Author: Amy Lane
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 330 Pages
Category: Mystery/Suspense
At a Glance: I hope Amy Lane has more plans for the Fish Out of Water series; I’m hooked!
Reviewed By: Maryann
Blurb: They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.
Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.
Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.
Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.
Review: Ellery Cramer is a shark when it comes to being a lawyer. He got an eye-opening when he finally got to know PI Jackson Rivers, who was seeking a lawyer to defend his brother. When he learns of Jackson’s history: being a cop, almost being killed, and working undercover for way too long, he and Jackson found themselves facing police corruption, murder and plenty of danger.
Jackson, coming from a bad home life, became a member of an African-American family. But no matter how well he’s been treated and accepted by his adopted family, he’s always felt he wasn’t worth anything to anybody, except for a very unusual cat. His promiscuous reputation doesn’t do him any justice, either, and it still frustrates Ellery. Ellery gives his all to make Jackson feel that he is wanted and loved outside his little family.
While Jackson is still recuperating from injuries suffered after coming close to solving his last case, he gets back in the muck again with the murder of three people. Once again, Jackson and Ellery find themselves in the gruesome world of a serial killer, and the one who got away, Tom Owens.
Jackson also finds himself in a traumatic situation relating to his mother, which leaves him feeling torn, vulnerable, not to mention in danger. But Ellery is invested in Jackson and their relationship, and he’s ready to go up against a dangerous sociopath.
Amy Lane didn’t disappoint with this action-packed and suspense filled sequel to Fish Out of Water, which I highly recommend reading first. Besides all the action and danger, there are some wonderful emotional moments and touches of humor. The plotline is excellent, but it does get gory in an exciting fight to the finish. Ellery and Jackson are still working on their relationship and every once in a while, there’s frustration and jealousy, but they always seem to work things out. They definitely are from opposite sides of the track, but their pairing is dynamic.
Then there’s a cast of entertaining secondary characters: Jade and Mike, Kaden, “Lucy Satan”, Dave and Alex. I especially got caught up in Sean Kryzynski, wondering if he’ll ever get a love interest of his own. One thing in particular that I absolutely love about this series is its setting in Sacramento, California. Amy Lane made me homesick. She covered and described so many areas that I’m familiar with to give this series a great visual for me. I hope she has more plans for the Fish Out of Water series; I’m hooked!
You can buy Red Fish, Dead Fish here:
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