Genre: Action Adventure, Contemporary, Mystery & Thriller
LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay / Bisexual
Reviewer: Maryann
Get It On Amazon
About The Book
Nick Fabian never made it as a CSI. His idealistic vision of the police as an institution dedicated to serving justice died in the harsh light of day, and he quit to become a freelance private investigator, taking on cases nobody else wanted to touch.
Enter Emily Bright, a woman with a score to settle. Her best friend Sabrina was murdered, but local law enforcement is dead-set on ruling it a suicide. Determined to get justice, she turns to Nick. Nick feels the pain of one of his own and takes on the mantle of finding Sabrina’s killer.
But Point Clear has skeletons in its closet. A married local school teacher, Connor Long, had an affair with the victim and isn’t above threatening Nick to keep his secret safe. Local man Roy Constas took Sabrina home that night, but he swears nothing happened between them. Emily herself raises suspicions when she reveals she was in love with Sabrina, a sentiment that was not returned.
If Nick wants to get to the truth, he’ll have to cut through the small-town prejudice and lies surrounding Sabrina’s death, but that’s not easy when the entire system is determined to bury the case and chase Nick out of town…
The Review
I ran across a book titled Old Bones: Nick Fabian #3, and it piqued my interest. Of course, this being a series, I couldn’t go any further until I read the first book, Clear Motives. How did I miss this series?
Nick Fabian was CSI for the Philadelphia PD. He began his transition, and thought he had support of his fellow officers, especially Lt. Scott Mordas. Mordas was a mentor, and Nick always thought of him as a supportive friend. But when Nick came face to face with harsh reality with the murder of a young gay man, he walked away from his life and job.
Nick makes his own way, working as a PI. He takes the odd cases that don’t appeal to anyone else. He’s hired by Emily Bright on a case of murder of her best friend. The case takes him to Point Clear, Maine, a small town with a variety of unique people and their many secrets.
Nick will have to decide if he can survive this small town, its enigmas and a murder.
Clear Motives is the first book in the “Nick Fabian” series, and it’s my first time reading something by Reis Asher. It has high potential for an intriguing series. Nick Fabian is a lost soul looking for some place to fit in. He hasn’t had much success as a PI, he suffers financially, and doesn’t feel like Philadelphia is his home, but he goes above and beyond to do his best. Nick finds his emotions in a turmoil at times, especially when he thinks about Scott Mordas, Connor Long and Roy Constas.
Nick has to face homophobia, intolerance, betrayal, and the hostile environment of the police department. I really liked the way Asher deals with Nick’s struggles with being trans. He doesn’t have the funds to complete his transition, but he seems to accept it for now. When he does have some money, he uses it for things that are more immediate – a place to live and his vehicle. It’s heart breaking.
There are also many interesting characters: Emily Bright, Sabrina, Connor Long, Lillian, and Thomas Long. The one I especially like is Roy Constas – he’s persistent, logical and brings is a bright spot to the story.
As far as the mystery and murder, this is a well written story with a good pace, full of theories, danger, suspense and secrets. I’m now a fan of Reis Asher and Nick Fabian and I’m looking forward to more!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
