Guestreview by Becca

TITLE: The Refuge Bid

SERIES: County Durham Quad #8

AUTHOR: Jude Tresswell

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 232 pages

RELEASE DATE: July 31, 2022

BLURB:

The Refuge Bid is a gay mystery and relationships tale set in fictional Tunhead, northeast England.

Is there a link between a woman who has been missing for ten years and the people bidding to buy and redevelop Tunhead’s decommissioned church and graveyard? Can the County Durham Quad and their special friend, Nick, find out and stop the sale—one grave is special—and can they raise the cash to counter the bids with an offer of their own? Success involves their drawing on Tunhead’s quarrying industry past and on employing their very different skills but, also, they must acknowledge what it is that they really want from their unusual liaison.

(Involves asexual/ sexual relationships and contains references to a teenager’s suicide and conversion therapy.)

REVIEW:

It’s good to see the gang back and in action. For anyone that hasn’t read this series, it needs to be read in order. There is a lot of little stuff in each book that is important to each person & story. This is also a polyamorous story, so if that’s an issue. HOWEVER, in the case as with the other books, its more than that. So much more. Another mystery has come to the five, as well as a possibility of upturning their lives in a way Mike isn’t ready for.

Their home in Tunhead, has become more than a home. For all of them. Its peace, most of the time, love, security, & a place to belong. Its almost home to some bones that are special to Mike & the other four. Having someone come in and try to buy part of it, especially the part they wanted to buy and the only part of Tunhead left that isn’t theirs outright.

I swear if there was ever a time I wanted to reach through a book, it’s with Mike. I like Mike, don’t get me wrong, but man he goes way too far way too many times. It really makes me mad. Because the liberties he’s taking doesn’t affect just him. Quite frankly, I would have probably punched him a few times. Thankfully, the other four know how to move on from, but I think that’s what gets me. They shouldn’t have to. However, they do & another mystery is under way. I think my only issue with this who!e mystery was that there was such a buildup to it, but it was over like nothing. I really expected there to be more to it especially after what happened to Mike. So that was kind of a letdown.

Its still a good book to me. Still a good series. I’ve enjoyed this series immensely and recommend to anyone wanting a bit different of a mystery. It really was good to see them all again.

RATING:

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