What do you think?
Rate this book
The DuPage Parish Mysteries #3
Lethal Control
Werewolves. Witchcraft. Wildlife. It’s all different in the bayou.
A year after Eli and Dag survived their second encounter with a monster, things are finally going well. Really well—as far as Eli is concerned, anyway. He’s lost weight. His energy is up. His hair is on point. There are the little things, like the occasional flare-ups of temper and the urge to murder the kids down the street, but that’s just part of living by teenagers. Right?
But when Posey, a man they met the year before, shows up on their doorstep a few nights before Halloween, everything starts to go wrong. Posey needs their help: his boyfriend has disappeared. Worse, his boyfriend might have committed murder. Oh, and even worse? His boyfriend is a werewolf—a special kind native to Louisiana, known as a rougarou.
Eli and Dag begin their search for the missing rougarou, but it turns out, they’re not the only ones on the hunt: the mob, a gator-man, an implacable monster hunter, a witch, and a few bonus werewolves are all looking for him too. The rougarou, they learn, is the key to a ritual—a ceremony to summon a lwa, a powerful spirit. As time runs out, Eli and Dag must hurry to find the rougarou before the others. If they’re too late, the end of the world might be only the beginning.
A year after Eli and Dag survived their second encounter with a monster, things are finally going well. Really well—as far as Eli is concerned, anyway. He’s lost weight. His energy is up. His hair is on point. There are the little things, like the occasional flare-ups of temper and the urge to murder the kids down the street, but that’s just part of living by teenagers. Right?
But when Posey, a man they met the year before, shows up on their doorstep a few nights before Halloween, everything starts to go wrong. Posey needs their help: his boyfriend has disappeared. Worse, his boyfriend might have committed murder. Oh, and even worse? His boyfriend is a werewolf—a special kind native to Louisiana, known as a rougarou.
Eli and Dag begin their search for the missing rougarou, but it turns out, they’re not the only ones on the hunt: the mob, a gator-man, an implacable monster hunter, a witch, and a few bonus werewolves are all looking for him too. The rougarou, they learn, is the key to a ritual—a ceremony to summon a lwa, a powerful spirit. As time runs out, Eli and Dag must hurry to find the rougarou before the others. If they’re too late, the end of the world might be only the beginning.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2022
14 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Ashe
133 books1,780 followersI'm a long-time Midwesterner. I've lived in Chicago, Bloomington (IN), and Saint Louis, my current home. Aside from reading and writing (which take up a lot of my time), I'm an educator.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
While I enjoy reading across many genres, my two main loves are mystery and speculative fiction. I used to keep a list of favorite books, but it changes so frequently that I've given up. I'm always looking for recommendations, though, so please drop me a line if you have something in mind!
My big goal right now is one day to be responsible enough to get a dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 25, 2023
Audiobook - 4 Stars
Story - 4.25 stars.
The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
I had fun going back to the Bayou. Eli is exhausting, I still like him alot, I wanted to smack him most of the time but he is a grower.
Dag deserves a medal.
The story was enjoyable, the writing amazing as always.
I love the sprinkle of humour that Ashe does.
Overall this was spooky and fun.
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange of an honest review
Story - 4.25 stars.
The narrator did a wonderful job bringing this story to life.
I had fun going back to the Bayou. Eli is exhausting, I still like him alot, I wanted to smack him most of the time but he is a grower.
Dag deserves a medal.
The story was enjoyable, the writing amazing as always.
I love the sprinkle of humour that Ashe does.
Overall this was spooky and fun.
Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange of an honest review
November 1, 2022
happy halloween, my friends!!! 🎵 spooky scary skeletons hybrid creatures send shivers down your spine🎵
i'm still recovering from the weariness that comes with adventurous traveling (i haven't hiked this much since, well, ever. my knees are more than ready to retire), and to top it off, i had the ~pleasure~ of having an interview this morning, so no surprises when i say my brain is currently as useful as the p in raspberry.
but it's this bad boy's release day, so *cracks knuckles* let's get a'typin
firstly, i have to thank Mr. Gregory Ashe for highlighting the beauty of the ✨serratus anterior muscle✨ because very few acknowledge its existence. chiseled abs? meh. gargantuan arms? yawn. perky booty? next. the crisply defined ridges of ✨serratus muscles✨??? AKLSDFKLAJ YES PLEASE. my obsession with the muscle is the sole tidbit of knowledge i carry with me to this day from freshman anatomy. call it my awakening, if you will, because i haven't looked back since.
...so what was i talking about again? oh right, Dag and Eli, our reluctant New Orleans monster hunters. sorry, got sidetracked there for a sec.
this book is exhilarating with its numerous moving parts: the consequences of book 1 catching up to our mcs, a familiar face showing up at their doorstep, a request that they find his missing boyfriend, creatures behaving out of character seemingly crawling out of the woodwork, an insane witch framed by the air of unrest in the bayou.....
i know i can't say much, but that final battle reached such heights of epicosity that i was teeming with the same buzz i get at the helm of my playstation controller, engaging the big boss in a grand, bloody battle to save the world and loved ones. the nail-biting tension and icy trickles of sweat gliding down the back of my neck as one phase cascades to the next, rarely do i feel more alive (my gamer side is coming out 😂).
there was one specific scene that i was praying to see and WHEN IT HAPPENED !! since the book's out already, i'll put it behind a spoiler tag but my kryptonite 🥺: . UGH SO GOOD. it appealed to my young manga-loving heart because i'd see it a bunch in shoujo (like fruits basket) and i couldn't stop skipping about at the nostalgia lol.
this series also contains some of my favorite side characters, such as Dag’s kink-positive parents and the resourceful Miss Kennedy, and it was a delight to hang out with them again. laugh-out-loud moments out the wazoo. bless these three for existing and being a part of Dag's and Eli's lives.
after this installment, i think it's safe to say i am Tean (from The Lamb and the Lion) and Dag merged into one (Tag? Dean? Dagean?). i've explained my similarities to Tean in previous reviews, but Dag's rare outbursts of curses that give rise to a mass of surprised pikachu faces, drinking straight from the carton in an act of defiance because "i'm a rebel and a wild child and i wanted to be bad" - i even have a dad who spent half our trip pointing out phallic rock formations (luckily that's the extent of his shenanigans...for now 🤣).
i'll admit some of the quirky things Eli does to Dag to get his attention (behaviors somewhat reminiscent of a certain Dulac character cough cough) would be red flags to me irl, but i love how Dag responds to Eli's high maintenance nature because it never quite comes off as problematic in the context of their relationship. they're like yin and yang, opposite but interconnected forces. two halves that are only whole together. which is why i'm absolutely in love with the beauty that is the short story collection's cover:
lastly, the painful brandishing of Dag’s regrets and insecurities at the forefront? oh boy. my chest hurt immensely. perfectly executed and i give Greg all the points i can give him through my tears.
now if only i had all the time in the world cuz i would've jumped on a reread of this series before posting my review!
*for animal lovers, i will leave this tw: .
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
----pre-release thoughts----
i can't stop gazing at the stunning cover in awe 😍😍 there simply couldn't be a more perfect halloween read 🎃
i'm still recovering from the weariness that comes with adventurous traveling (i haven't hiked this much since, well, ever. my knees are more than ready to retire), and to top it off, i had the ~pleasure~ of having an interview this morning, so no surprises when i say my brain is currently as useful as the p in raspberry.
but it's this bad boy's release day, so *cracks knuckles* let's get a'typin
firstly, i have to thank Mr. Gregory Ashe for highlighting the beauty of the ✨serratus anterior muscle✨ because very few acknowledge its existence. chiseled abs? meh. gargantuan arms? yawn. perky booty? next. the crisply defined ridges of ✨serratus muscles✨??? AKLSDFKLAJ YES PLEASE. my obsession with the muscle is the sole tidbit of knowledge i carry with me to this day from freshman anatomy. call it my awakening, if you will, because i haven't looked back since.
...so what was i talking about again? oh right, Dag and Eli, our reluctant New Orleans monster hunters. sorry, got sidetracked there for a sec.
this book is exhilarating with its numerous moving parts: the consequences of book 1 catching up to our mcs, a familiar face showing up at their doorstep, a request that they find his missing boyfriend, creatures behaving out of character seemingly crawling out of the woodwork, an insane witch framed by the air of unrest in the bayou.....
i know i can't say much, but that final battle reached such heights of epicosity that i was teeming with the same buzz i get at the helm of my playstation controller, engaging the big boss in a grand, bloody battle to save the world and loved ones. the nail-biting tension and icy trickles of sweat gliding down the back of my neck as one phase cascades to the next, rarely do i feel more alive (my gamer side is coming out 😂).
there was one specific scene that i was praying to see and WHEN IT HAPPENED !! since the book's out already, i'll put it behind a spoiler tag but my kryptonite 🥺: . UGH SO GOOD. it appealed to my young manga-loving heart because i'd see it a bunch in shoujo (like fruits basket) and i couldn't stop skipping about at the nostalgia lol.
this series also contains some of my favorite side characters, such as Dag’s kink-positive parents and the resourceful Miss Kennedy, and it was a delight to hang out with them again. laugh-out-loud moments out the wazoo. bless these three for existing and being a part of Dag's and Eli's lives.
after this installment, i think it's safe to say i am Tean (from The Lamb and the Lion) and Dag merged into one (Tag? Dean? Dagean?). i've explained my similarities to Tean in previous reviews, but Dag's rare outbursts of curses that give rise to a mass of surprised pikachu faces, drinking straight from the carton in an act of defiance because "i'm a rebel and a wild child and i wanted to be bad" - i even have a dad who spent half our trip pointing out phallic rock formations (luckily that's the extent of his shenanigans...for now 🤣).
i'll admit some of the quirky things Eli does to Dag to get his attention (
lastly, the painful brandishing of Dag’s regrets and insecurities at the forefront? oh boy. my chest hurt immensely. perfectly executed and i give Greg all the points i can give him through my tears.
now if only i had all the time in the world cuz i would've jumped on a reread of this series before posting my review!
*for animal lovers, i will leave this tw: .
Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)
----pre-release thoughts----
i can't stop gazing at the stunning cover in awe 😍😍 there simply couldn't be a more perfect halloween read 🎃
December 26, 2022
Full review TK. But damn, this was excellent.
*deep breath* Okay, here it comes...
The mystery plot, as one expects from Greg Ashe in general and this series in particular, is twisty and violent and comes with a great big helping of Grand Guignol. I'm always telling myself that I need to look up the folklore GA draws on, because apparently people in Louisiana have some seriously terrifying imaginations. Maybe it's the bayous: the descriptions here make them sound tailor made for things that don't go bump in the night but rather slip out of the shadows just behind you and ...
Right. So, it won't be a surprise for anyone who's read #2 in this series that something very bad is happening to Eli, and no this isn't about his eating disorder. (Dag's explanation, by the way, like all his studies in this series as well as Tean's work in the Lion and the Lamb books, is fascinating to anyone with the slightest interest in wildlife and how predators function in their ecosystems, and makes me want to bow down in admiration of GA's learning.)
As for what's going on with Eli ...
Eli's suffering is spectacular; Dag's suffering is lower-key, but that kind of steadfastness is heartbreaking, rare, costly.
Something else I really like is GA's handling of the aftermath. Many writers would just have had everything be hunky-dory in Dag and Eli's world and in their relationship. But, you know, GA will insist on GA-ing, and ever-afters are never going to be uncomplicated.
I can see why Lethal Control might mark an end to the DuPage Parish Mysteries, not only to this arc. But a girl can dream, right?
Also, I'm looking forward to the audiobook, because the first two installments were terrific.
*deep breath* Okay, here it comes...
The mystery plot, as one expects from Greg Ashe in general and this series in particular, is twisty and violent and comes with a great big helping of Grand Guignol. I'm always telling myself that I need to look up the folklore GA draws on, because apparently people in Louisiana have some seriously terrifying imaginations. Maybe it's the bayous: the descriptions here make them sound tailor made for things that don't go bump in the night but rather slip out of the shadows just behind you and ...
Right. So, it won't be a surprise for anyone who's read #2 in this series that something very bad is happening to Eli, and no this isn't about his eating disorder. (Dag's explanation, by the way, like all his studies in this series as well as Tean's work in the Lion and the Lamb books, is fascinating to anyone with the slightest interest in wildlife and how predators function in their ecosystems, and makes me want to bow down in admiration of GA's learning.)
As for what's going on with Eli ...
Eli's suffering is spectacular; Dag's suffering is lower-key, but that kind of steadfastness is heartbreaking, rare, costly.
Something else I really like is GA's handling of the aftermath. Many writers would just have had everything be hunky-dory in Dag and Eli's world and in their relationship. But, you know, GA will insist on GA-ing, and ever-afters are never going to be uncomplicated.
I can see why Lethal Control might mark an end to the DuPage Parish Mysteries, not only to this arc. But a girl can dream, right?
Also, I'm looking forward to the audiobook, because the first two installments were terrific.
July 20, 2023
This One!!! This is a GREAT one!
So far, this is my favorite in Ashe’s paranormal series!
Eli changes a lot!
Dag starts to find an inner, bossier self (at times).
Evil witches, half-breeds, werewolf, alligator man, and others.
Things finally start to gel together here—the threads Ashe has written through his books seem to wrap and culminate around Dag and Eli.
As always in Gregory Ashe books, plot takes precedence over romance & the romance is never easy. For this reason, the end of this book is really rewarding!
So far, this is my favorite in Ashe’s paranormal series!
Eli changes a lot!
Dag starts to find an inner, bossier self (at times).
Evil witches, half-breeds, werewolf, alligator man, and others.
Things finally start to gel together here—the threads Ashe has written through his books seem to wrap and culminate around Dag and Eli.
As always in Gregory Ashe books, plot takes precedence over romance & the romance is never easy. For this reason, the end of this book is really rewarding!
July 15, 2023
Ugh, I procrastinated so long that all of the thoughtful and deeply introspective things I wanted to write about this book have left the building. I should really take notes. I loved this series, I loved this book, I will forever love Eli and Dag and I hope GA decides to revisit them in the future. In the meantime, I will miss them dearly and imagine them safe from all things supernatural while living their best lives. Now, please pretend that was highly intellectual praise written with very big words and a ton of symbolism. Maybe even a joke or two. Okay, thanks, bye.
October 31, 2022
Eli and Dag have catapulted into the top echelon of my favorite couples. The interplay between their personalities is the highlight of the book - they see each other so clearly. And, honestly, they're hilarious. The spooky mystery and the twists and turns were also excellent. If I lived in Louisiana, I'm not sure I'd ever sleep without a light on after reading this.
March 25, 2023
Amazing conclusion to the series. I enjoyed every minute. (Listened to the audio version).
November 2, 2022
The third instalment in the DuPage Parish Mystery Series is just as good as the first 2. The story starts off with our boys Dag and Eli, a little over a year after we left them and they are pretty much living in domestic bliss, which is nice to see in a Gregory Ashe book but for us who read and love his books, also historically pretty short lived 😆
So there you have it. An acquaintance asks for help..which never ends well. Shit hits the fan and it’s escalation central!
This book is pretty fast paced, there’s lots of monsters and gore and well it’s bloody fantastic for us SPN nerds out there. Sprinkled with some super sweet moments between our MCs and a dusting of the ultimate Parenting OTP it’s just fun all round.
I really enjoyed this. Dag remains ultimate boyfriend goals and Eli , finally gets to kick some series ass, which was nice to see .
A great conclusion to the series (with its somewhat open end..because why close a door when we can just leave it slightly ajar ..😬)
So there you have it. An acquaintance asks for help..which never ends well. Shit hits the fan and it’s escalation central!
This book is pretty fast paced, there’s lots of monsters and gore and well it’s bloody fantastic for us SPN nerds out there. Sprinkled with some super sweet moments between our MCs and a dusting of the ultimate Parenting OTP it’s just fun all round.
I really enjoyed this. Dag remains ultimate boyfriend goals and Eli , finally gets to kick some series ass, which was nice to see .
A great conclusion to the series (with its somewhat open end..because why close a door when we can just leave it slightly ajar ..😬)
May 13, 2024
By far the best of the series -- super good and super creepy, and a great close to Eli and Dag's story. Would have been 5-stars were it not for They Who Shall Not Be Named.
May 9, 2024
Fascinating bodies.
Can victims thrive? And forget?
Monster trucks sure help.
Can victims thrive? And forget?
Monster trucks sure help.
March 19, 2023
Eli really kept getting in his own way throughout the series, and by book 3 I was a bit tired 😅
Very happy to have them get their HEA, and glad to see the story wrapped up. In comparison to the first two books, this one wasn't my favorite, but overall enjoyed the ride!
Also, excellent narration on all three audiobooks.
Very happy to have them get their HEA, and glad to see the story wrapped up. In comparison to the first two books, this one wasn't my favorite, but overall enjoyed the ride!
Also, excellent narration on all three audiobooks.
June 25, 2023
“Sometimes, things that start out as a way to help us end up hurting us. I’m not saying you like what’s happening to you. I’m saying we’ve been through this before, where you couldn’t trust your own brain to tell you if something was good for you or not. So, maybe, for now, you can trust me.” I raked my thumb lightly along the side of his neck. “Do you trust me?”
After a long moment, he squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
“Then we’ll figure the rest out.”
me reading any new gregory ashe couple: omggg they're my favorite
But seriously, this series was so enjoyable and Eli and Dag made a huge space for themselves in my love house. Particularly the ending of this installment guaranteed their place by making me cry my little heart out at 4am and subsequently pass out. I've been thinking about them for about 12 hours now, just to gather my thoughts and put together a decent review.
As a natural progression for the premise of this series, this last book upped the spook and paranormal factor exponentially. Now that's not necessarily my thing - I love my fantastical elements more when they play out more lowkey in general - but all the unearthed lore and the addition of the new creatures and beings were accompanied by thematic exploration that brought all the questions and musings of the series so brilliantly together that it was impossible for me to not love this.
The way Gregory Ashe utilizes the supernatural elements of his plots to first explore trauma and grief, then desire and unrealistic expectations and the ways people can hurt themselves in pursuit of the impossible, and lastly in this one the question of how much of violence is a fear response, a need to control, a need to protect is just so incredibly well done. Where I felt it was a bit too simple or unformed in Stray Fears really finds its footing throughout the series as our protagonists Eli and Dag also do, and especially in this one, creates a fantastic piece of character exploration for both. Now as a romance reader, I love opposites attract as much as the next guy, the grumpy-and-sunshines, the jocks-and-nerds. What I love more is though when it goes a step above being a trope, where the inherent difference between two people is a foil that feeds both the individual character arcs and the romance and is masterfully tied to the broader themes. Difficult, temperamental Eli whose need for control manifests in actions that hurt not only himself but also the people around him, and considerate, supportive Dag who wants to protect Eli more than anything but whose bleeding heart can't take the violent edge seemingly required. Lethal vs non-lethal control. It doesn't get any better than this for me.
And within Gregory Ashe's catalogue, it doesn't get any more personal than this for me either. His books usually give me the type of escapism I need in my stories: characters I can empathize with and cry over while avoiding my own issues. But this is the first time I only not empathize with a character of his but also relate quite strongly. All I can say is that while hitting too close to home at some points, I'm really thankful for the reality GA injected into this paranormal fantasy. And that Eli Martins, I get you, I love you, I'm rooting for you. I'm kinda jealous of you because Dag is also what I need.
Miscellaneous thoughts: The writing in this one particularly was extra good, every image was so clear, so evocative, just unbelievable wordsmithery.
Dag's parents still crack me up and I especially love Dag's mom being best friends with Eli.
I will need to do some light reading on Haitian vodou and African deities after this one. The lore these books are inspired by is just so interesting to me.
And finally, I'm now gonna read the last short story to get a final fix of my favorite "Don't be a brat" "Now I'll be more of a brat" dynamic while crossing my fingers that they perhaps in the future come back to me with a second arc.
November 6, 2022
Dag and Eli are my favourite couple, I love them as individuals and I love them even more as a couple. I love how good they are with and to each other. I could have read ten more books with them and it's with a heavy heart I'm saying goodbye.
That said Greg could not have written a better send off and this last book of the series (apart from the collection of short stories) is fully satisfying. A massive showdown with friends and fiends, old and new, the most supportive/embarrassing parents ever (I 💜 them), a big dose of demon fighting (figuratively speaking and less so...).
I also really enjoyed the New Orleans setting, the voodoo and the hoodoo and the witchcraft, I particularly liked how the line between reality and superstition gets more blurry with each book.
I don't want to spoil anything but what happens to Eli in this book was especially good storytelling both from an emotional standpoint and of course for tension and suspense and badass action.
This series goes straight into my to reread pile and it's my top recommendation for anyone who likes paranormal and would love to give Gregory's books a try.
That said Greg could not have written a better send off and this last book of the series (apart from the collection of short stories) is fully satisfying. A massive showdown with friends and fiends, old and new, the most supportive/embarrassing parents ever (I 💜 them), a big dose of demon fighting (figuratively speaking and less so...).
I also really enjoyed the New Orleans setting, the voodoo and the hoodoo and the witchcraft, I particularly liked how the line between reality and superstition gets more blurry with each book.
I don't want to spoil anything but what happens to Eli in this book was especially good storytelling both from an emotional standpoint and of course for tension and suspense and badass action.
This series goes straight into my to reread pile and it's my top recommendation for anyone who likes paranormal and would love to give Gregory's books a try.
November 4, 2022
The third installment of The DuPage Parish Mysteries ups the spookiness factor, with more monsters, gore, and supernatural elements than in the previous two. This book is pretty fast-paced, with near nonstop action once Reb - the bartender from Cascade Hunger - shows up at Dag and Eli's asking them to help find his missing boyfriend.
The action and horror are balanced with humor and some incredibly sweet moments between Dag and Eli. Eli remains endearing as always, despite his intimacy and trust issues causing him to exhibit some volatile behavior. Dag is a giant teddy bear with endless patience and unconditional love for Eli, and I love the way the two of them complement each other.
This book is a great conclusion to the series; we get answers as to why monsters have been popping up out of the woodwork and wreaking havoc in DuPage, and Dag and Eli come out of the story with an even stronger relationship, reaffirming their love for one another. That being said, there are some questions left open-ended, and I imagine they'll be explored if we ever get another series for these two.
The action and horror are balanced with humor and some incredibly sweet moments between Dag and Eli. Eli remains endearing as always, despite his intimacy and trust issues causing him to exhibit some volatile behavior. Dag is a giant teddy bear with endless patience and unconditional love for Eli, and I love the way the two of them complement each other.
This book is a great conclusion to the series; we get answers as to why monsters have been popping up out of the woodwork and wreaking havoc in DuPage, and Dag and Eli come out of the story with an even stronger relationship, reaffirming their love for one another. That being said, there are some questions left open-ended, and I imagine they'll be explored if we ever get another series for these two.
January 31, 2023
Review to follow.
October 30, 2022
Wow! This is the perfect Halloween read. And by that I mean that is scary, disquieting and uncomfortable in the best way.
Eli is going through changes, in more than one sense and Dag is doing his best to be supportive. But, well, we all know that that is a sure way to get Eli in running mode ~sighs~ And then, we have Posey (the barman making a pass at Eli in the last book, remember?) trying to kidnap him because Reb (remember Reb, who had Lany fascinated with his blue snow eyes?) is missing and a houngan got killed in a particularly vicious way, so he's worried that his boyfriend is involved.
Sounds bad? That's just the beginning because Fer is back in town and gunning for Reb (but she will shoot them down, too, if she can; she's not picky), Nelda Pie is beyond power-crazy and wants his 'protegèe' back and, if that wasn't enough, there is an insane mafia man who wants Reb into his own
There is danger at every level you can imagine: physical, emotional, spiritual... The Bayou in all its mythic power is raising and Eli and Dag are in the middle of it all.
Argh, I don't want to spoil a thing, so I'll stop here, but believe me, this a hell of a scary story. And I loved it!
Eli is going through changes, in more than one sense and Dag is doing his best to be supportive. But, well, we all know that that is a sure way to get Eli in running mode ~sighs~ And then, we have Posey (the barman making a pass at Eli in the last book, remember?) trying to kidnap him because Reb (remember Reb, who had Lany fascinated with his blue snow eyes?) is missing and a houngan got killed in a particularly vicious way, so he's worried that his boyfriend is involved.
Sounds bad? That's just the beginning because Fer is back in town and gunning for Reb (but she will shoot them down, too, if she can; she's not picky), Nelda Pie is beyond power-crazy and wants his 'protegèe' back and, if that wasn't enough, there is an insane mafia man who wants Reb into his own
There is danger at every level you can imagine: physical, emotional, spiritual... The Bayou in all its mythic power is raising and Eli and Dag are in the middle of it all.
Argh, I don't want to spoil a thing, so I'll stop here, but believe me, this a hell of a scary story. And I loved it!
October 31, 2022
GAH.
These two are just…
Eli’s entire personality constantly makes want to laugh and scream, and there’s just something special about Dag’s patience and love for him. Not despite how he is, but because of it. My gods they’re cute.
And Dag’s parents are an entire vibe. I loved how much they were in this book… my gods.
These two are just…
Eli’s entire personality constantly makes want to laugh and scream, and there’s just something special about Dag’s patience and love for him. Not despite how he is, but because of it. My gods they’re cute.
And Dag’s parents are an entire vibe. I loved how much they were in this book… my gods.
January 20, 2023
I don’t think I loved this… which was disappointing. I’d rank it lowest out of the series for me, and the ending didn’t make up for the lead to the end and also if felt like we could’ve done with another chapter of just talking. Hopefully the story in second line will make up for it.
August 4, 2023
Very good but Eli's histrionics can get tiring. I didn't read the previous books and don't think that I missed anything due to the recap.
December 14, 2022
I have spent approx. 1 million hours teaching people basic Excel… so far this week. (It’s Tuesday.) If not for the entertainment of this book I would have gone insane. To my neighbors who were spared the screams of frustration that that would have involved - please direct your thanks to this author!
This series is the perfect blend of humor and horror (and drama and romance and sex). Honestly I needed to live vicariously through Eli being so bitchy. A joy to experience. The horror and the action and the drama were top notch as they have been for every book in this series. And I know that I am and always will be the Dag in the relationship so all I will say is I was incredibly pleased by this ending.
PS I need to know more about Kennedy! Can she have a spin-off where she does cool magic and complains about Eli and also meets someone sexy? (Please don’t tell me the answer, I have done no research on this question other than having already bought and downloaded the next book in this series.)
This series is the perfect blend of humor and horror (and drama and romance and sex). Honestly I needed to live vicariously through Eli being so bitchy. A joy to experience. The horror and the action and the drama were top notch as they have been for every book in this series. And I know that I am and always will be the Dag in the relationship so all I will say is I was incredibly pleased by this ending.
PS I need to know more about Kennedy! Can she have a spin-off where she does cool magic and complains about Eli and also meets someone sexy? (Please don’t tell me the answer, I have done no research on this question other than having already bought and downloaded the next book in this series.)
April 19, 2025
4 Stars
This series is so different and I'm not sure how to even review this one, except to say I enjoyed the completion of Eli and Dag's story arc.
I liked the use of the different paranormal aspects and how they were woven around the storyline.
The completion of the story was well done as Eli struggled to control the monster from taking over his body and trying to keep Dag safe.
Eli has a knack of being annoying which is used well in the end here but I did like that Dag evolved a bit as well and at times lost the whole always nice guy and actually yelled at Eli. Dag's parents were pure comic joy and stole every scene they were in.
I felt for Reb and some of the other Chimera's. They didn't ask to be who they were and yet people always stake advantage of them. So much happened in this last installment that I think I need to do a reread or listen to the audio to get a full grasp of just what happened.
Looking forward to reading the shorts and completing the series
This series is so different and I'm not sure how to even review this one, except to say I enjoyed the completion of Eli and Dag's story arc.
I liked the use of the different paranormal aspects and how they were woven around the storyline.
The completion of the story was well done as Eli struggled to control the monster from taking over his body and trying to keep Dag safe.
Eli has a knack of being annoying which is used well in the end here but I did like that Dag evolved a bit as well and at times lost the whole always nice guy and actually yelled at Eli. Dag's parents were pure comic joy and stole every scene they were in.
I felt for Reb and some of the other Chimera's. They didn't ask to be who they were and yet people always stake advantage of them. So much happened in this last installment that I think I need to do a reread or listen to the audio to get a full grasp of just what happened.
Looking forward to reading the shorts and completing the series
October 30, 2022
Dag and Eli are back and man, this one is a wild ride. And it is chock full o’ monsters.
We pick up a year after where the last book, Cascade Hunger, left off. Dag and Eli are doing good. Dag is kicking a lot of ass at school. Eli is getting healthier, has a job, and is starting to develop visible abs. Things are going well until a man name Posey shows up their doorstep looking for help. We met Posey in the last adventure and he is part of the not-entirely-human scene at the Stoplight. His boyfriend, Reb, is missing and he can’t go to the police because Reb is a rougarou (werewolf). And while Dag is content to say no, Eli’s tender heart means that they of course say yes.
I really enjoyed the interactions between our men in this one – it was nice to see our boys together and in love. The teasing between the two of them is hilarious and I loved Eli’s “punishing Dag” antics whenever he’s not getting enough attention. Of course, this is an Ashe book, so it can’t just stay nice and easy. Instead, we have Eli with increasing anger issues and violent impulses that have him questioning what kind of parting gifts the hashok left him with. And we have Dag increasingly confused as to how to help his boyfriend with the changes happening to him. And then we have a whole lot of people trying to kill them. Repeatedly and with determination.
It felt like this book had more horror elements than the previous two did but that may just be because I am more sensitive to the type of horror in this one. We revisit the Stoplight and Nelda Pie, who collects supernatural people and has dogfights at the bar, both mundane and otherwise. There was no on-page dog-fighting and mostly the fighting was all supernatural (and mostly off-page), but just the idea of it got me upset. Similarly, Nelda Pie’s slavery/trafficking/arrangement thing with some of the supernaturals was distressing. There’s a lot of human nastiness behind the monsters, but that’s exactly the point.
Fortunately, the horror elements are well-balanced with humour and romance. Dag’s parents are back and as ridiculous as ever. Dag and Eli’s humour is on point and I thought Eli in particular shone in this one. Though the road is rocky, the ending is super-satisfying, both for this story and for the trilogy overall. So if you’re looking for a spooky paranormal read this Halloween with romance and humour, a mystery at its heart, and a healthy serving of horror on the side, this is a definite read.
On a totally personal side note, I’m Canadian and grew up with French songs at Halloween about ghosts and werewolves. In French, werewolf is loup-garou. Close enough to rougarou, that I had those songs stuck in my head for the ENTIRE TIME I was reading this book. Greg, I owe you an earworm. An annoying one!
Note: I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review
We pick up a year after where the last book, Cascade Hunger, left off. Dag and Eli are doing good. Dag is kicking a lot of ass at school. Eli is getting healthier, has a job, and is starting to develop visible abs. Things are going well until a man name Posey shows up their doorstep looking for help. We met Posey in the last adventure and he is part of the not-entirely-human scene at the Stoplight. His boyfriend, Reb, is missing and he can’t go to the police because Reb is a rougarou (werewolf). And while Dag is content to say no, Eli’s tender heart means that they of course say yes.
I really enjoyed the interactions between our men in this one – it was nice to see our boys together and in love. The teasing between the two of them is hilarious and I loved Eli’s “punishing Dag” antics whenever he’s not getting enough attention. Of course, this is an Ashe book, so it can’t just stay nice and easy. Instead, we have Eli with increasing anger issues and violent impulses that have him questioning what kind of parting gifts the hashok left him with. And we have Dag increasingly confused as to how to help his boyfriend with the changes happening to him. And then we have a whole lot of people trying to kill them. Repeatedly and with determination.
It felt like this book had more horror elements than the previous two did but that may just be because I am more sensitive to the type of horror in this one. We revisit the Stoplight and Nelda Pie, who collects supernatural people and has dogfights at the bar, both mundane and otherwise. There was no on-page dog-fighting and mostly the fighting was all supernatural (and mostly off-page), but just the idea of it got me upset. Similarly, Nelda Pie’s slavery/trafficking/arrangement thing with some of the supernaturals was distressing. There’s a lot of human nastiness behind the monsters, but that’s exactly the point.
Fortunately, the horror elements are well-balanced with humour and romance. Dag’s parents are back and as ridiculous as ever. Dag and Eli’s humour is on point and I thought Eli in particular shone in this one. Though the road is rocky, the ending is super-satisfying, both for this story and for the trilogy overall. So if you’re looking for a spooky paranormal read this Halloween with romance and humour, a mystery at its heart, and a healthy serving of horror on the side, this is a definite read.
On a totally personal side note, I’m Canadian and grew up with French songs at Halloween about ghosts and werewolves. In French, werewolf is loup-garou. Close enough to rougarou, that I had those songs stuck in my head for the ENTIRE TIME I was reading this book. Greg, I owe you an earworm. An annoying one!
Note: I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 25, 2023
I’m not sure why, but I had to sit on this review for a little bit before writing it. This book has so much going on and is so action packed, I had to process it all and figure out what was important to say about the book to anyone who hadn’t read or listened to it yet. This isn’t a series in which this book should be read as a stand-alone so if you haven’t read or listened to the first two books, I highly recommend it. Especially, since things that occurred in the first book have come back to affect Eli, in particular, in this one.
Eli is a complicated character who I feel a lot of sympathy for. His family was killed by a monster, his previous relationship was beyond abusive, and he has an eating disorder and a host of other neuroses that make it hard to believe anyone can really love him. In this book, he discovers that his ex had a more lasting impact on his life, bringing about physical and emotional changes, and violent thoughts that can get quite graphic in detail.
Dag has the patience of a saint, in my opinion. He puts up with Eli’s attention seeking antics, and sees the real good under Eli’s act. Dag’s family is real comic relief in the story, and I love how accepting and supportive they are. As an ex-cop, turned student, he has saved Eli’s life, supported Eli through his problems, and faced down monsters, I’d say Dag is pretty perfect. His only problem is his nervousness that Eli will run from their relationship. It’s not an unwarranted fear, but this small mistrust in Eli seems to make Eli’s own fears spike. That, and the fact that these two stubborn men aren’t great at communicating with each other when it counts. Though their romance does have a very promising moment right at the end.
Still, I really like these two characters together and I have high hopes for them. In this book they find themselves fighting a voodoo woman who has collected a group of half human/half paranormal characters to secure her authority in the bayou. A blood sacrifice is wanted to help a demigod rise and Dag and Eli find themselves in the middle of an epic battle. There is some resolution to the ending, but I feel like something bigger is evolving, so I hope there will be more to this series.
I definitely recommend listening to this book, the narration by Declan Winters is spot on. He does a great job bringing the characters to life and does his best to bring a unique voice to each character.
Eli is a complicated character who I feel a lot of sympathy for. His family was killed by a monster, his previous relationship was beyond abusive, and he has an eating disorder and a host of other neuroses that make it hard to believe anyone can really love him. In this book, he discovers that his ex had a more lasting impact on his life, bringing about physical and emotional changes, and violent thoughts that can get quite graphic in detail.
Dag has the patience of a saint, in my opinion. He puts up with Eli’s attention seeking antics, and sees the real good under Eli’s act. Dag’s family is real comic relief in the story, and I love how accepting and supportive they are. As an ex-cop, turned student, he has saved Eli’s life, supported Eli through his problems, and faced down monsters, I’d say Dag is pretty perfect. His only problem is his nervousness that Eli will run from their relationship. It’s not an unwarranted fear, but this small mistrust in Eli seems to make Eli’s own fears spike. That, and the fact that these two stubborn men aren’t great at communicating with each other when it counts. Though their romance does have a very promising moment right at the end.
Still, I really like these two characters together and I have high hopes for them. In this book they find themselves fighting a voodoo woman who has collected a group of half human/half paranormal characters to secure her authority in the bayou. A blood sacrifice is wanted to help a demigod rise and Dag and Eli find themselves in the middle of an epic battle. There is some resolution to the ending, but I feel like something bigger is evolving, so I hope there will be more to this series.
I definitely recommend listening to this book, the narration by Declan Winters is spot on. He does a great job bringing the characters to life and does his best to bring a unique voice to each character.
April 9, 2023
I never know if there are new books coming in this series, but I welcome each and every one of them. This book is no exception. This story takes place about a year after the ending of Cascade Hunger, we're still in Louisiana, and Eli and Dag are still together. I think my mistake when I started reading this book is that I didn't go back and reread the blurb so I had no idea where this story was going to go. Everyone is just in for a wild ride with this book.
This book manages to keep not only the creepy atmosphere from the first two books, but the SUSPENSE. There's also the paranormal aspect of this series, and while I'm still a little bit confused with some of it, I like that this book ties in events that happened at the beginning of the series through to this book. Will there be more books in the future for these characters? I wouldn't mind seeing them again, but I feel like after everything they've been through, they maybe do need a little break. I'm sure Miss Kennedy from the library who Eli keeps bothering for help would appreciate some peace and quiet too, or at least a vacation.
Content notes include a person's face getting bitten off, racism, homomisia, mentions of cage fighting (dogs), graphic violence, decapitation, mentions of an eating disorder, and death.
When this book starts off, we learn that Eli has beef with some teenagers living down his street. It is hilarious because of how petty and silly the whole thing is, but I like how we come back around to these kids (or rather, just one kid in particular) at the end of the book and it's kind of a warmhearted moment to bookend this story.
But what really kicks off the book is the appearance of Posey Rawlins, a guy they met in book two and who worked at a sketchy looking place called the Stoplight. It's a bar and the vibe there was super weird. Well, Posey is here to ask Eli and Dag for help in finding his boyfriend? lover? Rebellion, also known as Reb. Reb is a sex worker, but more importantly he's a werewolf (known as a rougarou in this book). And he's missing. Dag isn't keen on the whole thing, since he does have school to think about, but what Eli wants, Eli gets.
If anyone is familiar with the author's other books, then I would say that Eli and Dag kind of give me vibes like Dulac and Darnell from the Hazard and Somerset series (but without all the frat boy...issues), or maybe Jem and Tean vibes from The Lamb and the Lion series. But Eli and Dag certainly still have issues entirely their own they need to work out. Eli has come a long way though considering everything he's been through with paranormal monsters and Dag still needs to see a therapist about his problems. They are in as stable a relationship as we could hope for at this point, and of course you have Dag's very supportive (maybe too supportive?) parents to help them along. Eli and Dag have had way too many people close to them die in horrible ways, but to see them where they are now and happy with one another is all I want.
There's a lot more monsters in this book, and a LOT more violence. But I feel like this is perhaps the least sad book of the series so far? At least no one I care about gets murdered in this book, so I just had a better time with this book than the previous books in this series. There's still many fighting and lots of angst though, so don't worry. That's still a theme here.
I wouldn't say the story ends with a cliffhanger because there is a book of short stories out called Second Line that includes an epilogue of sorts for these characters. There's stories about Eli and Dag that happen between the books in this series, as well as a story of vignettes after this book takes place. I still need to read it and the blurb definitely makes me think I need to hurry up and read it!
I don't want to spoil too much from THIS book though, but I really enjoyed being back in DuPage Parish with another suspense mystery on our hands that Eli and Dag have to reluctantly solve. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you'll definitely like this one and being with the characters again!
The audiobook is also as great as the previous books. Declan Winters kills it again as the narrator for this book and I really enjoy the subtleties in the accents and voices he gives to the characters to differentiate them from one another. Although this book is told in alternating first-person POV, I'm never confused while listening to the audiobook whose POV we're in or who's speaking in any scene. I really love the audiobooks in this series and I hope to listen to more audiobooks from Declan Winters!
***Thanks to the author for giving me a copy of the e-ARC and audiobook for review!!***
This book manages to keep not only the creepy atmosphere from the first two books, but the SUSPENSE. There's also the paranormal aspect of this series, and while I'm still a little bit confused with some of it, I like that this book ties in events that happened at the beginning of the series through to this book. Will there be more books in the future for these characters? I wouldn't mind seeing them again, but I feel like after everything they've been through, they maybe do need a little break. I'm sure Miss Kennedy from the library who Eli keeps bothering for help would appreciate some peace and quiet too, or at least a vacation.
Content notes include a person's face getting bitten off, racism, homomisia, mentions of cage fighting (dogs), graphic violence, decapitation, mentions of an eating disorder, and death.
When this book starts off, we learn that Eli has beef with some teenagers living down his street. It is hilarious because of how petty and silly the whole thing is, but I like how we come back around to these kids (or rather, just one kid in particular) at the end of the book and it's kind of a warmhearted moment to bookend this story.
But what really kicks off the book is the appearance of Posey Rawlins, a guy they met in book two and who worked at a sketchy looking place called the Stoplight. It's a bar and the vibe there was super weird. Well, Posey is here to ask Eli and Dag for help in finding his boyfriend? lover? Rebellion, also known as Reb. Reb is a sex worker, but more importantly he's a werewolf (known as a rougarou in this book). And he's missing. Dag isn't keen on the whole thing, since he does have school to think about, but what Eli wants, Eli gets.
If anyone is familiar with the author's other books, then I would say that Eli and Dag kind of give me vibes like Dulac and Darnell from the Hazard and Somerset series (but without all the frat boy...issues), or maybe Jem and Tean vibes from The Lamb and the Lion series. But Eli and Dag certainly still have issues entirely their own they need to work out. Eli has come a long way though considering everything he's been through with paranormal monsters and Dag still needs to see a therapist about his problems. They are in as stable a relationship as we could hope for at this point, and of course you have Dag's very supportive (maybe too supportive?) parents to help them along. Eli and Dag have had way too many people close to them die in horrible ways, but to see them where they are now and happy with one another is all I want.
There's a lot more monsters in this book, and a LOT more violence. But I feel like this is perhaps the least sad book of the series so far? At least no one I care about gets murdered in this book, so I just had a better time with this book than the previous books in this series. There's still many fighting and lots of angst though, so don't worry. That's still a theme here.
I wouldn't say the story ends with a cliffhanger because there is a book of short stories out called Second Line that includes an epilogue of sorts for these characters. There's stories about Eli and Dag that happen between the books in this series, as well as a story of vignettes after this book takes place. I still need to read it and the blurb definitely makes me think I need to hurry up and read it!
I don't want to spoil too much from THIS book though, but I really enjoyed being back in DuPage Parish with another suspense mystery on our hands that Eli and Dag have to reluctantly solve. If you enjoyed the first two books in this series, you'll definitely like this one and being with the characters again!
The audiobook is also as great as the previous books. Declan Winters kills it again as the narrator for this book and I really enjoy the subtleties in the accents and voices he gives to the characters to differentiate them from one another. Although this book is told in alternating first-person POV, I'm never confused while listening to the audiobook whose POV we're in or who's speaking in any scene. I really love the audiobooks in this series and I hope to listen to more audiobooks from Declan Winters!
***Thanks to the author for giving me a copy of the e-ARC and audiobook for review!!***
November 22, 2022
This is honestly one of my favorite Ashe series, and I don't say this lightly, because Hazard and Somers were (and mostly still are) a long-term obsession, and some of the other series (like The Lamb and the Lion) are still considered among the best books I've ever read.
But this one is just so wonderfully different. First of all, I love the local Louisiana fantasy world, which gets richer and more complex in every book. Reading the first one I thought "this is quite simple and fun", and I really enjoyed the refreshing setting of a monster hunt (although the social and emotional world of the MCs was still wonderfully deep). But book 2 sets a more complex setting on a larger scale, and the current one takes all the leads from the previous books and really connects all the dots in a way that was both still refreshing and new, but also shows the larger picture of this fantasy world. I truly loved it, it's just such a great fantasy series. This book also includes a lot of intriguing large-scale action scenes, and they were not only fun but also very effective. Unlike many other action books, I actually enjoyed reading those scenes, and maybe more importantly - sometimes I wasn't sure how it's going to end, which is far from being obvious in this genre.
I also love Eli and Dag's relationship. It develops beautifully from the fun and relatively-light book 1, to more angsty book 2, up 'till the current one which is deeper and darker - but also builds very thoroughly on the previous two. Every twist and turn in their relationship was understandable, however unfortunate it might be sometimes. The end is just lovely and so much THEM. I truly love this couple and believe in them, and I also love how imperfect they are, especially Eli - who is utterly annoying sometimes, but it does make him a great character.
All in all I recommend this series very much, and this book in particular - which is the best of the three in my opinion.
But this one is just so wonderfully different. First of all, I love the local Louisiana fantasy world, which gets richer and more complex in every book. Reading the first one I thought "this is quite simple and fun", and I really enjoyed the refreshing setting of a monster hunt (although the social and emotional world of the MCs was still wonderfully deep). But book 2 sets a more complex setting on a larger scale, and the current one takes all the leads from the previous books and really connects all the dots in a way that was both still refreshing and new, but also shows the larger picture of this fantasy world. I truly loved it, it's just such a great fantasy series. This book also includes a lot of intriguing large-scale action scenes, and they were not only fun but also very effective. Unlike many other action books, I actually enjoyed reading those scenes, and maybe more importantly - sometimes I wasn't sure how it's going to end, which is far from being obvious in this genre.
I also love Eli and Dag's relationship. It develops beautifully from the fun and relatively-light book 1, to more angsty book 2, up 'till the current one which is deeper and darker - but also builds very thoroughly on the previous two. Every twist and turn in their relationship was understandable, however unfortunate it might be sometimes. The end is just lovely and so much THEM. I truly love this couple and believe in them, and I also love how imperfect they are, especially Eli - who is utterly annoying sometimes, but it does make him a great character.
All in all I recommend this series very much, and this book in particular - which is the best of the three in my opinion.
January 26, 2023
One of the best final chapters.
I was given this audiobook as an advanced listener. I enjoyed the first two books in this series but this easily surpassed the first two. I finished it within 24 hours. It would have been sooner but as you know we have to get on with a few other things in life apart from the joy of reading and listening to books!
The title of my headline is because this is one of the best final chapters about love and understanding, where Gregory Ashe will have you running the gamut of emotions of fear, hope and joy. I have already relistened to it several times. However, in order to get there you are going to have to have yet another adventure with Eli and Dag which is not for the fainthearted. As Ashe quickly draws you back into the otherworld of DuPage Parish when a knock on Eli and Dag's door brings them face to face with someone they have previously met seeking help. Being people who find it very hard to turn anyone away they soon find themselves dragged back into the world of monsters and those who hunt as well trying to save a rougarou. From the opening of that door, the pace quickens as the horror is unveiled and Eli and Dag realise this is a fight both for themselves and the good of others. For most of the book, you have to deal with a feeling of foreboding which makes you wonder if you want to go on to the next chapter but hope will drive you forward.
The location of the stories is the bayou down near New Orleans. It appears to fit the storyline well from everything I have heard about it. It is a place I am planning to visit in the very near future. Exciting and scary.
Declan Winters as before is the perfect narrator for this series adapting to every emotion and situation.
I am pleased to see that a fourth book is listed because we can always do with another dose of Dag's parents.
I was given this audiobook as an advanced listener. I enjoyed the first two books in this series but this easily surpassed the first two. I finished it within 24 hours. It would have been sooner but as you know we have to get on with a few other things in life apart from the joy of reading and listening to books!
The title of my headline is because this is one of the best final chapters about love and understanding, where Gregory Ashe will have you running the gamut of emotions of fear, hope and joy. I have already relistened to it several times. However, in order to get there you are going to have to have yet another adventure with Eli and Dag which is not for the fainthearted. As Ashe quickly draws you back into the otherworld of DuPage Parish when a knock on Eli and Dag's door brings them face to face with someone they have previously met seeking help. Being people who find it very hard to turn anyone away they soon find themselves dragged back into the world of monsters and those who hunt as well trying to save a rougarou. From the opening of that door, the pace quickens as the horror is unveiled and Eli and Dag realise this is a fight both for themselves and the good of others. For most of the book, you have to deal with a feeling of foreboding which makes you wonder if you want to go on to the next chapter but hope will drive you forward.
The location of the stories is the bayou down near New Orleans. It appears to fit the storyline well from everything I have heard about it. It is a place I am planning to visit in the very near future. Exciting and scary.
Declan Winters as before is the perfect narrator for this series adapting to every emotion and situation.
I am pleased to see that a fourth book is listed because we can always do with another dose of Dag's parents.
September 19, 2023
Somewhere in the land of 2.5-3 stars.
Eli and Dag find themselves roped into investigating the disappearance of a sex worker who also happens to be a rougarou. The search leads them deep into the secrets of the New Orleans' bayou.
This book was fine but unfortunately it continued with a lot of the things I didn’t like in book 2. A little too much telling and not showing. There were some more long info dumps while having conversations with experts on a subject. This was more gore - which usually doesn’t bother me - but the graphic dog fights took me by surprise and it really was not for me.
Eli seems to be at his healthiest place in this book but he’s still a brat. I did appreciate the long conversation Dag initiated to hash things out about their relationship and Eli’s avoidance behavior. It was a long time coming but by the end of the story Eli was back to his old tricks and secrets. Dag is a saint. Personally, I couldn’t be with Eli but hey, Dag seems to love the bratty behavior.
Overall, this series had a very strong first book but the interesting setting wasn’t enough to save it from the messy relationship and an overarching plot that got bogged down for me with just too much going on. Personally, I found it more violent and weird than spooky.
It wasn't bad, I just didn't like it very much.
Eli and Dag find themselves roped into investigating the disappearance of a sex worker who also happens to be a rougarou. The search leads them deep into the secrets of the New Orleans' bayou.
This book was fine but unfortunately it continued with a lot of the things I didn’t like in book 2. A little too much telling and not showing. There were some more long info dumps while having conversations with experts on a subject. This was more gore - which usually doesn’t bother me - but the graphic dog fights took me by surprise and it really was not for me.
Eli seems to be at his healthiest place in this book but he’s still a brat. I did appreciate the long conversation Dag initiated to hash things out about their relationship and Eli’s avoidance behavior. It was a long time coming but by the end of the story Eli was back to his old tricks and secrets. Dag is a saint. Personally, I couldn’t be with Eli but hey, Dag seems to love the bratty behavior.
Overall, this series had a very strong first book but the interesting setting wasn’t enough to save it from the messy relationship and an overarching plot that got bogged down for me with just too much going on. Personally, I found it more violent and weird than spooky.
It wasn't bad, I just didn't like it very much.
October 31, 2022
Eli and Dag are back! This is by far my favourite of the Du Page Parish Mysteries series. Eli and Dag are roped in to helping a past acquaintance locate his missing boyfriend, and things get kind of freaky, just in time for Halloween. I liked this book because the supernatural elements have just exploded and really ramped up in this last installment! Instead of facing off against one other-worldly creature, there's a whole new slew of them including a werewolf (or rougarou), a gator-man, a super-sayan strongman, witches - the list goes on. Plus Eli finally has to face up to the consequences of his first entanglement with the supernatural. I think expanding the supernatural elements just made this book so much more engaging and interesting, all with Gregory Ashe's trademark humour and insight (and super lovely happy ever afters). I liked that Eli seems to have finally mastered some of those issues that seemed to cripple him, and he and Dag are in a better space with their commitment to each other. I really hope this isn't the end of Eli and Dag's adventures. Fingers crossed for more of their books in the future. Thank you as always to the author for an ARC of this book. Happy Halloween, everybody!
January 27, 2023
Interesting instalment (an audio review)
I’ll admit this isn’t my favorite Gregory Ashe series. That being said, I’ll listen to anything he puts out, so I was happy to snap this one up. I don’t know if it’s the paranormal elements that I find so unsettling or the actual content – be forewarned, there are some graphic violence scenes. Don’t want to give too much away, just giving you the heads-up.
Eli and Dag are an improbable team. Dag is a former police officer who is studying marine biology. Eli is…dealing with an eating disorder, worried about his looks, and always siding with Dag’s over-liberal parents. They view supporting their gay son as a competitive sport and are always trying to make sure they’re the best.
It’s kind of cute.
Poor Dag.
Despite all this, Dag and Eli are pulled into the hunt for the Rougarou – another mythical creature. As always, things aren’t as they appear, and it’s up to the men to solve the mystery before it’s too late. A wild ride, for sure.
I want to give a shout out to Declan Winters who does a great job with narrating this unique story – he makes it so much better.
I’ll admit this isn’t my favorite Gregory Ashe series. That being said, I’ll listen to anything he puts out, so I was happy to snap this one up. I don’t know if it’s the paranormal elements that I find so unsettling or the actual content – be forewarned, there are some graphic violence scenes. Don’t want to give too much away, just giving you the heads-up.
Eli and Dag are an improbable team. Dag is a former police officer who is studying marine biology. Eli is…dealing with an eating disorder, worried about his looks, and always siding with Dag’s over-liberal parents. They view supporting their gay son as a competitive sport and are always trying to make sure they’re the best.
It’s kind of cute.
Poor Dag.
Despite all this, Dag and Eli are pulled into the hunt for the Rougarou – another mythical creature. As always, things aren’t as they appear, and it’s up to the men to solve the mystery before it’s too late. A wild ride, for sure.
I want to give a shout out to Declan Winters who does a great job with narrating this unique story – he makes it so much better.
January 18, 2023
This is the third book in the Dupage Parish Mysteries, a paranormal series by the great Gregory Ashe. This is not a stand alone book; I strongly recommend reading the first two books in order to get the most out of this one. So Eli and Dag are trying to return to a normal life after the traumas of the last two books. Guess how that is going? Eli is “changing” and neither he nor Dag really know how to deal with it. They are asked to help locate a missing person that turns out to be another supernatural creature. In fact there are many supernatural creatures in this installment living in New Orleans. The boy’s relationship is really strained by Eli’s moodiness, but trust Dag’s parent’s to bring a welcome comic relief. I really love those two. This installment is full of the mystery, intrigue and humor GA does so well; along with a “twist” at the end, of course. Hopefully this is not the last we here from these men. If feel like there is more story to tell. Declan Winters gives a masterful performance and really brings this story to life. A+++
I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews