Catch/Caught

Title: Catch/Caught
Author: Vivien Dean
Cover Artist: Trace Edward Zaber
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
Buy Link: Buy Link Catch/Caught
Genre: M/M Contemporary/ Suspense
Length: 16k words
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

A Guest Review by Raine

Summary Review: Tightly written story — atmospheric with a hard and sexy edge.

Blurb: Detective Ryan Siler had the perfect plan. He chose a common dumping ground for gang killings, a dark and lonely stretch of beach, and picked a late hour to avoid interruption. He even got his target to think their meeting was for a business deal. The only thing he didn’t anticipate was a witness.

For keyboardist Joel Brennan, the night was all about promise. A great gig, private time with a hot guy…it should’ve been perfect. And it was, until he inadvertently walked in on a murder. But he did the right thing. He went to the cops to report what he’d seen. He just didn’t expect to recognize the lead detective on the case as the killer.

Both men are convinced the other will sell him out. It’ll take teaming up to ensure they both stay alive…

Review:

This novella opens hard and fast with both voyeuristic sex and murder. These actions at Red Sands, a place which does not take its name from geological content, define the rest of the story. There are no obvious heroes here. Both the main characters are unusual and layered personalities. Ironically Detective Ryan Siler is the most damaged. Although clearly an honest man in most ways, an addiction to gambling has left him with a huge debt that he is paying off with gang hits. Ryan justifies his murders by thinking of them as public service, but he is clearly morally compromised. His first hit — a drug dealer — Roach Rodriguez (great name) would have been a success but for the witness. Joel, having hooked up on the beach with Ryan’s victim, had come back for more, only to see the murder.

Joel is a successful musician with a cult following, does some recreational drugs, and is also sexually complex — needy and probably submissive. He is a sympathetically drawn character, not a weak victim waiting to be rescued. When he comes forward to witnessing the murder he is shocked to recognize his hit-man as part of the investigating team. The following interaction between Ryan and Joel is one of advance, retreat, and hard edged flirtation as they both recognise their inadvertent involvement in a very dangerous situation.

Ryan’s fascination with Joel’s sexuality is cleverly written, with his imagined suggestive acts provocatively raising the heat. His repeated mention of a BDSM club “Tails”, and his forceful reaction to Joel, suggests they have complimentary kinks. This affinity is only beginning to be explored within the story but the anticipation is effectively embedded within the narrative.

The background setting of a seedy cityscape includes description of a disreputable Malibu club; the overall atmosphere is on the squalid side of gritty. However for all the well-written realism, this new relationship still creates a good feeling for the future of both characters. I really enjoyed this one; beautifully paced, intense, and with original characters that weren’t easy but were compelling.

Recommended