Reviewed by Sadonna

TITLE:  Five Dead Herrings

SERIES:  Quest Investigations

AUTHOR:  E.J. Russell

PUBLISHER:  Reality Optional Press

LENGTH:  160 pages

RELEASE DATE:  September 4, 2021

BLURB:

Something’s definitely fishy about this case…

On my last stakeout for Quest Investigations, I nearly got clotheslined by a grove of angry dryads. I expected my bosses to reprimand me, but instead they handed me my first solo assignment. Me! Matt Steinitz, the only human on the Quest roster!

Okay, so the mission isn’t exactly demanding. Obviously, the bosses wanted to give me something they think I can’t screw up. I’m determined to show them what I can do, however, so I dive right in with no complaints.

At first glance, it looks as simple as baiting a hook: A selkie’s almost-ex-husband is vandalizing his boat with unwanted deliveries of deceased sea life. All I have to do is document the scene, tell the ex to cease and desist, and present the bill for property damages. Boom. Mission accomplished, another Quest success, and as a bonus, I get to keep my job.

But then things get…complicated. Suspicious undercurrents muddy up my oh-so-easy case. Nothing is as clear as it should be. And the biggest complication? My inappropriate attraction to the client, who may not be as blameless as he claims.

Turns out those dead herrings aren’t the only things that stink about this situation.

Dammit.

Five Dead Herrings is the first in the Quest Investigations M/M paranormal mystery series, a spinoff of E.J. Russell’s Mythmatched paranormal rom-com story world. It contains no on-page sex or violence, and although there is a romantic subplot, it is not a romance.

REVIEW:

Matt Steinitz, aka Hugh Mann 😉 , is on a stakeout when this story opens.  He’s trying to find a dryad, but not having any luck.  Then he gets an assist from a young werewolf 🙂  Things don’t exactly go to plan, so he hightails it back to Quest Investigation HQ.  While there, a new client comes in – one Lachlan Brodie.  He’s a selkie who runs a boat and has had trouble with someone sabotaging his boat/home with dead herring.  There is a witness to the first vandalism, but not the rest.  Lachlan wants to hire Quest to determine the culprit and get restitution.  But is the assumed vandal who Lachlan thinks it is?

Lachlan’s soon to be ex-husband, Wyn, is the prime suspect.  But when confronted, he seem quite surprised..  However, he’s taken up with the son of a powerful mage and said son is not a very nice guy.  While Hugh and his erstwhile sidekick are trying to question them, Lachlan blows things apart.  Hugh is left with no real leads and that avenue is closed off.

Lachlan is then attacked and his seal skin stolen.  Without it, he’ll not survive so he reaches out to Hugh to help him get it back.  And thus begins the string of unusual events that brings Hugh closer to finding the culprit, but also closer to very real and present danger.  If he doesn’t get some unusual and unexpected help, all may be lost!

Embarrassingly this is the first book I’ve read by EJ Russell since a Holiday story back in 2017.  I have no idea why and I plan to rectify this.  What a lovely little kick-off to a new series.  I need to go back and read the previous series, because I just thoroughly enjoyed these characters and this book.  This is a really fun fantasy story that takes place in and around Portland, OR (confession – my favorite city in the US).  The characters are all sorts of paranormal/fantasy beings.  Matt is the sole human who is on probationary status at Quest.  I loved his interaction with the other Quest employees/bosses and the various different other beings that are either clients or helpers.  I especially loved Jordan, the young werewolf who seems to be so much like a puppy 🙂  Lachlan Brodie, who should have been named Broody is a gruff marshmallow.  He definitely has to be provoked to violence and usually it’s only to protect what is his.   It’s obvious he’s got a real soft spot for anyone in trouble.  He and Hugh, who he calls Matthew, obviously have some sort of chemistry, but Lachlan is still married for the moment.  I enjoyed Matt’s building confidence throughout the story.  He’s still on probation so he has to be really careful, but when the chips are down, he can be counted on.  I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens next to him and his budding relationship with Lachlan.  This is going to be a very very slow burn romance I think across the cozy mysteries of this series.  Highly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries with a romantic element 🙂

RATING: 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon