Ghost Light Killer

London Podcast Mystery #2

by Dahlia Donovan

Several months after their first brush with death, Dannel Ortea and Osian Garey are back with a thrilling murder investigation in the second London Podcast Mystery Series novel.

While helping their flamboyant neighbour with his play, Dannel and Osian discover more than a ghost haunting the stage at the Evelyn Lavelle theatre. It's all fun and games until a friend is found kneeling over a dead body.

Is he the murderer or an unfortunate witness?

When one body turns to two, then to three, will the killer ever be found?

As Dannel and Osian work together to solve the mystery, the murderer focuses on them. Their drive to clear their friend’s name puts them centre stage. But not everything under the glow of the bright lights glimmers.

Will anyone be left when the curtain falls?

Genres: Mystery, M M Romance, LGBT, Crime, Romance, Disability, Contemporary

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 7, 2021

About the author

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Reviews

[Agla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok-ish, more a miss than a win TBH. We are following a very long established couple (they've basically known each other all their lives and been dating since high school) so there is no tension there and we didn't get to see them fall in love. Osian does a LOT for Dannel who is autistic and very easily overwhelmed by life. That is cute but also seems exhausting. I mean he can't go home because Dannel needs time on his own for hours. That seemed a bit much even though he was happy to do that. Now onto the mystery side. We have a murder to start with and they start "investigating". Unfortunately, their sleuthing brings nothing to the investigation as corpses start to pile up. The mystery is solved when the "baddie" decides to oust themselves as the responsible and then an "explanation" of the motive ensues but it didn't convince me. We don't get to find out how or why the crimes were committed, we did a bit not really. So yeah pretty underwhelming on the mystery side. Onto the next.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just find this series to be absolutely adorable. I mean, sure there’s some grisly murders and an interesting mystery, but for me the star of the show is Daniel and Osian’s relationship. It’s just so loving and sweet and completely perfect. If you ever want to read a story with two men who know exactly what the other needs, are constantly providing, and just without a doubt belong together, then this is the series for you.

With that you’ll also get a pretty good whodunnit (I honestly never guessed close to who did it), a lot of interesting side characters, tons of delicious food descriptions, and own-voices wonderful autism rep. Come for the relationship but also get everything else you need and more.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just as good as the first one, maybe even better. I love this couple and the mysteries. It was a fun and exciting read. I truly enjoy both Oz and Danny! They are just so great together and how they go about solving these murders is very entertaining. I also loved all the side characters and just the depth of the characters in general. Definitely going to be continuing on with this series. Cannot wait to see what is next.

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another series that didn't grab me.

I needeed to keep reminding myself that the characters weren't 12 years-old playing cops & robbers. They just ate lots of junk food, went nosing around, discover nothing and get themselves in troubles with no reward at all.

I won't be reading the next one, I'm done with this series.

[DeeNeez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this cozy mystery series. Our boys have agreed to investigate a ghost haunting at their friends historic theatre, only to be pulled into another murder. I do recommend reading the previous book in order to understand the dynamics of Dannel and Osian as well as their friends and family members.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun addition to the London Podcast Mystery series! Although it feels kind of weird to say it was a fun read when people died, but I guess that's the difference between a cozy mystery and a regular ol' murder mystery. At least that's my take on the matter!

Osian and Dannel once again find themselves the focus of a murderer, after stepping in to help a friend with a ghostly encounter. After doing a little poking around at the theater and inserting themselves where they shouldn't, our budding investigators end up realizing things aren't quite what they seem. Does that stop these 2? Of course not- it only makes them more determined to figure out who's at the bottom of it all. But they may have been a tad overzealous when it comes to finding the Ghost Light Killer!

I'm really enjoying this series! Not just the mysteries, which in this case kept me guessing until the end, but Dannel and Osian's relationship. I love how caring they are with each other, it really is the sweetest. Osian always seems to know just when Dannel needs a break from it all and never pushes him for more than he can give. The support they give each other is shown in a multitude of little ways throughout the story. These two definitely put the cozy in cozy mystery!

[Anne Barwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in the series, and enjoyed catching up with these characters and their world again. I particularly liked reading about Dannel’s unique insight into the world, and the role of his and Osian’s family and friends play in this story which has plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings.

I love Dannel and Osian’s relationship. Osian accepts Dannel for who he is, and doesn’t try to change him, but instead works with and around what he needs. They’re both wonderfully protective of each other, and their love is obvious in each scene they share. I like the realism in that they’re both still dealing with the consequences and PTSD of the last story, and past occurrences. Dannel’s autism is a huge part of who he is, with him managing it better some days and not so well on others.

There are plenty of colourful characters, including the theatre itself. The plot is very clever, with corpses adding to the mystery rather than making it easier to solve. Dannel and Osian’s families are a huge part of their lives, and I love the strong family and found family vibe

The ending is very sweet. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dannel and Osian are back for another mystery. This time involving ghosts and murders. Of course they are right in the middle of the murder part. As a play is being staged mysterious deaths abound.

The mystery while at the forefront of the story really took second place to Dannel and Osian’s relationship. Ozzie makes taking care of his partner his priority (well, that and cake). The author created a loving atmosphere without the loving on page.

A sweet story full of larger than life characters. Each and every one contributing to the sense of family these men have drawn to themselves. Just a cozy mystery to curl up with to slow down the readers life a bit.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, easy read of a cosy mystery, starring the adorkable MC's from Cos Play Killer.

I enjoyed this, it is surprisingly light hearted for murder mystery and I adore the way Osian and Dannel interact.

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and I have chosen to leave an honest review.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghost Light Killer is the second book in Dahlia Donovan’s London Podcast Mystery series. It’s another British cozy mystery starring amateur sleuths and boyfriends, Osian and Dannel, an established couple who, once again, have a murderer strike within their group of acquaintances. I feel it’s necessary to read the first novel, Cosplay Killer, first for a full background on all of the characters.

Osian and Dannel have recently retired from their highly stressful jobs as London first responders. They’re now working full-time on their crime podcast and Dannel's cosplay fabrication business. For an upcoming podcast series, they’ve decided to investigate some of the ghost stories surrounding West End theatres, specifically the haunted Evelyn Lavelle, where their elderly neighbor, Ian, is a director and playwright. Unfortunately, their investigation turns dark when a friend’s mother turns up dead on the scene. Osian and Dannel go to town with their own detective work – even though they’re repeatedly reprimanded by the police not to do so – because they’re now obsessing over murder mysteries and just can’t help themselves. One of the big mysteries is if the theatre is actually haunted or if someone’s pretending to be a ghost as a diversionary tactic.

The list of suspects is long and includes their friend Archie and his boyfriend, a handful of actors and two costume designers. Osian and Dannel's friends and families return so we see more of Roland, Wayne, Olivia, Chris, Evie, Abra, their parents – for better or worse – and of course, Detective Inspectors Khan and Powell.

The leading men are still darling with each other and their relationship evolves nicely, working up to a wonderful ending. Even though they grew up together, they are still outwardly affectionate and playful with each other. Osian is skilled at reading Dannel’s signs of an impending over-stimulation meltdown and has a well-planned protocol for making life easier on his partner. Once again, I appreciate the autism representation. The author doesn’t make a big deal about Dannel's autism, it’s simply incorporated matter of factly into the story as part of who he is. He’s very literal minded, misses subtext and hyperbole easily, and suffers from sensory integration difficulties, but it’s all just a day in the life of an interesting character.

Unfortunately, I’m not overly fond of Ms. Donovan's writing style. The book is written in third-person perspective but would be much better suited to a dual first-person narrative where their internal thoughts could flow organically. Instead, Osian and Dannel’s thoughts are delineated several times each page in italics, which isn’t natural for a third-person presentation. It results in more tell than show. I won’t allow this to keep me from reading the next installment, but it was annoying and constantly pulled me out of the story.

This sweet and simple novel is on the shorter side, which makes it a pleasant one-day read. The mystery was fun, but it’s the characters who make this series enjoyable. Recommended.



ARC kindly provided to Love Bytes Reviews in exchange for an honest review.

[~lil maso~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
Once again Ms. Donovan has pulled together all the things needed for a terrific cozy mystery—interesting characters, including the somewhat bumbling at times amateur investigators Osian and Dannel, a grizzly murder, some suspects that have you trying to piece together the clues as to who it could be and why fabulous humor and a sense of trepidation to boot.

Honestly, I absolutely love Dannel and Osian so much, especially how Osian automatically knows when Dannel has had enough socializing and needs to regroup. He automatically adjusts things to suit Dannel’s needs as someone on the spectrum, yet so does Dannel with Osian and his PSTD. They understand each other so well and their support for each other is amazing, yet they still poke fun at each other—rude! 😀 I love how the author has used this one word constantly throughout the story here and there perfectly placed meaning so much, yet still just one word. Often times it is satirical humor and at others, it is truly a matter of finding out for poor old Dannel who doesn’t always understand that subtlety is a necessary tool. Even better is the obvious support and love the friends and family of the two lead characters give willingly to them.

I love the sense of humor in the story, whether it be one character poking fun at another or even calling another one names like ‘posh prat’ it’s the way it’s written that is so good. I found myself chuckling out loud from the general fun banter to the sarcastic wit in various scenes and this is one of the main reasons for the extra half a star.

As far as the murders go I was totally lost as to who the culprit could possibly be, I love sifting through all of the clues and trying to fit the puzzle pieces together but the twists and turns change things brilliantly.

I totally recommend this terrific story that leaves you feeling fantastic.

*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*

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[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

To be honest, the first book in this series didn’t entirely work for me so I was a bit hesitant to continue. I’m glad I gave the London Podcast Mystery series another try because I enjoyed Ghost Light Killer.

I don’t know that the series is officially classified as a cozy mystery, but it definitely has that feel for me. As with the first book, Ghost Light Killer opens with the long-established couple finding themselves in a seemingly innocuous situation that quickly takes an intriguing and dangerous turn. I enjoyed the setting and circumstances in Ghost Light Killer. The theater backdrop was fun and fresh, lending believability to the over-the-top characterizations and some of the sillier aspects of the story. I also liked that the mystery had a bit of a ghostly side to it as well.

In the first book, I lamented that Osian and Dannel didn’t carry that palpable chemistry and connection I look for in books featuring established couples. Happily, that was much more present in Ghost Light Killer. I loved that Dannel’s view of the world and struggles with social constructs as an Autistic are noted and embraced by the story and characters, most especially Osian. This time, it wasn’t only that sort of friendship and support that came across in the moments where one of the characters would struggle, there were romantic and sweet moments between Osian and Dannel that demonstrated their deep bond and love. Seeing this side of the main characters’ relationship definitely hooked me more and made me all the more invested in the story and series overall.

Whereas the first book left me wanting for the romantic relationship aspect, it overwhelmed me in the secondary character information department. This series has a vast collection of secondary characters, and they are sometimes thrown at the reader in a rapid fire approach. While there still are a lot of names to keep track of, I found myself following along better in Ghost Light Killer. I don’t know if the pace was a little slower, I was familiar with some of the names and relationships this time, or if each character felt more important to the overall story, but I enjoyed the mystery much more this time. My enjoyment was only further amplified as the revelation of the culprit occurred because I hadn’t predicted it at all this time around.

If you enjoy non-traditional characters, quirky humor, and cozy mysteries, this series is definitely worth checking out.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Noting again for the ‘Ghost Light Killer’: this story falls securely in the “cozy mystery” genre. I would not shelve this as a romance – the two main characters, Dannel and Osian, are a well-established couple via the route of childhood friends.

For book two I had to suspend my disbelief a bit more than I usually do for cozy mysteries. Not only was there about six months between the murder in book one and book two, but there were also three murders in one location! The theater must be a dangerous place to work…

Dannel has now retired from fighting fires and he and Osian are trying to make a go of their podcast. Their outgoing elderly downstairs neighbor is in the final dress rehearsals for his theatrical production when the bodies start showing up. First body is blamed on the theater’s resident ghost, but when Osian is nearly killed by falling equipment, something is afoot. Despite repeated warnings from the local detective inspectors to “let the constabulary do their jobs”, Osian and Dannel continue to nose about.

Things that niggled me: why the theatrical production was allowed to proceed after the first murder and truly, after the second. It seems unrealistic that Dannel’s uncle could afford to let the building’s tenants live nearly rent free in London. Nice for the characters perhaps, but a bit unrealistic? And, for two people now living off one podcast – they spend a lot of time at coffee shops. Maybe coffee is cheaper in London?

Things I enjoyed: the historical theater tie-in with the ghost light explanation and the unsolved murder from a different decade. I do so enjoy Dannel and Osian’s neighbors, from outgoing Ian to the couple always walking their dog and dropping off sweets. Dannel and Oz’s supporting family and friends really stood out in this installment. I also thought this book did a better job of incorporating Dannel’s autistic traits into the narrative, into Dannel and Osian interacting as a couple, rather than a separate “thing”.

So while ‘Ghost Light Killer’; may have more niggles than the ‘Cosplay Killer’, it was still an enjoyable, cozy read with a little surprise at the end. This is perfect as a commute read, vacation book, or end-of-the-day unwind.

NOTE: This book was provided by Hot Tree Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book that follows Dannel and Osian’s adventures as amateur crime investigators, and while the mystery works as a standalone, the characters make more sense with the context offered by the first novel (it’s also a great read, so if you haven’t checked it out yet, I’d definitely encourage you to start there).

For me, the heart of this novel is really the relationship between Dannel and Osian, which is full of kindness, care, video games, cosplay, and way too many delicious sounding foodstuffs (don’t read this book hungry, or like the two of them, you’ll be tempted to eat an entire pizza and/or coffee cake). The way the two of them see and love each other for who they each are is exactly the kind of foundation you want for a relationship, and it’s particularly heartwarming because Osian is one of the few people in Dannel’s life who accepts him as an autistic person, rather than ignoring his boundaries or trying to change him. I really, really don’t like Dannel’s family (with the exception of Roland, who has grown on me) because their base setting seems to be “bulldoze Dannel until he does what we want” and if they aren’t actively malicious, they’re definitely careless, and just-- no thank you.

It’s nice to see returning characters like the guys' elderly neighbor Ian, in his dramatic element, and Inspector Haider in all his half-amused, half-exasperated glory. The mystery didn’t always hold my attention, however, which is possibly (probably) more me than the plot itself: there were just too many suspects and events after a while, and I stopped keeping track as closely as I should have. Overall, however, I found this to be a really enjoyable read.

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AshPenny37 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the return of Dannel and Osian...and I couldn't be happier! Our London Podcast duo are back, as wonderfully sweet and amazingly in-tune with each other as ever, as well as being entangled in another cosy murder mystery.

This time, Dannel and Ossie start out to investigate some of the paranormal legends of London's theatreland (the ghost light referred to in the title being a common feature in theatre lore), in particular in the Evelyn Lavelle theatre where their neighbour (the fabulously flamboyant Ian) is directing a show. They just get started when the bodies start to pile up...

If I thought I really liked Ossie and Dannel as a couple in the previous book (not absolutely necessary to read it but it's recommended), I love them here! Their continuing relationship is completely cemented and we're left with no doubts at all how necessary and perfect for each other they are. Yes, both men have a complex set of circumstances - Ossie is still dealing with the circumstances that lead to him leaving his paramedic career and this case has enough triggers to make all of Dannel's coping strategies to quieten life around him necessary, but their commitment, understanding of each other and mutual support are total relationship goals...sigh!

Long story short, Ghost Light Killer gives us a really good whodunit set in (literally) an entertaining setting and our heroes in the thick of things are just wonderfully written. 5* from me.

An ARC was provided by GRR. This is my honest review.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love getting back to Dannel and Osian and the adventures that they end up going on together. The second outing of the London Podcast Mystery sees the couple looking into the possible haunting at their friend's theatre where they unfortunately end up involved in another murder investigation.
It doesn't take long before the drama starts with a murder occurring at the theatre on their first visit for their podcast. Several of their friends ask them to investigate, especially Archie, who was found standing over his mum's dead body at the theatre. It's a tough situation for Daneel as things escalate, with his autism needing for him to have safe spaces he can escape to and decompress from all that happens. Osian is such a great partner for him, knowing Dannel completely after being friends since childhood.
What doesn't help is how inquisitive they both are, finding themselves in bad situations. It's an interesting whodunnit as there are several possibilities as to suspects and reasons for why. The story moves along at a good pace and it's entertaining throughout with several of their friends and family popping in along the way. I especially love how caring and supportive they are towards Dannel and Osian. I was also happy with the first chapter as it gives us a slight recap on what happened with the MC's in book one.
A great second book in this series with an entertaining plot and I love having more from Dannel and Osian, a lovely couple to read.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[books are love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Osian and Dannel are my new favorite couple. They are so awesome together. These two just mesh well. Osian helps Dannel and understands him and Dannel is there for Osian even if he doesn’t quite always understand what Osian is going through. The banter between them and their friends and family is great as well. I love how protective of Dannel Osian is.

In this second book of this entertaining series of two crime loving guys who bumble their way through the mystery, we find Osian and Dannel starting out by checking on a ghost at the theatre that their friend Ian is working at and it turns into more. Sure the ghost aspect is there as well but now we have murder as well. As they investigate the ghost, they are pulled into the murders and who done it for them.

The book is entertaining and even though is a mystery and murder galore it is light and fun. Dannel and Osian are so fun loving and sweet that watching them bumble through the clues and mystery is just wonderful. They are wonderful together and with Dannel’s way of seeing things, we get a great and interesting perspective. It’s funny that these two are always thinking of cake and food as they investigate.

They can’t stay out of the detectives’ way as they get thrown into the mystery of the murders at the theatre while figuring out who is haunting the theatre at the same time. It’s fun to watch their minds work on the mystery and see how they work together to figure things out. A great entertaining book and I can’t wait to read the third.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delightful cozy mystery style book about a well established couple who run a true crime podcast. This is the second book, but you can read it without having read the first one already. I would recommend it though just because then books are good. Osian and Dannel have been friends forever and boyfriends/partners for almost as long. Both are retired first responders after having suffered some serious PTSD on the job. Their elderly neighbor Ian is putting on a play at a famous and supposedly haunted old London theater. They are wanting to do a podcast about the history, both factual and lore/rumor when people start dying during the play’s production. Can these two amateur sleuths solve the mystery without becoming the next victims? The show must go on! One thing that I truly loved about this book was the depiction of the two main characters. They are well established in their relationship and know how to work and live together peacefully. Dannel is autistic and the way the author wrote him was so believable and realistic. I think he is going to be one of my favorite fictional characters. Their interplay during this book gave me feels because Osian knows what his lover needs and doesn’t hesitate to help him however he needs it. This couple is in love and doesn’t care if they fit with everyone else; they just know they fit together perfectly. Absolutely loved this story and can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. Osian and Dannel are in the thick of it once again. They are investigating the Evelyn Lavelle theater where their friend and neighbor Ian is putting on a play. They find their other friend Archie hunched over the dead body of his mother when they arrive at the theater. Things only get more interesting from there. When more people turn up dead and mysterious things begin to happen around the theater, they can’t seem to stop investigating who could be behind it all. Are the murders and the mysterious accidents two separate things or is the same person behind it all? This book is a great mix of mystery, drama, and so much more. I love Osian and Dannel. These guys are their cast of friends and family are fantastic. The guys just can’t seem to stay out of it. It is almost as if the mystery wants to be solved by them. They keep getting drawn in even when they try to stay away. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Dahlia writes fantastic books. I always look forward to reading her books. Great job once again Dahlia.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet cozy mystery with wonderful characters.

This is the second instalment in the London Podcast Mystery series and once again Dannel and Osian find themselves involved in a murder or three.

These two men really are the sweetest and the love between them is tangible. The steamy scenes are off page but the many heartwarming and beautifully tender moments between them are front and centre. Dannel is neurodiverse and Osian once again shows his absolute love and devotion to Dannel by doing whatever he can to make the world suit Dannel’s needs, not the other way around.

This mystery features murders at a local theatre where their rather dramatically inclined neighbour is putting on play. The local theatre is also rumoured to be haunted. So begins Dannel and Osian’s interest and amateur sleuthing when they go to investigate the ghost haunting but are confronted by their friend hunched over a dead body.

This is a very engaging and enjoyable read with numerous interesting side characters to suspect and a dash of drama and suspense thrown in.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What 'change' have Olsian and Dannel made that D is struggling with? Who is Birdie? When Ian, Oz, and Danny go to the theatre for her to give them a tour, what happens? Loved the thought "Then again we're more Scooby and Shaggy than Holmes and Watson. At least they had snacks." My first thought that screamed through my head before I even finished reading those two sentences was, "SCOOBY SNACKS!!!" I love Dannel's no holds barred, tell it like it really is demeanor of being on the spectrum. How many dead bodies did we end up with in this story? Who was behind them blew my mind! This was a crazy but engrossing second story to the series. Loved the ending. Loved the meaning of the title. Enjoy the read!

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M. Brennan.

[SandyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two of Dahlia Donovan’s London Podcast Mystery series is a delight, a word that I try to avoid when reading cozy mysteries, but I can’t think of a better way to put it.

Dannel and Osian are even more entertaining than they were in the first book. As individuals and a couple, they balance each other out with gallons of love and mutual respect, while the mystery - suspects, red herrings, and all - was quirky and engaging without being too far-fetched for me. Suspension of disbelief needed, yes (because one must when reading an armchair detective cozy mystery), but totally worth it when you get there.

I’d really like to actually hear some episodes of their podcast at some point, because they sound like they’d be right up my alley, too. Overall, a great quick read of a mystery with a detective couple you can’t help but root for in every aspect of their lives.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. Dahlia Donovan is one of my favorite authors! This book is two parts murder mystery and one part romance which I absolutely love. This is the second book in the series and was just as good as the first one. I really like the idea of a murder podcast. It is a nice change from the usual detective novel. Daniel and Osian's relationship is absolutely lovely. They have really grown into their own. The murder mystery takes place at the local theatre that a friend of theirs is putting on a play. It is supposedly haunted. From there the mystery spirals out into dead bodies and ghosts. The cast of secondary characters round out the cast and make this book even more enjoyable. This book is a fun, low angst, and super sweet ride that I definitely recommend!

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously, at this point someone needs to make this podcast a reality.
It's so wonderfully written and completely immersive.
Once again Danny and Ossie are going about their daily lives when they find themselves embroiled in another mystery.
This time in a theater setting with dead bodies galore, plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing and an unexpected outcome.
Of course Danny and Ossie's beautiful, loving, supportive and inclusive relationship is the true star of the book.
I would love to continue these quaint and mysterious jaunts with these wonderful characters.

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this book, and i love the real life experience and inclusive writing of this author, I strongly recommend that to get the best from this series reading book 1 Cosplay Killer first. This is another cosy murder mystery that Dannel and Os find themselves in the middle of, this particular mystery has some grisly murders and a great whodunnit, one that I didn't see coming til the end, but again for me it's the relationship that Dannel and Os have that takes centre stage for me.

[Ellie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fun series is settling in nicely as we follow our dynamic duo, Osian and Dannel, on another investigation, this time at a theatre where a murder interrupts their splendidly flamboyant neighbour Ian from directing a play.

I found the theatre history snippets fascinating. The mystery was enjoyably convoluted and it was great to see the increasingly familiar supporting cast of friends, family and detectives. But the heart of these stories is the loving bond between our two adorable geeks and the infinite care and support they show for each other. A lovely read.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with book one, I liked the premise and the main characters, but the book overall didn't work all that well for me. I guess the MCs were a bit less foolish in this one, but again I couldn't keep track of (or care about) most of the secondary characters/suspects. I think the bottom line is that this isn't the author for me. Other readers may respond differently.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for an advance copy of this book.

[Arllau · Rating 4 out of 5]

London Podcast Mystery @2. I just love the relationship between Osian and Dannel. They are such a cute and adorable couple. Again we find them involved helping to solve another murder mystery but their relationship takes centre stage. It is such a fun light hearted read. So grab your cup of tea, blanket and curl up in your favourite seat in the house and enjoy.
I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Dahlia Donovan hit it out of the ballpark with this story! The support that Dannel and Osian gave and had for each other was amazing. I loved the writing and how the author brought together the mc’s, the plot and the mystery. I absolutely enjoyed this story, it had fun characters and was really well written, highly recommend!! I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Suze · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*
Osian and Dannel get embroiled in murderous times at a local theatre.
For two guys who can struggle with dealing with outside world problems, they do get stuck in a lot!
We continue to see how they and their close family and friends help Dannel in particular navigate the stresses.
The who's and why's of the theatre murders were not quite so obvious in this one, with the culprit being hidden most of the time.
Enjoyable series