Puzzle for Two

I absolutely loved this new mystery from my go to author Josh Lanyon. It definitely had all of Josh's strong elements, excellent writing, wonderful plot, and likeable characters. I couldn't put the book down.
The story centers around competing private investigators that get sucked in together to work a case that is baffling the police and putting Zack as a prime suspect Zach has been trying to keep his father's private investigator agency afloat since his untimely death. He was going to be an accountant but realized he'd rather be in the field. Flint, who has a competing agency is trying to buy Zack out. As the mystery deepens and murder occurs, the men work together to find out who is causing all these problems. This was an excellent mystery and a riveting story that I just simply couldn't get enough of. I was so sad to see it end.
I highly recommend this mystery/romance and hope there is a sequel to this awesome couple that is Flint and Zack.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy for my reading pleasure.

This was lovely! I devoured "Puzzle for Two" in less than a day. It was gripping and clever and witty, and what I have come to expect from Josh Lanyon's brilliant writing.

These murder mystery standalones she writes are an utter delight: I do love a series, don't get me wrong, but these kinds of stories, quick and twisty with a smidge of romance, are the reason why this genre has become a comfort to me. I absolutely love them, and I absolutely love Josh Lanyon's in particular.

The murder mystery at the centre of this standalone is, at first glance, fairly straightforward; but, as Zach, our fledgling PI, soon discovers, the case the reader is thrown into is anything but simple. Needless to say, I loved it! It was creepy and clever and a bit crazy but I absolutely adored every single aspect.

And I also adored Zach, our lead.
He's a quintessential Josh Lanyon protagonist: he means well and he snoops even better, but he sure is a bit of stubborn idiot at times. Thankfully he has Flint, his rival PI turned love interest, who was an absolute delight of a character. He and Zach have incredible chemistry and I loved their (albeit secondary) romance to bits!!!! It had a bit of enemies to lovers and oblivious pining from afar, and it was packed with banter and affection and ugh, it was just lovely.

The side characters were vividly characterized, from sassy Brooke to toxic Ben and all the slightly unhinged, villainous rich people Zach and Flint's case was centred on.

I had such a fun time with this novel and I highly recommend it.

Prepare to be drawn into a web of intrigue, suspense, and unexpected alliances in "Puzzle for Two" by Josh Lanyon. This suspenseful and mysterious novel will take you on a thrilling journey alongside fledgling private investigator Zachariah Davies as he navigates a complex case that pushes him to his limits.

When wealthy toymaker Alton Beacher hires Zach to pose as his boyfriend and uncover the truth behind the recent attempts on his life, Zach is hesitant but desperate enough to accept the job. As he dives deeper into the investigation, he quickly realizes that things are not what they seem. The strange and bizarre circumstances surrounding the case leave him questioning the motives of everyone involved.

Caught in a tangled web of deception, Zach finds himself with nowhere to turn except to his rival and more experienced private investigator, Flint Carey. Despite their rivalry and Flint's ulterior motives, he cannot resist the call for help from Zach, who is struggling to save his father's detective agency. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey to unravel the truth behind the mysterious events and protect themselves from unseen threats.

Lanyon weaves a suspenseful narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolds. The story is rife with twists, turns, and unexpected alliances, creating an atmosphere of constant suspense and intrigue. Lanyon's ability to build tension and maintain a sense of mystery throughout the novel is commendable, making "Puzzle for Two" a page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters of Zach and Flint are intricately developed, each harboring their own secrets, desires, and motivations. Zach's journey from an inexperienced investigator to a determined seeker of the truth is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for his success. Flint's complex personality adds depth to the story, and his evolving relationship with Zach brings an additional layer of tension and complexity to the narrative.

Lanyon's writing style is engaging and atmospheric, creating a vivid world that will immerse you in the dark underbelly of the investigation. His attention to detail and ability to create a sense of place enhances the overall reading experience, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

If you're looking for a thrilling and unpredictable mystery that will keep you guessing, "Puzzle for Two" is an excellent choice.

Well, well, well. Three Josh Lanyon books in less than six months- I'm not sure if I deserve such happiness. Be that as it may, I found "Puzzle for Two" to be quite good, overall, with a very engaging mystery and some interesting characters in Zach and Flint, two competing private investigators who join forces for a bizarre case.

The mystery itself kept me guessing until the very end but made perfect sense, and I enjoyed how the two men solved the puzzle before them, particularly Zach's insight at the end about a reason for murder. Even with that particular part of the case solved, I found it interesting that there were some unanswered questions about whether Zach and Flint's theory about Alton Beacher's motivations were correct or not. And the two men's attraction to one another felt real, as well, if a bit rushed toward the end of the story.

The main thing that I might mark the book down on would be the character of Ben, Zach's ex-boyfriend. Their interactions didn't really add anything to the story, particularly one over the top scene set in a restaurant. I understand the author was trying to make a point about Zach "settling" for an unhealthy relationship but it seemed to me that it could have been addressed in a more concise manner.

Other than that quibble, though, I found the book highly entertaining, not that that's much of a surprise with Lanyon, one of my favorite mystery writers around now.

**********Thank goodness JL doesn't do the faux angst trope. Decent sleuthing from 2 Dicks & A Dame.***************

This is a standalone from JL, one that it seems was initially written for her subscribers. It’s a tale that could have relied on the done-to-death faux angst trope between rivals to make it work, but I’m glad JL shied away from that. Instead, the leads come together because of a case that has so many bells ringing, that the rookie PI, Zach, would have totally been in above his head had he gone alone and tried to prove his very new creds.
I liked that neither lead felt the need to score points or to take point, and the eventual outcome felt like a natural progression. As to the actual storyline? More herrings than a can of the stuff, and at the end, I still had questions about 2 characters.
So, someone loses their life and there’s a bevy of potential suspects. The person who dies seems to have an issue with the truth, but so do at least 3 other characters, and on top of the whodunnit, there’s the whole issue of what was lie and what was truth in what was told to Zach for him to take the case. At times, I did wonder about his naivety and how he could believe Alton’s antics. One aspect in particular crossed a serious line and I couldn’t see how that wasn’t a deal breaker for Zach. But, there was actual sleuthing and not just from Flint and Zach, but from Zach’s not-so-little little sister, and Zach’s former career helped solve the case.
It wasn’t the deepest, most convoluted read from JL, but at the same time, I enjoyed the slightly more relaxed read.
I’ve come across a review that disses this book and JL. I’m not entirely sure if I should be sticking my 2 pence in, but I think the author of said review has a pretty unique take on it, due to who they are. That’s fine, but similarly, my take is due to who I am - I don’t agree that there’s bi/pan erasure here. I think there’s a particularly nasty individual whose life from college age has been a series of machinations and using people to advance no one but himself, and that he’s hidden his true self, because of $$$. I think that becomes even more clear during one of the reveals towards the end, and with the mention of the contents of said person’s safe. But, each to their own, and peace.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. for my reading pleasure.

private-investigators, family-dynamics, investigation, false-information, falsely-accused, family-business, threats, extortion, unputdownable, California, rivalry, m/m romantic-suspense, local-law-enforcement, suspense, suspicion, friction, friends, frustration, relationship-issues, relationships, secrets, lies, inheritance****

Talk about a messy and embarrassing break-up!
Zach, his mother and sister have inherited his dad's PI firm but are in financial trouble. Zach wants to hang on a while longer but the others aren't sure that they shouldn't just sell it to the one who has offered to merge it with his own struggling business. Then comes a really odd but wealthy client who plunks down a wad of money with some bizarre expectations. Lots of craziness, suspense, weird characters, and the ex from the pit, plus wild plot twists and unexpected red herrings. Fun!
I requested and received and EARC from JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you!

Josh Lanyon's PUZZLE FOR TWO is yet another delightful standalone (although I can hope for more!) from an author who never fails to deliver! Although the premise takes a little while to get the story moving, the interactions between Flint and Zach are charming, and I devoured the book in one sitting!

This was a very sweet, very enjoyable read. It's a relatively quick read with a fun twisty mystery and some romance thrown in.

Zach Davies has taken over his deceased father detective agency and is floundering until he receives an unreal offer: a wealthy toy maker receiving death threats. Against the animosity of rival PI Flint Carey, and his client who seems exceedingly eccentric, Zach tried to puzzle out a case where nothing is as it seems.

I really enjoyed the character building of Zach and Flint. They make for a very dynamic and engaging paid and kept me rapt throughout this book.

A great summer read from Lanyon!

Rating 4.5
This was a wonderful MM mystery/romance. The characters were spot on and the pace really kept my interest. Trying to determine who done it was so much fun as the author didn’t give it away too early in the story. The romance is definitely low key and of so enjoyable. Such a fun book.

I became of fan of Lanyon with the Secrets and Scramble series, and have become more of a fan with each book I read. One commonality I have found with each standalone I have read from Lanyon is how likable the characters are. They're so likable that it's easy to invest in the story for more than the mystery. You're always left wanting more. You go into the story with Zach and Flint already feeling like well-rounded characters and are enjoyable enough to read that they could easily become a series. There are two significant tropes within the story - rivals (to lovers) and pretending to date. The tropes are delightful and have a nice originality to how they're executed. Zach and Flint are rival detectives with Zach a little more out of his element but both are dedicated to making these businesses succeed. The mystery revolves around Alton Beacher - a wealthy man that insists that someone wants to harm him - who concocts a plan for Zach to 'pretend' to be his boyfriend in order to investigate these threats. He's an eccentric larger-than-life character that potentially poses more problems than solutions for Zach. I cannot recommend this book enough. The characters are charming and you instantly form a connection with them. The romance strikes a nice balance to the mystery with neither element outshining the other or feeling as if one is taking over from the other. Puzzle for Two is hard to put down and addicting from the first scene.

Puzzle for Two gives us an improbable case ("Possibly the whole pretend-t0-be-my boyfriend to decoy my maybe suicidal wife thing?") with Zach, a young PI resolved to keep his father's PI agency afloat while fending off creditors as well as his competitor ex-Marine Flint Carey who is determined to buy him out. Never mind that Zach might be a bit too inexperienced, the case stinks to high heaven, and his client is ... unsettling, the $12,000 fee alleviates a lot of Zach's qualms, for now.

In reading this PI murder mystery, I'm again struck by how beautifully Lanyon creates character. It's in the turn of a phrase, a succinct description, a pause. One really gets a sense of each of the characters here - untried but determined Zach, the unnerving client Alton Beacher, Zach's delightfully quirky sister Brooke with her mad researching skills, Zach's obsessive ex Ben. And Flint Carey is at first defined by Zach's (misguided) perception of him and the way that perception changes bit by bit is a delightfully slow burn.

I really liked the interplay of all these distinct characters and how the murder / mystery works so well as a classic detective story. And here's hoping that Lanyon decides to continue this series! 4 stars.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an electronic copy of this title to provide my feedback!

Puzzle for Two follows the story for Zachariah "Zack" Davies as he tries to keep his father's detective agency afloat. After the death of his father, Zach and his sister, Brooke, take over the family business try to keep it from ruin. Once Zach gets an offer he can't refuse, he's catapulted into a mystery that he isn't sure he's ready for. With the unlikely help and guidance from his father's rival, Flint, he digs deeper into the case and finds that he's bitten off more than he can chew. Will he be able to solve this mystery, save his father's business, and explore his connection with Flint? As a huge fan of Josh Lanyon, and her books, I was ecstatic to get my hand on this title. The premise is what originally drew me to the book, as I love high stakes and drama.

The characterizations of all the characters were phenomenal. The reader gets a sense of what each character is like without being spelled out for you. Zach, being an accountant, shows his analytical side throughout the investigation. The reader gets a sense of that through his questioning and conversations with other characters. When another character brings up the fact that he's an accountant, we aren't surprised by the outcome based on his interactions. The authors does a phenomenal job of showing the narrative and characterization of her characters. This is highlighted when Zach's lack of experience with private investigating is brought up by other characters. Instead of a characters telling Zach he's a terrible, the author frames their conversation to point out Zach's lack of deductive reasoning. Phrases like "You didn't think that..." or "Didn't you notice...", coupled with Zach's response, reminds the reader that Zach is still new to investigation. It's truly refreshing to see protagonist struggle to investigate, in the beginning of the novel, and slowly be able to get the footing and solve the case.

The plot is consistent and has a good balance between the romance and the mystery. There are some books that solely focus on either the romance or mystery, and neglect the other. For some stories, it works as the chosen secondary plot is given less urgency. In this novel, Lanyon gives importance to both the plot, the mystery, and the sub-plot, the romance with Flint, and beautifully alternates between the two. She establishes the connection between Flint and Zach, and provides the stakes that has both of them invested into this mystery.

Now let's discuss some of the things that didn't work for me in this book.

The enemies to lover's trope is difficult to establish and didn't pan out efficiently for this story. The start of the novel, Flint is a rival of Zach's PI firm and consistently offers to buy him out. Zach, resenting the implication that he isn't cut out for this work, refuses to sell and labels Flint, in his mind, enemy number one. This is a brilliant way to set-up the dynamic and the author does give the characters a back and forth. However, the transition between enemies to lovers is delicate and, if not given appropriate time to form a new dynamic, can be viewed as rushed. The quick pace of the novel, as it occurs over the course of a week, doesn't allow for an organic transition from "I hate Flint; he's the worst" to "Flint is my entire world". Having Zach and Flint work together and understand each other is the perfect formula of a enemies to lovers story. If the story had more scenes of them getting to know each other, and/or having the plot have a slower pace, would make the trope seem more organic.

Overall, this is another great book from Josh Lanyon and I look forward to our library getting a copy for our patrons!

Josh Lanyon does it again in Puzzle for Two! 5 Stars from this Reader

PI Zack Davies knows he shouldn't take Alton Beacher's case. The case is weird, the client is strange and his commonsense is screaming “No!” But his family firm is about to go under if it doesn’t get a quick infusion of cash so all he can say is a reluctant yes.

Neighboring PI Flint Carey wants to buy the Davies firm. If Zach continues to refuse every offer, Flint may have to get more creative. In the meantime he’s willing to provide some backup to the stubborn, inexperienced, attractive accountant-turned-detective.

Zach needs more backup than his partner/younger sister can provide. Can he swallow his pride enough to hire Flint while he’s on the awkward fake date his client is insisting on?

Lots of plot twists and turns, engaging characters, and building heat make this another Josh Lanyon winner!

While this book stands on its own, I’d love to see sequels.

I loved this book. The mystery is well-paced and keeps the reader hooked till the end. The way the author portrays the characters and what they go through is compelling and interesting. I really love this author's writing.
Both characters have depth enough to seem real, the banter and snark between them is delicious.