Fair Game

Posted In: Fair Game

Verline Poniatoski says...

Bought it and read it within the same day. Could not put it down once I started. Love the mystery with its depth and well thought out plot. Never suspect the villain as the mystery evolves into something more sinister which I never anticipated. As for Elliot and Tucker, these 2 guys really grow on you. Equally alpha males, these two complex characters really have to work out their misunderstandings, wariness and trust but not before some explosive exchanges. Josh has expressed the romance angle so well even if the mystery is the focus. As another reviewer says, Fair Game is indeed a perfect blend of mystery and romance. As in any Josh's book, sex is kept to the right balance which I highly appreciate. And I also enjoy the interaction between father and son. The gritty ending has me holding my breath. And like another reviewer (Sirius) says I love it that Josh gives more closure to the guys' commitment to each other and not leave it to our imagination. Not that I am complaining but I just want to enjoy it in words. Highly recommended and waiting most impatiently for Josh's next effort!

Posted on April 2, 2011

Cristal Masullo says...

Josh Lanyon is on my must-buy list, so I was surprised when I got my new Kindle that for some reason I had missed this book when it was first published. I am glad I bought it now, because late is better than nothing.



Premise: Elliott, is a retired FBI agent who after being injured on the job has taken up teaching at a small university. When a friend of the family's son disappears, the boy's parents ask Elliott to look into the matter. This brings him back into contact with his ex-FBI partner (and lover) Tucker. Their relationship at the beginning is strained to say the least. As the novel progresses and more young men have gone missing, Elliott and Tucker soon realize they have a serial killer on their hands whose man goal is to torment Elliott. The question is will Tucker and Elliott stop this mad man or will his game end with the death of one (or both) of them?



I love Lanyon's mysteries. Some of the time I can figure out the killer, and sometimes I cannot. "Fair Game" was one of those novels where the person who I thought was the serial killer wasn't and the person who was the killer wasn't even on my suspect list! That takes true talent as I was raised on Agatha Cristie and Sherlock Holmes novels. The love story between Elliott and Tucker felt real, not forced and even though there was originally a Big Misunderstanding about why they broke up originally, their reunion made sense. Plus the secondary characters (some suspects) were three dimensional and complex, as always with Josh's books. All in all, this was a very enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.

Posted on April 2, 2011

Whitley Shoumaker says...

4.5 Stars!This was my first book by mystery writer Josh Lanyon.I can now see why he is considered to be at the top of his field and has won numerous awards.



The mystery begins immediately when a student goes missing.And then another.As a former FBI agent, Elliot becomes involved as a liaison between the university and the FBI agent working the case.Interestingly enough, said FBI agent turns out to be Elliot's former lover, Tucker.



Lanyon proceeds to dangle possible suspects and motives.I was sure I knew the "whodunit," and was wrong.I love it when an author can do that!



Mystery aside, I also really enjoyed the romance between Elliot and Tucker.They had a previous relationship that ended abruptly.Working closely together on the missing student case gives them a second chance to see how and why they went wrong.I love how Lanyon uses dialogue to really get inside his characters heads.



I probably would have liked to see more of Elliot and Tuckers romance, but that's just me!Very enjoyable book, which I highly recommend!!

Posted on April 4, 2011

Leonila Fonseca says...

The most difficult reviews to write are for the books I really liked, because it's hard to analyze what left an emotion, so I must write a review based on impressions rather than on rational, critical thoughts.



First of all, I'll never stop being impressed by Mr Lanyon's writing, it's at the same time a real pleasure and a never-ending surprise. I can't count the number of times I had to re-read a paragraph or a few lines of dialogue because they were too good.



I liked the cast of characters. I enjoyed the way Elliot and Tucker were forced to meet again and how their first conversations seemed like the tip-toeing of elephants. It's always fascinating to watch estranged people who have to interact again (even if it's usually painful), because the intimacy they had is undeniable and it can't be suppressed and the situation was rendered beautifully.

We had only Elliot's point of view, so we were closer to him, but it's Elliot who, at one point, acknowledges Tucker's reason for the way he behaved after Elliot's injury. The honesty and understanding made me feel an incredible admiration for him (and he's a fictional character!)



I also liked the mistery. At one point I was so sure I had the murderer! Big surprise there and I'm not referring to whom the killer was, but to whom he wasn't, if it makes sense.



5 star. I hope Elliot and Tucker will return. Please!

Posted on April 5, 2011

Graciela Lecocq says...

With well paved plots and interesting leading characters, I've surprisingly enjoyed this mystery with the fight for the urge to stay up even after the supposed bed time. Full of movie-like setting and vivid action to tense up the nerve. A nice job to fulfill fans looking for a real modern mystery with additional flavor of romance to spice up the fun for reading.

Posted on April 6, 2011

Mason Hilario says...

Elliot Mills is a former FBI agent who is now a college professor after a terrible knee injury while on duty took him away from the job that he loved. The injury also took him away from his lover and FBI agent Tucker Lance. Their affair might have been a brief one, but it was a passionate one that appears to have ended badly. When boys start going missing on campus, Elliot can't help himself with being drawn into the cases at the request of his father and the campus president. Little did Elliot know when he agreed to help that it would force him into close contact with Tucker.



In Fair Game, I believe Josh Lanyon does exactly what he does best - provides an interesting and fast paced mystery with well-rounded character development for all the major players and then still manages to throw in the heat and emotion amongst Elliot and Tucker that always give the reader a little hope things will work out for the two of them without the their relationship casting a shadow over the mystery plot. The pain and loneliness Elliot feels from the loss of his beloved job, his lover, and the way he has had to come to grips with a debilitating injury just oozes right off the pages. The mystery surrounding the missing boys is not one that the reader immediately figures out what is going on - it unfolds slowly but is still kept interesting. And best of all, each character has their own uniqueness and own voice which keeps the story fresh.



What I really liked about this book aside from the well written mystery that kept the pages turning is the way you see the communication between Elliot and Tucker start to blossom. It was clear that so much had been unsaid in the time since Elliot's injury that when the two men slowly start to open up to each other and not be afraid to communicate it's a beautiful thing.



If you have not read a Josh Lanyon book before, I think Fair Game would be a great way to start. It is a stand alone book (I would love another!), fast paced, and I think gives a good example of what one should expect from a Lanyon book.



Favorite Quote:

"It was dark."

"I'd know you in the dark, Tucker."

Tucker's eyes flashed up to meet Elliot's. He said curtly, "Yeah, I'd know you too."

Posted on April 9, 2011

Lucretia Russotti says...

"Fair Game" is another winner from Josh Lanyon. It's a well-crafted and action-packed mystery of course, involving the disappearance first, of a student of college professor Elliot MiIls, and then other young men from the college campus where he teaches courses in History and Film. Mills has a history of his own, as a former ambitious "hotshot FBI agent" who retired from the Bureau after a receiving crippling gunshot wound. When asked by the parents of his missing student to act as their "consultant" in dealing with the FBI, Mills finds himself dealing with the formidable, handsome Agent Tucker Lance, with whom he has a personal history. Because of the nature and outcome of their past association, neither man is at all happy to have to work with one another.



The college setting, which Lanyon renders in characteristically believable detail,

allows him to take some fun satirical jabs at pretentious academic and artistic gobbledegook, not to mention the behavior of vapid young coeds trying to butter up the professor. As in Lanyon's other stories, someone is always cooking, in this case a delicious saute of mushrooms in butter. Before too long, someone should be able to compile a Josh Lanyon cookbook.



Will Elliot and Tucker find a way to cooperate without constantly making each other angry because of the unresolved issues in their mutual past? Will Elliot survive the increasing violent anonymous threats he receives? Lanyon skillfully ratchets up the suspense in both areas.



For those readers new to Lanyon, this writer creates exciting physical action sequences as good or better as anything in the Jason Bourne series. And the bedroom action is pretty exciting as well. But Lanyon also touches on a theme he has investigated in his other work, notably the Adrien English series and also in his muy caliente, muy apasionado "Mexican Heat."How can two strong-willed males get past anger, pride, and misunderstanding to find a balanced relationship? In "Fair Game," Lanyon suggests the recipe includes a dash of humility, as well as trust and love. Don't wait another minute to read this excellent story.

Posted on April 10, 2011

Shelia Weitnauer says...

Enjoyed every moment of this book, as other reviewer had said, mystery is solid (I was so so happy to be fooled about the identity of the villain) and characters are well drawn and likeable. And I really loved the ending, loved that writer allowed a bit more warm and content feel than he does in some of his other books, often he leaves a lot to imagination and it is good, but I enjoyed hearing characters actually say on page what I wanted them to say to each other.

Posted on April 10, 2011

Clarissa Mastropietro says...

And it will not be my last! This book kept my attention to the end. (Some may say this is not difficult, but hey!) The unsub was not even one I considered. Knew I had it nailed than oops! wrong! I also enjoyed that when sex took place it was timed perfectly for the story line. So many authors today seem compelled to add sex just for the sake of having sex. If you are looking for a great story line and characters, you will enjoy this read!

Posted on April 11, 2011

Myong Horseford says...

This is an excellent mystery with romance on the side.This is one of Josh's well plotted mysteries, well written and not obvious.The characters are engaging and real.There is enough romance to satisfy the romantics without swallowing the mystery.



Definitely one to read over again.

Posted on April 13, 2011