Download Audio Books from Audible.

Customer reviews

5 star		59%
4 star		24%
3 star		12%
2 star		3%
1 star		3%

How are ratings calculated?

Review this product

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Mayehm

4 Stars!

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

Full 4 Stars

I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first book in the series. These are the types of threats I love for characters, not vague promises of violence or the possibility of arrest, but actual moments where you just for a few moments really wonder how far the author is willing to go.

But again with that sudden stop whiplash of an ending that I complained about in the first book. I am in the camp that those should mostly be reserved for chapter endings or standalones with ambitious endings that want you to think; they have a place and it just doesn't feel like that place is here. Falling action does a lot for the reader and gives the book a sense of completion.

Regardless of my feelings toward the conclusion, "All She Wrote" was a fun mystery. I loved that we get to see Kit's and J.X.'s relationship develop in real-time. J.X. is such a great guy and it's really heartwarming to read about a character who makes a conscious effort to accept their partner's reservations and hurts. A lot of authors try for this dynamic, but often it becomes a "let me fix you" scenario which usually is not something that works in real life.

Favorite line because of how real it felt: "Part of that beauty, though, was the longing in his eyes. No one had ever looked at me like that. As though I mattered more than anything else. It was salve to my wounded ego, but it was a weight on my heart too. How did anyone live up to that?"

Toni V. Sweeney

A Tangled Tale

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

In this story, Christopher Holmes is asked by the "American Agatha Christie" to head a writers workshop while she convalesces from a fall down icy steps. It's Kit's policy not to become involved in such things as workshops, conventions or book signings but he can't say "no" to his old mentor, so... Once there, however, Anna reveals she thinks someone is trying to kill her. Witnesses say the fall was an accident. Anna insists it wasn't. She can give no reason why she thinks this. She hasn't riled anyone to the point of murder. Not lately. Her will? She's leaving something to everyone in the world it appears, so that doesn't help either.

Still in the midst of trying to convince himself to give in to the attraction he feels for JX Moriarity, Kit is his usual uncertain self where the ex-cop-turned-mystery-writer is concerned. It's been three dates in three months with commuting from LA to San Francisco, with Kit finding excuse after excuse not to arrive. JX has given an ultimatum that Kit is hesitant to act on, his lack of confidence due to his experiences with his ex, but when an auto accident puts Kit in the hospital and another passenger in the morgue, JX is there in a flash. Anna says the accident was to get back at her though she wasn't in the car. The suspected would-be killer was driving but would she kill her self to harm Anna? There will be more bodies, thanks to a mass poisoning, before the culprit is brought to justice.

It's obvious how much these two men mean to each other by their individual reactions when one is hurt. You know they're going to eventually make that commitment...as soon as Kit can get himself into gear and stop letting his past life with David guide his present life with JX. JX, on the other hand, is absolutely certain of what he wants. He simply has to get past Kit's insecurities to achieve it. Nevertheless, they are pefect foils to each other as they travel toward that long-hoped for goal.

Though I enjoyed this story as much for Kit's continued ability to get himself unwillingly enmeshed in a mystery, as well as for the updates on his romance with JX, it did seem a bit contrived, especially since Anna kept insisting that anytime someone is killed, she was the intended victim. That part of the plot is indeed a "practice to deceive," as it winds around and around to a climax that is as ironic as it is unexpected.

It's nice to have references made to events in past books, however, since this keeps the continuity going and gives the story more reality. I also like the little touches of delving into the writer's mind and the background of problems involved in writing, submitting, and getting a novel published.

On my way to Book 3...

This novel was an Amazon purchase and no remuneration was involvedin the writing of this review.

J. Shaver

Detestable Hero Sinks Series

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2019

Verified Purchase

A friend of mine once said, “There is nothing so ridiculous that someone somewhere sometime will not believe it.”
For me though, it is impossible to believe in the relationship of the main characters in this story. I cannot believe that a virile ex-cop could be smitten with an effete self-centered “wuss” who writes prissy stories about Mrs. Butterwith and her clever cat.
To be blunt, Christopher Holmes is a thoroughly unlikable character. Josh Lanyon is one of the better writers of the genre, but here she fails.
I have never before deleted a mystery novel without finding out who the murderer was, but in this case (to paraphrase Rhett Butler) “Frankly, My dear, I didn’t give a damn!

Top reviews from other countries

Debbie McGowan

An excellent novel (and series) from an incredibly talented storyteller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

All She Wrote is the second instalment of Josh Lanyon's Holmes and Moriarity series, and segues very smoothly indeed from book one; it could be read alone, as it has enough snippets of backstory for new readers to follow the overarching establishment of characters and relationships, but really it would be such a waste to not read book one first!

Christopher Holmes receives a call from his early career mentor, Anna Hitchcock, who lives in what we in the UK would describe as a stately home - a manor house with extensive grounds and other smaller properties situated within those grounds. Anna handpicks a group of writers annually to join her 'Asquith Circle' and invites them to attend a weekend under her tutelage. On this occasion Anna is recovering from a fall, so asks Christopher to stand in for her, and from there the mystery begins to unravel.

Obviously all does not go according to plan; the suspicious incidents, accidents and deaths abound, as one would expect in a murder mystery series, and the helter-skelter style twists come in thick and fast - sort of predictable, yet not.

As with Somebody Killed His Editor, I didn't really warm to any other than the two main characters, who are cast in clear relief in the foreground of the story, like a well-focused photograph, and I'm OK with that. Maybe it's in the eye of the reader and others will perceive it differently, but to me this is Holmes and Moriarity's story. The murder mysteries just happen to keep finding Christopher Holmes, and by extension J.X. Moriarity.

An excellent novel (and series) from an incredibly talented storyteller; I'm very much looking forward to book three: The Boy with the Painful Tattoo. I'm off to read some of Josh Lanyon's other work now. Yep, I'm hooked!

Mutch

I loved this book...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2014

Verified Purchase

....everything about it: the atmospheric, wintry setting, the believable interesting characterisation, the fantastic one liners, the and the fragile, sweet love story that ran through it. One of Josh Lanyon's many gifts as an author is the ability to write a narrative voice which manages to get you totally on the side of the protagonist while also frequently wanting to give them a good old bitch slap. I love the fact that his main characters are three dimensional and have real, annoying flaws woven into the likeability ...how refreshing is that in this genre?
In this case Kit is certainly very flawed and quite aware of it, but still very loveable. The mystery is twisty, and the ending gives you hope for Kit and JX while also making it clear that things could go pear shaped any minute...or rather the next time Kit's insecurities get the better of him. The central relationship in fact, for all it's hugely romantic, is riddled by real believable issues which make it feel precarious while also inevitable. Thats a skill.
This is the second book in the Holmes/Moriarity series, which gives a wonderfully cynical and in-the-know look at the underbelly of publishing and the insecurity of, and pressure upon authors to come up with the next big idea or keep the old idea going. Both books are highly recommended, in fact I'd say if you don't laugh out loud regularly I'd get something seen to. ;-)

Haparrkye

All She Wrote

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2011

Verified Purchase

This is the second in the Holmes and Moriarity Books and what can I say?
It is simply fantastic!
Since returning from that fateful writers retreat in which Christopher 'Kit' Holmes and J X Moriarity were reunited Chris has had three months of J X trying to forge something more than friendship between them. Christopher however is certain that nothing good is going to come from such a relationship and his own low self esteem and fear has him brushing J X off and running to the aid of his old tutor Anna who is convinced someone is trying to kill her.
After a particularly nasty accident which kills one of Anna's house guests and badly injures Chris, J X travels to be by his side and the two get caught up in murder and mystery.
It is a fantastic plot and I won't spoil it for anyone. The story turns in so many directions you are literally guessing right up to the last chapter. In timing with that your heart is aching for both Chris and J X as their tentative relationship begins to grow slowly but is constantly threatened by Chris's painful memories of his past broken relationship.

This is a must for all Lanyon fans.

Simply 10/10

miffy

Great story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

Loved this story, a great mystery and showing the building of Kit and JX's relationship. I thought the tender sex scenes were wonderful. Highly recommended.

Ventura Angelo

Intriguing mystery thriller

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 27, 2011

Verified Purchase

When old friend and colleague Anna asks Christopher Holmes to help discovering if someone attempted on her life, he's only too happy to fly cross-country and escape an awkward relationship with J.X Moriarity. But the amateur sleuthing of Christopher among the six aspiring writers of Anna's literary circle comes to abrupt interruption...someone's attempting HIS life, too? His friend/lover JX will help him find the shocking answer to the mystery.
A great novel by Josh Lanyon, full of suspense, romance and literary satire on mystery writing and publishing world. Just love Christopher and JX!

See all reviews