The Dark Tide

Although each book in this series is great on it's own, I think it's really important that they should all be read and in the right order. The whole series should be offered as a set by someone, or one large hardback containing all five books. I don't want to review the books as such, but to comment on my feelings. By the middle of Fatal Shadows, I was in love with Adrien and Jake. By the end of A Dangerous Thing, I was delighted with where we were heading. At the end of The Hell You Say, I was devasted. Just about all the way through Pirate King, my heart was in my throat. I had to rush through The Dark Tide, to make sure they were going to be OK. Of course I could have just read the ending first to make it easy on myself, but why deny myself the delightful torture of taking the slow road. I have read many books that I've loved, and characters that I have cared about and related to. But I have never before woken in the middle of the night, tossing and turning, worried about two fictional characters. That Josh Lanyon was able to create two characters that I came to care about more than some of my family, is testament to his incredible talent. In my opinion there is no award available now, that is good enough for him. I don't know why these books struck such a chord in my heart, and obviously they won't affect everyone in the same way, but I'm sure that everyone that reads them will enjoy them. I'm not sure that I will ever get over them, or be the same again. I'm going back now to read Dark Side at a more leisurely pace and thouroughly savour every page.

Have you ever read a book when you get so attached to the characters, that your chest aches - constricted with emotion because of what the characters are going through... that is what happens with me with this book. This is the final book, and while I enjoy reading the mystery, is is the relationship between Adrien and Jake is what sitting on front seat. This one fills with sentiments from the two of them. How they are dealing with what has happened. I'm close to tears in some scenes, while on the others, I either feel that squeeze around my heart, or sigh in relief. This book is such a perfect closure. Such a PERFECT ending. It is a wonderful way to say goodbye (excuse me while I sob). One thing for sure, I never regret the day I decided to go with my hunch and bought the first two books of this series last year.

The fifth and final book of the Adrien English Mystery Series *SOB*. It is always hard when a series ends for me, especially one so beloved as this one. It was exciting to read the final book to see where Adrien and Jake end up, and to reflect on their journey in the series and Josh Lanyon gave them a goodbye that they much deserved. I picked up Fatal Shadows, the first book in this series, on a whim one day. It is only 150 pages and I read it all in one sitting. I still remember reading it and thinking, who is this Josh Lanyon person and how did he write this amazing Adrien English character? I have really only had that feeling twice - the other time with Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. At the very end of Fatal Shadows, after the murder investigation is over, Jake turns to Adrien and says: "You know, this won't be an easy thing, Adrien." "The investigation, you mean?" Jake says - "No. No, I don't mean that." And was Jake so right. If any two people have worked hard to be together, it has been Jake and Adrien. Prime example, Jake gets married - to a female, during this series. It was worth it though - the heart ache, the waiting between books - Adrien is one of my all time favorite characters, and Jake - he more than makes up for his past behavior in The Dark Tide. Adrien's life is going through many changes. He is recovering from heart surgery, correcting a faulty valve that has plagued him most of his adult life. He is also recovering from being shot, refer to drama in book four. His on/off again lover, Jake Riordan has divorced his wife, retired from the police force and has come out to his family (Jake was very deep in the closet). Adrien has been through a lot with Jake - A LOT. He is tired and truly scared that if he puts himself into Jake's arms again, he will be hurt....again. Professionally, Adrien is remodeling his bookstore, The Cloak and Dagger to encompass a much bigger space. This would not be a proper Adrien English Mystery book without a dead body, and this time we discover a very dead body, dead for fifty years hidden under the floorboards, found during the renovations. Adrien has been through the wringer with dead bodies, so when questions arise to the skeleton's history and break-ins start occurring at the The Cloak and Dagger, Adrien's suspicions go on high alert. Adrien is not up to his normal sleuthing skills since recovering from heart surgery has him exhausted. Now that Jake is not on the police force he has started his own private investigation firm. Adrien hires him to track down clues and it gives Adrien an excuse to stay in contact with Jake. First and foremost, The Dark Tide is the perfect ending to this series. The mystery in this one is great because after the drama in the fourth book, and with Adrien so weak after his surgery, he really couldn't be running from murdering bad guys again. Finding a fifty year old skeleton in his shop, with the mystery surrounding it, is a perfect way for him to still sleuth

Maybe Lanyon could write another non-fiction book on "how to wrap up a successful series", because this is how it should be done. Nicely wrapped up, but still leaving readers wanting for more, leaving on a high note. The relationship story arc of the series has always been the centre point and fans won't be disappointed with this final book - lots of relationship/romance in it, but as always, Lanyon wovens the mystery plot smartly into it, the relationship and the mystery plot develop hand in hand. As Adrien said, "is solving crime together enough for a relationship?" Well... they would need more than that, but it's certainly great joy to see them solving the mystery together, while sorting out their complicated, heartwrenching romance. Most of the Adrien English mysteries can be read as a stand alone book, however, this is probably one that I'd strongly suggest readers to go back to previous book(s) first - because it's simply not the same thing if readers don't know these two characters. In fact, it wouldn't be fair to judge this book without considering the previous books. Be warned, it's an angsty ride - but so worth it.

Josh does not disappoint. This story is a fitting end to the series. I don't want to give anything away, but this story wrapped everything up nicely. I didn't have any nagging questions I wanted answered once I'd finished. If you are a fan of Adrien English you'll love this ending.