Doom Magnet

Oct 24: Audiophiles, it's here! https://www.audible.com/pd/Doom-Magnet-Audiobook/B0DKL94L2J

The dooziest cozy to doozy so far.

[4.4~4.5] After the ending of that last book, I wasn't going to delude myself into thinking book número tres was going to take a gentle turn. But while frolicking through blooming meadows was immediately struck off the list, maybe - just maybe - it'd be akin to a light practice strike, one you might aim at a punching bag to get the body warmed up.

Little did I know, the tables would turn and I'd find myself getting absolutely pummeled instead. I left feeling like I'd just finished a clean 5k in emotional damage, and I approve. Subvert the genre. Make it yours. Life would be too predictable otherwise.

There is so much relationship angst laced in these pages: the suppressed wants and desires, the violent ebb and flow of awareness and tension. The purposeful shifts and switches in Dash's POV between “Deputy Bobby” and “Bobby.” The fears and subtle testing of waters. Every look and action and word, whether spoken or unspoken, held so much in their invisible weight, and reaffirmed the lengths left to go before their truth can be realized. I guess I'll continue to exist indefinitely on the verge of bursting from the coiled strain of watching the play-by-play on the sidelines.

Dash should take a stab at writing romance. The poetry he was waxing could be turned into the most romantic of wistful odes, if he only gave himself the chance.

I couldn't possibly adore the progress of Dash's relationship with the town of Hastings Rock more. There's a scene with a certain owner that lit a toasty fire in this cold, barren heart of mine that then had me tearing up at a single line update a few chapters later. I love that he's truly carving out a place for himself after never having had his own space, and now surrounded by those who truly want the best for him. Indira was a standout in her compassion and heartwarming pastries, and Keme and Dash just share such aggressively sweet sibling energy. The Last Picks is my favorite motley crew of personalities, and I need them to stick together forever.

The only thing that has me vacillating between ratings would be the mystery. And I think it warrants a reread because I bulldozed through this so fast and can't quite put a finger on the exact cogs in the system that lost me (was I affected by the favoring of character work? But that, I should think, would invigorate me more. Perhaps it had the mystery taking a backseat more than desired?). I'll come back to adjust accordingly.

Whatever the case may be, I hope we are one step closer to answering the question: will Dash finally get his moment to explain how he solved the crime instead of getting spoken over??

Thank you to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book; this is my honest review :)

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July 15! my only spark of joy in the era of stomach bugs