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The Boy With The Painful Tattoo (2014)

by Josh Lanyon(Favorite Author)

4.39 of 5 Votes: 5

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Just Joshin

series

Holmes & Moriarity

review 1: The wonderfully written, third installment in The Holmes & Moriarity Series by Josh Lanyon has arrived. With a wink at this, a nod to that, “The Boy With The Painful Tattoo” delivers a satisfying mystery; tender, sexy moments between the main characters; the reappearance of old friends and the introduction of quirky new characters to keep Kit in a perpetual knot and J.X. in an off-kilter quandary.In the first two books, J.X. has pushed Kit to make a commitment and in this book it happens. The men have moved to San Francisco and purchased a home together with a view of the Coit tower. J.X.’s national bestselling author’s income and Kit’s income from his backlist make all things possible and J.X. finds exactly what Kit asks for in a home. It’s perfect. So perfect... more, that I want that house. Seriously.Anyway, in short order, J.X. is off to a literary conference and leaves Kit to unpack and set up their home. As an uncertain Kit begins to decorate the house, he realizes J.X. has given him the home of his dreams. Kit has never believed the fantasy of a future with J.X. is attainable, but standing in their home he feels hope. However, nothing runs smoothly for these two and things turn upside down fast when Kit finds a dead body in a moving crate that was supposed to be filled with his china. Discovery of the body is followed by a robbery, a murder, another attempted murder, a missing million-dollar coin collection, the visit of a nosy reporter, J.X.’s former police partner taking charge of the murder case and a literary stalker who ingratiates himself into Kit’s life. So, the web is spun and Kit is dead center for this one. As Kit, always a magnet for murder and mayhem, tries to avoid any involvement in the case, former detective J.X. tries to advise Kit by phone. But, does Kit listen? Hah!And, if that isn’t enough to deal with, J.X. asks Kit to assist his ex-wife with an emergency and Kit finds himself facing a Hispanic wall of defense when he finds J.X.’s mother running interference at the ex’s home. And, there is J.X.’s nephew who Kit should probably make an effort to win over. Whoooooboy!One of the best new characters in this story is the couple’s lively, older next door neighbor, Emmaline, who is iconic from her first, “Yoo-hoo.” Here’s hoping we see more of her. We also revisit Kit’s literary agent, Rachel, who continues tossing idea after idea at Kit to help kick-start his career. Rachel is, well, Rachel, but I can say that Kit’s smart mouth has come to play and the repartee sizzles.Becoming re-acquainted with these believable characters was a joy. I laughed, teared up and was exasperated by both main characters’ behavior, but I accept that love does not always travel a straight line. Lanyon pushes the characters out on a thin limb and then adeptly saves them from disaster as the mystery deepens and readers glimpse who these guys are to each other, to family and to friends. This story is very much about Kit’s no-training-wheels immersion into J.X.’s personal world and J.X. discovering what Kit’s intentions are.The writing is effortless while the allusions and references are perfection. First person is difficult to do well, but Lanyon does it. Kit’s wry observations are among the most pleasing components of this book. One of the quieter lines in the book that made me smile is a reference to one of my favorite movies from the 1950s. The scenery and Gary Grant were gorgeous to see on the big screen.While enjoying crispy chicken at the Colonel’s, Kit’s thoughts meander to his date and he thinks: J.X. looked rather dashing for our surroundings in black jeans and a black turtleneck. Like a John Robie-style cat burglar. Did that make me Grace Kelly?Lanyon fans will love this book because Kit and J.X. have literary legs as they continue solving the mysteries of their relationship. They are unforgettable. This tale is engaging, clever, humorous and poignant. If you haven’t read Josh Lanyon, do it. This series begins with “Somebody Killed Her Editor,” and is followed by “All She wrote.” Each are excellent mysteries and each follows Kit and J.X.’s unfolding affair of the heart. (If you love audio books, narrator Kevin R. Free makes Kit come hysterically to life while keeping J.X. sultry and smokin’ hot. I believe he is contracted to narrate this one as well.)This is the best of the three books and that’s saying a lot since the first two books are stellar. Josh Lanyon is an auto buy for me, I have never been disappointed in his work, having found the writing sublime, the mysteries entertaining and the hidden nuggets woven between the lines a joy to uncover during the first, second or third read. I am looking forward to the next episode in the screwball antics of these two, Mr. Lanyon. When you get to it, just know I’ll be among many waiting to say, “Yoo-Hooooo, ready to buy!”
review 2: I liked it but I thought it was too similar to Lanyon's other works, the Adrien English series. He even put Adrien and Jake into the story. I liked that series but I was hoping for something a bit different and not like I was reading the same books just with different names for the characters. Also, I don't really get how the title fits in with the story. The title was what initially got me into reading it but the only one with a tattoo was Beck (the weird brother guy) and I didn't care for his character at all. His tattoos weren't described as painful, nor did I feel sorry for him, and I don't understand why the emphasis was put on him with that title even though he's not really important. It was okay but I was expecting more... less

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