Genre: Mystery, Police Procedural, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Pan, Ace
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
An unknown enemy wanted to take everything from us.
Graves
I’d spent all my forty-plus years paying for mistakes when I’d simply been human. Living in the shadow of my friend’s happiness grew harder every day. I didn’t mind being the odd one out. I didn’t mind being considered the unlovable strait-laced-ish one to their mayhem. Acceptance after a lifetime of not measuring up was nice. I’d found my rhythm and my place among the weirdness of my unit. That was until Marcel Douglas, the new ego-maniac in Homicide, decided he had to pick apart every case I’d left behind.
Douglas
Leaving Chicago hadn’t been in my plans, but my daughter needed me. I’d do anything to make her happy. When her mother was transferred overseas, I’d moved so my daughter could stay with her friends—the place she’d come to love. Being at the bottom of the hierarchy and earning respect didn’t sit right with my pride. I wasn’t afraid to admit that. And I’d made one hell of an enemy. Graves and his Cold Case Unit frustrated me, and I didn’t understand their methods. A series of body dumps brought me back to Graves for help, but he wasn’t feeling charitable.
We’d thought we were our biggest and bitterest enemies until the threats came. Could we work together before the man gunning for us could finish the job?
The Review
Cold Cases and Bitter Enemies is amazing, my favorite novel yet in the “Cold Case Unit” series by J.M. Dabney.
Simon Graves and Marcel Douglas have had a shaky working relationship. The more Douglas works with the Cold Case Unit, the more his views start to change. But he and Graves just rub each other the wrong way, and the never-ending teasing and snark wars are in full swing. The longer Douglas works with Graves, the more he realizes that Graves a brilliant investigator. As he finds out more about Graves, he tones down the teasing, and tries to work on a friendship to earn Graves’ trust. But no matter how Douglas tries to fight his feelings for his fellow investigator, they just keep growing.
Graves has his reasons for living a solitary life. At forty-three he believes no one really cares about him, thinks he’s done everything possible, and is prepared to accept whatever happens to him. His only “family” is the Cold Case Unit – they’ve accepted him with open arms. but he still struggles with closeness. Outside of being an investigator, he has many responsibilities at the Outreach, where he adores the kids, especially little Amber.
When Douglas and his teenage daughter Savannah visit Simon at the Outreach, they get the first class tour. Graves is impressed with Savannah, and a bond starts to form between them. When little Amber comes into the picture, Douglas sees Graves in a new light. As Savannah’s interest in the Outreach grows, Graves is more than happy to introduce her to all the different types of people, and to show her what the Outreach can provide for them to make life a little better.
Douglas and Graves dig into reports of body dumps in the vicinity of certain crime lord establishments. The case becomes personal when someone crosses the line and puts loved ones in danger. The Cold Case Unit comes together once again to protect their family.
Thank you, J.M.Dabney! This book is outstanding, and the cover art is perfect! I loved this heart-felt story about Marcel Douglas and Simon Graves and two new shining stars – Savannah and Amber.
Throughout the “Cold Case Unit” series J.M. Dabney has included different types of relationships and LGBTQ+ identities. This story includes Douglas, who’s pansexual, and Graves, who is asexual. It’s heart wrenching to read Douglas’ thoughts about his growing attraction to someone that he really cares for, never knowing if Graves’ feelings are the same. And Graves is so filled with love, but has never had that love returned. His upbringing has always made him feel that he was a nobody.
It’s truly heartbreaking at times.
The criminal case at the heart of the story is very well plotted, following the clear step-by-step investigation that Graves and Douglas follow to find a solution. The novel melds action and danger with a special kind of warmth, and some great moments of humor.
So many great characters help make this an entertaining novel: Donna, the ex-wife of Douglas and Savannah’s mother; Gladys, Boss, Sharp, Mama Sue; Crime Boss Carmine Bianchi; Tony; and Seamus Finnegan. Of course, there are also the members of Cold Case Unit family: Robert, Remy, Doc, Carter, Vega and Zero. And I have to mention the furry companions too: Jupiter and Moriarty.
In book two, Cold Cases and Dark Secrets, I enjoyed two new intriguing characters – Marcel Douglas and Dolan Sharp. Now that Douglas got his own story, I can’t wait to see what Dabney creates for Dolan Sharp. I’m eagerly awaiting book four, Cold Cases and Bruised Hearts!
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.
