Fatal Shadows

One sunny morning Los Angeles bookseller and aspiring mystery author Adrien English opens his front door to murder. His old high school buddy (and employee) has been found stabbed to death in a back alley following a loud and very public argument with Adrien the previous evening.

Naturally the cops want to ask Adrien a few questions; they are none too impressed with his answers, and when a few hours later someone breaks into Adrien's shop and ransacks it, the law is inclined to think Adrien is trying to divert suspicion from himself.

Adrien knows better. Adrien knows he is next on the killer's list.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

"I love humor in a story and I found this to be a fast, fun, and witty mystery. There is a bit of sex in this story, but it doesn’t dominate the book. This is truly a mystery with some romantic and sexual overtones. I enjoyed this book and characters so much, that I’ll be reading the next two in the series. I can’t wait to see what, if anything, happens between Adrien and Jake."
S.A. McDermott for Rainbow Reviews

"I was so taken with the end of this book that I immediately picked up the second and started it, and believe me, it’s even more delightful. I can’t say too much because it would utterly ruin the ending of this one. I think you’ll like these books… very much! "
Squashduck Reviews

"Funny, filled with great thumbnail characterizations...a thoroughly satisfying read."
Eden Embler, I Love a Mystery

"Even though this is a gay mystery, the sexuality angle is not in your face. It's a mystery about people who care about one another and how evil can live and fester before it manifests itself. The narrative flows smoothly; the characters are well developed. And the ending was absolutely perfect." 
Maddy Van Hertbruggen, AboutMystery.com 

"Josh Lanyon writes spare, fluent prose and the dialogue rings true. The plot is quite involving and readers will be intrigued by a budding relationship which, amateur sleuth that I am, I suspect may develop in future books of the series."  
Marian Hussenbux, I Love A Mystery

2007, MLR Press
Trade paperback
Revised.
ISBN: 0-979-31104-7
Buy this book

COLLECTIONS

The Adrien English Mysteries
2007, Loose Id
ISBN: 978-1-59632-465-7
E-book edition
Revised.
Comprisng "Fatal Shadows" and "A Dangerous Thing."
Buy this book.

OTHER EDITIONS

2000, Gay Men's P:ress
Trade paperback
First edition
ISBN: 1902852095
Out of print.

2006, JoshLanyon.com
Revised pdf edition.
Out of print.