Review: A Game Winner
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 12, 2010
"Fair Game" is another winner from Josh Lanyon. It's a well-crafted and action-packed mystery of course, involving the disappearance first, of a student of college professor Elliot MiIls, and then other young men from the college campus where he teaches courses in History and Film. Mills has a history of his own, as a former ambitious "hotshot FBI agent" who retired from the Bureau after a receiving crippling gunshot wound. When asked by the parents of his missing student to act as their "consultant" in dealing with the FBI, Mills finds himself dealing with the formidable, handsome Agent Tucker Lance, with whom he has a personal history. Because of the nature and outcome of their past association, neither man is at all happy to have to work with one another.The college setting, which Lanyon renders in characteristically believable detail,allows him to take some fun satirical jabs at pretentious academic and artistic gobbledegook, not to mention the behavior of vapid young coeds trying to butter up the professor. As in Lanyon's other stories, someone is always cooking, in this case a delicious saute of mushrooms in butter. Before too long, someone should be able to compile a Josh Lanyon cookbook.Will Elliot and Tucker find a way to cooperate without constantly making each other angry because of the unresolved issues in their mutual past? Will Elliot survive the increasing violent anonymous threats he receives? Lanyon skillfully ratchets up the suspense in both areas.For those readers new to Lanyon, this writer creates exciting physical action sequences as good or better as anything in the Jason Bourne series. And the bedroom action is pretty exciting as well. But Lanyon also touches on a theme he has investigated in his other work, notably the Adrien English series and also in his muy caliente, muy apasionado "Mexican Heat."  How can two strong-willed males get past anger, pride, and misunderstanding to find a balanced relationship? In "Fair Game," Lanyon suggests the recipe includes a dash of humility, as well as trust and love. Don't wait another minute to read this excellent story.