Product Description

BOY MEETS BODY #1 in the PARTNERS in CRIME series Two young lives snuffed out, half a century a part, half a continent apart. The men who solve the murders also have to solve riddles in their own lives. Love is never easy. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can give your life to it. Sometimes, though, if you're not so lucky, you can give your life for it... Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon Fifty years ago a glamorous Hollywood party ended in murder-the only clue a bloody Tarot card. Timothy North is trying to find out what happened that long ago summer's night, but when a Tarot card turns up pinned to his front door, the only person Tim can turn to for help is his ex-lover, Detective Jack Brady. Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel by Sarah Black Peter Moon, proprietor of a charming little get-away in the Land of the Midnight Sun, finds himself headed for less comfortable accommodations when he's accused of murder. Then his personal heartbreak showed up, fresh from six months in a Yukon River fish camp, determined to help.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #415935 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 184 pages

Customer Reviews

great start for new series!
Like another reviewer, I bought this because I was already a Josh Lanyon fan. I knew I would love his story - and I wasn't disappointed! Luckily, I was equally satisfied by Sarah Black's half of the book. They both create great characters, a sweet love story, and a compelling murder mystery. I could easily revisit these characters in future stories but I'm just as happy to follow the writers wherever they want to go. I now plan to make my way through everything Sarah's written so far & I can't wait to read the next three books in this series (see release dates at mlrpress.com).

Partners in Crime is a Hit!
This is a great book featuring stories by two very talented authors who indeed form a great partnership. These writers excel at their craft which is producing MM erotic romance packed inside the mystery genre or as Josh Lanyon himself calls it, erotic suspense. So be prepared for a great plotted mystery featuring all the usual MM romance moments of love, longing, erotic tension and great sex.

In the first story, Cards on the Table, Josh introduces us to Tim, who is writing a book about the unsolved murder of a Hollywood starlet over 50 years before known as the Tarot Card Murder.

The action starts pretty much straight away when Tim finds a tarot card attached to his front door mysteriously echoing the placement of a tarot card on the deceased body all those years ago. Is it a threat? If so, why would anyone want to stop him writing a book about a murder over 50 years old ?

Of course he could turn to his neighbor who just happens to be a homicide detective for help. But Jack is more than just a neighbor he is also someone who froze Tim out after a few dates and Tim is trying to convince himself he does not want to see him ever again and asking for help would mean visiting him again and does Tim really want to do that? Well of course he does and thus Tim starts a journey of discovery about the Murder and what happened as well as dealing with his feelings for Jack.

This story has all the elements, a well plotted mystery that if you are anything like me will have you fooled as much as Tim. Plus a deep romantic overtone that deals with not only attraction but accepting oneself and being able to give oneself to someone else despite reservations and problems. The romance is touching yet erotic and sparks really fly off the page as these two try to find room for each other.

As usual Josh's attention to detail is superb. Those who know Josh from the Adrien English series will not be surprised to hear that that the 50's in Hollywood comes alive through now aging stars of that era and we even get a glimpse into tarot and astrology which most writers would probably just gloss over.

Also an interesting detail that gives the story an added level is Tim's illness which makes him seem all the more vulnerable and at times you want to wrap him up in a blanket and tell him to not worry about solving the murder, as keen as you are to get to the bottom of things.

Fancy a wake up call? That to me seems to be what everyone gets in Sarah Black's story, Murder at the Heartbreak Hotel, A disturbing murder of a hotel guest leave everyone involved questioning the life they are living whilst they search for a killer among them.

This is Peter and Sebastian's story though it took me while to realize that as at first we see Peter seemingly falling for the shy cello player Jacob. When Jacob is murdered it becomes obvious that what Peter has really wanted all along is for wilderness man, sled dog racer, Sebastian to come home and stay for longer than a few months at a time before itching to get back to the wilds.

Will Sebastian and Peter be able to use this huge collision in their lives to make things better?

Sarah focuses more on the relationship than the murder I feel yet there are still a wide range of suspects to choose from and the characters are well defined and really do become a group of people you want to help.

Sarah's strength lies in her dealing with such a touchy subject as trying to find out who killed your lover while your long term lover watches on and offers assistance. It might seem a strange way to write a love story but it works. She manages to make no one man seem like the bad guy and uses the situation to explore the complexities of human emotions and relationships that we sometimes overlook like the effects of loneliness, and differences as well as the usual love, jealousy and longing.

Yes for those wanting to know Sarah also does the sex scenes very well. If you buy this book purely for titillation value you will not be disappointed but also you will get two very good stories will keep you hungry for the next Partners In Crime collaboration so you can read more of what these two talented authors have to offer.

Great Mysteries, Great Partnership
wow, they need to write more of this, because I devoured the whole book in a day and I want to read the 2nd volume already.

Josh Lanyon and Sarah Black are both excellent m/m mystery writer in their own right. While they have different writing style, they formed a good partnership in this series.

I am a big fan of Lanyon's fast-paced, quick-wit mystery with great characterisation. "Cards on the Table" is great example of all these qualities. I read somewhere that the Tim and Jack here are the original prototypes (correct me if I'm wrong) of Lanyon's Adrien English mysteries. And I can see some similiar traits but they are definitely not Adrien and Jake, but I certainly wouldn't mind if there is a "Tim & Jack" series. Like Lanyon's other stories, there are great interaction between characters. Tension, misunderstandings... so good I almost forgot there's mystery to be solved as well :)

Sarah Black's "Murder at the Heartbreak hotel" offers a wide range of interesting characters. A classic "Who done it" in a (almost) confined environment, the story is very much driven by characters. I've read Sarah Black's "Border Roads" novel and have always admired her ability to put characters in compelling situation.

A very good read.