Book Review: Filthy Acquisitions by Edmond Manning

Guest Reviewed by Tina

Title: Filthy Acquisitions
Author: Edmond Manning
Heroes: Keldon Thurman/Joshua Greene
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 145 Pages
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Release Date: July 23, 2014
Available at: Wilde City Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Keldon Thurman hates his job, purchasing serial killer art for a private investor. He would quit if he weren’t completely impoverished, but with no life skills and no ways to generate income, Keldon has no options.

However, Acquisition Number Five proves to be more challenging than expected. Wheel-chair bound Irene Woullet and her handsome nurse caretaker, Joshua Greene, refuse to cooperate. Keldon’s only chance is to seduce the old-fashioned, simple-living Josh in the hopes that Joshua can persuade Irene. But Keldon has to work fast—he has only two dates to win Josh’s affection.

With love’s potential in bloom, how can Keldon live with his own worsening conscience as he gathers these filthy acquisitions?

Review:

Serial killer art will get you in the door, but the great characters are what will get you to stay.

Keldon had lived the kept life. He found his easy road, learned to be what others wanted so life could be easy, and reveled in it. As he got older (all of 28), he found himself without: without someone to take care of him, without food, and soon out of a place to live. Once again, fate comes knocking on his door, and he gets an unusual job offer; buying art created by a serial killer.

Keldon is faced with acquiring art from people who are really not great specimens of the human race. They have sold themselves to befriend a serial killer in the hopes of a large pay day. Keldon begins to feel the pressure until he meets Irene and Josh. This is where the story really begins! Irene has no idea which art piece Keldon’s buyer wants, and thus, they devise a plan of two dates between Keldon and Josh to get at the real story and determine what this is really all about.

I am a charter-based story reader. If the characters are strong, I can forgive almost anything (almost;)). With Filthy Acquisitions, I was happier than a pig in, well, you get what I mean – this is both, a good story with great characters. Edmond unfolds the story so there is always something you want to know – the motivation behind the acquistions, what is really going on with Mrs. Turner (Keldon’s boss), etc, etc. Then there is Keldon and Josh. Josh, who lives out loud, upfront, and knows who he is, even if he does step out and eat at KFC every once and awhile – he at least owns up to it! Keldon knows how he has lived his life, what he has done to get by and waking up to being the person he wants to be; for himself and eventually for Josh. As the book unfolds you get how these two match up.

Not only will you enjoy your time with Keldon and Joshua, Edmond does an amazing job with the secondary characters. I want to have a drink with Irene. Leave it to Edmond to come up with something so head turning as to have a job collecting crappy art made by a serial killer. How cool is that? Man the places Edmond’s head goes is remarkable! You can never go wrong with something that Edmond writes – he has a way with words that is amazing.

With that said, if you are used to the Kings series (the Lost and the Founds), this will feel very different to you. There is still the snappy witticism, characters facing a crossroads into greatness or mediocrity, morbid happenings, as well as a story that makes you think; however, the story almost feels muted compared to his other work. Is that bad? No, not at all. I love seeing different types of stories from authors. Is the book perfect? No – the writing at times is stiff and quick. In addition, the ending is abrupt (which I loved for the record, but I can see where some would not be happy).

If you have hesitated reading this story because the Kings series was not your cuppa, then read this book, I recommend it.

Overall Impression: I really liked it!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.*