The Hell You Say

What a way to start the year! I've been swept up in this series and I'm obsessed and thrilled.This is the third book in the Adrien English Mysteries and you absolutely should read 1 & 2 first for the joy of it and because the central relationship of the books, Jack & Adrien, develops uneasily over the course of the books. Like the previous books I enjoyed these as an audio narrated by the brilliant [a:Chris Patton 1381825 Chris Patton https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1297104882p2/1381825.jpg]. The book starts right after Thanksgiving, some months have have passed since Jake & Adrien returned to L.A. after the adventure at Pine Shadow Ranch. It's not an easy or normal relationship. But they do have one. Meanwhile at Cloak & Dagger Angus, whom I tend to think of as Igor to Adrien's Frankenstein, is getting menacing phone calls from a group of Satanists or Dark Arts practitioners he has gotten involved with and of course Adrien offers help. As it turns out Angus' problem dovetails with a case Jake is working on and Adrien can't help but get involved against all advice to the contrary. The case is twisty and sometimes byzantine but engaging and populated by memorable characters. We are introduced to Guy the guy who is good on paper and maybe even real life but whom I couldn't quite warm up to and the regulars from the writers group who are fun all on their own. As a bonus Lisa brings in a whole new group of people whom I enjoyed immensely and they in turn are a window to a new world for Adrien.However the main focus of this book is the developing relationship between Jake & Adrien. The push and pull. Will they or won't they. Or rather will Jake take the next step or is he too far in the closet both mentally and figuratively. Will Adrien be satisfied with what they have. Will he push/demand more.Aside from the mysteries which I'm admittedly a sucker for my favorite part of this series is the serious and honest exploration of a man struggling to accept or come to terms with his sexuality pushed solely by his undeniable attraction to another. Because that's the thing, these books are Adrien's stories and told from his POV but the person having the major life changing journey is Jake. Even though we get very little directly from the horse's mouth and everything Jake does is viewed thru the prism of Adrien's perception he's still a fascinating character. No he's not soft or talkative. Yes he has a self preservation streak a mile long. Yes he is a hard ass for rules. He's a closeted and self hating homosexual or possibly bi. And yet I can't help feeling like he's the most honest character. Sure not so much with the world but yes to Adrien. He never promises things he has no intention delivering on. Because he can't imagine wanting them, having them. The fact that Adrien hopes for these unattainable things is tragic in the most romantic sense of the word and haven't we all been fools to that illusory hope at one time or another. It's not smart. It just is. No need to fear though because in spite of his weak heart, literally and figuratively, Adrien is a strong and smart man. He knows when to cut his losses and turn the page. He's stronger than he may seem. Toward the end when Jake delivers what could be a killing blow Adrien staggers but ultimately decides to look ahead. And that is another reason why I love this series. Josh writes realistic gay men. Much of M/M is populated by characters who are meant to be gay men but that with a different name could pass as women. Sometimes sex is just sex. Sometimes sex is comfort and company and that's not something that should be judged as wrong, but in the M/F world sex is only done for true love and anything else is just wrong and sometimes this attitude bleeds over to the M/M world. Unrealistically.p.s. much is made of what Adrien looks like, Montgomery Clift, but in modern times I think we can all agree on Matt Bomer. As for Jake I've been a bit stumped but I'm thinking post-Starship Troopers Casper Van Dien, once he became more weathered, like Jake is.Off to book 4!!!