Download Audio Books from Audible.

Customer reviews

5 star		66%
4 star		25%
3 star		7%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		2%

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.

Lora905

Not as good as I'd hoped, but I only paid 99 cents

Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2017

Verified Purchase

The writing wasn't bad, but there were a few things that bothered me some. The entire first chapter, as well as other parts, felt disjointed, as things were either told out of a cohesive order or sometimes you couldn't tell who was being referred to; "he" doesn't help when you have multiple males in the story. At times words were used that didn't make sense because they were being used incorrectly ("ichor" doesn't actually mean blood so I didn't feel it should've been used as such) or paragraphs would become flowery and overly-descriptive. Then there were things like Rook following the sound of groaning before he found the first body, but with the condition the body was in, there's no way that person would've still been groaning (think Jack the Ripper-level damage); shooters being able to take aim and shoot at only Rook (from outside) while he was in a room where the windows were boarded up; saying that Rook was in a certain place when O'Rourke called time of death on Dani, but O'Rourke had said she didn't have that body; and Rook's grandfather's speech pattern constantly switching from old money to backwoods. And constant references to a movie without naming the movie, if a reader has never seen that movie then Rook's references won't come off as funny at all, which was the case for me. Also, what really happened to Vince after he was fired? What happened to Madge?

As for the cast of characters, I liked Manny and Dante. Dante's partner I really couldn't feel anything for. For someone who'd been on their own for as long as he'd been, Rook seemed quite immature and made a lot of dumb decisions. The bad guy wasn't hard to figure out, but fortunately the motive wasn't as obvious so at least that was something to stick around for. The sex scenes were just okay.

Likable, characters, great dialog/banter, humor, action/suspense and romance.

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is my second Rhys Ford series and I really like her style. She’s an engaging storyteller and I enjoy her casts of ethnically diverse characters. Murder and Mayhem was equal parts story with action and suspense and romance and relationship building. That’s actually why I deducted one star. While the story is interesting, I liked Dante and Rook so much I was disappointed we didn’t get to spend more time with them – just being them.

Detective Dante Montoya and carnie Con man/thief Rook Stevens have a past. 5 years ago, Montoya and his partner Vince were 2 years into an extended investigation of Stevens and his carnie crew who were suspected of running a high-end burglary ring up and down the West Coast. Rook’s slipperiness finally got the better of Vince, who was at the end of his career, and he did the unthinkable. Vince planted evidence; resulting in Rook walking free, the case being forced close and Dante almost going down in flames with his partner. Adding insult to injury during the investigation an anonymous encounter in a bathhouse almost had Dante...having relations with his suspect, if not for the well timed accidental turning on of the lights.

Ever since, Dante has harbored a good amount of anger towards Steven’s; as well as other things – like attraction and lust - which he prefers not to look at too closely. He desperately wants his second chance to bust Rook when he finds him covered in the blood of another former carnie and con woman who happens to be lying dead in the shop that the now – gone straight – Rook owns. However, it’s only a matter of 2 more dead bodies and an attempted murder before Dante has to accept that Rook is the mark, not the suspect.

Dante is a good guy. When he decides to give into his attraction to Rook, he’s all in. He doesn’t want just sex, he likes Rook. Rook likes Dante too; but he doesn’t think he’s worth anything and he’s got his walls up, not wanting to get too close only to have Dante leave like everyone else in his life. Luckily Dante’s pretty grounded. He makes them talk…about feelings, and get to know each other. For all Rook’s talk of walking away before Dante can do it to him – he doesn’t. Dante, for his part; senses Rook’s vulnerability; and wants to take care of him.

The supporting cast of secondary characters are well developed and add to the enjoyment of the story. Dante’s partner Hank Camden is a hoot as is his Tio Manny – the ex. drag queen/hairdresser and Rook’s cantankerous grandfather Archibald Martin. 4 stars for likable, characters, great dialog/banter, humor, action/suspense and romance.

elisethroughthelookingglass

Why are you hesitating???

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

I love Rhys Ford’s work. Not going even to lie. I began with her Cole McGinnis series in 2012 and have continued to enjoy her work since. In the e-book world this is a heck of a long time ago. Sadly, but expected, good things do come to an end and the Cole series is wrapping up at the end of the year. Sigh. Luckily for us, Rhys has been busy busy! Lots of frying pans on the stove. Honestly I think she must never sleep. “Murder and Mayhem” was published just last month and while I will miss Cole, Jae and the gang I am very much looking forward to getting to know Rook Stevens and Dante Montoya as they struggle with their nascent ‘relationship’ and get involved in various sticky situations in LA and surrounding areas. This is me hoping it’s a series. Rook Stevens is a retired cat burglar, Dante Montoya is the Detective that has never (quite) caught him. When Rook is arrested at the scene of a brutal murder Dante thinks he’s finally got his man. Heh. Between Rook’s not so ancient history and the cultural mores that Dante as a Cuban-Mexican grew up with, their attraction to each other is nothing but trouble. Plus someone has it in for Rook. Yes, M&M explores the pretty common trope of good/conflicted guy falling for the bad boy (who also has issues) but as with anything well written (and this is very well written) it is deftly handled and the reader soon falls into the story just for the beauty of it. The mystery is well done, lots of twists and turns that leave the reader in the dark – this is not a page three ‘figured it out’, now I’m suffering until I finish it. One of my favorite things about Ms. Ford’s work is her exploration of cultural differences and what it means to a relationship. It’s hard enough for two people brought up in the same neighborhood…don't hesitate you will enjoy this! 4 flames for hotness and 5 hearts for a great story. Thank you again Ms. Ford

Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer

Suspenseful story involving reformed thief and cop.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 15, 2017

Verified Purchase

I was already invested in this book as I had read the previous book to which this was a sequel. I enjoyed the fact that the characters were opposites in every way including upbringing, cultures and languages. This book doesn't time fleshing out the personalise of secondary characters.

The mystery Waddell laid out but I guessed the killer more easily than in the first book but that did not detract from my overall enjoyment. Thus Ford writes very well and uses more unusual descriptive phrases which I enjoyed. There were parts were I had to work harder to stay with the sun story when the characters own relationship was not involved but I did overall enjoy the book. It was a complete story but the ending signalled a sequel. I do hope so.

Debbie Attenborough

loved it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

This is the first book of Rhys Ford's I've read! But before you jump down my throat and ask me which rock I've been hiding under, I should explain. This is the first book I have READ. I originally came across Rhys' work in audio, and I LISTENED my way through the whole Sinners series, through 2 Cole McGinnis books, and through Hellsinger's first book. SO I have LISTENED to those books, but not READ a single one.

Why am I telling you this?? I'm telling you this, because it squews my review slightly. Because after READING this book, I'm gonna go and LISTEN to it, when its done, and I'm fairly certain that the amended rating after LISTENING to it, will be five star. Cos at the moment I can't quite stretch to 5 stars, and I cannot for the life of me put my finger on why!! As I write this, I'll try to figure it out!

Rook is going straight. He is working hard, using his old skills in a new, legal way. But when he finds a body in his shop, Rook runs. Runs straight into the police detective who was chasing him, professionally, for several years. Dante wans to pin Rook to the wall, in more ways than one. For the murder of the lady in the shop, and hard and fast, buried deep inside him. Their close encounter several years ago is burned into both their minds, its only a matter of time but the close encounter becomes a full blown affair. That is, if Rook is cleared of three murders, and doesn't turn up dead himself!

I loved that Rook and Dante had history, both the personal and professional. I loved they knew, both of them, that it was only a matter of time. I loved that Rook shorten's Dante Montya's name when he is at his lowest, and I loved that Dante called Rook "baby" in front of his police partner, right when he shouldn't have!

I loved that story line, the plot and everything, but let me tell you... I did not get who the alien was, nor why the alien stole the cow, unitl you told me, Ms Ford! **I loved that line in the book, and absolutely HAD to use it somewhere!** I didn't get who was doing the murdering, nor WHY till it was revealed in the book. I had it pegged on a whole nother person! Sometimes, I can get it, and sometimes not. HERE, is one of those not times. Tis all good though! Since I had it pegged on someone else, I thought I could see the ending, and how it would go. Of course, that all went up the Swanny, but I don't care. As I was reading, with MY ending in my head, I could see that unravelling before my eyes, and as it was unravelling, I could see that I was wrong, massively, but still could not see who it as til it was revealed in the book. Awesome work there, Ms Ford, absolutely awesome!!

I said at the beginning, I would try to work out why I couldn't stretch to 5 stars. My inital thought was 4.5 stars. Now, after writing this and trying to figure out why I'm knocking that half star off, I've figured it out. It doesn't need 4.5 stars, it needs a full five stars! Yes Ma'am, I'm a duh, and I fully admit it! Sometimes, when I write a review, on paper first, I write the star rating at the top of the page. It doesn't very often change, as that is my first and foremost thought. I'm changing this one!

so!

5 full stars

ps, I still wanna listen to this, Grey Tremblay will narrate and the man is awesome in conjunction with Rhys Ford's writing!!

**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk**

Edga

Excellent!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2015

Verified Purchase

I love Rhys Ford. I have all of her books, every single one is a keeper. This one is no different. It's possibly her best yet. It starts with a murder, described as only Ms Ford can, gory, gory, gory. It's fast paced, well written and compulsive reading. I received it at midnight and read it through to the early hours of the morning!

The plot is brilliant and the characters strongly written. The two MCs, Rook and Dante are a compilation of all Ms Ford's previous characters - I loved both of them. The secondary characters are also well written.if you are a Rhys Ford fan it is a MUST read. If you've not read any of her books you don't know what you're missing. Can't wait for the next instalment :)

Sildil

Totally fell in love with Rook!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

The first couple of pages, I admit took me a while to get the measure of the story and of Rook, but within a moment he totally got under my skin and I loved him almost as much as Dante does! Loved how the story and their relationship unfolded. And I didn't see the solution coming, which is unusual for me, yet it was totally convincing.

Beanie

4* - I needed a bit more romance.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 11, 2015

Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this one. It had me hooked from the off as it was just so fast-paced and thrilling. However, where it slightly lacked a little for me was in the romance department. Although I really liked the MCs Dante and Rook and loved the slow build up to them getting together and all that sexual tension - I think it just took a bit too long before anything actually happened between them (50% into the book I think?). Where this story excelled I think was in the peripheral characters - they were wonderfully written and just so fleshed out, I particularly found Archie endearing and hilarious, he completely stole the show for me in this one.

See all reviews