Five Stars for Foul Play

Detective Sam Mysteries, Book 3

De: Elle Kleos

Narrado por: TJ Clark

Detective Sam is here, they’re queer, and they could really use a vacation.

Nonbinary Detective Sam is living the dream. A new home with their amazing partner, loyal friends they can count on, and a true crime podcaster intent on dredging up the past. OK, maybe that last part’s not so ideal . . .

Kaitlin Riley was a major voice in the true crime podcasting scene until her sudden disappearance. After a storm washes her body ashore alongside some unnerving clues about what she was working on, our favorite detective is called in to untangle the truth. Only, that’s easier said than done when Sam is being torn between what they want for their future and all the baggage of their complicated past.

©2025 Leah Kleynhans (P)2025 Leah Kleynhans

Everyone's favorite non-binary detective is back and better than ever!

Murder! Romance! Pudgy Seals!

There's only one thing that can mean...it's time for a new Detective Sam mystery!

Everyone's favorite tape recorder enthusiast detective is back and this time they are facing down a threat to queer people everywhere...A PODCAST!

When the producer of a popular true crime podcast is murdered, Detective Sam is on the case. They barely have time to dip their toes into the twisted world of podcasting though when they discover that not only was the podcaster working on their next show, but an old case of Detective Sam's is the subject of said show.

Now if that isn't enough to get you intrigued, well don't worry because master of mystery Elle Kleos has you covered, as Sam is forced to revisit a formative case from early in their career that they've been trying to forget almost as much as that one time they did goat yoga on Paradiso. What follows is a mystery as fast paced as Formula One with just as many curves, as Sam is faced with their most difficult case yet while having to navigate their past and present colliding like subatomic particles in the CERN super collider.

And speaking of difficult, let’s talk about the standout new character Captain Wolfe. As Sam's former mentor he’s not only the catalyst for some of the moving moments in the series yet, but also he oozes such a rough and tumble, working man charisma that reels you in while also bringing out new compelling sides to Sam. He is unlike any other character that has appeared so far in the Detective Sam series and that makes him equal parts compelling as it does dangerous. I guarantee from the second he enters the story you’ll be captivated and counting down the pages until his next appearance.

Also, I would be remise if I didn't talk about the absolute revelation that is Medical Examiner Lambert. Every scene with him brought me instant joy and had me laughing my ass off. He is perfect in every way and epitomizes Elle Kleos' ability to craft unique characters that both immediately jump off the page, and that you can't help but fall in love with.

Of course, I can't end a review without talking about everyone's favorite sexy artist Teddy. While I am not as big of a Teddy Stan as some of those out there, I will say that this book was my favorite depiction of Teddy and Sam's relationship. There was a new depth to their relationship which heightened the romance between them. Seeing them grow together through this book had me breaking out my pom poms rooting for the two of them to live happily ever after. And yes, for all you deviants out there the novel has plenty of spicy sex scenes that will make your Kindle blush.

Overall, what can I say but Five Stars for Foul Play is a triumph! While I loved the previous two books in the Detective Sam trilogy (Like and Subscribe for Murder, and Swipe Right for Stab Wounds), this one especially stood out. It had a new level of depth to it and served up the best mystery yet. If you are someone who has even a passing interest in mystery or romance then what are you doing reading this review, GO READ THIS BOOK NOW! Even if you haven't read the first two, this book works perfectly as a standalone novel so I beg that you give it a chance. I promise you won't be disappointed!

This was a fun surprise

This is book three of the series, but I absolutely enjoyed it as a standalone. Tape recorder carrying, nonbinary Detective Sam is called to the scene of a body washed ashore. It turns out to be the true crime podcaster digging into Sam’s past cases. The twists and turns just kept coming the further along Sam’s investigation went and I loved it.

This was the first book I’ve read where the MC was nonbinary. I enjoyed it (and it only took me a minute to get used to the pronouns and figure out there weren’t so many people in the room). Sam is a complicated character, and I liked watching them develop as they learn things about themselves as the story went on. I loved the pure adoration and affection between Sam and their partner, the lovable, golden retriever artist Teddy. The loyalty and camaraderie between Sam and ‘rookie’ partner Noah had me smiling.

Single narration by TJ Clark and he was amazing. Not every narrator can carry an entire book and cast of characters, but TJ did a great job. The pacing was perfect and there was great distinction between the MANY characters, and he hit all levels of emotion needed.

This book had the suspense, but was funny with well-developed characters, plenty of heart and a little spice thrown in. I finished it and grabbed book one immediately.

Fun title

The story continues to follow nonbinary detective Sam and his partner, Teddy. This case takes Sam back to their past, and we even get to see their former mentor, Wolfe. This is an interesting police procedural that goes back several decades to an old investigation that ties into their current investigation. It also delves into Sam and Teddy’s relationship. I’m honestly not sure how I feel about their relationship. I feel like there’s a bit of trust and disgruntled feelings when it comes to Sam’s job. I have mixed feelings and I’m not completely on board but it’s a new relationship. While the story was interesting, I also found myself not engaged with the story as I had hoped.

The narrator, TJ Clark did a good job portraying Sam, and several of the other characters in the book. There are quite a few characters in this one, and while I didn’t have all of them memorized, I still really enjoyed the narration. I will say, don’t expect perfect Spanish with a certain character. I’m a native Spanish speaker, and while the narrator does their best, some pronunciations pulled me out of the story a bit. That being said, I did enjoy hearing Spanish words.

If you’re looking for a police procedural murder investigation with a nonbinary character be sure to check this one out.