The Dark Tide: The Adrien English Mysteries 5

This story picks up where the last one left off, a few months later. Shot by murderer Paul Kane, Andien's heart stops and he is resuscitated by the EMTs. So...while removing the bullet, open heart surgery is done, repairing the heart valve weakened by that teenage bout of rheumatic fever. This gives Adrien a chance to worry, not about a weakened heart but about a recovering one and the accompanying rehab it involves. Thankfully, he has stepsister Natalie to help him run the bookshop and, after going through every employment agency in town and a slew of unsatisfactory second assistants, the change to bring former assistant Angus, featured in the first 3 books, back into the picture. Adrien has now bought the other half of the building housing Cloak and dagger Books but during the removation, a skeleton is discovered under the floor of one of the upstairs rooms. Of course the detective on the case is Alonzo, nemesis lawman from Death of a Pirate King. Alonzo is determined to prove Adrien had something to do with the death though the skeleton is determined to be 50 years old and tentatively identified as a popular swing musician from the '50's who disappeared back then. When someone breaks into the shop, Adrien, who's so far kept away from Jake, called him to use his newly-opened detective agency to investigate. Jake is in the middle of a divorce and has been offered a job back East which he is determined to take but he takes the case as one last goodbye to any relationship with Adrien, and what he discovers is something like one of the Raymond Chandler movies Adrien is so fond of, involving murder, intrigue, and a lost treasure dating back to World War 2.Two things every Josh Lanyon novel has: A story in which the mystery and the relationiship betweene the main characters are well-balanced. The characters...they don't stay the same. They grow and change, even the minor ones, exploring their feelings and the deep reasons why they do what they do, even when they sometimes don't like what they discover. In this one, not only Adrien is different--dying will do that to a man--but also his mother, who has taken a sudden liking to Jake. Perhaps because he took a bullet for Adrien in Death of a Pirate King? Adrien is also more involved with looking out for little stepsister Emma, and a much-changed Angus is back in the picture. A great deal of histrionics could've been written in when Adrien meets Kate for the first and last time, but--thankfully, or oddly--it's barely noticeable. One or two word exchange and that's it. Kate is a non-entity and we'll never know how or what she fields about her short relationship with Jake. Don't know if that's good or bad. All we know is that Jake is selling his home and moving away, and Adrian has taken possession of his grandmother's ranch house, which is too large for one person while he also has the adjourning building with empty office spaces for rent but something's got to give and a few admissions have to be made if this series is going to continue, as we hope it will.A good entry in the series, with plenty of enlightenment in the midst of the two main characters about what they wants and what they have to do to get it.This novel was purchased by the reviewer and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

Another great read by Lanyon. Spoiler alert for those who don't want to actually know whats in the book.This one starts with Adrien waking up in the hospital. He was shot and his heart decided to take a bad turn. Jake saved the day on the yacht with Paul Kane.Jake decided to out himself and resigned from the LAPD. His wife and he are divorcing and things are up in the air on that score. Jake is also thinking of starting a PI business.Adrien has to stay with his Mother once he's out of the hospital. Once there he is smothered to death by the family. After three weeks Adrien heads home to his bookstore. He can't really do much physically and is under a regimine by his heart specialists.Natalie has been running the store and still wants Adrien to hire Warren. Ain't happening as Adrien wouldn't trust Warren as far as he could throw the son of a bitch. He will be looking for more help though.Adrien bought the rest of the building and renovations are in progress.A tourist named Harrison stops outside his building and tells Adrien that the building should be on the Historical Register. Its a great old building. He also tells Adrien and Natalie about a guy who disappeared from the building fifty years ago. His name was Jay Stevens and one day he just fell of the planet never to be seen again.Its a strange story that comes back to Adrien when someone attempts to break into the store several times and when his renovation crew discovers a body under the floorboards on the third floor. The third floor has been closed off for decades as it was deemed unsafe. Adrien called the police and Detective Alonzo shows up. Oh joy.So begins another great read by Lanyon.This one has a recovering Adrien, Jake who's police skills come into play, and Adrien and Jake who spend loads of time together trying to figure out just where they both are heading , an Emma who really wants a horse, a trip to visit Detective Argyle who was the investigating officer in the Stevens case, a man named Hale who owned a fifties nightclub called The Tide where Stevens and his band Moonglow performed, Jinx Stevens the missing mans sister, a Hale was reported to be affiliated with the old mob, a Mel who walks back into Adriens life, a Guy who's leaves it, Angus Moore, your former employe returns to work in the store, a German Shepherd puppy named Scout, a kitten Adrien saves, a fifty yeard old murder, the reason for that murder and Jake and Adrien coming together to solve one more crime, a solving that breaks hearts.Five Stars.

,endearing fun ,roller coaster joy ride .laugh out loud burst into tears(SPOILER ....ending brilliant .beg bit ahhhhhhh ). .Don`t want their story to end. writing of this calibre, such a happy ever after feel. sorry I`m not good at writing a better review. Just finishing this book I feel so mellow and happy . This book packs a real impact. love the dialogue, sarcasm, fights, cant put down till completed.. story very descriptive and well done. each character is uniquely individual.( strong characters well written).I can`t describe this adequately .Not a one dimentional fluffy love story . Involving( challenging murder mystery sleuthing) Hopefully there is another book in this series.

This is the final of the Adrien English books and is possible one of my favourites out of this series.It continues on a few weeks after the last book ended and as soon as Adrien is out of harms way (both from the hospital and from the care of his mother and extended family) It all starts off again when someone attempts to break into Adrien's apartment. If that wasn't enough, the next day an unexpected visitor turns in inside the extension of the book store. Wanting to find out more on who this mysterious person is / was, Adrien hires ex copper now PI Jake. From here things get interesting, not just with this case but with Adrien's love life, especially when Mel turns up.I loved this book, and it was a great way to end this series. I enjoyed that the cat returned in this book (the conversation Adrien has with it is funny) but the whole story is great. A very good read :)I would recommend this book to friends, family etc.

So, what can I say? I loved this series after wasting years just seeing it on my timeline as a recommendation.Adrien is recovering from his heart operation and gets involved in an almost 50 year old dead body. Can't say much else without giving away the story.You do need to read the previous books to really get the most out of this one.Loved it.

What to say? I don't know where to begin, not without spoiling anything, so I'll just say this is a must-read, but you you must read books 1-4 first, or it won't work. Lanyon is very good at explaining important points of the plot from previous episodes, but the whole relationship tension, the build up to this whopping finale? You need to stay the distance.Gutted that I've reached the end of the series. Still living with it. Would love to see it on TV. Will read it again. Brilliant.

Adrien English got close to sleeping the Big Sleep at the end of "Death of a Pirate king", but the long Goodbye fortunately would have to wait. in lieu of a lady in a lake he found the skeleton of a boy in the floor of the old building where Adrien's bookshop was located. From there a poignant investigation will reveal the secrets of a lomg lost blue band and a little Sister of the deceased will gibe a clue. melancholic and poignant chandlerian echoes mix with very actual issues. a masterpiece!