Book Review – Crown Court Killer by Dahlia Donovan

London Podcast Mystery #3
Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing
Pages: 322
Characters: Dannel/Osian
POV: 3rd
Genre: Detective, Series

Blurb:
Months after saving their flamboyant theatre friend from disaster, Dannel Ortea and Osian Garey are back with a thrilling murder investigation in the third London Podcast Mystery series novel.

Dannel and Osian’s breakfast double date rapidly devolves into a murder mystery when a dead body is found in their solicitor friend’s car. Wayne is taken for questioning by police. He was last seen arguing with the deceased.

When Wayne’s tie is identified as the murder weapon, it’s hard to refute the growing evidence stacked against him.

Convinced of their friend’s innocence, Dannel and Osian throw themselves into the investigation. When Wayne’s boyfriend, Roland, finds himself suspended from the police, they realise powerful people are involved in the murder.

With a philandering crown court judge, two disgruntled wives, and an angry client as suspects, the clock is ticking for them to find the killer before Wayne winds up arrested—or dead.

Buy Link

Review

I love this series. Dannel and Osian have a wonderful relationship and I enjoy their interactions with friends and family too. The mystery, as with others in the series, has several twists and turns, and isn’t easily solved.

I liked the realism that Osian’s trauma from the previous book is still affecting him. He and Dannel love each other and it shows in not just their words but their actions. I love how Osian is always aware of Dannel’s autism and how he and their friends and families now carry kits to help Dannel get some quiet time when he needs it. They’re very much in tune with each other.

I love Ian. He’s wonderful, and I’d love to know more about his life, considering the number of contacts he has. I love how he takes charge of, and diffuses situations, with the right words. Chris is another favourite – he needs his own Bond like series. His brother is a horrible piece of work.

This story shows, without pulling punches, how people with money can affect those who don’t. I liked how, once Dannel and Osian start getting close to working out who is behind the murder, things become difficult for their friends and family.

The showdown is realistic and tense. Go Ian! And I loved the epilogue and hint of more cases to come.

5 out of 5 stars.

About Anne Barwell

Anne Barwell lives in Wellington, New Zealand. She shares her home with a cat with “tortitude” who is convinced that the house is run to suit her; this is an ongoing “discussion,” and to date, it appears as though Kaylee may be winning. In 2008, Anne completed her conjoint BA in English Literature and Music/Bachelor of Teaching. She has worked as a music teacher, a primary school teacher, and now works in a library. She is a member of the Upper Hutt Science Fiction Club and plays violin for Hutt Valley Orchestra. She is an avid reader across a wide range of genres and a watcher of far too many TV series and movies, although it can be argued that there is no such thing as “too many.” These, of course, are best enjoyed with a decent cup of tea and further the continuing argument that the concept of “spare time” is really just a myth. She also hosts and reviews for other authors, and writes monthly blog posts for Love Bytes. She is the co-founder of the New Zealand Rainbow Romance writers, and a member of RWNZ. Anne’s books have received honorable mentions five times, reached the finals four times—one of which was for best gay book—and been a runner up in the Rainbow Awards. She has also been nominated twice in the Goodreads M/M Romance Reader’s Choice Awards—once for Best Fantasy and once for Best Historical. Anne can be found at https://annebarwell.wordpress.com

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