Review: You Need to Read This Book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 15, 2010
Originally posted at: [...]Fair Game by Josh Lanyon is a finely crafted mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end who the killer is, but most important, if Elliot and Tucker will live happily ever after.Elliot Mills does not realize how much he misses his past life as an FBI agent until he agrees to help a family friend find his missing son. His investigation finds him working with ex-lover Tucker Lance, and he discovers their relationship is far from over. As Elliot finds himself in the crosshairs of the killer and in protective custody, he and Tucker are finally forced to take a closer look at what drove them apart.Fair Game is more than a fast paced mystery. It is a journey of self-discovery for Elliot as he reconciles himself to his new life as a college professor and as he works to resolve his relationship with Tucker.The past relationship between Elliot and Tucker was intense and short-lived due to his injury, recovery, and subsequent departure from the FBI. It was apparent they had many unresolved issues, and Mr. Lanyon does not rush their reconciliation. Surprisingly enough, Tucker is the one who opens up and takes those first crucial steps toward salvaging their relationship. While Elliot has excellent social skills for handling superficial relationships, he often finds himself at a loss in dealing with the deeper relationships with Tucker and to some extent, his father, Roland. When he finds himself in danger of losing both relationships, he does not hesitate to take a hard look at himself and work to fix what is broken.Mr. Lanyon's characters are exceptionally well-developed, realistic, and three dimensional. Some of the best scenes in Fair Game are between Elliot and Roland. The two men are polar opposites and many of their interactions are laugh out loud funny. The glimpses into the academic life of a college professor are interesting and accurate. While there are plenty of suspects to choose from, Mr. Lanyon keeps the killer under wraps until the end, and the reader and Elliot piece it together at the same time.Fair Game by Josh Lanyon is a delightful mix of mystery, love, and humor. This is my first Josh Lanyon book but I can guarantee it will not be my last.