Genre: Myrder Mystery
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Transgender
Reviewer: Mary Ann
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About The Book
Haunted by his last case and still struggling financially, private investigator Nick Fabian is floundering when a birthday surprise from his best friend Connor Long and boyfriend Roy Constas—a home of their own—offers a ray of hope for a future life beyond living in a cramped trailer and staring into the depths of human depravity.
Nick’s optimism soon fades when he finds human remains crammed into a suitcase dumped in the attic. The bones belong to a local child who was reported missing three years ago. The news only gets worse when Roy reveals he was the one who took the suitcase up into the attic at Connor’s request, but he insists he had no idea of its grisly contents.
With Connor Long the prime suspect in a murder yet again, battle lines are drawn in Point Clear. Connor’s pregnant wife Lillian and girlfriend Sabrina stand by him, but Roy and Emily aren’t so certain of his innocence. Nick finds himself trapped in the middle, drawn to Connor by an attraction he’s never fully explored, but forced to accept the fact that Connor’s hiding something. Connor’s brother, Sheriff Thomas Long, hires Nick to investigate and find out the truth, no matter how ugly it may be—but will he regret asking the question once he knows the horrifying answer?
The Review
Old Bones is the third installment in the “Nick Fabian” series, and once again Reis Asher delivers. Nick Fabian is facing the small town of Point Clear’s resistance, and he will have to live with the fall-out of lines being drawn.
For his birthday, Nick finds himself with a house that he and Roy can share. Connor Long has made a gift of sorts of the house. That alone raises questions about Roy’s past, and puts ideas in Nick’s head. But with the house comes expenses – a loan to be repaid and things to be fixed – but Roy is positive that all will work out. Even though the PI business is still a struggle for Nick, this might be a turning point.
Nick’s curiosity about the house’s history leads him to do a little exploring. He makes a horrible discovery in the attic and his dreams start to crumble. Point Clear once again becomes chaotic, as those who Nick now considers his friends turn against him, right or wrong.
He’s called upon by Tom Long, sheriff and there’s a serious conflict. Tom hires Nick as a PI to try and clear Connor, his brother. As the case gets worse and the lingering outcome of Scott’s Mordas’ murder hangs over it like a dark shadow, Nick no longer wants to be a PI. But it’s in his blood, and he can’t walk away from the case.
Old Bones is another twisted mystery from Asher, a dark, psychological and very emotional story that will affect many people’s lives. Once again, Nick struggles with his finances to be able to complete his transition. He never seems to dwell on it or complain about it, but it has to affect him both physically and mentally. But he just does his best. I’m impressed with how Reis Asher doesn’t exploit Nick’s gender identity here, or make it the major plot in the story. It’s just another part of his character.
I’m so invested in the “Nick Fabian” series. With each new novel it just gets better, and I’m excited to see what Reis Asher has planned for Nick and Roy next.
Side note…I really like the cover art portraying Nick Fabian on this one!
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.
