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Hazard and Somerset: Arrows in the Hand #5
Final Orders
Listening time: 12 hours and 10 minutes
An embattled author. Fanatical parents. A son who can’t stay out of trouble. It’s the last one that’ll probably kill him.
When Emery Hazard gets drawn into a brawl at a monthly school board meeting, he knows he’s in trouble; his husband, John-Henry Somerset, is chief of police, and they’re already under enough scrutiny as they try to finalize their foster son’s permanency plan.
Hazard’s actions, however, have an unexpected consequence: A woman shows up at his office the next day, and she wants to hire him to protect her mother. Loretta Ames is a famous—and famously troublesome—author, and a string of recent attempts on her life suggests that someone is determined to get rid of her. Under pressure from his assistant, Hazard takes the job, assuming that it will be two days of babysitting before Loretta returns to New York.
Her murder changes everything. To find the killer, Hazard and Somers will enter a murky world of concerned parents, entitled teenagers, internet trolls, and a whole lot of grassroots crazy. But nothing is straightforward about the investigation, and even Loretta’s daughter seems to have her own reasons to want her mother dead. And when the killer abducts Colt’s friend, Hazard and Somers realize they are running out of time, and they must race to save him before it’s too late.
An embattled author. Fanatical parents. A son who can’t stay out of trouble. It’s the last one that’ll probably kill him.
When Emery Hazard gets drawn into a brawl at a monthly school board meeting, he knows he’s in trouble; his husband, John-Henry Somerset, is chief of police, and they’re already under enough scrutiny as they try to finalize their foster son’s permanency plan.
Hazard’s actions, however, have an unexpected consequence: A woman shows up at his office the next day, and she wants to hire him to protect her mother. Loretta Ames is a famous—and famously troublesome—author, and a string of recent attempts on her life suggests that someone is determined to get rid of her. Under pressure from his assistant, Hazard takes the job, assuming that it will be two days of babysitting before Loretta returns to New York.
Her murder changes everything. To find the killer, Hazard and Somers will enter a murky world of concerned parents, entitled teenagers, internet trolls, and a whole lot of grassroots crazy. But nothing is straightforward about the investigation, and even Loretta’s daughter seems to have her own reasons to want her mother dead. And when the killer abducts Colt’s friend, Hazard and Somers realize they are running out of time, and they must race to save him before it’s too late.
13 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 7, 2022
77 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
135 books1,800 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
October 2, 2022
Audiobook - 4 stars
Story - 4.45 stars
GAAHH!! I am so happy my Hazard is back.😭🥳
Series 3 book 5. It has been a long journey of ups and downs, I feel like mostly downs. The writing is still amazing, raw and everything in between.
I ended up enjoying this one, I just wish these guys could catch a long break. They are allowed to be happy and boring. Gaaahh!! If only. Unfortunately that is not GA style.
The mystery in this one was engaging and mirrored what is happening in RL right now in the US of A. It was frustrating to read. 😪😣 Loved the twists though. One minute I was thinking I know everything, the next, I am like Oi! It's not what I thought. GA gets me every time.
The relationship between Hazard and Somers is interesting to read about, they are these everyday blue-collar, next door neighbours kinda guys. GAAHH!! This one had some hot scenes. 🔥🔥 Me is veeeerrryyyyy happy about that.
I miss Evie and Hazard moments.
Colt!!! We will not talk about him. I want to understand but I refuse to.
Theo and Auggie.... GAAAHHH!!!!!!!
Nico! Oi! Poor guy. I really hope he will get his story one of these days.
Overall! This was a great read/listen. I still want 10 more books. 🙈🤣
A Copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Story - 4.45 stars
GAAHH!! I am so happy my Hazard is back.😭🥳
Series 3 book 5. It has been a long journey of ups and downs, I feel like mostly downs. The writing is still amazing, raw and everything in between.
I ended up enjoying this one, I just wish these guys could catch a long break. They are allowed to be happy and boring. Gaaahh!! If only. Unfortunately that is not GA style.
The mystery in this one was engaging and mirrored what is happening in RL right now in the US of A. It was frustrating to read. 😪😣 Loved the twists though. One minute I was thinking I know everything, the next, I am like Oi! It's not what I thought. GA gets me every time.
The relationship between Hazard and Somers is interesting to read about, they are these everyday blue-collar, next door neighbours kinda guys. GAAHH!! This one had some hot scenes. 🔥🔥 Me is veeeerrryyyyy happy about that.
I miss Evie and Hazard moments.
Colt!!! We will not talk about him. I want to understand but I refuse to.
Theo and Auggie.... GAAAHHH!!!!!!!
Nico! Oi! Poor guy. I really hope he will get his story one of these days.
Overall! This was a great read/listen. I still want 10 more books. 🙈🤣
A Copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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June 18, 2022
Hazard wanted to say something, that every time he thought he knew, he learned he didn't know anything, that he'd never known the maneuvers and misdirections, the facades and fronts, all the tools the man he'd loved had used to keep himself safe. He opened his mouth to say something.
Somers shook his head. The crow's feet around his eyes looked deeper than usual. Silver bristled at his temples. One of those moments came for Hazard, looking at Somers like this, the way they did sometimes. This is real. He's real. He's mine.
"You're going to get me in trouble, looking at me like that," Somers murmured with his tiny, splintered grin. "What's going on in that big brain?"
"Does Dulac still keep lube in the supply closet?"
Somers burst out laughing.
sixteen books (of endless fighting, but also a huge amount of growth and love between the mcs, great side characters - for the most part - and some cases that left me sobbing) and, in a span of a few days, this whole series put me through ✨emotional damage✨ and i wouldn't have it any other way. 🤪
desperately need a spin off for Colt and Ash's story bc the glimpses of their moments in this arc, the journey they went through to get to where they are... i feel like i'd love it. 🥺
Somers shook his head. The crow's feet around his eyes looked deeper than usual. Silver bristled at his temples. One of those moments came for Hazard, looking at Somers like this, the way they did sometimes. This is real. He's real. He's mine.
"You're going to get me in trouble, looking at me like that," Somers murmured with his tiny, splintered grin. "What's going on in that big brain?"
"Does Dulac still keep lube in the supply closet?"
Somers burst out laughing.
sixteen books (of endless fighting, but also a huge amount of growth and love between the mcs, great side characters - for the most part - and some cases that left me sobbing) and, in a span of a few days, this whole series put me through ✨emotional damage✨ and i wouldn't have it any other way. 🤪
desperately need a spin off for Colt and Ash's story bc the glimpses of their moments in this arc, the journey they went through to get to where they are... i feel like i'd love it. 🥺
January 17, 2023
ahhhhh humongous congrats to GA for placing third in Best Family Drama with this book in the 2022 M/M Romance Group Members’ Choice Awards!! 
*audio review:
guess who relistened to their favorite scenes and is crying once again? THIS GIRL 😭✌🏼 it's impossible to imagine H&S without Tristan James's narration at this point—his voice is engrained in my brain as the voice of the series, and i've grown to become attached to it like a gosh darn barnacle.
since finishing this book the first time around, i read more into the recent book banning campaigns, and oof, my heart breaks when i think about what educators across the nation are dealing with in schools. here i thought my school district was safe, until the local police department reported on receiving a call about "obscene material" in the library. until my high school librarian showed up in the news to speak on her experience of being accused as a groomer, a pedophile. until i watched recordings of school board meetings with brave students taking the platform to defend books deemed morally concerning and controversial. luckily these censorship efforts were shut down in my community, but many other places haven't been as fortunate. it's infuriating and disconcerting how the adults leading these crusades probably end their day with a hearty pat on the back, priding themselves as protectors of youth as if kids nowadays don't have access to a wealth of far more explicit material at their fingerprints. but yes, let us target books as the root of all our problems 🙄
ok, deep breaths now before my blood pressure gets too high 😮💨 what i love about audiobooks is the comforting company the narrator brings to the table. not only did the audio experience genuinely help me cope with the reality of certain ludicrous accusations, but also left my hands free to do a few (pitiful) pushups to release some extra steam. hooray for healthy coping mechanisms!
now that the entire H&S audiobook collection is out for these three arcs, there's no better time to start their adventure now or reexperience it all from the very beginning ✨
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary audio copy of this book. This is my honest review.
*book review:
the book in a gif:
i am officially suing
[4.75] talk about going through the wringer. a complete mental evisceration.
the case was hard to swallow, especially amidst the onslaught of heartbreaking news we see every single day in the states. innocent lives taken on a trigger-happy whim. unfettered malice festering like an abscess in the fabric of society. online harassment and fearmongering gone unchecked. young, impressionable minds internalizing the ocean of violence and hate rhetoric.
and people ask why i'm reluctant to have children.
but not only does the case hit a little too close to home, we also witness by the 50% mark everyone—and i do mean everyone—falling apart in some way or another. soon enough, i came to the realization that i, too, was ripping at the seams, because Gregory Ashe captures the pathetic state of our nation so uncannily well, and what else can you expect to feel but the encroaching hopelessness and dread?
the daily struggle of pretending that everything is fine as the world burns around you. this is america 🙂
yet even when there's nowhere else to look but at the reality in front of us, just as previously unexplored layers of Somers' trauma are peeled back for reflection in stark clarity, GA never shies away. he firmly but kindly handholds us through the harrowing parts as we trudge alongside the beloved characters we've devotedly followed over three arcs, and at the end of the winding tunnel, he treats us with an ending that leaves you thinking, you know what? maybe things will be alright.
it was a mistake to read the final chapter right before rushing to the gym for a class (at least there’s always the excuse of allergies to fall back on if my eyes happened to take on a suspiciously red tinge 🥲). i was already in a vulnerable state because of certain dialogue, but that final line downright sucker punched me straight in the gut. K.O. lay me down in my grave for i have passed 😭
i get emotional looking back and seeing how far Hazard and Somers have come. despite the roadblocks and backtracking and endless fights and hair lost in the process (mine, that is. stress does that to a person), their character growth is unmatched in scope and strata. of course, we have GA's artful command of the English language to thank for bringing their story to life. he continues to blow my mind with his striking imagery and enchanting prose, a standard most can only hope to aspire to.
in terms of niggles, i do have to say the progression of the case and final confrontation felt slightly repetitive of what we've seen already. nothing too jarring as it was still edge-of-your-seat levels of entertainment, but repetitive nonetheless. while i wish we weren't left completely in the dark re: the state of the department and Dulac’s situation, it does provide a perfect jumping off point for a probable next arc *winkwinknudgenudge* 👀 Dulac's one-off comments have always been a source of joy for me, believe it or not ("that's ball-deep awesome, you know?" 😂), but his relationship with Darnell never struck me as healthy, per se, and the extreme downward spiral Dulac has been on for quite a while concerns me greatly. hopefully we get more perspective on their relationship among other answers sooner rather than later.
another installment, another emotional rollercoaster. i'm surprised my motion-sick susceptible self hasn't hurled yet, but my guess is the brain and body are too busy drowning in feels to make the connection 😆
*audio review:
guess who relistened to their favorite scenes and is crying once again? THIS GIRL 😭✌🏼 it's impossible to imagine H&S without Tristan James's narration at this point—his voice is engrained in my brain as the voice of the series, and i've grown to become attached to it like a gosh darn barnacle.
since finishing this book the first time around, i read more into the recent book banning campaigns, and oof, my heart breaks when i think about what educators across the nation are dealing with in schools. here i thought my school district was safe, until the local police department reported on receiving a call about "obscene material" in the library. until my high school librarian showed up in the news to speak on her experience of being accused as a groomer, a pedophile. until i watched recordings of school board meetings with brave students taking the platform to defend books deemed morally concerning and controversial. luckily these censorship efforts were shut down in my community, but many other places haven't been as fortunate. it's infuriating and disconcerting how the adults leading these crusades probably end their day with a hearty pat on the back, priding themselves as protectors of youth as if kids nowadays don't have access to a wealth of far more explicit material at their fingerprints. but yes, let us target books as the root of all our problems 🙄
ok, deep breaths now before my blood pressure gets too high 😮💨 what i love about audiobooks is the comforting company the narrator brings to the table. not only did the audio experience genuinely help me cope with the reality of certain ludicrous accusations, but also left my hands free to do a few (pitiful) pushups to release some extra steam. hooray for healthy coping mechanisms!
now that the entire H&S audiobook collection is out for these three arcs, there's no better time to start their adventure now or reexperience it all from the very beginning ✨
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary audio copy of this book. This is my honest review.
*book review:
Nice was a small word, Hazard thought, for knowing that for some people, sometimes, the world could be kinder. Better.
the book in a gif:
i am officially suing
[4.75] talk about going through the wringer. a complete mental evisceration.
the case was hard to swallow, especially amidst the onslaught of heartbreaking news we see every single day in the states. innocent lives taken on a trigger-happy whim. unfettered malice festering like an abscess in the fabric of society. online harassment and fearmongering gone unchecked. young, impressionable minds internalizing the ocean of violence and hate rhetoric.
and people ask why i'm reluctant to have children.
but not only does the case hit a little too close to home, we also witness by the 50% mark everyone—and i do mean everyone—falling apart in some way or another. soon enough, i came to the realization that i, too, was ripping at the seams, because Gregory Ashe captures the pathetic state of our nation so uncannily well, and what else can you expect to feel but the encroaching hopelessness and dread?
the daily struggle of pretending that everything is fine as the world burns around you. this is america 🙂
yet even when there's nowhere else to look but at the reality in front of us, just as previously unexplored layers of Somers' trauma are peeled back for reflection in stark clarity, GA never shies away. he firmly but kindly handholds us through the harrowing parts as we trudge alongside the beloved characters we've devotedly followed over three arcs, and at the end of the winding tunnel, he treats us with an ending that leaves you thinking, you know what? maybe things will be alright.
it was a mistake to read the final chapter right before rushing to the gym for a class (at least there’s always the excuse of allergies to fall back on if my eyes happened to take on a suspiciously red tinge 🥲). i was already in a vulnerable state because of certain dialogue, but that final line downright sucker punched me straight in the gut. K.O. lay me down in my grave for i have passed 😭
i get emotional looking back and seeing how far Hazard and Somers have come. despite the roadblocks and backtracking and endless fights and hair lost in the process (mine, that is. stress does that to a person), their character growth is unmatched in scope and strata. of course, we have GA's artful command of the English language to thank for bringing their story to life. he continues to blow my mind with his striking imagery and enchanting prose, a standard most can only hope to aspire to.
in terms of niggles, i do have to say the progression of the case and final confrontation felt slightly repetitive of what we've seen already. nothing too jarring as it was still edge-of-your-seat levels of entertainment, but repetitive nonetheless. while i wish we weren't left completely in the dark re: the state of the department and Dulac’s situation, it does provide a perfect jumping off point for a probable next arc *winkwinknudgenudge* 👀 Dulac's one-off comments have always been a source of joy for me, believe it or not ("that's ball-deep awesome, you know?" 😂), but his relationship with Darnell never struck me as healthy, per se, and the extreme downward spiral Dulac has been on for quite a while concerns me greatly. hopefully we get more perspective on their relationship among other answers sooner rather than later.
another installment, another emotional rollercoaster. i'm surprised my motion-sick susceptible self hasn't hurled yet, but my guess is the brain and body are too busy drowning in feels to make the connection 😆
June 9, 2022
I can say, with a sigh of relief, that I was really happy with this final book of Hazard and Somers’s journey. After my rather 'painful' experience with books 2 and 3 in particular, this felt very much like balm on the soul.
Ree, whilst still a hothead and 'pure' Emery Hazard, is back to being the endearlingly nerdy, caring, loyal man with a huge heart, who would do anything for his loved ones – as he clearly demonstrates in the last part of the book. And he tries so hard to establish a ‘normal’ basis for conversation with Colt, it was absolutely heart-achingly lovely. (the ‘windscreen wiper scene’ is simply sigh-worthy.)
And as for Ree and John:
Their journey has been full of so many ups and downs, learning the hard way how to be in a relationship over so many wonderful books (not counting books 2 and 3 in this series..😂)
These guys know each other now, they know when something is wrong, they understand their triggers and pitfalls, and what works to pull each other out of the dark. And they hold each other up, even if they do have the occasional tiff, just like any couple.
Somers certainly gets hit hard with issues he thought he’d left behind him, and although it takes him a little while to open up about it, he does eventually, and is then able to address it properly. I really like what Gregory Ashe has done here, going right back to the very beginning.
And dare I say it (and mumble a quiet ‘Hallelujah’ under my breath), in general, Colt comes across a little more ‘mellow’, too. Not counting the multiple times he gets into trouble again🙄 (tbh, surely he must realize one way or another that this could jeopardize his foster position), he clearly loves his dads and wants to please them. There are still moments when I was shaking my head, but … thank the heavens for the improvement!
The issues dealt with in the book truly horrify me. According to the author who is an educator, some of the things happening stem from his own experience. Which makes it more authentic on the one hand, but hugely worrying and shocking on the other.
The last chapter brings all the main characters together, and it was lovely to see how much progress has been made in various relationships. And the final sentence is decidedly a crowning finale.
What a ride it has been!
17 books on, if I counted right, and I still give more than a damn about these two.
I wouldn’t have gone through all the anguish and pain for many other characters or authors.
Hazard and Somers will always be one of my top favourite couple, with Emery Hazard one of my most favourite characters ever.
Thank you, Gregory Ashe, for finishing this on a high!
Ree, whilst still a hothead and 'pure' Emery Hazard, is back to being the endearlingly nerdy, caring, loyal man with a huge heart, who would do anything for his loved ones – as he clearly demonstrates in the last part of the book. And he tries so hard to establish a ‘normal’ basis for conversation with Colt, it was absolutely heart-achingly lovely. (the ‘windscreen wiper scene’ is simply sigh-worthy.)
And as for Ree and John:
Their journey has been full of so many ups and downs, learning the hard way how to be in a relationship over so many wonderful books (not counting books 2 and 3 in this series..😂)
These guys know each other now, they know when something is wrong, they understand their triggers and pitfalls, and what works to pull each other out of the dark. And they hold each other up, even if they do have the occasional tiff, just like any couple.
Somers certainly gets hit hard with issues he thought he’d left behind him, and although it takes him a little while to open up about it, he does eventually, and is then able to address it properly. I really like what Gregory Ashe has done here, going right back to the very beginning.
And dare I say it (and mumble a quiet ‘Hallelujah’ under my breath), in general, Colt comes across a little more ‘mellow’, too. Not counting the multiple times he gets into trouble again🙄 (tbh, surely he must realize one way or another that this could jeopardize his foster position), he clearly loves his dads and wants to please them. There are still moments when I was shaking my head, but … thank the heavens for the improvement!
The issues dealt with in the book truly horrify me. According to the author who is an educator, some of the things happening stem from his own experience. Which makes it more authentic on the one hand, but hugely worrying and shocking on the other.
The last chapter brings all the main characters together, and it was lovely to see how much progress has been made in various relationships. And the final sentence is decidedly a crowning finale.
What a ride it has been!
17 books on, if I counted right, and I still give more than a damn about these two.
I wouldn’t have gone through all the anguish and pain for many other characters or authors.
Hazard and Somers will always be one of my top favourite couple, with Emery Hazard one of my most favourite characters ever.
Thank you, Gregory Ashe, for finishing this on a high!
August 2, 2022
It’s over!!
4.5 Stars rounded up for nostalgia.
It’s over. This is the last we will see of Hazard & Somerset (but maybe Gregory Ashe will surprise us and give us another short series with these guys.)
This wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but I was glad to get back to the men getting along and not yelling all the time.
We had a murder and a kidnapping. The mystery wasn’t as involved as in past books and I was able to guess the perp—will you be able to do the same?
We had a couple of sex scenes—one of which was HOT AF 🔥🔥🔥!
Was this the ending I wanted? I’m not sure since I can’t not imagine these two going on forever. They are just that solid, that special.
I won’t say much more so as not to ruin the story. Listening to this novel, this ending makes me want to go back to the beginning and take this wonderful and, at times, arduous & emotional journey again.
Thanks to Gregory Ashe for a copy of this audiobook!
4.5 Stars rounded up for nostalgia.
It’s over. This is the last we will see of Hazard & Somerset (but maybe Gregory Ashe will surprise us and give us another short series with these guys.)
This wasn’t my favorite book in the series, but I was glad to get back to the men getting along and not yelling all the time.
We had a murder and a kidnapping. The mystery wasn’t as involved as in past books and I was able to guess the perp—will you be able to do the same?
We had a couple of sex scenes—one of which was HOT AF 🔥🔥🔥!
Was this the ending I wanted? I’m not sure since I can’t not imagine these two going on forever. They are just that solid, that special.
I won’t say much more so as not to ruin the story. Listening to this novel, this ending makes me want to go back to the beginning and take this wonderful and, at times, arduous & emotional journey again.
Thanks to Gregory Ashe for a copy of this audiobook!
June 6, 2022
Oh. My. Goodness.
This was one heck of a finale for some of gay mystery’s favorite protagonists—none other than Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset. Final Orders by Gregory Ashe has it all: familial expectations, murder, red herrings, a twisty-turny mystery, danger, as well as timely and difficult-to-swallow societal drama, all in this small conservative-ish Missouri town we’ve come to know, love, and perhaps even fear just a little bit!
Ashe kicks off our last foray by sticking Hazard and Somers in the midst of a schoolboard meeting at Colt’s high school, where Dr. Stratford has been struggling with a growing base of fanatical parents seeking to prohibit books he’s assigning his students, and now those same book-banning adults are calling for his immediate removal from the faculty when he invites the author of one of these books to Wahredua for a speaking event. But Theo won’t be bullied by parents, and Loretta Ames, the author and she herself, a gay woman, won’t be either. In fact, Ames seems to revel in the publicity and is unafraid to visit Wahredua, despite her daughter’s growing concern that someone is trying to kill her. You can guess what happens, right? Loretta Ames winds up dead. Her murder puts Hazard and Somers on the case, mirroring those early days they shared together on the force, which I thought was a great nod to how their intertwined lives began, while managing to keep the risk, the unknown, and the cost of failure so high that I literally did nothing for days but plow through this book.
Nothing else can be said about the content that isn’t in the book’s blurb. I don’t want to spoil this story. I want you to read it. I want you to laugh at the ridiculous one-liners of Dulac and the unintentional, defensive humor of Hazard. I want your heart to go out to Somers and all of the stress weighing down on his shoulders as the Chief of Police. I want your brain to be firing on all cylinders to catch the red herrings in time. And I want your breath to stop when you hit that finale and don’t know what to do other than keep reading. Ashe isn’t afraid to write about dark and uncomfortable topics, and I applaud his courage and willingness to represent such a wide array of subject matter, much of which is the focal point for so many communities in the United States currently. Mix with this Ashe’s evocative and poetic use of the English language, and you’ve got another winning title for readers of not only LGBT fiction, but mystery, romance, and beyond.
This was a phenomenal ending to the Arrows in the Hand arc. With Hazard and Somers wrapped (for now?) this is a great time to begin the book that started it all: Pretty Pretty Boys. Strap in, hold on tight, and good luck. We’ll all be waiting for you at the end!
This was one heck of a finale for some of gay mystery’s favorite protagonists—none other than Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset. Final Orders by Gregory Ashe has it all: familial expectations, murder, red herrings, a twisty-turny mystery, danger, as well as timely and difficult-to-swallow societal drama, all in this small conservative-ish Missouri town we’ve come to know, love, and perhaps even fear just a little bit!
Ashe kicks off our last foray by sticking Hazard and Somers in the midst of a schoolboard meeting at Colt’s high school, where Dr. Stratford has been struggling with a growing base of fanatical parents seeking to prohibit books he’s assigning his students, and now those same book-banning adults are calling for his immediate removal from the faculty when he invites the author of one of these books to Wahredua for a speaking event. But Theo won’t be bullied by parents, and Loretta Ames, the author and she herself, a gay woman, won’t be either. In fact, Ames seems to revel in the publicity and is unafraid to visit Wahredua, despite her daughter’s growing concern that someone is trying to kill her. You can guess what happens, right? Loretta Ames winds up dead. Her murder puts Hazard and Somers on the case, mirroring those early days they shared together on the force, which I thought was a great nod to how their intertwined lives began, while managing to keep the risk, the unknown, and the cost of failure so high that I literally did nothing for days but plow through this book.
Nothing else can be said about the content that isn’t in the book’s blurb. I don’t want to spoil this story. I want you to read it. I want you to laugh at the ridiculous one-liners of Dulac and the unintentional, defensive humor of Hazard. I want your heart to go out to Somers and all of the stress weighing down on his shoulders as the Chief of Police. I want your brain to be firing on all cylinders to catch the red herrings in time. And I want your breath to stop when you hit that finale and don’t know what to do other than keep reading. Ashe isn’t afraid to write about dark and uncomfortable topics, and I applaud his courage and willingness to represent such a wide array of subject matter, much of which is the focal point for so many communities in the United States currently. Mix with this Ashe’s evocative and poetic use of the English language, and you’ve got another winning title for readers of not only LGBT fiction, but mystery, romance, and beyond.
This was a phenomenal ending to the Arrows in the Hand arc. With Hazard and Somers wrapped (for now?) this is a great time to begin the book that started it all: Pretty Pretty Boys. Strap in, hold on tight, and good luck. We’ll all be waiting for you at the end!
June 10, 2022
5 Stars!
So happy with all the intimate moments we got in this book. Loved it! 😍
So happy with all the intimate moments we got in this book. Loved it! 😍
January 28, 2024
I’m sorry to say I didn’t enjoy the end of this series the way I wanted to. It took me almost a week to finish it. I didn’t like the mystery. It seemed a bit convoluted. Not necessarily hard to figure out the culprit (I did so pretty early on) but just too many moving pieces. I wasn’t a fan either of the relationship aspects and this is because Colt’s drama played way too central a role—even more so than usual. But I admit the moment when he finally joined the family for real was emotional as hell. I really would have loved more of a focus on Hazard and Somers, plus Evie of course. I feel as if this has been the weakest finale so far in the Hazardverse. But we did see Hazard at his most lovable pedantic grouchy self.
Exhibit A of a few gems below.
”You look like you crawled out of a club kid’s anus,” Hazard said to Dulac.”
”What is this?”
“This is my system to get you a real relationship.”
“Oh my God.”
“It’s got everything, Nico. Therapy. Waxing. Self-defense courses. Ninety day interleaved dating app cycles. More strength training, and less cardio; you won’t be a twink forever. Stress testing each article of clothing before purchase so that you don’t end up looking like a homeless child who lost his matching socks.”
Exhibit A of a few gems below.
”You look like you crawled out of a club kid’s anus,” Hazard said to Dulac.”
”What is this?”
“This is my system to get you a real relationship.”
“Oh my God.”
“It’s got everything, Nico. Therapy. Waxing. Self-defense courses. Ninety day interleaved dating app cycles. More strength training, and less cardio; you won’t be a twink forever. Stress testing each article of clothing before purchase so that you don’t end up looking like a homeless child who lost his matching socks.”
July 24, 2022
There should be "I survived another Gregory Ashe series" t-shirt because we deserve a gold star.
This one might be a runner up for my favourite in the series but that's usually the case we tend to end on high notes; certainly not everything-will-be-sunshine-and-rainbows-forever-after-this notes but high considering what the characters have endured in the preceding books. And that's where we are again.
Also, this mystery was hard. Harder than most. It was basically encapsulated a post-2016-in-the-US feeling and did so very well. In some ways this familiarity made it easy to stomach, because we've had to endure it so long in real life, but equally that of course made it harder, too. But I thought Ashe handled it so well, as he often does, even when it's uncomfortable and awful -- maybe especially then.
On a smaller scale, we're wrapping this series with a calmer home-front (thank god) but a, once more, chaotic work-front for Somers. I do want to see him get some success on that front in the next series, though who knows what the theme for that one will be, and he's more than earned it after carrying the last few books, and the many many meltdowns and crises, on his poor shoulders. I didn't quite expect to see his particular breaking point go the way it did but.. it makes sense. Ashe ties these kinds of emotional minefields so perfectly. For all the drama that occurs, these portions between our two mains rarely feels manufactured. I know it won't happen but I'd love for them to get the tiniest of breaks in the next round.
Looking forward to what I hope is a bit of fluffiness in the consolidated bundle of shorts because temporarily taking my leave of these exhausting idiots.. at least until next time.
3.5 stars
This one might be a runner up for my favourite in the series but that's usually the case we tend to end on high notes; certainly not everything-will-be-sunshine-and-rainbows-forever-after-this notes but high considering what the characters have endured in the preceding books. And that's where we are again.
Also, this mystery was hard. Harder than most. It was basically encapsulated a post-2016-in-the-US feeling and did so very well. In some ways this familiarity made it easy to stomach, because we've had to endure it so long in real life, but equally that of course made it harder, too. But I thought Ashe handled it so well, as he often does, even when it's uncomfortable and awful -- maybe especially then.
On a smaller scale, we're wrapping this series with a calmer home-front (thank god) but a, once more, chaotic work-front for Somers. I do want to see him get some success on that front in the next series, though who knows what the theme for that one will be, and he's more than earned it after carrying the last few books, and the many many meltdowns and crises, on his poor shoulders. I didn't quite expect to see his particular breaking point go the way it did but.. it makes sense. Ashe ties these kinds of emotional minefields so perfectly. For all the drama that occurs, these portions between our two mains rarely feels manufactured. I know it won't happen but I'd love for them to get the tiniest of breaks in the next round.
Looking forward to what I hope is a bit of fluffiness in the consolidated bundle of shorts because temporarily taking my leave of these exhausting idiots.. at least until next time.
3.5 stars
June 10, 2022
Final Orders was everything I'd hoped for and yet I didn't want to read it. Why? Because I will never be ready to say goodbye to these two characters, they have become one of my most favourite couples ever, and Ree is just in a class of his own.
A fantastic end to a truly exceptional series.
A fantastic end to a truly exceptional series.
March 3, 2023
I'm going with 4.5 stars despite the fact that GR can't seem to get it's shit together and create half stars yet they can create a new book page that as far as I can tell, absolutely no one asked for nor cares about, but... I digress.
Anyhoozle, I enjoyed this one mainly because of Hazard and Somers. The end. They can do just about anything and I will be onboard. In this installment Somers struggles with some unresolved pain that I found genuine and heartfelt. The usually unflappable Somers who just rolls with things, heavy drinking and occasional secret keeping notwithstanding, wrestles with some heavy duty emotions which was kind of a change of pace to watch him struggle and get it wrong.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, what I like so much about Ashe's writing and in particular Hazard and Somers is how fallible they are and through that fallibility they're relatable. I'm no writer but I feel like that requires talent to consistently portray well alongside an entertaining mystery storyline.
Sidebar: Murderers do seem to plague this sleepy little town of Wahredua, so everyone thinking of moving to the country, think twice is all I'm saying. Or perhaps this is an elaborate strategy by Ashe to prevent people from moving to the flyover states? I digress. Again.
So, I also have come to really like Colt.
I can't help it. He's a whackadoodle but I still wanted to hug him more often than not. Or encase him in bubble wrap. Becausestupid teenage boy reasons.
The way the political overtones or is it undertones? are handled throughout this series in a post-Cheeto Führer world and how scary and discombobulating it can be especially as someone who lives in a largely conservative state is spot on and doesn't overtake the story or veer into preachy so... excellent straddling and portrayal in my humble opinion.
Lastly, I truly hope this is not the end of Hazard and Somers despite the ominous title Final Orders...
But, I guess, I can always reread some stuff. *kicks rocks* However, I am manifesting that I would continue to read about these two knuckleheads for the foreseeable future.
So, as always, I would recommend this series to fans of the aforementioned knuckleheads or of romantic suspense, though there will likely be points wherein you will wish you had read the previous books as there are references sprinkled throughout.
Anyhoozle, I enjoyed this one mainly because of Hazard and Somers. The end. They can do just about anything and I will be onboard. In this installment Somers struggles with some unresolved pain that I found genuine and heartfelt. The usually unflappable Somers who just rolls with things, heavy drinking and occasional secret keeping notwithstanding, wrestles with some heavy duty emotions which was kind of a change of pace to watch him struggle and get it wrong.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, what I like so much about Ashe's writing and in particular Hazard and Somers is how fallible they are and through that fallibility they're relatable. I'm no writer but I feel like that requires talent to consistently portray well alongside an entertaining mystery storyline.
Sidebar: Murderers do seem to plague this sleepy little town of Wahredua, so everyone thinking of moving to the country, think twice is all I'm saying. Or perhaps this is an elaborate strategy by Ashe to prevent people from moving to the flyover states? I digress. Again.
So, I also have come to really like Colt.
I can't help it. He's a whackadoodle but I still wanted to hug him more often than not. Or encase him in bubble wrap. Because
The way the political overtones or is it undertones? are handled throughout this series in a post-Cheeto Führer world and how scary and discombobulating it can be especially as someone who lives in a largely conservative state is spot on and doesn't overtake the story or veer into preachy so... excellent straddling and portrayal in my humble opinion.
Lastly, I truly hope this is not the end of Hazard and Somers despite the ominous title Final Orders...
But, I guess, I can always reread some stuff. *kicks rocks* However, I am manifesting that I would continue to read about these two knuckleheads for the foreseeable future.
So, as always, I would recommend this series to fans of the aforementioned knuckleheads or of romantic suspense, though there will likely be points wherein you will wish you had read the previous books as there are references sprinkled throughout.
January 28, 2024
I can’t believe how far these characters have come, how much they’ve grown, how they still stumble but are mostly making better decisions. I have loved this series for so long and yes it was a slow burn but looking back now and seeing where Hazard and Somers end up, it’s so gratifying. How Gregory Ashe could even stand the super slow burn while writing all those first books amazes me!
This is the third arc for these characters and we see Hazard & Somers as a married couple raising not only Evie but a foster son, Colt, who has definitely brought a lot of chaos into their lives. Reading Colt’s character as a parent of teenage boys has been refreshing. They really are their own subspecies.
The subject matter in this book is something I’m seeing happen right now in my part of the world. It’s scary but it’s real. If you don’t think this is happening you just haven’t looked close enough.
There are so many positives about this book, namely the character growth with both Hazard and Colt. The past books have seen them have some major arguments but they handle things differently now. Hazard teaching Colt to change his wiper blades was such a lovely scene and then when Somers talks to Colt while teaching him to repair a wall, it was really beautiful. These men think they don’t know what they’re doing sometimes but that’s part of being a parent. They also both have issues with their fathers and growing up with secrets and animosity.
Colt and Ashley are so cute! I loved the party at the end with Ashley’s parents. Seeing these characters from this series all come together, interacting with each other, is so special. Dulac is still in a funk and he will have more to contend with after this book, Nico seems to think he can heal now and he has just become one of my favorite characters! I despised him while he was dating Hazard but he’s so amazing. Theo and Auggie, we don’t know how their story ends but will know soon (I hope!). There’s so much more to this series then just Hazard and Somers.
I loved that Hazard didn’t blow up at every little thing, that was getting to be a bit much. He is hilarious though at times and he loves his family more than anything, this book shows it.
Somers has demons he thought he got past but instead he has to do something during this investigation that he hates. That drags up a lot of the past. He is hurting and almost in shock at times but these men are always there for each other. They work well together both professionally and personally.
I wish I didn’t read these books as soon as they came out because I miss these characters when there isn’t a new book to read. I don’t know if an author has ever created characters I am as fully vested in as these. Luckily they are coming back. But until then I will be missing them for sure.
This is the third arc for these characters and we see Hazard & Somers as a married couple raising not only Evie but a foster son, Colt, who has definitely brought a lot of chaos into their lives. Reading Colt’s character as a parent of teenage boys has been refreshing. They really are their own subspecies.
The subject matter in this book is something I’m seeing happen right now in my part of the world. It’s scary but it’s real. If you don’t think this is happening you just haven’t looked close enough.
There are so many positives about this book, namely the character growth with both Hazard and Colt. The past books have seen them have some major arguments but they handle things differently now. Hazard teaching Colt to change his wiper blades was such a lovely scene and then when Somers talks to Colt while teaching him to repair a wall, it was really beautiful. These men think they don’t know what they’re doing sometimes but that’s part of being a parent. They also both have issues with their fathers and growing up with secrets and animosity.
Colt and Ashley are so cute! I loved the party at the end with Ashley’s parents. Seeing these characters from this series all come together, interacting with each other, is so special. Dulac is still in a funk and he will have more to contend with after this book, Nico seems to think he can heal now and he has just become one of my favorite characters! I despised him while he was dating Hazard but he’s so amazing. Theo and Auggie, we don’t know how their story ends but will know soon (I hope!). There’s so much more to this series then just Hazard and Somers.
I loved that Hazard didn’t blow up at every little thing, that was getting to be a bit much. He is hilarious though at times and he loves his family more than anything, this book shows it.
Somers has demons he thought he got past but instead he has to do something during this investigation that he hates. That drags up a lot of the past. He is hurting and almost in shock at times but these men are always there for each other. They work well together both professionally and personally.
I wish I didn’t read these books as soon as they came out because I miss these characters when there isn’t a new book to read. I don’t know if an author has ever created characters I am as fully vested in as these. Luckily they are coming back. But until then I will be missing them for sure.
February 1, 2025
5⭐️ 🥹🥹😭I don’t even have the words to describe how much I love this series. I could easily read 16 more books about Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset.
I’m excited to dive into GA’s other series and hopefully get more of H&S further down the line.
I need a Colt/Ash book immediately and I need to know what the hell is up with Dulac and Darnell!
I’m excited to dive into GA’s other series and hopefully get more of H&S further down the line.
I need a Colt/Ash book immediately and I need to know what the hell is up with Dulac and Darnell!
May 20, 2025
I didn't really like the crime in this one so much, I just couldn't stay focused on it because I wanted to know more about Colt's situation instead.
I do wish we'd seen what Colt had to say about the whole placement situation though, I feel like that would have been a nice family moment.
John was back to annoying me but finally for a reason other than thinking he should have the easy lifestyle of a frat dude!
I'm so ready to know what Dulac's deal is. He's gone from being one of my favourite characters to one of the most unlikable.
So ready for the Iron on Iron series though!
I do wish we'd seen what Colt had to say about the whole placement situation though, I feel like that would have been a nice family moment.
John was back to annoying me but finally for a reason other than thinking he should have the easy lifestyle of a frat dude!
I'm so ready to know what Dulac's deal is. He's gone from being one of my favourite characters to one of the most unlikable.
So ready for the Iron on Iron series though!
July 27, 2022
What to say? My heart is full. I'm depleted. I'm happy. I'm sad. It's all true. ❤️❤️
Way back when I read the first chapter of Pretty Pretty Boys I knew I was in good hands. I wasn't wrong.
In this, in what seems to be the final entry in the H&S series (I'm not mad about it) the case/mystery was to my mind unimportant. More like a frame onto which the MC get to continue the eternal tinkering of this thing we call life. The blurb pretty much encapsulates the kick off point and then the story moves on which is a good move. There are too many ways to get lost in the weeds with a subject like this. Instead we get the recurring thematic themes of this series as a whole: monstrous parents (even when they don't mean to be) and the ones who are doing their best; the past always returning like the tide (it recedes, it's never gone, and will come back); how things can and do change for the better (even when we're not looking); how people are more (and sometimes less) than what we imagine them to be and have layers upon layers that can take a lifetime to peel and parse.
I'm sure I'll be doing a reread and will perhaps have more to say but in the meantime:
I think this was a perfect way of leaving Emery & John-Henry, surrounded by old and new friends, family, though some can be a cross to bear.
I loved how there were echoes of many of the things that have happened throughout the series.
I loved that the ending was happy in a realistic, romantic, non-mushy but absolutely hopeful way.
I loved that the two rather explicit sex scenes (a rarity for Greg) served a narrative purpose and were perhaps even not sexy at all. It wasn't the point.
I loved that there weren't rainbows and unicorns raining down on everyone we've met in this universe but there's a path forward for them.
Finally that last scene ... my heart stopped beating for a second because you could see things go not-optimally. But GA took pity on us the readers but primarily on his characters. Thank you.
Way back when I read the first chapter of Pretty Pretty Boys I knew I was in good hands. I wasn't wrong.
In this, in what seems to be the final entry in the H&S series (I'm not mad about it) the case/mystery was to my mind unimportant. More like a frame onto which the MC get to continue the eternal tinkering of this thing we call life. The blurb pretty much encapsulates the kick off point and then the story moves on which is a good move. There are too many ways to get lost in the weeds with a subject like this. Instead we get the recurring thematic themes of this series as a whole: monstrous parents (even when they don't mean to be) and the ones who are doing their best; the past always returning like the tide (it recedes, it's never gone, and will come back); how things can and do change for the better (even when we're not looking); how people are more (and sometimes less) than what we imagine them to be and have layers upon layers that can take a lifetime to peel and parse.
I'm sure I'll be doing a reread and will perhaps have more to say but in the meantime:
I think this was a perfect way of leaving Emery & John-Henry, surrounded by old and new friends, family, though some can be a cross to bear.
I loved how there were echoes of many of the things that have happened throughout the series.
I loved that the ending was happy in a realistic, romantic, non-mushy but absolutely hopeful way.
I loved that the two rather explicit sex scenes (a rarity for Greg) served a narrative purpose and were perhaps even not sexy at all. It wasn't the point.
I loved that there weren't rainbows and unicorns raining down on everyone we've met in this universe but there's a path forward for them.
Finally that last scene ... my heart stopped beating for a second because you could see things go not-optimally. But GA took pity on us the readers but primarily on his characters. Thank you.
June 12, 2022
3.5 stars
Better than the last few books.
I just don’t know how they continue to live in that shit hole town. I hope the next arc is then moving to California or New York or somewhere not filled w racist rednecks. I can’t take much more of that.
It was interesting to see so much Theo & Auggie in this when the author hasn’t even finished their series. They’re not even together in their series but here we see them years down the road as a couple but w no information as to how they got there. It really annoys me tbh. Im not even sure I’ll go back to their series at this point (if the author ever finishes it). I feel like it’s been spoiled by this series.
Better than the last few books.
I just don’t know how they continue to live in that shit hole town. I hope the next arc is then moving to California or New York or somewhere not filled w racist rednecks. I can’t take much more of that.
It was interesting to see so much Theo & Auggie in this when the author hasn’t even finished their series. They’re not even together in their series but here we see them years down the road as a couple but w no information as to how they got there. It really annoys me tbh. Im not even sure I’ll go back to their series at this point (if the author ever finishes it). I feel like it’s been spoiled by this series.
June 7, 2022
Note: Reference is made to a possible school shooting, and the story features the threat of gun violence on school premises.
If you’re a long-time Gregory Ashe reader, then you’ll already know that when you open one of his books, you’re in for a clever plot, compelling characters and a rollercoaster ride of emotions likely to result in bitten-to-the-quick nails and several almost-fell-off-the-seat moments - and this final book in the Hazard and Somerset: Arrows in the Hand series is perhaps more true of that than most. Its ripped-from-the-headlines plotlines made me – a non-American – want to scream and throw things on several occasions, so I can’t begin to imagine how my friends across the Pond deal with the issues the author tackles in this book.
Final Orders opens at a school meeting where a group of right-wing bigots (I’m calling it how I see it) are trying to ban a seminal LGBTQ+ young adult novel from the school library. They’re also aiming to prevent a visit to the school by its author, Loretta Ames, and are out for Theo Stratford’s blood, too, as he’s included the book on his teaching syllabus. Chief of Police John-Henry Somerset is present in an official capacity, and his husband Emery Hazard and many of their friends – Cora, Nico, Noah and Rebeca – are all there to lend quiet support to Theo and to oppose the ban. Things are starting to get heated when a schoolmate of Colt’s attacks Theo and the meeting descends into chaos.
Next day, Hazard is approached by Ayelet Ames, Loretta Ames’ daughter, who tells him someone is trying to kill her mother, explaining that she regularly receives death threats and has only recently had a couple of narrow escapes at home in New York. Hazard is sceptical and not keen to get involved - he doesn’t provide personal security – but Nico (sort of) talks him into it.
Without giving away too much, Loretta Ames is found dead in an abandoned complex outside of Wahredua and our dynamic duo of course find themselves up to their necks in the investigation and in all sorts of trouble. And while they’re working their way through a complex mess of clues and misdirection, and wading through a political and ideological minefield, they’re dealing with a lot at home, too. Colt’s social worker is expressing concern about his placement with them, and certain aspects of the investigation bring back difficult memories for Somers, reminding him quite viscerally of the lengths he went to as a teen to hide his true self, and the pain he caused Hazard and lived with himself.
As always in a Gregory Ashe book, there are lots of moving parts, but all are skilfully enmeshed so that they work together to form an exciting and insightful whole. He’s incredibly good at writing about deeply unpleasant people in a way that is both hard-hitting and realistic without turning them into cartoon-ish moustache-twirlers – which makes them all the more chilling. The subjects he tackles in this story – book-banning, the rabid (and unfounded) fears of some parents that their children are being groomed or indoctrinated, the quiet but pervasive radicalisation of the ‘soccer-mom’ – are presented in an accessible and very readable way that takes absolutely nothing away from just how terrifying they are.
For me, the relationships between the characters and their personal growth are just as important to these stories as the mysteries; while I’m always on tenterhooks waiting to find out whodunnit, the characters and their interactions are what keep me coming back to these books. The relationship between Hazard and Somers is SO well written and so authentic - of course the cases they get involved with are always dramatic, but their domestic life is relatable in so many ways, whether it’s Hazard’s insistence on not using fabric conditioner or Somers just wanting to have some peace and quiet at the end of a tough day. This series has explored what it means and what it takes to parent teenagers, and Mr. Ashe has never shied away from the difficulties and adjustments involved. There's been a focus in this series on young people and how badly they can be screwed up (I couldn’t help thinking of Philip Larkin's This Be the Verse) and failed by those who are supposed to be their number one go-to for care and support, which has been hard to read at times – especially as someone with children who are not long out of their teens. The frequent battles between Hazard and Colt have been a huge learning curve for Hazard especially, and I felt bad for Somers, being stuck in the middle as he so often was while trying to walk another tightrope at work. The couple has gone through some incredible highs and some awful lows throughout these books, but there’s never any doubt about the depth of the love and affection they share; even when the going is at its toughest, we know they'll come through for each other, and the author never fails to make me smile at their banter, or give me the warm fuzzies in moments of understanding and tenderness.
Final Orders ties up the majority of the series’ storylines in a satisfying manner, as we see, by the end of the book, that Colt is coming to a greater understanding and appreciation of what Hazard (and Somers) are doing for him, and Hazard is learning that he needs not to jump to so many conclusions and when to take a step back. I doubt their relationship will ever be completely harmonious, but things are well on the way to settling down. I was pleased to see Nico working through some of his issues and how good a friend to Hazard he’s become; I like their working relationship very much – Nico knows Hazard well enough to take no crap, and he’s good at his job – and even though he might not admit it aloud, Hazard knows it. And all those moments of Theo and Auggie being cute and couple-y made my shippy little heart happy :)
But there are a few unresolved plot threads left hanging that I hope the author plans to address at a later date. Somers realises he’s got more than one rotten apple in the department, so that’s something he’s eventually going to have to deal with. We also haven’t got the full story as to what’s going on with Dulac; he’s been on a downward spiral for several books now, and something happens in this story that looks set to make it even worse – so hopefully, Final Orders isn’t also the Last Word on all things Hazard and Somerset.
On its own, Final Orders is everything I’ve come to expect from Gregory Ashe – a fascinating, tightly plotted mystery featuring two complex, flawed (and loveable) leads and a fully-developed secondary cast who are so much more than sidekicks or window dressing. It’s also a superb conclusion to what has been a gripping series, and while it’s not always been easy or comfortable to read, I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with the gang in Wahredua.
If you’re a long-time Gregory Ashe reader, then you’ll already know that when you open one of his books, you’re in for a clever plot, compelling characters and a rollercoaster ride of emotions likely to result in bitten-to-the-quick nails and several almost-fell-off-the-seat moments - and this final book in the Hazard and Somerset: Arrows in the Hand series is perhaps more true of that than most. Its ripped-from-the-headlines plotlines made me – a non-American – want to scream and throw things on several occasions, so I can’t begin to imagine how my friends across the Pond deal with the issues the author tackles in this book.
Final Orders opens at a school meeting where a group of right-wing bigots (I’m calling it how I see it) are trying to ban a seminal LGBTQ+ young adult novel from the school library. They’re also aiming to prevent a visit to the school by its author, Loretta Ames, and are out for Theo Stratford’s blood, too, as he’s included the book on his teaching syllabus. Chief of Police John-Henry Somerset is present in an official capacity, and his husband Emery Hazard and many of their friends – Cora, Nico, Noah and Rebeca – are all there to lend quiet support to Theo and to oppose the ban. Things are starting to get heated when a schoolmate of Colt’s attacks Theo and the meeting descends into chaos.
Next day, Hazard is approached by Ayelet Ames, Loretta Ames’ daughter, who tells him someone is trying to kill her mother, explaining that she regularly receives death threats and has only recently had a couple of narrow escapes at home in New York. Hazard is sceptical and not keen to get involved - he doesn’t provide personal security – but Nico (sort of) talks him into it.
Without giving away too much, Loretta Ames is found dead in an abandoned complex outside of Wahredua and our dynamic duo of course find themselves up to their necks in the investigation and in all sorts of trouble. And while they’re working their way through a complex mess of clues and misdirection, and wading through a political and ideological minefield, they’re dealing with a lot at home, too. Colt’s social worker is expressing concern about his placement with them, and certain aspects of the investigation bring back difficult memories for Somers, reminding him quite viscerally of the lengths he went to as a teen to hide his true self, and the pain he caused Hazard and lived with himself.
As always in a Gregory Ashe book, there are lots of moving parts, but all are skilfully enmeshed so that they work together to form an exciting and insightful whole. He’s incredibly good at writing about deeply unpleasant people in a way that is both hard-hitting and realistic without turning them into cartoon-ish moustache-twirlers – which makes them all the more chilling. The subjects he tackles in this story – book-banning, the rabid (and unfounded) fears of some parents that their children are being groomed or indoctrinated, the quiet but pervasive radicalisation of the ‘soccer-mom’ – are presented in an accessible and very readable way that takes absolutely nothing away from just how terrifying they are.
For me, the relationships between the characters and their personal growth are just as important to these stories as the mysteries; while I’m always on tenterhooks waiting to find out whodunnit, the characters and their interactions are what keep me coming back to these books. The relationship between Hazard and Somers is SO well written and so authentic - of course the cases they get involved with are always dramatic, but their domestic life is relatable in so many ways, whether it’s Hazard’s insistence on not using fabric conditioner or Somers just wanting to have some peace and quiet at the end of a tough day. This series has explored what it means and what it takes to parent teenagers, and Mr. Ashe has never shied away from the difficulties and adjustments involved. There's been a focus in this series on young people and how badly they can be screwed up (I couldn’t help thinking of Philip Larkin's This Be the Verse) and failed by those who are supposed to be their number one go-to for care and support, which has been hard to read at times – especially as someone with children who are not long out of their teens. The frequent battles between Hazard and Colt have been a huge learning curve for Hazard especially, and I felt bad for Somers, being stuck in the middle as he so often was while trying to walk another tightrope at work. The couple has gone through some incredible highs and some awful lows throughout these books, but there’s never any doubt about the depth of the love and affection they share; even when the going is at its toughest, we know they'll come through for each other, and the author never fails to make me smile at their banter, or give me the warm fuzzies in moments of understanding and tenderness.
Final Orders ties up the majority of the series’ storylines in a satisfying manner, as we see, by the end of the book, that Colt is coming to a greater understanding and appreciation of what Hazard (and Somers) are doing for him, and Hazard is learning that he needs not to jump to so many conclusions and when to take a step back. I doubt their relationship will ever be completely harmonious, but things are well on the way to settling down. I was pleased to see Nico working through some of his issues and how good a friend to Hazard he’s become; I like their working relationship very much – Nico knows Hazard well enough to take no crap, and he’s good at his job – and even though he might not admit it aloud, Hazard knows it. And all those moments of Theo and Auggie being cute and couple-y made my shippy little heart happy :)
But there are a few unresolved plot threads left hanging that I hope the author plans to address at a later date. Somers realises he’s got more than one rotten apple in the department, so that’s something he’s eventually going to have to deal with. We also haven’t got the full story as to what’s going on with Dulac; he’s been on a downward spiral for several books now, and something happens in this story that looks set to make it even worse – so hopefully, Final Orders isn’t also the Last Word on all things Hazard and Somerset.
On its own, Final Orders is everything I’ve come to expect from Gregory Ashe – a fascinating, tightly plotted mystery featuring two complex, flawed (and loveable) leads and a fully-developed secondary cast who are so much more than sidekicks or window dressing. It’s also a superb conclusion to what has been a gripping series, and while it’s not always been easy or comfortable to read, I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent with the gang in Wahredua.
September 30, 2023
I heard this was the last book in the series and I was seriously happy with how John Henry and Hazard were left. I loved how Hazard thought and took a moment before going on his usual verbal rampage before a problem or situation 😂☺️ but Hazard was still Hazard with his problem solving charts and percentages. 👍👏🏻That’s what we ❤️ about him, I was very impressed with him in this book!
Cole was still a pain in the ass but teenagers are known for that, two of the other characters were left floundering. Nico was one who I’d love to see him get his hea🤗.
Dulac also but I’m not even sure if I even like him to read more about him because he seemed like as ass drunk or not and now another addiction poor Darnell for putting up with his bad temper and disposition. 🤨
Cole was still a pain in the ass but teenagers are known for that, two of the other characters were left floundering. Nico was one who I’d love to see him get his hea🤗.
Dulac also but I’m not even sure if I even like him to read more about him because he seemed like as ass drunk or not and now another addiction poor Darnell for putting up with his bad temper and disposition. 🤨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2022
Gosh, where do I start? I feel like I'm writing a eulogy, but I'm not sure if it's for the end of my H&S journey (for now!) or myself. These books touch on so many pieces of society and humanity and relationships (not just of the romantic variety) in such real and relevant ways that you can't help but carry these characters and their experiences with you after that dreaded last page. And while I wish I had hopped on the GA train earlier, I enjoyed the immersive feeling of the binge. It made the end harder, I think, because now I have some codependency and attachment issues to work through, but god was it worth it. So here's my last torrent of H&S thoughts for the time being:
Somers - The impetus behind the way he acted and treated Hazard when they were teenagers was no longer a secret, but the way it was brought to the surface again in this book was heartbreaking. Hazard forgave him a long time ago, but Somers obviously hadn't forgiven himself and having to take on that role again, and basically bully someone at the threshold of their own closet door, brought all of that pain back in sharp focus. What I loved most about how this was written was that we saw so much of it happening through Hazard's eyes and felt his helplessness as he watched the man he loved more than anything spiral. And, my god, a psychologist would have a field day with those sex scenes.
Hazard - The way this man was trying. In the past it had almost always been up to Somers to keep the balls in the air, but Hazard truly stepped up in this book. Whether it was Somers or Colt or Ash or Nico or...wait for it...Dulac, his care and concern for the people he loved knew no bounds. And those bounds were well and truly tested in this story, but the payoff was the Hazard we all know and love emerging with a few new scars and a whole lot of growth.
Dulac - Speaking of a spiral. Bro-dude extraordinaire was going through it. I didn't understand the dynamic between him and Darnell. It was obvious that who they were in public was very different from who they were behind closed doors. Whatever was going on put Dulac in a very dark place, made even darker by the events in this book. In the end, I think he was officially beyond his limit and I'm really interested in seeing where his story goes next. Would I want to read a book in his POV? I never thought I'd say this, but...maybe?
Colt - I mean, he was still a 16 year old kid. He had roughly 5,000 emotions per second and didn't know how to handle even 1 of them, but it was obvious that he occasionally tried. His storyline in this book led to my first bout of tears and once that happened, the flood gates opened, Kleenex's stock went up and I was reminded why I read YA novels.
Nico - I love him and I love the direction his character is going in. I have always felt like he needed to find happiness within himself before finding someone to share it with and this version of Nico was the closest to that I've seen so far.
Thuggie - Ohmigosh, the sheer volume of Thuggie appearances made me feel like Christmas had come early. And every conversation between Theo and Hazard was a gift I wanted and never thought to ask for. There is a gap between their series and the first H&S series that I need bridged immediately.
The mystery - For the first time in awhile, I knew whodunnit and found myself annoyed that Hazard and Somers couldn't figure it out. It was still nail biting, though, because GA is never afraid to Go There with his characters and you just never know how far he'll take things. After some crap midterm elections in Texas, I was feeling a little raw going into a story dealing with school shootings, book bannings, "parental rights" and all the BS that comes up at school board meetings as parents claim to have never said the word "fuck" while stashing their well used copies of Fifty Shades of Grey beneath their mattresses. I could soap box the hell out of this, but I won't. Preaching to the choir and all that.
Ummmm...I feel like I'm giving an Academy Award speech and leaving someone out. I think it's obvious that I loved this book and I loved this entire series and I will miss and pine for H&S until I get to see them again, in whatever capacity that might be. Gregory Ashe is a gift and a treasure and he should be treated as such. I hope his hands are insured and well protected so he can keep churning out masterpieces. I can't wait to devour everything he's ever written. Jem and Tean, I'm coming for you next!
Somers - The impetus behind the way he acted and treated Hazard when they were teenagers was no longer a secret, but the way it was brought to the surface again in this book was heartbreaking. Hazard forgave him a long time ago, but Somers obviously hadn't forgiven himself and having to take on that role again, and basically bully someone at the threshold of their own closet door, brought all of that pain back in sharp focus. What I loved most about how this was written was that we saw so much of it happening through Hazard's eyes and felt his helplessness as he watched the man he loved more than anything spiral. And, my god, a psychologist would have a field day with those sex scenes.
Hazard - The way this man was trying. In the past it had almost always been up to Somers to keep the balls in the air, but Hazard truly stepped up in this book. Whether it was Somers or Colt or Ash or Nico or...wait for it...Dulac, his care and concern for the people he loved knew no bounds. And those bounds were well and truly tested in this story, but the payoff was the Hazard we all know and love emerging with a few new scars and a whole lot of growth.
Dulac - Speaking of a spiral. Bro-dude extraordinaire was going through it. I didn't understand the dynamic between him and Darnell. It was obvious that who they were in public was very different from who they were behind closed doors. Whatever was going on put Dulac in a very dark place, made even darker by the events in this book. In the end, I think he was officially beyond his limit and I'm really interested in seeing where his story goes next. Would I want to read a book in his POV? I never thought I'd say this, but...maybe?
Colt - I mean, he was still a 16 year old kid. He had roughly 5,000 emotions per second and didn't know how to handle even 1 of them, but it was obvious that he occasionally tried. His storyline in this book led to my first bout of tears and once that happened, the flood gates opened, Kleenex's stock went up and I was reminded why I read YA novels.
Nico - I love him and I love the direction his character is going in. I have always felt like he needed to find happiness within himself before finding someone to share it with and this version of Nico was the closest to that I've seen so far.
Thuggie - Ohmigosh, the sheer volume of Thuggie appearances made me feel like Christmas had come early. And every conversation between Theo and Hazard was a gift I wanted and never thought to ask for. There is a gap between their series and the first H&S series that I need bridged immediately.
The mystery - For the first time in awhile, I knew whodunnit and found myself annoyed that Hazard and Somers couldn't figure it out. It was still nail biting, though, because GA is never afraid to Go There with his characters and you just never know how far he'll take things. After some crap midterm elections in Texas, I was feeling a little raw going into a story dealing with school shootings, book bannings, "parental rights" and all the BS that comes up at school board meetings as parents claim to have never said the word "fuck" while stashing their well used copies of Fifty Shades of Grey beneath their mattresses. I could soap box the hell out of this, but I won't. Preaching to the choir and all that.
Ummmm...I feel like I'm giving an Academy Award speech and leaving someone out. I think it's obvious that I loved this book and I loved this entire series and I will miss and pine for H&S until I get to see them again, in whatever capacity that might be. Gregory Ashe is a gift and a treasure and he should be treated as such. I hope his hands are insured and well protected so he can keep churning out masterpieces. I can't wait to devour everything he's ever written. Jem and Tean, I'm coming for you next!
October 12, 2022
This is the final book in this arc, and I'm somehow grateful for it because, as much as I found these stories thrilling and wonderfully written, I also felt deeply perturbed by them. All of them portray children who are put in danger by adults, children who should be loved and cherished, and yet, they are abused and humiliated by those who they trust. Add to that that neither Hazard nor Somers were having the best of times, and yes, they were hard.
This one is no different, but before I dig more into it, let me just say this: GO, NICO!!!! That is, I won't say more, but once you read the book, you'll understand.
So, onto the rest of the book! Beware, there will be spoilers from here!
In short: a fabulous mystery, intricate and psychological driven; main characters that never stop surprising you with their growth; secondary characters who are full-fledged and so interesting that you can't help to care about them; and gorgeous, enticing writing. Need I say more?
And with this arc finished, the time has come! I'll indulge myself and will go back to Pretty Pretty Boys and read all the 17 books again.
Oh! And if you are tempted by the excerpt from They Told Me I Was Everything at the end of this book, this is the moment to do something about it and go to Amazon to get it, because, right now, it's FREE! You're welcome :P
This one is no different, but before I dig more into it, let me just say this: GO, NICO!!!! That is, I won't say more, but once you read the book, you'll understand.
So, onto the rest of the book! Beware, there will be spoilers from here!
In short: a fabulous mystery, intricate and psychological driven; main characters that never stop surprising you with their growth; secondary characters who are full-fledged and so interesting that you can't help to care about them; and gorgeous, enticing writing. Need I say more?
And with this arc finished, the time has come! I'll indulge myself and will go back to Pretty Pretty Boys and read all the 17 books again.
Oh! And if you are tempted by the excerpt from They Told Me I Was Everything at the end of this book, this is the moment to do something about it and go to Amazon to get it, because, right now, it's FREE! You're welcome :P
April 19, 2023
❤️❤️😢
Quelle fabuleuse aventure cette série... "Final Orders" marque donc la fin de la saga "Arrows in the hand" et peut-être de "Hazard and Somerset" par la même occasion. J'ai reculé au maximum ma lecture de ce tome, mais il faut bien terminer une saga un jour ou l'autre...
Emery a gagné mon cœur depuis longtemps, très, très longtemps. Sa détermination, sa loyauté, son amour pour ses proches, ne sont plus à démontrer, mais on en a encore une magnifique preuve, ici. Ree est un homme entier, authentique, qui est tombé, plusieurs fois, et s'est relevé. Son évolution dans toute la série est juste incroyable.
Dans "Arrows in the hand", John paie encore une fois les frais de son passé, pas directement c'est sûr, mais les traumatismes sont là, même s'il va de l'avant. Des éléments sont souvent présents pour lui faire rappeler son comportement envers Emery. C'est douloureux à lire... Cela fait très longtemps que cet homme a gagné mon cœur, lui aussi... Mon amour pour lui n'a cessé d'augmenter de tome en tome.
Le couple formé par John et Ree est authentique, brutal, passionné. Un couple toujours en évolution, toujours, même au terme de ces 16 tomes (sans compter les nouvelles). J'aime profondément ces deux hommes qui garderont toujours leurs places dans mon cœur, et resteront un de mes couples, si ce n'est mon couple préféré.
Pour ce dernier tome, Gregory Ashe nous embarque dans une nouvelle intrigue, et purée mais ce qu'elle était géniale ! Une intrigue qui va amener, du coup, nos personnages sur des terrains dangereux, pas dans le sens propre du terme. Les thèmes soulevés dans ce roman sont poignants, encore une fois, et plein de réalisme, du fait du métier d'éducateur de l'auteur notamment.
Le personnage de Colt a mis pas mal de piment dans la vie de Ree et John, j'ai adoré faire sa connaissance, même si, par moment, j'avais plus envie de le secouer qu'autre chose. Il a su se faire sa place au sein du petit couple, j'ai envie de dire qu'il l'a gagnée depuis un bon moment, surtout auprès de Ree, et quelle belle famille ils forment tous ensemble.
La petite Evie m'aura un peu manquée ici, j'adore tellement ses petits moments avec ses deux papas, notamment Ree, ils sont craquants tous les deux.
Dulac et Nico vont me manquer aussi... Mes pauvres, on peut dire qu'ils morflent assez... Je croise les doigts pour avoir un jour, peut-être, leurs histoires...
Quel bonheur aussi de revoir Theo et Auggie de "The First Quarto", je les aime d'amour aussi ces deux-là ^^
Je ne sais pas quoi écrire d'autre, j'ai tardé avant d'écrire cet avis, et même plusieurs jours après, les larmes me montent et je ne sais pas quoi dire... Les mots me manquent, pour mon 16ème avis, pour cette conclusion, un comble... J'aime tellement cette saga, la plume de l'auteur, ses personnages, leurs psychologies, toute l'évolution de Ree et John, en couple et indépendamment, tous les personnages secondaires. L'auteur nous sert aussi des intrigues de dingues qui m'auront fait trembler, presque autant que Ree et John. Une saga où j'ai vécu tout simplement avec eux.
Je ne sais pas si la dernière phrase qui clôt parfaitement ce roman sera la dernière, c'est certain que je ne dis pas non à 10 tomes de plus, l'avenir nous le dira...
"Hazard and Somerset" aura été une merveilleuse aventure, une saga exceptionnelle. Merci infiniment Monsieur Gregory Ashe pour ces merveilleux moments, pour m'avoir fait connaître John et Ree, pour m'avoir fait vibrer avec eux. Et si je relisais "Pretty Pretty Boys", ça me paraîtrait être une bonne idée ?
Quelle fabuleuse aventure cette série... "Final Orders" marque donc la fin de la saga "Arrows in the hand" et peut-être de "Hazard and Somerset" par la même occasion. J'ai reculé au maximum ma lecture de ce tome, mais il faut bien terminer une saga un jour ou l'autre...
Emery a gagné mon cœur depuis longtemps, très, très longtemps. Sa détermination, sa loyauté, son amour pour ses proches, ne sont plus à démontrer, mais on en a encore une magnifique preuve, ici. Ree est un homme entier, authentique, qui est tombé, plusieurs fois, et s'est relevé. Son évolution dans toute la série est juste incroyable.
Dans "Arrows in the hand", John paie encore une fois les frais de son passé, pas directement c'est sûr, mais les traumatismes sont là, même s'il va de l'avant. Des éléments sont souvent présents pour lui faire rappeler son comportement envers Emery. C'est douloureux à lire... Cela fait très longtemps que cet homme a gagné mon cœur, lui aussi... Mon amour pour lui n'a cessé d'augmenter de tome en tome.
Le couple formé par John et Ree est authentique, brutal, passionné. Un couple toujours en évolution, toujours, même au terme de ces 16 tomes (sans compter les nouvelles). J'aime profondément ces deux hommes qui garderont toujours leurs places dans mon cœur, et resteront un de mes couples, si ce n'est mon couple préféré.
Pour ce dernier tome, Gregory Ashe nous embarque dans une nouvelle intrigue, et purée mais ce qu'elle était géniale ! Une intrigue qui va amener, du coup, nos personnages sur des terrains dangereux, pas dans le sens propre du terme. Les thèmes soulevés dans ce roman sont poignants, encore une fois, et plein de réalisme, du fait du métier d'éducateur de l'auteur notamment.
Le personnage de Colt a mis pas mal de piment dans la vie de Ree et John, j'ai adoré faire sa connaissance, même si, par moment, j'avais plus envie de le secouer qu'autre chose. Il a su se faire sa place au sein du petit couple, j'ai envie de dire qu'il l'a gagnée depuis un bon moment, surtout auprès de Ree, et quelle belle famille ils forment tous ensemble.
La petite Evie m'aura un peu manquée ici, j'adore tellement ses petits moments avec ses deux papas, notamment Ree, ils sont craquants tous les deux.
Dulac et Nico vont me manquer aussi... Mes pauvres, on peut dire qu'ils morflent assez... Je croise les doigts pour avoir un jour, peut-être, leurs histoires...
Quel bonheur aussi de revoir Theo et Auggie de "The First Quarto", je les aime d'amour aussi ces deux-là ^^
Je ne sais pas quoi écrire d'autre, j'ai tardé avant d'écrire cet avis, et même plusieurs jours après, les larmes me montent et je ne sais pas quoi dire... Les mots me manquent, pour mon 16ème avis, pour cette conclusion, un comble... J'aime tellement cette saga, la plume de l'auteur, ses personnages, leurs psychologies, toute l'évolution de Ree et John, en couple et indépendamment, tous les personnages secondaires. L'auteur nous sert aussi des intrigues de dingues qui m'auront fait trembler, presque autant que Ree et John. Une saga où j'ai vécu tout simplement avec eux.
Je ne sais pas si la dernière phrase qui clôt parfaitement ce roman sera la dernière, c'est certain que je ne dis pas non à 10 tomes de plus, l'avenir nous le dira...
"Hazard and Somerset" aura été une merveilleuse aventure, une saga exceptionnelle. Merci infiniment Monsieur Gregory Ashe pour ces merveilleux moments, pour m'avoir fait connaître John et Ree, pour m'avoir fait vibrer avec eux. Et si je relisais "Pretty Pretty Boys", ça me paraîtrait être une bonne idée ?
September 26, 2022
As other reviewers have more adequately stated, this series as a whole was rough. It is infused with a too-too reality of life in the USA during the out-loud, emboldened uprising of white supremacist groups in the past years. It, as a whole, adequately captures the local politics that are incredibly personal--and that the strategy is very much disrupt the school board, the public education, and so on. There was an attempt here, and there will be again, and it's a little traumatic to be faced down with that in this arc.
It even directly confronts that well worn line from Rage Against the Machine "Some of those who work forces are the same that burn crosses," (Killing the Name) as Somers is confronted with a police force that uphold and organize for the neo-Nazi groups.
Aside from that, there is a school shooting, and...well, that's rough and that's real
But that's what I will say for Ashe. Aside from the fact he definitely understands the pulse of the nation, the ugly underbelly of politics, and the deep dark rivers of human emotion the experience is as life like as it can feel (which is why I wouldn't say these are always "enjoyable" and I even often leave the middle installments largely unrated. It's why I don't mind seeing Ashe use North and Shaw (who I do like-but not all do), and why I even have patience to no end when the characters enter a dark place and are in an established relationship. Simply, it's all agonizingly familiar-freakishly so. (Yeah, and the kids too!). There's this scene where Hazard feels used by his husband, completely and utterly detached and hurt. And I don't know which book. But I will tell you-it was devastatingly well done.
That said, Somers had the majority of the internal struggles in this series, and maybe even external. So in a sense Hazard felt there-he was wonderful at times and mildly *too* quirky at others? I felt like maybe I needed to go back and revisit the almost encyclopedic eccentricities to see if that was really true to his character. It was almost an attempt at humor-the unintentionally hilarious clueless literal straight man in humor-and sometimes I felt it veered too much to...well too much.
All that said, I think these are Hazard's books. They always feel a little uneven to me, a little less internal to Somers even if Somers is the focus, and maybe that's why this series overall fell - not flat- but was slightly less compelling to me.
But here's the thing, I want more. I still will always want more. I still think they might want to avoid any more concussions, enroll in a TBI study, and move the hell away from the murderous small town they live in.
It even directly confronts that well worn line from Rage Against the Machine "Some of those who work forces are the same that burn crosses," (Killing the Name) as Somers is confronted with a police force that uphold and organize for the neo-Nazi groups.
Aside from that, there is a school shooting, and...well, that's rough and that's real
But that's what I will say for Ashe. Aside from the fact he definitely understands the pulse of the nation, the ugly underbelly of politics, and the deep dark rivers of human emotion the experience is as life like as it can feel (which is why I wouldn't say these are always "enjoyable" and I even often leave the middle installments largely unrated. It's why I don't mind seeing Ashe use North and Shaw (who I do like-but not all do), and why I even have patience to no end when the characters enter a dark place and are in an established relationship. Simply, it's all agonizingly familiar-freakishly so. (Yeah, and the kids too!). There's this scene where Hazard feels used by his husband, completely and utterly detached and hurt. And I don't know which book. But I will tell you-it was devastatingly well done.
That said, Somers had the majority of the internal struggles in this series, and maybe even external. So in a sense Hazard felt there-he was wonderful at times and mildly *too* quirky at others? I felt like maybe I needed to go back and revisit the almost encyclopedic eccentricities to see if that was really true to his character. It was almost an attempt at humor-the unintentionally hilarious clueless literal straight man in humor-and sometimes I felt it veered too much to...well too much.
All that said, I think these are Hazard's books. They always feel a little uneven to me, a little less internal to Somers even if Somers is the focus, and maybe that's why this series overall fell - not flat- but was slightly less compelling to me.
But here's the thing, I want more. I still will always want more. I still think they might want to avoid any more concussions, enroll in a TBI study, and move the hell away from the murderous small town they live in.
March 24, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
In my review of book 4, I griped that Colt was too centered in the story -- that we were no longer reading Hazard-and-Somerset, but Hazard-and-Colt and Somerset-and-Colt, with Emery and J-H primarily relating through Colt's issues/ as parents of a teenager, rather than as a newly married, horny couple. I was also frustrated with Hazard's arc-long pattern of Hulk-rage-smash-monster with Colt, and how damaging it was for both of them.
This book finally achieved more of a balance. Colt is important to, but on the edges of, the mystery plot. He is also going through it owing to Ashley having a new girlfriend, meaning that Colt's acting out is very much less about Emery or J-H as it is about being a brokenhearted teenager. Emery also works on changing his reactions to Colt so that he is not constantly flying off the handle or hulking out at the slightest provocation. J-H is going through his own things this time, as the crime plot stirs up painful memories of his own adolescent experience as both the golden boy and a closeted bully. But J-H's pain and how he (tries to) deal with it gives the opportunity for a more meaty Hazard-Somerset storyline, which is something I've missed this arc. I like where this arc ends, relationship-wise and in terms of Colt's integration into their family.
Really love the Nico-Emery relationship now, and hopefully Nico will have brighter days ahead. Same with Dulac, although I am much less optimistic -- that storyline was already yikes at the start of the book, and only got yikesier by the end. Poor Gray! Poor Darnell! Loved all the Theo and Auggie (I just can't call them Thuggie, my brain recoils), and very excited to get more of them in Iron on Iron. Kind of wish Carmichael would have gotten more decisively dealt with, but the dilemma of knowing she's bad news but not necessarily having the means to fire her is probably pretty accurate.
All in all -- a satisfying end to an arc that was not my favorite, but still good.
In my review of book 4, I griped that Colt was too centered in the story -- that we were no longer reading Hazard-and-Somerset, but Hazard-and-Colt and Somerset-and-Colt, with Emery and J-H primarily relating through Colt's issues/ as parents of a teenager, rather than as a newly married, horny couple. I was also frustrated with Hazard's arc-long pattern of Hulk-rage-smash-monster with Colt, and how damaging it was for both of them.
This book finally achieved more of a balance. Colt is important to, but on the edges of, the mystery plot. He is also going through it owing to Ashley having a new girlfriend, meaning that Colt's acting out is very much less about Emery or J-H as it is about being a brokenhearted teenager. Emery also works on changing his reactions to Colt so that he is not constantly flying off the handle or hulking out at the slightest provocation. J-H is going through his own things this time, as the crime plot stirs up painful memories of his own adolescent experience as both the golden boy and a closeted bully. But J-H's pain and how he (tries to) deal with it gives the opportunity for a more meaty Hazard-Somerset storyline, which is something I've missed this arc. I like where this arc ends, relationship-wise and in terms of Colt's integration into their family.
Really love the Nico-Emery relationship now, and hopefully Nico will have brighter days ahead. Same with Dulac, although I am much less optimistic -- that storyline was already yikes at the start of the book, and only got yikesier by the end. Poor Gray! Poor Darnell! Loved all the Theo and Auggie (I just can't call them Thuggie, my brain recoils), and very excited to get more of them in Iron on Iron. Kind of wish Carmichael would have gotten more decisively dealt with, but the dilemma of knowing she's bad news but not necessarily having the means to fire her is probably pretty accurate.
All in all -- a satisfying end to an arc that was not my favorite, but still good.
August 28, 2025
this series has been everything to me. bawling my eyes out because it's over but so glad I got to experience it.
so much pain and heart ache and love and family and healing. the painful and loving give and take of any relationship growing over 15 books. amazingly written crimes and a small town that's not so small. so many people i have fallen in love with and will never forget. I know I'll re read these all again one day but sad that it's goodbye for now to Hazard and Somers
so much pain and heart ache and love and family and healing. the painful and loving give and take of any relationship growing over 15 books. amazingly written crimes and a small town that's not so small. so many people i have fallen in love with and will never forget. I know I'll re read these all again one day but sad that it's goodbye for now to Hazard and Somers
August 26, 2022
Not me crying cause it's over....
I can't recommend this series enough, I love it! Hopefully, this isn't the end because I want more.
Also, I would like to read a Dulac/Darnell and Ash/Colt story too! I'm intrigued AF.
Side note: The book Katabasis reminds me of The Stranger Things!
I can't recommend this series enough, I love it! Hopefully, this isn't the end because I want more.
Also, I would like to read a Dulac/Darnell and Ash/Colt story too! I'm intrigued AF.
Side note: The book Katabasis reminds me of The Stranger Things!
March 17, 2024
Issues unresolved,
but still complete. Ree loves Colt,
John, Evie, his rules.
but still complete. Ree loves Colt,
John, Evie, his rules.
June 20, 2022
This one’s better than the last one.
There is some degree of adult behaviour and emotional regulation.
There is some degree of adult behaviour and emotional regulation.
June 14, 2022
I highly recommend this series, but you must start at the beginning, so much goes on.
July 27, 2022
hope it’s not the end
When you read a bunch of these in a row, I’m thinking maybe you shouldn’t really binge. This series is great but you definitely need a breather between books. But did I listen? No, I binged. Between the sodium lights and all the smells good and bad, there’s definitely a repeat thing happening. The writing is excellent but can be a lot on a binge read.
The mystery in this one was very disturbing and there really should have been TWs. There’s always extreme violence, and an MC is in peril almost 95% of the time AND homophobic slurs. This one also had a school shooting and suicide attempt. The case was especially gruesome this time. The perpetrators who seemed so innocent but were far from it. A few red herrings thrown in to make it interesting 🧐
Somerset and Hazard had many issues to work through. Ones they thought were resolved. Their relationship is built on trust and love throughout the series and has been a huge draw for me in reading this author. He doesn’t sugarcoat the relationships in these books. There are some harsh realities to confront.
I really hope this isn’t the last book or we get a spin-off series with Nico. I cannot believe I like him now😆! I did not see that coming. Dulac is still a work in progress. Colt still annoyed me but a bit less this time. We definitely need another arc story. Maybe a few years in the future 🤔🤔🤔. Maybe a few books with North and Shaw?!?
Well I have hope!
When you read a bunch of these in a row, I’m thinking maybe you shouldn’t really binge. This series is great but you definitely need a breather between books. But did I listen? No, I binged. Between the sodium lights and all the smells good and bad, there’s definitely a repeat thing happening. The writing is excellent but can be a lot on a binge read.
The mystery in this one was very disturbing and there really should have been TWs. There’s always extreme violence, and an MC is in peril almost 95% of the time AND homophobic slurs. This one also had a school shooting and suicide attempt. The case was especially gruesome this time. The perpetrators who seemed so innocent but were far from it. A few red herrings thrown in to make it interesting 🧐
Somerset and Hazard had many issues to work through. Ones they thought were resolved. Their relationship is built on trust and love throughout the series and has been a huge draw for me in reading this author. He doesn’t sugarcoat the relationships in these books. There are some harsh realities to confront.
I really hope this isn’t the last book or we get a spin-off series with Nico. I cannot believe I like him now😆! I did not see that coming. Dulac is still a work in progress. Colt still annoyed me but a bit less this time. We definitely need another arc story. Maybe a few years in the future 🤔🤔🤔. Maybe a few books with North and Shaw?!?
Well I have hope!
October 15, 2024
*** 2024 Reread ***
Omg I love this book so much. There's so much still so sadly relevant about it. It made me cry the first time and it apparently still holds that power today.
Omg I love this book so much. There's so much still so sadly relevant about it. It made me cry the first time and it apparently still holds that power today.
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