Christine's Reviews > A Light in the Darkness

Love this art by the wonderful Lio Zehel

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November 2023. 4 stars for this indie contemporary MM/gay romance mystery.
Our characters have great chemistry and banter, and I was fully invested in the story from the get-go. Their dialogue was an absolute highlight and I’m really looking forward to both future books about them!
After having the chance to read snippets of dialogue in the Gregory Ashe discord in the writing chat, I’ve been counting down the days until release. I was excited chance to be one of her ARC reviewers, but also pre-ordered it to support her. I’m leaving this review of my own volition.
Set in small-town North Carolina, our main character Max returns reluctantly to his hometown because his abusive father is seriously ill. He’s been away over a decade as he’s been estranged due to being gay and past drug use, though he’s clean now.
Busy putting off seeing his father, he ends up sticking his nose into investigating the unexpected suspicious death of a closeted FWB from high school.
Max also stays with a frenemy from high school, Carter, who owns a local queer-friendly bar and has rooms for rent at his ranch. Max pulls Carter into his off-the-books investigation and the longer he stays in town, the more they find their mutual attraction hard to ignore.
“A Light in the Darkness” by Crystal D. Budy