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Hayden & Friends #1
Devil's Chew Toy
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes up in a stranger's bed alone, half-naked and sporting one hell of a shiner. Then the police come knocking on the door. It seems that Latino dancer Camilo Rodriguez has gone missing and they suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, Hayden seeks out two of Camilo's friends--Hollister and Burley--both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is a "Dreamer" whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won't take a brown boy's disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden's hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store's owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there's Camilo's ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who's suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della--and uncover the twisted scheme that's made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they'll finally learn the truth about Camilo's disappearance--and the fate of his family.
Determined to find answers, Hayden seeks out two of Camilo's friends--Hollister and Burley--both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is a "Dreamer" whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won't take a brown boy's disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden's hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store's owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there's Camilo's ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who's suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della--and uncover the twisted scheme that's made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they'll finally learn the truth about Camilo's disappearance--and the fate of his family.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2022
97 people are currently reading
5716 people want to read
About the author
Rob Osler
8 books167 followersRob Osler is the USA Today Bestselling author of THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID, book one in the new historical Harriet Morrow Investigates series. Praise for the novel: a Publisher's Weekly STARRED REVIEW, a New York Times "Standout Historical Release," The Washington Post's "Best Novels to Cozy Up With," a Historical Novel Society Editor's Choice, and an Amazon Editor's Pick.
CIRQUE DU SLAY, the follow-up to acclaimed DEVIL'S CHEW TOY is the 2025 Winner of the Anthony and Left Coast Crime Awards for Best Humorous Novel.
Rob's short story, MISS DIRECTION (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023), was a finalist for the 2024 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award, and his short story, ANALOGUE (also EQMM), won the Mystery Writers of America 2022 Robert L Fish Award.
Rob is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Queer Crime Writers. He is a graduate in philosophy from the University of Puget Sound and earned a master's degree in business from the University of Washington's Foster School.
After many years living in Chicago and Seattle, he resides in California with his husband and a tall, gray cat. Discover more at robosler dot com
CIRQUE DU SLAY, the follow-up to acclaimed DEVIL'S CHEW TOY is the 2025 Winner of the Anthony and Left Coast Crime Awards for Best Humorous Novel.
Rob's short story, MISS DIRECTION (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Sept/Oct 2023), was a finalist for the 2024 Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award, and his short story, ANALOGUE (also EQMM), won the Mystery Writers of America 2022 Robert L Fish Award.
Rob is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and Queer Crime Writers. He is a graduate in philosophy from the University of Puget Sound and earned a master's degree in business from the University of Washington's Foster School.
After many years living in Chicago and Seattle, he resides in California with his husband and a tall, gray cat. Discover more at robosler dot com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 300 reviews
August 5, 2022
It was so good to read a queer book that is not either young adult high school drama or adult steamy romance or some really depressive tragedy stuff. This book is a cozy mystery thriller just like the ones you can buy everywhere. But with queer characters. And a really good story. And well written. These books are really hard to find. Needle-in-a-haystack-hard to find.
I love that this book is not just a chamber play with two main characters and hardly anyone else. There are so many interesting and diverse side characters. And they’re all introduced in a way so even I could memorize them. There were also great side plots.
I really like to have more books like this one. At least there’s going to be a sequel to this book. Can’t wait to read it.
I love that this book is not just a chamber play with two main characters and hardly anyone else. There are so many interesting and diverse side characters. And they’re all introduced in a way so even I could memorize them. There were also great side plots.
I really like to have more books like this one. At least there’s going to be a sequel to this book. Can’t wait to read it.
February 8, 2022
A mystery story. Diverse and very queer. Imagine Hayden physically: Prince Harry X Andrew Minyard. For those who don’t know Andrew: Google All For the Game!
After being accidentally kicked in his face by Camilo, a dancer at a gay club, Hayden and Camilo go home together. The next day Hayden wakes up in an empty bed. Camilo has disappeared, and the police question Hayden. What happened to Camilo? Why did he leave in the middle of the night? Hayden wants answers, and together with two of Camilo’s friends, lesbians Hollister and Burley, he tries to solve the mystery.
While reading, I always make notes. And then, after finishing a book, I wrap those notes all together in a nice review (or at least, I think so 😂). But in this case, notes? Wrapping them all together? Oof, I wasn’t sure what to think, what to write, what to ... whatever ... So I’ll try to write a coherent review ... and I’m not sure how it will end ...
First of all, the characters are hilarious. His neighbor calls Hayden a weird carrot-topped midget (see my description above). According to Hayden, Hollister is Serena Williams with a Mohawk (I’d say an Eva Simons look-a-like). And Burley is, well, think of what you’d imagine someone having that name, and you’re probably right.
Furthermore, the story was very easy to read. When I started writing this review, the first word that came to mind was blunt. Blunt chapters, blunt paragraphs, blunt sentences. The writing is simple, almost repetitive. The author used the words this and that and then a lot. But the story wasn’t boring because there was some sort of cadence in the bluntness and repetitiveness that made the story flow smoothly. And those hilarious characters made the story fun to read even though it’s pitched as a mystery. It’s more of a comical mystery, I guess. Meanwhile, several important topics were discussed, such as police brutality, bullying, and being illegal in the US.
I’m not sure if I can call this a ‘well written’ book. Some people might find it over the top, and others might find the writing too simple. While reading, I constantly thought that the writing reminded me of another (mystery) author, but I haven’t found the author's name in my brains yet (it’s just too full right now 😭). Overall, I just enjoyed reading the story. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Oh, and I really liked Hayden’s blog, especially the one about Look but don’t Touch!
Ask yourself: does he seem like a bad boy or a good guy? If he’s a member of the first camp, feel free to look, ogle, flirt, stare and fantasize, but DO NOT TOUCH! We’re looking for a spark, not a third degree burn.
I have to sit on this for a while. For now, my rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I’m not sure yet, so I might change it. I’m very curious what other people think of the book, so I’m eagerly waiting on other reviews! There will be a second book in this series, and I’m probably going to read it because I’d love to see a certain person again ... just like Hayden does.
I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
After being accidentally kicked in his face by Camilo, a dancer at a gay club, Hayden and Camilo go home together. The next day Hayden wakes up in an empty bed. Camilo has disappeared, and the police question Hayden. What happened to Camilo? Why did he leave in the middle of the night? Hayden wants answers, and together with two of Camilo’s friends, lesbians Hollister and Burley, he tries to solve the mystery.
While reading, I always make notes. And then, after finishing a book, I wrap those notes all together in a nice review (or at least, I think so 😂). But in this case, notes? Wrapping them all together? Oof, I wasn’t sure what to think, what to write, what to ... whatever ... So I’ll try to write a coherent review ... and I’m not sure how it will end ...
First of all, the characters are hilarious. His neighbor calls Hayden a weird carrot-topped midget (see my description above). According to Hayden, Hollister is Serena Williams with a Mohawk (I’d say an Eva Simons look-a-like). And Burley is, well, think of what you’d imagine someone having that name, and you’re probably right.
Furthermore, the story was very easy to read. When I started writing this review, the first word that came to mind was blunt. Blunt chapters, blunt paragraphs, blunt sentences. The writing is simple, almost repetitive. The author used the words this and that and then a lot. But the story wasn’t boring because there was some sort of cadence in the bluntness and repetitiveness that made the story flow smoothly. And those hilarious characters made the story fun to read even though it’s pitched as a mystery. It’s more of a comical mystery, I guess. Meanwhile, several important topics were discussed, such as police brutality, bullying, and being illegal in the US.
I’m not sure if I can call this a ‘well written’ book. Some people might find it over the top, and others might find the writing too simple. While reading, I constantly thought that the writing reminded me of another (mystery) author, but I haven’t found the author's name in my brains yet (it’s just too full right now 😭). Overall, I just enjoyed reading the story. And that’s what it’s all about, right? Oh, and I really liked Hayden’s blog, especially the one about Look but don’t Touch!
Ask yourself: does he seem like a bad boy or a good guy? If he’s a member of the first camp, feel free to look, ogle, flirt, stare and fantasize, but DO NOT TOUCH! We’re looking for a spark, not a third degree burn.
I have to sit on this for a while. For now, my rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I’m not sure yet, so I might change it. I’m very curious what other people think of the book, so I’m eagerly waiting on other reviews! There will be a second book in this series, and I’m probably going to read it because I’d love to see a certain person again ... just like Hayden does.
I received an ARC from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2022
Really fun cozy mystery featuring a 25 year-old ginger gay guy who stumbles into investigating a go-go boy's disappearance after spending a chaste night together. Along the way, he gathers help from two butch lesbians who keep him engaged and on the path to discovering who's behind the kidnapping. Lots of fun with a number of great secondary characters and a wonderful dog named Commander.
My very first monthly book recommendation for Queer Writers of Crime. I recommend Devil's Chew Toy:
https://www.queerwritersofcrime.com/p...
My very first monthly book recommendation for Queer Writers of Crime. I recommend Devil's Chew Toy:
https://www.queerwritersofcrime.com/p...
October 17, 2022
A cozy queer mystery set in the Pacific Northwest? Yes please! Overall I enjoyed this book - it had a fun cast of characters and the story itself was well written (I didn't know whodunit until the final reveal!). At the same time, the pacing was a bit slow at times and I didn't always get or appreciate the random breaks to feature Hayden's blog posts. That said, this is probably more of a 3.5 than a 3 for me.
February 11, 2022
A cute cozy mystery with a lovable diverse cast and a plot that will keep you guessing. I adored how Osler was able to walk the line between being silly and serious so it was never too much of either. (Listened to the audio book and loved the narrator!)
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January 12, 2022This book is something else. I cannot remember the last time I read a contemporary mystery and so it was an odd experience for me. So often any sort of mystery element in a book comes along with magic or sci-fi or fantasy etc but none of those are present here.
This book is on the right side of ridiculous. Hayden is just a really small guy. He is really short and really slim with red hair and his appearance is referenced a lot in the book. He tries to tip a go-go dancer and ends up getting kicked in the face on accident by Camilo. Somehow Hayden and Camilo end up going back to Camilo's place and Hayden stays the night. When Hayden wakes up though Camilo is gone and no one knows where he went. He left his dog, he left Hayden alone in his house etc. So Hayden is invested in figuring out what happened to Camilo.
And in trying to figure out where he went, Hayden comes into contact with with police officers, a dog that he is now feeling responsible for named Commander, a bunch of lesbians including Hollister who is described as Serena Williams with a mohawk and Burley who is exactly as she sounds. He also has a run-in with a gun-toting monster of a man with fierce guard dogs, a boutique pet store owner, an asshole ex-boyfriend, and a nosy neighbor. When I tell you that this book is a trip, I mean it. As soon as I thought I had figured it out I was wrong. That happened multiple times.
While this book is a great mix of hilarious and ridiculous, it does manage to squeeze in some really important themes about immigration and deportation in the US, police brutality, and bullying. I wish we got more from the ending but I did read that this is going to be a series with a companion style books not necessarily a continuation so I look forward to reading those.
I received an audio advanced copy of this book and I don't know that I would have read it on my own but I am glad that I had the chance to listen to this audiobook. As for a rating, I enjoyed this but I didn't love it. The only time I can see myself rereading it is if a sequel comes out where I need a refresher.
White gay MC, Black lesbian SC, white lesbian SC, gay SCs, lesbian SCs, Latino gay LI
This book is on the right side of ridiculous. Hayden is just a really small guy. He is really short and really slim with red hair and his appearance is referenced a lot in the book. He tries to tip a go-go dancer and ends up getting kicked in the face on accident by Camilo. Somehow Hayden and Camilo end up going back to Camilo's place and Hayden stays the night. When Hayden wakes up though Camilo is gone and no one knows where he went. He left his dog, he left Hayden alone in his house etc. So Hayden is invested in figuring out what happened to Camilo.
And in trying to figure out where he went, Hayden comes into contact with with police officers, a dog that he is now feeling responsible for named Commander, a bunch of lesbians including Hollister who is described as Serena Williams with a mohawk and Burley who is exactly as she sounds. He also has a run-in with a gun-toting monster of a man with fierce guard dogs, a boutique pet store owner, an asshole ex-boyfriend, and a nosy neighbor. When I tell you that this book is a trip, I mean it. As soon as I thought I had figured it out I was wrong. That happened multiple times.
While this book is a great mix of hilarious and ridiculous, it does manage to squeeze in some really important themes about immigration and deportation in the US, police brutality, and bullying. I wish we got more from the ending but I did read that this is going to be a series with a companion style books not necessarily a continuation so I look forward to reading those.
I received an audio advanced copy of this book and I don't know that I would have read it on my own but I am glad that I had the chance to listen to this audiobook. As for a rating, I enjoyed this but I didn't love it. The only time I can see myself rereading it is if a sequel comes out where I need a refresher.
White gay MC, Black lesbian SC, white lesbian SC, gay SCs, lesbian SCs, Latino gay LI
March 26, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
A night out for Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall nets him a black eye and a date with a hot dancer. The next morning Camilo, the dancer, is gone when Hayden wakes up. Soon the police are knocking on the door saying Camilo’s truck was found running and empty. Camilo is missing and foul play is suspected. So, unsure what to do and worried about Camilo, Hayden takes temporary custody of Camilo’s bull terrier, Commander, and tries to find out what happened to his new “friend”. He connects with Hollister and Burley, two of Camilo’s friends, who are shocked to find out he is missing. They dive into Camilo’s life but it seems even his best friends are not sure what he has been getting himself involved in. They know his ex-boyfriend Ryan knows more than he is saying but never imagined where their little investigation would lead or how much danger they getting themselves in. Can they find Camilo and live to tell the tale? Only time will tell.
Mr. Osler has created some unique characters for his “Quozy” mystery. Hayden is 5’4″ “rounding up” weighing in at 125 “again rounding up” freckled with “a shock of red-orange hair”. Camilo is about 5 feet tall and “superhot and genuinely nice” according to Hayden. Hollister is a tall, curvy, broad-shouldered African American woman, and sports a 6-inch mohawk. She has a take-charge attitude and knows how to use it. She also drives a Porche. Her girlfriend Mysti is a petite Korean American with perfectly applied make-up and long hair with Auburn highlights. According to Hayden “they went together like a tiara and sweatpants”. Burley fits her name, She is six and a half feet tall and weighs in at 300 pounds. She wears her hair in waist-length gray pigtails. Hayden also has a crazy neighbor that is always up in his business. A real eclectic group that all develop nicely throughout the book. They come across as genuine and true to life.
The quest to find Camilo was a bit absurd but so much fun to read. Hayden and Hollister get themselves into some bizarre situations. Some had me laughing out loud. Others had me fearing for their safety. Sometimes I had both experiences on the same page, even in one paragraph.
The author does weave some hot-topic themes, immigration, deportation, and bullying into the text in interesting ways. The underlying crime was totally unexpected and I am not sure how they were even able to pull off what they were doing but I was fully engaged to see them brought down.
The author has coined the term “Quozy Mystery” as a subgenre of mystery blending LGBTQ+ with cozy mystery and he has done that very well in Devil’s Chew Toy. I was captivated by his characters and the situations they were involved in. I love that Hayden shared his thoughts on his blog MATES ON DATES with good messages and a little humor. The chapter titles were clever too.
Mr. Osler has found the perfect balance between humor and mystery. This book was entertaining, over the top in places, and absolutely delightful from beginning to end. I am crazy about this diverse set of characters. When I started reading this book I thought it was a stand-alone novel. I am so happy to learn it is the 1st book in a series because these are characters I want to visit again and again. If you enjoy a mystery filled with humor Devil’s Chew Toy is the book for you!
A night out for Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall nets him a black eye and a date with a hot dancer. The next morning Camilo, the dancer, is gone when Hayden wakes up. Soon the police are knocking on the door saying Camilo’s truck was found running and empty. Camilo is missing and foul play is suspected. So, unsure what to do and worried about Camilo, Hayden takes temporary custody of Camilo’s bull terrier, Commander, and tries to find out what happened to his new “friend”. He connects with Hollister and Burley, two of Camilo’s friends, who are shocked to find out he is missing. They dive into Camilo’s life but it seems even his best friends are not sure what he has been getting himself involved in. They know his ex-boyfriend Ryan knows more than he is saying but never imagined where their little investigation would lead or how much danger they getting themselves in. Can they find Camilo and live to tell the tale? Only time will tell.
Mr. Osler has created some unique characters for his “Quozy” mystery. Hayden is 5’4″ “rounding up” weighing in at 125 “again rounding up” freckled with “a shock of red-orange hair”. Camilo is about 5 feet tall and “superhot and genuinely nice” according to Hayden. Hollister is a tall, curvy, broad-shouldered African American woman, and sports a 6-inch mohawk. She has a take-charge attitude and knows how to use it. She also drives a Porche. Her girlfriend Mysti is a petite Korean American with perfectly applied make-up and long hair with Auburn highlights. According to Hayden “they went together like a tiara and sweatpants”. Burley fits her name, She is six and a half feet tall and weighs in at 300 pounds. She wears her hair in waist-length gray pigtails. Hayden also has a crazy neighbor that is always up in his business. A real eclectic group that all develop nicely throughout the book. They come across as genuine and true to life.
The quest to find Camilo was a bit absurd but so much fun to read. Hayden and Hollister get themselves into some bizarre situations. Some had me laughing out loud. Others had me fearing for their safety. Sometimes I had both experiences on the same page, even in one paragraph.
The author does weave some hot-topic themes, immigration, deportation, and bullying into the text in interesting ways. The underlying crime was totally unexpected and I am not sure how they were even able to pull off what they were doing but I was fully engaged to see them brought down.
The author has coined the term “Quozy Mystery” as a subgenre of mystery blending LGBTQ+ with cozy mystery and he has done that very well in Devil’s Chew Toy. I was captivated by his characters and the situations they were involved in. I love that Hayden shared his thoughts on his blog MATES ON DATES with good messages and a little humor. The chapter titles were clever too.
Mr. Osler has found the perfect balance between humor and mystery. This book was entertaining, over the top in places, and absolutely delightful from beginning to end. I am crazy about this diverse set of characters. When I started reading this book I thought it was a stand-alone novel. I am so happy to learn it is the 1st book in a series because these are characters I want to visit again and again. If you enjoy a mystery filled with humor Devil’s Chew Toy is the book for you!
August 25, 2022
This mystery was different from many of the others that I have read but in a good way. All of the characters are pretty unique, and I chuckled at the descriptions of everyone. I pictured Brendan Scannell from Bonding on Netflix as Hayden. I am probably not too far off the mark with that comparison.
The story starts with Hayden being kicked in the face accidentally when trying to tip a Go-Go dancer at the club. Camillo decides to take him home with him, but I'm not sure if that is because he is interested in him or if he feels bad for giving him a shiner. When Hayden awakes the following day, Camillo is gone, and he decides that the police don't seem to care and will find Camillo. He ropes in two women, Hollister and Burley, to help uncover the truth. It is quite a twisty tale, and some parts don't seem possible and weren't really explained (I can't give away too much because those details are what the mystery hinges upon).
I liked the fast pace, and of course, there is a dog in the story, Commander. Hayden becomes attached to him while they search for Camillo. I can only imagine how hard that will be to give him up.
One of the minor characters is Jerry. He is Hayden's aunt's neighbor and has to be around 90, based on a few comments. I think he could be a major player going forward in future books. He seemed wise and had sage advice for Hayden.
Now Hayden's neighbor, Sarah? She must not have enough to do because she wanted Hayden out of there for a lease infraction. I do believe that the landlord was wise to her ways, and I think she had a soft spot for Hayden.
There are plenty of clues to uncover the "bad guys," but not so many that you might figure out the "who" before the end.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future installments in this series.
We give the book 4 paws up.
The story starts with Hayden being kicked in the face accidentally when trying to tip a Go-Go dancer at the club. Camillo decides to take him home with him, but I'm not sure if that is because he is interested in him or if he feels bad for giving him a shiner. When Hayden awakes the following day, Camillo is gone, and he decides that the police don't seem to care and will find Camillo. He ropes in two women, Hollister and Burley, to help uncover the truth. It is quite a twisty tale, and some parts don't seem possible and weren't really explained (I can't give away too much because those details are what the mystery hinges upon).
I liked the fast pace, and of course, there is a dog in the story, Commander. Hayden becomes attached to him while they search for Camillo. I can only imagine how hard that will be to give him up.
One of the minor characters is Jerry. He is Hayden's aunt's neighbor and has to be around 90, based on a few comments. I think he could be a major player going forward in future books. He seemed wise and had sage advice for Hayden.
Now Hayden's neighbor, Sarah? She must not have enough to do because she wanted Hayden out of there for a lease infraction. I do believe that the landlord was wise to her ways, and I think she had a soft spot for Hayden.
There are plenty of clues to uncover the "bad guys," but not so many that you might figure out the "who" before the end.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future installments in this series.
We give the book 4 paws up.
February 23, 2022
This book was so freaking fun! It was such a unique story with a whole cast of unique characters and I loved every minute of it. Rob Osler really said “let’s write a twisty mystery but make it gay” and he NAILED it! 😍
Hayden was the perfect main character. He was funny, kind and the Spider-Man of the story (just like he wanted to be.) Hollister, Burley, Jerry and even little Commander were the most perfect secondary characters and really gave so much to the story. Even our bad guys were enjoyable to read about! All these voices lead us to our big finale and I gotta say, I didn’t see it all coming! Some of the details we were lead to but not all, so that was awesome!
This story, the plot and the characters, was so well-rounded and I just can’t say enough about how wonderful it was. Additionally, the narrator of the audiobook was amazing and really embodied Hayden and our other characters. 🤩
I gotta give all the thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC! Devil’s Chew Toy releases February 7 so get it added to your TBR!
Hayden was the perfect main character. He was funny, kind and the Spider-Man of the story (just like he wanted to be.) Hollister, Burley, Jerry and even little Commander were the most perfect secondary characters and really gave so much to the story. Even our bad guys were enjoyable to read about! All these voices lead us to our big finale and I gotta say, I didn’t see it all coming! Some of the details we were lead to but not all, so that was awesome!
This story, the plot and the characters, was so well-rounded and I just can’t say enough about how wonderful it was. Additionally, the narrator of the audiobook was amazing and really embodied Hayden and our other characters. 🤩
I gotta give all the thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audio ARC! Devil’s Chew Toy releases February 7 so get it added to your TBR!
January 11, 2022
There were a lot of positives about this book. It was a cute story with a full cast of funny, entertaining characters. Everyone was unique with strong, endearing personalities, including one of the villains. The storyline was consistent, fast moving and well crafted. I truly enjoyed reading this book.
With all that in mind, there were a few drawbacks. While most of the characters were well-rounded, the two primary villains were very two-dimensional. There was nothing special about their personalities or their motivations. The way they were achieving their unoriginal goal was creative, but the idea didn't feel fully flushed out. I don't even know how they were able to get their hands on the illegal items that they were selling or how they were shipping them. Logically, there were a lot of problems with the overall plot, but those problems can be overlooked so long as readers don't think too deeply.
With all that in mind, there were a few drawbacks. While most of the characters were well-rounded, the two primary villains were very two-dimensional. There was nothing special about their personalities or their motivations. The way they were achieving their unoriginal goal was creative, but the idea didn't feel fully flushed out. I don't even know how they were able to get their hands on the illegal items that they were selling or how they were shipping them. Logically, there were a lot of problems with the overall plot, but those problems can be overlooked so long as readers don't think too deeply.
July 11, 2022
This was a pretty good cozy mystery was far as plot and humor go. A great diverse cast of characters, too.
HOWEVER. The MC had a case of the cis white male gay on how he interacted with others in the queer community. Heavy (no pun intended) emphasis on a fat characters build and weight Every Single Time she is mentioned. And a complete disregard of a Black lesbian’s desire to not involve cops in a dispute. And an insistence on calling someone An Illegal once he found out they were a dreamer?!
I was hoping for some character growth… but not so much. This is going to be a series, so hopefully we will see that on later books. But it would have been nice to have seen him have at least some introspective thoughts instead of it just being the people around him correcting him.
HOWEVER. The MC had a case of the cis white male gay on how he interacted with others in the queer community. Heavy (no pun intended) emphasis on a fat characters build and weight Every Single Time she is mentioned. And a complete disregard of a Black lesbian’s desire to not involve cops in a dispute. And an insistence on calling someone An Illegal once he found out they were a dreamer?!
I was hoping for some character growth… but not so much. This is going to be a series, so hopefully we will see that on later books. But it would have been nice to have seen him have at least some introspective thoughts instead of it just being the people around him correcting him.
October 12, 2023
What a great story.
When I first read what this was about I thought it might be interesting, but I was so much more involved in the story than I thought I would be! About halfway through the novel we took a pretty big turn that I didn’t see coming and it really pulled the story together well. I loved it from start to finish.
I was a little bummed in the ending (aren’t we always when we think things should have gone another way?!) but I know there’s a sequel coming out in a few months and already I can’t wait! This is a great read and a strong one for the LGBTQ community. Highly recommended.
When I first read what this was about I thought it might be interesting, but I was so much more involved in the story than I thought I would be! About halfway through the novel we took a pretty big turn that I didn’t see coming and it really pulled the story together well. I loved it from start to finish.
I was a little bummed in the ending (aren’t we always when we think things should have gone another way?!) but I know there’s a sequel coming out in a few months and already I can’t wait! This is a great read and a strong one for the LGBTQ community. Highly recommended.
February 25, 2022
Well, this one was a wonderful surprise! It begins a bit slow but soon enough I was truly engaged in the search for Camilo.
The characters are great, vibrant and well defined, the story hits the right mix of humour and suspense, and I found the blog posts' asides delightful.
I'll be checking for more stories by this author, I really, really liked it :D
The characters are great, vibrant and well defined, the story hits the right mix of humour and suspense, and I found the blog posts' asides delightful.
I'll be checking for more stories by this author, I really, really liked it :D
October 17, 2021
Charming and diverse characters—both human and canine—fill the pages of Rob Osler's delightfully humorous cozy. What fun to spend time with endearing leading man Hayden and friends on a romp through Seattle.
June 6, 2022
Throughly enjoyable mystery novel, with a very likable main character.
Perfect especially as an audio read!
Perfect especially as an audio read!
January 31, 2024
This book was entertaining enough! I really liked the main character and the dog! And I love the vivid colors and simplicity of the cover…. But the story felt like it dragged a bit and to be honest… that’s all I really have the energy to write about this book 😬 the second book is coming out soon.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
May 4, 2022
Warm-hearted and bursting with community, this is a propulsive cozy-style mystery reminiscent of Stephanie Plum and other shenanigan-based mysteries.
I for one am a sucker for a protagonist like Hayden, whose good heart and arguably bad luck thrust him into a position of being the amateur sleuth responsible for finding a missing person; my favorite thing about the book is that on his search for the missing Camilo, Hayden at least once has to introduce himself as "the guy Camilo kicked in the face" (for the record, accidentally, in the course of his job as a go-go boy).
Despite going from bars to house parties to warehouses and other locations, this never feels like a gritty whodunit with seedy, depressing locales; Hayden (and the reader) see the good in the world and in life - and it helps that a significant subplot revolves around Hayden taking care of Camilo's dog, the lovable Commander, with the help of 90-year-old Jerry.
If you're looking for a fun mystery read, which also functions as a love letter to butch lesbians and the LGBTQ community as a whole, this may be the book for you.
-Callen
I for one am a sucker for a protagonist like Hayden, whose good heart and arguably bad luck thrust him into a position of being the amateur sleuth responsible for finding a missing person; my favorite thing about the book is that on his search for the missing Camilo, Hayden at least once has to introduce himself as "the guy Camilo kicked in the face" (for the record, accidentally, in the course of his job as a go-go boy).
Despite going from bars to house parties to warehouses and other locations, this never feels like a gritty whodunit with seedy, depressing locales; Hayden (and the reader) see the good in the world and in life - and it helps that a significant subplot revolves around Hayden taking care of Camilo's dog, the lovable Commander, with the help of 90-year-old Jerry.
If you're looking for a fun mystery read, which also functions as a love letter to butch lesbians and the LGBTQ community as a whole, this may be the book for you.
-Callen
February 18, 2022
Listened to the audiobook for this one and loved the narrator/story as a whole. Finally, a queer cozy mystery! Hayden was a lovely main character (from one short guy to another, I really related to him haha), and it was refreshing to read a cozy where the crime isn't a murder.
August 5, 2021
This book was provided to me via Kindle by Crooked Lane Books and #NetGalley for my honest opinion.
A quaint little read full of hilarious characters. Easy to read and enjoy.
A quaint little read full of hilarious characters. Easy to read and enjoy.
October 18, 2021
A wonderful read! Engaging voice, vivid setting, diverse and loveable cast -- I can't wait for my next ride-along with Hayden and his rainbow of friends!
dnf
April 18, 2024It was such an odd experience reading this book. I was quite enjoying it in the beginning, I'd been looking for a laid back mystery to listen to and this one seemed just right. There were some meh things, the main character is so bland and is constantly spouting "wisdom" that sounds like an after school special. The blog posts interspersed throughout the book are just so awful. I can't imagine anyone ever reading them. But whatever, I was willing to go along for the ride because I liked the other characters.
Then came the string of comments on other people's bodies, including a lot of fatphobic remarks.
Then the blog post about how he finds a dude that he thinks might have Nazi leanings hot?! This is his example of lusting after a bad boy apparently? But oh no, it's okay because he later found out the guy is half Jewish. Like WTF.
Then he refers to someone with DACA status as "illegal"
Then there's the treatment of bipolar disorder. And the cis white main character's frustration that his Black friend doesn't want to call the cops on her mentally ill girlfriend. And we are supposed to sympathize with HIM?!
And there was just this overarching vibe with the dude's blog that what queer people need is to find a long term romantic partner. No advice to have fun or hook up or about all the kinds of relationships that are possible. It's absolutely fine if that's what the main character is after, and not all queer books need to represent all queer people, but it just felt off to me. Even the fact that the "hookup" in the beginning of the book ends with the love interest just wanting to cuddle felt a little off to me. On the one hand, I loved that because that's basically my ace dream date. But on the other, it felt like it was supposed to prove what a wholesome guy the love interest is and cuddling is not inherently more wholesome than sex. It's all great, if it's what the people involved want to do.
The whole story just felt overly sanitized and yet had all these things that were red flags for me. It's a bummer because I wanted a queer mystery that was chill and fun. But this really missed the mark for me. The pacing was also too slow. Not my jam.
Then came the string of comments on other people's bodies, including a lot of fatphobic remarks.
Then the blog post about how he finds a dude that he thinks might have Nazi leanings hot?! This is his example of lusting after a bad boy apparently? But oh no, it's okay because he later found out the guy is half Jewish. Like WTF.
Then he refers to someone with DACA status as "illegal"
Then there's the treatment of bipolar disorder. And the cis white main character's frustration that his Black friend doesn't want to call the cops on her mentally ill girlfriend. And we are supposed to sympathize with HIM?!
And there was just this overarching vibe with the dude's blog that what queer people need is to find a long term romantic partner. No advice to have fun or hook up or about all the kinds of relationships that are possible. It's absolutely fine if that's what the main character is after, and not all queer books need to represent all queer people, but it just felt off to me. Even the fact that the "hookup" in the beginning of the book ends with the love interest just wanting to cuddle felt a little off to me. On the one hand, I loved that because that's basically my ace dream date. But on the other, it felt like it was supposed to prove what a wholesome guy the love interest is and cuddling is not inherently more wholesome than sex. It's all great, if it's what the people involved want to do.
The whole story just felt overly sanitized and yet had all these things that were red flags for me. It's a bummer because I wanted a queer mystery that was chill and fun. But this really missed the mark for me. The pacing was also too slow. Not my jam.
March 29, 2024
4.5 stars
This was truly a delight to read. Did I 💯 pick up this book because of the title? Yes, I did. A friend posted her review of it and I was sold by the name. No need to know anything else but genre (so I knew what to expect).
This LGBTQ+ 🍿 thriller was such a joy to read. I don’t think I’ve smiled and laughed as much in a twist mystery than I did with this. Not only is Hayden such a gem (I just want to hug him and protect him), but the merry cast of eccentric and crazy supporting characters were amazing.
There is an actual mystery to be solved here and the layers just kept getting peeled back and more and more questions were being asked. It got a little fantastical there for a bit, but I was so invested and here for it.
I got into it right away (no waiting period for the plot to unfold) and the ending was a nice puzzle. My only criticism is I wish we got to see what happened with Hayden at the very end (don’t want to give the ending away), but not knowing means that what I WISH happened in the end can happen since we don’t really know. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s no loose ends. I just would’ve liked a Hayden 6 months from now epilogue or something.
This was truly a delight to read. Did I 💯 pick up this book because of the title? Yes, I did. A friend posted her review of it and I was sold by the name. No need to know anything else but genre (so I knew what to expect).
This LGBTQ+ 🍿 thriller was such a joy to read. I don’t think I’ve smiled and laughed as much in a twist mystery than I did with this. Not only is Hayden such a gem (I just want to hug him and protect him), but the merry cast of eccentric and crazy supporting characters were amazing.
There is an actual mystery to be solved here and the layers just kept getting peeled back and more and more questions were being asked. It got a little fantastical there for a bit, but I was so invested and here for it.
I got into it right away (no waiting period for the plot to unfold) and the ending was a nice puzzle. My only criticism is I wish we got to see what happened with Hayden at the very end (don’t want to give the ending away), but not knowing means that what I WISH happened in the end can happen since we don’t really know. I mean, don’t get me wrong, there’s no loose ends. I just would’ve liked a Hayden 6 months from now epilogue or something.
July 4, 2025
it was fine! points for the fun queer cast of characters but the mystery plot felt a little too simple/unsurprising. i guess this classifies as an easy to read cozy mystery but it just felt like it needed to be more twisty in order for me to really enjoy it!
December 16, 2022
The review below has also been published on Rainbow Book Reviews.
After having seen an ad in one of the M/M-related Facebook groups I’m a member of, I purchased this novel during a late spring sale for less than the cost of two cigarettes, stored it on my Kindle, and promptly forgot about it, bless my sief brain. For reasons I don’t recall, I opened it finally in early November, and rushed through it in only two evenings. Which goes to show how immensely I enjoyed myself—this was a very nice surprise for the cozy murder mystery and amateur sleuth lover I unashamedly confess to be.
The main character is Hayden, a young, rather short, fiercely red-haired single Seattle teacher and hobby blogger (relationship advice, of all things!) with huge self-esteem issues. Of course, the one time he musters his courage to slip some dollar bills into the Speedo of a sizzling hot gogo dancer, said gogo dancer makes a quick movement and kicks him in the eye. Just his luck that this first attempt of a more direct approach ends thus with a splendid shiner. But the gogo dancer—Camilo—turns out to be a nice guy. Not only does he apologize profusely, but he also insists on taking Hayden home with him; not out of pity, apparently, but because he genuinely likes what he sees, despite the shiner. Camilo is such a decent dude that he doesn’t even seduce flustered Hayden—no sex on a first date—but invites him into his bed to snuggle and spoon. The evening could have ended worse.
Some new surprises await Hayden the very next morning, however. First, he discovers that he’s all alone in Camilo’s house—all alone bar Camilo’s dog, that is. Then, the police knock on the door because they found Camilo’s abandoned car in a parking lot. The whole story starts to reek to heaven, and yet, Hayden cannot bring himself to believe the niceness he perceived in the gogo dancer was but a sham. Determined to find out the reasons for Camilo’s disappearance, he seeks out the all-too lusty owner of the bar the boy was dancing in, gets him to divulge details about Camilo’s entourage, and thus meets the missing man’s best friends Hollister and Burley, two impressive lesbians (granted, anyone taller than Hayden’s diminutive size would look impressive to him). Hollister immediately volunteers to help him find Camilo. Little do they know that their investigations will lead to danger for life and limb…
I had a feast with this book told from the first-person perspective of Hayden. He was just too cute for words, especially since he was so self-conscious it permeated his every thought and word. But he was such a nice guy! For instance, he didn’t hesitate to take in Camilo’s dog even though it jeopardized his living situation—no animals allowed in his tenement building. He took it upon himself to hang out with Camilo’s taller-than-life besties Hollister and Burley. He truly wanted to find out what had happened to the man he had only spent a single night with because he couldn’t bear the thought that Camilo was in danger, putting himself in danger in the process. He was sometimes hapless, sometimes clueless, but always more determined than he himself would have believed he could be. Sigh, of course, he had fallen in love overnight (so cute!), and he needed a good deal of the book to acknowledge it.
The secondary characters? Hoot after hoot after hoot. I loved Hollister’s big heart, which shrank to a grain of sand whenever she had to face her new girlfriend, a closeted, very vindictive young woman who hated Hayden on sight. Burley and her semi-criminal brother were two more quaint characters I enjoyed very much. Camilo’s ex-boyfriend, the archetype of the young and arrogant beau, plus Camilo’s daytime employer, a woman not named Karen but being very much one, as well as the police officers (some of whom made Hayden’s mouth water) or Camilo’s uni-friends were just as equally well-invented as all the rest. The tone of the book was semi-humorous, which means I giggled many times, frequently laughed out loud too. The pace was well-dosed, bringing up tension, then slowing down, then quickening again, till the bitter (or happy, depends on the point of view of those involved) ending, which I for one didn’t see coming. Of course, clues were hidden throughout the story, as in any good murder mystery, but either I’m too silly or I was too taken in by the plot, I really suspected some co-culprits, but never ever guessed who the main criminal behind Camilo’s disappearance was.
For all those who like a well-spun murder mystery yarn as much as I do, who don’t need grisly details of how someone was put to death, who like to have educated guesses as to whodunnit (and enjoy being mislead by a mischievous author), who above all like very quaint but still three-dimensional, almost real-feeling characters, this is a book to purchase. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
After having seen an ad in one of the M/M-related Facebook groups I’m a member of, I purchased this novel during a late spring sale for less than the cost of two cigarettes, stored it on my Kindle, and promptly forgot about it, bless my sief brain. For reasons I don’t recall, I opened it finally in early November, and rushed through it in only two evenings. Which goes to show how immensely I enjoyed myself—this was a very nice surprise for the cozy murder mystery and amateur sleuth lover I unashamedly confess to be.
The main character is Hayden, a young, rather short, fiercely red-haired single Seattle teacher and hobby blogger (relationship advice, of all things!) with huge self-esteem issues. Of course, the one time he musters his courage to slip some dollar bills into the Speedo of a sizzling hot gogo dancer, said gogo dancer makes a quick movement and kicks him in the eye. Just his luck that this first attempt of a more direct approach ends thus with a splendid shiner. But the gogo dancer—Camilo—turns out to be a nice guy. Not only does he apologize profusely, but he also insists on taking Hayden home with him; not out of pity, apparently, but because he genuinely likes what he sees, despite the shiner. Camilo is such a decent dude that he doesn’t even seduce flustered Hayden—no sex on a first date—but invites him into his bed to snuggle and spoon. The evening could have ended worse.
Some new surprises await Hayden the very next morning, however. First, he discovers that he’s all alone in Camilo’s house—all alone bar Camilo’s dog, that is. Then, the police knock on the door because they found Camilo’s abandoned car in a parking lot. The whole story starts to reek to heaven, and yet, Hayden cannot bring himself to believe the niceness he perceived in the gogo dancer was but a sham. Determined to find out the reasons for Camilo’s disappearance, he seeks out the all-too lusty owner of the bar the boy was dancing in, gets him to divulge details about Camilo’s entourage, and thus meets the missing man’s best friends Hollister and Burley, two impressive lesbians (granted, anyone taller than Hayden’s diminutive size would look impressive to him). Hollister immediately volunteers to help him find Camilo. Little do they know that their investigations will lead to danger for life and limb…
I had a feast with this book told from the first-person perspective of Hayden. He was just too cute for words, especially since he was so self-conscious it permeated his every thought and word. But he was such a nice guy! For instance, he didn’t hesitate to take in Camilo’s dog even though it jeopardized his living situation—no animals allowed in his tenement building. He took it upon himself to hang out with Camilo’s taller-than-life besties Hollister and Burley. He truly wanted to find out what had happened to the man he had only spent a single night with because he couldn’t bear the thought that Camilo was in danger, putting himself in danger in the process. He was sometimes hapless, sometimes clueless, but always more determined than he himself would have believed he could be. Sigh, of course, he had fallen in love overnight (so cute!), and he needed a good deal of the book to acknowledge it.
The secondary characters? Hoot after hoot after hoot. I loved Hollister’s big heart, which shrank to a grain of sand whenever she had to face her new girlfriend, a closeted, very vindictive young woman who hated Hayden on sight. Burley and her semi-criminal brother were two more quaint characters I enjoyed very much. Camilo’s ex-boyfriend, the archetype of the young and arrogant beau, plus Camilo’s daytime employer, a woman not named Karen but being very much one, as well as the police officers (some of whom made Hayden’s mouth water) or Camilo’s uni-friends were just as equally well-invented as all the rest. The tone of the book was semi-humorous, which means I giggled many times, frequently laughed out loud too. The pace was well-dosed, bringing up tension, then slowing down, then quickening again, till the bitter (or happy, depends on the point of view of those involved) ending, which I for one didn’t see coming. Of course, clues were hidden throughout the story, as in any good murder mystery, but either I’m too silly or I was too taken in by the plot, I really suspected some co-culprits, but never ever guessed who the main criminal behind Camilo’s disappearance was.
For all those who like a well-spun murder mystery yarn as much as I do, who don’t need grisly details of how someone was put to death, who like to have educated guesses as to whodunnit (and enjoy being mislead by a mischievous author), who above all like very quaint but still three-dimensional, almost real-feeling characters, this is a book to purchase. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
February 25, 2023
Lots of fun—great characters and humor, and who doesn’t love a cozy mystery set at a gay bar?
November 15, 2022
I would give it 5 stars for the two female characters who were very entertaining and positive images in a bit wild sort of way. The mystery itself kept my interest to the end. There was quite a bit of humor, so I guess it would be considered a cozy mystery."
February 27, 2023
This book was so much fun! The main character, Hayden, is a skinny, red-headed schoolteacher who writes a dating blog for gay men. Somehow, he teams up with a bevy of intimidating women to rescue a charming man he barely knows from an unknown fate. There's a dog, a frumpy villain with a lingering floral scent, a luxurious ocean-front estate, lots of suspense and action but not a single dead body.
I you love a good cozy like I do, you will love this book. Too bad we have to wait a whole year for the next one.
I you love a good cozy like I do, you will love this book. Too bad we have to wait a whole year for the next one.
February 28, 2022
Monday, 28 February 2022
Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler
Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes up in a stranger's bed alone, half-naked and sporting one hell of a shiner. Then the police come knocking on the door. It seems that Latino dancer Camilo Rodriguez has gone missing and they suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?
Determined to find answers, Hayden seeks out two of Camilo's friends--Hollister and Burley--both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is a "Dreamer" whose parents had been deported years earlier, and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won't take a brown boy's disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden's hunt for Camilo.
The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store's owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there's Camilo's ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who's suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della--and uncover the twisted scheme that's made both of them rich.
The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they'll finally learn the truth about Camilo's disappearance--and the fate of his family. (Summary via Goodreads)
Devil's Chew Toy by Rob Osler is a unique and interesting take on the cozy mystery. Readers will thoroughly enjoy this story for all the little differences that are within the covers.
In Devil's Chew Toy main character Hayden McCall is on break from his teaching job so he goes to a local club he likes, Hunters, where he can sit and watch the male dancers and enjoy the night.....yes, Hayden is gay and enjoys looking at male dancers, now let's move on..... So one night he is there and decides to tip one of the dancers that he particularly likes but when he does, the dancer, Camilo, accidentally kicks Hayden in the face. Whether it is because he kicked Hayden or likes him, we can't be 100% sure which, but he invites Hayden back to his place. Unfortunately this does not goes well for either of them.....they go to bed and sleep, no hanky panky on the first meet for Camilo, and when Hayden wakes up, he is alone in the bed and the cops are knocking on the door. Camilo's truck was found in a parking lot with the driver's door open and engine running with no sign of Camilo. Hayden unfortunately cannot tell the cops anything. He doesn't even know when Camilo left and what made him leave. Also Hayden is sporting a nice big black eye that the cops look at suspiciously.
Even though Hayden doesn't really know Camilo, he is concerned about him being missing. Also Camilo has a dog, Commander, that Hayden decides to take home with him rather than take him to a shelter or leave alone at Camilo's.
Seeing as Hayden doesn't know Camilo that well he decides to go back to Hunters and ask around and try to talk to some of his friends to see if they can shed some light on his disappearance. Luckily Hayden gets some information from the manager and gets introduced to Hollister who is a lesbian with a big mohawk and the two of them team up to find Camilo. Unfortunately when they start investigating they are led down a crazy road they couldn't have imagined no matter how hard they tried. The one thing that the two of them have going for them is their drive to find Camilo.......but that won't be enough.
Readers will love Devil's Play Toy for Osler's take on the story. Reading it from a completely different viewpoint, that of a gay character, is a refreshing change of pace. You cannot help but fall in love with Hayden whether you are gay or not, he grows on you and you want to see him succeed and rescue Camilo. And the relationships that develop as a result with definitely have you turning the pages as quickly as you can because you cannot get enough of it all !!!
I highly suggest that you get your copy of Devil's Chew Toy and get lost with Hayden and company....you will thank me later !!! Happy reading !!!
February 7, 2022
I am really excited to read that this is going to be a series! Not only do I love that there is a diverse set of characters, but I love the actual characters themselves! Sweet, quirky, and completely real people. Not the caricatures you frequently find when someone is trying to check the LGBTQIA+ box. Hayden, our main character, is a school teacher on summer break who finds himself in the middle of a mystery after being kicked accidentally by a go-go boy. Following that, he teams up with a wide variety of interesting characters that will hopefully be the basis for many of the future installments in this series. This first book did a great job at both establishing a foundation for the series going forward and providing an interesting mystery to keep the reader engaged. I just want to know how Hayden is going to have time to sleuth once school starts back up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
February 5, 2022
This is a super fun mystery. I wouldn't quite classify it as a cozy but it's very similar. It was quite amusing and I liked the characters.
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