Like a Lion

Criminal Intentions #29

by Cole McCade

A new homicide case raises a question with no clear answer:

Who is the victim?

When a charred body is recovered inside a burned-out car, before Malcolm and Seong-Jae can solve the case they must first trace the victim's identity. License plate removed. ID missing. Teeth pulled from the skull. The victim's killers knew exactly how to hide their tracks, but careful forensics work and two stubborn detectives mean the name of the dead won't remain buried for long.

A name for a name.

Will the dead speak, then, and cry out for the one who killed him?

Or whisper secrets that may take this case deeper — and uncover truths someone would kill to keep buried?

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

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 19, 2022

About the author

Slender. Angry. (Part) Asian.

Yeah, that about sums me up.

Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.

Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.

That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.

There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.

But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.

...or you can poke me via:

* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/

And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Reviews

[nark · Rating 5 out of 5]

"do we really intend to use the ‘good cop, creepy potential serial killer cop’ tactic again?"

✦ i missed this series way too much... craving rereading the whole thing again tbh.

🔪 some spoilers incoming i guess? look away in case you don't wanna know anything in regards to this episode/the whole series in general. 🔪

✦ Malcolm, Seong-Jae, Cara, Anjulie and Gabi lovingly/hatefully bickering with each other never gets old. all their interactions bring me so much joy.

"no offense, Yoon, but you look like you’d eat my dog alive just for barking at you."
Seong-Jae curled his upper lip. "of course i would not. i have no desire to pick canine fur out of my teeth."

good to know i guess?💀

✦ Cara's and Seong-Jae's friendship never gets old.

"she poked Seong-Jae’s ribs; he batted her hand away—and then when she did it again, he growled and pushed a hand against the side of her head."
"personal space," he muttered. “you are like a small, particularly noisome animal sometimes. a raccoon. a small, noisy, obnoxious raccoon. you are a trash panda, and i hate you.”

we all know you love her, stop lying.😉

✦ i can't wait for all the baby moments. i just know that these two are gonna be the best parents ever.

“he’s going to be completely insufferable with that baby, isn’t he?”

yes, he is. daddy Malcolm is absolutely adorable.🖤

✦ i will never be over Malcolm and Seong-Jae's love. they're truly soulmates.

"do you trust me, Seong-Jae?"
"ever and always, Malcolm."

✦ Seong-Jae... my adorable darling. so vicious sometimes. such a grump. i love him.

"jot."
"emotionally repressed asshole who’s intensely uncomfortable with open expressions of love and affection, but craves them anyway," Malcolm countered.
spluttering, Seong-Jae stared at him, his eyes wide and snapping, his cheeks immediately darkening to crimson. "i—you—oh, fuck you."
"i could’ve just been succinct and called you a cat,” Malcolm replied, fighting to hold in his smile. he might enjoy ruffling the cat’s fur, but he didn’t want to die. someone might, though, from the way Seong-Jae glared at him." 😭🖤

✦ this quote is gonna be living in my head rent free i just know it:

"i broke you," Seong-Jae said, and Malcolm’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline.
someone was really letting his inner monster out today.
there was probably something wrong with Malcolm, that he loved it.
"once again, that’s different," he reminded Seong-Jae dryly… then leaned in, nuzzling close to Seong-Jae’s jaw, breathing in his smoke and diesel scent, exhaling words against his ear.
"…and i don’t think i’m the one who ended up broken in and used, in this situation."

BRUH HE DID NOT JUST SAY THAT... i was legit screaming.

✦ that shy side of Seong-Jae kills me every time. the way he can't take a compliment or being thanked without scowling and blushing. adorable.
✦ all the Anji/Gabi moments in this episode!!
✦ Seong-Jae and Gabi bonding!!
✦ Mal and Seong-Jae baby proofing their apartment!!!!
✦ Mal and Seong-Jae being so in love and affectionate!!!
✦ needless to say my heart was very happy when i finished this episode. that quickly changed after i read the afterword though...

addressing the afterword:

to say that reading the afterword made me angry and sad as hell is an understatement. people truly suck. but who's surprised.

"CI will be back when i’m ready.
it doesn’t matter how many ugly emails i get.
that’s the way it’s going to be so i don’t completely fall apart beyond the point of no return, and it’s non-negotiable." - Cole.

of course it does make me sad that CI is going on hiatus, but i can honestly wait however long it takes for this series to get finished. knowing that the author actually dreads writing and putting out these books is very heartbreaking.

sending lots of love your way, Cole.🖤

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seong-Jae only shook his head. ❝I would never describe you as cynical,❞ he said. ❝You are an eternal optimist, Malcolm. Almost overly burdened with hope. You tend to believe in people more than they believe in themselves.❞ He firmed his touch to curl against Malcolm's thigh, hard muscle pressing up against his palm through Malcolm's fine-woven slacks. ❝You only feel cynical because having hope allows you to be hurt when others—life, circumstances, or people— fail you. You are tired, omr. So very tired.❞ He offered a small smile. ❝But cynical? Never. Your hope is what keeps me moving.❞

i'm in love with Yoon Seong-Jae.

i'm in love with Malcolm Khalaji.

i'm in love with the side characters—Cara, Gabi, Anji, Sade, Adelaide, etc etc.

i'm in love with the romance. the story. this series.

is it obvious yet?

‼️ WARNING: rambling Charee ahead. pls beware. also, SPOILERS. so, don't keep reading if you don't wanna be spoiled but if you're wondering: would i recommend this series? 100% yes. 🤪 ‼️

-
-
-
-

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

ok there were so many beautiful moments from different relationship/friendship dynamics in this episode so i'd like to highlight them & most likely R A M B L E.

Gabi smirked. ❝I don't get why he likes you. You're perceptive enough that it's annoying as hell.❞
❝Am I?❞ Yoon replied just a little too mildly. ❝I think that is exactly why you like me, though.❞
❝Who said I like you?❞
She almost thought she caught a smile, just barely touching the corners of Yoon's lips. ❝Again, I only speak aloud what you already knew.❞
❝Oh, you a smartass.❞ She snorted a laugh. ❝I get it.❞
Yoon inclined his head—acknowledgement, shameless acceptance, but...yeah.
Somehow she never thought she'd find comfort talking to her ex-husband's lover. Or that said lover would even bother to try.
You found yourself a good one, Mal.
I hope you keep him.

✧ Seong-Jae/Gabi
i wanna start off with this dynamic bc this is a pairing i never expected to love this much yet... they were surprisingly a comforting duo to me?? the moment when Gabi accidentally found out about Mal's baby and she ran off and Seong-Jae was the one who went after her? it made sense tbh and they shared such a beautiful moment bc of a mutual understanding between the two: their love for Malcolm.

❝I know. I know we don't think about love the same way. I can't. It's just not how I'm wired. I love you the same way I love any other friend, but...I think...we're not so different in how we see home, Gabi. And you're the one I want to come home to. No one else. Anyone else loving me...I want to run. I feel fucking crushed. Boxed in. Threatened. But not with you. I can take it if it's you. Because when I think of home, of safety, of support, of comfort...I think of you and no one else. And that matters, to me.❞

✧ Anji/Gabi
YALL PLEASE TELL ME WHY THESE TWO ACTUALLY MADE ME CRY. FULL ON UGLY-CRYING. it's the way Anji's confession felt so freaking genuine and pure. this is one of the moments that truly got to me this episode. i've always adored the loyalty these two had for one another... but Anji's confession can't be beat. idc idc. it was so precious. 🥺 they have my heart.

❝...jittery and kinda sad, huh. Yeah, that feels about right.❞ He smiled sadly. ❝I'm fuckin' terrified of needles, and I hate doing this shit to myself. Used to be this amazing girl who helped me out, but I let her down so she's gone. It's just me and my giant fucking pointy sticks on my own.❞

✧ Gage/Adelaide
if these two don't end up together AND HAPPY, i'm going to throw a punch. they deserve the world and the little moments they've had (THEIR CUTE LIL DATE IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODE? 😭) were so innocent and pure. i wanna see more happy moments between them. i understand Gage's current situation and him wanting to protect Adelaide and keep her safe, but they deserve better ok. :(

❝Just because I love you, doesn't mean I can stand to look at you right now. Not when all I see is everything I hate about myself.❞

✧ Huang/Sade
these two have such an interesting relationship to me tbh. their dynamic is very much i wanna hate you, but i actually love you and i find them both, and their relationship, so complex. especially Huang. 👀

❝I never get to break the good shit,❞ Sten grumbled, slumping down on her stool. ❝I thought y'all were gonna—❞
❝Whatever the end of that sentence is,❞ Seong-Jae bit off, ❝it never would have happened, even if you had singlehandedly solved every last outstanding case in our docket in one fell swoop.❞
❝Should I take that as a challenge?❞

✧ Cara/Seong-Jae
the friendship between these two is one of my absolute favorites in this series. they have the we rile each other up, but we love each other deep down dynamic and those are always so entertaining to read about—especially because, during their serious moments, they don't know how to be serious that it ends up being cute. 😭🤣

But Anjulie took the problem out of his hands as she let out a disgusted sound. ❝You two are so gross.❞
Seong-Jae glanced over his shoulder. ❝I should remind you that in our private residence, you are not my Captain, and I have absolutely zero qualms about telling you to fuck off.❞
❝Ten bucks says aro beats ace in a cage fight,❞ Anjulie shot back, and Seong-Jae smirked.
❝You are such a child.❞

✧ Anji/Seong-Jae
to be fair, i personally find anyone's interactions with Seong-Jae entertaining bc Seong-Jae is Seong-Jae, but what i love about these two specifically is how they're similar in a way where they aren't the type to wear their heart on their sleeves (the way Mal does), but you also see moments when they show great respect for one another and it makes their interactions outside of it all the more heartwarming, imo.

❝I won't.❞ Malcolm promised. Between each word he kissed again and again, tracing the shapes of Seong-Jae's fingers. ❝But you know she is going to take up a lot of my attention, as we get settled into this.❞
❝Our attention,❞ Seong-Jae corrected, his fingers curling against Malcolm's. ❝We are parenting Chrysanthe, Malcolm. Not only you.❞
Malcolm's chest felt like it shivered inside, shaking his breaths up into swirling things. ❝You mean that?❞ he asked, and
❝I do.❞ Seong-Jae promised.
❝And you're really okay with it?❞
Seong-Jae graced him with a brief vulpine grin. ❝...another twenty dollars says I am better at bottle feeding than you.❞

✧ Malcolm/Seong-Jae
saving my favorites for last. 😌 although, with my never-ending ramble about these two in my previous reviews of the series... i don't think i need to say much more when it comes to how i feel about them. they have grown so much, as individuals and as a couple, from the very first episode of s1 to the current episode. they have been through so much, experienced so much and, at this point, all i want and wish for is their happiness, without all the angst coming at them. it's what they deserve. what all these characters deserve. my love for Malcolm and Seong-Jae has only grown more and more, never once faltering, and they never fail to amaze me with each (re)read. one thing i will say though is i loved how this episode touched upon Seong-Jae's insecurities when it came to fearing the what if, now that Chrysanthe is in Malcolm's life, will this new change cause him to push Seong-Jae away? it was written so realistically bc he had felt something similar in the past with Seong-Ja and their parents so this fear wasn't just a "random" thing but it was always there, buried within him, and i liked that. it's also realistic bc that's how change is. we fear what will happen when something new enters our life, but it's also something normal and we simply learn to grow and adapt to it bc, otherwise, we're just gonna stay in the same place for the rest of our lives. aside from that, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE CUTE BABY MOMENTS IN THE NEXT EPISODE. 🥰

in other words,


but wbk. 😌✨

-
-
-
-

sidenote: after reading the afterword, i find it quite sad how people are so selfish to the point of throwing hate to the author. authors are still humans, just like you reading this, who have feelings. i know this is the internet so it's not a surprise, but i wish more people would think first, before doing or saying something. 😒 anyways, mental health should always come first so i'll wait however long it takes. <3

[Rosabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

*faints*... That's the review.














Nah, lying, but seriously I was not ready!!!!!!!! *cries a river*.

Malcolm, I just love you and missed you so much. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 and I'm 😭 so glad to 😭 see you again 😭😭😭😭

And to see you getting it together and to see Seong Jae being by your side and having more povs because he needs you and we as readers need him and 😭😭😭😭

And I just was so happy I didn't even take many notes to share, just little ones but I was just 😭😭😭😭 like this all the time 😭😭😭

So 😭 *hicups*, I'll try:

"They’d talked about the possibility of a long-term future together, even if they hadn’t put a solid name to what that future could look like. They sure as hell hadn’t talked about the possibility of even adopting children, and it hit Malcolm…"

I hadn't thought of that either, it really has been a mess so I was like: oh shit. But of course Seong Jae would be there!

“Are you afraid Chrysanthe will push you out of my life?”

Awwww, poor Seong Jae, but it won't happen, it's a total different situation and you are older dear heart.

"he had stood next to Malcolm in the grocery store and listened to his boyfriend mutter to himself as he scrolled through his phone and entries on a Mommy and Me forum"

This book was so funny sometimes. 🤣🤣🤣

"How deep into cult mentality did someone have to be, for their minds to be poisoned this much?"

Yep, it's scary how this happens, how in real life happens, is happening. Cole, as always, mixing fantasy with the truth.

"MALCOLM WAS STARTING TO THINK he went a little overboard on the baby shit".

You think? 🤣🤣🤣 oh Mal, you are going to be a lovely dad, I just know it and I can't wait to see you thrive in this new stage of your life, *swoons*

"Because for the life of him, he couldn’t understand what could drive someone to be so very addicted to power—addicted enough to engage in such machinations".

Me neither and the worst is... That thousands people suffer just from one person's hunger of power. Fucked up, but that's the world for you. 😑😑

“If I’m being honest,” she said, curling her fingers in the sleeves of Anjulie’s shirt, “I just…I feel alone. I feel like I’m meant to be alone. Everything I love, I just…I ruin it. I need too much, I’m too much of a mess, and when I want to love and keep something, it just falls apart because I’m too much.”

I never thought I would empathize with Gabrielle, but here in this book, I'm with you girl, all the way, every single thing she said I was right there with her. Until she got Anjulie, cause I got shit, so that's the moment she lost me... Girl I thought we had something, that hurt. 🤣🤣

So yeah, there you have it, I loved this, love the boys together as always, love the writing, love the little details, loved everything as always. ❤❤🥰

Now, I have theories and stuff to say:
- Does anybody else thinks that Min Zhe is also involved in this shit? Cause I do.
- The girl who got the car changed is what I think they have from the cult guy, who surrendered himself.and said he killed the cop.
- Lilian is in it of course.
- I still can't forgive Gage, but his picture is getting clearer and I feel he could be a key player on this.
- I want to know more about Cara's husband, I adored him and he just appeared in a paragraph. Sten, honey, do better.
- Mal also needs an ass kick, what he did with Gabi was so not cool, I use to forget that he is very selfish sometimes. But that's love, what can I do. 🥰
- Seong Jae, you just keep being you, you sexy thang!

Also I wanna finish with:

"And I’m so confused that we’ve normalized this culture where people become so fixated on a thing they’re fannish of that they think it’s okay to degrade and hurt the creator of the thing if the creator doesn’t do exactly what they demand how they demand it, or else—and claim that harassment is out of love".

I didn't know that this was happening to Cole and I'm in shock, I hope he takes the time he needs and the next time we know from this series, it will be completed so I'm ok with it.

Just take care of yourself Cole, Mal and Seong Jae will be waiting with the rest of us. ❤

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: "The book will be up shortly."
Me: *flails*
Author: "Hold your horses, the next one will take awhile. This series will be on hiatus for quite some time."
Me: *deflates like a balloon*

BUT... guess what? I don't care. Because it will be worth the wait however long it will take and ...

Yep, I heart this so much. My first solid 5-star-read in what feels like months. Which probably it was. Granted, no surprise for me. Or for you. Or for anyone else probably. Can't help my feelings, tho. 😉

To sum this book up in Mal's words:

"My ex-wife is coming to our house, my ex-partner is working our case, my ex-one-night-stand is bringing my goddamn daughter to live with us. Right now the mess of our cases is the simpler alternative."

'Nuff said. Oh, one more thing... That ex-partner of Mal's? Let's say, I don't like him any more than one of Seong-Jae's exes. 🙄

*On a side note: I encourage you to read the afterword here. It made me very angry on the author's behalf. I'll never understand how people can be so selfish. That's all I'm going to say and it's not my place to say more anyway. Just... read it.

[Lau ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read twenty-nine books and I still haven’t learnt what’s going to be the outcome of chapter 0


In this episode, we follow our beloved wolf slowly going back on track, starting to face his problems and bickering with SJ again. There were a lot more things happening regarding the couple than in the previous episode so that the pace of the action was slower-which is why I absolutely loved this.


There was something disconcerting about being known the way Malcolm Khalaji knew him. () It was almost invasive.


There is something about Mal and SJ love that makes me want to never stop reading about them going through their daily lives. My heart jumps every time SJ sings Mal to sleep, and Mal tells him ‘i love you’ knowing that SJ’s would glare at him, grunt or throw him something. And those very special occasions where SJ softens and answers Mal in earnest? I die.


“I hate you.”
Malcolm smirked. “That stings.”
“I would believe that more if you said it without smiling.”
“Can’t help it. You do that to me.”
Seong-Jae sniffed. “Jot.”
“Emotionally repressed asshole who’s intensely uncomfortable with open expressions of love and affection, but craves them anyway.”
Spluttering, Seong-Jae stared at him, his eyes wide and snapping, his cheeks immediately darkening to crimson. “I–you–oh, fuck you.”


I’m also dying to read the next episode. Although I was skeptical about the turn this took at the end of season 2-I was scared it would mean less scenes focused on only them-, now I really want to see them trying to figure out how everything works in the next episode. I’m so ready to have my heart stolen by them!


“Twenty dollars says I can make the vein in his temple star throbbing without being the slightest bit hostile. I may even smile.”
“We’re placing bets now?” Malcolm asked incredulously, then groaned. “Why are you such a sadist?”
Seong-Jae straightened, adjusting the collar of his jacket. “Everyone needs a hobby.”


Also, we finally had a small scene starring Cara. It’s kind of dump how interested I am about her marriage. I think I might love the character too much, because it’s not even in the top 5 secondary plot lines yet I can’t get enough.


She didn’t understand why he even loved her. Someone like her was all wrong for him. He was a dandelion fluff, and she was a prickly nettle, the kind that only stuck to anyone because she was made of thorns and hard to pry off, and only hurt them in the end.

I love you, but I don’t know how to love you.


I couldn’t finish this review without talking about the afterwork. About how some readers forget there is a human being behind all their threats and demands. As much as this series means the world to me, I’d rather not see it finished knowing how much pain it’s inflicting the author. It made me cry how unfair it is that something that brings me so much joy was created at the expense of suffering.


✧
✧
✧


Some other quotes to help fans like me during this crushing wait:


“He hurt you () That settles it,” Seong-Jae replied with such a bland certainty that all those little hurting bubbles inside Malcolm popped, fizzed into a laugh. “I hate him.”


“Don’t… start doing the thing again.”
“The thing?” Seong-Jae bit off.
“You know damned well what the thing is. Where you won't tell me what’s wrong, and just lock up inside yourself and leave me helpless on the outside.


“Who sewed your mouth shut?”
Seong-Jae tossed [Anjulie] a black look. “Sometimes I prefer not to speak unless it is entirely necessary.”
“Like hell. You play at being the strong, silent type, but you can’t shut that mouth any time you see a chance to be an overly logical asshole.”
Seong-Jae’s mouth became a crimson line of disapproval. “As I said, I speak when it is necessary, and it is not my fault that other people’s illogical behavior frequently makes it entirely necessary.”

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two, GAAAHHH!!! I'm totally blissed out after this book - can you say mammoth book hangover? I've got a shelf "Love how they loved" and this book and these two characters OWN that shelf. Mal and Seong-Jae are my all time favourite characters and always will be, period.

After reading the afterword all I can say is that I don't care how long it takes the author to finish this series, I will wait until he's ready to release the last 10 books because the wait will be more than worth it. And to those abusive cretins that think it's okay to harass and be vile to an author because they have a shit fit and want it now, give your damn heads a wobble and get a damn life!

ALL the stars for this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Elisa Glendenning · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

“You,” Seong-Jae whispered, winding his arms around Malcolm’s neck, “are an absolute lecher. You have twenty minutes if we want to be decent before she arrives. What do you think you can do in that time?”
A cunning, voracious, entirely devastating smile curved Malcolm’s lips. “With enough motivation,” he growled, “just about everything. Do you trust me, Seong-Jae?”
“Ever and always, Malcolm.”
“Then come here.”


Sigh 🥰😍❤️

[MarianR · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, after weeks, i'm here. Uni has freed me. I CAN ALREADY EXPRESS HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS TO READ THEM AGAIN.

I love them. I missed them. They are the most beautiful thing in the world.

Mal, SJ, Cara, gaby, ALL OF THEM. Cole made me so fond of his characters. It's amazing how after so long without reading them, just with a few chapters i was already back in their lives. My heart made these jumps of happiness every TIME Mal said "love" to Sj or simply every TIME they looked at each other.
In conclusion, i melted EVERY TIME they were together.
I swear, favorite couple EVER.

Never bet 20 dollars with Sj. YOU WILL LOSE😂❤️
SJ talking to gaby was great.
BUUUT gaby, my dear, i don't think you are ready. 🙃

[Ariana (mostly offline) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm and Seong-Jae just make me smile, and happy.

My heart can only ohhh and ahhh. And sigh.
Whether it is how they hold each other up, how they read each other, how they are so attuned to each other, they know when support is needed or not, how they fall so deeply when they make love …. Sigh.
It was pure bliss to have them back.

And there are quite a few chuckles and smiles here, too.
Malcolm getting ready for fatherhood.
Seong-Jae blushing.
Cara and Anjulie teasing.
Them being just them.

We also get updates on all the other loveable characters we’ve met …

.) Gabi and Anjulie: I never expected that much progress so soon.
.) Adelaide: that girl has got guts and nerves of steel!
.) Cara: I love her so much, but that last scene with her is a bit sad.
.) Huang Tze and Sade: So many question marks about where this will be heading...

As for the case ... this is only the beginning.

Am I sad that the series is now on hiatus? Of course, I am.
Do I understand why? I certainly do, and I would encourage everyone to read the afterword, so you can, too.

But whenever Mal and Seong-Jae return, one thing is for sure … I will be there, waiting.

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐︎ 4.5 "Feels Like Coming Home" Stars! ⭐︎

Oh Mal and Seong-Jae, how I have missed you, let me count the ways.

I know this was pushed back on release, but I'll wait as long as the author needs to read these. It felt just like coming home, reading these two and their love and this story with these characters. I just love it all so much.

My only reason for .5 stars off, really, is not enough Mal and Seong-Jae, but I'm always a greedy fucker when it comes to them. I ship them so much and just want them all the time. They're so perfect together 😍

For what we did get with them, it was perfection. The little moments in between case stuff was amazing and I just love how they lean on each other and support each other in turn. They're so perfect for each other.

I did love the character moments with Gabi and Anjulie as well - especially Gabi and her talk with Seong-Jae, it was so good. I just love how well Cole writes his characters, and how he makes them so human.

Unless they are a murderer - and once or twice, even then the murderer is more like someone who has been abused and was trying to save themselves - but for the most part, the murderers are the only ones that are just full on bad or evil.

Otherwise, they're all just so human. Gabi is never, ever villainized or made out to be just some bitter ex or anything like that we sometimes see in romances - or well, a lot of the time we see that.

Gabi is so wonderful and while she has some bitterness and hurt, it so understandable and comes from such a human place. She isn't still in love with Mal or anything, but she's having a hard time letting go of the past, which is completely understandable, and I love how Seong-Jae is there for her in his own way.

Anjulie and Gabi will never be a romantic pair, but that's okay. I love their dynamic anyway, and their's is a relationship I've never quite read before. More than friends, but not a romantic couple either. I mean, they are best friends at the core of it, but in this they kind of agree to be girlfriends, so yeah, more. Just not a romance. It's so interesting to see, and to see how they settle into that kind of relationship that isn't romantic, but is still a relationship all the same.

The case advances in this in small ways, and there are more questions to be answered, which I can't wait to see unfold. I have no idea who exactly is in play here and why what is happening is happening except it involves Lilliene Wellingtion and Matheson, for sure. It's a big web of crime and all that stuff.

Now, Cole said at the end of this that this series is on hold for now, which is sad, for sure, but I'll take however long a wait Cole needs to be able to write this the way he wants. He goes into at the end of this, why he almost stopped writing this series altogether. And people can just be...so nasty.

And while I'm sad we won't get Mal and Seong-Jae and this wonderful series for who knows how long, I'll take waiting for it over not getting it at all in the long run.

I'm actually kind of partial to Cole writing the last 10 episodes and then releasing them at once. The wait will be long, but once they come out, we won't have to wait and can read them all in succession if we so choose.

And Cole said writing them all at once will allow him to write this series how he wants to and not let outside forces affect him and his writing, and I am ALL for that. I want to read the series Cole wanted to write, not what others want him to write.

So however long it takes, I'm in for the wait.

At least we got one more Mal and Seong-Jae fix before the long wait. I'd missed these two so so much and loved every moment we got with them. They're so in love and I'm so in love with their love.

Absolutely, highly recommend this wonderful book, and this series. If you'd rather wait until the rest of season 3 comes out to read the whole series, you can definitely do that. But if you're fine with waiting, I say read this series right now. For Mal and Seong-Jae who are so amazing together if nothing else.

Also this series is proof that you can write established relationship and do it well and keep the relationship going and keep it interesting and exciting to read. I love all the ways these two are just...there for each other, in their relationship, being together and in love.

I've been with this series since the first book came out almost 4 years ago now. How the time flies. I've waited this long to get to this point in the series, I can wait however long Cole needs to finish it, at his own pace, in his own time.

Until we get those next ten episodes all that once, I'll leave myself with this latest installment and all it's ship-y goodness with my fave couple.

Two MASSIVE thumbs up from me! 👍👍

[juli✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ꜰᴏᴜʀ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ

… ❝do you trust me, seong-jae?❞
❝ever and always, malcolm.❞
❝then come here.❞

🥺 mentally preparing for ci's hiatus 🥺

the final season has come …
there will be many hardships.
𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚜
tribulations.
but through it all …
our boys will stand together.
nothing …
and i mean nothing …
✩ will tear them apart ✩





tl;dr

❝you are tired, omr. so very tired.❞ he offered a small smile. ❝but cynical? never. your hope is what keeps me moving.❞

♥ seong-jae and mal will forever be my best guys ♥
i love malcolm and seong-jae so much. they are a legendary couple and nothing anyone ever says will change my mind.

and it's so funny because … i used to hate established couples. i thought they were boring. i didn't see the point. hahahahahaha, look at me now. i would literally harvest my right kidney for a shot to read a simply rough draft of malseong-jae content.

the growth, the banter, the love, the affection, the genuine bone-deep care, the romance, just- alsfjklasjdfklsdaflk 🥹 this couple holds such a special place in my heart.


♥ this is how you write excellent side-characters ♥
cole mccade has a true talent for not only making me care about malseong-jae, but for everyone else as well.

now, usually when we're in the thick of things i'm turning the pages as fast as i can to get back to my guys. BUT, with installments like this (aka not much happening plot wise) i'm able to appreciate what a stellar cast of characters mccade has assembled.

i was invested in anjuliegabbi, i was heartbroken over gageadelaide, and i'm so happy we got a snippet of haungsade. also, my heart broke a bit over that quiet moment cara had with her husband.

basically, all of these side-characters make criminal intentions so great. it's not just about seong-jae and mal. the things they do don't just happen in a vacuum. and i love that the side-characters feel like family at this point.


🅾🅺 the case has been … eh, it's alright 🅾🅺
look, if you know me, then you know i don't read this series for the case. it's just the way i'm wired.

and imo, it's not a bad thing. i have enjoyed some cases (especially cases from mid-season one, and early season-two) but by and large that's not why i'm here.

so … yeah. the case is interesting, it's topical, i'm excited to see where it goes, and i'm especially curious to see how sila *boo hiss* is attached to this whole thing.


✩ addressing the afterword … ✩
look, i'm gonna keep it brief because … well … i'm just some random book reviewer on the internet, and i highly encourage everyone to actually read the afterword.

but i do wanna say, wow. why do people have to be so mean and shitty? while, yes. criminal intentions is a series that means a whole lot to so many people. that has certainly never given anyone the right to harass cole mccade.

it makes me beyond sad to know that a series i love so much has caused its author so much pain. to see that he doesn't even want to think about ci right now is so upsetting.

so i just wanna say to cole mccade, i'm sorry you had to go through such vicious harassment, you do not deserve that, and please, take your time. your mental health comes first ♥

❝a footnote. ❛must be willing to work with a stubborn, prickly asshole,❜❞ seong-jae recited, eyes glittering. ❝and i thought, ❛i have found my people.❜❞

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had forgotten so much of the nuance of the plot, from the end of twenty-eight, but McCade did a great job of weaving in those events as a recap for the reader. Thanks for that! While I did feel a bit removed from the emotional beats all this time later, it still hit enough that I enjoyed being back in their world and all the dramatics going on around them and within their dynamics. Looking forward to the next now that we have all these added complications on the go.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m loving this series but unfortunately the author is not (explains the break in writing). I can’t get enough and I hope he returns. I can’t imagine how awful it must be to write something you’re not feeling. When your passion becomes a chore.

Anyway I’ll be here waiting. It probably means a re-read for me since my memory is shot.

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can't be anything other than 5 stars. Not too much in the way of new info is disclosed in this one, but Mal and Gabi 'make up' of a sorts after the baby reveal/shock with S-J as the peacemaker 😏. That detestable right-winger and bigot 😡 Curtis Young gives away clues that he didn't kill anyone but is terrified of someone 😠. Sten puts her job before her marriage...again [but she's wonderful 🥰 and hubby is just as good], and Gage Lombardi learns that it's not wise to trust people I can only assume the 'her' mentioned is Wellington 🤔. There were a few typos in this one, but nowhere near enough to interfere with the storyline.

I 🥰🥰🥰 Mal and S-J, but the police procedural is just as good for me. Terrific stuff.

***As a side note, I'm disgusted by the vitriolic abuse the author keeps having to put up with from so-called 'readers' of this series 😡. Just read the afterword in this story, and if YOU are one of those muppets, then SHAME on you...you don't deserve good stories and authors that care too much.***

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mal and Seong-Jae are back and are so worth the wait. I loved it. The suspense and the case were intense. I found out what happened with certain side characters as well as saw our two seasoned detectives juggle personal and professional life as well as having to deal with the past. I loved the small clues as well as the plot twists in the end. They left me stumped. The emotions were high and I just loved Seong-Jae here and how he helped Mal. The love, passion and trust between the two were mesmerizing to read. I can't wait to see where the author takes them next.

[Littlebookterror · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know if I can write a review for this book at the moment (it's great, I loved it obviously) cause the afterward was a gut punch.

I hope Cole McCade can find some peace and if that means he might not publish anything ever again, good for him. It hasn't come that far yet but holy shit, am I surprised he persevered for so long.

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

This series has lost it’s shine for me. The police procedure parts are soap opera over the top. I used to just read it for the relationship but even that is bleh since the introduction of the damn kid (not a fan of kids in book).

Anyways…….not sure why I’m still reading this. I just can’t give up my love of Seong-Jae.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh how I missed these two…. I love this series!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Episode 3 was worth the wait and delivered a little bit of all the important characters besides my beloved Seong Jae & Malcom and brought the feels.

I can't not acknowledge the afterwards in which McCade unboxes all the horrible negativity from some readers and the way they destroy his personal boundaries and kill the love he has for writing CI. It devastates me that he has to suffer and that people can be so heartless. Authors don't owe readers anything, period , end of story. Whether he takes years to finish CI or never does , I just hope he does what he needs to for his own peace of mind.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had really missed these two! Shit will hit the fan sooooo hard. The author's note made me sad, though. It baffles me how readers think that authors owe us anything at all.

[isa (queenofswordsandwords) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS.
This is my favorite series ever.

❝ Methinks the jot doth protest too much. ❞
❝ Methinks my boyfriend is asking for castration. ❞

I'm trying to keep this spoiler free, so let's see. We get so many moments between established characters, excellent banter, emotional conversations, things that were coming for a while. As always, the writing is beautiful and captivating.

❝ He seemed like someone who wrapped up kindness in a layer of thorns, though she didn’t know if those thorns were to protect him or protect others. ❞

Seong-Jae is really shining in season three, and I enjoy having our favorite partners back in baltimore. So much love to Sten, Adelaine and Anjulie for making me smile like crazy. What we get of Sade was very on brand for them and I appreciate every page with them. I love that book with all my heart.

Let's part on an excellent quote from my favorite grumpy crow.
❝ Jot. All of them. Jot, Ms. Jot, Captain Jot. ❞

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Must be willing to work with a stubborn, prickly asshole.'

I love this series so much! It has evolved into such a complicated, heartwarming mess where I'm always intrigued.

I'm just so heartbroken over the afterword. Really made me tear up. That people can act as such. To cause an author to feel such a way over their own creation... It's so hard to focus on creating an actual review right now. So head's up that this is going to be all over the place, and may or may not change in the future.

Once again, this book had all the feels.

Seong-Jae's portion of Young's interrogation... Too funny.

This quote will never leave me:
Emotionally repressed asshole who's intensely uncomfortable with open expressions of love and affection, but craves them anyway," Malcolm countered.
Sputtering, Seong-Jae stared at him, his eyes wide and snapping, his cheeks immediately darkening to crimson. "I--you--oh, fuck you."
"I could've just been succinct and called you a cat," Malcolm replied, fighting to hold in his smile. He might enjoy ruffling the cat's fur, but he didn't want to die.

I will wait for as long as needed for McCade to come back to this series and to see where things progress. For people to say/do such things... It's reprehensible. I can't stop thinking about it, and how it must feel. Am I sad about a baby being inserted, about so many different POVs here? At first. But McCade is an amazing author. I've stuck by because of that and he has not let me down. I've grown attached to the "side characters." And the way that things were handled when Juliette handed Chrysanthe off...? It actually made my eyes water a bit. So well done.

To think of the things that might have been changed/added from how McCade originally intended because others' influence...

I just feel for these characters so much...! Can relate to Seong-Jae, Anjulie...

Then Anjulie leaned around him, frowning at Seong-Jae. "Who sewed your mouth shut?"
Seong-Jae tossed her a black look. "Sometimes I prefer not to speak unless it is entirely necessary."
"Like hell. You play at being the strong, silent type, but you can't shut that mouth any time you see a chance to be an overly logical asshole," Anjulie retorted.
Seong-Jae's mouth became a crimson line of disapproval. "As I said, I speak when it is necessary, and it is not my fault that other people's illogical behavior frequently makes it entirely necessary."

Malcolm watched them, his grizzled face set in an odd, almost lost expression, but a smile played about his lips, fond and almost relieved, and it stayed as he glanced at Seong-Jae again and mouthed, Thank you.
Shut up, Seong-Jae mouthed back, scowling and biting down on his toothpick hard enough to nearly snap it in half.
Too many damned people thanking him for things. Too embarrassing.
Just shut up and accept it without talking to him about it, damn it all.

Ah, yes.

I loved all the bonding!

McCade's books always have me thinkin' about them days after and this one will make me think even more, I'm sure, so I might add/change things about. I know this is really just more rambling than review, but for now... ;-;

[Athira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Malcolm and Seong-Jae so so much!!! Also this quote alone should be enough reason to read it.


"Jot."
"Emotionally repressed asshole who’s intensely uncomfortable with open expressions of love and affection, but craves them anyway," Malcolm countered.
spluttering, Seong-Jae stared at him, his eyes wide and snapping, his cheeks immediately darkening to crimson. "I—you—oh, fuck you."
"I could’ve just been succinct and called you a cat,” Malcolm replied, fighting to hold in his smile. He might enjoy ruffling the cat’s fur, but he didn’t want to die. Someone might, though, from the way Seong-Jae glared at him."

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I love this series and I am a bit down as I read that this series will be on-hold for some time! But it will be worth the wait!!!!
Don't let yourself be pressured X!

I absolutely adore Mal and Seong-Jae - these two are perfect together. Mal is not in his best form in this one - which is understandable and totally adoreable.

as I don't want to spoiler something and there are some really great reviews already out there (Simone, yours is great - as always :-) ) I just want to say, I loved it!!!

[Musi ✨Vegacrux’s first child✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

YALLL IM DONE. Im finally caught up. Whew this was a journey. Dark, twisted, horrors but whew I laughed and cried a lot in These 29 books.
Malcom and Jae are in new journey of parenthood and I cannot wait to read about how they handle being dads and keeping up with murders. I’m also glad that we are in brand new mystery of Sade and few others involved where Sila is a distant memory but still lingering. Ik he’s tied up to all this and gonna fuck this up 😒

Anyways… whenever author decides to release new episodes… i Hope they’re in bulks.

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

How Seong-Jae chose Baltimore…

“But there was something in the job listing that caught my attention.” “Oh?” “A footnote. ‘Must be willing to work with a stubborn, prickly asshole,’” Seong-Jae recited, eyes glittering. “And I thought, ‘I have found my people.’”

This episode like all the rest start with a crime. BUT who’s body is the burned corpse??? That was a huge plot twist!

Gabi finds out Malcolm has a daughter and this part was particularly sad. I love how Seong-Jae handles this when speaking with her. Such a special moment in the series.

The sex scene in this episode was particularly HOT. Like WOW 😮. The timing of it was a bit odd though.

You get to the end and I’m like what?!??? I need more

Now I’m hanging by a thread and who knows when this series will continue.
Reading the Q&A and the Author Notes made me so sad. This author has been through so much. His words are below.
As a huge fan of the series, I hope he continues when he feels better.


“The series is on hiatus until I no longer feel a vivid rush of revulsion and anger every time I even so much as think about these books.”

“Over time I will finish the last 10 books in S3 at my own pace and post them all at once when S3 is done and has been through my editor, so I can at least escape the usual deluge of people in between each episode trying to push me to write what they want in the next episode or yelling at me in realtime over how the previous episode didn’t fit their headcanon. I need some distance and time to regain the love I feel when writing Mal and Seong-Jae, ...”

Please finish the series. I need Matheson to get his comeuppance and also Wellington. Both such great villains.

[Kimberly Morehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Cole

I found this series two months ago, after reading several other of Coles books. I listened to Those available in audio first, then devoured the rest of the series one after the other. I have found myself so involved with the two MCs Malcolm and Seong-Jae that they filter in my thoughts and dreams! Lol Upon finishing s3e3.... I knew I would be left waiting for more books and was sad. But that is my problem. At the end of each book Cole adds some words and I have appreciated the insight into not only the story, but world affairs and himself. Life can be b*tch sometimes and so can people. This last word from Cole left me raw. And sad. And mad. People need to handle themselves better. Authors/ creators write stories for themselves. Stories and characters born inside of them. They share these creations with the world, allow us to share a very personal part of themselves. If you don't like the way they took a story line or developed a character that's okay, because ITS NOT YOUR STORY! You don't have the right to say hurtful or hateful things or make demands to the author. It's THEIR story, THEIR vision and THEIR characters. Its hard to put yourself out there like this, and really stinks when the bad side of people comes out and attack their work.... So much so that the joy and love of what they were once so passionate and loving about now becomes a source of pain. Something they dread and gives stress instead of joy. As a reader of several hundred books a year, I don't love everything I read. Sometimes I get mad and throw a book across the room. Sometimes I cry and hurt. Sometimes I laugh and love. sometimes I get excited and afraid....And you know what? I have NEVER once told an author what they should of done to make me happy or make the store better.... Because again.... Its not MY story or vision, its not for me to change. Life is not perfect, it doesn't always go how you want and frankly if it did, what would we learn? It would be dull and void of the emotions we are blessed with. If you really don't like a book or author, then move on; that is your choice and your right. You don't have the right to hurt, belittle or ignore boundaries. Shame on you if you have done this. I hope you read my words and understand you can make better choices and keep the negative opinions to yourself. Stop trying to dip your fingers in an author's creative process. Let them write the story they want and be okay with that. Please just be kind. If you feel so strongly you know better.... Then by all means, go write and publish your own book. Put YOURSELF out there. See for yourself just how terrifying that is. Maybe then you will understand how to be a better human.

A personal note for Cole even though I know he doesn't read reviews any longer..... I support you. I want the rest of the series, but I will happily wait for you. You do what you need to do to be happy, find the joy in writing. To find your way back to Malcolm and Seong-Jae and the story YOU want to write. In the mean time, I will read your other books I have yet to read. If I run out, so be it. I will not go anywhere, I will be waiting and ready when you are. You do you. Make no apologies as you don't owe anyone anything. Be healthy. Most of all, know that you have a huge community of fans like me, that have your back! *hugs* -Kim

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plotting is epic - when the shit finally hits the fan it's going to be catastrophic! And there's so much else going on with all the complicated relationships as Mal and Seong-Jae get ready to be dads.

I held off reading S3 because I knew it was on hiatus (and seriously what is wrong with people to make demands of an author about their stories and then treat them like crap when they don't do what they want?) but Episode 4 is almost here so I thought it was time.

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malcom y Seong-Jae pareciera que ya estan mas preparados para la llegada del bebe a su casa, si solo Malcom dejara de exagerar las comprar e intentara pensar mas alla de los nervios, seria mucho mas facil. Pero eso tendra que esperar un poco, ya que otro asesinato llego a sus puertas, en este caso el vehiculo es de uno de sus casos anteriores, pero el cadaver no lo es, lo mas complicado va a ser identificarlo, mientras intentar trabajar en encontrar a la sobrina de Vasquez y el caso con su ex-esposa.
Pero todos los casos parecen estar relacionados, quien estara moviendo los hilos? quien estara ocasionando estos disturbios? quien se beneficiaria de todo esto? Todas esas dudas deberan ser respondidas antes de ni siquiera pensar en resolver estos crimenes.

Este libro es mas intriga y nervios que otra cosa, comenzamos a ver un patron en los asesinatos y tambien comenzamos a ver a Malcom emocionado con su nuevo papel, pero tambien vemos como algunos otros de los personajes comienzan a pensar en tomar decisiones que pueden afectar la trama, comienzan a ver mas alla de ellos mismos y como sus acciones pueden ayudar a detener el desastre que se avecina.
Me gusta mucho como va la historia, me gusta como se estan desarrollando los personajes, estos tres libros de esta serie son mas sobre el misterio que los protas, y eso esta bien, porque ya los vemos dentro de una relacion fuerte, basada en la confianza y el amor. Y vemos poco a poco como las otras parejas van encontando su camino al mismo tipo de relacion, me gusta mucho como se va desarrollando todo.
Es una lastima que tengamos que esperar hasta el ano que viene para terminar esta serie, pero si es lo que el autor necesita para volver a encontrar el amor a escribirla, bienvenido sea. Se que los autores son parte de la elite de artistas que necesitan la paz y tranquilidad de cuerpo y mente para poder desarrollar sus obras, y por lo que indica en las ultimas paginas de este libro, ultimamente no los ha tenido. Asi que espero que se recupere pronto y pueda encontrar de nuevo la alegria de escribir de nuevo, y si es para terminar esta serie bienvenido sea, pero si solo es para poder vivir mejor y mas feliz, tambien ayuda.

[i · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanna start with saying that I LOVE Mal and Seong-Jae… They are my comfort couple and characters. Their relationship is always worth reading and coming back to again and again.

This book takes where we left directly in the last book. Malcolm and Seong-Jae’s dynamics are always fascinating to read when they are working on a case. How their mind works and completes each other for a perfect conclusion in the end. Everything in the book is down to Earth, every interaction and every event.

Outside of that we touch down a moment with Gabi, hard emotions and talk for all of them. But along with these hard feelings and moments we have funny and heartwarming moments too. How Mal and Seong-Jae navigates with the new baby addition to their life is definitely worth the read. They are both each other’s support and ground. They came a long and growing way, I am proud of them.

Alongside with our main beloved couple Sade, Anjulie, Cara, Adelaide etc are all have their own lil scenes in the book and I am delighted everytime I read them cause at this rate everyone became dear characters to me with this journey. Great book in the series once again!

I will finish this with Mal and Seong-Jae’s oh so cute banter.

“…Only I can tell when you look homicidal, but you’re actually trying not to laugh.”
“That is you simply hoping I will not murder you, Malcolm. When I look homicidal, I usually am homicidal.”

I just…love them and they bring me joy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.