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Necessary Evils #4
Headcase
Asa Mulvaney is half of a psychopathic whole. He and his twin brother live together, party together…kill together. In the Mulvaney family, murder is the family business and business is good. When an experiment separates Asa and his brother, Asa is forced to navigate the world on his own for the first time in his life.
Zane Scott is a small-time crime blogger and amateur sleuth, but he dreams of a byline in a major paper someday. When he winds up at a boring fundraiser beside Asa Mulvaney, they share an intensely passionate encounter that leaves Zane with an ache in his chest and a story idea that could make his career dreams a reality.
At a nearby college, a cluster of suicides isn’t what it seems. When Asa’s father asks him to look into it, he sees the perfect opportunity to see his little crime reporter again. And Asa needs to see him again. Zane’s suspicious of Asa’s motives, but he won’t say no to a chance to peek behind the Mulvaney family curtains.
As the two unravel a sinister plot, Asa’s obsession with Zane grows and Zane finds being Asa’s sole focus outweighs almost anything, maybe even his career--which is good for Asa because loving a Mulvaney is a full-time job. Can he convince Zane that he’s worth navigating a family of psychopaths and his pathologically jealous twin, or will Zane learn the hard way that the Mulvaney boys always get what they want? Always.
Headcase is a high heat, intense, lovers-to-frenemies, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an obsessive, calculating psychopath and a wannabe reporter who will stop at nothing to earn himself a major byline. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough killers to fill an auditorium, and enough heat to melt your kindle. This is book 4 in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.
TAGS: psychopath romance, Asa is bored, Avi is jealous, Zane is pretty, Adam is still a dick, August is... August, Aiden’s still missing, Lucas is concerned, Atticus plays den mother to a gaggle of murderous young adults, Asa wants Zane but knows he suspects he's a killer, Zane wants a story but can't keep from falling into bed with his target, extra dark humor, found family, So. Many. Murderers, mysteries abound, bad boys doing bad things and each other, high non-relationship angst, low relationship angst, shmoop, fluff, smut.
Zane Scott is a small-time crime blogger and amateur sleuth, but he dreams of a byline in a major paper someday. When he winds up at a boring fundraiser beside Asa Mulvaney, they share an intensely passionate encounter that leaves Zane with an ache in his chest and a story idea that could make his career dreams a reality.
At a nearby college, a cluster of suicides isn’t what it seems. When Asa’s father asks him to look into it, he sees the perfect opportunity to see his little crime reporter again. And Asa needs to see him again. Zane’s suspicious of Asa’s motives, but he won’t say no to a chance to peek behind the Mulvaney family curtains.
As the two unravel a sinister plot, Asa’s obsession with Zane grows and Zane finds being Asa’s sole focus outweighs almost anything, maybe even his career--which is good for Asa because loving a Mulvaney is a full-time job. Can he convince Zane that he’s worth navigating a family of psychopaths and his pathologically jealous twin, or will Zane learn the hard way that the Mulvaney boys always get what they want? Always.
Headcase is a high heat, intense, lovers-to-frenemies, psychopath romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features an obsessive, calculating psychopath and a wannabe reporter who will stop at nothing to earn himself a major byline. As always, there’s gratuitous violence, very dark humor, enough killers to fill an auditorium, and enough heat to melt your kindle. This is book 4 in the Necessary Evils series. Each book follows a different couple.
TAGS: psychopath romance, Asa is bored, Avi is jealous, Zane is pretty, Adam is still a dick, August is... August, Aiden’s still missing, Lucas is concerned, Atticus plays den mother to a gaggle of murderous young adults, Asa wants Zane but knows he suspects he's a killer, Zane wants a story but can't keep from falling into bed with his target, extra dark humor, found family, So. Many. Murderers, mysteries abound, bad boys doing bad things and each other, high non-relationship angst, low relationship angst, shmoop, fluff, smut.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2022
333 people are currently reading
3276 people want to read
About the author
Onley James
40 books3,699 followersOnley James lives in North Carolina with her daughter, her daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and a menagerie of animals, both good and evil. James splits her time between writing m/m romance and mainlining dangerous levels of caffeine and attempting to maintain her ever-slipping sanity.
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
When not at her desk you can find her whining about how much writing she has to do while avoiding said writing by binge-watching unhealthy amounts of television and doom scrolling on social media. She loves true crime documentaries, anti-heroes, and writing kinky, snarky books about morally gray men who fall in love with other men.
Stay up to date: www.onleyjames.com/newsletter
Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Onley...
Want more: linktr.ee/OnleyJames
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,251 reviews
dnf
February 1, 2022dnf @ 51%
yea this is the end of my necessary evils era, I’m just not enjoying it anymore
yea this is the end of my necessary evils era, I’m just not enjoying it anymore
February 4, 2022
Avi better not be as much of a disappointment his brother was
if you didn't figure it out by now, this wasn't my favorite or anywhere close to becoming my favorite in this series. In terms of plot: this gets a 10/10. I was heavily invested and Headcase had the best crime - serial killer - psychopaths' plotline imo. But I'm a romance reader and that's where it was lacking for me.
tbh, I would've been fine with this if it wasn't a romance. The plot itself was enough to keep me reading but the sprinkle of romance in there was so underwhelming. The author could've done amazing scenes with the Dom-sub relationship that Asa and Zane had. Add that with a little more from the spanking and humiliation kink OJ teased us with and we could've had a 5 star easssily.
there was the anticipation of violence, of exacting his revenge in Zane's name. He'd hang them all up on rusty hooks and take them apart piece by piece if that was what Zane needed. It would be Asa's fucking pleasure to do so.
Was that love?
A bigger disappointment??? no AIDEN. I'VE BEEEN ROBBED!!! Not me here reading every book in the series the day it comes out to catch glimpses of Aiden like some depraved human and she actually had the audacity to not give him ANY scene here?!?!?! she gave me an...an implication that he's there?!?!? Call me irrational but I'm reducing a star just for that.
The characters were fine, Asa was a little too similar to the other Mulvaney brother imo. He felt a bit stereotypical to me in terms of being a psychopath and it's almost like OJ ran out of ideas for psychotic behavior because at this point, she's just reusing lines to me. Zane, however, was a well written character. He reminded me a lot of Noah from Book One and not in a bad way. He submissive behavior was slow and almost reluctant but it was almost beautiful watching him embrace himself and let go of the past.
Some scenes were emotional to me and I suggest looking at the trigger warnings before going into this because there's some pretty disturbing shit going on.
ORDER OF FAVORITES
1. Moonstruck - in the lead with a whopping 9.5 pointss
2. Unhinged - a close second with 9.35 points that I might change when i wake up and realize I love Adam >> Atticus
3. Damaged - a novella so lets go with 6 points?
4. Headcase - 5 points just for the plot and handcuffs
5. Psycho - with 4.5 points and I've weirdly given this 4 stars?!? I must've written the review during my math exam
if you didn't figure it out by now, this wasn't my favorite or anywhere close to becoming my favorite in this series. In terms of plot: this gets a 10/10. I was heavily invested and Headcase had the best crime - serial killer - psychopaths' plotline imo. But I'm a romance reader and that's where it was lacking for me.
tbh, I would've been fine with this if it wasn't a romance. The plot itself was enough to keep me reading but the sprinkle of romance in there was so underwhelming. The author could've done amazing scenes with the Dom-sub relationship that Asa and Zane had. Add that with a little more from the spanking and humiliation kink OJ teased us with and we could've had a 5 star easssily.
there was the anticipation of violence, of exacting his revenge in Zane's name. He'd hang them all up on rusty hooks and take them apart piece by piece if that was what Zane needed. It would be Asa's fucking pleasure to do so.
Was that love?
A bigger disappointment??? no AIDEN. I'VE BEEEN ROBBED!!! Not me here reading every book in the series the day it comes out to catch glimpses of Aiden like some depraved human and she actually had the audacity to not give him ANY scene here?!?!?! she gave me an...an implication that he's there?!?!? Call me irrational but I'm reducing a star just for that.
The characters were fine, Asa was a little too similar to the other Mulvaney brother imo. He felt a bit stereotypical to me in terms of being a psychopath and it's almost like OJ ran out of ideas for psychotic behavior because at this point, she's just reusing lines to me. Zane, however, was a well written character. He reminded me a lot of Noah from Book One and not in a bad way. He submissive behavior was slow and almost reluctant but it was almost beautiful watching him embrace himself and let go of the past.
Some scenes were emotional to me and I suggest looking at the trigger warnings before going into this because there's some pretty disturbing shit going on.
ORDER OF FAVORITES
1. Moonstruck - in the lead with a whopping 9.5 pointss
2. Unhinged - a close second with 9.35 points that I might change when i wake up and realize I love Adam >> Atticus
3. Damaged - a novella so lets go with 6 points?
4. Headcase - 5 points just for the plot and handcuffs
5. Psycho - with 4.5 points and I've weirdly given this 4 stars?!? I must've written the review during my math exam
January 31, 2022
3.5 “Killing would be the kindest thing I could do to somebody who touched you without my permission.” stars
“I know people who’d give anything to have what we have. I’ve killed for you. I would die for you. I will put your wants and needs above mine forever because I want you to be happy. Is that love? Because when you’re not around, I feel like there’s…a splinter under my ribcage, and it only goes away when I see your face.”
Please settle in carefully, this won't be a short one. Onley James' books make me want to talk about everything about them and that’s how you can tell how effective they are for me.
I have read every book that Onley James has ever released, and she is one of my absolute favourite authors of all time and this series is one of my most anticipated series of all time. I was really excited for Asa's book, because we met him as one half of the murder twins who loves to hang out in BDSM clubs in the previous books of the series and I just wanted to read his story so badly. And while I enjoyed this book a lot, it sadly wasn’t my favourite one. I still had an awesome time reading it though. However, I don’t think I can explain to you how much it pains me to not adore this. Most of Onley’s stories have been 5 stars reads for me, so me not liking her books as much as I was expecting comes as a surprise. In theory this should have been perfect for me and I did still like it, but easn’t as great as I thought it would be.
First things first, I stayed up all night to do a paper for university that was really stressing me and reading this book was my way to try and stress a little less. It worked so well for that. I had so much fun reading this that I would love to thank the book for that, it really was a lifesaver at this specific time in my life.
Brief summary
Zane writes about true crime stories, and he also writes scandalous articles about famous people in town. He gets suspicious that the Mulvaneys could be up to no good because a lot of people connected to them keep mysteriously disappearing. He goes to follow them at an award dinner, so he can learn more about the family. One of the Mulvaney children, Asa, is there and Zane goes to talk to him. Asa proposes to take Zane home, where Asa will chase Zane around his house until he has sex with him. Then Zane continues to try and ruin the family name and Asa kidnaps him so that he can do no harm. Asa and Zane end up falling in love and Zane becomes part of the family.
First, I absolutely adore Asa. He’s probably my favourite of the Mulvaneys so far. Mostly in terms of all the psychopathic traits he showed. Asa is a psychopath, and he has massive thirst for blood, he likes to inflict pain and be inflicted pain, he has a lot of murderous instincts, and he wants to murder everyone who dares hurt the people he cares about. I just love how his form of love is killing people who caused pain to his man, that’s just the best to me. All the Mulvaneys have been taught to act more like everyone else and to try to conform to society, but Asa doesn’t really care about any of that, he cannot really be bothered to appear more human, and I love that about him. I also liked how he didn’t have a very ingrained sense of morals and that nothing really bothered him and that most things didn’t cause him pause or concern. He just relied on his basic instincts to get him through most situations and he didn’t rely on most normal human things like feelings or emotions. He didn’t have a filter either and told his entire life story to Zane without a care. He had no sense of boundaries and he wasn’t even fazed that he kidnaped Zane. In fact, nothing really bothered Asa or phased him, he didn’t really try to appear more human when he was in Zane’s company, and I loved that about him. It was fascinating to read from his point of view.
“ I like chasing you down because you’re mine, and there’s an animalistic need inside me to stalk and claim what belongs to me. I like knowing you can’t outpace me, that you’re physically weaker than me. That you need me.”
Second, the sex scenes in this book were just so good. I love primal play and the one in this book was hot and lovely to read. It brought a nice element to the smut in the book. But then again, I never met an Onley James sex scene that wasn’t very fucking hot, so nothing new here. Although, they did mention doing a prison role play with Zane as an inmate and Asa as a guard and I would have loved to actually get that on-page. I kind of really needed it.
Third, Zane and Asa’s banter. I really love banter in books, and theirs was just great. Also, they always teased each other. At the start of the book all their banter was stuck between lust and hate and it was so good.
“I’m the picture of mental health,” Asa said.
“Is that picture posted beside John Wayne Gacy?”
Fourth, I just want to make a point to talk about Zane and Asa’s first meeting and the first time they have sex because damn. That entire scene was just a perfect. It is the stuff my dreams are made off and I was such a fan of it.
Fifth, I love how telepathic Asa is with his twin Avi. They communicate and always know what the other is feeling. It’s so much fun. The entire relationship between the twins is just the best.
Sixth, I adored the concept of this as a whole. How they got together on a lie and because Zane wanted to destroy the Mulvaneys but then he couldn’t help but fall in love. It’s the kind of romance stories I absolutely live for. Plus, Asa had to kidnap Zane and bargain with him just so Zane wouldn’t publicly say bad things about the Mulvaneys. That’s the perfect set up to a relationship. Also, I just want to talk about the romance between Asa and Zane for a second because it was amazing. I loved how they felt like they are perfectly suited for each other even but they seemed like perfect opposites at first glance. Also, I really enjoyed the relationship development in this book. Even if they had sex early on, it took a while for them to really get together. Zane in particular wasn’t really into Asa at first, meanwhile Asa was lusting after Zane from the start. They just had to get to know each other before realizing that they wanted to be together. Besides, I also enjoyed all of the development their character went through during the book, seeing them change their minds and grow as they got to know each other. Besides, I loved how possessive Asa is and how he just wanted to claim Zane and mark him so that everyone would know he’s his.
Side note, Asa's nickname for Zane is Lois Lane. That was so sweet and fitting
Seventh, the concept of the books in this series. I love the idea of seven totally different psychopaths finding love, while committing murder and each being into a different kink and having hot sex all over the place. It's everything I adore in a book. Yet I think a big part of why these books aren’t working for me as much as I wish they did is because I read a lot of dark romance. I once read about a man who chopped up his lover’s leg and they ate it together and I enjoyed reading about that, so I think these books are just a little too light on the dark romance side for me. I often find myself wanting more gore, more exploration of the psychopath traits and of the kinks talked about. But I understand that these books are on the lighter sides of dark romance and maybe my expectations are just too high for them. They are still a perfect steppingstone into dark romance and maybe I’m just not the perfect audience for them, because I already know I like the genre.
Eight, the start of this book was so strong to me. Seriously, I was so invested in every single second of it. But not so much in the last 40% of the book. A lot of the focus of that part was on the murder investigation and I just don’t prefer long investigations as side plots in books. I would have preferred to spend more time with Asa and Zane having fun together and bonding instead of spending so much on the investigation. But that one is just a personal preference of mine.
Ninth, it pains me to say this as I adore Onley and I’m super excited for this series as a whole, but I feel like all the books in this series are starting to feel the same. I just wish that they were a little more different from each other, because that makes it just harder for me to get into the books. I still enjoy them and I always have a very good time reading them, but it would be nice if the same events didn’t happen at the same time in every book and that each main character didn’t sound and act the same as the previous ones.
Tenth, I’m not too sure how I feel about the investigation side plot. It was based on the Blue Whale challenge, which is an already popular creepypasta. This is probably why I didn’t really enjoy it, since I knew most of what there was to know about it. I have nothing against taking inspiration for a mystery from another story, but the one here followed the actual one so close that I just wasn’t shocked by anything happening. I prefer when I cannot predict the crime aspect, therefore, I wish we got to see more of Asa and Zane's bonding instead.
Eleventh, everyone in these books just formed a big happy family that would do everything for each other, and I love found family in books and it was lovely how the emphasis was put on that.
“The only way out of this family is with a bullet, Lois.”
This book was so much, it was sweet, it was hot, it was a little twisted but in all the right ways and it served as the perfect distraction from the real world. All in all, it was an absolutely lovely experience. The books in this series feel like a familiar blanket of comfort and I always know I’ll enjoy them, and they will give me a great time.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
“I know people who’d give anything to have what we have. I’ve killed for you. I would die for you. I will put your wants and needs above mine forever because I want you to be happy. Is that love? Because when you’re not around, I feel like there’s…a splinter under my ribcage, and it only goes away when I see your face.”
Please settle in carefully, this won't be a short one. Onley James' books make me want to talk about everything about them and that’s how you can tell how effective they are for me.
I have read every book that Onley James has ever released, and she is one of my absolute favourite authors of all time and this series is one of my most anticipated series of all time. I was really excited for Asa's book, because we met him as one half of the murder twins who loves to hang out in BDSM clubs in the previous books of the series and I just wanted to read his story so badly. And while I enjoyed this book a lot, it sadly wasn’t my favourite one. I still had an awesome time reading it though. However, I don’t think I can explain to you how much it pains me to not adore this. Most of Onley’s stories have been 5 stars reads for me, so me not liking her books as much as I was expecting comes as a surprise. In theory this should have been perfect for me and I did still like it, but easn’t as great as I thought it would be.
First things first, I stayed up all night to do a paper for university that was really stressing me and reading this book was my way to try and stress a little less. It worked so well for that. I had so much fun reading this that I would love to thank the book for that, it really was a lifesaver at this specific time in my life.
Brief summary
Zane writes about true crime stories, and he also writes scandalous articles about famous people in town. He gets suspicious that the Mulvaneys could be up to no good because a lot of people connected to them keep mysteriously disappearing. He goes to follow them at an award dinner, so he can learn more about the family. One of the Mulvaney children, Asa, is there and Zane goes to talk to him. Asa proposes to take Zane home, where Asa will chase Zane around his house until he has sex with him. Then Zane continues to try and ruin the family name and Asa kidnaps him so that he can do no harm. Asa and Zane end up falling in love and Zane becomes part of the family.
First, I absolutely adore Asa. He’s probably my favourite of the Mulvaneys so far. Mostly in terms of all the psychopathic traits he showed. Asa is a psychopath, and he has massive thirst for blood, he likes to inflict pain and be inflicted pain, he has a lot of murderous instincts, and he wants to murder everyone who dares hurt the people he cares about. I just love how his form of love is killing people who caused pain to his man, that’s just the best to me. All the Mulvaneys have been taught to act more like everyone else and to try to conform to society, but Asa doesn’t really care about any of that, he cannot really be bothered to appear more human, and I love that about him. I also liked how he didn’t have a very ingrained sense of morals and that nothing really bothered him and that most things didn’t cause him pause or concern. He just relied on his basic instincts to get him through most situations and he didn’t rely on most normal human things like feelings or emotions. He didn’t have a filter either and told his entire life story to Zane without a care. He had no sense of boundaries and he wasn’t even fazed that he kidnaped Zane. In fact, nothing really bothered Asa or phased him, he didn’t really try to appear more human when he was in Zane’s company, and I loved that about him. It was fascinating to read from his point of view.
“ I like chasing you down because you’re mine, and there’s an animalistic need inside me to stalk and claim what belongs to me. I like knowing you can’t outpace me, that you’re physically weaker than me. That you need me.”
Second, the sex scenes in this book were just so good. I love primal play and the one in this book was hot and lovely to read. It brought a nice element to the smut in the book. But then again, I never met an Onley James sex scene that wasn’t very fucking hot, so nothing new here. Although, they did mention doing a prison role play with Zane as an inmate and Asa as a guard and I would have loved to actually get that on-page. I kind of really needed it.
Third, Zane and Asa’s banter. I really love banter in books, and theirs was just great. Also, they always teased each other. At the start of the book all their banter was stuck between lust and hate and it was so good.
“I’m the picture of mental health,” Asa said.
“Is that picture posted beside John Wayne Gacy?”
Fourth, I just want to make a point to talk about Zane and Asa’s first meeting and the first time they have sex because damn. That entire scene was just a perfect. It is the stuff my dreams are made off and I was such a fan of it.
Fifth, I love how telepathic Asa is with his twin Avi. They communicate and always know what the other is feeling. It’s so much fun. The entire relationship between the twins is just the best.
Sixth, I adored the concept of this as a whole. How they got together on a lie and because Zane wanted to destroy the Mulvaneys but then he couldn’t help but fall in love. It’s the kind of romance stories I absolutely live for. Plus, Asa had to kidnap Zane and bargain with him just so Zane wouldn’t publicly say bad things about the Mulvaneys. That’s the perfect set up to a relationship. Also, I just want to talk about the romance between Asa and Zane for a second because it was amazing. I loved how they felt like they are perfectly suited for each other even but they seemed like perfect opposites at first glance. Also, I really enjoyed the relationship development in this book. Even if they had sex early on, it took a while for them to really get together. Zane in particular wasn’t really into Asa at first, meanwhile Asa was lusting after Zane from the start. They just had to get to know each other before realizing that they wanted to be together. Besides, I also enjoyed all of the development their character went through during the book, seeing them change their minds and grow as they got to know each other. Besides, I loved how possessive Asa is and how he just wanted to claim Zane and mark him so that everyone would know he’s his.
Side note, Asa's nickname for Zane is Lois Lane. That was so sweet and fitting
Seventh, the concept of the books in this series. I love the idea of seven totally different psychopaths finding love, while committing murder and each being into a different kink and having hot sex all over the place. It's everything I adore in a book. Yet I think a big part of why these books aren’t working for me as much as I wish they did is because I read a lot of dark romance. I once read about a man who chopped up his lover’s leg and they ate it together and I enjoyed reading about that, so I think these books are just a little too light on the dark romance side for me. I often find myself wanting more gore, more exploration of the psychopath traits and of the kinks talked about. But I understand that these books are on the lighter sides of dark romance and maybe my expectations are just too high for them. They are still a perfect steppingstone into dark romance and maybe I’m just not the perfect audience for them, because I already know I like the genre.
Eight, the start of this book was so strong to me. Seriously, I was so invested in every single second of it. But not so much in the last 40% of the book. A lot of the focus of that part was on the murder investigation and I just don’t prefer long investigations as side plots in books. I would have preferred to spend more time with Asa and Zane having fun together and bonding instead of spending so much on the investigation. But that one is just a personal preference of mine.
Ninth, it pains me to say this as I adore Onley and I’m super excited for this series as a whole, but I feel like all the books in this series are starting to feel the same. I just wish that they were a little more different from each other, because that makes it just harder for me to get into the books. I still enjoy them and I always have a very good time reading them, but it would be nice if the same events didn’t happen at the same time in every book and that each main character didn’t sound and act the same as the previous ones.
Tenth, I’m not too sure how I feel about the investigation side plot. It was based on the Blue Whale challenge, which is an already popular creepypasta. This is probably why I didn’t really enjoy it, since I knew most of what there was to know about it. I have nothing against taking inspiration for a mystery from another story, but the one here followed the actual one so close that I just wasn’t shocked by anything happening. I prefer when I cannot predict the crime aspect, therefore, I wish we got to see more of Asa and Zane's bonding instead.
Eleventh, everyone in these books just formed a big happy family that would do everything for each other, and I love found family in books and it was lovely how the emphasis was put on that.
“The only way out of this family is with a bullet, Lois.”
This book was so much, it was sweet, it was hot, it was a little twisted but in all the right ways and it served as the perfect distraction from the real world. All in all, it was an absolutely lovely experience. The books in this series feel like a familiar blanket of comfort and I always know I’ll enjoy them, and they will give me a great time.
I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest review.
February 6, 2022
2.5 rounded down
Here's the thing. Maybe I could have enjoyed this book more under different circumstances, but James shot herself in the foot with this one and I was so disappointed and frustrated throughout that it made reading, sadly, difficult to enjoy.
The case/mystery here was, for the most part, one of the strongest ones we've had in the series so far. It was super fucked-up, but compelling and interesting, though I did think the very end felt a little anti-climactic. Unfortunately, while the plot was decent, the romance just didn't quite do it for me.
It just makes NO sense to me why Asa & Avi wouldn't get their own book together. They're marketed and discussed as a single unit in all of the previous books, and having a triad situation would have provided this series some much-needed variety--there are only so many variations on psychopathic relationships, and the author seems to be hitting their limit on creativity here. Despite some comments in the book to the contrary, it's clear that James is staying FAR away from incest (also evidenced by how unnecessarily hard she's been going to make sure we know Thomas and Aidan aren't ACTUALLY related) which is such a weird line to have in a book series as absolutely fucked-up and unrealistic as this one. Why the sudden squeamishness? Honestly, if the author wasn't going to have some twincest-vibe, the way she set up the twins in the series from the jump just doesn't make sense, because that is very much the expectation she set up--she *chose* to write them as super co-dependent and obsessed with each other, and then doesn't follow through with their relationship when it comes time to deliver. And even if she wanted to stay away from the incest (which, again, is kind of an odd stance given the other lines crossed in this series), she could have at least written a book that went along with the whole "we've shared but never crossed swords" approach (as confirmed in this book) with some kind of triad situation, which would have at least been better than what we got here. It felt like she literally wrote and set up an expectation she never intended to follow-through on.
And to make matters worse, Asa and Avi spend nearly the WHOLE book separated. Maybe I woulnd't have felt SO cheated by the separate romances if they at least got as much screen time together as they should have. The twin bond is the biggest thing that makes these two so unique and we basically got to see zero of that in the whole entire book and it was such a fucking letdown. We kept hearing about how they're basically one person and obsessed with one another and possessive and can hear each other's thoughts, but we didn't actually *see* hardly any evidence of that, or really get to experience what that felt like. And it looks like the next book is going to follow the same pattern with them being split up and I'm just upset. I don't understand that choice, and I'm frustrated about missing out on getting to on-page experience the twin relationship I was so fascinated by.
So. IDK, Zane was probably fine, but I was so pissed off by the author's choices that it, frankly, ruined this whole book for me and made it impossible for me to see past it.
Also, the wedding at the end was fucking ridiculous and unnecessary. For a book all about psychopaths, why do they all need to be in monogamous marriages? It's weirdly heteronormative. And then why are previous couples having actual babies? It actually kind of crossed the line for me--the relationships here are between consenting adults and it's clear they're fucked-up and a bit unhealthy, but it works for them. That does NOT mean that any of these people should be raising regular-ass humans. Children should not be subjected to this life and I get it's all ~make believe~ but then don't make believe fucking babies into this chaos, are you kidding me? What about this series says I want to read about fucking children??
Why is this series going off the fucking rails? At this point I only want to read the Thomas/Aiden's storyline, and based on how skittish the author was about even a whiff of incest in this book, I'm guessing they're gonna take all the fun out of that pairing, too.
Here's the thing. Maybe I could have enjoyed this book more under different circumstances, but James shot herself in the foot with this one and I was so disappointed and frustrated throughout that it made reading, sadly, difficult to enjoy.
The case/mystery here was, for the most part, one of the strongest ones we've had in the series so far. It was super fucked-up, but compelling and interesting, though I did think the very end felt a little anti-climactic. Unfortunately, while the plot was decent, the romance just didn't quite do it for me.
It just makes NO sense to me why Asa & Avi wouldn't get their own book together. They're marketed and discussed as a single unit in all of the previous books, and having a triad situation would have provided this series some much-needed variety--there are only so many variations on psychopathic relationships, and the author seems to be hitting their limit on creativity here. Despite some comments in the book to the contrary, it's clear that James is staying FAR away from incest (also evidenced by how unnecessarily hard she's been going to make sure we know Thomas and Aidan aren't ACTUALLY related) which is such a weird line to have in a book series as absolutely fucked-up and unrealistic as this one. Why the sudden squeamishness? Honestly, if the author wasn't going to have some twincest-vibe, the way she set up the twins in the series from the jump just doesn't make sense, because that is very much the expectation she set up--she *chose* to write them as super co-dependent and obsessed with each other, and then doesn't follow through with their relationship when it comes time to deliver. And even if she wanted to stay away from the incest (which, again, is kind of an odd stance given the other lines crossed in this series), she could have at least written a book that went along with the whole "we've shared but never crossed swords" approach (as confirmed in this book) with some kind of triad situation, which would have at least been better than what we got here. It felt like she literally wrote and set up an expectation she never intended to follow-through on.
And to make matters worse, Asa and Avi spend nearly the WHOLE book separated. Maybe I woulnd't have felt SO cheated by the separate romances if they at least got as much screen time together as they should have. The twin bond is the biggest thing that makes these two so unique and we basically got to see zero of that in the whole entire book and it was such a fucking letdown. We kept hearing about how they're basically one person and obsessed with one another and possessive and can hear each other's thoughts, but we didn't actually *see* hardly any evidence of that, or really get to experience what that felt like. And it looks like the next book is going to follow the same pattern with them being split up and I'm just upset. I don't understand that choice, and I'm frustrated about missing out on getting to on-page experience the twin relationship I was so fascinated by.
So. IDK, Zane was probably fine, but I was so pissed off by the author's choices that it, frankly, ruined this whole book for me and made it impossible for me to see past it.
Also, the wedding at the end was fucking ridiculous and unnecessary. For a book all about psychopaths, why do they all need to be in monogamous marriages? It's weirdly heteronormative. And then why are previous couples having actual babies? It actually kind of crossed the line for me--the relationships here are between consenting adults and it's clear they're fucked-up and a bit unhealthy, but it works for them. That does NOT mean that any of these people should be raising regular-ass humans. Children should not be subjected to this life and I get it's all ~make believe~ but then don't make believe fucking babies into this chaos, are you kidding me? What about this series says I want to read about fucking children??
Why is this series going off the fucking rails? At this point I only want to read the Thomas/Aiden's storyline, and based on how skittish the author was about even a whiff of incest in this book, I'm guessing they're gonna take all the fun out of that pairing, too.
Read
April 25, 2024On Hold 50%
I have been reading this book for FOUR DAYS now and I have only completed 50% of it. Am just gonna put it on hold and pick it up when am in the right mood for it.
I have been reading this book for FOUR DAYS now and I have only completed 50% of it. Am just gonna put it on hold and pick it up when am in the right mood for it.
February 15, 2022
I enjoyed this one a lot but I do have some quibbles. The trend with this series is that we get promised some great kink but then delivery of said kink is…not the best. Pretty lacking and barely there. Moonstruck is still my favorite book from this series and Jericho and Atticus are still my favorite couple but I did love Asa and Zane but I wish something felt different, fresh, less fluffy. And man oh man! We get it! Aidan and Thomas are NOT related!!!🙃 Avi not being super present in a book about Asa doesn’t make sense to me since we’ve been told how strong their twin bond is. Zane and his brother’s bond felt stronger honestly. The case got solved within 30 seconds and to be honest I don’t remember a single case from this series so I can’t compare them but I think this had the potential to be great but it wasn’t. But I feel like those are my sentiments about previous mysteries in the series as well so again…(nothing new). Zane and Asa’s connection felt strong to me and I loved how much Asa touched him, pulled Zane into his lap, etc. Super cute 🥰 The pacing still felt off to me but I feel like it bothered me the least in this book. I guess I can attribute that to just being a smidge more interested in the case than usual as well as me being interested in Zane’s backstory and where things end up with his mom (and rooting for him to stand up to her). I actually cried in the end when I learned that she wasn’t invited to their wedding and he didn’t have any involvement with her anymore and I could really feel Zane’s pain and hurt and I was so happy for him that he was finally happy and in a good place.🥺 I just really love him, I really do.💜 I adored Asa as well even if he was a bit bland and not as intense as I had hoped. There were plenty of very funny moments to me as well. Also!!! Their banter!!!! I LOVED IT.🤩🤩🤩 Okay so all in all I have my issues with this but I enjoyed it a ton despite that. I’m super surprised how fluffy this series is becoming though! 🤭
“Who are you guys again? What happened to you? Are you okay?” he asked, looking at Zane’s bruises with concern.
“I was mauled by a bear.”
“I’m an otter at best,” Asa murmured under his breath, earning a glare from Zane and a confused look from David.
“Who are you guys again? What happened to you? Are you okay?” he asked, looking at Zane’s bruises with concern.
“I was mauled by a bear.”
“I’m an otter at best,” Asa murmured under his breath, earning a glare from Zane and a confused look from David.
September 4, 2022
*** I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.***
Asa and Zane!!!! Headcase is another winning and thrilling entry in the Necessary Evils Series. Asa and Zane are great compliments to one another. Asa has a strong possessive and animalistic side to him that is balanced well with Zane's desire to be dominated, needed, and protected. Their romance is complicated but grows into something surprisingly sweet and endearing.
Headcase features Asa, who as part of his father's scientific curiosity, decides to have a trial separation between the twins, which is extremely difficult for Asa. Meanwhile, Zane is a crime blogger who has researched into the many mysterious deaths surrounding the Mulvaney family.
Asa and Zane meet at a local benefit and have an instant connection, which complicates Zane's investigation. Zane inevitably becomes entangled within the Mulvaney family, which includes investigating a string of mysterious deaths, which may or may not have a personal tie to Zane.
Overall Headcase is a fast-moving, enemies to lovers romance that is filled with great banter, violence, and the standard explosive chemistry between our couple. Both are extremely possessive of one another while maintaining their deep connection. Asa and Zane are a great couple that complements each other in surprisingly sweet ways.
I look forward to Avi's story next...
Asa and Zane!!!! Headcase is another winning and thrilling entry in the Necessary Evils Series. Asa and Zane are great compliments to one another. Asa has a strong possessive and animalistic side to him that is balanced well with Zane's desire to be dominated, needed, and protected. Their romance is complicated but grows into something surprisingly sweet and endearing.
Headcase features Asa, who as part of his father's scientific curiosity, decides to have a trial separation between the twins, which is extremely difficult for Asa. Meanwhile, Zane is a crime blogger who has researched into the many mysterious deaths surrounding the Mulvaney family.
Asa and Zane meet at a local benefit and have an instant connection, which complicates Zane's investigation. Zane inevitably becomes entangled within the Mulvaney family, which includes investigating a string of mysterious deaths, which may or may not have a personal tie to Zane.
Overall Headcase is a fast-moving, enemies to lovers romance that is filled with great banter, violence, and the standard explosive chemistry between our couple. Both are extremely possessive of one another while maintaining their deep connection. Asa and Zane are a great couple that complements each other in surprisingly sweet ways.
I look forward to Avi's story next...
February 6, 2022
I advise caution if suicide is a trigger for you. The plot, involving a high-stakes digital game where players are degraded and subliminally primed to kill themselves, is brutal. I found it incredibly disturbing. At one point, one of the MCs . Please be careful going in, friends.
I didn't mind the Asa/Zane pairing, but something was missing. Maybe the lack of Avi/Asa interactions or the prudish way Onley James shied away from incest? Or maybe that Zane's personality did a 360 after he spent 24 hours with Asa?
Gone was the snarky, combative reporter; in his place stood vulnerable, insecure Zane. Clearly, Asa has a magic dick.
Rough sex is hot, but when you need body makeup to hide your many bruises, that might be taking it a step too far.
The story kept my interest for sure. I love the Mulvaney clan. I am hoping the hints about a potential foursome/sharing involving the twins actually materialize in Avi's book.
I didn't mind the Asa/Zane pairing, but something was missing. Maybe the lack of Avi/Asa interactions or the prudish way Onley James shied away from incest? Or maybe that Zane's personality did a 360 after he spent 24 hours with Asa?
Gone was the snarky, combative reporter; in his place stood vulnerable, insecure Zane. Clearly, Asa has a magic dick.
Rough sex is hot, but when you need body makeup to hide your many bruises, that might be taking it a step too far.
The story kept my interest for sure. I love the Mulvaney clan. I am hoping the hints about a potential foursome/sharing involving the twins actually materialize in Avi's book.
October 3, 2024
It's like a 3.5⭐ maybe?
But I'm going to round down, because I didn't enjoy it as much as books 1 and 3.
I came here for a silly little "tehe" time with the next Mulvaney brother... Asa, one of the twins.
But honestly, stayed for the
And not much else, let's be real. 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
Relationships in this series are all pretty instantaneous and not super believable obviously, but for the right characters, I will enter that nice headspace filled with ✨high-key delusion✨ and enjoy myself regardless of this fact.
However, Asa and Zane felt EXTRA non-organic... ?
There was really no reason/connection with them, and nek minut the man who relies on 1-night stands and sex workers for depravity is ready to wife up his 28 hour boyfriend...?
I guess it's meant to be the shock factor of the change in personality?
But it just didn't feel right with this one?
Maybe because IDGAF about the twins if I'm honest? 🤷🏻
But like, AT THE SAME TIME, LET ME TELL YOU SUMFIN, LET ME TELL YOU SUMFINNNNNN, the whole predator-prey/CNC thing, is my fucking bread n butter.
UNF!
CHEFS KISS.
LICK THE PLATE.
ABSOLUTELY MOIST FOR IT.
The violent sexual encounters hooked me in, and the plot was what you'd want/expect from this series.
Thank u, next.
But I'm going to round down, because I didn't enjoy it as much as books 1 and 3.
I came here for a silly little "tehe" time with the next Mulvaney brother... Asa, one of the twins.
But honestly, stayed for the
And not much else, let's be real. 🤷🏻🤷🏻🤷🏻
Relationships in this series are all pretty instantaneous and not super believable obviously, but for the right characters, I will enter that nice headspace filled with ✨high-key delusion✨ and enjoy myself regardless of this fact.
However, Asa and Zane felt EXTRA non-organic... ?
There was really no reason/connection with them, and nek minut the man who relies on 1-night stands and sex workers for depravity is ready to wife up his 28 hour boyfriend...?
I guess it's meant to be the shock factor of the change in personality?
But it just didn't feel right with this one?
Maybe because IDGAF about the twins if I'm honest? 🤷🏻
But like, AT THE SAME TIME, LET ME TELL YOU SUMFIN, LET ME TELL YOU SUMFINNNNNN, the whole predator-prey/CNC thing, is my fucking bread n butter.
UNF!
CHEFS KISS.
LICK THE PLATE.
ABSOLUTELY MOIST FOR IT.
The violent sexual encounters hooked me in, and the plot was what you'd want/expect from this series.
Thank u, next.
January 30, 2022
"Asa needed to play God. He needed Zane fully dependent on him. Needed to know that Zane's life hung in the balance and only Asa could give him what he needed."
Onley James hits the mark again with Headcase, which is the 4th book in the Necessary Evils series about the seven Mulvaney brothers. This is Asa and Zane's story.
Asa is one half of the psychopathic Mulvaney twins, but for most of Headcase, Avi (his twin brother) is absent on a working trip, organised by the Mulvaney's snack of an adoptive father, Thomas. The forced separation is part of Thomas' scientific experiment to see how the twins cope apart (not too well is the expectation!) and to keep Asa busy, Thomas decides to assign him an investigation into some suspicious suicides at various schools in the area.
Zane is a crime blogger looking for his big break, and he's had a sniff of a story concerning several unexplained deaths, loosely connected to the Mulvaneys. Zane decides to cross paths with a Mulvaney to see what he can find out. He meets Asa at a function Thomas has made Asa attend, and sparks fly immediately. It's all about the chase with Asa and it seems as though Zane is the perfect prey....and maybe they can help each other out with the investiagtion too. That is, if Zane doesn't shop them all first.....
Another fabulous instalment in the series! If you love:
🌶️found family
🌶️dark humour
🌶️obsessive psychopaths
🌶️high steam
🌶️marking and 'mine'
🌶️frenemies-lovers
🌶️HEA
Then Headcase comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 😈.
5 steamy stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 2, 2022
Like the Hallmark movies of psychopath serial killer romances…if murder and obsession are your guilty pleasure comforts.
Onley James has a formula and it works. I know by now what to expect and not expect from this series and I like that. I actually felt like this one was a little less repetitive.
The plot in this book really worked for me. It was compelling, interesting, and wrapped up nicely like you want a good thriller romance to do. I love seeing all the characters from the past books! I did not expect them to get so much page time. The tease of Aiden was evil. This author knows what her fans want. I also loved the kinks in this book. They had so much promise.
That being said, I expected more from those kinks! The quick violence was a cop out. I wanted more from the primal play chase scene than that. I wanted more chase scenes period. I definitely felt teased by what could have been. The promise of punishment and spanking, but nothing. The hint of role play and nothing! If I had to choose more of the relationship buildup or page time for other characters I definitely would choose the relationship. I’m going to assume that was the trade off here. I wish I could have had both.
Did anyone else find Asa bland? I guess I expected more from the murder twins. I also really wanted more for him and Avi during their reunion. Their relationship in general was a letdown for me and I’m not excited at all for Avi’s book. I’ll read it, but my expectations are pretty low right now.
Onley James has a formula and it works. I know by now what to expect and not expect from this series and I like that. I actually felt like this one was a little less repetitive.
The plot in this book really worked for me. It was compelling, interesting, and wrapped up nicely like you want a good thriller romance to do. I love seeing all the characters from the past books! I did not expect them to get so much page time. The tease of Aiden was evil. This author knows what her fans want. I also loved the kinks in this book. They had so much promise.
That being said, I expected more from those kinks! The quick violence was a cop out. I wanted more from the primal play chase scene than that. I wanted more chase scenes period. I definitely felt teased by what could have been. The promise of punishment and spanking, but nothing. The hint of role play and nothing! If I had to choose more of the relationship buildup or page time for other characters I definitely would choose the relationship. I’m going to assume that was the trade off here. I wish I could have had both.
Did anyone else find Asa bland? I guess I expected more from the murder twins. I also really wanted more for him and Avi during their reunion. Their relationship in general was a letdown for me and I’m not excited at all for Avi’s book. I’ll read it, but my expectations are pretty low right now.
March 31, 2022
Cette série va me rendre zinzin…. Ce tome était presque aussi nul que le tome 1 !! Heureusement que les persos secondaires sont mes bibous, ils ont un peu relevé le niveau !
La romance entre Zane et Asa était…..médiocre. Encore un insta love… (et oui ils tombent amoureux en 1 jour dans tous les livres de cette saga mais des fois elle fait ça bien et des fois….ça flop)
J’ai pas du tout senti la connexion entre les deux et j’ai trouvé que leur relation au niveau du olé olé était hyper toxique ? Alors oui c’est de la dark romance mais j’suis encore trop soft pour les trucs kinky où le type se retrouve avec des bleus partout et ils sont happy about it…..nah.
Et alors le truc des jumeaux qui sont inséparables mais qui en fait se séparent sans problème……..moi pas comprendre.
L’intrigue principal était hyper intéressante par contre !
J’espère juste que l’autrice va faire justice à mon bibou Felix dans le prochain livre parce que vraiment pour moi certains tomes sont archi nuls et d’autres sont parfait ??? Elle me rend zinzin vous dis-je !
La romance entre Zane et Asa était…..médiocre. Encore un insta love… (et oui ils tombent amoureux en 1 jour dans tous les livres de cette saga mais des fois elle fait ça bien et des fois….ça flop)
J’ai pas du tout senti la connexion entre les deux et j’ai trouvé que leur relation au niveau du olé olé était hyper toxique ? Alors oui c’est de la dark romance mais j’suis encore trop soft pour les trucs kinky où le type se retrouve avec des bleus partout et ils sont happy about it…..nah.
Et alors le truc des jumeaux qui sont inséparables mais qui en fait se séparent sans problème……..moi pas comprendre.
L’intrigue principal était hyper intéressante par contre !
J’espère juste que l’autrice va faire justice à mon bibou Felix dans le prochain livre parce que vraiment pour moi certains tomes sont archi nuls et d’autres sont parfait ??? Elle me rend zinzin vous dis-je !
April 4, 2023
Is it really me? I was so disappointed with this book... I always thought the book with the twins would be around the same guy since they seemed to share everything.
I thought it would be something dark, that they'd be struggling to adapt with a new person in the relationship... Instead Onley did different people for the twins...
Well, it's her book, but I speak for me and me onley (only, see I made a joke) that this book would be a lot more interesting with the twins sharing a love interest.
I thought it would be something dark, that they'd be struggling to adapt with a new person in the relationship... Instead Onley did different people for the twins...
Well, it's her book, but I speak for me and me onley (only, see I made a joke) that this book would be a lot more interesting with the twins sharing a love interest.
September 5, 2023
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes & tags down below.
He was a mess of tears and snot and saliva, but he'd never looked hotter. He looked defiled. Debauched. He looked like a goddamn crime scene, and Asa had never felt more warmed by a sight in his life.
I thought the investigative reporter angle was really cool, and quite different. I also enjoyed Zane’s character a lot, and I’m looking forward to seeing him becoming best buds with Felix. Unfortunately I didn’t get as attached to Asa. I realize every single one of these books has that insta-lust insta-love element, but I didn’t feel the connection as clearly in this one. It was still perfectly entertaining, hot and funny, but I didn’t get as much of a giddy, giggly, bubbly butterflies feeling this time around.
"You really don’t get it, do you, Lois? You're never getting out of this. You and me? It's a done deal. We're kind of like the mob. Once you're in, you're in. I really hope you can learn to love me because this fucked up thing we have going…it's forever now. Hope you don't get sick of me."
I did appreciate how different Asa was from his adopted brothers, though. He’s very much unapologetically psychopathic. It would’ve been neat to see more of the brilliant mind I’m sure he has, but there’s also a limit to what you can fit in a book with this scope. Zane and Asa really did end up becoming a power couple, and I’m sure we’ll have a sort of power-quad on our hands by the end of Felix and Avi’s book.
“Read the room, Jerry. We’re not here to tell you about our lord and savior, John Wick,” Avi said, thumping him on the forehead. “We’re gonna kill you.”
The mystery/whodunnit part of this was really well done, and I enjoyed trying to find out what had happened alongside the characters. And of course I loved seeing all of the other characters again. By now I’m really freaking curious about what is going on with Archer. Looking forward to the last three books!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Psychopath MC
Found family
Mystery solving
Investigative reporter
Twin MC
Obsessive
Lovers-to-frenemies-to-lovers
Dealmaking
Edging
Breeding
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Graphic violence
Watching the video recording of a family member’s suicide (detailed)
Torture and murder
Mild primal play
CNC (mildly, to me)
Use of words like slut/whore during sex
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
He looked at Zane and there was this gut punch of need, this primitive, animalistic knowledge that Zane belonged to him, was made for him, was meant to be loved and fucked and protected by him. He wanted to hurt him so he could heal him. He wanted to know that he was the only one Zane trusted to bend him without breaking him.
"I do love you, Lois. In whatever ways I can. I do. Believe that."
"I know people who'd give anything to have what we have. I've killed for you. I would die for you. I will put your work wants and needs above mine forever because I want you to be happy. Is that love? Because when you're not around, I feel like there's…a splinter under my ribcage, and it only goes away when I see your face. That's enough for me. Is it enough for you?"
He was a mess of tears and snot and saliva, but he'd never looked hotter. He looked defiled. Debauched. He looked like a goddamn crime scene, and Asa had never felt more warmed by a sight in his life.
I thought the investigative reporter angle was really cool, and quite different. I also enjoyed Zane’s character a lot, and I’m looking forward to seeing him becoming best buds with Felix. Unfortunately I didn’t get as attached to Asa. I realize every single one of these books has that insta-lust insta-love element, but I didn’t feel the connection as clearly in this one. It was still perfectly entertaining, hot and funny, but I didn’t get as much of a giddy, giggly, bubbly butterflies feeling this time around.
"You really don’t get it, do you, Lois? You're never getting out of this. You and me? It's a done deal. We're kind of like the mob. Once you're in, you're in. I really hope you can learn to love me because this fucked up thing we have going…it's forever now. Hope you don't get sick of me."
I did appreciate how different Asa was from his adopted brothers, though. He’s very much unapologetically psychopathic. It would’ve been neat to see more of the brilliant mind I’m sure he has, but there’s also a limit to what you can fit in a book with this scope. Zane and Asa really did end up becoming a power couple, and I’m sure we’ll have a sort of power-quad on our hands by the end of Felix and Avi’s book.
“Read the room, Jerry. We’re not here to tell you about our lord and savior, John Wick,” Avi said, thumping him on the forehead. “We’re gonna kill you.”
The mystery/whodunnit part of this was really well done, and I enjoyed trying to find out what had happened alongside the characters. And of course I loved seeing all of the other characters again. By now I’m really freaking curious about what is going on with Archer. Looking forward to the last three books!
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Psychopath MC
Found family
Mystery solving
Investigative reporter
Twin MC
Obsessive
Lovers-to-frenemies-to-lovers
Dealmaking
Edging
Breeding
⚠️⚠️ Content warning ⚠️⚠️
Explicit sexual content
Graphic violence
Watching the video recording of a family member’s suicide (detailed)
Torture and murder
Mild primal play
CNC (mildly, to me)
Use of words like slut/whore during sex
⚠️⚠️⚠️ Book safety ⚠️⚠️⚠️
Cheating: No
OM drama: No
Third-act breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual POV
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
He looked at Zane and there was this gut punch of need, this primitive, animalistic knowledge that Zane belonged to him, was made for him, was meant to be loved and fucked and protected by him. He wanted to hurt him so he could heal him. He wanted to know that he was the only one Zane trusted to bend him without breaking him.
"I do love you, Lois. In whatever ways I can. I do. Believe that."
"I know people who'd give anything to have what we have. I've killed for you. I would die for you. I will put your work wants and needs above mine forever because I want you to be happy. Is that love? Because when you're not around, I feel like there's…a splinter under my ribcage, and it only goes away when I see your face. That's enough for me. Is it enough for you?"
0-mm-books-i-own-and-to-be-read
October 27, 2021Looks like the negative rating someone else put up was removed [YAYYY], so I am removing my 5 stars for now as well!! I am keeping the below insight in case this happens again (and as a reminder)!!
What the hell is up with assholes rating a book negatively when that book is nowhere close to being released yet and the likelihood of that person having gotten an ARC is practically zero?!!!
If you READ a book and disliked it, that's one thing, that's entirely and legitimately your prerogative, but to rate something negatively BEFORE it has even been released?!! That's just absurd and ridiculous!!! Rude!!!
I am rating this 5 stars ONLY to counteract the negative rating someone else gave this!! I will remove the rating once this has been released and it has gained more legitimate ratings based on the book's own merit!
I'll of course properly rate once I have read the book [spoiler alert: I WILL be purchasing this book] and am crossing fingers that I will not have to change my rating whatsoever :-D!!
Also, the cover is STUNNING!!! I think all the covers in this series are spot-on terrific!! May there be many many many more big, thick, lengthy M/M books in this series!!
If you READ a book and disliked it, that's one thing, that's entirely and legitimately your prerogative, but to rate something negatively BEFORE it has even been released?!! That's just absurd and ridiculous!!! Rude!!!
I am rating this 5 stars ONLY to counteract the negative rating someone else gave this!! I will remove the rating once this has been released and it has gained more legitimate ratings based on the book's own merit!
I'll of course properly rate once I have read the book [spoiler alert: I WILL be purchasing this book] and am crossing fingers that I will not have to change my rating whatsoever :-D!!
Also, the cover is STUNNING!!! I think all the covers in this series are spot-on terrific!! May there be many many many more big, thick, lengthy M/M books in this series!!
February 1, 2022
4 stars!
I'm dropping a star because honestly didn't feel the connection between Zane and Asa that warranted a marriage proposal at the end. Idk something didn't click for me. Also I needed more Avi and Asa interactions. I know they were separated for research reasons, but I just really needed more 😭
However, kudos to Onley for the amount of work I know she puts into researching many aspects of the plot. The mystery and suspense elements were so well executed in this one. I'd even say it was my favourite so far! 👏🏾
This found family is growing 🥺🥺
I'm dropping a star because honestly didn't feel the connection between Zane and Asa that warranted a marriage proposal at the end. Idk something didn't click for me. Also I needed more Avi and Asa interactions. I know they were separated for research reasons, but I just really needed more 😭
However, kudos to Onley for the amount of work I know she puts into researching many aspects of the plot. The mystery and suspense elements were so well executed in this one. I'd even say it was my favourite so far! 👏🏾
This found family is growing 🥺🥺
June 8, 2022
Edit: June 2022
So, the audio for this came out last month and it would have been great to have had it when I actually read this. The narrator is so good and I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more with his narration. Listening to the sample I almost want to do a reread. I may have been a little harsh in this review but I'm keeping it because it's how I felt at the time. Maybe when I do a reread WITH NARRATION I'll like it more. Some books are just like that for me. Oh well. 🤷♀️😕
Original Review April 2022
After Adam, the two Mulvaneys I was most excited to read about were Ava and Avi. I just knew their stories would be the best… after all, they had that weird twin connection thing that could add a unique twist to any relationship either of them got into. Well, that wasn’t utilized at all… which is fine, I guess… but what I got instead felt so underwhelming that I can’t help but be a little disappointed. Compared to the past three pairings, Asa’s and Zane’s relationship felt completely superficial. I didn’t feel any strong emotional bonds between them other than Zane’s desire for someone to want him and Asa’s desire to keep his willing plaything happy and safe. I know that Adam, August, and Atticus didn’t experience love the way their partners did but there was something deeper to their relationships, something that went beyond their sexual compatibilities, that bonded them and I didn’t see anything like that with Ava and Zane. Maybe it had to do with Ava already having a strong connection to Avi or maybe the twins are just higher up the spectrum of psychopathy, either way I never really felt a strong connection between the two making the wedding at the end feel totally out of place.
Since I was deprived of any deep emotional anything I should’ve been given more of the kinky stuff that pretty much formed the foundation of their relationship. The overall mystery of who was behind the game that took Zane’s brother took up a lot of the story (and I’m not complaining because I actually enjoyed that part) but there should’ve been more pages dedicated to their role playing games or sex dungeon sessions. I love the crime solving aspect of these stories but ultimately I’m here for the romance and spice, both of which were severely lacking in this story considering I wasn’t given much else.
Finally, I was a little disappointed that Avi didn’t make a reappearance until the end of the story. I wanted to see how he adjusted to his brother attaching himself to someone other than him and what life was like for them when they all went back to their home. I know he was distracted by Felix but I know he had to have some feelings about the situation and I wanted to explore that more.
Overall, I’m giving this story 3.5 stars, rounded down. It really wasn’t a bad story, it just felt like it was missing something. I’m praying that Avi’s story is a lot better because his was the story I was most excited to read about anyway. It has to be better than this one.
So, the audio for this came out last month and it would have been great to have had it when I actually read this. The narrator is so good and I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more with his narration. Listening to the sample I almost want to do a reread. I may have been a little harsh in this review but I'm keeping it because it's how I felt at the time. Maybe when I do a reread WITH NARRATION I'll like it more. Some books are just like that for me. Oh well. 🤷♀️😕
Original Review April 2022
After Adam, the two Mulvaneys I was most excited to read about were Ava and Avi. I just knew their stories would be the best… after all, they had that weird twin connection thing that could add a unique twist to any relationship either of them got into. Well, that wasn’t utilized at all… which is fine, I guess… but what I got instead felt so underwhelming that I can’t help but be a little disappointed. Compared to the past three pairings, Asa’s and Zane’s relationship felt completely superficial. I didn’t feel any strong emotional bonds between them other than Zane’s desire for someone to want him and Asa’s desire to keep his willing plaything happy and safe. I know that Adam, August, and Atticus didn’t experience love the way their partners did but there was something deeper to their relationships, something that went beyond their sexual compatibilities, that bonded them and I didn’t see anything like that with Ava and Zane. Maybe it had to do with Ava already having a strong connection to Avi or maybe the twins are just higher up the spectrum of psychopathy, either way I never really felt a strong connection between the two making the wedding at the end feel totally out of place.
Since I was deprived of any deep emotional anything I should’ve been given more of the kinky stuff that pretty much formed the foundation of their relationship. The overall mystery of who was behind the game that took Zane’s brother took up a lot of the story (and I’m not complaining because I actually enjoyed that part) but there should’ve been more pages dedicated to their role playing games or sex dungeon sessions. I love the crime solving aspect of these stories but ultimately I’m here for the romance and spice, both of which were severely lacking in this story considering I wasn’t given much else.
Finally, I was a little disappointed that Avi didn’t make a reappearance until the end of the story. I wanted to see how he adjusted to his brother attaching himself to someone other than him and what life was like for them when they all went back to their home. I know he was distracted by Felix but I know he had to have some feelings about the situation and I wanted to explore that more.
Overall, I’m giving this story 3.5 stars, rounded down. It really wasn’t a bad story, it just felt like it was missing something. I’m praying that Avi’s story is a lot better because his was the story I was most excited to read about anyway. It has to be better than this one.
May 26, 2022
This is by far my favorite of the series. I’m obsessed with Asa! Like seriously, if I could have both him and Jericho, my life would be perfect!
Stalking, hunting, chasing and fucking sounds like the best Saturday night. Zane, you lucky son of a gun, you.
So what? Is Noah and Adam eternally engaged while everyone else gets married? Has kids?
Omfg Thomas with the babies … I just had to remind my ovaries that they’re retired.
Can I be an Asa and Avi sandwich?
My only drawback was I wanted more of an upheaval upon Avi’s inevitable return.
Man, but the revenge was definitely served cold, as it should be. Both big villains went down in a creative and horrifying way. I especially loved Avi’s excitement about keelhauling.
This series is quickly becoming one of my very favorite. I both can’t wait for Thomas and Aiden’s book but I also hate to see it end.
Stalking, hunting, chasing and fucking sounds like the best Saturday night. Zane, you lucky son of a gun, you.
So what? Is Noah and Adam eternally engaged while everyone else gets married? Has kids?
Omfg Thomas with the babies … I just had to remind my ovaries that they’re retired.
Can I be an Asa and Avi sandwich?
My only drawback was I wanted more of an upheaval upon Avi’s inevitable return.
Man, but the revenge was definitely served cold, as it should be. Both big villains went down in a creative and horrifying way. I especially loved Avi’s excitement about keelhauling.
This series is quickly becoming one of my very favorite. I both can’t wait for Thomas and Aiden’s book but I also hate to see it end.
February 1, 2022
* 3 stars *
ok, let me set the mood first 🔥❤️🔥💥
kai parker served as the inspiration behind asa & avi so it made sense to feature his magnificent crazyness into this review.
headcase follows asa, one half of the dysfunctional mirror twins, who is super pissed about being separated from avi for thomas' 'experiment' and he's looking to release some tension about it. enter zane, a crime blogger who has been connecting the dots and noticing some very interesting patterns around the mulvaneys. he knows something is up with them and he wants to get to the bottom of this. he manages to slip into the same awards party asa is attending and then, that's where the fun starts 🔥
this book is probably the steamiest i've read by OJ (which is saying a LOT, believe me), somehow asa & zane fall into the most perfect bdsm dynamic that fits them both completely. asa is a bit of a megalomanic and he loves feeling like a god, holding in his palm the lives of many or, in this case, a single individual. zane gives him that control, just as asa gives zane the intense attention and care zane has been missing all his life. that makes for a very combustive mix ️💥 and some very eyebrow-lifting scenes that made me go 'huh, how very interesting, continue please'
the murder case this time is no less gruesome and fucked up than the rest have been so yeah, read the tw at the start of the book!
the reason i'm giving it 3 stars (which imo is still a good rating because the book was enjoyable) is because i feel like the focus was too much on the sex scenes (which were hot 🔥 i admit) but not so much on the emotional part of the dynamic.
around 50% it's already been decided that zane is one of the family and that he's going to be asa's forever and there's not much upheaval zane goes through (at least emotionally) - he pretty much decides that yeah, these guys murder awful people, he doesn't have much going in his life anyways and the sex with asa is stellar - bam, he's ready to become a mulvaney spouse, it's like a business transaction. there really wasn't any push-and-pull, i didn't sense any inner conflict (except self deprecation), by the time 12h have passed he had pretty much waved the white flag 🏳️ and submitted to asa entirely. not exactly what i was expecting from an investigative crime journalist :/ i was hoping for a bit more of a fighting spirit, not just instant lust-love-at-first-sight.
as for asa, he doesn't grow much as a character, i don't think that we learnt more now about him or his idiosyncrasies from his inner pov - he was pretty much as advertised in the former books which was weird considering i felt more surprised when i read about august's (from psycho) or atticus' (moonstruck).
we know that he and avi can feel each other's emotions (even from a distance), they can feel impressions of what each is currently doing, there is a mind meld going on - but none of that is explained, we don't know how it started or even why. it's just a "twin" thing.
as for avi, he's not around much in the story but...the hints we've been given about his story (which i cannot wait for) are very intriguing and i'm curious if any of the scenarios asa mentioned will come to pass in the next book 👀 will all 4 of them be in some sort of open relationship? even if they are twins and psychopaths, i would've thought their "special" person would be off limits to each other. seems not... i sure hope felix and zane will get along since it looks like asa & avi remain unbreakable. will be a fun time to read for sure! ❤️🔥
__________
*the snippets OJ blessed us with...woah. i need to fan myself. cannot wait for zane to come and mess up asa's life! avi's reaction will be thrilling to see.
*this book will be 🔥❤️🔥💥.
ok, let me set the mood first 🔥❤️🔥💥
kai parker served as the inspiration behind asa & avi so it made sense to feature his magnificent crazyness into this review.
headcase follows asa, one half of the dysfunctional mirror twins, who is super pissed about being separated from avi for thomas' 'experiment' and he's looking to release some tension about it. enter zane, a crime blogger who has been connecting the dots and noticing some very interesting patterns around the mulvaneys. he knows something is up with them and he wants to get to the bottom of this. he manages to slip into the same awards party asa is attending and then, that's where the fun starts 🔥
Zane liked being used by Asa. Craved it. There was something so intoxicating about being the only one who got to see Asa’s truly dark side. Zane knew all of his secrets, knew every dark kink. Just Zane.
this book is probably the steamiest i've read by OJ (which is saying a LOT, believe me), somehow asa & zane fall into the most perfect bdsm dynamic that fits them both completely. asa is a bit of a megalomanic and he loves feeling like a god, holding in his palm the lives of many or, in this case, a single individual. zane gives him that control, just as asa gives zane the intense attention and care zane has been missing all his life. that makes for a very combustive mix ️💥 and some very eyebrow-lifting scenes that made me go 'huh, how very interesting, continue please'
the murder case this time is no less gruesome and fucked up than the rest have been so yeah, read the tw at the start of the book!
the reason i'm giving it 3 stars (which imo is still a good rating because the book was enjoyable) is because i feel like the focus was too much on the sex scenes (which were hot 🔥 i admit) but not so much on the emotional part of the dynamic.
If I can love anybody, Lois, it will be you.
around 50% it's already been decided that zane is one of the family and that he's going to be asa's forever and there's not much upheaval zane goes through (at least emotionally) - he pretty much decides that yeah, these guys murder awful people, he doesn't have much going in his life anyways and the sex with asa is stellar - bam, he's ready to become a mulvaney spouse, it's like a business transaction. there really wasn't any push-and-pull, i didn't sense any inner conflict (except self deprecation), by the time 12h have passed he had pretty much waved the white flag 🏳️ and submitted to asa entirely. not exactly what i was expecting from an investigative crime journalist :/ i was hoping for a bit more of a fighting spirit, not just instant lust-love-at-first-sight.
as for asa, he doesn't grow much as a character, i don't think that we learnt more now about him or his idiosyncrasies from his inner pov - he was pretty much as advertised in the former books which was weird considering i felt more surprised when i read about august's (from psycho) or atticus' (moonstruck).
we know that he and avi can feel each other's emotions (even from a distance), they can feel impressions of what each is currently doing, there is a mind meld going on - but none of that is explained, we don't know how it started or even why. it's just a "twin" thing.
as for avi, he's not around much in the story but...the hints we've been given about his story (which i cannot wait for) are very intriguing and i'm curious if any of the scenarios asa mentioned will come to pass in the next book 👀 will all 4 of them be in some sort of open relationship? even if they are twins and psychopaths, i would've thought their "special" person would be off limits to each other. seems not... i sure hope felix and zane will get along since it looks like asa & avi remain unbreakable. will be a fun time to read for sure! ❤️🔥
__________
*the snippets OJ blessed us with...woah. i need to fan myself. cannot wait for zane to come and mess up asa's life! avi's reaction will be thrilling to see.
*this book will be 🔥❤️🔥💥.
May 6, 2025
I think this one was just ok, like I was a bit bored NGL.
I honestly didn’t buy the whole “now you are mine after only knowing you for 24 hours”, it felt very weird and out of nowhere, like in Adam and Noah’s book, it sort of felt funny and cute, and yeah it was sort of believable it, but in this one I was just 🙄
The mystery with the game subplot was interesting, but the ending was very anticlimactic.
I honestly didn’t buy the whole “now you are mine after only knowing you for 24 hours”, it felt very weird and out of nowhere, like in Adam and Noah’s book, it sort of felt funny and cute, and yeah it was sort of believable it, but in this one I was just 🙄
The mystery with the game subplot was interesting, but the ending was very anticlimactic.
October 4, 2024
The author clearly has a formula for this series. Each book is a bit *copy & paste*. Is it repetitive? Yes. Do I mind? Nope. On to the next 😂
February 1, 2022
This series has such a great original concept. At the head of the Family stands Thomas Mulvaney, a billionaire with a vision. He adopted all his sons, carefully selected them by their psychopaths’ minds. One way or the other, they are all special.
Like I said he has a vision, a purpose, for the simple-minded ones, not something to understand.
It’s quite contradicted, just read this series!
To solve the mystery around billionaire Thomas Mulvaney and his sons, Zane Scott must get closer to the man. In Thomas Mulvaney’s neighborhood, people got killed, there must be a story. It’s Zane’s big chance to put himself in the spotlight, to be seen, at last. After his brother died Zane was even more invisible to his awful mother.
Being separated from his twin Avi, Asa is getting crazy, or maybe getting more crazy than the psychopath he already is. His father is punishing him by sending Asa alone to a fundraiser diner, Asa needs an outlet or else he’ll kill.
Meeting Asa at the fundraising wasn’t difficult, only, Asa is the predator and Zane the prey.
Zane’s out of his mind, why isn’t he afraid, Asa is dangerous just like his whole family.
Being chased by Asa is hot as fuck. Zane feels seen. The things Asa makes him feel, is addictive.
With just one stupid move Zane ended up cuffed at Asa’s radiator, waiting to get killed or whatever this psychopath has in mind for Zane. Omfg if he only knew how Asa thought about him.
Thomas found that exact moment to give Asa an order to invest suicides at the university in the last two months, five suicided to be clear, clustered.
Asa wants to claim Zane, own him, mark him, show the world he’s his. And so he does, he’s brutal, animalistic, Zane’s walking with bruises all over, Asa is proud of them.
Their lovemaking slash fucking is deliciously rough and dirty.
The Mulvaney’s are as much a deadly as a fun family, they love gossiping, they made me laugh out loud more than once. Being part of them means they will give their life for you. They have the most creative minds, certainly when it’s about torturing, I was flabbergasted! I loved them hard!
The plot was just ingenious, amazingly intriguing and so well thought out. The parts where Asa and Zane come together are hugely sexy and sensual, certainly the animalistic parts.
While this story looks quite vicious it really wasn’t, we didn’t witness the horrible bloody parts, there was talk about, well except one suicidal act on video. Maybe you should keep that in mind.
There’s a bunch of sexiness, sweetness, roughness, obsessiveness, and possessiveness to find.
This narrative was immensely entertaining, strongly written, solidly build, it was super intense, rough, tough, emotional, and sexy af, watch their HEA, *hearts in eyes*
The main characters were enchanting and just like the whole family wrong on the good side, confused? Read it yourself!!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
Like I said he has a vision, a purpose, for the simple-minded ones, not something to understand.
It’s quite contradicted, just read this series!
To solve the mystery around billionaire Thomas Mulvaney and his sons, Zane Scott must get closer to the man. In Thomas Mulvaney’s neighborhood, people got killed, there must be a story. It’s Zane’s big chance to put himself in the spotlight, to be seen, at last. After his brother died Zane was even more invisible to his awful mother.
Being separated from his twin Avi, Asa is getting crazy, or maybe getting more crazy than the psychopath he already is. His father is punishing him by sending Asa alone to a fundraiser diner, Asa needs an outlet or else he’ll kill.
Meeting Asa at the fundraising wasn’t difficult, only, Asa is the predator and Zane the prey.
Zane’s out of his mind, why isn’t he afraid, Asa is dangerous just like his whole family.
Being chased by Asa is hot as fuck. Zane feels seen. The things Asa makes him feel, is addictive.
With just one stupid move Zane ended up cuffed at Asa’s radiator, waiting to get killed or whatever this psychopath has in mind for Zane. Omfg if he only knew how Asa thought about him.
Thomas found that exact moment to give Asa an order to invest suicides at the university in the last two months, five suicided to be clear, clustered.
Asa wants to claim Zane, own him, mark him, show the world he’s his. And so he does, he’s brutal, animalistic, Zane’s walking with bruises all over, Asa is proud of them.
Their lovemaking slash fucking is deliciously rough and dirty.
The Mulvaney’s are as much a deadly as a fun family, they love gossiping, they made me laugh out loud more than once. Being part of them means they will give their life for you. They have the most creative minds, certainly when it’s about torturing, I was flabbergasted! I loved them hard!
The plot was just ingenious, amazingly intriguing and so well thought out. The parts where Asa and Zane come together are hugely sexy and sensual, certainly the animalistic parts.
While this story looks quite vicious it really wasn’t, we didn’t witness the horrible bloody parts, there was talk about, well except one suicidal act on video. Maybe you should keep that in mind.
There’s a bunch of sexiness, sweetness, roughness, obsessiveness, and possessiveness to find.
This narrative was immensely entertaining, strongly written, solidly build, it was super intense, rough, tough, emotional, and sexy af, watch their HEA, *hearts in eyes*
The main characters were enchanting and just like the whole family wrong on the good side, confused? Read it yourself!!
Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews
February 28, 2024
This might be my favorite in the series thus far. I didn't expect to like it this much. I've consumed all the others in audiobook form but this one wasn't available from my library in any other form than e-book. I feel like I highlighted 1/4 of the book. Unfortunately there's no way that I can see to add any of my highlights from that app to GR. So I may have to add them here in some other way. 😭I wish all the tech played well together!
This book was five fucking serial killer ⭐️. Asa was amazing. Lois was the best. It was so fast paced and it flowed so smoothly from "I hate this family and I’m going to expose them" to "OMG can I keep this lunatic forever?" If anyone deserved someone to "love"him obsessively it was Zane.
I also loved how feisty Zane was in the beginning. I honestly missed how he used to fight back in the beginning. Be the end he was pretty submissive to Asa but I see how and why their dynamic shifted. Zane's fighting back was born out of the belief that Asa was a bad guy. Once that was deconstructed he was left with his love for Asa and his willingness to pretty much let Asa do anything he wanted. Okay, it's messed up, BUT it's also fiction, but I loved that Asa pretty much wanted Zane to walk around looking like a car hit him. It was so insane. It just really drove home how impossibly weird and nutso the Mulvaney boys are.
Now, a few quotes in no particular order…
I love how Zane goes from a one night stand he never wanted to see again to his fiance in like 200 pages. To be fair, Asa hadn't actually proposed at this point. But everyone in the Mulvaney clan knows how this works. Once one of these psychopaths imprints on a normie they are DONE for.
Good ole Calliope and Thomas. Honestly looking forward to Thomas' story. Not sure he's not a little deranged or psychopathic himself. Can you be half psychopath?
God bless James and her writing..
Truer words have never been spoken...
Another of James' awesome one liners.
I love when authors don't take themselves too seriously and can see the absurdity of every one of their characters being gay is a bit...much.
😂
It’s honestly a miracle Thomas hasn’t had an aneurysm yet.
Ooooh… I bet Avi’s having just as much fun 😈
This quote sums up so much of Zane’s feistiness.
This book was five fucking serial killer ⭐️. Asa was amazing. Lois was the best. It was so fast paced and it flowed so smoothly from "I hate this family and I’m going to expose them" to "OMG can I keep this lunatic forever?" If anyone deserved someone to "love"him obsessively it was Zane.
I also loved how feisty Zane was in the beginning. I honestly missed how he used to fight back in the beginning. Be the end he was pretty submissive to Asa but I see how and why their dynamic shifted. Zane's fighting back was born out of the belief that Asa was a bad guy. Once that was deconstructed he was left with his love for Asa and his willingness to pretty much let Asa do anything he wanted. Okay, it's messed up, BUT it's also fiction, but I loved that Asa pretty much wanted Zane to walk around looking like a car hit him. It was so insane. It just really drove home how impossibly weird and nutso the Mulvaney boys are.
Now, a few quotes in no particular order…
He jumped to his feet, and Zane finally got to see what a completely naked Asa Mulvaney looked like. God really gave with both hands with him. And there were two of them? Jesus.
I love how Zane goes from a one night stand he never wanted to see again to his fiance in like 200 pages. To be fair, Asa hadn't actually proposed at this point. But everyone in the Mulvaney clan knows how this works. Once one of these psychopaths imprints on a normie they are DONE for.
Atticus rolled his eyes. "That's a crisis for another day. Let's just figure out the game and keep your fiance alive long enough for you to make an honest man out of him."
Good ole Calliope and Thomas. Honestly looking forward to Thomas' story. Not sure he's not a little deranged or psychopathic himself. Can you be half psychopath?
”Well, yes.” Calliope agreed. “But I have an idea. It's a little bit crazy.”
"We have a man rotting alive in a box on a property owned by my family." Thomas managed. "I think we've moved past a little crazy. What's your plan."
God bless James and her writing..
"Chop-chop, young lovers. There's fuckery afoot."
Truer words have never been spoken...
"So...why are we here?" Arlo asked. "Unless, we're just here to witness whatever the hell is going on between you two weirdos?"
Another of James' awesome one liners.
Murder was the family business and business was good.
I love when authors don't take themselves too seriously and can see the absurdity of every one of their characters being gay is a bit...much.
Zane had gone looking for a news story and had somehow cast himself in the world's gayest action movie.
😂
"Maybe he succumbed to his injuries." Jericho mused. "Asa finally succeeded in fucking somebody to death."
It’s honestly a miracle Thomas hasn’t had an aneurysm yet.
Asa leaned against his father's desk. "Yeah. I have to tell you something, and I need you to keep an open mind."
"Christ, Asa, whenever you say shit like that, my eye starts to twitch."
Ooooh… I bet Avi’s having just as much fun 😈
Not even a day apart from his twin and Asa wanted to do things to Zane that would probably violate the Geneva Convention.
This quote sums up so much of Zane’s feistiness.
"Please, don't make me make you eat it. Just...behave."
Anger flashed in Zane's eyes, but it died just as quickly. He crossed the room and stuffed the two pieces of toast in his mouth in one go, chewing angrily before swallowing, then reached for the orange juice and slammed it back like it was a shot.
Asa gaped at him for a solid thirty seconds before saying, "I'm not going to lie, I'm a little turned on right now."
September 10, 2022
ETA: Doing my re-read as an audiobook this time and I LOVE how Liam narrates Asa. His voice for him is so casual nature and chill, and I love it so much.
I don’t know how Onley continues to do it - each book is better than the last, and each one makes me question who my favorite couple is now :D
If you haven’t tried the Necessary Evils series, you are seriously missing out! They are intense, hot, quick-paced, with some of the best chemistry between couples that I have read. This one has a bit of forbidden love and some definite primal enemies to lovers feels. It’s very…intense. I continue to love all the brothers together, and I love when the new love interest is first brought to the family. And I love Noah.
This one is just FIRE, and I knew I’d love getting the twins’ books, but now I NEED Avi and Felix’s story!
I don’t know how Onley continues to do it - each book is better than the last, and each one makes me question who my favorite couple is now :D
If you haven’t tried the Necessary Evils series, you are seriously missing out! They are intense, hot, quick-paced, with some of the best chemistry between couples that I have read. This one has a bit of forbidden love and some definite primal enemies to lovers feels. It’s very…intense. I continue to love all the brothers together, and I love when the new love interest is first brought to the family. And I love Noah.
This one is just FIRE, and I knew I’d love getting the twins’ books, but now I NEED Avi and Felix’s story!
September 28, 2024
I had a hard time with this book's murder plot, but I did enjoy Zane and Asa's relationship.
I wish that Avi would have been more involved in this book since the bond between the twins is what interested me the most about them.
However, I don't understand the author's decision that all couples have to get married and that some of them have children. Like, I'm sorry, but who in their right mind(and I'm talking about the partners, not the psychopaths) would think to bring a child into this kind of life?
And the whole thing with marriage, why do all of them need to marry? They can still be in a committed relationship without a wedding, I just found it weird that all of them (the psychopaths)want marriage.
I wish that Avi would have been more involved in this book since the bond between the twins is what interested me the most about them.
However, I don't understand the author's decision that all couples have to get married and that some of them have children. Like, I'm sorry, but who in their right mind(and I'm talking about the partners, not the psychopaths) would think to bring a child into this kind of life?
And the whole thing with marriage, why do all of them need to marry? They can still be in a committed relationship without a wedding, I just found it weird that all of them (the psychopaths)want marriage.
October 20, 2022
This was good. Not a series standout. Asa and Zane's romance was fun but it left me wanting something more. I was hoping for something different than the previous books.
Also it's a bit weird how the author kept harping on about how Asa and Avi can't deal with being separated. So when Thomas decides to test them, by sending Avi on a mission solo, it doesn't even cause any real conflict. Felt a bit pointless.
Looking forward to Archer's story. He seems like a mess and I'm here for it.
Also it's a bit weird how the author kept harping on about how Asa and Avi can't deal with being separated. So when Thomas decides to test them, by sending Avi on a mission solo, it doesn't even cause any real conflict. Felt a bit pointless.
Looking forward to Archer's story. He seems like a mess and I'm here for it.
April 7, 2022
Hot sex. BDSM sort of. Not bad.
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February 2, 2022
MM Romance
Psychopath Love
3.5 stars
I love this series. Something about psychopaths as vigilantes and the men they club over the head and make love them, just does it for me 😂😂 I like the actual couples but also the crime aspect and the fact this author’s characters are based on real people she encountered as a psych nurse feeds my love of psychology and the mind. Unhinged was my first book by Onley James and is still my favorite even though they’ve all been good in their own way but this one feels like such a missed opportunity and I’m a bit disappointed ☹️ even though I did like it.
In past books, we learned that Asa is a twin to Avi. They are mirror twins who are eerily telepathic when together and don’t do well without the other one around. We know their preferred weapon is knives, love to kill and it’s implied they are kinky bastards when it comes to their sex partners. They make their partners sign NDA’s and like to inflict/feel pain. So, color me intrigued, I was expecting this book to bring on some extra kink and it did to some extent. Asa likes to hunt Zane, puts him on a sex bench, bruises the fuck out of him but it was all very tame? On page they mention the deranged fantasies they do like inmate/prison guard or all of Asa’s toys in his sex attic but it’s never shown. Wtf is the point of just mentioning that shit? I want detailed scenes OJ, that’s what you do! So, this part missed the mark with me even though the scenes were hot. It was a missed opportunity for sure.
As for the actual crime they were solving, I was super invested. It was better than the romance aspect and it felt like it was part of a Criminal Minds episode. This crime gave us deeper insight into who Zane was and I so loved him. I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him he’s enough. Zane actually reminded me of Noah, a little too much and is probably why I loved him but also wanted more because this felt like a recycled character. The instalove was crazy in this book too. Things have moved fast in previous books but we are talking one night together to forever. It makes sense because of how claimy the Mulvaney’s are but damn Asa. I get it, he’s your person but 🤦🏻♀️
All that being said, this book made me laugh. It’s amazing how this author can write about such dark shit and yet I find myself laughing at all the crazy. I am crossing my fingers and toes that this author gives Avi/Felix’s book everything it needs to make it a stand out. The enemies to lovers vibe those two have going on is different from the rest of the series and I’m so hoping she gets it right because this one went a bit wrong for me despite it being one of my most anticipated reads this year.
Psychopath Love
3.5 stars
I love this series. Something about psychopaths as vigilantes and the men they club over the head and make love them, just does it for me 😂😂 I like the actual couples but also the crime aspect and the fact this author’s characters are based on real people she encountered as a psych nurse feeds my love of psychology and the mind. Unhinged was my first book by Onley James and is still my favorite even though they’ve all been good in their own way but this one feels like such a missed opportunity and I’m a bit disappointed ☹️ even though I did like it.
In past books, we learned that Asa is a twin to Avi. They are mirror twins who are eerily telepathic when together and don’t do well without the other one around. We know their preferred weapon is knives, love to kill and it’s implied they are kinky bastards when it comes to their sex partners. They make their partners sign NDA’s and like to inflict/feel pain. So, color me intrigued, I was expecting this book to bring on some extra kink and it did to some extent. Asa likes to hunt Zane, puts him on a sex bench, bruises the fuck out of him but it was all very tame? On page they mention the deranged fantasies they do like inmate/prison guard or all of Asa’s toys in his sex attic but it’s never shown. Wtf is the point of just mentioning that shit? I want detailed scenes OJ, that’s what you do! So, this part missed the mark with me even though the scenes were hot. It was a missed opportunity for sure.
As for the actual crime they were solving, I was super invested. It was better than the romance aspect and it felt like it was part of a Criminal Minds episode. This crime gave us deeper insight into who Zane was and I so loved him. I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him he’s enough. Zane actually reminded me of Noah, a little too much and is probably why I loved him but also wanted more because this felt like a recycled character. The instalove was crazy in this book too. Things have moved fast in previous books but we are talking one night together to forever. It makes sense because of how claimy the Mulvaney’s are but damn Asa. I get it, he’s your person but 🤦🏻♀️
All that being said, this book made me laugh. It’s amazing how this author can write about such dark shit and yet I find myself laughing at all the crazy. I am crossing my fingers and toes that this author gives Avi/Felix’s book everything it needs to make it a stand out. The enemies to lovers vibe those two have going on is different from the rest of the series and I’m so hoping she gets it right because this one went a bit wrong for me despite it being one of my most anticipated reads this year.
February 1, 2022
I knew that Headcase would be a wild ride, and I was not wrong. It's a scorching-hot thrill ride featuring a psychopath and a journalist, insta-obsession and hot, unapologetically but totally consensual rough sex.
Despite the heavy and painful topics involved, and not-exactly-legal activities of the Mulvaney family, Onley layers humor with the horrors, sex with the slaying, and comes up with an erotic and entertaining tale.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Onley James has found her niche writing psychopathic MCs. The Necessary Evils series has been such fun to read. Headcase is no different, and is my favorite thus far. (Sorry Lucas. I still love you, sweetie.). I wouldn't recommend starting here, though, because there's too much context in the earlier books. It's no hardship, though, because every single book is a gem, and by the time you get through with Headcase, you'll be jonesing for the next one with the rest of us.
Trigger warning for suicide and suicidal ideation.
Despite the heavy and painful topics involved, and not-exactly-legal activities of the Mulvaney family, Onley layers humor with the horrors, sex with the slaying, and comes up with an erotic and entertaining tale.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Onley James has found her niche writing psychopathic MCs. The Necessary Evils series has been such fun to read. Headcase is no different, and is my favorite thus far. (Sorry Lucas. I still love you, sweetie.). I wouldn't recommend starting here, though, because there's too much context in the earlier books. It's no hardship, though, because every single book is a gem, and by the time you get through with Headcase, you'll be jonesing for the next one with the rest of us.
Trigger warning for suicide and suicidal ideation.
January 11, 2023
I liked the couple's dynamic and the injustice they fight against, but something about this book just isn't as strong for me. Also, why are we saying "we will unalive them" when they are murderers and torturers? It's such a weird thing. Unalive just took me right out, but I guess I don't understand the shift towards using that word instead of killed, especially in this context with darker material. Saying kill/ed can't be as bad as torture/d, assault/ed, or all the stuff about children.
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