Reviewed by Vicki
TITLE: Between the Devil and the Pacific Blue 
AUTHOR: Charlie Cochet
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 60 pages
BLURB:
For the last six months, Detective James Ralston has worked the nightshift as security for the Pacific Blue Hotel, and every night at 2 a.m. his rounds lead him to the radio room where the handsome and mysterious Franklin Fairchild sits listening to waltzes as old as the hotel itself. James is drawn to Franklin, but Franklin is a man at the end of his rope, and James has no intention of getting caught up in whatever trouble Franklin is in. A heated encounter late one night sends James down a disturbing path and has him questioning everything around him, including his very sanity.
REVIEW:
Wow. This story was just beautiful. Now the hard part is going to be writing a review of a short story that doesn’t give anything away. The blurb is very vague, intentionally I’m sure, so now my review needs to do the same thing, and protect this lovely little story.
Let’s start by talking about the setting. The Pacific Blue Hotel, built in the late 1800’s in New York City, set on Tenth Avenue, which became known as Death Avenue due to the many deaths by the railroad that ran down the street. I actually Googled this to see if it was true, not because I didn’t trust Charlie, but because it seemed like such a strange thing, but damn, they did have a freight train that ran down the street. Sometimes the trains were blocks long! Crazy. Anyway… The Pacific Blue is an old, gorgeous, run down hotel, waaaaaay past it’s prime. In to this hotel comes James Ralston, former military, now a part-time, slightly damaged detective. He works as the night-time security guard, earning a little extra money to supplement his daytime job. Each night, for the six months he’s worked there, on his rounds he stops by the radio room to chat for a moment or two with Franklin Fairchild, a lonely man in a beautiful suit. The two talk and there is a little connection between them. James gets concerned one night after the two get a little intense in a conversation, and Franklin isn’t in his usual chair. James visits Franklin in his room, and is surprised by the passion and story he becomes involved in.
That’s it! I will tell you nothing more about this story!
What I will say is it is a wonderful story. It’s a little sad, a little spooky, and very evocative of times past. I could see and smell the old hotel, which is a character on its own. I could see the dark old halls, still beautiful, but past their prime. A slightly musty and dusty smell maybe. Dark and dim rooms. I could see James, big and strong, Franklin slim and sophisticated. Their short time together in Franklin’s room making love was beautiful and gentle.
This is a dark story, not in a bad, way, but in atmosphere. Almost like an old black and white film. Maybe noir would be a good description. It is a short story, and it was just fine as it was. Usually with short stories I’m left wanting more, but this one was so complete, it didn’t need a page more. Charlie tells a quick, soft, smooth story, with just enough of everything to keep me interested. The characters, the plot, the connection between them, the setting, the extra characters, everything was just enough. I loved it. It’s so perfect.
I’ve been reading Charlie’s books for a couple of years now, her THIRDS books are fun, interesting stories with big busy plots. This book is not like that. It’s more like her historical stories, and shows a very different side of her writing skill. If you have only read her THIRDS books, you should give this one a try, then go pick up some of her other books based in NYC. If you aren’t familiar with her writing, this would be a great story to start with.
RATING: 
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