Arthropoda Arthropoda Book #1
Bi Sexual, Thriller, LGBTQ Fiction
DSP Publications
March 2021
Kindle
262
Amazon
An Andi Hayes Murder Mystery
Detective George Donavon doesn’t plan to stay in Charleston long. Skeptical and by-the-book, he’s on the fast track to the top, and he won’t let anything derail his career. Especially not Andrew Hayes, his grumpy, awkward new partner—and not the chief’s secret order to find out how said partner solves even the most difficult cases.
George and Andi can’t agree on anything except their mutual dislike, but when three dead girls turn up at a storage unit, they must put their differences aside before the suspected trafficking ring claims another victim.
There is no crime without witnesses. Andi knows George suspects his always-right “hunches” point to corruption, but he doesn’t care. All that matters is catching a killer… and keeping his secret. But with leads on this sprawling conspiracy drying up, he has no choice. He just can’t let his partner find out how he’s getting the information.
Andi’s on the verge of losing his life, his mind, and his career. He could take George down with him…
If the violent criminals who are always one step ahead don’t get to them first.
Review by Xanthe
Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team
This is my first read by Xenia Melzer but it won’t be my last and I can’t wait for the next instalment of this series. It’s equally the same and different to other detective stories. It has an interesting and compelling plot for Detective Hayes and Donovan to investigate but then Andi Hayes has something completely other that I haven’t come across before.
Initially, I found the relationship between George and Andi to be entertainingly tense. George is in Charleston to help further his career and is called on by his new chief to watch over Andi and see if his methods are all above board due to the insanely high solve rate he has on his cases. Andi doesn’t want to have someone looking over his shoulder as he tries to solve his cases with his own unique methods. George comes up with his own crazy theories along the way as they work on a human trafficking ring after the discovery of three dead girls. Andi’s health comes into question as well because of the permanent influx of information he gets but it also intensifies when he uses it to search for clues and information.
Andi has been a loner ever since he first started being able to hear everything from all the insects around him. George is just another guy that will be around and then leave, whether from Andi’s ‘leave me alone’ vibes or from his desire to move up the career ladder. However, George slowly gets under Andi’s barriers. He brings him tea and a bagel every morning. He’s clearly aware of how exhausted Andi gets, taking care of him when needed. And, he is a very capable detective, more aware than Andi would like but great at picking up on clues and cues. George is a mixture of frustrated and impressed by Andi and his methods. There are occasions when the rules are skirted, or ignored, but there is no doubt that he wants to solve the case for the victims and their families. It’s just how does he do it? This book focuses very much on the case and establishing the working relationship and friendship between Andi and George. It looks like a friendship that they are both in need of, especially Andi as he finally has someone he can share this part of his life with. I’m very interested to see how that develops.
The case for this book starts with the murder of three young women/girls and quickly evolves into the investigation of a human trafficking ring that is possibly taking place in their own town. It’s made harder for Andi at first as he’s not used to having another person around to watch him work and see how he moves from one clue to another, whilst George is trying to solve the case and Andi. I found it really interesting how we move from one point to the next, and how Andi’s power gives him information that can help. What he gets is written in a different font so it’s easy to know, and you can feel the weight of the pain and exhaustion he experiences throughout the day but also in new locations or when having to focus especially hard on it. The author has done an amazing job in the details of the case, the suspects, and how the higher ups aren’t always the helpful people they are supposed to be. The few good relationships that Andi has established on the job are what truly show George that Andi can’t be the bad guy the chief is thinking of when he’s obviously thought so well of by others in the field.
I am really looking forward to seeing how the working and personal relationship between these two develop across the series. Andi now having a confidant is going to make a massive difference to him but I am also interested to see how George is affected and see if his aspirations change. I’m also looking forward to seeing what the next case is and how that unfolds for the duo.