Dead Serious Case #5: Madam Vivienne by Vawn Cassidy

TITLE: ⟫ Dead Serious Case 5: Madam Vivienne

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #5

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ For one brief shining moment, the utter insanity that is Tristan Everett’s world makes sense.

He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light. He’s also averted an apocalypse, stopped Chaos from coming through a magic door, and drunk tequila with Death.

It’s all a bit bonkers, but it’s his life… and he loves it.

He’s flying high but, like Icarus, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought crashing down to earth with singed wings. The strange reality of his life intrudes once again when his friend, Madame Vivienne, is murdered, and it’s clear from the beginning that this is no ordinary killing.

Someone is using dark magic.

Viv’s soul has been bound, leaving her trapped and unable to communicate. Tristan, Danny, and their friends must uncover the truth and find the killer. But the deeper they delve into the old bookshop in Whitechapel, which has been in the Crawshanks family for generations, the darker and the more dangerous the secrets that begin to unravel.

And what they discover may just change their lives forever…

REVIEW: ⟫ Sick as a dog and in need of comfort, I picked up Case #5 Madame Vivienne and what a ride it was! Danny and Tristan are as in love as ever, and good job too because the time we have all been dreading has arrived – Tristan’s father has been ill from the time we met him and we knew it was coming. Vawn Cassidy even warns us at the beginning of the book, but nothing could have prepared me for how absolutely devastated I was when the time came. I was right by Tristan’s side as he raged against what had happened and what he wasn’t allowed – it was so incredibly cruel!

The Crawshanks history gets deeper and deeper as we are pulled into the past, decisions made to protect people and the bookshop which seems to be the centre of everything. It doesn’t even matter if you manage to guess some of the things that are happening – it in no way lessens the impact. There are so many revelations in this story that my mind is slightly blown, but I cannot wait for the next instalment of Dead Serious. Vawn Cassidy has really and truly blown me away with this instalment and I salute her. So much history, so much interweaved so carefully – it was masterful. Sorry, in case it isn’t obvious, I really loved this instalment and have already downloaded a freebie mentioned in the back pages.

Read it – you won’t regret it. But I warn you – make sure you have tissues.

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan by Vawn Cassidy - Volume 1

TITLE: ⟫ The Grim Adventures of Death and Chan

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Volume 1

RATING: ⟫ 5/5

BLURB: ⟫ CRAWSHANKS GUIDE TO THE RECENTLY DEPARTED

A Dead Serious Companion Novella

Set in the Dead Serious Universe, The Grim Adventures of Death & Chan is a compendium of bonus shorts told in chronological order and documenting the hilarious but sweet beginnings of the relationship between a drag queen and the supernatural entity known as Death.

This Volume includes the following:

Death goes on a Date

Death goes Shopping

Death goes on Holiday

Death gets a Puppy

REVIEW: ⟫ This was absolutely delightful! I haven’t read any of the bonus shorts before but was entranced at the idea of reading about Chan and Death’s courtship and these did not disappoint!

Chan has always been an intriguing character and we learn much more about him through these shorts – more about him and Dusty, how they came to be drag queens and the deep friendship that they share – even beyond death.

And then we have Death with a capital D who sounds like a complete DILF and is obviously head over heels for Chan! Chan decides Death needs to learn what it is to be human and the shenanigans are sexy, sweet and touching in a way that Chan truly deserves.

I loved reading these shorts and look forward to reading more – especially if it includes Death in a speedo! I received an ARC from the author.

Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum by Vawn Cassidy

TITLE: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plum

AUTHOR: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

SERIES: ⟫ Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed #4

RATING: ⟫ 4.5/5

BLURB: ⟫ Inspector Danny Hayes has something very important to ask his boyfriend Tristan Everett. Over the past six months they’ve survived reapers, chaos monsters, and biblical storms, not to mention averting an apocalypse. So, what’s left to do but pop the big question?

Tristan is ready for a break from world-saving, spectral crises, and most definitely from ghosts. He wants some one-on-one time with his boyfriend, preferably horizontally. So when the incredibly thoughtful aforementioned boyfriend books a romantic New Year’s getaway at a quiet little hotel in the wilds of the north Yorkshire moors and away from London, Tristan can’t wait.

But as usual nothing ever goes according to plan. Snowed in during an unexpected murder mystery weekend at what turns out to be one of the most haunted hotels in Northern England is not what they had in mind, but when one of the actors turns up really dead not just fake dead, they once again find themselves caught up in another investigation.

With only one night to figure out who the killer is while wrangling a multitude of overly helpful ghosts, Tristan begins to wonder if romance really is dead…

REVIEW: ⟫ It would be very easy for the romance between Tristan and Danny to take a backseat to a rip-roarer of a weekend where murder, family, extra marital affairs and ghosts are running riot, so it is a credit to Vawn Cassidy that that doesn’t happen.

Danny wants to propose to Tristan – has been planning it for some time – but can’t seem to find the right time. A weekend away where they can both relax after the extremely busy and challenging last few months seems like the perfect opportunity – now if only there wasn’t a murder, an affair, an insane amount of ghosts and a hotel on its’ last legs getting in the way.

I really loved the way that Tristan supported Danny as he faced up to various things from his past, and I was pleased with how went and was handled. Dusty is, as always, the absolute bomb and the interactions between her and Danny had me giggling at various stages. Once again, we have a murder and Tristan using his abilities to help solve the case. This time, other people get up close and personal with the ghosts and it was fascinating seeing their reactions, Danny in particular. At one point, Tristan notes that this is Danny’s first face-to-face conversation with a ghost and for some reason that really made me stop and pause. Up until now, Danny has taken Tristan at his word, not unduly questioned him or made him feel even stranger than he already does. But this represents an opportunity for Danny to see what it is like for Tristan all of the time and I really appreciated this touch.

This was an excellent follow-up to the previous books, with call-outs to characters from other books that were lovely little hints for regular readers to pick up on without being obnoxious for people only now discovering the author. I look forward to the next book – the ending definitely set things up to be completely fascinating and also more than a little bit darker.

This book was like watching a romantic comedy with a little drama/murder for added spice and I really enjoyed it. Definitely recommend.

I received an ARC.

Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes by Vawn Cassidy

Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #3 Mr Bruce Reyes

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

Rating: ⟫ 4/5

Blurb: ⟫ Tristan Everett was finally getting used to the strangeness that was his life. Being able to see the dead and helping them solve their unfinished business and cross into the light wasn’t so bad after all, especially when he was accompanied by his best friend, dead drag queen Dusty Le Frey. His boyfriend, sexy Scotland Yard detective Danny Hayes, now knew the truth about Tristan’s “gift,” and they were about to move in together officially.

Life was good.

That is until Death—honest to god, Death (aka The Grim Reaper)—pitches up in Tristan’s kitchen with an unusual stop Dusty’s ghostly hookup Bruce from crossing into the light, which may result in dire consequences.

Determined to do the exact opposite, Tristan and Danny assemble their own ragtag gang of one prickly witch, one snarky psychic private investigator, one living drag queen with an affinity for feathers, and one dead one with an affinity for a deceased rugby player in tiny shorts. Together they must solve a forty-year old cold case, while juggling a dose of the flu, a broken leg, a supernatural storm, and an immortal death deity with the looks and temperament of a sexy but grouchy CEO.

Seriously… what could possibly go wrong?

Review: ⟫ Tristan is back along with Danny, Dusty, Chan and the beginnings of quite the Scooby Gang. The third instalment deals with our very own Bruce, the rugby player in the skimpy shorts who has Dusty in a tizzy.

The relationship between Danny and Tristan seems to be the only solid thing in Tristan’s life as everything else goes haywire – including visits from Death, a supernatural storm, Bruce’s body being found and all of the potential mess that can incur along with Death’s slightly deranged ‘twin’ in the form of chaos trying to escape the book store. So, business as usual.

As is usual with Vawn Cassidy, all of the characters get their chance to shine and watching as the gang get closer together and Danny and Tristan realise how loved they truly are, we learn about Bruce’s life (and death) and get more insight into the strangeness that surrounds Tristan like a fog.

I enjoyed reading this one – as I may have mentioned before, these books feel like reading/watching Murder She Wrote but with more sexy times and a little bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed seeing Chan being pursued, can definitely sense some tension between other members of the gang, and I was so pleased with how Danny handled Viv – who knew we needed the miserable, cantankerous drunk and could grow to like her?

Despite being a murder case, that took the backseat to revelations from the past, people admitting their feelings and Danny and Tristan finally finding somewhere to live without a leaking roof. A very good instalment in the series and I look forward to seeing just what Tristan, Danny and the gang have to deal with in the next book.

I received an ARC from GRR.

Molly Boys by Vawn Cassidy (London Underside #1)

Title: ⟫ Molly Boys (London Underside Book #1)

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy

Rating: ⟫ 4.5/5

Blurb: ⟫ London 1883:

For Lord Everett Stanley, escaping his fate seemed impossible. As the second son, he’s destined for ordination and the life of a priest, but he’s hiding a dangerous secret. The laws punishing homosexuality by hanging may have been repealed but he and others of his kind are far from safe. Given no other choice, they take solace in the underground molly houses of London. Now that fragile world is threatened when the East End is rocked by a series of gruesome murders.

Inspector Archibald Franklin worked hard to overcome his working-class roots, making a name for himself as a respected inspector of Whitechapel’s H Division, but when he begins to investigate the deaths of several beautiful young men, fate throws him into the path of the handsome and enigmatic Lord Stanley. His gut instinct tells him the young lord knows more about the murders than he lets on, but the closer he gets, the more Everett calls to him in a way he’s tried to deny his whole life.

As a reign of terror grips London, they are drawn together in order to stop a monster, but for Archie, the growing feelings he has for Everett are a betrayal of the very laws he has sworn to uphold. And as the killer closes in, the two men find themselves bound together by a passion that may be their ultimate salvation or their utter destruction…

Review: ⟫ As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I was very much looking forward to reading it. I seriously wanted to know just how Archie and Everett were going to get their happily ever after, especially in the period they lived in and the circumstances under which they met.

The story was rich in detail and you could feel the Victorian atmosphere: it felt very similar to “Oliver”, with children being pickpockets and having to give their ill-gotten gains to their overlord; the molly houses we saw were fascinating, and the plight suffered by Everett as the ‘spare’ to the heir was suffocating in the extreme. The manner in which the men had to hide their true selves for fear of retribution was palpable and that added to the drama.

The background characters were fully fleshed out and interesting, and I imagine we will see more of them in future books. Francis was an absolute diamond, especially with his regard for Everett, offering him a much-needed escape. There was talk of drugs, orgies and the like, much in line with the era – I don’t think it needed a trigger warning, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it.

The serial killer plot was fascinating and I was not expecting the conclusion of that the way it occurred. The twist took me by surprise, along with the resolution. So why the 4/4.5 rating? Quite possibly my fault, but although I knew it was a series, I expected more resolution in certain areas that I didn’t receive and that frustrated me. I was also frustrated by the amount of time our two leads spent together. I completely understand that this was setting up the series, but I felt that quite possibly we spent too much time in the Molly houses and therefore missed out on the relationship build-up.

I enjoyed Jack Lightfoot and am looking forward to reading more about him, and I will pick up the next in the series because I have a feeling it’s going to be a doozy, but I was a little disappointed in some areas and that is reflected in my rating.

I received an ARC from the author.

Suddenly Beck by Vawn Cassidy (Belong to Me #1)

Title: ⟫ Suddenly Beck (Belong to Me Book 1) 

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 

Blurb: ⟫ A surprisingly sweet, sinfully sexy, and deliciously hilarious romp along the Cornish coast. 

Nathan Elliott has run away from home at the age of twenty-six. His teenage rebellion may have come ten years late, but better late than never. Leaving behind a world of wealth and privilege, and a strict patriarchal family that would never except a gay son, he’s ready to embrace life and make up for lost time, but nothing’s ever that simple. 

A coin toss, a delayed train, and a wrong bus later, and Nat finds himself in a small bay in Cornwall being hauled out of the ocean by a gorgeous stranger and wondering how the hell his life got so off track. 

Beck Ainsley lives life by a very simple ethos, don’t get attached, don’t get involved and don’t fall in love. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt that reads I’m a gullible idiot. Now, he keeps his life simple; all he needs is his dog, his art, his rambling sea cottage overlooking the bay and a few choice waves to surf. 

He’s not looking for love or commitment, but when he ends up plucking a posh boy from London with incredible blue eyes from the ocean, Cupid doesn’t just shoot him with an arrow, he decides to club him senseless with the bow too. 

One simple agreement. A summer fling, a chance to act on the insane attraction between them with no strings attached, and at the end of the summer they walk away. 

There’s just one problem, fate is a fickle and capricious creature, and she has no intention of letting them walk away unscathed. They’re about to discover that sometimes the heart wants, what the heart wants… 

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes this hot and sweet, first time, MM romance that will leave you laughing out loud and fanning yourself from the heat… 

Review: ⟫ This story was completely delightful! 

I adored Nat – the way he was determined to be free and experience everything; and Beck sounded completely delicious. There is a certain amount of suspending disbelief required, but this book is so well worth that. Full of love, laughter (Molly cracked me up so much), a family dealing with grief and a young man finding himself and true love – who could ask for more? 

The descriptions made me want to visit Cornwall again (I went about 25 years ago and there was nothing but wind and rain), and the whole story was just so sweet and enjoyable. The cast of characters were really cool – I come from a big family so it was fun watching the dynamics of the Ainsley clan and it brought back so many memories. I loved the surfing aspect, especially the family tradition – the description was so vivid and evocative, I almost felt like I was there. And the sex scenes were steamy as all hell – I wasn’t expecting the level of dirty talk but I LIKED IT a lot! 

Happily rounding up from 4.5/5, I received an ARC from GRR.

Dead Serious: Case #2 Mrs Delores Abernathy by Vawn Cassidy

Title: ⟫ Dead Serious: Case #2: Mrs Delores Abernathy 

Author: ⟫ Vawn Cassidy 

Rating: ⟫ 4/5 

Blurb: ⟫ It’s been over six months since a freak accident left pathologist Tristan Everett able to see ghosts, something he has yet to confess to his boyfriend. Instead, he now has a new calling, one he’s not entirely happy about… help the dead resolve their unfinished business so they can pass into the light, sounds simple right? 

Wrong… 

When the spirit of a sweet old lady suffering from Alzheimers follows him home he has no idea how to help her. When he finds out she’s been murdered by arsenic poisoning, a curiously outdated murder weapon, he once again finds himself tangled up in a murder investigation. 

For Inspector Danny Hayes of New Scotland Yard, life couldn’t be better. After moving to London and meeting Tristan he’s ready to move their relationship to the next level, but something weird is going on with Tristan, he’s acting very strangely and with a killer on the loose he’s not taking any chances. He’s determined to discover whatever it is Tristan’s hiding from him. 

Surrounded by a bunch of potentially murderous old ladies and aided by his sidekick, deceased drag queen and spirit guide in training, Dusty, Tristan must unravel the mystery of Mrs Delores Abernathy’s unfinished business and find the courage to share his deepest secret with the man he loves. 

 From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy, comes the second book in this funny and touching paranormal MM romance/dark comedy suspense series. 

Review: ⟫ Funny and touching describes this book perfectly – there were moments when I was cackling with laughter, and more than a few moments when I had a tear in my eye. 

If I say that figuring out what happened to dear Mrs Dolores Abernathy is the least of Tristan’s worries, then you might have a little insight into what a riotous ride our poor lead is in for. 

This book reminded me a little of Murder She Wrote or perhaps the Aurora Teagarden movies, with Tristan somehow running from pillar to post, experiencing things that he could never have expected, whilst inadvertently assisting Danny in solving the murder. 

We get to spend a bit more time with Danny in this book and discover a little more about what led to him coming to New Scotland Yard. Chan is back and experiences a far better birthday than they could ever have expected. Evangeline reminds me of a slightly annoying ghost Dumbledore, with obscure clues to help Tristan along the way, and the romance between Dusty and Bruce is going strong. 

Underlying all of that is the sweet, sexy romance between Danny and Tristan, with both of them fearful that although they love each other, things are moving so quickly and needing the reassurance from friends as well as each other to accept that all is going according to plan. 

And speaking of plans… anything more would be a spoiler, but if you enjoyed the first mystery/romance with Ms Dusty, then you will love this one! A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to the next ‘case’ with happy anticipation. 

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.