Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: A Present Mistake
SERIES: Deadly Mistakes
AUTHOR: Alice Winters
NARRATOR: Greg Boudreaux
LENGTH: 9 hour and 50 minutes
RELEASE DATE: April 8, 2026
BLURB:
Liam
This was never supposed to happen.
My desire to rid the world of these vile people who make others suffer was never supposed to bleed into my personal life, but here I am… sorting out the pieces to keep my two lives separate.
Of course, Gabriel is the good that keeps me balanced. He makes me laugh, he makes me happy, and he makes me feel emotions I never thought were possible. But when a body is found at the zoo, unveiling a string of murders that go back years, we’re both pulled in… and we soon realize that we’re not the only ones working in the shadows.
Gabriel
Liam’s pleased that I’ve caved and moved myself and my beloved cat into his spacious house after mere weeks of dating. I just need to watch out, or he’ll be proposing to me the next chance he gets. Life with him is amazing, whether we’re epically failing at packing (where did that silicone toy come from?) or he’s insisting that Matthew isn’t his bestie (he is).
But our newest case leads us to a crossroads where we have to decide whether we should do things the proper way or Liam’s way. And I have to admit that the line of what is right and wrong is beginning to blur as a serial killer draws us into his web. He just doesn’t realize that he’s not the only hunter spinning it.
REVIEW:
Note: This is the third book in this series and as such contains spoilers for the previous books and sets up Liam and Gabriel’s relationship.
The holidays are drawing near. Gabriel is afraid what Liam will buy him for a present. He’s already bought a house so . . . Liam of course would by Gabriel the world 😉 He doesn’t want a ring. It’s too soon.
Before Liam can get his gift together, they are involved in a homicide. It’s not clear exactly how the guy died but he the head shows up with an animal corpse and oh boy, they are off to the races. The death is suspicious. Liam doesn’t buy any of it. And someone Gabriel believes is a friend seems to be involved and the culprit is targeting him. But for what?
The friend’s past turns out to be the impetus for this whole case which turns into a blizzard and then an avalanche of disasters. More bodies. More blackmail. More danger. And this mastermind is a highly effective manipulator 🙂 And more of the past coming back to haunt them which is driving Liam to more desperate measures when Gabriel threatened as a means of getting to Liam. Liam will not be deterred though once Gabriel is at risk. He will stop at nothing – even it means giving up the one good thing in his life that keeps his darkness from taking over.
Oh man! This whole book is a total roller coaster ride! Liam and Gabriel are dragged into what is possibly their worst case scenario – trying to help a friend who is deeply embedded with a man who has waaaaaay too many similarities to Liam. Except this man is the kind of guy that Liam generally is in charge of getting rid of – well at least in his own mind. But this guy has his claws very deeply into people who don’t deserve the consequences. With time running out and Liam desperate to keep Gabriel safe, the danger reaches a fever pitch. Thank goodness there is enough comic relief with Gabriel’s family and the cats to offset the anxiety of this story. Several times our heroes are in real jeopardy. There are knife fights and guns and bats and so many who underestimate Liam 😛 Liam is completely terrified about Gabriel and how he should protect him. He makes some rash decisions, but luckily Gabriel isn’t so easily deterred 😉 I love these two and could read about Liam and his vigilante justice forever. He’s got Gabriel to help keep him balanced.
Greg Boudreaux does a great job with this latest installment of this series. It’s so great to be back in this world. I loved the urgency is this performance as this a runaway train of a story with nonstop action and more twists and turns than a pretzel. And throughout it all, Liam’s devotion to Gabriel and his looking out for what Gabriel holds dear is clear. I loved the humor – the cats! The earnestness with which does his best to make Gabriel happy. I also loved how Gabriel has learned from Liam to get what he want and the audio narration just lifts this story even more. Bravo!
RATING: 
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