Reviewed by Carissa
TITLE: If Two of Them Are Dead
AUTHOR: Jana Denardo
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 166 pages
BLURB:
Called to Hyde Park, New York, ex-Air Corpsman turned detective Victor Van Voorhis comes to only three conclusions about his newest case: the gulf between his status and the wealthy Westbrook family is no trifling matter; someone brutally killed a young mother; and the victim’s brother-in-law is one of the most intriguing men Victor has ever met.
Inventor Abraham Westbrook lost his wife five years ago and is worried about the effect another death in the family will have on his children. He spends most of his time tinkering with steamships, but even his inventions can’t distract him from wishing Victor was in his life for any reason other than a murder investigation—one where Abraham himself is a suspect. He’s hidden his desires all his life, but no longer. Somehow, he’ll catch the detective’s eye.
With murder standing between them and a killer stalking the Westbrooks, Abraham and Victor’s chance at happiness could go up in steam.
REVIEW:
Who killed Permelia Westbrook? Could it be her husband, who was forced into the marriage by his family? Her friends, who seems to be swimming in vicious secrets? Or could it be her brother-in-law, a man who spends his days tinkering away in his workshop and who admittedly could not stand his brother’s wife? Whoever did the dirty deed, Detective Victor Van Voorhis is on the case and determined to get down to the truth. Even with the high and mighty, that make up Westbrook’s social circle, doing everything in their power to redirect, obfuscate, and dodge his pursuit.
But if there is one thing the detective didn’t plan on coming up against, it his undeniable attraction to Abraham Westbrook, brother-in-law to the unfortunate dead woman. And even if acting on his attraction is breaking the very law he swore to uphold, going after the rich man is just asking for trouble. Where would a rich inventor and a lowly police detective ever find common ground, anyways?
Perhaps in the skies…
You had me at steampunk. Airships, automatronics, crazy inventions run off of steam and gears…it is like heaven. When you throw in a murder mystery that keeps me on my toes, well then, I am bound to enjoy the ride.
For the most part I really liked this story. They mystery was worked very well, and I was never really sure who was going to pull out their black hat till the very end. Despite the fact that everyone seemed determined to throw Van Vooris (and can I just say that Victor’s name is just fun to say) he never let himself be dragged off of his pursuit. Even if he did get into some airship hanky-panky before it was strictly professional—and with a suspect! *shocked gasp*
I did have a hard time feeling the chemistry between Abraham and Victor for a large portion of the story. When they finally got around to the sex, it was hot, but leading up to it…I just wasn’t feeling it. They talked about how attractive they found each other, and how badly they’d like to pounce on the other man like Growltiger on one of Victor’s wind-up birdies, but I couldn’t feel it. Maybe I needed a little more physical evidence, or something, but the connection between words on the page and me, was a little lacking at time. But yeah, the sex was hot. I am more than happy to award 20 points for inappropriate (and energetic) use of an airship.
There were some times I was a little skeptical about some of the inventions used (a stun ray?) but I do love the steampunk tone of the world. Wish we had gotten more of Abraham’s inventions, because what we saw was pretty cool. Do wish they would come up with a more elegant way of saying horseless carriage, though—because I think that phrase was reused like fifty times thru the whole story. Very repetitive.
Despite some heat issues between Victor and Abraham, I did like this story. The children were a nice addition, and all the various cast members that flitted thru the story were well written. And the mystery kept me guessing, so I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t get to read nearly enough steampunk, so I will gladly take some more of these two. Please.
RATING: 
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