Defying Logic, Valor and Doyle Mysteries #5 by Nicky James

Fifth in the series, Defying Logic is an emotional roller-coaster. Along the way of solving the mystery there is plenty to smile about. Quaid's abrasiveness with a new partner and Ruiz and Quaids normal banter. A real page turner.

From the blurb:

Two months ago, a catastrophic incident on the job forever changed Aslan’s life. It left him shaken and scarred, unsure if and when he would be able to return to work. Fighting to stay sober and battling his mental health, Aslan finds other crutches to help him cope.

Work and a challenging new partner have kept Quaid busy, but he spends every free minute nurturing Aslan’s wounded soul, ensuring his live-in boyfriend knows he is loved and cherished and not alone.

When Quaid gets entangled in a strange missing persons case, Aslan finds himself craving the job he’s abandoned. He wants to be part of the action.

To do so, Aslan needs to overcome significant personal barriers, and Quaid is willing to help in any way he can.

Their bond has grown exponentially, but what does the future have in store?

Reedkaye's Review:

First to anyone who has read Nicky James’ books, that is all that has to be said. It’s a Nicky James book. These should be in a special rating group because few can bring to life the stories and characters the way Nicky does.

Defying Logic is the fifth in the series. The series centers around two detectives who are so individual in characteristics that while reading the story and trying to figure out the mystery, I can’t help but smile at the relationships and daily routines these two live take.  

While Quaid does not like change, he is faced with a new partner. This abrasive behavior between the two is made more laughable by the interaction of Az with Frawley. Quaid’s banter with Ruiz also makes me laugh. This author has the ability to keep some of the hardest subjects and instill some lightness to the story.  

The disappearance of three people is Quaid’s latest case. While he is working to adjust to Frawley, he is also chasing clues to where the three missing people fit together. On the path to finding what happened to them there are so many twists that by the end it turns out to be totally different than I would have imagined. In a change from the normal mystery outline, Nicky James takes the story to a totally unexpected resolution. Now I’m more than ready for the next in this captivating series.

Rating: 5 Stars

Defying Logic is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.