Transposition

Hazard and Somerset Mystery Series, Book 2

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Tristan James

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Emery Hazard and his partner, John-Henry Somerset, have solved their first case together. The brutal murders that rocked the quiet town of Wahredua have been put to rest. Hazard, however, finds his life has only grown more complicated as he adjusts to his new home. Living with Somers, whom he has been drawn to since high school, makes "complicated" the understatement of the year.

The turmoil of living together spills over when Hazard and Somers find themselves trapped by the weather in an old mansion and, against Hazard's better judgment, sharing a bed. Strictly as friends, of course. Just when things can't get any more confusing, the next morning brings a worsening storm - and a murder.

Cut off from the outside world, Hazard and Somers must face a clever, determined killer who is hiding among the mansion's guests. Without backup, they can only rely on their wits - and on each other - to survive. And as the snow falls and the mansion's guests continue to die one by one, solving the string of murders becomes secondary. First, Hazard and Somers have to survive.

©2018 Gregory Ashe (P)2018 Tantor

Complex, Engaging Story

Very much a continuation of the first novel in this series, but in a traditional closed-room style, this is both a complex mystery and a story of a winding road to a relationship. Great Read!

The sexual tension is going to kill me!

I hope you can keep it up for a few more books Mr. Ashe. Thanks!

A bit long and drawn out

Maybe a bit too long and drawn out mystery.
Like the two main characters but how many books in the series are they going to dance around each other?
Narrator is great tho.

What a great adventure

Another great mystery with my favorite MC. Looking forward to the next book. Hazard and Somerset's ongoing relationship go back and forth.

had trouble following all the characters

wish there would have been more men I. this story, and a better physical description of them

Reading is better than listening

I'm pretty much a Gregory Ashe addict so, having read all the Hazard & Somerset books, I expect I'll wind up listening to all of them as well. That having been said (a) this series started a few years ago and gets stronger as it goes along -- I can see being put off by an early installment if you're not retrospectively happy with the whole series, and (b) I find Tristram James an enormously frustrating narrator -- the placement of his stresses is often just plain strange, and some of his errors make it obvious that he doesn't understand the sentence he's reading, or just isn't paying close attention. Case in point, there's a moment when Hazard thinks of Nico as "unwounded," plainly meaning that Nico hasn't yet experienced many wounds in life, but TJ pronounces the word as "unWOWnded," as if Nico hasn't been -- wound up? The insight about Nico being unwounded is terrific in context and I about screamed at hearing it ruined. Also, honestly, TJ doesn't do a great job of distinguishing Hazard and Somerset's voices, and often his renditions of women's voices sound like caricatures to my ear.

I wish Gregory would have these books re-recorded with a better narrator.

Really Nice Mystery Series with Romance

I really enjoyed book 2 of the series. This is actually a series of mysteries not just a bunch of sexy times trying to camouflage a weak storyline. The romance is slow and emotional; that seems to bother some people but not me. Both of these guys have insecurities and brokenness; an instant love, everything is perfect just would not work here. The mystery in this book was engaging and entertaining. The banter and chemistry between Hazard and Somers is great and narration is wonderful. **I have read/listened to the whole series and even if the relationship is developed slowly it is so worth the journey. Still Team John Henry, Nico is a baby :-)

these books are suspenseful and really good.

I really like the characters and how there's a lot of drama, mystery, and suspense. totally suprised by the crime ending of the book! I really wish that Nicko and hazzard had better communication especially with one being 25 and the other being 33. I do really like them as a couple. I dispise summer toying with hazzard he's like a greedy spoiled child that wants to have everything but doesn't deserve it. their working partnership I like but I think he's a selfish jerk who only wants hazzard when he's super drunk and that's just a continuation of the abuse he heaped on hazzard as a young person. I really hope they never ever end up as a couple because I honestly think summer needs aa and major therapy ( hazzard too on therapy) before he could even be considered for a relationship. lol so I guess you can see the first and second book have really drawn me in! but I'm team Nicko ( with better more mature communication ) all the way!

*there was a weird part towards the end where the author/summer said Nicko was 22 but in the first book he tried to be 28 on a date but finally admitted to being 25 so I hope that was just summer being a brat by trying to say that someone who's 33 dating a 25 year old is dating a baby which was bratty.

I like the narators voice but the differences between the main male characters doesn't change enough to make it easy to tell the difference in who's talking at times, but other characters have distinct voices. I will say also since both main characters have many names and nicknames it is a little hard to track at times while listening.

I still don't have a clue...

It is Thanksgiving weekend and Emery Hazard finds himself working as his partner and roommate volunteered them for duty. He’s even less thrilled when said partner takes a call just before they’re supposed to go off duty for the night. After all he had dinner plans with his boyfriend before taking him to the airport. What was supposed to be a regular noise complaint/possibly shots fired turned into a nightmare. First Emery re-injured his shoulder trying to push a car back on the road to help a (rude) stranger stranded in a snowstorm. Then said snowstorm stranded him and Somerset on a farm together with a party playing a murder mystery game. Only soon thereafter the game took a deadly turn and the body count kept increasing – and not the fictional kind.

Once again I find myself being unsure of how I actually feel and think about our two main characters. Do I like them or not? That’s the question and one I honestly don’t have an answer to. I know I’m not indifferent to them, but as for the rest, I’m conflicted. They kind of balance there on the edge, never going one way or another. But you know what? I kind of like it. At least for now, it’s a nice change of pace, and just a little bit unpredictable.

There were much more romance in this book compared to the first one, not that that really says anything as there were only a few thoughts and possibly a kiss somewhere – but I may remember that wrong. So yes, there were more romance here, but it still wasn’t the focus of the book, and it’s not a straightforward one. For one thing there are several possibilities; Hazard and his boyfriend Nico; Somerset and his wife but then there’s also something budding between Hazard and Somerset. To be honest, I’m not sure which constellation/s I prefer. (I’m sensing a theme here) I guess I’ll just have to listen on and see how it all develops.

Tristan James is as I’ve mentioned before, a very talented narrator. He has a great pacing, inflictions and I love his accents. He also tries to add emotions and feelings, but doesn’t always get there. I do appreciate the effort though. Part of it might be of his monotone voice, it detracts from everything else he manages to hit spot on.

It’s been interesting to be back with these guys and I think I just have to listen to the next couple of books, and hopefully get some kind of clue what to think one way or another.

The silly things

I just love Hazard and his love for documentaries. It is one of his many character traits I enjoy. He also is gruff, wicked smart and unapologetic. The bad part is he isn’t very good at telling how he feels.

I really like the setting of this book kinda reminded me of Clue a little bit. They’re stuck in a big mansion during a snow storm with murders taking place and trying to figure who done it. They end up all over the house and property looking for information. It was very enjoyable!