by J.E. Lorin
March 15, 2017
Genre: LGBT Sci Fi Romance
ISBN: 978-1520967554
ASIN: B06XGCNBP3
Number of pages: 284
Word Count: 99,630
Cover Artist: Everpage Designs
At the age of sixteen, August Goodson developed a strange and mysterious power overnight: he can find people. Victims of murder, suicide, kidnapping, accidents, and rape; August can find them all, usually dead, but sometimes still alive.
Nine years later finds August volunteering his services to the police. He's still smarting from the loss of his long-time love Dante, who cheated on him with his best friend, and harbors a deep crush on the incredibly handsome, and oh-so-straight, Detective Luke Williams. But there are bigger concerns on August's mind: a serial killer is loose in the city, one whose victims are a little too much like him for comfort.
When August finds a living victim who may be one of the serial killer's, he's drawn even deeper into the case. Will he make it out alive, or will he soon be the one in need of finding?
The Finder is a story about a psychic solving a serial killer mystery. The story is one of the troupiest (is this a word?) I've read in a while. The writing is good, but the plot is predictable (hence the troupiness). I figured out who the killer was the moment they, showed up. But there was one twist to the story I didn't see coming which I can't mention, 'cause spoiler!
Now, you are probably thinking I didn't enjoy The Finder...I did! While plot-wise there wasn't anything special, the story was told from the perspective of the progat, August. I adored August. The author did a great job of putting me in August's mindspace. August has suffered some very troupey tragedies but his inner musings on what has happened to him and how he deals with life is what drew me to him. Plus he's a bit snarky and I love me a snarky character.
The romance between August and the detective, Luke, is sweet, and yes...troupy. But I loved them and the sex was hot. If you haven't figured it out yet, this has a gay romance.
Based on plot this doesn't stand out, but if you like character driven gay romances then you will enjoy The Finder.
3.5 "Finding" Sheep
SharonS
Excerpt:
Help me.
My eyes popped open to a pitch black room. For a few seconds, I lay where I was, sprawled on my back in my own bed. I wasn’t sure yet whether the voice I’d heard was real or whether I’d dreamed it. The room was unusually silent. My tiny studio apartment was normally filled with the sounds of the downtown street below. Not now, though, so I figured it must be late. Even the drunks had gone to sleep. Everything was still, quiet; I convinced myself I must have been dreaming. Just as I closed my eyes, I heard it again.
Help me.
Groaning, I rolled onto my side. With one hand, I groped for my cellphone on the end table, knocking something off in the process. Whatever it was, I didn’t hear it break, so I shrugged it off. I’d figure it out later. My hand landed on the phone. I picked it up, pushing the button to light up the screen; it was only three-thirty in the morning. I groaned again. I really didn’t want to get out of bed but it had to be done; the voice wouldn’t go away on its own. I could ignore it, but that had never worked out. I refused to go through that again.
Grumbling, I clambered out of bed and snatched the jeans I’d shucked off only a couple of hours before. Being sort-of psychic can be a real pain in the ass. I never know when a voice is going to call to me. It could be like now, in the middle of the night. It could be while I’m at work, which means I have to have a flexible job. Or it could be during the middle of sex, which makes relationships difficult, especially since I don’t like to tell people about what I can do.
Having a psychic ability is also weird. It doesn’t always work and I have no idea of the full extent of it. Sometimes I can do something useful, like avert a crime or a death. Most times I just find dead bodies. I know it’s a turn off. Most people, I figure, don’t want to get with a guy who’s basically a cadaver dog.
About the Author:
J.E. Lorin was born and raised in Michigan. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Germanic Studies from Indiana University, she lived in six different states before landing in the San Diego area, where she resides with her husband and their cat & dog. Her mission is to write interesting stories that just so happen to have a little sex in them.