Death of a Pirate King: The Adrien English Mysteries 4

My name is Aunt Lynn and I am a Fanyon.I am not a regular reader or fan of mystery in any format, but I had heard great things about Josh Lanyon's Adrien English series, and since I am reading almost nothing other than m/m right now, I took the plunge. I am so glad I did! I purchased books 1-4 ( Fatal Shadows , A Dangerous Thing , The Hell You Say , and Death of a Pirate King) all at one time and had a marathon reading session one weekend. Although each book can be read as a standalone, it is best to read the series in order, especially as you get further in as references are made to previous events and built-upon emotions. Oh, and I should mention that I bought the ebooks after the re-edits and the new publishers, so I did not experience the editing problems many people had with especially FS (reflected in many of the more negative reviews).Quickie plot: Mystery bookstore owner and writer Adrien English has had his first book optioned for a film. While at a Hollywood party, the possible financier for the film dies from poisoning and Adrien is once again one of the primary suspects. His ex-lover and closeted LAPD lieutenant, Jake Riordan, is on the case, much to the dismay and frustration of Adrien's boyfriend Guy. In order to find the killer and clear his own name, Adrien is reluctantly persuaded into informally investigating the murder by party-host and movie star Paul Kane, who seems to have ulterior motives and a not-so-mysterious past with Jake.Set two years after the end of THYS, both protags have changed over that time. Adrien is both better and worse off from where we last left him. His bookstore is expanding and has a steady employee. He is in a healthy relationship with a stable, loving man. His first book has been optioned. Though he is still having a difficult time getting used to the new family unit from his mother's remarriage, he has people in his life who care about him. But he seems bitter, harder, colder, and more emotionally distant, with the speculation that his breakup with Jake is perhaps the reason. He doesn't seem ready for the commitment Guy is asking for. Has he changed so much that he is incapable, is he not over Jake, is there something else going on? Are these less-than-desirable changes on the surface only? At the same time, he is more vulnerable and fragile -- physically and emotionally -- here than in books past. Recovering from pneumonia and facing surgery, we the reader and Adrien himself are not sure how much more is poor heart can take.Jake, on the other hand, is somewhat softer, kinder, gentler. As with ADT, I felt this book was as much about Jake as Adrien. After THYS, I needed Jake to be redeemed. Salvaged. Rehabilitated. There were readers and fans calling for Jake's head on a platter, but I was not one of them. I have mentioned in past reviews of books in this series that I loves me a tortured, broken hero, and Jake is at the top of that list. He may have made me angry, and I thought he acted like an asshole and a brute bordering on abusive, but I do care for him and I had hope that maybe he would come to his senses about so many things. There are obviously unresolved issues on both sides, and it seems that he and Adrien both have been struggling with feelings of loss. Like Adrien, I guess his relationship with Paul should not have been surprising, but I admit that I was bothered and felt betrayed that he was seeing Paul in the way he was while with Adrien. After learning this very early in the book, it made Adrien question everything about his involvement with Jake, what he believed, how he felt, how Jake felt. Jake is going to have to work to get my and Adrien's trust back. Also, I once again found myself asking several times -- as did Adrien -- how far would Jake go to protect his secret? And can Jake continue leading the double life and living a lie indefinitely, or is his coming out inevitable, either by his doing or being pushed out of the closet kicking and screaming by someone else?I kinda, sorta felt a teensy bit bad for Guy in this book, though I admit that I never really saw him with Adrien long-term, even when it was apparent in THYS he was going to probably get with him. The conflict with Adrien over his involvement with both the case and Jake was understandable, though I have to wonder if he was already feeling insecure in the relationship. I felt his frustration with Adrien over his inability to commit and the now obvious feelings he still has for Jake. The reappearance of Peter Verlane, one of the cult members from THYS and former student/lover of Guy's, made for, in my opinion, a possible easy out for him. I was curious if he would take it.I felt that this cast of characters in the murder investigation was the best so far. Paul was so well done and believable as a conniving manipulator who does think he's all that and a bag of chips. And the scene where he is interviewing the victim's widow I found very amusing (..."I was hoping you weren't gay. Or that you were only half-gay. Like Paul." "Uh...sorry," I said. "It's pretty much full-time now. The pay's not great, but the perks..." Hee!). The Partners in Crime writers group had less on-screen time than in other books, though Paul Chan (Jake's former partner) had some significant dialog with Adrien that led him to think and rethink Jake's motives. His relationship with and feelings toward Emma, his youngest stepsister, are wonderful, and I hope she is featured in future books. Lisa, his overprotective and interfering mother, has a small, but important role in this book as her character develops further.I had a feeling early on whodunit (wasn't sure the motive, however, and definitely wasn't prepared for the literally heart-stopping climax), though I definitely enjoyed it nonetheless, perhaps more so than any of the other mystery plotlines so far in the series.As usual, Josh's writing is so tight and spare and masterful (the line "...sweet in the way crack must feel hitting the bloodstream of an addict after years of staying clean." is positively brilliant). Mystery fans will love it for the sleuthing; the romance fans will be reading to see what happens with Adrien and Jake's relationship. Josh clearly had an enormous task satisfying fans of both genres, many of whom had high expectations after THYS, and I believe he absolutely met the challenge. Though I said this about THYS (but that was before I read DOAPK!), this is the best book in the series by far, and simply a great book, period. It has something for everyone: a great murder mystery, suspense, humor, and a wonderful romance (it really is a book about love and redemption). I really wish the series could be mainstreamed, or maybe I should say that I wish this world at large were ready for and could accept a series like this without cringing at the underlying sexual element of two men being together. And note, as with the other books, the sex scenes are not often and used only to further the plot.This is an emotional roller coaster for us, the reader, and the cast. Every character is affected by the last two years and the happenings in this book. Even though it is narrated first person, the reader is very aware of the feelings of all through Adrien's eyes. I smiled and laughed, I shed several tears, I got angry, I sat at the edge of my seat, I felt cautious hope for the future. Oh, and I squeed at the end. I thought about this book -- and the series overall -- a whole hella lot after. It stayed with me. I've reread the series four times since I acquired it and I am sure will be doing so again.The next -- and probably final, if you go by what Josh says -- book is due December 2009. I can't imagine him topping DOAPK, but I then also thought that about THYS...

The story opens with a bang, or more accurately with a crash as Adrien is once again up to his neck in another murder. At a dinner party with Hollywood movers and shakers to which he has been invited by actor Paul Kane, he has the misfortune to sit next to the murder victim just before he keels over face first into his bowl of vichyssoise. To make matters worse who should be heading up the investigation into this high profile murder but his old nemesis and former lover Jake Riordan. Déjà vu for Adrien.Adrien is in a quandary as he is being pressured by Paul who is one of the numerous murder suspects, to investigate the murder unofficially. Although our amateur sleuth doesn't like Paul because of his past association with Jake, he doesn't have much choice but to acquiesce if he wants his book to be made into a movie. To complicate things further Guy, his partner of almost 2 years since he broke things off with Jake, makes new demands of Adrien who isn't sure what he wants.In the fourth book in the series Josh Lanyon really excels because he has written more than another great murder mystery starring his two flawed protagonists. This time, in addition to an action-packed story he writes from the heart about their personal relationship and struggles in a way he hasn't before. Jake and Adrien have both evolved over the past 2 years and Jake, perhaps because of his recent family tragedy, while he has not undergone a personality transplant he is different and a few sharp edges have been softened. Adrien seems tougher and more demanding of those close to him and he tells them exactly what he wants but he is still foolhardy and daring.The book is a tour de force of the entire series from several perspectives. The author's eloquence is more evident here than in either of the previous books as he paints pictures of the characters so drolly with a few succinct phrases that you can see them with your mind's eye. He also has a rare talent for using humour, even on the most solemn or dangerous occasion, and he had me doubled up with laughter when he described the mourners at the victim's funeral using one liners and 'zingers' that appear to come from a totally warped mind.While the author uses humour effectively in this book, there is much more that's different. There are nuances in characterizations which would indicate that subtle changes have emerged in Josh Lanyon's writing style for this series since book 3, The Hell You Say. In DOAPK the passion between the two protags in certain scenes is so transparent and moving that sometimes it felt as if Adrien's wonky heart couldn't take any more. Fans will experience a full range of emotions when they read this book - from shock to pleasure to devastation and anger as well as a host of others as they ride the roller coaster with Adrien and Jake, and some may feel that Jake got his comeuppance. It seemed to me, particularly during the latter third of the book, that the personal relationship on occasion took center stage over the murder investigation because of the huge personal issues at stake.There are so many "moments" in this book that it's difficult to decide on a quote from all of the excellent material but there was one scene that was unbearably poignant and Josh describes it as "sweet in the way crack must feel hitting the bloodstream of an addict after years of staying clean".Fans who have waited 2 years to find out what happens next after the end of THYS which created such a firestorm will not be disappointed in this very revealing and complex story. Is Jake a kinder, gentler and more loving person and does he redeem himself after THYS? Does Guy get his fondest wish? You will have to read the book to find out.Do I think this book is Josh Lanyon's best work to date? To use baseball parlance, he doesn't just hit this one out the park, he clears the bases. Death of a Pirate King in my opinion is deserving of more than 5 stars however that is the highest rating on amazon.Death of a Pirate King is not to be missed whether or not you're a fan of the writer or the Adrien English series but in my opinion this is not a standalone story although you can read it as such. To really enjoy and appreciate this gem it should be read in order with the other AE books. Buy this book!

What a find Josh Lanyon is! I was reccommended the Adrien English Mysteries, of which this is the fourth, by a friend and I am completely hooked.I really can't wait for the next volume to be released, such is the power and characterisation in this wonderful series of books.The mystery element is always strong, and keeps one guessing until the end, but the relationship between Adrien English and his sometime lover Jake Riordan is both powerful and emotionally real.This could be read as a stand alone novel, but to really appreciate the tensions and emotional tangles that Adrien finds himself in it is probably better to read the whole series from start to finish.This will not be a hardship, it just means that having picked up the first book you should be prepared not to move until the completion of the last one!In this novel the emotional and physical punches come thick and fast and keep you completely on the edge of your seat.I wouldn't reccommend this series for the strongly homophobic, or perhaps I would, because it could change hearts and minds, but I feel that the writing is so good here that this series really does deserve a much more mainstream audience, and the sooner the better.I reccommend it heartily, If you enjoy good writing you will not be disapointed.

If you read this one, I'd recommend carrying on and reading the next - Dark Tide. The fourth in the Adrien English mysteries, polished and complex mystery with gay romantic subplot woven in more closely than in previous books. The resolution of the mystery directly involves the romance. It has a dark tone despite Adrien's sarcastic and confident inner voice, and a great cast of skilfully-drawn minor characters. The structure (not content) resembles the Golden Age of detective fiction novels (Dorothy L Sayers, Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham) which I gather is intentional, but it is in no way derivative. As a bonus it's sprinkled with wit and sexual tension (and some erotic content in the few sex scenes).

I read this in one day. That should say something about the kind of book it is.This is book 4 of the Adrien English series, and there is something of a time gap between book 3 and the start of this story, which is necessary to the plot. It's a little odd, but it doesn't feel as if there's anything missing.If you haven't read books 1-3 of the series, do them first. It's an excellent series, and each subsequent book follows on from the last.Great characters, intriguing mysteries, a few nice twists. Excellent writing. I'm gutted that I only have one more book to go!

The 4th of the series, and is possible my 2nd best out of the set (but to be honest, they're all damn good)There is so much I can say about this book, we find out more about Adrien's extended family. Jake (his on again, off again relationship) is back on the scene but is now a Lieutenant and is once again investigating a murder which, surprise surprise Adrien was on the scene when the departed snuffed it. The homicide detective who's in control of the murder investigation Alonzo, is a creep and at the off set you know he wants to pin this murder on Adrien. I could go on, but it's better if you read this yourself.There are a few good twists, especially at the end when I had to re read to see what was happening! Was such a great read. I could not put this down!My favourite character of this book was the cat though. ;)Recommend to all.

Well what can I say? I really enjoyed the series but this one was the most original by far. It kept me guessing and although by this time I am routing for Adrien and Jake, the new love interest is intriguing, I am missing the old dynamic.This one has the most angst of all the books I've read so far. Would definitely recommend it