๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก?
The Burnt by Peter E. Fenton
Series: The Declan Hunt Mysteries Book #3
Prior Reading: recommended
Genre: detective/mystery
Length: 60,000 words
Publisher: Entwined Publishing
Finding work-life balance isnโt always easy when youโre sleeping with the boss. Charlie Watts is stressed as he studies for his private investigatorโs license, starts taking on his own cases and navigates his relationship with Declan Hunt. He thinks he can handle it, but every time their relationship is going well, work always gets in the way.
While Charlie investigates a threatening note that appears to be from a boy who mysteriously disappeared ten years ago, Declan tries to find the meaning behind the final words of a man who was brutally murdered. As Declan and Charlie work to solve these mysteries, secrets from the past are exposed, Charlie is haunted by ghostly dreams and Declan is forced to confront some terrible truths from a hidden past.
Ultimately, the truth will be revealed, but at what cost? And will Declan and Charlie be able to solve the mystery of where they want to go next with their relationship before things at work take a terrible turn?
The Burnt is the third book in the Declan Hunt Mysteries series.
Trigger/Content Warnings: While the murders in this book are not graphic, there are three deaths in the book that are described in general terms. There is a description of a ghost that has been burned in a fire…not graphic, but it could be triggering for someone who is triggered by fire. The sex is mostly closed door or fade to black.
Start reading today: https://getbook.at/theburnt-rev
The Burnt by Peter E. Fenton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Charlie Waters and Declan Huntโฆoff on another adventure? They are happy with their relationship. Charlie is spreading his wings and has his own case.
Being a PI has really matured Charlie. Declan and Charlieโs relationship is also maturing. I enjoyed watching them become closer. Declanโs faith in Charlie helped them connect more.
Kind of a twisty story. Iโd really like to get into why I liked this book so much but itโs got enough surprises that I really canโt say. I think this is the best in the series.
Loved Mrs. B and she is a welcome edition to the story, as is Gwen. Also there is another mover and shaker that ads a big dimension to the story
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
EXCERPT:
Declan was unsettled by the news his father had delivered.
Archie Whitcher is dead.
Heโd never thought heโd see the day when that man would pay for what heโd done to his
son. But Archieโs last messageโฆ Who the hell is Milo? And why did Archie want me to know
about him?
Maybe Declan could find something in his notes from the last time heโd encountered
Archie Whitcherโnotes he hadnโt looked at for a number of years.
Declan opened the large cupboard in his office that contained the safe. Inside,
underneath various boxes and binders, was a file folder labelled Freddy. He placed it on his
desk, poured himself a scotch, then sat down and opened the file. Declan looked over the
photocopies of the pages of his old police notebook.
While Declan and Gary Sawchuck had been the ones who had discovered and dealt with
the identification of Freddyโs body, the investigation had been turned over to a Sergeant
McKeckran. Declan had encountered the homophobic asshole again just last year. McKeckran
had tried to close the file on the Ian Mann case because he was sure the victim was gay. Years
before, he had swept the Freddy Whitcher death under the same carpet. Declan knew the case
had never been adequately investigated.
The rage returned.
There was nothing of value to be found in the notes other than stirring up a painful
memory. Declan placed a quick call to Gary Sawchuck. A gruff voice answered on the other end.
โYeah.โ
โGary, itโs Declan. I got your message. Are you still on the scene?โ
โForensics is wrapping up for the day. Weโll be back tomorrow, but the bodyโs gone and
weโve been through the preliminaries. Iโll keep you posted if thereโs anything else that pertains to
you. You got any idea what Archie was talking about when he used your name before he died?โ
โNope,โ Declan replied. โAll right, Gary. Thanks. Keep in touch.โ
Declan disconnected. He wasnโt going to get any sleep tonight unlessโฆ He knew what he needed to do next.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Burnt is Peter E. Fenton’s fifth novel (and the third in The Declan Hunt Mysteries series)
Peterโs first novel, The Woodcarverโs Model was released by Pride Publishing in April of 2022 and was a four time nominee in the Goodreads M/M Romance Readersโ Choice Awards.
Following the success of the first book, Pride Publishing released The Declan Hunt Mysteries series which includes Mann Hunt (nominated for a Goodreads M/M Romance Readersโ Choice Award and recently translated into Spanish), and Hoodoo House, (also a Goodreads M/M Romance Readersโ Choice Award nominee and just released in Spanish).
2024 also saw the release of the critically acclaimed teen novella Not Not Normal, published by Lorimer Press.
Peterโs previous work was focused on writing for the stage, with award-winning productions of The Giantโs Garden, Newfoundland Mary, Bemused, and The Detective Disappears being produced across the country.
He spent many years working in palaeontology in remote locations including the Canadian Rockies, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
Peter lives in Toronto, Canada with his partner of more than twenty years, Scott White. At heart, he is an incredible romantic.
Website: https://peterefenton.ca/
Newsletter: https://peterefenton.ca/blog/
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/peterefenton.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterefentonbooks
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/peterefentonromance
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21653233.Peter_E_Fenton
Publisher: https://www.pride-publishing.com/author/peter-e-fenton
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