Guest Reviewed by Morgan
Title: Dead in L.A.
Author: Lou Harper
Series: L.A. Paranormal #1-2
Heroes: Jon Cooper and Leander “Andy” Thorne
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 104 Pages
Publisher: Lou Harper
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Available at: Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads
Blurb: Trouble comes in deceptive packages
Still recovering from an accident that left him emotionally and physically battered, Jon’s goal is to lead a simple life, free of complications and attachments. His new roommate—a happy-go-lucky bookworm—seems to fit into his plans fine at first. He doesn’t find out till later that Leander’s also a psychic, specializing in finding lost pets. Jon’s a skeptic when it comes to the supernatural, so he’s convinced Leander’s a nut job.
Jon’s beliefs are challenged when Leander has to track down a missing teenager and he ropes Jon into assisting him. Soon the two of them are knee-deep in a decades-old murder case. The hills and valleys of the City of Angels hold many buried secrets, and Leander has a knack for finding them.
Jon’s hopes for a trouble-free life go out the window as he’s drawn deeper into Leander’s psychic sleuthing. Digging into the past poses many dangers, but the biggest risk Jon faces is putting his bruised heart on the line.
Warning: Men loving men, skeletons, and an unlucky Chihuahua.
Review:
This is the first two books in the 3 book LA Paranormal series. All the stories are very short, each an individual “case,” but the love story of Jon and Andy arcs throughout all three to finish with Dead in the Desert.
In the first book, we meet Jon, a gay man, previously married, now a widow, recovering from the accident that killed his wife, and is currently looking for a roommate. He meets Leander “Andy” through a want ad and immediately likes the “kid”.
Jon was in construction, post-accident, he’s in art school. Andy is a bookish psychic who finds lost things. Jon is practical, pragmatic and a little bit lost. Andy is dreamy, metaphysical, optimistic and a little bit lost.
The first case sets the stage for us to understand how Andy’s “powers” work, and he locates a lost cat. In the second case, we find a lost body and things begin to get more serious and spooky.
**
I hadn’t read any Lou Harper before, but saw that she is an LA author who writes about the area, so I was intrigued. When I saw this book on the list for “Ghost Month,” I saw a perfect opportunity!
I am so glad I did. I just love finding a new to me author and knowing I get to look forward to her entire works for the first time!
This is a tremendously sweet, savvy series, superbly written. Lou Harper has a clean, crisp writing style. Efficient with her words, but provocative. She excels at showing not telling. Jon’s personality slowly seeps out through his caring actions and each grumpy statement. His love for Andy is steadily demonstrated with each meal he makes and each car trip he takes, until the day Andy goes missing and Jon has to face that Andy is more than just a roommate with benefits.
The paranormal aspect is pretty mild in this book, so though I would classify it as a paranormal book, those of you squeamish about the paranormal won’t be too bothered by a little lost and found.
I enjoyed seeing the LA area through Lou’s eyes and really enjoyed this couple’s subtle but touching romance.
I highly recommend this book/series/author and hope to read more from her in the future.
Overall Impression: I loved it!
*I purchased my own, personal copy of this book for review.*
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