What do you think?
Rate this book
Beyond the Veil #4
The Dog in the Alley
Some days, an elf can’t get a break.
I’m overworked, underpaid and underappreciated, and up to my lavender eyeballs in missing and murdered shifters. To make matters worse, I’ve acquired a dog.
Sort of.
He’s not actually a dog. I don’t know his name or anything about him other than the fact that he’s mostly hairless and is blind in one eye—and he’s a witness to one of the unsolved shifter murders that’s keeping me up at night. We found him at a crime scene, injured and scared, and I just can’t make myself lock him up for obstruction of justice, even though I probably should.
He won’t shift back, so here I am with a dog that isn’t a dog following me everywhere and eating off my plate every time I turn around.
The weirdest part is that I’m not sure I want to go back to living without him constantly underfoot.
I’m overworked, underpaid and underappreciated, and up to my lavender eyeballs in missing and murdered shifters. To make matters worse, I’ve acquired a dog.
Sort of.
He’s not actually a dog. I don’t know his name or anything about him other than the fact that he’s mostly hairless and is blind in one eye—and he’s a witness to one of the unsolved shifter murders that’s keeping me up at night. We found him at a crime scene, injured and scared, and I just can’t make myself lock him up for obstruction of justice, even though I probably should.
He won’t shift back, so here I am with a dog that isn’t a dog following me everywhere and eating off my plate every time I turn around.
The weirdest part is that I’m not sure I want to go back to living without him constantly underfoot.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2022
74 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
May 31, 2024
While I’m giving The Dog in the Alley 5 stars as compared to the 4 stars I gave to books one and three of this series, I wouldn’t say the writing or storytelling is necessarily any better, it’s just that this one is my favorite so far. I was utterly enchanted with the story, the storytelling and the characters.
Interestingly, given how enamored of this book I am, I would hardly consider it a romance. Yeah, Hart and Taavi form a close and lovely bond, their relationship is sweet and endearing but it’s not romantic. That worked for me, it fit the narrative and created an opportunity for a unique reading experience. It was, in fact, the antithesis of book 2 🤣
I’m always a big fan of stories that incorporate thoughtful, sensitive, timely sociopolitical statements and this was an element of why TDITA worked so well for me. I really appreciated the way Avery addressed the bigotry, racism, hate and corruption both within the police force as well as amongst the general population. It was kind of hard and heavy but feels so relevant and resonated very deeply.
The Dog in the Ally captured my heart completely! I can’t wait for Hart and Taavi’s story to continue!!!
5 enthusiastic stars! LOVED it!
Happy reading y’all! 😘💛
Edited to add May 31, 2024 from an update by K.M. Avery:
The Ghost in the Hall will be FREE from June 1-3 to kick off Pride Month!
Then The Boy in the Locked Room will be FREE from June 4-6!
And then The Skeleton Under the Stairs from June 7-9!
The Dog in the Alley June 10-12!
The Bones in the Yard June 13-15!
And The Elf Beside Himself June 16-18!
And to close out Pride Month, Threadbound, a stand-alone fae M/M romance, will be FREE June 28-30!
PS I LOVE this series and the stand-alone, Threadbound. If you haven’t checked out this author yet, June would be the perfect time to do so.
Interestingly, given how enamored of this book I am, I would hardly consider it a romance. Yeah, Hart and Taavi form a close and lovely bond, their relationship is sweet and endearing but it’s not romantic. That worked for me, it fit the narrative and created an opportunity for a unique reading experience. It was, in fact, the antithesis of book 2 🤣
I’m always a big fan of stories that incorporate thoughtful, sensitive, timely sociopolitical statements and this was an element of why TDITA worked so well for me. I really appreciated the way Avery addressed the bigotry, racism, hate and corruption both within the police force as well as amongst the general population. It was kind of hard and heavy but feels so relevant and resonated very deeply.
The Dog in the Ally captured my heart completely! I can’t wait for Hart and Taavi’s story to continue!!!
5 enthusiastic stars! LOVED it!
Happy reading y’all! 😘💛
Edited to add May 31, 2024 from an update by K.M. Avery:
The Ghost in the Hall will be FREE from June 1-3 to kick off Pride Month!
Then The Boy in the Locked Room will be FREE from June 4-6!
And then The Skeleton Under the Stairs from June 7-9!
The Dog in the Alley June 10-12!
The Bones in the Yard June 13-15!
And The Elf Beside Himself June 16-18!
And to close out Pride Month, Threadbound, a stand-alone fae M/M romance, will be FREE June 28-30!
PS I LOVE this series and the stand-alone, Threadbound. If you haven’t checked out this author yet, June would be the perfect time to do so.
April 15, 2023
4,5 stars
This is a heavy book with no romance- no heat till the very end, and it was freaking amazing. The case was complicated and interesting, the politics- social aspect sadly spot on, and Hart’s character is 3D and deep. I loved his humour, and a*hole status, his loneliness and devotion. I applaud to the author, this is a great book with some very important points about human nature.
This is a heavy book with no romance- no heat till the very end, and it was freaking amazing. The case was complicated and interesting, the politics- social aspect sadly spot on, and Hart’s character is 3D and deep. I loved his humour, and a*hole status, his loneliness and devotion. I applaud to the author, this is a great book with some very important points about human nature.
August 7, 2024
Kept me on the edge of my seat!
I could barely put this book down. I’ve been looking forward to Hart’s book, and this delivered! It’s definitely five stars for me based on writing and how much it sucked me in, though there were a few things that bothered me personally (waiting until 70% to do a very obvious thing, the political undertones that became more overtones, and the way Hart pushed away a character). I still loved it overall and still recommend the series, but be prepared for quite a lot of violence in this one as well as the aforementioned political undertones.
I could barely put this book down. I’ve been looking forward to Hart’s book, and this delivered! It’s definitely five stars for me based on writing and how much it sucked me in, though there were a few things that bothered me personally (waiting until 70% to do a very obvious thing, the political undertones that became more overtones, and the way Hart pushed away a character). I still loved it overall and still recommend the series, but be prepared for quite a lot of violence in this one as well as the aforementioned political undertones.
January 20, 2024
I had issues with it but overall it was entertaining and I'll try another of the series.
The verse is interesting, mask wearing and a virus that brings on the arcane.
The mystery solving could have been stronger, main character Hart spends more time going on about how pretty he is, how hated he is and what an arsehole he is, than showing basic competency or smarts. He doesn't read as forty-one!
There were very gory scenes then an influx of political groups and it was all a bit convoluted. I'm not convinced it made sense.
Several apects of the story reminded me strongly of other series.
Romance barely exists but as the love interest spends 98% of the book as a dog that's kinda a relief! It would have been nice to see him human sooner but as we don't I liked how it played out. Don't pick up expecting romance.
Niggle - what dispatcher took the call? Who chased that up?
It's flawed and I could get uber-critical, but overall there's some interesting characters and this verse has promise. It entertained me on a slothful day. If other characters/books show a different tone it could be worth a try.
The verse is interesting, mask wearing and a virus that brings on the arcane.
The mystery solving could have been stronger, main character Hart spends more time going on about how pretty he is, how hated he is and what an arsehole he is, than showing basic competency or smarts. He doesn't read as forty-one!
There were very gory scenes then an influx of political groups and it was all a bit convoluted. I'm not convinced it made sense.
Several apects of the story reminded me strongly of other series.
Romance barely exists but as the love interest spends 98% of the book as a dog that's kinda a relief! It would have been nice to see him human sooner but as we don't I liked how it played out. Don't pick up expecting romance.
Niggle - what dispatcher took the call? Who chased that up?
It's flawed and I could get uber-critical, but overall there's some interesting characters and this verse has promise. It entertained me on a slothful day. If other characters/books show a different tone it could be worth a try.
October 29, 2022
fav character, new beginnings
Rating: 4.5🌈
The Dog in the Alley switches over from focusing on the relationship between medium/warlock Edward Campion and his partner Dr Mason Manning, orc, witch and respected historian and Edward’s magical growth. That’s was the primary theme of books one to three.
Now the focus turns to Detective Valentine Hart a great character and personal favorite. Hart, an important element in all the prior stories, was changed by the Arcanavirus into a 6’5” violet eyed gorgeous elf who presents himself as a coldly effective, wry, snarky personality who barely tolerates the bureaucracy of the political system and police department he works within. He’s gruff, unbearably rough while being one of the few types of Nids the human population can tolerate simply because he’s beautiful, a elf Fairy Prince of the folklore made a breathing being. Unlike the ghouls, vampires, death witches, shifters and other beings once formerly human who are hated, protested against, and even killed.
Here K. M. Avery explores Hart’s surprising history, reveals the true nature underneath the “sarcastic , cold“ persona Hart uses as a shield,
and brings in a shatteringly horrific case that both ties into the previous stories and yet adds another layer of the growing abuse that the Nid population is suffering under.
Avery also introduces several characters that are just fascinating. One is the dog of the title. I have a slight issue in that we only get partial foundation for what is a major character. Most of that is in his dog form which, admittedly, is utterly adorable. But the man? Remains a bit of a mystery.
The other is a Tiger shifter. He too is a main character who appears to have a journey in the series but is this the last book? I don’t know.
The ending is somewhat abrupt. Both in terms of what has happened in terms of our detective in his life, professionally. We get a here’s where he is now . And the same hint of a surprise in another direction.
After everything that’s gone on, it’s a light ending for a very serious, heavier narrative.
The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4) by K. M. Avery is about one of my favorite characters, Detective Hart. It does a excellent job in making a fascinating character even more richly layered. My only issue is that the author just didn’t completely stick the ending. It didn’t quite live up to the complex, well plotted , parts that went before.
I certainly hope the author intends to go on. It’s a great series and is full of characters and elements that haven’t been fully explored yet.
I’m definitely recommending. This and the series.
Beyond The Veil series:
- [x] The Ghost in the Hall #1
- [x] The Boy in the Locked Room #2
- [x] The Skeleton Under the Stairs #3
- [ ] The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4)
Rating: 4.5🌈
The Dog in the Alley switches over from focusing on the relationship between medium/warlock Edward Campion and his partner Dr Mason Manning, orc, witch and respected historian and Edward’s magical growth. That’s was the primary theme of books one to three.
Now the focus turns to Detective Valentine Hart a great character and personal favorite. Hart, an important element in all the prior stories, was changed by the Arcanavirus into a 6’5” violet eyed gorgeous elf who presents himself as a coldly effective, wry, snarky personality who barely tolerates the bureaucracy of the political system and police department he works within. He’s gruff, unbearably rough while being one of the few types of Nids the human population can tolerate simply because he’s beautiful, a elf Fairy Prince of the folklore made a breathing being. Unlike the ghouls, vampires, death witches, shifters and other beings once formerly human who are hated, protested against, and even killed.
Here K. M. Avery explores Hart’s surprising history, reveals the true nature underneath the “sarcastic , cold“ persona Hart uses as a shield,
and brings in a shatteringly horrific case that both ties into the previous stories and yet adds another layer of the growing abuse that the Nid population is suffering under.
Avery also introduces several characters that are just fascinating. One is the dog of the title. I have a slight issue in that we only get partial foundation for what is a major character. Most of that is in his dog form which, admittedly, is utterly adorable. But the man? Remains a bit of a mystery.
The other is a Tiger shifter. He too is a main character who appears to have a journey in the series but is this the last book? I don’t know.
The ending is somewhat abrupt. Both in terms of what has happened in terms of our detective in his life, professionally. We get a here’s where he is now . And the same hint of a surprise in another direction.
After everything that’s gone on, it’s a light ending for a very serious, heavier narrative.
The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4) by K. M. Avery is about one of my favorite characters, Detective Hart. It does a excellent job in making a fascinating character even more richly layered. My only issue is that the author just didn’t completely stick the ending. It didn’t quite live up to the complex, well plotted , parts that went before.
I certainly hope the author intends to go on. It’s a great series and is full of characters and elements that haven’t been fully explored yet.
I’m definitely recommending. This and the series.
Beyond The Veil series:
- [x] The Ghost in the Hall #1
- [x] The Boy in the Locked Room #2
- [x] The Skeleton Under the Stairs #3
- [ ] The Dog in the Alley (Beyond the Veil Book 4)
December 5, 2023
Somebody get this dog a ouija board or something, all of this could have been solved so much quicker!
Ok so I'm Finnish and having a love interest called Taavi was bothering me way more than him being a dog. I was not bothered by the love interest being a dog (LOL). Taavi is such a weird name because this guy
is called Taavi the gnome in Finland and he had a very distinctive theme song heavily focusing on his name that I used to sing obnoxiously as a kid until my friend's parents gently told me to leave their house. So that was a struggle for me. I even googled it and apparently there are more recent children's characters with that name and according to google it's a Finnish and Estonian name so I couldn't even pretend it was some foreign name that happened to be spelled the same. This is not the first time I advocate for authors to vibe check the foreign names they pick for characters because romance characters with Finnish names always somehow end up with really weirdly archaic old-man names that have vibes similar to Herbert Humperdink. I'm not kidding, this is the third time I have run into this. I don't know why this guy has such a Finnish sounding name, at first I just assumed it can't be but I was still having gnome theme song earworm syndrome throughout regardless.
This book was phenomenal though. It has such specific things I like and I could not get anything done until I had read the whole thing. Having a hard time taking a break now before starting the next one (I've been saving these, knowing this would happen). I will just have to make my peace with reading about dogman with gnome name. It was very fun giving people out of context updates about whether the love interest in my book was still a dog. A dog called Taavi. I would link the theme song but I won't.
(It's "Tontut (David el Gnomo) Finnish Outro" on Youtube and it's been stuck in my head for about 25 years)
Ok so I'm Finnish and having a love interest called Taavi was bothering me way more than him being a dog. I was not bothered by the love interest being a dog (LOL). Taavi is such a weird name because this guy
is called Taavi the gnome in Finland and he had a very distinctive theme song heavily focusing on his name that I used to sing obnoxiously as a kid until my friend's parents gently told me to leave their house. So that was a struggle for me. I even googled it and apparently there are more recent children's characters with that name and according to google it's a Finnish and Estonian name so I couldn't even pretend it was some foreign name that happened to be spelled the same. This is not the first time I advocate for authors to vibe check the foreign names they pick for characters because romance characters with Finnish names always somehow end up with really weirdly archaic old-man names that have vibes similar to Herbert Humperdink. I'm not kidding, this is the third time I have run into this. I don't know why this guy has such a Finnish sounding name, at first I just assumed it can't be but I was still having gnome theme song earworm syndrome throughout regardless.
This book was phenomenal though. It has such specific things I like and I could not get anything done until I had read the whole thing. Having a hard time taking a break now before starting the next one (I've been saving these, knowing this would happen). I will just have to make my peace with reading about dogman with gnome name. It was very fun giving people out of context updates about whether the love interest in my book was still a dog. A dog called Taavi. I would link the theme song but I won't.
(It's "Tontut (David el Gnomo) Finnish Outro" on Youtube and it's been stuck in my head for about 25 years)
January 4, 2024
I read book 1, and had no interest in two more books with those MCs. But this one stars the cranky elf, so...
Alright, that was good, a solid four-star read. Still too many words, but not as aggressively as book 1; our elf does run through the longer list of people who care about him three separate times, as if it's a surprise each time. (Editing is hard, which is why published books need a lot of eyes on that final manuscript to minimize this kind of thing.) But the mystery is good and awful and harrowing and stuff, and the character arc kept me reading. It's good enough that I'm on to book 5 without pause, so those of you who couldn't take more of book 1, try this one.
Alright, that was good, a solid four-star read. Still too many words, but not as aggressively as book 1; our elf does run through the longer list of people who care about him three separate times, as if it's a surprise each time. (Editing is hard, which is why published books need a lot of eyes on that final manuscript to minimize this kind of thing.) But the mystery is good and awful and harrowing and stuff, and the character arc kept me reading. It's good enough that I'm on to book 5 without pause, so those of you who couldn't take more of book 1, try this one.
November 25, 2022
Good lord I love this series
There are at LEAST twenty reasons I love this series to pieces. Good god. I am practically crying because the next book isn't out yet. Taavi seems super sweet from what we got here--I look forward to seeing how he acts as a man in the next book! But I love too how Hart is freaking out because he keeps thinking of Taavi as a dog and he misses him but is also attracted to him as a man.
And because this is about the first three books I can say it here because no spoilers!!
THANK YOU for not magically fixing Ward's paraplegia. I've never read a story that actually involves so many things I'd never read before. Becoming disabled, dealing with it, and accepting the new normal. I didn't come into this expecting to find the disability representation I've always wanted to read. I am so happy to have found it here.
There are at LEAST twenty reasons I love this series to pieces. Good god. I am practically crying because the next book isn't out yet. Taavi seems super sweet from what we got here--I look forward to seeing how he acts as a man in the next book! But I love too how Hart is freaking out because he keeps thinking of Taavi as a dog and he misses him but is also attracted to him as a man.
And because this is about the first three books I can say it here because no spoilers!!
THANK YOU for not magically fixing Ward's paraplegia. I've never read a story that actually involves so many things I'd never read before. Becoming disabled, dealing with it, and accepting the new normal. I didn't come into this expecting to find the disability representation I've always wanted to read. I am so happy to have found it here.
January 4, 2026
I fell fully in love with Hart after Ward's attack & so far he hasn't let me down.... thank goodness!
I think it's both because there's a different narrator & also because the changes to his gruff personality are a bit too instantaneous., but it's felt a bit disjointed from the previous books...
He was lovable & gruff, but he's almost like a completely different person... I'm not complaining, but it is noticeable.
Also, the cult in the previous books had to act in the shadows as it was implied that what they were doing was an unconscionable act to most people, arcane or not... so, I'm also finding the extremely sudden powder keg of violence erupting around the city without there being a specific driving factor behind it to be a bit unrealistic.
Now, don't get me wrong... I live in England post Brexit, so I'm fully aware just how volatile white supremacists (they existed pre-Brexit, but they no longer had the power that they're regaining on a daily basis), but even so... usually there's a driving force behind it & the MFM riots seem to be coming out of left field IMO.
I get that freedom of speech is a thing, but surely those coppers who joined the protests would be immediately dismissed as "the only good Nid is a dead Nid" IS hate speech & freedom of speech does not mean free of consequences.
& surely, now that Hart is an active target, leaving Ta'avi alone in his apartment is a BAD idea! Why not leave him with Mason & Ward?
& TBPH, I'm currently suffering from anxiety thinking about the peril that Mason might face, seeing as he'd be such an obvious target, being green & 6'7ft...
It might just be me & because I've read/listened to so many throuple romances, but there's definitely a romantic undercurrent with Raj, far more so than with Ta'avi.... TBF, so far, it's mostly (I'm assuming) because Ta'avi is constantly in dog form & it would be extremely weird if there were, but it really feels as though Raj & Hart are building up a romantic relationship, more so than Hart & Ta"avi... which is weird if this is not going to become a throuple situation & I thought that Raj had had an insta reaction to Rayne when they'd first met 🤔
& I'm thoroughly confused as to why it seems that Hart has been demoted as he used to be the leading detective in all the previous cases & now that he's allegedly partnering with the FBI, he's become the lackey & his ONLY job at crime scenes is to call Ward, which he used to, but he'd also be involved in investigating the crime scene... in this it's almost always a fade to black & we used to get his input a lot more in Ward's POV... which is an odd choice IMO!
I can't say that I either agree with nor understand Hart's decision at the end... it was forestalled, but it still didn't really have the necessary impact that I'm guessing the author was going for...
You're more likely to effect change from the inside than the outside & by his decision he did allow the bigots to win IMO 🤷♀️
I think it's both because there's a different narrator & also because the changes to his gruff personality are a bit too instantaneous., but it's felt a bit disjointed from the previous books...
He was lovable & gruff, but he's almost like a completely different person... I'm not complaining, but it is noticeable.
Also, the cult in the previous books had to act in the shadows as it was implied that what they were doing was an unconscionable act to most people, arcane or not... so, I'm also finding the extremely sudden powder keg of violence erupting around the city without there being a specific driving factor behind it to be a bit unrealistic.
Now, don't get me wrong... I live in England post Brexit, so I'm fully aware just how volatile white supremacists (they existed pre-Brexit, but they no longer had the power that they're regaining on a daily basis), but even so... usually there's a driving force behind it & the MFM riots seem to be coming out of left field IMO.
I get that freedom of speech is a thing, but surely those coppers who joined the protests would be immediately dismissed as "the only good Nid is a dead Nid" IS hate speech & freedom of speech does not mean free of consequences.
& surely, now that Hart is an active target, leaving Ta'avi alone in his apartment is a BAD idea! Why not leave him with Mason & Ward?
& TBPH, I'm currently suffering from anxiety thinking about the peril that Mason might face, seeing as he'd be such an obvious target, being green & 6'7ft...
It might just be me & because I've read/listened to so many throuple romances, but there's definitely a romantic undercurrent with Raj, far more so than with Ta'avi.... TBF, so far, it's mostly (I'm assuming) because Ta'avi is constantly in dog form & it would be extremely weird if there were, but it really feels as though Raj & Hart are building up a romantic relationship, more so than Hart & Ta"avi... which is weird if this is not going to become a throuple situation & I thought that Raj had had an insta reaction to Rayne when they'd first met 🤔
& I'm thoroughly confused as to why it seems that Hart has been demoted as he used to be the leading detective in all the previous cases & now that he's allegedly partnering with the FBI, he's become the lackey & his ONLY job at crime scenes is to call Ward, which he used to, but he'd also be involved in investigating the crime scene... in this it's almost always a fade to black & we used to get his input a lot more in Ward's POV... which is an odd choice IMO!
I can't say that I either agree with nor understand Hart's decision at the end... it was forestalled, but it still didn't really have the necessary impact that I'm guessing the author was going for...
You're more likely to effect change from the inside than the outside & by his decision he did allow the bigots to win IMO 🤷♀️
April 21, 2023
The 4th book in the Beyond the Veil series. This one, unlike the others, centers around Detective Hart and his unlikely relationship with a dog shifter.
The MCs
Hart: He's rude, belligerent. And alot of the time a total a$$hole. But when it counts Detective Hart shows he's got a good heart (Ha! see what I did there!, Hart with a Heart....yeah, whatever, I thought it was good). Oh and he's a super hot elf...which actually works against him most of the time.
Taavi: Dog shifter. There's not much to say about Taavi. He spends most of the book as a dog.
The Plot
Hart is called to a crime scene where shifters appear to have been kidnapped, then executed. The only survivor. A weird hairless dog, who turns out to be a shifter, who can't shift. Hart, along with help from Ward, Mason, Raj and the crew (law enforcement shifter), try to find out what's going on and stumble on a huge conspiracy backed by a national Nid hate group. Meanwhile. Hart has taken it upon himself to shelter and care for Taavi and well, feelings develop. I know it sounds weird. Hart falling for a dog. But Taavi doesn't act like a dog in all the ways that count.
Pros
The writer has a way with prose that keeps me hooked. From page to page, chapter to chapter. The action was fast paced. The story intriguing with just enough twists and turns to make it fun without getting lost. The characters are deep, you really get a feel for who they are. I can actually picture Hart as the short, slightly overweight, with pasty skin, Wisconsin native he was before his transformation. And I love the set up for the next book as well as the hint of a future relationship between Raj and Rayne.
Cons
The only one. And this is a bit nit picky. Is the introduction of too many names. Sometimes I found it hard to follow all the victim/bad guy names.
All in a an excellent read. This series, as a whole, ranks as one of my favorites so far.
The MCs
Hart: He's rude, belligerent. And alot of the time a total a$$hole. But when it counts Detective Hart shows he's got a good heart (Ha! see what I did there!, Hart with a Heart....yeah, whatever, I thought it was good). Oh and he's a super hot elf...which actually works against him most of the time.
Taavi: Dog shifter. There's not much to say about Taavi. He spends most of the book as a dog.
The Plot
Hart is called to a crime scene where shifters appear to have been kidnapped, then executed. The only survivor. A weird hairless dog, who turns out to be a shifter, who can't shift. Hart, along with help from Ward, Mason, Raj and the crew (law enforcement shifter), try to find out what's going on and stumble on a huge conspiracy backed by a national Nid hate group. Meanwhile. Hart has taken it upon himself to shelter and care for Taavi and well, feelings develop. I know it sounds weird. Hart falling for a dog. But Taavi doesn't act like a dog in all the ways that count.
Pros
The writer has a way with prose that keeps me hooked. From page to page, chapter to chapter. The action was fast paced. The story intriguing with just enough twists and turns to make it fun without getting lost. The characters are deep, you really get a feel for who they are. I can actually picture Hart as the short, slightly overweight, with pasty skin, Wisconsin native he was before his transformation. And I love the set up for the next book as well as the hint of a future relationship between Raj and Rayne.
Cons
The only one. And this is a bit nit picky. Is the introduction of too many names. Sometimes I found it hard to follow all the victim/bad guy names.
All in a an excellent read. This series, as a whole, ranks as one of my favorites so far.
January 10, 2026
I loved Hart in the first three books of Beyond The Veil series and now we get this and two more that be his.
Hart is a detective for the Richmond Virginia police department. He was affected by the Arcanavirus which turned him onto an elf. Not like most because he's 6 foot 4 like seen in some fantasy novels. I love his snark so much makes me smile.
He responded to a murder and discovers a dog that's not an actual dog but a shifter in a dumpster with Doc and Ward's help. He's gotta get Annibus as he calls him or doggo too, to trust him.
It takes some doing but Annibus finally does. They just have to figure out what's going on when Annibus can't shift back into his human form. Loved the way Hart got a way to communicate with Annibus.
It has to be kept on the down low that Annibus isn't actually human. There's this Magic Free Movement and other people against other Arc humans like Hart and Annibus.
We get new characters who stand up for Hart who comes under attack because some people are against the Arc humans just because they different which so wrong. There plenty of violents, death and phobia towards those that are different species than human.
Before the end the bad guys and women are taken down. This focused the most on Hart and Annibus who we discover is actually Taavi. He is in his shifter form for most of the book.
Loved how Hart and he bonded and that we get to see more depth in Hart. Besides a kiss once Taavi shifts back finally after two months there nothing in this one, but as the first trilogy in this series went we will get more in the next. Which I'm good with. Also happy with Hart's decision at the end of the book with what Doc and Ward offered him.
Hart is a detective for the Richmond Virginia police department. He was affected by the Arcanavirus which turned him onto an elf. Not like most because he's 6 foot 4 like seen in some fantasy novels. I love his snark so much makes me smile.
He responded to a murder and discovers a dog that's not an actual dog but a shifter in a dumpster with Doc and Ward's help. He's gotta get Annibus as he calls him or doggo too, to trust him.
It takes some doing but Annibus finally does. They just have to figure out what's going on when Annibus can't shift back into his human form. Loved the way Hart got a way to communicate with Annibus.
It has to be kept on the down low that Annibus isn't actually human. There's this Magic Free Movement and other people against other Arc humans like Hart and Annibus.
We get new characters who stand up for Hart who comes under attack because some people are against the Arc humans just because they different which so wrong. There plenty of violents, death and phobia towards those that are different species than human.
Before the end the bad guys and women are taken down. This focused the most on Hart and Annibus who we discover is actually Taavi. He is in his shifter form for most of the book.
Loved how Hart and he bonded and that we get to see more depth in Hart. Besides a kiss once Taavi shifts back finally after two months there nothing in this one, but as the first trilogy in this series went we will get more in the next. Which I'm good with. Also happy with Hart's decision at the end of the book with what Doc and Ward offered him.
May 11, 2025
I'm giving this 4 stars for the world building. It is part of a series but this is the only one I've read and it stands alone just fine. Be aware there isn't a full resolution of the story line and each story seems to be divided into 3 books each. This is a low romance story but certainly interesting enough to keep your attention. Here the world has been hit with a super-Covid like virus called Arcanavirus. If it doesn't kill you outright (millions die) you will become magically 'changed'. In this case Hart becomes an elf. A very attractive, lavender eyed, detective elf. In this verse the world is used to magical beings, shifters, gnomes etc. to the point that there are now anti-magical, human first groups that think magic is an unfair advantage and maybe that even means you aren't really human so you don't deserve the same rights. Enter Hart, the only magical person on the detective force with a pretty significant group of bigoted police he has to work with. Added to the pressure is someone or some group is killing shifters and Hart is now detective on the case. Only he has an eyewitness to the crime in the form of a dog that won't or can't shift back to person form. Hart is compelled to take the dog home with him and along for some of the investigation as well. Nice mystery buried in there and despite Hart being somewhat of a jerk I liked him anyway. Sad that the story gets dragged out as I am notorious for quitting a series but there you have it. Still a nice read with interesting world and characters.
October 31, 2024
A BTV book with no sex, yet plenty of mystery and h(e)art.
Hart is a predictably swearier narrator than Ward was, focusing on food instead of clothing choices when describing his circumstances. He's not a people person, so when faced with a stuck transformed dog shifter in need of a place to stay safe, it's marginally less daunting to let him in. Anti-magical crimes are spreading hatred like wildfire, and both Hart and his new companion are caught dead center.
You can read this without the first three in the series, but I'd recommend getting to know Ward and Mace first as their story fills in the post Arcanavirus world.
I wasn't 100% sure about Hart as an MC; he is a self described a-hole after all. Sometimes I just wanted to smack him upside the head and tell him to ease off the plain rudeness! I did like his character arc though, especially as it felt more about him opening up to the possibility that someone might care about him. The not exactlybut sort of romance felt a bit weird to me but I hope the relationship gets more time to form. The mystery was interesting, even if I did find parts hard to follow (lots of names and conflicting organization) and the lack of a big showdown moment with the baddies meant the closure didn't feel as... closed?
Looking forward to more of the BTV crew and their oddball crime solving found family friendship.
Hart is a predictably swearier narrator than Ward was, focusing on food instead of clothing choices when describing his circumstances. He's not a people person, so when faced with a stuck transformed dog shifter in need of a place to stay safe, it's marginally less daunting to let him in. Anti-magical crimes are spreading hatred like wildfire, and both Hart and his new companion are caught dead center.
You can read this without the first three in the series, but I'd recommend getting to know Ward and Mace first as their story fills in the post Arcanavirus world.
I wasn't 100% sure about Hart as an MC; he is a self described a-hole after all. Sometimes I just wanted to smack him upside the head and tell him to ease off the plain rudeness! I did like his character arc though, especially as it felt more about him opening up to the possibility that someone might care about him. The not exactlybut sort of romance felt a bit weird to me but I hope the relationship gets more time to form. The mystery was interesting, even if I did find parts hard to follow (lots of names and conflicting organization) and the lack of a big showdown moment with the baddies meant the closure didn't feel as... closed?
Looking forward to more of the BTV crew and their oddball crime solving found family friendship.
November 18, 2024
4.5 stars
Valentine Hart - Hart to everyone but family, is a police detective with an attitude, or so it seems. He's more foul mouthed in the first three books of the series, but here we get to see him from a different angle and this is a character I really like and enjoy. When he comes across a Xoloitzcuintli shifter stuck in a trash can after a horrific murder, Hart finds his life upended.
Helping the shifter get back on his feet is a good part of his character. That he looses his heart to the shifter, even though they can't talk for a good part of the book? Sweet. Hart never had a chance really.
The case Hart's working involves the murder of shifters across the country by a radical human only group, rising tension between protestors of both anti-Arc humans/shifters and pro Arc humans/shifters, crooked cops, and the realization that people he thought reliable may not have his back after all. It's a frustrating place to be in.
This book is fun and very enjoyable (and proves the author can write a story without falling back on sex to fill the pages - I want more of this).
Adorable. Xolo dogs date back to the Aztecs and possibly earlier.
Valentine Hart - Hart to everyone but family, is a police detective with an attitude, or so it seems. He's more foul mouthed in the first three books of the series, but here we get to see him from a different angle and this is a character I really like and enjoy. When he comes across a Xoloitzcuintli shifter stuck in a trash can after a horrific murder, Hart finds his life upended.
Helping the shifter get back on his feet is a good part of his character. That he looses his heart to the shifter, even though they can't talk for a good part of the book? Sweet. Hart never had a chance really.
The case Hart's working involves the murder of shifters across the country by a radical human only group, rising tension between protestors of both anti-Arc humans/shifters and pro Arc humans/shifters, crooked cops, and the realization that people he thought reliable may not have his back after all. It's a frustrating place to be in.
This book is fun and very enjoyable (and proves the author can write a story without falling back on sex to fill the pages - I want more of this).
Adorable. Xolo dogs date back to the Aztecs and possibly earlier.
April 26, 2025
Book 4 in the Beyond the Veil series gives us a new POV to follow. This time it's Hart's story. Honestly, I knew I'd love this because Hart is my favorite character so far. He's such a grumpy fucker with a foul mouth that'd make a sailor blush, and I love it. Even better is the fact that he's super pretty, with the whole being an elf thing. He looks like a fairy prince and it properly pisses him off, much to my amusement.
He doesn't have a really good time in this book for the most part. The case puts him through the wringer and I wanted to hug him several times. With the way the story unfolds for Hart, it's also very low on romance and there is no spice. There is a good reason for that, and it works. But the bond he forms with the shifter Taavi is no less beautiful and I can't wait to see them grow closer in the next book.
Another great book in a great series!
He doesn't have a really good time in this book for the most part. The case puts him through the wringer and I wanted to hug him several times. With the way the story unfolds for Hart, it's also very low on romance and there is no spice. There is a good reason for that, and it works. But the bond he forms with the shifter Taavi is no less beautiful and I can't wait to see them grow closer in the next book.
Another great book in a great series!
November 2, 2022
Terrifying almost reality
This book was AMAZING!!! I LOVED getting to know Hart better. He really is an asshole, but that's not all he is and it was awesome seeing that. Taavi was just soooooo EVERYTHING. Even when he was stuck in his shifted form he had so much personality. The end nearly broke my heart and thankfully Avery let it be put back together a bit before too long.
VERY intense. You could feel the tension bleeding off the page in your gut. Extremely well written. Also very terrifying because this is not too far off from reality as far as social tensions and police corruption in America.
All in all this book was fantastic. I couldn't recommend this series or author highly enough. Can't wait for the next one!!!
This book was AMAZING!!! I LOVED getting to know Hart better. He really is an asshole, but that's not all he is and it was awesome seeing that. Taavi was just soooooo EVERYTHING. Even when he was stuck in his shifted form he had so much personality. The end nearly broke my heart and thankfully Avery let it be put back together a bit before too long.
VERY intense. You could feel the tension bleeding off the page in your gut. Extremely well written. Also very terrifying because this is not too far off from reality as far as social tensions and police corruption in America.
All in all this book was fantastic. I couldn't recommend this series or author highly enough. Can't wait for the next one!!!
July 27, 2024
Wow! Way better than I expected!
I originally wasn't sure if I was going to be able to read this book, seeing as the first few pages in the first chapter contained too numerous to count F-words or other profanity. I'm not a prude, but it gets tiring wading through so many swear words. However, the character and the storyline were so gripping that I found myself riveted. There's a complex plot, and a lot of good characters that made it a pleasure to read. As a warning, there are some fairly graphic murder scene descriptions, so if you have a weak stomach, you may find it hard to get through certain sections of this book. I enjoyed it immensely, and would be happy to continue with this series if there are sequels.
I originally wasn't sure if I was going to be able to read this book, seeing as the first few pages in the first chapter contained too numerous to count F-words or other profanity. I'm not a prude, but it gets tiring wading through so many swear words. However, the character and the storyline were so gripping that I found myself riveted. There's a complex plot, and a lot of good characters that made it a pleasure to read. As a warning, there are some fairly graphic murder scene descriptions, so if you have a weak stomach, you may find it hard to get through certain sections of this book. I enjoyed it immensely, and would be happy to continue with this series if there are sequels.
October 31, 2022
amazing series!
I paused in my reading, and told my husband that this is a real writer. One who experiences life and it shows on the page. We all went/are going through this pandemic—and this series is what I imagined writing if I had the talent/guts to do so. And it gets better with each book! Hart was always intriguing but here—we see the layers that was always hinted at. And Ward and Doc, as always, makes you want to bring the wine for a lovely meal and great conversation. New characters are introduced and yay! I want more. A good mystery, strong characters and no insta-love—relationships you can see building. So yeah, I kinda liked it!
I paused in my reading, and told my husband that this is a real writer. One who experiences life and it shows on the page. We all went/are going through this pandemic—and this series is what I imagined writing if I had the talent/guts to do so. And it gets better with each book! Hart was always intriguing but here—we see the layers that was always hinted at. And Ward and Doc, as always, makes you want to bring the wine for a lovely meal and great conversation. New characters are introduced and yay! I want more. A good mystery, strong characters and no insta-love—relationships you can see building. So yeah, I kinda liked it!
August 30, 2023
Where to start? loved it! - Half the time I was horrified and half the time enthralled. I was surprised that I hit 69% and realized there had been no romantic tangling or sex - but by 80% I realized there was a relationship building - oh not romantic - yet - but a relationship that included love and company and having someone in your life.
- The growing complexity of the overarching plot and the presentation of discrimination and hatred is mind-boggling. In my personal opinion, this was/is the best one yet and I can not wait to see where it takes me. K.M. Avery - you can tell a story!!!!!
- The growing complexity of the overarching plot and the presentation of discrimination and hatred is mind-boggling. In my personal opinion, this was/is the best one yet and I can not wait to see where it takes me. K.M. Avery - you can tell a story!!!!!
May 25, 2024
Okay, one primary complaint: since shifters retain their knowledge and understanding when they are shifted, why did no one think to give Taavi a white board with a yes, no, I don’t know, and the written out alphabet on it?? He could have pointed to the letters to tell them his name. It crossed my mind while I was reading that this probably would have been super beneficial but also might have made the mystery way easier to solve.
That being said, love Hart. As always, the book deals with very dark themes. They are not glossed over or sugar coated, and Avery does an excellent job in writing about it.
That being said, love Hart. As always, the book deals with very dark themes. They are not glossed over or sugar coated, and Avery does an excellent job in writing about it.
October 4, 2022
Very very slow burn but oh so freaking good !!
Absolutely loving this series ! And yay, we finally get to see what makes Detective Hart tick …..and oh boy, is it a lot. We’ve seen hints of his soft side under all of that arrogance but he has it locked up tight and you get to know why. This story is not light-hearted in anyway. There is plenty of drama, angst and emotional upheavals…. And the stoicism that he holds onto….my heart just broke. But the ending – perfect **chefs kiss **. Really really can’t wait for book # 2 !!
Absolutely loving this series ! And yay, we finally get to see what makes Detective Hart tick …..and oh boy, is it a lot. We’ve seen hints of his soft side under all of that arrogance but he has it locked up tight and you get to know why. This story is not light-hearted in anyway. There is plenty of drama, angst and emotional upheavals…. And the stoicism that he holds onto….my heart just broke. But the ending – perfect **chefs kiss **. Really really can’t wait for book # 2 !!
January 29, 2023
Hart Rocks!
I absolutely love this series. If you like MM paranormal stories plus a kick a$$ medium, you will like them as well. Although this book is Hart's story, both Ward and Doc are in it. I love Hart, even though he can be a cold jerk, it's the little thing like bringing coffee and donuts to his team that shows he is not as cold hearted as he wants everyone to think. I hope there is another book in this series coming, it is very well written and sucks you into the story.
I absolutely love this series. If you like MM paranormal stories plus a kick a$$ medium, you will like them as well. Although this book is Hart's story, both Ward and Doc are in it. I love Hart, even though he can be a cold jerk, it's the little thing like bringing coffee and donuts to his team that shows he is not as cold hearted as he wants everyone to think. I hope there is another book in this series coming, it is very well written and sucks you into the story.
April 3, 2023
The author has a major problem with preserving consistent plot lines. In the first book we have the rape scene that literally pops up out of nowhere. Here we have racism. And it’s not that it wasn’t mentioned but nothing comparable to what is here. Especially when it comes to heart. We are to believe in the previous three stories he had ko issues and everyone was super respectful and obedient towards him and then out of nowhere he has colleagues joining a protest against him? Yeah not at all believable. The level of institutional racism went from modern day america (still there but getting more and more marginal) to 18th century lynching mobs. It’s clear the author wanted to touch on the theme of police brutality, the blue wall and racism, but the way they did it was just not consistent with the setting she created in the previous three books. It was a different world.
February 17, 2024
Ooooh, I loved Hart. I liked how fast paced the story was. Many times, I felt bad for our elf to have to work in such a toxic environment. His relationship with Taavi was quite interesting, considering Taavi spent most of the book in his canid form. Yes, Hart is a foul-mouthed, emotionally stunted person who don’t know how to “people”, he certainly his running away from Taavi. But, in retrospect, his decision about giving Taavi time to get his life together wasn’t a bad one, even though the reasons were a bit twisted. I’m curious for the next book.
April 10, 2025
❤️❤️❤️ I was excited for Hart's story, but I wasn't expecting to be touched as much as I was. The parallels between the storyline and the crap going on with people now was very well done...and I've picked up some great swears😂
I can't wait to see how things develope with Taavi- the acts against the shifts was horrific and hearybreaking...Sadly If shifts were real, I don't doubt the cruelty would exist now.
single pov
1st P
slow burn, no sex
gruesome crimes
speciesphobia (like homophobia)
super shitty people
I can't wait to see how things develope with Taavi- the acts against the shifts was horrific and hearybreaking...Sadly If shifts were real, I don't doubt the cruelty would exist now.
single pov
1st P
slow burn, no sex
gruesome crimes
speciesphobia (like homophobia)
super shitty people
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2022
I loved the first three books in this series, and The Dog in the Alley is right up there with them. Super slow burn but great to see Ward and Mason again, and fantastic to see our favourite potty-mouthed elf in all his epithet-laden glory. Definitely a slower pace, though the plot is no less complicated or gory. Great secondary characters too, really can't wait for the next book in Hart's story ♥️📚
October 29, 2022
The problem with KM Avery's books
I read them, then they're read, and then I have to wait until the next book comes out before I can read a new one. Which makes me sad, because reading her books really makes me want to read another.
My recommendations go out to friends who like paranormal mysteries with a plot and a certain sense of humor, not to friends who just want to daydream about sexy paranormal characters.
I read them, then they're read, and then I have to wait until the next book comes out before I can read a new one. Which makes me sad, because reading her books really makes me want to read another.
My recommendations go out to friends who like paranormal mysteries with a plot and a certain sense of humor, not to friends who just want to daydream about sexy paranormal characters.
January 15, 2023
Amazing
I read this entire series in three days, just three.
Taavi and Hart have become my favorite. I loved Hart the most in the first 3 books anyway. I honestly cannot wait to see where the next book takes them. I am so glad Hart made the decision he did. Keeping this review short and concise because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers. Everyone should just read the entire series and get caught in the Avery magic, literally.
I read this entire series in three days, just three.
Taavi and Hart have become my favorite. I loved Hart the most in the first 3 books anyway. I honestly cannot wait to see where the next book takes them. I am so glad Hart made the decision he did. Keeping this review short and concise because I really don’t want to give away any spoilers. Everyone should just read the entire series and get caught in the Avery magic, literally.
April 19, 2023
Sassy Elf
I really enjoyed the novel. I thought Hart was a fun character in the previous books. It's such a contradiction to have your typical police detective character who looks like Legolas instead of Barney Miller. The banter between Hart and Raj was great. As usual, the mystery was excellent. I really love the world the author created with humans, arc humans and arcanids. I'm looking forward to the next one and seeing more of Hart's story.
I really enjoyed the novel. I thought Hart was a fun character in the previous books. It's such a contradiction to have your typical police detective character who looks like Legolas instead of Barney Miller. The banter between Hart and Raj was great. As usual, the mystery was excellent. I really love the world the author created with humans, arc humans and arcanids. I'm looking forward to the next one and seeing more of Hart's story.
June 21, 2023
This book dragged and could’ve been 100 pages shorter. Very gory for such a PG book. The repetitive food talk was an annoying filler. Hart was incompetent as a detective. He cried soo much and obsessed with what others thought about him. The political undertones of the book were meh. Tavee spent too much of the book as a dog. I didn’t feel the blossoming friendship between the MC’s at all. Hated the ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews