In the Flesh

By: Ethan Stone

Narrated by: Tristan James

Reno Detective Cristian Flesh is an out and unashamed cop, but his slutty ways might be his downfall. Cristian lives by a strict set of personal rules, preferring hook-ups and anonymous encounters to committed relationships. His guidelines work for him until one of his tricks is murdered and he becomes the prime suspect.

Leave it to handsome lawyer Colby Maddox to save Cristian's life. He takes the case and the attraction between them is quick and undeniable. After several passion-filled encounters with Colby, Cristian unexpectedly wants to break all his rules. However, before they can contemplate a future together, they'll have to clear Cristian's name and find the real murderer.

©2015 Ethan Stone (P)2016 DSP Publicaitons

great book

Tristan james is fantastic! the Storey was hot!!!! width they'd make a movie out of it!

An Entertaining Fiction

Ethan Stone’s concept of an unashamedly openly gay detective was a good one. Flesh is also honest in telling his story when a fellow policeman interviewed him after he reported a murder in a hotel room. It’s kinda interesting how gay men always get asked who topped and who bottomed. That question didn’t seem relevant to the murder investigation, but Flesh gave the cop the answer in such a blunt way that the cop was embarrassed, not Flesh.
Do not expect the behaviors of the protagonists to be logical at all times. Despite the extensive training and officer of the law receives, Flesh would make irresponsible decisions that jeopardized his job.
Just be ready to suspend belief and enjoy the entertaining read/listen. The sex scenes were steamy and descriptive.
Good narration added to the entertainment value.

Narrator saved it

Any additional comments?

So I have a huge personal hang up, and this book/audio hit it.

Cristian is portrayed as this bad-ass, tough as nails police officer, but in the bedroom is a total wimp, slut, likes to be pushed around almost to the point of abusive. I get it, this is a sex game to him, but the words he is called and the actions, and the two very different roles, I just can’t wrap my head around it, never can. Not just this tale, but anytime I read/listen it to from any author. And for the first half of this book or so, we get a lot of graphic flash backs of this MC’s past with another characters in the book. To the point that I FF through those sections.

Luckily, the second half of the book, we get to the case, the relationship with Colby, who is the positive side to Cristian not so positive past, any part.

The bits we get of Cristian past, doesn’t paint a great picture, lots of abusive, sexual and well as physical. But somehow he has managed to raise above and become this bad – ass super young detective. Who lands a case, that involves one of his sex buddies.

Colby is brought when Cristian is arrested in connection to a theft and death.

This story is intense and well done. Lots of players, lots action, lots of plot.

Colby and Cristian in the second part are so good together, Colby is exactly what he needs. A loving hand, for his dark world.

I just wish I could get get past the images of the first part.

Narrator did a wonderful job of bringing a very powerful and at times upsetting story to focus.

Flesh and Colby...an awesome twosome!

I truly enjoyed this cop/lawyer tale of mystery, betrayal, action, and romance. I always predicate an author who creates a diverse cast of characters in culture and races. Some of the characters made really dumb decisions but the overall all story was entertaining and I'm hoping for more stories with Colby and Flesh.

Liked the narration; didn't like the story.

Any additional comments?

Well, folks, I'm in the minority again with this one. I disliked the story and the only reason I kept going with it was because Tristan James does a good job with the narration.

Cristian Flesh is openly gay and at twenty-five is one of the youngest to ever make detective. Cristian prefers to live by a strict set of rules that he's set up for himself so as to never get too attached or emotional over anyone, and he is very active sexually, having oral and anal sex with multiple partners as often as possible. He also finds it nearly impossible to be alone, sometimes lasting less than an hour alone before needing to seek someone out for sex.

When televangelist, Joseph Pryor, is stabbed nearly to death Cristian and his partner, Lex, are assigned to the case and it creates a snowball effect of connected events that eventually get Cristian framed for a related murder. Eventually his partner Lex hires lawyer Colby Maddox to save Cristian and the two work together to get Cristian free.

Once he's out from behind the charges, he continues to investigate the other mysteries that mount up until he finally gets all the answers.

I honestly cannot remember reading a story where a character who is supposed to be so smart and capable is so egregiously stupid and short-sighted in his actions. Cristian misses obvious clues, ignores evidence, at one point refuses to hire a capable defense attorney instead initially going with a Public Defender because "he's innocent", screws around at every opportunity, including having sex with a suspect, regardless of any consequences.

But then Cristian meets Colby and everything changes. Colby is rich, handsome and hung. So, of course, Cristian begins breaking all his carefully crafted rules once they begin having sex. Unfortunately, Colby is also deeply closeted with no intention of coming out any time soon, even for Cristian. And there are still mysteries to solve.

It all just didn't add up for me. I didn't like Cristian's decisions and actions, some being so over the top stupid it had me literally pulling my hair at times in frustration. I got really tired, really quickly of all the completely unnecessary sex in this story. There is just so much sex in this story...to the point it frankly got repetitive and boring for me to keep hearing.

I did like how it transitions from straight mystery to mystery with some romance as the story progresses and Colby is introduced, but found the writing style just didn't work for me as a whole. I didn't buy into Cristian's reasons for his behavior, and explanations came too little too late for me. I also didn't feel like I got to know Colby enough to buy Cristian changing all his ways for him so they could have their HEA.

Even though the audio contains my biggest pet peeve with M/M narration (when the narrator mistakenly says "prostrate" instead of "prostate"), I enjoyed Tristan James's narration overall and thought he did well with the various character voices in the story. Like I said before, the only reason I kept going with the story was directly because Tristan James does such a good job with the narration.

BUT! Like I also said at the beginning I am definitely in the minority with disliking this one.

If you're looking for a mystery with strong characters, lots of hot sex, and some romance then you should check it out for yourself.