syka's review
3.0
My great fondness for the way this author puts things into words is now and then rivalled by how unappealing I find some of the interactions between the MCs. With the way the book ends I'm hopeful that what I feel are somewhat childish reactions for two grown men will morph into something else.
sarful's review
5.0
4.5
The case in this one wasn’t the most interesting, but I really liked the outcome for Malcolm and Seong-Jae. Because O. M. G! The ending of this was hot AF and finally! It was well worth all the massive sexual tension and longing. Those two boys are in so deep and neither cares, I love it.
I wonder what’s going on with Sila, he’s a scary unknown entity. I’m wondering about Sade as well, her connection with Jason. I wonder if Gabi can finally get over Malcolm, I hope she does.
I love the reading these books.
The case in this one wasn’t the most interesting, but I really liked the outcome for Malcolm and Seong-Jae. Because O. M. G! The ending of this was hot AF and finally! It was well worth all the massive sexual tension and longing. Those two boys are in so deep and neither cares, I love it.
I wonder what’s going on with Sila, he’s a scary unknown entity. I’m wondering about Sade as well, her connection with Jason. I wonder if Gabi can finally get over Malcolm, I hope she does.
I love the reading these books.
brokenrecord's review
4.0
4.5 stars. First off, the case in this was good — not my absolute favorite, but I was definitely more into it than the one in the previous book, and it was nice for them to . But most importantly, Seong-Jae and Malcolm: Besides that, I just enjoyed how totally blatant Malcolm was with his feelings in this book, and how he kept flirting with Seong-Jae and making him flustered.
My biggest complaint at the moment is that I NEED Seong-Jae to tell Malcolm about Sila and whatever that backstory is already. There's no legitimate reason for him not to that I can see considering a) Malcolm's a cop and his partner so it's not like he can possibly think keeping him in the dark would keep him safe, and he can obviously help with catching him and/or figuring out what's going on, and b) Seong-Jae already has realized that his connection/relationship to Malcolm could put him in danger with Sila, so like… wouldn't the obvious thing be to tell him about it to help keep him out of danger??? I mean, maybe there's some reason not to tell him, but since we basically know almost nothing about the backstory as readers, it's hard to understand why he's keeping Malcolm in the dark other than him generally being reluctant to share things. But he HAS shared things with Malcolm and trusts him, so it's just kind of incomprehensible to me that he wouldn't tell Malcolm SOMETHING if only to keep him out of danger. idk, maybe it'll play out all right (like the stuff with Gabi played out better than I feared it would), but if Malcolm ends up with his life in jeopardy because of Seong-Jae not coming clean about Sila soon enough, I'm going to be super annoyed.
Also, speaking of the Gabi stuff and liking how it was handled, it was also really nice that she got her own POV chapters here. I like that she gets to be a fleshed out character rather than just Malcolm's ex and therefore an obstacle for Seong-Jae/Malcolm — she gets to have her own feelings and isn't just a plot device, and I appreciate that. Anyways, despite my complaints above, I'm really enjoying this series a lot!
Spoiler
get to save someone for onceSpoiler
FINALLY!!!!!!!!! I mean, I kind of felt like they were near a tipping point, especially with them kind of admitting their feelings in the last book and Gabi finally moving out, but the entire last sequence of this book, with Malcolm watching Seong-Jae perform and then going home with him was a LOT.My biggest complaint at the moment is that I NEED Seong-Jae to tell Malcolm about Sila and whatever that backstory is already. There's no legitimate reason for him not to that I can see considering a) Malcolm's a cop and his partner so it's not like he can possibly think keeping him in the dark would keep him safe, and he can obviously help with catching him and/or figuring out what's going on, and b) Seong-Jae already has realized that his connection/relationship to Malcolm could put him in danger with Sila, so like… wouldn't the obvious thing be to tell him about it to help keep him out of danger??? I mean, maybe there's some reason not to tell him, but since we basically know almost nothing about the backstory as readers, it's hard to understand why he's keeping Malcolm in the dark other than him generally being reluctant to share things. But he HAS shared things with Malcolm and trusts him, so it's just kind of incomprehensible to me that he wouldn't tell Malcolm SOMETHING if only to keep him out of danger. idk, maybe it'll play out all right (like the stuff with Gabi played out better than I feared it would), but if Malcolm ends up with his life in jeopardy because of Seong-Jae not coming clean about Sila soon enough, I'm going to be super annoyed.
Also, speaking of the Gabi stuff and liking how it was handled, it was also really nice that she got her own POV chapters here. I like that she gets to be a fleshed out character rather than just Malcolm's ex and therefore an obstacle for Seong-Jae/Malcolm — she gets to have her own feelings and isn't just a plot device, and I appreciate that. Anyways, despite my complaints above, I'm really enjoying this series a lot!
momocito's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
haletostilinski1's review against another edition
5.0
SO. GOOD.
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!
Things between Malcom and Seong-Jae finally shift past this sort of...almost holding pattern they've been in, us and them KNOWING they want each other but not doing anything about it. Now I won't say how they shift past it, but it's goood and amazing and makes just want to squeal and go ashdaskjdhajk!!
It's crazy to think in the timeline of these books it's only been a little more than a month and a half since they met. But I think given that they see each other every day and work together every day, they spend more time together than a typical couple does, so it feels like it's been longer, like they've known each other longer.
And this book is mainly focused on them - it would be like a shipper's dream episode if it was TV lol, only a few scenes here and there with a focus on other people - mainly Gabrielle.
This takes place over two days as Malcom and Seong-Jae work a case of a possible murder, with a girl who is missing but with the amount of blood at the crime scene...could also be dead.
This was definitely one of the more uplifting cases - not that it wasn't gruesome and all that, but it had a better outcome than previous ones.
Also interesting, Sila makes his presence known more solidly than he ever has before to Seong-Jae, and it's so cool for the story but frustrating because we don't know what he's up to and exactly what happened with Seong-Jae and Sila in Seong-Jae's past.
(Also I still think it is who I think it is, like)
This whole installment was so amazingly good and the ending just made me want more more more and also adadhakjj I can't believe I have to wait a month! It feels so far away!
A must read, this is a pivotal book in the series. Massive thumbs up!!!
I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!!
Things between Malcom and Seong-Jae finally shift past this sort of...almost holding pattern they've been in, us and them KNOWING they want each other but not doing anything about it. Now I won't say how they shift past it, but it's goood and amazing and makes just want to squeal and go ashdaskjdhajk!!
It's crazy to think in the timeline of these books it's only been a little more than a month and a half since they met. But I think given that they see each other every day and work together every day, they spend more time together than a typical couple does, so it feels like it's been longer, like they've known each other longer.
And this book is mainly focused on them - it would be like a shipper's dream episode if it was TV lol, only a few scenes here and there with a focus on other people - mainly Gabrielle.
This takes place over two days as Malcom and Seong-Jae work a case of a possible murder, with a girl who is missing but with the amount of blood at the crime scene...could also be dead.
This was definitely one of the more uplifting cases - not that it wasn't gruesome and all that, but it had a better outcome than previous ones.
Also interesting, Sila makes his presence known more solidly than he ever has before to Seong-Jae, and it's so cool for the story but frustrating because we don't know what he's up to and exactly what happened with Seong-Jae and Sila in Seong-Jae's past.
(Also I still think it is who I think it is, like
Spoiler
he could have worn a contact or contacts when he was with Malcolm. If he isn't that blond dude Malcolm slept with in book one who has popped up twice now, with that last meeting being really weird, I'll be extremely surprised.This whole installment was so amazingly good and the ending just made me want more more more and also adadhakjj I can't believe I have to wait a month! It feels so far away!
A must read, this is a pivotal book in the series. Massive thumbs up!!!
ariaslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Criminal Intentions
Season One
Episode Six:“Where There’s Smoke”
Case: They say where there's smoke, there's fire—but Malcolm and Seong-Jae have a lot of blood and no body in a case where the only witness to a murder may be the killer himself.
I loved this episode. It was so good but six books in, I feel like I’m being preached to. Cis, straight, white man= bad. Rich= bad. Cis, straight, rich, white man= worse. I have to admit, I’m starting to get irritated.
Season One
Episode Six:“Where There’s Smoke”
Case: They say where there's smoke, there's fire—but Malcolm and Seong-Jae have a lot of blood and no body in a case where the only witness to a murder may be the killer himself.
I loved this episode. It was so good but six books in, I feel like I’m being preached to. Cis, straight, white man= bad. Rich= bad. Cis, straight, rich, white man= worse. I have to admit, I’m starting to get irritated.
lelliereads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
medleyx's review
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Plot ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Spice 🌶🌶.5
Banter 😂😂😂
Love-interests 🍆🦋🍆🦋🦋🦋
⚠️ kidnapping, racism, blood, detective work,
✔️ Mal and Seong-Jae!!! Wow, their little moments and interactions - these little touches and them finding comfort in and with each other?? Beautiful!!!!
✔️ the TENSION between these two is insane!!! I had to finish this book in one go - there was no other choice!
✔️ plot was good - the case was quite interesting, and their little moments made sense in between the detective work
✔️chapter 13 🥵
❔ai ai ai I'm worried about Sila, and that whole plot thing - gosh, hopefully they can overcome it together!!
Aaaaah, it happened!!! I'm so happy for them wow !!! Beautiful
I'm hoping that they will have a steady and stable relationship 😭
》Always, always he would follow Seong-Jae. Even if he led Malcolm into ruin.《
Author followed !
Spice 🌶🌶.5
Banter 😂😂😂
Love-interests 🍆🦋🍆🦋🦋🦋
⚠️ kidnapping, racism, blood, detective work,
✔️ Mal and Seong-Jae!!! Wow, their little moments and interactions - these little touches and them finding comfort in and with each other?? Beautiful!!!!
✔️ the TENSION between these two is insane!!! I had to finish this book in one go - there was no other choice!
✔️ plot was good - the case was quite interesting, and their little moments made sense in between the detective work
✔️chapter 13 🥵
❔ai ai ai I'm worried about Sila, and that whole plot thing - gosh, hopefully they can overcome it together!!
Aaaaah, it happened!!! I'm so happy for them wow !!! Beautiful
I'm hoping that they will have a steady and stable relationship 😭
》Always, always he would follow Seong-Jae. Even if he led Malcolm into ruin.《
Author followed !