Book Review: The Hell You Say

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

The Hell You Say     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Josh Lanyon
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural   Gay / Lesbian
Series: Adrien English Mysteries # 3
IUniverse, 2006, 218 pps.

When Adrien English presents his employee Angus with an $800.00 Christmas bonus little did he realize he was involving himself in situation that would put his own life in danger. Angus has worked for Adrien in the Cloak and Dagger bookstore for about a year while finishing up his undergrad studies at UCLA. Angus begins to get threatening phone calls at the store and Adrien suspects Angus has become involved with a satanic cult. Adrien’s solution to this problem is the bonus and a suggestion that Angus leave town.

Adrien’s sometimes companion Jake is a policeman and is not too happy about Angus leaving town. Jake has been working on a case involving a satanic underground and a couple of murders and the last thing he wants is for Adrien to be involved in any way.

A book signing with author Gabriel Savant who writes an occult mystery series brings a variety of weird fans to Cloak and Dagger. An inverted pentagram is painted in front of the bookstore.

Adrien’s curiosity gets the best of him and he begins to investigate on his own in spite of Jake’s warnings. He finds out that Gabriel Savant has now disappeared after making an announcement at the book signing of a new book revealing information about a satanic cult.

Trying to juggle his own investigation, his mother’s announcement of her pending wedding, meeting his three soon to be sisters, and trying to find Angus’ replacement is almost more than Adrien can handle. His relationship with Jake is on the rocks because Jake has a girl friend and doesn’t want people to know that Adrien is anything more than just an acquaintance.

The Hell You Say is a quick read and a fun book. I would like to read more Adrien English stories.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM