Reviewed by Annika

TITLE: Sinner’s Gin

SERIES: Sinners #1

AUTHOR: Rhys Ford

NARRATOR: Tristan James

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

RELEASE DATE: January 3, 2014

LENGTH: 7 hours 57 minutes

BLURB:

There’s a dead man in Miki St. John’s vintage Pontiac GTO, and he has no idea how it got there.

After Miki survives the tragic accident that killed his best friend and the other members of their band, Sinner’s Gin, all he wants is to hide from the world in the refurbished warehouse he bought before their last tour. But when the man who sexually abused him as a boy is killed and his remains are dumped in Miki’s car, Miki fears death isn’t done with him yet.

Kane Morgan, the SFPD inspector renting space in the art co-op next door, initially suspects Miki had a hand in the man’s murder, but Kane soon realizes Miki is as much a victim as the man splattered inside the GTO. As the murderer’s body count rises, the attraction between Miki and Kane heats up. Neither man knows if they can make a relationship work, but despite Miki’s emotional damage, Kane is determined to teach him how to love and be loved – provided, of course, Kane can catch the killer before Miki becomes the murderer’s final victim.

REVIEW:

I recently read a few wonderful short stories that Rhys Ford shared during her blog tour for Rebel. She introduced old and new friends and among them were Miki and Kane. These stories made me want to go back and re-read the Sinner’s series, as I have such fond memories of the Morgan clan and the band.

I loved this book, a lot. I loved pretty much everything about it. My heart broke so many times for Miki, I had forgotten how gut-wrenching his past was. How utterly alone he was, his only company being a dog he didn’t even dare call his own. And yes, I skipped reading the blurb this time around, figured I remembered the basics and premise of the book – I was wrong, and it was a bit of a punch in the gut. I hurt so much for him and everything he lost. For everything he never had, but should have had. What many of us takes for granted, and forget to appreciate; someone who truly cares about you. Someone that sees you and loves you unconditionally.

Kane Morgan rents the space next to Miki’s home, for his craft projects when he wants to get away from all the stress that being a police detective can bring. He is less than impressed by the snarly young man next door. He’s even less impressed when he finds a gruesome body in the trunk of Miki’s car. He is still fascinated by this broken man and can’t stop thinking about him… and he’s not thinking about him as a suspect in his case. And all he wants is to wrap Miki in his arms and protect him from all the evils from his past that threatens to destroy him for good.

Another character that I really enjoyed was Dude. He’s just what this grumpy recluse of a rock star needs. The thieving little terrier mix slowly coaxes Miki to care for another living being again. Very reluctantly I might add, but it works. He’s also the one to bring Kane into their lives. He rules them both with his subtle (and not so subtle) paw.

The Morgan clan is just great! They can be an insane and definitely loud and overbearing bunch, but they are wonderful, and just like a true family should be. Unconditional love all around. Solid. And just what Miki needs, but maybe in small doses to start, they can be a bit of a culture shock for someone like him.

Tristan James was a good choice of narrator for this book. I loved his voice for Kane, it was spot on. He knows his accents and portrays them well. Ok, so he slips up a little every now and then, but there are only a handful of narrators out there who never does, so I can forgive him that. I do wish that he performed the book a bit more at times instead of narrating, but then again I am very partial to that type of audio. Again it’s something I can forgive and it definitely won’t keep me from picking up more books narrated by him. In fact, I’m moving right on to Whiskey and Wry.

The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, or well not a cliffhanger per se, just a teaser of what’s to come in the next book. One that will make you wish you can start reading book two right after finishing this one, so make sure you have it ready to go.

RATING: 

BUY LINKS: 

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon 

Audible