Winter Kill

Winter Kill by Josh Lanyon
The Art of Murder Series

GREAT story…and evidently the first in a series that is, hopefully, as good as this book was! Couldn’t put it down once I started reading!

What I liked:
* FBI Agent Adam Darling: professional, focused, intelligent, dealing with the fallout of an assignment that had a bad outcome, has goals, somewhat guarded, someone I wouldn’t mind having as a friend
* Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell: left the big city for small town police work, dedicated to his community, savvy though protective, not always able to see evil where it might lurk, a good man.
* Watching the relationship develop between Adam and Rob
* Feeling that Adam and Rob were good together and had a future together as a couple
* Sheriff Francesca McLellan “Frankie”: top dog at the Nearby Sheriff’s department, knows her town and her staff, a good leader, intriguing woman
* Small town setting with quirky intriguing characters
* The plot, writing, and character development
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The creep-factor of the evil crimes being perpetrated
* How the evil was unearthed and sussing out who was behind the murders
* That there was a HEA for the main couple
* That the cases were tied up and the story complete when the book ended.

What I didn’t like:
* Exactly who and what I was meant not to like
* The senseless murders and loss of innocent lives

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and JustJoshin Publishing Inc. for the ARC – This is my honest review.

Five Stars

Josh Lanyon’s Winter Kill is a fun romantic suspense set in rural Oregon. FBI Special Agent Adam Darling and sheriff’s deputy Rob Haskell work together to solve a series of murders, and in the process, fall in love.
I enjoyed this book a great deal. Adam and Rob are different enough to be interesting together, and their friction points as a couple feel realistic. The shift from a one-night stand to romance feels, for the most part, believable, although as with many romance novels, it’s never quite clear why the characters find each other perfect/irresistible/the perfect complement. The investigation is interesting and more developed than in many romantic suspense novels. The ending felt rushed, but overall, it was still satisfying. As always with Lanyon’s books, the prose is beautiful, and the characters are deeply human.
Recommended for Lanyon fans in particular and romantic suspense readers in general!

This is a wonderful romantic suspense book set in rural Oregon. I really enjoyed the characters and the way the author dealt with the serial killer aspect of the book, not a lot of gory details, just like I like. The characters were wonderful and the pace was spot on.

REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Winter Kill by Josh Lanyon is an LGBTQ+ mystery thriller with a prominent romantic element. Special Agent Adam Darling is sent to a remote town in Oregon to assist the local sheriff’s department with a possible serial killer case. Deputy Sheriff Robert Haskell is not happy to see the FBI in his town, but quickly realizes that Agent Darling’s help is needed and appreciated. It doesn’t hurt that the agent is handsome and probably gay. The chemistry between the two lawmen is undeniable, but they must find a way to maintain their focus and track down a killer. ⠀
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This is an exciting and fast paced thriller with just the right amount of slow burn romance woven in to make for a compelling read. The hunt for a serial killer will have you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails. The two main characters are fascinating and complicated men with a sexual tension between them that makes the story crackle with energy. Winter Kill would make the perfect opening novel to a dynamic and certainly successful series like those that Josh Lanyon is famous for. If you love a good serial killer thriller, then this is the book for you. ⠀

This was addictive. I could have read it all in one sitting (didn't due to time constraints but I was completely hooked). The investigative part of the story was really interesting and I only wish we could have had a little bit more development of the relationship between Adam (Darling) and Rob. These two seemed like a great fit and have good chemistry but I felt like we were watching them fall over the surface, that is, I missed some more in depth insight into their individual stories and the development of their connection. However, the investigation plot line more that compensated for that and this was a quite solid 4 star read for me. I really hope this author will be releasing more stories about these two.
*E-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I have received this book by NetGalley and JustJoshin Publishing, Inc, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I found an author that I intend to read as much as possible. It's not the first book I've read, and I like the atmosphere and the writing that the author created. I started to explore and understand that there are small connections between stories and other books, which makes me curious and excited to continue reading the author's stories.

Regarding Winter Kill, I practically only took a break from reading, as I was always curious to know what would happen and who was who. I read the book with the Audiobook, and it was beautiful. I enjoyed the narrator's work, and it allowed me to visualize the scenarios and dialogue in my mind.

The story maintains a fast pace while showing us the unfolding of a - immediate - relationship between the two main characters: Adam and Rob. Very different from each other, but closer than they think. Adam is more practical, cold and distant - given his job as an FBI Special Agent. His rhythm is different; he doesn't use emotions but facts and evidence. On the other hand, Rob is more emotional, caring, and empathetic to people - but one of the best cops in the small town where he lives.

When the two collide in the case that falls to their feet, it's interesting to see how their personalities intertwine and their relationship blossoms in a few days. The case is thrilling and keeps us curious about possible theories. I noticed some loose ends (mainly from some background characters), but I've also seen that it's a bit of the author's style, as I felt the same way in a previous book.

I don't think that everything is that fast in real life, especially in making decisions; however, I'm reading a story, and I don't want everything to be real - for that, I already live day-to-day.

I liked it a lot, and I will continue to read the author's stories.