One of the best series!

I finally take time to write a review for this book, I was too busy ready the next one of the series, than the next, then the next etc.

From reading the comments I was a bit septic as a lot of them say that it's much more about the crime story than the relationship between the two characters, no steamy scenes (which we don't mind having for sure ;D ), long to listen too etc. But I had it in my wishlist for some time so I decided to give it a go. And oh boy what a good idea!
I absolutely adore this series!
Yes it's focus on the crime/detective part a lot but for me it's one of the series the most focus on the characters relationship. No we don't have steamy sex scenes, but every look, every talk, every move is about their relationship, passed and present.
The crime mysteries on the side/front (depending how you take it) is really well constructed, interesting till the end and keeps the story going. It's over a short period of time so I don't feel it drags on.
All the characters are well done, have a past which explain their actions. Hazard and Somerset are old bully and victim, then partner, then friends and all along we can see their feelings changing, evolving.
I'm always disappointment about "enemies to lovers" (not saying it's how it ends, I haven't finished yet but I hope!) because it's going too fast, it's not credible. Here it feels real!
It's really well written, beautiful text and not complected.

The narrator Tristan James is one of my favorite so I wasn't disappointment here either. His voice is amazing and he's doing a great job at giving the text emotion. Somerset and Hazard voice, being similar, are a bit complicated to differentiate sometime but it's not too much of a bother.

It's a BIG 5 stars for me and I highly recommend giving it a go to annoying who likes crime/detective stories and love/relationship stories.

On my way to read the book 4!

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excellent story

Very easy to get too involved with the characters and wanting them to sort out their issues.

The plot is well thought out and the language used it easy to follow the twists and turns. I had no problems with remembering the different characters although some were a little improbable and designed to fit the story.

But a rivetting read (sorry listen), excellent storyline, excellent narration, thank you Gregory Ashe.

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An addictive first in the series

I’ve had Pretty Pretty Boys in my audible library for some time and now I’m asking myself why it’s taken me so long to get started because I’m now totally hooked into this series and foresee a lot of Gregory Ashe in my immediate future.

Gregory Ashe is a talented, clever writer. His stories are intelligent, unique and well plotted with interesting and diverse characters. Hazard is gay but understated - he doesn’t sleep around and prefers monogamous relationships. This is one aspect I really like about this author’s writing - the lack of gratuitous sex. He hints at sexual attraction, but it’s slow burn and the way he implies it is actually far more sexy than full on descriptive detail; so if it’s hot and lusty you’re looking for then this author isn’t for you. Hazard’s obvious attraction to his partner, Somerset, and his to Hazard (although he’s closeted with a wife and child), slowly builds throughout the story. But it’s more in the background of this interesting and cleverly crafted story. I suspect it’s going to be a few books down the line in this series before these two gorgeous men get together.

Besides which, Hazard has a lot of issues to work through from his childhood with Somerset and this was yet another thread to the story that I found to be compelling and fascinating.

Overall a very satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable listen. However, although I really enjoyed the timbre and tone of Tristan James’ voice, I sometimes found it difficult to know when Hazard or Somerset were speaking. Strangely, only those two, as he has a wide and varied store of voices in his arsenal for the secondary characters. For this reason alone I am marking him down to 4* as otherwise I really enjoyed his performance and just wish he had differentiated more between the two MC’s.

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1 person found this helpful

Great storytelling

Loved this book - reading and listending to it . Narrator does a greaat job. You woin't be dissappointed.

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great story, great narration

great cop story with lots of UST. Fab narration, I bought book 2 straight away.

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4 people found this helpful

Read several times

This is a book I love to read myself and now it is so nice to hear it read by a voice that is perfect for the job.

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Setting the scene

In revisiting this very first novel featuring Hazard and Somers, you can compare and contrast with what follows. There's a suitably knotty case but that has to fit around introducing the principal characters and their milieu. Of course, we don't learn everything about them. Gregory Ashe's characters are way too complex for that. He does well in establishing them both, Hazard especially. There's enough to intrigue, to lead you on, to wish you could fill in the gaps. Sixteen books on and they're still mysteries on some level.

Tristan James is equally finding his way. Although he has voices for the main characters, they're not second nature to him as they are in later books. Occasionally, it's not clear who's speaking but that soon resolves itself.

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1 person found this helpful

Brilliant

Absolutely loved this book. The narrator is fantastic at bringing Hazard and Somerset alive. Can’t wait to read/listen to more of this series.

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Difficult start, but worth it

I'll be honest - the first time I listened to this I didn't finish it. That's ok though, because I did the same thing to lord of the rings and like that, when I came back to it I found I'd made a mistake. The performance is outstanding, I can easily tell whose chapter I'm on even when I come back after a few days of not getting chance to listen. You can feel it when one of the boys is having a rough time, which speaks both to the vocal artist -Fight me if you disagree - and to the author. I'll be listening to the rest of the series - It's almost enough to make me look forward to the walk into work taking over an hour. Almost.

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Pretty Pretty Boys!

Thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.
Straight on to buying next in series.
Some reviews say it was a little slow but i think its supposed to be... First in the series, setting the tone, backgrounds of characters which moving forward will be important. Give this a go!

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