The Mermaid Murders

The Art of Murder, Book 1

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Kale Williams

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Special Agent Jason West is seconded from the FBI Art Crime Team to temporarily partner with disgraced and legendary "manhunter" Sam Kennedy when it appears that Kennedy's most famous case, the capture and conviction of a serial killer known as the Huntsman, may actually have been a disastrous failure. The Huntsman is still out there...and the killing has begun again.

©2016 Josh Lanyon (P)2016 Josh Lanyon

Great Mystery!

Another great story from a wonderful author. I just love stories that involve the FBI and a good mystery to solve.

Decent story, storytelling was off

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Probably not. While the story was decent the narrator's delivery just seemed too distracting.

What did you like best about this story?

The mystery was suspenseful and the plot kept moving.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

His delivery sounded like a cross between Adam West (the original Batman/Mayor West on Family Guy) and Rod Serling (narrator of the original Twilight Zone). It was almost like he was retelling a missing person's case file.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Any additional comments?

While I usually like M/M books' sex "scenes" both the writing and the delivery lacked any real eroticism - it was almost robotic. In the end you're supposed to feel like the two main characters had fallen for each other, but that fell flat.

Another one for my favourites list

This was s great mystery novel. I loved the pace, the characters were very interesting, the plot was well thought of and the narrator just added the cherry on top of the cake ;)

Great story. Great narration.

Have listened to this book several times. Always enjoy Josh Lanyon's mysteries, but this is one of my favorites because Sam and Jason are fascinating characters who are as much of a mystery as the plot.

The Mermaid Murders

I loved this book! The only creepy part was I listened to it on my drive to South Hadley, MA. That was surprising to listen to a book with a serial killer near that area! This is a book I will definitely listen to again! The narrator did a fantastic job and really brought the story and characters to life!

I've actually listened to this series twice in one week and am considering a relisten once I finish my current series. That's how much I love this series. The writing and narration are just perfect!

Another great from Josh Lanyon

I am a huge Josh Lanyon fan, and this book definitely did not disappoint. This book left me wanting more in the same way the Adrian English series made me want the next one. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Loved this new series!

Another great series from Lanyon. Good twisty mystery/suspense with m/m romance that’s realistic.

Sneaky!

first-in-series, small-town, local-law-enforcement, local-gossip, serial-murder, FBI, M/M Mystery, M/M Romance, investigations, twisty, crime-thriller, fiction, suspense, suspicion, friction, secrets, lies, erotica*****

I've read later books in the series and really wanted to go back to the beginning of their relationship (I already knew that the mystery would be excellent).
Special Agents Jason West and Sam Kennedy work on opposite coasts with West is on the art crimes task force while Kennedy is a profiler in Washington DC but spends more time on the road than most agents. West is told to be backup for Kennedy in a case that seems to be closely connected to one from ten years earlier that Kennedy solved and the subject sent to prison permanently. The two seem to be polar opposites and yet there is a spark. The case takes a lot more than due diligence and is personal in different ways to each agent. Excellent read!
Voice actor Kale Williams has a great voice quality and really knows how to use it to the listener's advantage.

Fabulous!! Narration, characters, story. The best!

Josh Lanyon is one of the best there is at weaving mystery with romance. Her ability to capture the human condition, to paint all of her characters in a unique and compelling light, is second to none. Sam Kennedy and Jason West are prime examples, as they are each flawed, complicated, and compelling men. The mystery in this story is very tightly written, so intriguing. A definite "read till the end without putting it down" book. I read loads of mysteries and was still surprised at the reveal in this one. Lanyon also writes locations that are so vivid, they feel like actual characters. With this book, I felt as though I was actually there in the midst of the action - seeing, feeling, smelling, tasting. The Mermaid Murders has become one of my favorite Lanyon books and I eagerly await the next book in the series, early in 2017.

I am a huge fan of audio books and have several favorite narrators. Well, add Kale Williams to the top of that list. He took a story I already love and brought it to an entirely new level of awesome. He voices each of the many characters distinctly, capturing their personalities to a T. Nobody sounded like a caricature, no character's voice got confused with another. The character of Sam Kennedy is quite imposing, and Mr Williams absolutely nailed his voice, his mannerisms, his humanity. He conveyed Jason West's strength and sensibilites with sublime detail. To summarize, Mr Williams acted this story to perfection - smoothly capturing each character's emotions, state of mind, and actions His gripping performance had me starting the audio over again the moment I finished it.I am very happy to report that he has agreed with Josh Lanyon to narrate the next two books in this series. Lucky, lucky are we audiophiles!

A Wonderful Mystery...

A huge fan of Josh Lanyon and this story does not disappoint. Murder, mystery, and mayhem...plus a bit of romance. An excellent book. I was kept in suspense right until our protagonist figured it out...those are the best stories!!! As great as this audio book was, the narration of Kale Williams made this story come to life and added so much to the enjoyment. A great combination. An excellent listen!