Tom Paretsky--maybe he's not Polish--is a plumber with a unique knack for finding what's hidden, including dead bodies. He's got a trick hip after spending nearly a year in traction when a lorry hit him back in secondary school. The fact that he ran into the street to avoid schoolmate Phil Morrison and his gang of bullies isn't a fact Tom's family isn't loathe to forget. Not even when Tom and Phil have now become an item...of sorts.

That said, Tom's determine to change his family's minds, and insists on bringing Phil to his sister Cherry's engagement party. When Cherry is poisoned there, well, it's good that Phil was available to help out on the case. This mystery/romance is charming and harrowing by turns. Tom wants to help figure out who might behind the attack, and Phil makes it his first priority; Phil isn't sure that Cherry was the target. Tom having inherited some undisclosed property seems to make him worth bumping off, is Phil's thought. I have a special fondness for amateur sleuth stories, and I love Tom. He's such a fun narrator, and he's always getting himself into a scrape. His reaction to Cherry's fiance--whoo boy! Greg is a big man, gregarious and creepily friendly--as well as a canon for Church of England. Tom's quietly horrified about Greg's taxidermy hobby, and not sure if Greg is entirely straight--which leads to some inappropriately hilarious situations while Cherry recovers. And Phil's not amused. Though he does take a friendly shine to Tom's bestie Gary's diminutive fiance--a former adult film star turned veg-trader in the nearby market.

While they figure out where their relationship is going, Phil and Tom work on both Cherry's case, and on finding the "hidden" inheritance from Tom's surrogate aunt. This last part threatens to tear apart Tom's family even more so than Tom's choice of boyfriend, or Cherry's poisoning. The pace is as brisk as Tom's rambling chatter. If you dig Brit blokes going on doing ordinary/extraordinary amateur sleuthing, well, this might be a book for you. I've devoured them all at this point...and would read another dozen more.

Tom and Phil, Gary and Darren and now Cherry and Gregory plus a crazy, eccentric aunt with a somewhat sordid past thrown into the mix... so much happened in Relief Valve, I'm not quite sure where to start.

I've loved Tom from the beginning and Phil is kinda growing on me. Since Tom is totally smitten with him, I guess I can give him the benefit of the doubt. That's more than I can say for Tom's family once they realize who he's dating. Seems Phil has a bit to make up for, but readers already knew that.

There's more than one mystery happening in Relief Valve and more than a couple of revelations. Cherry's life is in danger and no one really knows who may have it out for her. There's a lot about her that Tom doesn't know, which makes it hard for him to figure out whose secret is the most important and there's a lot of them in Relief Valve.

As the tension rises, even more drama unfolds and it takes awhile for things to settle enough to figure out his own personal mystery. Heat Trap is next and for Tom, the real mystery continues. ;)

~ 4.5 Stars ~

The first book in the Plumber’s Mate series, Pressure Head, reeled me in, and Relief Valve hooked me completely. Tom continues to astound me, and I can’t get enough of his internal thoughts and observations. He captured me with his wittiness, and I wasn’t let down one bit in the second book.

This installment surrounds Cherry, Tom’s sister, who he is mildly estranged from. She enters dropping all kinds of drama into his life. Between the death of his sort-of aunt, and her last will and testament, and Cherry being poisoned, Tom has his hands full. The mystery surrounding the poisoner was intriguing and kept me glued—so many possible characters, and each with their own brand of crazy, some you can’t help but like, others you may hate, while some just make you scratch your head and wonder what the heck is up with them. I thoroughly enjoyed working through the clues uncovered to find the whodunnit. And, most importantly, the why.

Cherry and Tom’s relationship gives insight into other areas of Tom’s life and adds a lot of questions while also clarifying some of his behaviors and thoughts. Though there was obvious distance between the two, it was equally clear they share a special bond. Cherry’s more uptight and conservative personality clashes with Tom’s more brazen. They are opposite ends of the spectrum, yet oddly enough, they seem to get each other. I adore complex familial relationships, and this one delivered it in spades.

Tom and Phil are together, but Phil was still up in the air by the end of the first book for me. I wanted to like him, but he was still a mystery in many ways. It’s clear he adores Tom, but he was often closed off, and when he does let emotion slip through, it emerges as anger. Phil didn’t magically change here. Though there are little peeks into his inner turmoil, he still keeps a lot close to his chest, and it creates problems for him and Tom since their relationship is so new. And, their past still haunts their present in many ways. Though I am glad Phil was consistent and didn’t do a one-eighty, I’ll admit I had hoped for maybe a little more growth and not so much back and forth and misunderstandings. Phil handles many things solo and shuts Tom out a lot. It is a character trait that irks me. Also, its completely realistic. In fact, I happen to be married to a guy with the same way of dealing, which is probably why it drives me up a wall, because it is something I know well and struggle with. Just as Tom thinks he has a handle on where he and Phil are, he hits Phil’s wall. Tom’s reaction is to question Phil’s feelings and their relationship, he grabs on to his insecurities, and it festers. It makes for a great building of tension and totally kept me involved… and also made me want to bang my head against the wall since it’s frustrating.

For fans of Gary and Darren, they are back and adding just as much color and laughter as before. I honestly can’t get enough of Darren; his brash personality just tickles me to no end. The two of them bring so much dimension and comedic relief.

I adore this series and highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun mystery with great, quirky characters. Though I would advise to start with the first book; this is definitely a continuation, and the first book really sets the foundation of where everything is headed.

While I enjoyed this book I just find myself not "in love" with either Tom or Phil. I like them both well enough but as a couple I just don't really feel the chemistry between them. Both characters are pretty reserved and although their relationship made some strides it's still slow going. The mystery was entertaining and I'd say that I enjoyed that aspect more than the romance. I'm not sure that I'll continue with this series but it's a good mystery and you may find that you feel the connection between the characters more than I do so read some of the other reviews.

Still recovering from the last case he helped solve, as well as trying to settle into his new relationship with Phil Morrison (a private investigator and former bully), psychically-gifted plumber Tom Paretski could really go for some quiet time and a pint or two at his favorite pub. But, between his best friend’s engagement, the death of a family friend, and his sister’s poisoning (at her own engagement party, no less), he’s not likely to find peace anytime soon. Good thing the pints are a viable option, at least.

As much as I liked Pressure Head, the first in the series, I had a truly excellent time reading this story. Despite the grim circumstances surrounding the darker aspects of the narrative, I thought Relief Valve was downright hilarious. Tom’s at his best when he finds himself trapped within the failings of etiquette in the face of death, literary duplicity, and romance, and I couldn’t help snickering and cackling all the way through at his expense. I even guiltily found his discomfort with regards to his own affections nearly priceless.

Not just a funny bit of storytelling, Relief Valve is also a gratifying suspense. With questions surrounding the target of the crimes in addition to the identity of the perpetrator, there’s plenty to here to keep readers guessing for quite a while. Although I wasn’t really shocked by the ending of the story, getting there was definitely entertaining.

One of my favorite things about this story was the developing romance between Tom and Phil. With their backstory a little less glaring, it was easier for me to more readily support them both, even though I could still appreciate the apprehension expressed by Tom’s family and friends. Tom is an endearing character, making their protectiveness seem more understandable.

Speaking of wonderful characters—Darren and Gary continue to be two of my favorites, transforming every scene they appear in into a delight. There’s no way to do them justice here, but I absolutely adore them both. Tom’s sister, Cherry, won me over early, as well, and I even developed a reluctant fondness for the “Worryingly,” “Helplessly,” and “Terrifyingly Reverend Greg” (there are twelve of these constructions in my copy—each more amusing than the last).

One of the best sequels I’ve read in a long time, Relief Valve is a strong addition to what has so far been an intriguing series. Highly imaginative, it is an adept combination of humor, suspense, and romance, and I felt that the author found a nice balance between the different elements. Having thoroughly enjoyed this part of Tom’s journey, I’m fully committed at this point, and am very eager to move on to the next title.

Relief Valve (The Plumber's Mate #2) by J.L. Merrow was a very fun read for me. I want to thank Netgally Riptide Publishing for my advanced copy of Relief Valve. When I picked it up I didn’t realize it was the second book in a series but it flows so nicely that I didn’t feel bothered by not reading the first one, but I do have plans to go back and read the first one. I love Tom's narrative voice. He's funny and sometimes snarky but in a good-hearted way. He's not pretentious, and he has a fair bit of tolerance for the quirks of others, even as he complains cheerfully about them. Phil is so cheeky that this was a joy to read. I loved all the British terms in the story and loved the mystery that was wrapped up so nicely. All and all I am glad I picked this up and will be continuing the series.

Some snark, some drama, attempted murder, and a hesitant romance reminded me why I enjoyed Pressure Head, the first book in The Plumber's Mate series about not exactly 'everyday joe' Tom Paretsky the plumber and his broody PI boyfriend, Phil.

The events of Relief Valve happen shortly after the dramatic ending of Pressure Head and the relationship plot thread carries through with a new mystery to stir up Tom and Phil and have them back to detecting once again. It's probably not a great place to start in the series, but a reader could probably get by with just a moderate case of knowing they missed something.

Tom's the main character and he's a blend of fun and irritating in turn- yes, I have fun reading along. Tom's blue collar all the way and knows he's an irritant to the family after a doctor and a lawyer for older siblings. He likes working as a plumber and is good at it. Kinda fun that the author gives several passing scenes of him out on his jobs. He's great with people and has a boyish charm that works on his clients and pretty much everyone. He gets himself all wound up about things and tends to drama up everything, but he's hilarious and lovable all the same. He's also just a wee bit psychic in that he has a gift. He can find things and he can sense in what spirit of mind the person was in who hid them. The police use him to help as a consultant and it was this gift that brought him and Phil together.

Yeah, Phil's another interesting piece to the series. He was once Tom's bully and was indirectly responsible for Tom being in a bad accident in high school days. Tom's family knows this. Phil doesn't work hard to ingratiate himself and tends to drive Tom insane with insecurity and a little jealousy for Phil's mysterious deceased spouse. But the man has moved on, mostly, and embraces all that is Tom.

And, somewhere in the mix, Tom and Phil stumble upon another mystery to work. Only this one hits very close to home. Make that two mysteries with one taking up the most attention. Someone poisoned Tom's sister Cherry's drink at her own engagement party and they soon ferret out there might be a few who had a motive. Or was it Tom who was the intended victim since the other mystery involving an inheritance might be the motive?

I can't understand why I didn't continue on with this series after enjoying Pressure Head, but now with Riptide's Re-releases of The Plumber's Mate mysteries, I plan to keep going this time around. I enjoy Tom, Phil, and the whole gang of colorful village characters and can't wait to see what comes next. This was a cozy mystery blended with spicy m/m romance and more than a smidge of comedy added in for flavor. Definitely recommend!

Relief Valve continued with the authentic feeling setting, captivating mystery, and likable and witty characters that I fell for in Pressure Head. In short, the sequel was consistent with the quality of the first book in the series, and then some, because Tom and Phil's relationship deepened and there was a huge focus on Tom's family, namely his sister Cherry. Tom continued to be my favourite character because of how gentle, friendly, witty and lovable he is, but Relief Valve also introduced new characters who I found interesting and two mysteries, which were as captivating as ever.

I loved how Tom and Phil's relationship developed. They got together by the end of Pressure Head, but that didn't magically make them a perfect couple. The development felt truly realistic because it was slow and a reader could see Tom's pondering and even some anxieties about what Phil wanted and where their relationship was going and on what pace. It's still a new relationship with anxieties and moments, when it's hard for Tom and Phil to express what they want. I loved reading about it, and I'm anticipating the sequel, because I want to see how the relationship develops after Relief Valve.

Relief Valve met my expectations and then some; I loved the relationship aspect, I adore Tom, the mystery was gripping and the reveal at the end was so captivating that I need to know where it possibly leads! The story continued to be a page turner for me, and I still recommend picking up the series or continue with it. I love mysteries, and more than that, I love to read a M/M one, so The Plumber's Mate Mysteries certainly is something that I love.

When I requested Relief Valve from Netgalley, I failed to realize that it was a sequel, which really turned out in my favor because halfway through chapter one, I felt like I was missing a lot of background story, so I did a little research (thank you, Goodreads) and discovered that I needed to read Pressure Head first. I’m glad I did as that’s where our MCs, Tom and Phil meet (again), get together, and narrowly miss being killed while outing a murderer.

I liked both Tom and Phil in Pressure Head. They kind of reminded me of a less intense Adrien and Jake (Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English Mysteries series), and I love the setting and all my favorite British slang (anglophile, here), but I did think the story moved rather slowly. One thing I really enjoyed about the first Plumber’s Mate book was Tom’s unique ability to find things, but in Relief Valve, his gift got lost in the shuffle from one oddball character to the next, and it wasn’t until the end that Tom finally puts his gift to good use.

I would have liked more Tom and Phil time as well. Their relationship is so new and timid that it is difficult to really get a sense of it. I’d like to know what Phil’s thinking and maybe delve more into his past. Some scenes from his POV would be very interesting.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the characters. I just wanted a bit more, which I may soon be getting seeing as there are five books published in this series so far. Looks like I’ve got some reading to do.