Lanyon, Josh. Death of a Pirate King. Adrien English Mystery Ser. 4. Albon: MLR Press, 2008. 248p. paperback. $14.99. ISBN: 9781934531310.

In Death of a Pirate King, Josh Lanyon weaves yet another exciting detective story. Adrien is a writer, bookseller, and amateur gumshoe who reluctantly gets involved in another case.

At a Hollywood dinner party, the Pirate King twitches and crashes into his soup, dead. Who murdered this former Hollywood leading man? To help with the investigation, the openly bisexual actor, Paul Kane asks Adrien to use his sleuthing skills and keep him informed as he talks to possible suspects. Adrien himself is considered a suspect, so it is in his best interest to help with the case.

However, while questioning other possible suspects, he is forced to confront his own heart’s issues. His ex lover, Jake Riordan, is a cop on the case and is now once again in his life. If being a suspect for murder isn’t stressful enough, try running a bookstore, having some semblance of a love life, and juggling your family too. Death of a Pirate King is certain to leave its readers waiting for the fifth installment to see what Adrien gets into next, and how his love life improves.

Those readers who haven’t read the other books in the series will be able to read and enjoy Book Four in this series. It is a swift read with a plot that moves along slowly at first, and then draws us in, as it teases with possible suspects and wholly believable events. A good and well-written gay detective novel, suitable for any adult leisure reading.

Reviewed by Johnnie Gray
Interlibrary Loan Librarian
Christopher Newport University