Review: Hell and Back by Dirk Greyson

Title: Hell and Back

Author: Dirk Greyson

Length: 200 Pages

Category: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense

At a Glance: All in all, this was a very good mystery with great characters, and I was thoroughly entertained.

Reviewed By: Maryann

Blurb: Seventeen years ago, Forge Reynolds fell in love… and had his heart broken. When Staff Sergeant Gage Livingston was brought into Forge’s Army field hospital, temporarily paralyzed, Forge sat with him, read his letters, answered his mail, and formed a connection he thought would last. But Gage was sent home, Forge transferred to a new post, and his letters to Gage went unanswered.

Now in the middle of a bitter divorce, Forge is sick and tired of his husband’s manipulation. He’s almost ready to make any sacrifice to get closure—then he finds Granger murdered execution-style in their home. Forge had no idea about Granger’s illicit activities, but the killers don’t believe that. They think Forge has something they want, and they’re coming after him.

When Forge’s lawyer arranges for professional protection, the last face Forge expects to see is Gage’s. Can he even contemplate a second chance for them after almost two decades, or will hoping only lead to more heartache? Before they can explore the possibilities, they must figure out what information Granger had—that others are willing to kill for—or that possible heartache could become a certainty.

Review: Forge Reynolds is tired of dealing with his soon-to-be ex’s demands, and is going to give in to them just to bring their whole sordid mess to an end; after all, there was nothing left in the relationship, only arguments. Even though Granger cheated on Forge, Forge has allowed him to stay in the spare bedroom. Returning home one day, and ready to just end the mess, Forge finds Granger murdered. With the help of Vince, his lawyer, and working with the Chicago PD, Forge is eliminated as a suspect, but Vince feels Forge may need protection, so he contacts Livingston Security. And in walks Gage Livingston.

Gage is a shock to Forge. He hasn’t seen Gage for seventeen years, since their days in the military. Forge was transferred elsewhere, but not without the promise to write to a wounded Gage, and to reconnect. Gage becomes Forge’s protector, and as they rediscover each other, they also have to face the reasons that kept them apart.

Even after his death, Granger is still a big factor between Gage and Forge. Granger was a high-powered attorney with his own law firm, who’d fought to win and could very well have made enemies. He also was obsessed with unique puzzle boxes, even his office desks were a form of puzzle box, and he’d taught Forge how to examine each box to find the trick to opening them. As Gage and Forge begin to uncover information Granger had hidden, their lives are put in danger.

Dirk Greyson brings readers another action packed, suspenseful mystery, with a second chance at love. The plot itself is really intriguing, never knowing what the next puzzle box and flash drive holds in store for Forge. There’s also family drama with Gage’s parents, as they still struggle with Gage being gay. The information that Forge and Gage find could very well put Gage’s parents in danger. There are a lot of moments when Gage and Forge have to ponder whether or not there is a serious relationship in the cards for them, though the chemistry seems to be working. I also have to mention Detective Coleridge; his presence in the storyline was outstanding.

All in all, this was a very good mystery with great characters, and I was thoroughly entertained.

You can buy Hell and Back here:
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