The Girl in the Wind

Iron on Iron, Book 2

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: J.F. Harding

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The price for the truth might be their family.

When Theo and Auggie return home—safe and sound and miraculously alive after being dragged into a murder investigation—all Theo wants is for life to get back to normal. No more murders. No more investigations. Nothing, in other words, that might put Auggie in danger.

But when a girl from school goes missing, Theo finds himself reluctantly drawn into looking for her. Shaniyah was his former student, for one reason. And, for another, no one else seems interested in where she’s gone. Worse, her disappearance seems to be linked to a break-in at Theo and Auggie’s house.

The search, though, quickly becomes more complicated than either Theo or Auggie could have expected. Shaniyah, they discover, had been conducting an investigation of her own, looking for another missing student. And the path to learning the truth about both disappearances, Theo fears, leads back to the Cottonmouth Club.

©2023 Gregory Ashe (P)2023 Gregory Ashe

An amazing ensemble.

I wasn’t sure exactly I was going to get with this book after the end of the last book. In the first Iron on Iron book, the plot was about exotic animal trafficking. Which was pretty on spot for Jem and Tean. In this book, we are led back to Wahredua and the story is told from Theo and Auggie’s point of view. Now these guys have been through A LOT. Though the last book of their series was just recently released on audiobook, it has been years since it took place. Theo is teaching high school and Auggie is a social media promoter. They are living together with Theo’s daughter and yeah, by now I suppose they should seem like a steady and longstanding couple. But jeez, does Theo always scare me with his thoughts.

In this book, a former student of Theo’s disappears after working on a project regarding a student who seemed to disappear the previous summer. Auggie was also helping this girl, Shaniyah, with her video project. Theo is asked to look into the the teen girl’s disappearance by the principal, and of course Auggie wants in on the investigation too. It’s funny how everyone is always asking these guys to solve crimes though neither have any police or PI experience. Trying to find Shaniyah leads to looking into the disappearance of her film project subject as well. No one wants to answer any questions, and Auggie and Theo get their share of brutal violence directed at them. I can’t swear on it, but I think these two see the inside of the hospital more than any of this authors other characters. The investigation has more twists and turns than ever, and I couldn’t have begun to guess at what really happened.

Meanwhile, relationship problems bubble under the surface. Auggie wants something that Theo doesn’t, and Theo is always waiting for Auggie to decide he is too young to “play happy families.” While insanity ensues, John Henry, Emery, Jem, Tean, North, and Shaw are sitting on the sidelines sometimes helping, sometimes trying to steal the show. Especially, North and Shaw. Those two could drive someone crazy with their banter, but also leave you laughing hysterically. I did see a new side to Jem through the eyes of Theo that made me like him even more than I already did. The author did a great job creating each of all of these unique and lovable crime-solvers.

The two mysteries in this series so far don’t seem to have much to do with one another, they didn’t even take place in the same town. But all signs are pointing to the Cottonmouth Club located in Wahredua. And though this particular mystery was solved. whoever is pulling the strings in this series arcing mystery ties up loose ends and these eight professional and amateur detectives have their work cut out for them. Though Auggie and Theo did have their struggles in this book, at the end of the story they seem stronger than ever and certain events have me hoping there will be a second series featuring them as main characters. A great listen with excellent narration by J.F. Harding and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

This is good!

This epic series is getting good! While focusing on its own mystery to solve, it is very much entwined with the story that precedes it. This book focuses on Theo and Auggie and their journey as a couple which at times is heartbreaking but in the end, worth it. The other MC’s From the other books are here too with all of their idiosyncrasies. I love this writer and I love that he’s brought the eight MCs from their respective series together for this series. Two audio books down in the series with two more to go. I’m eager to get the next but saddened that it will almost be over. A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Auggie & Theo’s Book

More Mysteries.

This book is from Auggie and Theo’s POV. I got caught up in the mystery of the 2 missing kids, I so didn’t see who the killer was. I enjoyed this book so much more than the first.

I loved listening to this book, the narrator once again did a brilliant job.

Rollercoaster!

Auggie sure has his hands full with that Theo! I wanna hug that man and smack him in equal measure. Gregory Ashe continues to wow me with his complex mysteries and the men who are working hard to solve them. Sprinkle in the relationship angst and I can’t stop listening to these books. Another thing I’m really enjoying is the interplay with all the couples. It’s like they’re all brothers within one big dysfunctional family. I know this scene was supposed to be serious but DYSON HAIRDRYER. Bwahahaha!

JF Harding is an artist. I find myself listening to books just because he’s the narrator. AI could NEVER do what this man can with a story. Bravo!

They keep getting BETTER!

This crossover series is everything I need and didn't know I wanted! Learning about each couple with their interactions with the others is amazing. The mystery keeps getting deeper ( thanks Gregory Ashe 😝) I really have no idea where this story will end up. That's a testament to his writing and why I end up owning both written and audible- his picks for narrators are spot on for each series and JF Harding is fantastic with these voices!

Top notch narration elevates a stellar story.

Vintage Ashe. Emotional, brutal, and beautiful. As always, the writing has such a rich undercurrent, but the cherry on top is the selection of J.F. Harding as narrator. Just incredible.

Theo and Auggie

This is the second book in a series launched from The Lion and the Lamb. This series features characters from Gregory Ashe’s previous books; a group of men who are all intelligent bad asses in their own right and who are becoming friends creating a mutual support system.
The book summary explains the story, and it’s populated with Ashe’s thoughtful insight and poetic thinking. Such good insight into human psychology and behavior!
Harding continues to be a superlative narrator.

Nakita Thomas

Love it! The Girl In The Wind, Book 2 from start to finish I was shocked that not one student went missing, but two and no one looking into it, but her teacher not her family something is really wrong and it all comes back to the Cotton mouth Club.

4.5 stars

Mostly, this is what I said in my review of the ebook: no one who already reads Greg Ashe should miss this, and no one who hasn't read him before should start with it. You need to know what came before for this to work.

As I think I commented regarding book one (in that case regarding Jem and Tean), I struggled with the focus on kids. Why would Auggie want another kid? Ugh. Yes, I know other people will react differently.

The ensemble interactions in this book were pure gold. I often have trouble with North and (especially) Shaw, but I felt as if we saw more of their relatable side here. The juggling scene is utter joy. Seriously one of my favorite scenes ever, from any author. And JF Harding's narration of that and all the other moving scenes is excellent.

I will be eagerly awaiting the rest of the series—viva Greg Ashe!

My thanks to the author for a complimentary copy of this audiobook.

Impressive!!

Audiobook - 5 stars

Story - 4.5 stars

Main Cast - Auggie and Theo.
Welp! these two are really good together. I want them to always be okay. I love that Lana is now part of the family and bonding with Evie. Cute.

The rest of the couples are great as always. I don't know but I feel like there is something going on with Somers. Huh! I hope it is not something heartbreaking, I need my guys to be okay.

Shaw is Shaw, North.. Hmmm.. Tean yay! Jem is Jem... Hazard, my Hazard! is too grumpy even for me. I hope everything is okay because I don't want to lose my GR user name.

Anyhoo, the mystery was good and easy to flow.

Many thanks to the author for the complimentary audiobook.