A Friend in the Glass

An Auden & O'Callaghan Mystery, Book 3

By: C.S. Poe, Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Garrett Kiesel

It’s winter in New York City, and Rufus O’Callaghan is trying to make things work. He’s still got his job as a confidential informant, and he’s still got Sam Auden. The ex-Army drifter has moved in with Rufus, and the two men are trying to build a lasting relationship as Sam struggles to find his footing in the city.

When Sam gets a call from a woman offering to sell him information about Project Stonefish, though, neither man knows what to make of it. Sam still has questions about the training operation that caused him to leave the Army—and that ended in the death of someone Sam cared about. And Rufus is all too aware that when it comes to Stonefish, Sam’s judgment might be in question.

Everything changes when Sam and Rufus learn that the woman who called Sam has died from a suspicious overdose—and that, before she died, she contacted someone else about Stonefish. Someone who wants Stonefish to stay buried in the past. Someone with the power—and the ruthlessness—to make sure it stays buried. And to learn the truth about what happened all those years ago, Sam and Rufus will have to place themselves in the crosshairs.

©2024 C.S. Poe, Gregory Ashe (P)2025 C.S. Poe, Gregory Ashe

Love these authors!

3.5
I really wanted to love this one. The writing was good (as expected from these two authors!) and I was excited to get back to these idiots. I think for me I was more interested in their personal challenges and insecurities over the actual storyline happening. Might be a me thing though, cause I’m not a HUGE fan of political plots.

I’m still looking forward to the next as usual, and I’m hoooooping they can get out of that apartment and start moving forward together!

So much love for this series!

Shoot, I thought I'd reviewed this already, but nope! Shame on me. I loved the ebook version of this, and I was delighted to get to revisit it in audio. These characters are marvelous, and seeing them progress emotionally (individually and as a couple) has been a delight. I'm beyond happy that this isn't the final book in the series! I'll be eagerly awaiting book four.

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

One phone call changes everything

A Friend in Glass by Gregory Ashe and C.S. Poe is the third installment of the Auden & O’Callaghan Mysteries where Sam's past rears its ugly head and bodies in its wake. With one phone call from an amateur blackmailer who mentions a failed mission called stonefish. Sam has been trying to find out the truth of who killed his friend because he knew something was off about the whole mission. The phone call and help from Rufus has sent him on the to correct the wrongs of his past. Rufus and Sam are a great pair who compliment each other perfectly. This story was fantastic with the twists and turns while the narration by Garrett Kiesel was amazing that compliments the seamless storytelling of Poe and Ashe. I cannot wait for the next installment.

Left me wanting more

In this book, the central mystery revolves around Sam’s past, which I found genuinely intriguing at first. The premise had a lot of potential, and there were moments where the tension really worked. However, the pacing started to feel sluggish as the story repeated the same beats, particularly the multiple trips Sam and Rufus made back to the convention in search of new information. After a while, it felt less like progress and more like stalling.

I continue to really like Sam as a character. Rufus, on the other hand, can be a bit much at times. His skepticism about Sam’s interpretation of what happened in his post was frustrating, especially because it created conflict that felt unnecessary. Fortunately, he does move past it, but the detour didn’t add much to their dynamic.

Where the book really felt thin was in the development of their relationship. The groundwork is there, and the potential is obvious, but the emotional progression between Sam and Rufus never fully takes shape until the end. I would have liked to see more genuine connection with more moments that deepened their bond beyond the mystery they were trying to solve.

As for the mystery itself, there was plenty of buildup, but the payoff just didn’t land for me. After all the tension and the slow drip of clues, the ending felt abrupt and underwhelming, as though the book simply ran out of space to deliver a satisfying resolution.
Overall, while the characters had promise and the setup was compelling, the execution left me wanting more, both in terms of romance and the mystery’s conclusion.

Sam and Rufus!

This story is such a great listen. I really love reading Sam and Rufus continued story. I am happy that we get more of Sam backstory. Both these authors make such a great story that I just couldn't stop listening. This is such a great listen and Garrett Kiesel does a great job bring this story to life.