  

I  was gifted this book from the author and i freely give my honest opinion and review   

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. O my, Royce and Max seem to run from one obstacle to the other. This time their encounter starts when a former resident of Rainy Dale literally dies on their dinner table. Both of them desperately working on figuring out the pieces of the puzzle on how the man ended up dead while working on their relationship. Max seems to have settled quite well into smalltown, but with the case to solve asap, Royce as everyone else is stressed out so the two of them have a hard time, again. With their relationship struggling and one of them being in physical danger, they're on quite unsteady terms. And with a new doctor in town and the last sentence(s) of the book all bets are off... I love this series. S C. Wynne has it all figured out and has the characters wonderfully developed. Not only the main-characters, but everyone else as well. Great.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I don't like this book as much as the rest of the series. I figured out who the murderer was practically straight away. The turn the relationship took between the MCs was very sad, I can understand why Royce was having difficulty with Maxwell, but that is his character and he has been trying to adapt. Seeing as there are more books in this series hopefully that means that they will manage to work things out.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still liking the series and Max continues to engage me but the 180 by Royce was weird, communication is key and he was avoiding it. I enjoyed the mystery and I am looking forward to reading more as their relationship deepens.

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by BookSirens*

[Katie Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved being back with dr maxwell Thornton it was like visiting family

arsenic and old lies had me on the edge of my seat from the first word to the last and had me going wow

I was so looking forward to finding out what was going to happen next

I was so hooked with following the mystery and I did not want it to end

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this series but feel sorry for Maxwell as he is always in the middle of the mysteries.
I was a little confused by his kidnapping. He said it was days of dehydration but as alot happened over the Thanksgiving holidays I thought it was in captivity for 2 nights, might I might be wrong.
I will be sorry when this series ends.

[Antisocial Recluse · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The first two had that cozy mystery vibe but the often stiff dialogue and narrative seemed more prevalent in this volume. I’m still a invested in the mystery storylines but I hope Max & Royce’s characters feel more natural in the next volume.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific story that captivated my attention until the last page was turned. The mystery is intriguing with plenty of twists that kept me guessing. I recommend reading this series in order for full enjoyment - definitely worth reading.

[Axalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maxwell et Royce avec un Culomètre à 🍑

Chaque tome est un nouveau développement que je prends plaisir à lire !

Suite directe du tome précédent, on retrouve Max et Royce avec une nouvelle affaire de meurtre sur les bras, toujours plus ou moins liée au deux hommes.

Je passe l'affaire parce que ce n'est pas non plus le point fort de cette saga, même si elle fait le taff, ce qui nous intéresse le plus ici, c'est vraiment la romance !

On avait laissé les deux protagonistes avec une romance qui se développait assez bien, parce que la communication était bonne entre les deux. Maxwell n'est pas un homme facile à vivre puisque c'est compliqué pour lui d'exprimer ses sentiments et qu'il est assez brut de décoffrage.

Et ce troisième tome donne une nouvelle direction à leur couple, car Royce commence à en d'empanner de plus en plus à Maxwell qui n'arrive pas à avancer aussi rapidement que lui. C'est maintenant que leur différence va être mise à rude épreuve, Royce en voulant un peu plus que ce que Max peur lui donner.

J'avoue que Royce m'a un peu déçu dans ce troisième tome, je pensais qu'il comprenait assez bien Maxwell, mais le rejette vraiment violemment pour des raisons qu'il avait acceptées dans les tomes précédents. Je sais que c'est pour le développement de l'histoire, mais là, je n'ai pas compris et je suis carrément dans la team Maxwell !

Bref, à voir ce que l'autrice nous propose pour le prochain tome et ce que va donner l'arrivée d'un nouveau médecin en ville beaucoup plus solaire !

[Jenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the mystery in this one wasn’t much of a mystery at all (tell me you didn’t call it long before the halfway mark?) what truly set this book apart was the changes it made to their relationship. For the first time in this series i felt like Royce wasn’t just giving giving giving. Being in (why am I drawing a blank on Thornton’s first name??) Thornton’s head half the time works a little in our favour because we can see what they’re both feeling and I think that’s really telling because even seeing in his head you see how hard Royce constantly has to work to keep the relationship going and that has got to be e - MAXWELL! That’s his name. Anyway, being Royce and the only one who is properly invested in this relationship means that for once, while I do ship these two, I would be okay if it didn’t work out (although I assume it will).

I know Max has problems, I feel for him, but I hurt for Royce because I don’t think Max is currently capable of feeling anything. No, that’s not true, he’s choosing consistently to not feel and that’s not fair to Royce.

I have a big thing about equality in relationships and it’s time Max did some of the work.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and couldn’t put it down, even though I had a few problems with it, like the mystery was too obvious, I guessed the culprit very early on. I find the way Royce speaks to Maxwell patronising at times and insensitive sometimes.

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much Maxwell struggled to fit in with the eccentric citizens of Rainy Dale was really well written in this series. Maxwell is also an eccentric character, that's why I really like how much he tries to understand the citizens of Rainy Dale. His romance with the sheriff is warm and sweet. I loved it.

[Kate00072 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery; continues story of Max and Royce

SPOILERS (sort of) below, but not the details.

Note that I reserve 5 full stars for books I love so much that I will reread them. I give this a 3.0 for the romance and a 4.5 for the mystery.

This is book 3 of this series and all involve the same MCs, Royce (small town sheriff) and Maxwell ( new small-town resident doctor), and their romance. This is a definitely a series. The mystery is resolved in each book but the romance continues. Spoilerish: no HEA, not even a HFN (happy for now). If I hadn't read book 4 first, or read when first released, I would have been very disappointed. More spoilerish: I am very disappointed in Max. The character growth he showed in book 2 came to a screeching halt here. I understand why, and I hope the author has a long term (in terms of a realistic time frame for their relationship in the series) plan for these two characters. I think Max acting out was fine but a lot of dialogue, internal and with others, really made him hard to root for, or even like. Also, he's highly educated; he knows the basic psychology behind his behavior enough to recognize it, even if he can't change it.

Since this is book 3, I am also going to suggest a good editor. Mentioning character titles (Deputy Juan, Deputy Sam, etc.) at EVERY mention is unnecessary and redundant. Letting the female officer have interactions without giving her a name seems wrong. Mentioning a police chief for the first time in three books was odd, especially with never mentioning that perhaps Royce is sheriff over the county. This goes back to my comments regarding book 1 and my pet peeves -- if an author is going to include details, get them right. I will happily suspend belief, but only so far. The ambulance/EMT situation doesn't seem right, either, given that the town has a fire department, and the distance from Dallas changed in this book.

Also, I will say that 3 books in, I'm worried about this tiny town! 😂😉😀 It's in danger of becoming the Cabot Cove (Murder, She Wrote anyone?) of Texas. In a few short months, Max has been kidnapped twice, beaten, threatened, nearly murdered multiple times. I hope this author has plans to expand their surroundings or the whole town will either be dead or a suspect.😂😂😂

All of this considered, I am still rooting for Max and Royce to get their HEA and I am rereading book 4 next, with book 5 already pre-ordered.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Murder in Sleepy Rainy Dale

I have loved this series and this book was no exception. The small sleepy town of Rainy Dale was once again rocked by murder, mystery and suspense and once again the unsuspecting Dr Maxwell Thornton was right in the middle of it all.

Just when we thought that the relationship between Max and Sheriff Royce Callum was taking off and they were beginning to understand each other a bit better it all blows up and there is now a distance between them.

Max is trying to be a better person, for Royce, and he finds it exhausting sometimes. Because of his upbringing he cannot relate to people, he is closed off, cold and intolerant and has no filter. Royce knew these things about him and he seemed to find Max’s behaviour endearing, until he doesn’t, he would like Max to put his feelings first just once. Max is only staying in Rainy Dale for Royce and if he has not got Royce anymore he feels he may as well go back to LA. The new overly friendly creepy holistic doctor is over the top flirting with Royce whilst trying to steal Max’s patients and then Max finds his practice on fire! He is at rock bottom and LA might be looking more appealing.

Can’t wait for the next book and oh joy it releases in two days!

[Emilyrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book following Maxwell Thornton and his unfortunate luck in finding himself embroiled in yet another murder investigation in Rainy Dale. This book picks up straight from where book 2 finished and ends up with lots of different parts to the story in motion. Whilst the plot was good, I will confess to being slightly disappointed as I cracked the main case quite early on whereas in previous books I was left guessing until the very end. There were, however, lots of little twists in the overarching storyline that I didn't see coming and that I look forward to finding out more about.

Like the other books, Maxwell and Royce has steamy moments together but, unlike the earlier books, relationship difficulties definitely take over the dynamic between them. I was glad I had book 4 loaded and ready to read as I'd have been driven mad having to wait any length of time to see this resolved between them.

Overall, this is a good murder mystery with lots of clues and interesting characters at every turn. I'd recommend it as part of the series as it definitely works better if you've read books 1 and 2!

[Val Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who have read some of the series will already know that Maxwell Thornton is a doctor with terrible people skills and a mouth guaranteed to land him in trouble.
Having moved from LA following the death of a patient, Maxwell has discovered one person that doesn't see him as an arrogant asshole. Sheriff, Royce Callum, has allowed Maxwell into his bed, and now it's reaching the stage where he doesn't want him to leave.
The small town of Rainy Dale has more than its fair share of murders, and with Maxwell by his side, the pair seem to be pretty good at delivering justice for the town's eccentric citizens.
Now, with one of his patients poisoned, Maxwell's helping his daytime sheriff/nighttime lover find the killer. Unfortunately, it seems Maxwell might also be in the killer's sights.
Having read the first three books, I'm pleased to say that the main characters are starting to develop, and this helped with my enjoyment of S. C. Wynne's third book in this series. I'm looking forward to the next offering.
I recommend this novel to any reader that enjoys gay m/m romances and a good mystery novel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and Royce are at it again! If you have not read the first two books in this series, I would strongly suggest that you do. Not only are they TERRIFIC, but they will give you a better understanding of Max and Royce's characters.

When a young man falls dead in the middle of a restaurant, Royce needs to determine if this is a case of a young man having a heart attack or is it murder? With another doctor moving into town and Royce's mother visiting on top of solving this mystery, things become quite hectic.

This story was all around WONDERFUL. It has a little mystery, a little romance, some relationship issues and a little funny (Max's personality gives me a chuckle). Max and Royce are two totally different characters that go so well together, it makes it a great joy to read.

Oh great-mother of pearls, I cannot wait for the next book!

I've received an Advance Reader Copy of this book and willingly leave my honest review.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I liked this one very much! The mystery was fantastic, very well done. I had my suspicions, but I couldn't make it all fit; when the solution came it was, oh, so perfect!

The town and its people are coming alive and some of the secondary characters are truly lovely, like Girdy. And I really loved Charlotte Allen in this book. She's such a fantastic lady, I hope we'll get to see more of her and her friend Julia in next books :D

And the relationship between Max and Royce... talk about a rollercoaster! But the thing is, these ups and downs are to expect: Max' changes of attitude are coming not from an understanding of why he should do it but from his wish to make Royce happy. And Royce, while kind and patient, is afraid that Max will end hurting him. These two still have a long way to find permanent happiness together.

And argh! why, why another cliffhanger???!!! Not long to wait for the next book, thank goodness *laughs*

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Maxwell Thornton regrets moving to Rainy Dale TX when a seemingly charming holistic doctor opens a new practice with the aim of poaching patients. True love hits a bump on the road when Max and Royce fall out over Max’s refusal to come to Thanksgiving lunch to meet Royce’s mother. Worse still, one of Max’s new patients dies of arsenic poisoning and others seem in danger. As usual Royce does the detecting while Max takes the beatings, it just doesn’t seem fair sometimes! I absolutely loved this third book in the series (this isn’t a standalone romance), the themes and mood are darker, although the town of 1,000 does seem to have more than its fair share of calamities and crime. While each book has a diverting murder-mystery to solve, I’m also enjoying the long redemption story arc across the series as Max is forced to confront what type of person he is and how he interacts with others. Audio narrator Matt Haynes does another great job here, I really love his style.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr Maxwell and Sheriff Royce are back again in Rainy Dale, and murder is once more afoot. When the last book ended, poor Herman had just dropped dead in the Chinese Restaurant in town. Turns out it was poison, and Max and Royce are trying to find out who and why. One murder leads to possibilities of others, and amid the investigations, the relationship between Max and Royce hits a huge stumbling block. Murders, old secrets, a kidnapping, and meeting families interrupts the holiday celebrations, and a new nemesis has come to town.

These mysteries are engaging, with twists and turns, a red herring or two, interesting and complex characters and relationships, a dual POV, and a hint at the next book at the very end to draw the reader in and keep them involved to the final page. Looking forward to book 4.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JOELLE SAMYN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Le docteur Maxwell Thornton, ex-chirurgien renommé de L.A., devenu médecin à Rainy Dale, pensait naïvement qu'il allait être enfin tranquille après ces mois très agités. Il avait grandement tort. Les crimes, c'est comme le miel avec les abeilles. Et Maxwell les attire encore plus. Comme les ennuis.
Son franc parler est toujours là même si grâce au shérif Callum, il fait des efforts.
Avec Royce, il essaie de former un couple normal . Seulement voilà, Maxwell n'arrive pas à dire ses sentiments à Royce mais surtout à vivre avec. Son éducation vient l'ennuyer souvent. Et bien sûr, des tensions viendront se greffer entre les deux hommes.
Royce devra se débrouiller avec une étrange histoire de meurtre ou peut-être de plusieurs meurtres. Et avec énormément de suspects.
Action, meurtres, humour, sentiments bons ou mauvais.
Pas de temps mort pour les deux hommes.
J'ai adoré retrouver Maxwell et Royce. Leur vie n'est pas un fleuve tranquille.
Vivement la suite !!

[Aethena Drake · Rating 4 out of 5]

The number of murders happening in a small Texas town is getting a bit ridiculous, but that doesn't make the story any less entertaining. These not-so-cozy mystery have a special charm. I think it's the characters. The author does a wonderful job of capturing the idiosyncrasies of small town life and the people who make that life unique.

Maxwell and Royce are getting closer, but the strain of all murders is starting to take a toll on both Maxwell and Royce. I appreciate how the author portrays the challenges of two distinctly different people being in a relationship. They are still getting to know each other and test each other's boundaries.

The narration is a great addition to the story, and I look forward to more performances by Matt Haynes who is skilled at creating distinct voices for a large cast of characters.