Genre: Mystery, Contemporary
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
How far would you go to help a friend?
When his BFF Brenda is arrested for murder at a lesbian writing retreat, California writer Thomas Gunn jumps on a flight he can’t afford, and heads for rural Wales. Brenda was at daggers drawn on social media with the victim, but insists she is innocent, despite being covered in the girl’s blood.
With suspects ranging from an 83-year old writing student, a group of very earnest academics, and mysterious author The Vampyr, Brenda and Thomas set out to solve the crime. Thomas has to cope with vegetarian food, Brenda’s Irish Wolfhound and her agent’s assistant, the twinky Cedric. Brenda just has to cope with him.
The local cops are unimpressed with the duo’s crime-busting efforts, and even less impressed when another writing student is killed. But Brenda and Thomas squabble their way to a solution that the cops would never have guessed in a thousand years.
What a shame that they’re wrong. Will they realise in time to prevent another death on the Dyfi?
The Review
Thomas “Tommy” Gunn was living a life of luxury as an author of an LGBTQ+ mystery series. But his career went south with falling book sales and worse, his partner Eric’s diagnosis was earth shattering.
Thomas has a good friend in Brenda Quimby-Gunn, (no relation). She was an Oxford professor of literature, and also writes mysteries. She was married to Ginny and lost her, but she still has her children and grandchildren in her life.
Thomas and Brenda have a mutual nemesis “The Vampyr”. The Vampyr is a plagiarist, pirate, and scammer of books by other authors. They’re also illusive, and never show up at book awards ceremonies to accept awards that were not rightfully theirs.
While Thomas is making the final arrangements to sell his California home, he gets a call from Brenda who has been arrested in Wales. Through her agent’s assistant Cedric, he finagled a deal for Brenda to conduct a retreat at the Dyfi Retreat Centre for the “Queer Women Writing Week,” and out of seven of the attendees, one is now dead. And she just happens to be a fan-girl of the Vampyr.
Thomas, guiltily makes a reservation for a flight to Wales using Eric’s frequent flier miles. He still isn’t over losing Eric. Upon Thomas’ arrival, things get chaotic. He has enough on his mind, and problems renting a vehicle don’t help. Once on the road and tired from the long flight, he’s faced with a torrent of rain and a dirt road that puts him in a ditch. He’s rescued by PC Evans of the Machynlletta CID, who knows exactly where Brenda is.
Cedric, the flaky assistant, amazingly shows up with Brenda’s Bambi, a Barbie sized camper. Thomas’ suspicions really start to grow.
Murder mysteries writers being who they are, Brenda, Thomas and Cedric start their own investigation of the seven women, complete with a murder board. Of course, PC Abbott and PC Evans aren’t too happy about that, plus Evan’s is too busy making googly eyes at the attractive Thomas.
Who will solve the murders of the Dyfi Retreat Centre? And will the “The Vampyr” be exposed?
The collaboration between Burton and Hayes works perfectly for Death On The Dyfi. I hope they continue to collaborate and write more novels like this. Together they bring humor, drama, and crack investigation techniques to the story. There’s murder, plagiarism, and yes, lots of swearing. This should be required reading on how to catch plagiarists!
All-in-all, this “soft-boiled” mystery is entertaining and just plain fun to read!
The story also sheds light on the little sadness of the two friends, Thomas and Brenda, who have both lost a loved one. Along the way, there are misunderstandings. Brenda doesn’t realize the devastation that Thomas is going through, with both his loss and financial issues. She’s a bit self-centered.
There’s also the odd group of women who attend the retreat: Cora, Deb, Sue, Cassie, Janine, India, Pandora and Susan. All want to become authors. And I would love to read more about Thomas, Brenda, Freja, PC Evans and DI Abbott, maybe even Cedric, to see what develops and all the trouble they can get into.
I highly recommend Death On The Dyfi – it’s a fun ride!
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.
