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Puzzle for Two
Fledging PI Zachariah Davies’s wealthy and eccentric client, toymaker Alton Beacher, wants to hire an investigator who can pose as his boyfriend while figuring out who is behind the recent attempts on his life. And Zach, struggling to save the business his father built, is just desperate enough to set aside his misgivings and take the job.
But it doesn’t take long to realize all is not as it seems—and given that it all seems pretty weird, that’s saying something. The only person Zach can turn to for help is equally struggling, equally desperate, but a whole lot more experienced rival PI Flint Carey.
Former Marine Flint has been waiting for Zach to throw in the towel and sell whatever’s left of the Davies Detective Agency to him. But when the game, inexperienced accountant-turned-shamus turns to him for help, Flint finds himself unwilling—or maybe unable—to say no.
But it doesn’t take long to realize all is not as it seems—and given that it all seems pretty weird, that’s saying something. The only person Zach can turn to for help is equally struggling, equally desperate, but a whole lot more experienced rival PI Flint Carey.
Former Marine Flint has been waiting for Zach to throw in the towel and sell whatever’s left of the Davies Detective Agency to him. But when the game, inexperienced accountant-turned-shamus turns to him for help, Flint finds himself unwilling—or maybe unable—to say no.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2023
68 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Josh Lanyon
223 books5,418 followersAuthor of 100+ titles of Gay Mystery and M/M Romance, Josh Lanyon has built her literary legacy on twisty mystery, kickass adventure, and unapologetic man-on-man romance.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Her work has been translated into twelve languages. The FBI thriller Fair Game was the first Male/Male title to be published by Italy’s Harlequin Mondadori and Stranger on the Shore (Harper Collins Italia) was the first M/M title to be published in print. In 2016 Fatal Shadows placed #5 in Japan’s annual Boy Love novel list (the first and only title by a foreign author to place on the list). The Adrien English series was awarded the All-Time Favorite Couple by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group. In 2019, Fatal Shadows became the first LGBTQ mobile game created by Moments: Choose Your Story.
She’s an EPIC Award winner, a four-time Lambda Literary Award finalist (twice for Gay Mystery), an Edgar nominee, and the first ever recipient of the Goodreads All Time Favorite M/M Author award.
Josh is married and lives in Southern California with her irascible husband, two adorable dogs, a small garden, and an ever-expanding library of vintage mystery destined to eventually crush them all beneath its weight.
Find other Josh Lanyon titles at www.joshlanyon.com
Follow Josh on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
February 10, 2025
I guess you know me well, I don't like winter / But I seem to get a kick out of doing you cold (Strange Relationship – Prince).
You’ve got to hand it to Josh Lanyon, it’s not every day when you can get away with writing the same book a hundred times over, with only a few differing details to make things seem fresh. That takes talent and that's pretty cool. Hey! Does anybody remember that one Twilight Zone episode where some dude is in a living nightmare where he’s on death row about to be executed and when he “dies” he wakes up right back at the start of the same nightmare, the only differences being that the “characters” in the dream have shifted around? I think we all remember that gnarly episode! The reason why I bring it up is that it's also the best representation of what it’s like to read a bunch of Josh Lanyon books in a row. Hm, is this shade? I honestly don’t know, because even though I have to admit to growing increasingly tired of this author’s work, it still doesn't feel right to say that I hated Puzzle for Two, even though I kind of did. It's like something is holding me back, isn’t that wild? I'm a little sad because I got a bunch of those Secrets & Scrabble books for my birthday a while back, so I still have fond memories of her books. My first gay mysteries! Ahhh, the nostalgia. But if I were honest, reading this book was like watching Marvel’s little “What If” show, because they never do anything interesting with it like, “what if Bucky were throwing it back for Captain American while they were hiding out in Wakanda?” and instead do a bunch of dumb, inconsequential stuff like “What if Thanos was blue?” or “What if Iron Man was wearing earrings during his famous coming out press conference?” Sorry, I know I’m coming in red hot and it might seem like I’m still holding a grudge against this author because of the racist stuff she put in her very famous book Somebody Killed His Editor where the line “Her eyes bulged – which is really not that easy with Asian eyes.” was uttered by the main character, but I do objectively think I’m just getting tired of reading her books. Stop me if this sounds familiar, but Puzzle for Two is all about a thirty-something guy named Zach who’s trying to make it as a modern day private detective (for reasons unknown) and gets hired by some rich fuck (think Neil Patrick Harris in Gone Girl) who hires him to be his pretend boyfriend and help sus out the person who’s maybe trying to kill him. Along the way, Zach soon realizes he probably needs the help of somebody who actually knows what he’s doing, and thus Flint, the hard ass love-interest, enters the picture.
It’s funny, because if you blank out a few parts, then this description could actually apply to most of these kinds of mysteries. Don’t believe me? Don’t worry, I’ll tally it up. Secrets & Scrabble is about a thirty-something with dry wit paired against hard ass love-interest, Murder Takes the High Road is about a thirty-something with dry wit paired against hard ass love-interest, The Boy Next Door is about... yup, you guessed it... a thirty-something with dry wit paired against a hard ass love-interest! And me? I’m the damn fool that read them. It's a bit sad because even though I'm all "'Cause the loving ain't the same, and you keep on playing games like you know I'm here to stay" right now, if I had read this book even a couple years ago, I might have thought it would have been this super transgressive piece of work! But now that it's become so oversaturated to the point where I can basically predict the way all of these things will go from the outset, I think I’m mostly over it. "Just like the Calgon commercial, I really gotta get up outta here and go somewhere." So… I’ve just been spending this entire review driving in the same point, saying the same thing over and over again like I’m the one writing Josh Lanyon's next mystery, but let me try to specify what exactly it was that I found so irksome about this book. Getting to the bottom of my issues and cracking the case... heh heh... if you will. First of all, I will give props to this book for finally breaking the curse by realizing that a bisexual character actually can exist outside of being the presumed “straight love-interest” and can be used as something other than a misdirection for the gay protagonist to ponder about their sexuality. Isn’t that nice? You’ve got to celebrate the small wins, I suppose. The only problem is that instead, Puzzle for Two goes all in on the stereotype of having the bi dude being portrayed as a sexually depraved pervert. Woah, wait a minute... that’s worse, actually! Now, I can’t speak to whether or not any of this uncomfortableness is intentional, but I can speak to my personal opinion, and seeing as there was already all that offensive stuff in this author’s very popular book, Somebody Killed His Editor (page 124), I’m not exactly inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. And much in the way that these mysteries all feel like the same story over and over and over again, I think an unfortunate thing about a lot of them is that I can’t help but feel like there’s a lack of diversity.
Sure, this is an LGBT+ book, there's no doubt about it and I think that’s great, I really do, and yet I still can’t help but feel like there’s a heavy “yeah, I’m gay, but I’m thankfully not one of those gays” vibe to this whole book that really rubbed me the wrong way. Basically a big plot point revolves around the rich dude I mentioned up there being into men wearing panties, and then everybody reacting like that’s the most morally reprehensible thing a person could do or want to do. Granted, the narrative tries to be somewhat sensitive to different kinks or whatever, but I couldn’t help but feel like there was an underlying judgement, you know? Come on now, the only “creep” character in the entire story is not only the only bisexual character, but also the only person who’s into something a little different in the bedroom? Kind of sus, if you ask me. I'll just say this, the main couple can have their little wholesome sex scenes, but we all know that the world has too many freaks, so move aside vanilla boy. But enough of my personal hang-ups, let’s look at this bad boy objectively™! Oh fuck… I still dislike it. Damn. Because even if I were to ignore all the stuff I found mildly offensive, I'm realizing that just didn’t like any of the characters, regardless. Drat! It didn’t help that at every little hitch in the road, Zach would always immediately be like, “Oo~oh boohoo, we should call the cops! This is a job for the proper authorities!!! I don't want to solve this mystery even though I gave up my future job as an accountant to try to become a Private Eye! I'm a loser and I have no natural curiosity despite being the main character in a fucking mystery novel!!” and I’m sorry, but is it too much to ask for a main character in a detective novel to not be such a fucking nark!? Go investigate, investigator! Otherwise, it's a recurring theme, but like all the others, I didn't like the romance between Zach and Flint. I think my thing is that I’ve always hated the fact that relationships in Josh Lanyon books are never based on respect and companionship, but rather infantilization and exasperation, which pairs poorly with the fact that none of the characters ever feel younger than middle aged men pretending like they're in their late twenties. So yeah, I know what you're thinking, why does this dude keep reading books from an author that he finds both offensive and trite? And you know what, you're right. I'll stop reading Josh Lanyon books from here on out! New year, new me! I mean, unless she just fully embraces writing full-on old man yaoi... then I'll be seated, but yeah, that's enough.
“It was just a thought.”
“Well, keep thinking.”
You’ve got to hand it to Josh Lanyon, it’s not every day when you can get away with writing the same book a hundred times over, with only a few differing details to make things seem fresh. That takes talent and that's pretty cool. Hey! Does anybody remember that one Twilight Zone episode where some dude is in a living nightmare where he’s on death row about to be executed and when he “dies” he wakes up right back at the start of the same nightmare, the only differences being that the “characters” in the dream have shifted around? I think we all remember that gnarly episode! The reason why I bring it up is that it's also the best representation of what it’s like to read a bunch of Josh Lanyon books in a row. Hm, is this shade? I honestly don’t know, because even though I have to admit to growing increasingly tired of this author’s work, it still doesn't feel right to say that I hated Puzzle for Two, even though I kind of did. It's like something is holding me back, isn’t that wild? I'm a little sad because I got a bunch of those Secrets & Scrabble books for my birthday a while back, so I still have fond memories of her books. My first gay mysteries! Ahhh, the nostalgia. But if I were honest, reading this book was like watching Marvel’s little “What If” show, because they never do anything interesting with it like, “what if Bucky were throwing it back for Captain American while they were hiding out in Wakanda?” and instead do a bunch of dumb, inconsequential stuff like “What if Thanos was blue?” or “What if Iron Man was wearing earrings during his famous coming out press conference?” Sorry, I know I’m coming in red hot and it might seem like I’m still holding a grudge against this author because of the racist stuff she put in her very famous book Somebody Killed His Editor where the line “Her eyes bulged – which is really not that easy with Asian eyes.” was uttered by the main character, but I do objectively think I’m just getting tired of reading her books. Stop me if this sounds familiar, but Puzzle for Two is all about a thirty-something guy named Zach who’s trying to make it as a modern day private detective (for reasons unknown) and gets hired by some rich fuck (think Neil Patrick Harris in Gone Girl) who hires him to be his pretend boyfriend and help sus out the person who’s maybe trying to kill him. Along the way, Zach soon realizes he probably needs the help of somebody who actually knows what he’s doing, and thus Flint, the hard ass love-interest, enters the picture.
It’s funny, because if you blank out a few parts, then this description could actually apply to most of these kinds of mysteries. Don’t believe me? Don’t worry, I’ll tally it up. Secrets & Scrabble is about a thirty-something with dry wit paired against hard ass love-interest, Murder Takes the High Road is about a thirty-something with dry wit paired against hard ass love-interest, The Boy Next Door is about... yup, you guessed it... a thirty-something with dry wit paired against a hard ass love-interest! And me? I’m the damn fool that read them. It's a bit sad because even though I'm all "'Cause the loving ain't the same, and you keep on playing games like you know I'm here to stay" right now, if I had read this book even a couple years ago, I might have thought it would have been this super transgressive piece of work! But now that it's become so oversaturated to the point where I can basically predict the way all of these things will go from the outset, I think I’m mostly over it. "Just like the Calgon commercial, I really gotta get up outta here and go somewhere." So… I’ve just been spending this entire review driving in the same point, saying the same thing over and over again like I’m the one writing Josh Lanyon's next mystery, but let me try to specify what exactly it was that I found so irksome about this book. Getting to the bottom of my issues and cracking the case... heh heh... if you will. First of all, I will give props to this book for finally breaking the curse by realizing that a bisexual character actually can exist outside of being the presumed “straight love-interest” and can be used as something other than a misdirection for the gay protagonist to ponder about their sexuality. Isn’t that nice? You’ve got to celebrate the small wins, I suppose. The only problem is that instead, Puzzle for Two goes all in on the stereotype of having the bi dude being portrayed as a sexually depraved pervert. Woah, wait a minute... that’s worse, actually! Now, I can’t speak to whether or not any of this uncomfortableness is intentional, but I can speak to my personal opinion, and seeing as there was already all that offensive stuff in this author’s very popular book, Somebody Killed His Editor (page 124), I’m not exactly inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. And much in the way that these mysteries all feel like the same story over and over and over again, I think an unfortunate thing about a lot of them is that I can’t help but feel like there’s a lack of diversity.
Sure, this is an LGBT+ book, there's no doubt about it and I think that’s great, I really do, and yet I still can’t help but feel like there’s a heavy “yeah, I’m gay, but I’m thankfully not one of those gays” vibe to this whole book that really rubbed me the wrong way. Basically a big plot point revolves around the rich dude I mentioned up there being into men wearing panties, and then everybody reacting like that’s the most morally reprehensible thing a person could do or want to do. Granted, the narrative tries to be somewhat sensitive to different kinks or whatever, but I couldn’t help but feel like there was an underlying judgement, you know? Come on now, the only “creep” character in the entire story is not only the only bisexual character, but also the only person who’s into something a little different in the bedroom? Kind of sus, if you ask me. I'll just say this, the main couple can have their little wholesome sex scenes, but we all know that the world has too many freaks, so move aside vanilla boy. But enough of my personal hang-ups, let’s look at this bad boy objectively™! Oh fuck… I still dislike it. Damn. Because even if I were to ignore all the stuff I found mildly offensive, I'm realizing that just didn’t like any of the characters, regardless. Drat! It didn’t help that at every little hitch in the road, Zach would always immediately be like, “Oo~oh boohoo, we should call the cops! This is a job for the proper authorities!!! I don't want to solve this mystery even though I gave up my future job as an accountant to try to become a Private Eye! I'm a loser and I have no natural curiosity despite being the main character in a fucking mystery novel!!” and I’m sorry, but is it too much to ask for a main character in a detective novel to not be such a fucking nark!? Go investigate, investigator! Otherwise, it's a recurring theme, but like all the others, I didn't like the romance between Zach and Flint. I think my thing is that I’ve always hated the fact that relationships in Josh Lanyon books are never based on respect and companionship, but rather infantilization and exasperation, which pairs poorly with the fact that none of the characters ever feel younger than middle aged men pretending like they're in their late twenties. So yeah, I know what you're thinking, why does this dude keep reading books from an author that he finds both offensive and trite? And you know what, you're right. I'll stop reading Josh Lanyon books from here on out! New year, new me! I mean, unless she just fully embraces writing full-on old man yaoi... then I'll be seated, but yeah, that's enough.
“It was just a thought.”
“Well, keep thinking.”
February 3, 2024
It's not a trap if you know it's a trap.Isn't it? I highly recommend that everyone goes into this book without reading the blurb. Therefore my review will be solely about vibes and impressions and our main character, Zachariah.
It's been a while since I finished a book in one sitting. I think the last time I did was probably 2018. But so compelling was this mystery that I had to stare at my work computer and my e-book and decided to focus on Zachariah's problems instead of mine.
Zachariah is a newly minted private investigator who inherited his father's investigative firm to the objections of everyone. But for Zach, this feels like what the heart wants. And when you feel your heart burning and yearning, you should probably take some antacids and once you've ensured you're not suffering from reflux but conviction, move on with your plans.
The story kicks off with Zach receiving an eccentric job that leads him on a wild goose chase around his state. Car chases, break ins and bush tumbles ensue. And the cat, Mr Bigglesworth steals the show every time he's on page. Zach is running the business with his sister Brooke who is a vivacious gen Z completely alien to Zach's oblivious and sweet heart,
Brooke was an inveterate People magazine reader. She also claimed to be Army, whatever the hell that was, and seemed to communicate with her comrades almost solely through hashtags and gifs. Which was just one reason why Zach was secretly dubious about Pop's plans for her to become a human-resources manager. He wasn't convinced she was entirely human. Surely somewhere in outer space an alien civilization was scouring the volcanic plans for one of their Army?Josh can still make me bust a lung.
One thing I really really loved about this book is that it harkened back to the old detective stories where sleuthing was the name of the game. There are also Lanyonisms like eccentric neighbours, emotional angst, comedic hijinks and a final showdown that took place over multiple pages... Everything I had hoped for. This book is a great puzzle for one. I had the murderer pegged wrong until Zach and his sleuthing partners figured it out. If you heed one thing, please go into this book completely unaware.
This book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 1, 2023
This was pretty much a typical story from this author, featuring a professional who knows what he is doing and an amateur who doesn't know what he is doing. Plus one slimy character (Alton) and a crazy ex.
I have to say that Zach's naivety annoyed me in the beginning, but the story got better when he and Flint started working together and Zach's sister got more page time. I really liked her.
The mystery was fine, interesting enough to keep me reading. I did find it a bit thin and silly – especially
The romance was also typical Josh Lanyon, just on the lighter side. There was not that much development here, but I enjoyed it and I liked how things turned out for them in the end – on professional level, too.
I have to say that Zach's naivety annoyed me in the beginning, but the story got better when he and Flint started working together and Zach's sister got more page time. I really liked her.
The mystery was fine, interesting enough to keep me reading. I did find it a bit thin and silly – especially
The romance was also typical Josh Lanyon, just on the lighter side. There was not that much development here, but I enjoyed it and I liked how things turned out for them in the end – on professional level, too.
June 1, 2023
Nothing new or fresh from his author. The same style , the same type of plot/mystery and as always light on romance (and what a shame because I loved both MCs) and heavy on mystery. Unfortunately the mystery here wasn’t that good either.I feel like this author always throws a lukewarm romance in there to bait the romance lovers but in reality she would rather write strictly murder/mystery books. I kept waiting for her to deliver a book with a romance as satisfying as the mysteries but it never happens. She tried with Adrian English and All’s fair series and she got close but it could be better. Sadly I throw the towel after this one.
Read
May 26, 2023Two can play at this game!
Fledging PI Zachariah Davies’s wealthy and eccentric client, toymaker Alton Beacher, wants to hire an investigator who can pose as his boyfriend while figuring out who is behind the recent attempts on his life. And Zach, struggling to save the business his father built, is just desperate enough to set aside his misgivings and take the job.
But it doesn’t take long to realize all is not as it seems—and given that it all seems pretty weird, that’s saying something. The only person Zach can turn to for help is equally struggling, equally desperate, but a whole lot more experienced rival PI Flint Carey.
Former Marine Flint has been waiting for Zach to throw in the towel and sell whatever’s left of the Davies Detective Agency to him. But when the game, but inexperienced accountant-turned-shamus turns to him for help, Flint finds himself unwilling—or maybe unable—to say no.
Fledging PI Zachariah Davies’s wealthy and eccentric client, toymaker Alton Beacher, wants to hire an investigator who can pose as his boyfriend while figuring out who is behind the recent attempts on his life. And Zach, struggling to save the business his father built, is just desperate enough to set aside his misgivings and take the job.
But it doesn’t take long to realize all is not as it seems—and given that it all seems pretty weird, that’s saying something. The only person Zach can turn to for help is equally struggling, equally desperate, but a whole lot more experienced rival PI Flint Carey.
Former Marine Flint has been waiting for Zach to throw in the towel and sell whatever’s left of the Davies Detective Agency to him. But when the game, but inexperienced accountant-turned-shamus turns to him for help, Flint finds himself unwilling—or maybe unable—to say no.
June 2, 2023
2.5 stars
I don't know if Lanyon will ever deliver epic mystery romance like years before 🤷🏻♀️. This is another so-so read for me.
Zach is naive bordering on clueless about his client. Flynn's attitude is not charming (bordering on rude). I am not exactly rooting for these two to be together. And the answer to the puzzling death of the client felt unfinished 🙁
The only character I adore is Zach's sister. She's awesome
I don't know if Lanyon will ever deliver epic mystery romance like years before 🤷🏻♀️. This is another so-so read for me.
Zach is naive bordering on clueless about his client. Flynn's attitude is not charming (bordering on rude). I am not exactly rooting for these two to be together. And the answer to the puzzling death of the client felt unfinished 🙁
The only character I adore is Zach's sister. She's awesome
October 1, 2024
Meh. This didn't exactly get the blood pumping. It's especially tepid on the romance front. Lanyon never writes bad enough to rate a 2, but for those disillusioned with her of late, this won't help change your mind.
June 17, 2023
This was lovely! I devoured "Puzzle for Two" in less than a day. It was gripping and clever and witty, and what I have come to expect from Josh Lanyon's brilliant writing.
These murder mystery standalones she writes are an utter delight: I do love a series, don't get me wrong, but these kinds of stories, quick and twisty with a smidge of romance, are the reason why this genre has become a comfort to me. I absolutely love them, and I absolutely love Josh Lanyon's in particular.
The murder mystery at the centre of this standalone is, at first glance, fairly straightforward; but, as Zach, our fledgling PI, soon discovers, the case the reader is thrown into is anything but simple. Needless to say, I loved it! It was creepy and clever and a bit crazy but I absolutely adored every single aspect.
And I also adored Zach, our lead.
He's a quintessential Josh Lanyon protagonist: he means well and he snoops even better, but he sure is a bit of stubborn idiot at times. Thankfully he has Flint, his rival PI turned love interest, who was an absolute delight of a character. He and Zach have incredible chemistry and I loved their (albeit secondary) romance to bits!!!! It had a bit of enemies to lovers and oblivious pining from afar, and it was packed with banter and affection and ugh, it was just lovely.
The side characters were vividly characterized, from sassy Brooke to toxic Ben and all the slightly unhinged, villainous rich people Zach and Flint's case was centred on.
I had such a fun time with this novel and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
These murder mystery standalones she writes are an utter delight: I do love a series, don't get me wrong, but these kinds of stories, quick and twisty with a smidge of romance, are the reason why this genre has become a comfort to me. I absolutely love them, and I absolutely love Josh Lanyon's in particular.
The murder mystery at the centre of this standalone is, at first glance, fairly straightforward; but, as Zach, our fledgling PI, soon discovers, the case the reader is thrown into is anything but simple. Needless to say, I loved it! It was creepy and clever and a bit crazy but I absolutely adored every single aspect.
And I also adored Zach, our lead.
He's a quintessential Josh Lanyon protagonist: he means well and he snoops even better, but he sure is a bit of stubborn idiot at times. Thankfully he has Flint, his rival PI turned love interest, who was an absolute delight of a character. He and Zach have incredible chemistry and I loved their (albeit secondary) romance to bits!!!! It had a bit of enemies to lovers and oblivious pining from afar, and it was packed with banter and affection and ugh, it was just lovely.
The side characters were vividly characterized, from sassy Brooke to toxic Ben and all the slightly unhinged, villainous rich people Zach and Flint's case was centred on.
I had such a fun time with this novel and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2023
3.5 stars
July 27, 2023
Puzzle for Two gives us an improbable case ("Possibly the whole pretend-t0-be-my boyfriend to decoy my maybe suicidal wife thing?") with Zach, a young PI resolved to keep his father's PI agency afloat while fending off creditors as well as his competitor ex-Marine Flint Carey who is determined to buy him out. Never mind that Zach might be a bit too inexperienced, the case stinks to high heaven, and his client is ... unsettling, the $12,000 fee alleviates a lot of Zach's qualms, for now.
In reading this PI murder mystery, I'm again struck by how beautifully Lanyon creates character. It's in the turn of a phrase, a succinct description, a pause. One really gets a sense of each of the characters here - untried but determined Zach, the unnerving client Alton Beacher, Zach's delightfully quirky sister Brooke with her mad researching skills, Zach's obsessive ex Ben. And Flint Carey is at first defined by Zach's (misguided) perception of him and the way that perception changes bit by bit is a delightfully slow burn.
I really liked the interplay of all these distinct characters and how the murder / mystery works so well as a classic detective story. And here's hoping that Lanyon decides to continue this series! 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.'
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
In reading this PI murder mystery, I'm again struck by how beautifully Lanyon creates character. It's in the turn of a phrase, a succinct description, a pause. One really gets a sense of each of the characters here - untried but determined Zach, the unnerving client Alton Beacher, Zach's delightfully quirky sister Brooke with her mad researching skills, Zach's obsessive ex Ben. And Flint Carey is at first defined by Zach's (misguided) perception of him and the way that perception changes bit by bit is a delightfully slow burn.
I really liked the interplay of all these distinct characters and how the murder / mystery works so well as a classic detective story. And here's hoping that Lanyon decides to continue this series! 4 stars.
I received an ARC from the author, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.'
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
August 18, 2023
This was ok, not the best mystery. It was kind of uneventful. Zach was not the strongest main character and he wasn’t cut out to be a PI, even by the end of the book. Flint was the stronger of the two and I think a book with them working together in the future would be interesting.
August 10, 2023
Overall book rating: 3.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Enjoyable short read.
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3
Enjoyable short read.
June 3, 2023
Bi(pan) Erasure from one of my favourite authors and it really hurts.
Alton is married to a woman, and having affairs with men. There is *nothing* in the story to suggest that Alton was always a gay man in the closet who married his wife for cover.
(At least by halfway through the book, where I’ve stopped to write this review to get the hurt off my chest in the hopes I can even face finishing this book).
Yet Zach constantly refers to Alton as gay.
Gay.
As someone involved as a volunteer during the AIDS crisis, who held young gay men as they cried on my shoulder because their families had thrown them out on the street, someone who was found-family to several gay men, there for all their celebrations and milestones… and then discovered they - all of them - were just as viciously prejudiced against bisexuals as many straight people were against gays and lesbians in the 1980’s and 1990’s, having one of your most reread, favourite authors participate in bi erasure has left me feeling stabbed through the heart.
(Pansexual was a word I first heard in 2017, I’m sticking to bi for simplicities sake because “pansexual” didn’t exist for the first several decades of my life, when bi hate and bi erasure is relevant.)
I can’t express how shocking the hypocrisy is from homosexuals who think bisexuals are either lying about their sexuality, or think they are gross and will tell everyone how gross they think bisexuals are.
In my twenties I slammed my closet door hard shut again in the face of this hypocritical hatred. And I can’t believe I’m getting erasure - just as nasty and insidious a form of hatred as active discrimination - from an author who is a bastion of queer literature.
I bought this book with one click, without reading a sample, an act of trust I’ve learned to give few authors, because liking one of an author’s books often doesn’t translate into liking all their books. I was truly looking forward to a new favourite book.
And I feel betrayed. I wish I could feel angry on behalf of every bi and pan person who has endured hate and erasure from both straight and homosexual people, both ends of the sexuality spectrum attacking the middle. But I’m not angry. I’m just in pain from heartbreak.
Alton is married to a woman, and having affairs with men. There is *nothing* in the story to suggest that Alton was always a gay man in the closet who married his wife for cover.
(At least by halfway through the book, where I’ve stopped to write this review to get the hurt off my chest in the hopes I can even face finishing this book).
Yet Zach constantly refers to Alton as gay.
Gay.
As someone involved as a volunteer during the AIDS crisis, who held young gay men as they cried on my shoulder because their families had thrown them out on the street, someone who was found-family to several gay men, there for all their celebrations and milestones… and then discovered they - all of them - were just as viciously prejudiced against bisexuals as many straight people were against gays and lesbians in the 1980’s and 1990’s, having one of your most reread, favourite authors participate in bi erasure has left me feeling stabbed through the heart.
(Pansexual was a word I first heard in 2017, I’m sticking to bi for simplicities sake because “pansexual” didn’t exist for the first several decades of my life, when bi hate and bi erasure is relevant.)
I can’t express how shocking the hypocrisy is from homosexuals who think bisexuals are either lying about their sexuality, or think they are gross and will tell everyone how gross they think bisexuals are.
In my twenties I slammed my closet door hard shut again in the face of this hypocritical hatred. And I can’t believe I’m getting erasure - just as nasty and insidious a form of hatred as active discrimination - from an author who is a bastion of queer literature.
I bought this book with one click, without reading a sample, an act of trust I’ve learned to give few authors, because liking one of an author’s books often doesn’t translate into liking all their books. I was truly looking forward to a new favourite book.
And I feel betrayed. I wish I could feel angry on behalf of every bi and pan person who has endured hate and erasure from both straight and homosexual people, both ends of the sexuality spectrum attacking the middle. But I’m not angry. I’m just in pain from heartbreak.
August 6, 2023
This was a solid written mystery with a side of romance. The main MC has inherited a private detective agency from his father and he's struggling to keep it afloat. As a result, he takes a case he knows he shouldn't because he desperately needs the money. He ends up hiring his PI nemesis to assist him on the case and adventure ensue.
I wish the story would have been a bit longer and more detailed in places. There were things that bugged me that are not answered and it effected my overall enjoyment. I wasn't sure I bought the insta love of the romance but they were nice together and I thought the sex scenes were really well done. I don't usually mention those in my reviews because I don't really care one way or the other if they're fade to black or graphic etc. These were just really lovely. Just enough detail and lots of emotions. A good example of how a couple connecting or bonding can be done without all of the graphic bow chicka wow wow stuff.
*ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
I wish the story would have been a bit longer and more detailed in places. There were things that bugged me that are not answered and it effected my overall enjoyment. I wasn't sure I bought the insta love of the romance but they were nice together and I thought the sex scenes were really well done. I don't usually mention those in my reviews because I don't really care one way or the other if they're fade to black or graphic etc. These were just really lovely. Just enough detail and lots of emotions. A good example of how a couple connecting or bonding can be done without all of the graphic bow chicka wow wow stuff.
*ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
May 31, 2023
Another hit by Josh Lanyon. I am a Patreon member, but I have to be able to read a book start to finish right away. I am not a patient person when it comes to my reading. That said, I knew with every chapter released that Josh would release it in its entirety once she completed the story. I was so excited when i saw it’s release! I read it in one day.
I love Zach and Flint. I would love to see more of them in the future.
I love Zach and Flint. I would love to see more of them in the future.
November 3, 2023
A decent mystery / whodunnit with two likeable MCs - I liked this more than I had expected. 3.5 stars
April 27, 2025
Rounded up. My initially excitement, and then disappointment, was this wacky premise of creepy threats being sent to his client in the form of old spooky toys, and the client wanting him to investigate under the guise of fake dating. It sounded wackier and more creative than I had expected, and I was excited to see both of those elements play out.
Unfortunately, while the fake dating front did ultimately progress the plot by people assuming our MC’s connection to his client, we only got a couple fake date scenes and we never saw spooky toy threats again. I was really hoping for a weird Jack-in-the-box or something to ominously pop up and keep that odd entertaining energy up.
I had fun this, and it’s been a while since I’ve done any Josh Lanyon so a lighter mystery with a side of romance absolutely hit the spot. It’s a bit predictable as other reviews have mentioned, so I’m glad I waited to be in the mood for it; it’s not as unique as I’d hoped it would be. It checked all the boxes I expected it to for a JL standalone but didn’t do anything new.
I liked the two main characters quite a bit so I wished it got a bit more in depth. I borrowed this on Hoopla but could see being more likely to round down if I had spent $15-20 on the audio.
Unfortunately, while the fake dating front did ultimately progress the plot by people assuming our MC’s connection to his client, we only got a couple fake date scenes and we never saw spooky toy threats again. I was really hoping for a weird Jack-in-the-box or something to ominously pop up and keep that odd entertaining energy up.
I had fun this, and it’s been a while since I’ve done any Josh Lanyon so a lighter mystery with a side of romance absolutely hit the spot. It’s a bit predictable as other reviews have mentioned, so I’m glad I waited to be in the mood for it; it’s not as unique as I’d hoped it would be. It checked all the boxes I expected it to for a JL standalone but didn’t do anything new.
I liked the two main characters quite a bit so I wished it got a bit more in depth. I borrowed this on Hoopla but could see being more likely to round down if I had spent $15-20 on the audio.
July 12, 2023
Accountant turned PI, Zachariah Davies is struggling to keep their family business afloat. But things are looking up, they have a well paying client, toymaker Alton Beacher.
Zach feels strongly that Alton is not revealing everything. He just wants Zach to post as his boyfriend, so he can snoop around and find out who is sending Alton dead threats.
But it seems that straight married Alton is gay and has not really divulged this to Zach, and Alton wants to steer this fake relationship into reality. Feeling a bit anxious, Zach hires his rival PI Flint Carey to have his back.
But Flint too has his own ulterior motives to lend a helping hand, motives Zach is welcoming.
When Alton turns up dead, trying to find out who is responsible could turn deadly for Zach and Flint.
August 23, 2024
I see why this one is less beloved by the author's fans. Zach is 'too' nice, even to terrible people like his ex who doesn't want to be done. Flint was fun, Brooke was great. The client and the whole mystery had some creepy elements. I did not guess whodunit, not that I care particularly if I enjoy the story. I did enjoy it, so it's a solid four stars for me.
dnf
October 17, 2023DNF 22%
Read about a quarter of the book and then I put it down. That was back in the first week or so of June 2023... I found it quite boring. Thought I'd pick it up sometime. Never did. 😢
Read about a quarter of the book and then I put it down. That was back in the first week or so of June 2023... I found it quite boring. Thought I'd pick it up sometime. Never did. 😢
June 2, 2023
Rounded up.
This was a perfectly fine mystery novel , the plot and characters were interesting enough albeit lacking a little in depth.
If you have read Josh Lanyon before then you know exactly what’s in store for you with this one as it’s very comparable with many of their other books.
This was a perfectly fine mystery novel , the plot and characters were interesting enough albeit lacking a little in depth.
If you have read Josh Lanyon before then you know exactly what’s in store for you with this one as it’s very comparable with many of their other books.
June 6, 2023
I was originally going to rate this book a 4.5 starts. I absolutely adore Josh Lanyon and her storytelling. However. What left me really disappointed was the love story between our two MCs. This doesn't take anything away from my love for Josh Lanyon, I just hope to see more of her older romance style in future books.
June 5, 2023
Cute.
I love idiots being in love together
I love idiots being in love together
December 29, 2025
Another winner for me.
Loved the mystery with this one. As usual it kept me guessing.
Loved Flint and Zach even though the romance was very light.
Loved that the female was not a bossy know it all bitch.
Loved the mystery with this one. As usual it kept me guessing.
Loved Flint and Zach even though the romance was very light.
Loved that the female was not a bossy know it all bitch.
Read
March 26, 2024DNF due to pettiness.
Naming a young woman Mary Anne Spenser made my eyes roll and had me double checking what year the book took place (present day as it turns out, where no one under 60 is named Mary Anne) and I was willing to put up with ‘Flint Carey’ (why not Carey Flint??) but when ‘Pepper Martini’ showed up I was done.
I’m not usually hung up on character names but no one outside of a Bond movie or a Nancy Drew mystery is named Pepper Martini. And don’t even get me started on the protagonist ‘Alton Beacher’. Ugh.
Like I said, petty. But I own it and I’m sticking by it.
Naming a young woman Mary Anne Spenser made my eyes roll and had me double checking what year the book took place (present day as it turns out, where no one under 60 is named Mary Anne) and I was willing to put up with ‘Flint Carey’ (why not Carey Flint??) but when ‘Pepper Martini’ showed up I was done.
I’m not usually hung up on character names but no one outside of a Bond movie or a Nancy Drew mystery is named Pepper Martini. And don’t even get me started on the protagonist ‘Alton Beacher’. Ugh.
Like I said, petty. But I own it and I’m sticking by it.
August 6, 2023
I'm always perplexed by reviews on Josh Lanyon novels. The comments seem to always be:
1- the Adrien English novels were better
2- the characters are too much like the Adrien English series.
3- it has no romance
1a- I don't think they were better. People are attached to the characters. This happens with any author who writes another series after one that resonated with people. It's a diffrent series. It has similar themes but it's a clearly a different series. I get it. It sucks when a series you love ends but that doesn't mean you should not appreciate the new series for what it is. It's like comparing your new boyfriend to your ex boyfriend.
2a- Josh Lanyon has a pretty clear love of American film noir and early post Hays Code film, particularly mysteries. Her works often feature themes that can be found in those movies, ie difficult, problematic, murky love etc. These films feature archetypes and Lanyon writes as if a 1940's crime film was "real life." It's what she writes about. It's like telling John Huston that since he directed "The Maltese Falcon" he should not have made anything else with similar characters and themes. So basically he should have never made another movie.
3a- they are romances but they are "real life" American film noir style romances. Lanyon is not writing "Sleepless in Seattle" romances. It's a different kind of love and situation. It does mean the characters don't have love for one another. It doesn't mean they are not in love with one another. It's just not the kind of love that makes them stand outside of someone's bedroom window with a boom box.
American film noir love (through the lense of Lanyon writing it as real life in a fictional world) is more like, after you send someone to jail you buy your partner good Chinese takeout, eat it on the sofa, and later in the evening, after sex, your partner hands you a cigarette and lights it for you and you know they really love you because they had been too hurt/ emotionally stunted to have more than a one night stand in a 2 star motel since their lover was killed. So like, Chinese and being in their actual BED is a big freaking deal. OR the kind of love where you were shot and your partner stays by your bed for five days but as soon as you wake they leave and not tell you they were by your bedside bc they are scared to love.
This newest book plays with American film noir theams. Alton, the toy maker reminds me of Plato from rebel without a cause mixed with a Roger Moore era camp villain.
The wife is very Zelda Fitzgerald and she should have her own book.
Flint. He's a complex one who hopefully will get more "screentime" in a second book where he expands in himself. He seems self aware and complex but not in the kind of way that makes you want to beat your head against the wall.
Zack is pretty dead on for many of us millennials who feel adrift. Like adulting and finding your place is hard. It's even more difficult when you are negotiating loss and fear.
As far as the reviews that say this book has no romance, I don't even know what to say to that. This has several incredibly cute (and conventionally cute) scenes. It also is a romance that actually seems, dare I say it, healthy, with actual adult communication AND people being self aware.
It's a good read. The mystery is good. I did not figure it out but, it was also a logical conclusion and not too random. I hate when I read a mystery and the outcome is a super WTF and I can't help but scream "oh come on?!?" At my book. The mystery also did not become too kitch. Lanyon makes amazing worlds. This one has some fantastical images (an amusement park/ carnival setting) but is not as excentric as the Scrabbles series. I love the Scrabbles series, but sometimes I want something less esoteric.
Hopefully Josh will write several more books.
1- the Adrien English novels were better
2- the characters are too much like the Adrien English series.
3- it has no romance
1a- I don't think they were better. People are attached to the characters. This happens with any author who writes another series after one that resonated with people. It's a diffrent series. It has similar themes but it's a clearly a different series. I get it. It sucks when a series you love ends but that doesn't mean you should not appreciate the new series for what it is. It's like comparing your new boyfriend to your ex boyfriend.
2a- Josh Lanyon has a pretty clear love of American film noir and early post Hays Code film, particularly mysteries. Her works often feature themes that can be found in those movies, ie difficult, problematic, murky love etc. These films feature archetypes and Lanyon writes as if a 1940's crime film was "real life." It's what she writes about. It's like telling John Huston that since he directed "The Maltese Falcon" he should not have made anything else with similar characters and themes. So basically he should have never made another movie.
3a- they are romances but they are "real life" American film noir style romances. Lanyon is not writing "Sleepless in Seattle" romances. It's a different kind of love and situation. It does mean the characters don't have love for one another. It doesn't mean they are not in love with one another. It's just not the kind of love that makes them stand outside of someone's bedroom window with a boom box.
American film noir love (through the lense of Lanyon writing it as real life in a fictional world) is more like, after you send someone to jail you buy your partner good Chinese takeout, eat it on the sofa, and later in the evening, after sex, your partner hands you a cigarette and lights it for you and you know they really love you because they had been too hurt/ emotionally stunted to have more than a one night stand in a 2 star motel since their lover was killed. So like, Chinese and being in their actual BED is a big freaking deal. OR the kind of love where you were shot and your partner stays by your bed for five days but as soon as you wake they leave and not tell you they were by your bedside bc they are scared to love.
This newest book plays with American film noir theams. Alton, the toy maker reminds me of Plato from rebel without a cause mixed with a Roger Moore era camp villain.
The wife is very Zelda Fitzgerald and she should have her own book.
Flint. He's a complex one who hopefully will get more "screentime" in a second book where he expands in himself. He seems self aware and complex but not in the kind of way that makes you want to beat your head against the wall.
Zack is pretty dead on for many of us millennials who feel adrift. Like adulting and finding your place is hard. It's even more difficult when you are negotiating loss and fear.
As far as the reviews that say this book has no romance, I don't even know what to say to that. This has several incredibly cute (and conventionally cute) scenes. It also is a romance that actually seems, dare I say it, healthy, with actual adult communication AND people being self aware.
It's a good read. The mystery is good. I did not figure it out but, it was also a logical conclusion and not too random. I hate when I read a mystery and the outcome is a super WTF and I can't help but scream "oh come on?!?" At my book. The mystery also did not become too kitch. Lanyon makes amazing worlds. This one has some fantastical images (an amusement park/ carnival setting) but is not as excentric as the Scrabbles series. I love the Scrabbles series, but sometimes I want something less esoteric.
Hopefully Josh will write several more books.
August 27, 2023
NOT ALL ENTHRALLING, BUT AN O.K. LIGHT SUMMER READ
Josh Lanyon is a prolific producer of male/male mystery romances with more than sixty books to his credit. She's also received recognition for her efforts from various literary organizations.
This one, Puzzle for Two, I thought used stock characters recognizable in a multitude of similar stories in these two genres with a plot that was just interesting enough for me to keep reading. Two gay P.I.s who have their storefront operations on opposite ends of a strip mall (really, what are the odds?) and dislike one another (of course they do), are brought together by circumstances to solve a murder. What happens? I'm sure you can guess.
While there were a few surprising twists in the plot, at other times I thought it was a bit of a reach for the two P.I.s to reach the conclusions they came to within the circumstances Lanyon provides.
All the characters are very two-dimensional, the "white hats" versus the "black hats," but sometimes the characters' banter was entertaining.
As to romance, it too was sweet yet predictable. Trouble abounds, but somehow, the two men manage to persevere and then celebrate, finally, with expressions of passion for each other. I did like that Lanyon left us to imagine the sex instead of giving us a "blow by blow" (pun intended) description of what they did in bed.
Is this a great book in the lexicon of gay romance or murder mystery? No, but it was never intended to be that. It was written as an entertaining light summer read about two P.I.s solving a "who-done-it" and falling in love in the process. That it adequately does.
Josh Lanyon is a prolific producer of male/male mystery romances with more than sixty books to his credit. She's also received recognition for her efforts from various literary organizations.
This one, Puzzle for Two, I thought used stock characters recognizable in a multitude of similar stories in these two genres with a plot that was just interesting enough for me to keep reading. Two gay P.I.s who have their storefront operations on opposite ends of a strip mall (really, what are the odds?) and dislike one another (of course they do), are brought together by circumstances to solve a murder. What happens? I'm sure you can guess.
While there were a few surprising twists in the plot, at other times I thought it was a bit of a reach for the two P.I.s to reach the conclusions they came to within the circumstances Lanyon provides.
All the characters are very two-dimensional, the "white hats" versus the "black hats," but sometimes the characters' banter was entertaining.
As to romance, it too was sweet yet predictable. Trouble abounds, but somehow, the two men manage to persevere and then celebrate, finally, with expressions of passion for each other. I did like that Lanyon left us to imagine the sex instead of giving us a "blow by blow" (pun intended) description of what they did in bed.
Is this a great book in the lexicon of gay romance or murder mystery? No, but it was never intended to be that. It was written as an entertaining light summer read about two P.I.s solving a "who-done-it" and falling in love in the process. That it adequately does.
June 5, 2023
Neither the author’s best nor worst work. An entertaining mystery where as usual I didn’t pick whodunnit, in spite of a very small cast of characters. The leads were likeable but the cat was the stand out star.
July 24, 2023
I enjoy reading Josh Lanyon's mysteries and this was another good one. While I can't put it on the list of my favorites, it was very interesting and entertaining to read.
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion
June 15, 2023
Disappointed in this story. The love story was so so the MCs were ok but I didn't feel it between them and the mystery was definitely meh! Shame as I generally like Lanyon books.
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