Bad to Worse by Gin Vane

Bad to Worse by Gin Vane
Publisher: Pride Publishing, Totally Entwined
Genre: Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBTQ, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Both detectives know that there’s different kinds of dangerous—the obvious threat you clock on approach, and the one you never see comin’…

Colt Harkan’s not much of laughing man, or he might more appreciate the biggest joke of his life. Fresh from his time undercover, that first day at Mason PD finds him partnered with Everett Kane—a man determined to stumble through life and still come up the golden boy.

Makes it all look so easy, talking to people with his sun-bright smile. Everett just…cares. It’s like the man can’t help it.

But even in Mason, Colt sees darkness at the fringes, and catching that State Rodeo case starts two unexpected obsessions: proving Patrick Combs was a murder, and screwing around with Ev in the backseat of their car. Seems to work out fine for them both, when Ev isn’t busy with his women or his wife.

One of these days, Everett’s gonna find the rock bottom he’s digging for, and Colt can’t help but push him along. Because the bosses won’t admit it, but Combs was a murder, and that bigshot Richard Edwards knows something for sure.

Ev would say it makes him a pessimist, but Colt just has that feeling, an ice-sharp truth learned in days spent dodging death. Gettin’ honest words from Edwards and Everett both might be what kills Colt yet.

Intense and full of suspense.

I wasn’t sure what to think when I picked up this book. I liked the cover and was intrigued by the blurb, so I dove in. It’s an original story and complicated, which is good. I like mysteries where I can’t figure them out right away and am taken away on the ride of the story. This was one of those books.

I have to admit the flashbacks and switches in time period confused me at first. I got a bit thrown off by trying to keep up what was happening. I understand what the author was trying to do–give away information in pieces, rather than a dump–and it worked. I’d suggest reading this story twice, though, to make this all make sense.

Colt and Everett are interesting characters. They’re complicated, warped and unconventional. Colt’s been undercover for too long and he’s tired. He’s also a brilliant detective. I liked how he had that sixth sense with the scene and could tell things others couldn’t see. That was good. Everett was a bit more of a mystery to me and I have to admit I wasn’t his biggest fan. He’s working through stuff, sure, but there was something about him that I just didn’t like. He’s cheating on his wife and mistresses with Colt, so if that’s something that is a trigger, maybe steer away. If that’s not a bother, then keep reading. For me, it was a bit of a bother.

Still, I liked the gritty crime drama feel of the story. If you’re looking for something original, fresh and gritty, then this might be the book for you. I suggest checking it out.