Long Shadows (Common Law, #1)
by Kate Sherwood
Published by Riptide Publishing
LGBT, contemporary, mystery, romance
LA cop Jericho Crewe got the hell out of Mosely, Montana, when he was seventeen. Fifteen years later, he’s back, and everything is just as messed up as when he left. He planned a quick visit to deal with his injured father, but of course things are never that simple. Family complications, police complications, social complications—and, as always, Wade Granger complications.
Jericho and Wade had been so close, once upon a time. First friends, then more than friends—and then, after Jericho’s escape, nothing. Wade’s magnetism hasn’t been lessened by a decade and a half apart; even when Jericho learns that Wade is the prime suspect in the death of Jericho’s father, the old connection still sparks.
When Jericho’s newly discovered half siblings are kidnapped, he needs to trust someone to help him find them. Wade’s a terrible choice, but Jericho’s never been known for his good judgment. Anyway, he’d rather make a bad decision with Wade than a good one with anybody else.
Long Shadows is a captivating story with a great atmosphere. Jericho Crewe returns to his hometown Mosely, Montana, after he gets a call that his father’s in the hospital. Jericho left Mosely fifteen years ago and never looked back but now he’s faced with old friends and old flames – and things are not as they seem. His father’s been murdered and his half-siblings, which he didn’t know existed, are kidnapped. He doesn’t know who to trust, certainly not his old friend and lover, Wade, who is one of the town’s career criminals. It’s complicated, especially since Jericho’s a cop now and not a rebellious teenager like he was before.
It’s addicting. There’s a dark loom there, suspicions flying around and trust issues. Jericho and Wade have so much chemistry that it’s sizzling – and nothing happens. It’s charged but oh so slow burn. Jericho’s a great main character who faces difficult decisions. However, Wade’s everything. He’s a bad boy who makes his own rules and everyone in the town knows that his business dealings are not on the right side of the law. He doesn’t pretend to be anything he’s not and I loved to question whether the things he told Jericho were true or not. There’s a set up for romance since there’s three more books in the series, but I feel like it’s not going to be easy ride. I’m certainly up for some complicated relationship.
There are some things I felt a little bit uncertain. Jericho’s family relationships are complicated, which is fine, but it’s difficult to understand why Jericho decided to stick around to help a stepmother and half-siblings who he didn’t know existed. It would have been more understandable if the stepmother and half-siblings treated Jericho well, but they aren’t most likable characters.
I chose to give Long Shadows three starts because I liked Jericho, Wade, their complicated past and present, and the mystery. It’s a promising start for a series, but there’s something missing that would have made it a four-star read. I’ll definitely pick up the next book in Common Law series soon.
3 of 5 stars
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