TEST
Preacher, Prophet, Beast is the seventh in Harper Fox’s wonderful Tyack and Frayne series of mysteries set in Cornwall, and it may be the best – or is it? Every time I finish a book in this series I say, ‘Oh, that was the best one’. I suspect every reader will have their favourite.
We find Gideon, husband Lee and baby Tamsin – now a toddler of two – living in the large rambling house Chy Lowen, thought to mean ‘House of Joy’ in Cornish. Gideon is struggling with his promotion to Detective Sergeant in the local CID in Truro, which doesn’t sit comfortably with him as it’s taken him away from his old uniformed beat in their home village of Dark. Lee is having problems of the more esoteric variety as he sees dangers from the past and present; but now the present dangers have blank faces, masks that Lee cannot see through.
The story is disturbing from the off, as Harper Fox’s beautiful, evocative descriptions of the powerfully magic moors deliberately strikes a discordant note. Tamsin reveals her powerful psychokinetic skills during a Tyack and Frayne family picnic and Gideon is falling ill. Mysteriously eaten up by a beastly fever that seems to be changing him from the inside, even his beloved Lee is unable to tell what is happening to him.
Part of the feeling of disquiet comes from the fact that these two wonderful men are keeping their thoughts from each other. Suddenly, this solid loving pair who can save all and right all wrongs, are slightly separate and out of tune with each other. The story, as it reveals itself bit by bit, is ancient and modern. There is a Pride march that may be in danger, and a dangerous, sick criminal from a previous episode who has been released from prison and is seen locally. Family dynamics are changing and something is gathering power and will run riot through Gideon and Lee’s world and beyond.
To truly enjoy the wondrous nature of this story you do have to read the whole series. They are short books and lovely stories in themselves, but they are meant to be episodes in the lives of Gideon and Lee. These two have the strongest and purest love story of any series I have read. Their human adventures are not paranormal, they are stories of the magic and power in the very normal natural world around us.
With baby Tamsin’s powers now revealed to the wider family, Gideon ill and acting out of character, a threat to the coming LGBTQ+ Pride parade and Lee’s powers seemingly confusing rather than helping; there is a lot for the Tyack-Frayne family to contend with. However, whatever the universe throws at them Gideon and Lee will always have each other, won’t they?
I loved every word crafted by this author in Preacher, Prophet, Beast. I cried and I laughed and I worried, because Harper Fox made me care so much for these characters, every single one. If you haven’t read the series, treat yourself; and if you have, indulge yourself and enjoy this latest installment.
Grade: A
Book Type: Paranormal Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 09/05/17
Publication Date: 04/2017
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.
I'm an English romantic, and an author who simply adores reading and writing books. I believe that all love has equal status, and all humans need and deserve romance. So, I am thrilled to be able to review LGBTQ+ novels for AAR and introduce more readers to some gorgeous LGBTQ+ romances and fascinating stories.
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Yes, the narrator is fabulous!!!! Today, I can think a *little* more clearly. You know, it kind of fits with the whole premise of the paranormal part of the series that we, as the readers, don’t actually get a good explanation for what happened. I really loved how the bigger threat of violence/unrest/unsafety that’s been playing out got some air time in the book, without the book becoming a soapbox.
Oh, my heart! I just finished this today…and…I…don’t even know what happened. I loved it though.
And, re the comment about Third Solstice above: It certainly had less oomph, but it’s interesting to see, with hindsight, just how it was setting things up for this novel.
Hahah – that about sums up my feelings, too! I listened to this series in audio (the narrator is fabulous) and loved it, even though this instalment was somewhat bonkers in places.
I thought the series had run out of steam after “Third Solstice” but I was thrilled to be proven wrong. This book broke my heart into little pieces and put them back together again.
Yes, I thought that too. I totally agree with your feelings SusanS – that is just what happened to me, but it was so beautifully done.