Review: PERFECTION
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 11, 2014
Josh Lanyon is pure genius on paper. His economy but depth w/ words is astonishing. He can evoke and stimulate w/ a few choice sentences what another author may need pages to convey.The mood, characterization, and setting are pitch perfect in this story. As with all of Lanyon's works, regardless of word count, the setting becomes a character in itself. You become just as immersed as Griff is in uncovering the mystery of Brian, & you almost feel like you're there, in body, w/ Griff. Realizations start to surface bit by bit. There isn't necessarily one big 'aha' moment, but it comes to the reader sooner than it does to Griff, & I'm pretty sure that was by design. This in no way affects the enjoyment of the rest of the story. It made me relish how it was all pulled together. I love that Lanyon doesn't feel the need to spell everything out to the reader. It makes the unraveling process more enjoyable.The MCs are extremely like-able. Griff & Pierce start out as antagonists but end up in love in a believable way. They have a genuineness about them & I love them together. They make assumptions about each other upon meeting and it's fun to see them readjust their opinions. Their love scenes are undoubtedly sexy yet touching. Griff's sense of falling down the rabbit hole as the story progresses makes him vulnerable, & Pierce is right there all the way, first as a foil, then in love & support.The supporting cast is all good. The Arlington family, & their wealth, seen through Griff's eyes is illuminating. I love Diana, Pierce's sister, & her unwitting 'blabber mouth.' Jarrett, the Arlington patriarch, is a very sympathetic character, a heartbroken man in search of answers. His surviving offspring are nothing to write home about, but they help you understand why he may be desperate to solve the mystery of Brian.I think it'd be a shame to categorize Lanyon in any way. Hands down he is one of the most talented writers I've ever read, regardless of genre. The only thing that would improve on perfection, for me, is adding an epilogue. His stories always feel abruptly ended, but I think it's also because I grow to love these persons on the page, & I just want to check in to make sure they're all right.Excellent mystery & m/m romance. Highly recommend.