Who Would Like This Book:
This is a quirky, fast-paced urban fantasy with a gripping paranormal twist. If you enjoy unique world-building, flawed but relatable protagonists, and a blend of murder mystery, supernatural intrigue, and snarky humor - with a dash of steamy m/m romance - this is one for you. Fans of the Dresden Files (minus the misogyny), urban fantasy devotees, and readers who like character-driven stories with authentic emotional arcs will have a lot to love here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some folks were turned off by the novella’s brief length, feeling it was over too soon or left questions unanswered. If you don’t like explicit LGBTQ+ romance, this series leans into it, especially in the early entries. A few readers noted the writing quirks or casual language choices reflective of its early-2000s publication date (including some problematic slurs and stereotypes), and if you crave completely fleshed-out mysteries with every thread tidily tied up in one book, this opener may frustrate you.
About:
'Among the Living' is a paranormal urban fantasy novella featuring psychic cop Victor Bayne who partners with non-psychic cop Jacob Marks to solve a series of murders involving gay men. The book is praised for its compelling plot, well-rounded characters, charming romance, and intriguing world-building. The writing style is described as engaging, humorous, and suspenseful, with a good balance of mystery, m/m relationship, psychic elements, and dialogue.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book includes themes of drug use, murder, the haunting of the living by the dead, and explicit sexual scenes, which may be triggering for some readers.
Has Romance?
While the romance between the main characters is significant, it does not overshadow the mystery or the character development.
From The Publisher:
Victor Bayne, the psychic half a PsyCop team, is a gay medium who's more concerned with flying under the radar than in making waves. He hooks up with Jacob Marks, a non-psychic (or 'Stiff') from an adjacent precinct and it seems like his dubious luck has improved, when a serial killer with a gruesome M.O. surfaces--and no one agrees what he looks like.
Explicit gay content.
Ratings (15)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (4) | |
Liked It (5) | |
It Was OK (4) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (31):
Read It (16) | |
Want To Read (11) | |
Not Interested (4) |
1 comment(s)
The story is a bit shorter than I would like but it is still an entertaining read. I really enjoyed the main idea of the Physics and Stiffs in the police. And the characters are definitely likeable, even though it wasn't easy for me to find many feelings between Vic and Jacob. The suspense part is also very interesting and unalike the others. All in all, I enjoyed the read so I will probably read another book in this series.
What can you read after
Among the Living?
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