While this book too is heavily focused on the mystery it also deals a lot with family in all its forms. Someone might just kill to keep some secrets left alone and past events left forgotten. All evidence points to arson and his old activist group being the motive. This time around tragedy strikes a bit too close to comfort when Roland's house is burnt down to the ground. We are back in Seattle some six months after we left the guys in Fair Game. I just hope that someday there'll be an accounting. I am not really sure how female writers get away with this misrepresentation for titillation behavior.

I consider this a type of modern-day minstrelsy. This is just another horrible case of a writer creating characters in a story line compelling to female readers but not in any way bending toward the reality of how gay males exist in the real world. Then there is the relationship between the two central characters of Elliot and Tucker. This is frustrating because the father and son react in ways necessary for the narrative to continue, but they don't act in ways toward each other that rational human beings would consider. Layered throughout the above is a story of a father and son trying to understand one another. This is the best part of what's happening in this book. For the most part, it's not a bad bit of storytelling. Up front, there is the 'what happened and whodunit' mystery.

One is interesting in a conventional kind of way. See how Tucker and Elliot's relationship began in Fair Game. When the past comes back to play and everything both men had known to be true is questioned, their fragile relationship is left hanging in the balance. Tucker would do nearly anything for the man he loves, but he won't be used to gain Elliot access to the FBI's resources. Straight-laced Tucker has never agreed with radical Roland on much - 'opposing political viewpoints' is an understatement - but they're united on this: Elliot needs to leave the case alone. Agent Tucker Lance is still working to find the serial killer who's obsessed with Elliot and can't bear the thought of his lover putting himself in additional danger. A knee injury may have forced Elliot out of the Bureau, but it's not going to stop him from bringing the man who wants his father dead to justice.

When ex-FBI agent Elliot Mills is called out to examine the charred ruins of his childhood home, he quickly identifies the fire for what it is - arson. Now, someone is willing to kill to prevent him from publishing his memoirs. Fifty years ago, Roland Mills belonged to a violent activist group.

Fair play josh lanyon