REVIEW: It Takes an Artist - Quint and Clay Art Crimes Series Book 2 - Edward Kendrick

It Takes an Artist - Edward Kendrick Book Cover

Title: It Takes an Artist - Edward Kendrick
Series: Quint & Clay Art Crimes Book 2
Author: Edward Kendrick
Genre: Mystery, Gay Romance
Publisher: Independent
Release Date: Feb 6th, 2021
Format: Kindle
Pages: 156
Source: Amazon

What do you do when someone attempts to frame you for the murder of your roommate? That's the problem facing kinetic artist Trev Eldridge. Although Detective Quint Hawk determines Trev is innocent, it does nothing to assuage Trev's fears.

While Quint sets out to discover who's responsible for the murder, Trev is befriended by Dr. Zack Kendall. As Zack helps Trev deal with what happened, the two men begin to bond. At the same time, artist Clay Richardson takes Trev under his wing, after discovering that he is a talented artist.

Evidence leads Quint to a theory about the murder and who is involved. With the help of Trev, Zack, Clay, and Officer Lou Hernandez, they come up with a plan to catch the villains.

With all that is happening, can the growing attraction between Trev and Zack survive before the criminals take them out of the picture ... permanently?

Reviewed by Linda Tonis

Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Review Team

When Trev Eldridge wakes up in the hospital it takes a few minutes for him to remember what happened. Two men broke into the apartment he shared with his roommate John Pierce killing John and putting a bullet in Trev’s shoulder after hitting in the head. The bullet wound was superficial and the bump on his head did not cause a concussion.

Standing over him is Detective Quint Hawk asking questions about the murder and how Trev’s fingerprints were on the weapon. Fortunately, the murderers were not smart, and Quint figured out that his fingerprints were not placed properly making Trev a victim and not a murderer.

Trev is being taken care of by Dr. Zack Kendall who seems interested in him more than doctor, patient. The police release the fact that Trev is not a suspect, leaving him in danger and putting Zack on alert both for his medical problems and his safety. Quint knows that he is setting up Trev as bait, but he also makes sure he has sufficient security around him.

Trev is a kinetic sculptor trying to get his foot in the door so having Quint in charge of his case was an unexpected bonus since his partner is Clay Richardson, a successful artist. The more Quint investigates Trev’s roommate the more it leads him to a suspected art theft ring and Clay’s knowledge of the art world helps Quint since it is an area totally alien to him.

While the search is on for the leaders of the ring Trev and Zack begin to foster a possible relationship, a relationship they both seem to want but which Zack is keeping at arm’s length. Zack worries that with the stress of seeing his friend murdered and the danger he is in that Trev would not go into the relationship for the right reasons.

After investigating John’s computer, they come up with the names of the likely suspects and it would take another officer, Lou Hernandez, to go undercover to expose the art theft ring and the people running it.

This is another wonderful mystery by Mr. Kendrick, and I can’t wait to read more. If you love mysteries and watching how the bad guys are caught and brought to justice than this book is for you with the addition of sex and romance.