The Rational Faculty

Hazard and Somerset: A Union of Swords, Book 1

By: Gregory Ashe

Narrated by: Tristan James

Three months have passed since Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset faced a madman and lived to tell about it. Three months have passed since Emery Hazard resigned from his job as a detective.Three months can be too long and too short, all at the same time.

On Halloween, a professor at the local college is murdered in his apartment, in front of dozens of witnesses. Then, the killer disappears. Somers is assigned the case and a new partner. While Somers investigates the murder, Hazard struggles to find purpose in his new freedom. Despite his decision to stay away, he finds himself drawn to the case. But he’s no longer in the police force, and in the small town of Wahredua, not all of his former colleagues are happy to see him investigating another crime.

When the sheriff’s son and husband go missing, though, the case becomes more complicated than either Hazard or Somers had expected. And soon, they learn that someone else is manipulating events in Wahredua. Someone who is very interested in Emery Hazard.

©2019 Gregory Ashe (P)2020 Gregory Ashe

Another Great Hazard & Somerset Mystery

‘The Rational Faculty’ by Gregory Ashe with first rate narration by Tristan James, like everything by Mr. Ashe is a great listen.

I listened to this audiobook after reading the first book in the series. Clearly I’d missed some important developments in the relationship between John-Henry Somerset and Emery Hazard, but Ashe cleverly explained what had happened in the interim.

Again, the plot was complicated and, again, I had focused in on someone who turned out not to be the murderer. I won't say more to avoid inadvertently including spoiler. Suffice it to say that the important thing to remember is ‘Someone is very interested in Emery Hazard’

Even though I have a general understanding of what happened in ‘Transposition’ the second book in the Hazard and Somerset series, I will definitely go back to it.

It's definitely worth listening to

I have all of Gregory's books as ebooks and I am also no collecting his audiobooks as I love listening to them when driving. The book is very well written and the story kept me listening. Tristan James is an excellent narrator and he excels with this story.
Highly recommended.

Heartbreaking

I’m not sure why I was so surprised by the depression in this book, but it broke my heart and also made me wanna strangle Hazard. Which is pretty much normal. But that end. Super excited/nervous to see where this series goes!

Great !!!

Loved the mystery. Cliffhanger naughty. Thank you for writing about what happens to our bodies when we have depression.

Glad their story is continuing

I listened to the first Hazard & Somerset series and was excited that the author was going to continue their story. For a quick recap Hazard was a police detective who returned to his hometown and was partnered with his former bully/crush, Somerset. Somerset was a closeted bisexual officer who had a lot of feelings and regrets about his past with Hazard but he was also married with a child. Over the previous series they solved several crimes, took on white supremacists and corrupt cops, and eventually they found themselves single and falling in love. It was a great series but after their last case ended Hazard was forced to leave the department in order to stay with Somerset.

So this story takes place pretty much right after those events. I feel like the books should be read in order, at least in their individual series. You might be able to get away with starting this series with an established couple without reading the first series, but I still recommend that you do. Hazard is not just left jobless after the first book, he also seems to be dealing with some PTSD and a case of depression. The beginning of this story is kind of hard to listen to, not in the way that means you don’t enjoy it, but hearing Hazard explain how many steps it takes him to get from one room to another and how he is “content” to be at home while his boyfriend works. He sits in the dark and loses time until Somerset comes home. There is definitely some angst.

Somerset knows something is wrong but he is reluctant to say anything. I have no real explanation why, but I suspect that in general, men don’t really enjoy talking about feelings. Meanwhile he is stuck learning to work with a new partner and they get a new murder case. The murder involves a professor at the local college that served as a backdrop for several investigations in the previous series, and it looks like it will continue to in this series. Things take a turn when a young man asks Hazard to privately investigate the situation as well. Hazard ends up stepping on Somerset’s feet when his investigations yield more results. A lot of tension develops leading to a blow out fight, and then a long needed discussion about their personal issues.

The mystery is really good and many people seem suspect before it is revealed that there is more going on, and someone is pulling strings behind the scenes. Also, beyond the murder investigation, Hazard receives a mysterious message – “Do you like games?” Young gay men start to disappear and though at first Hazard believes it is part of the murder investigation we learn there might be a serial killer on the loose as well. The investigation delves into anti-fascist protesters that push things to the extreme as well as a renamed white supremacist group from the first series, Bright Lights. I foresee there to be a lot of clashing between the two groups in the future. I think the author definitely makes these books relevant to what is happening in our world the last few years. I am glad the two men were able to work through personal issues to leave things at a happy for now for them and eagerly look forward to how listening to the next book.

Mystery wrapped in an after the HEA MM romance

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review
This is the first book of a new series that is a continuation of the Hazard & Somerset series. There are 6.5 books in the first series. These are Hazard and Somerset’s origin story with an amazing mystery woven into their journey. They have a long and tortured journey to their HFN.

This series is the Not So HFN adventure of their relationship, while they try to solve a series of mysteries, overlapped by a very disturbing ongoing mystery. Gregory Ashe is a wonderful storyteller and writer; I really got wrapped up in this story. He throws in a bunch of red herrings, leaves what I think are clues, and just leaves one wanting more. Although at times the story drags a little as Hazard tries to come to grip with his new life and Somerset is kind of selfish at times IMHO. I also wanted to smack both when they were being particularly dense to the other’s feelings. But that is what makes it so realistic and relatable. Through it all, their love and commitment to each other shines through and I am really invested in how they navigate what promises to be choppy waters in the books ahead.

There are at least 5 more books in the series, 3 are out in audio already. I REALLY hope they will all be made into audiobooks because, OMG Tristan James! He is one of my all-time favorite voice actors. I may or may not have bought audio books just because he is the narrator, who can say. He brings life and love into these men, and all the supporting roles like no other. I can’t wait for the next one.

A rollercoaster of emotions

Another spectacular performance by Tristan James. Hazard ripped my heart out for most of the book, but there is just the right amount of humor to keep it from being overwhelming. I absolutely adore Somers' new partner and the way the narrator performs his voice is epic. The fact that I love him so much has led me to be nervous that he's going to turn out to be a killer in a future book, but that's the price we pay for a Gregory Ashe story!

I'm completely hooked on Hazard and Somers

4.5 stars. And here I was thinking this series would be a little less fraught with angst and pain. How stupid of me. In all seriousness, I may not survive Hazard and Somers. I guess we all have to die sometime though, right? ;)

Hazard and Somers have left the events of their last case behind and moved on. They've bought a house together, Somers is back at the Wahredua PD and Hazard is adjusting to life taking care of the house, and Somers. And relaxing, finally. Except that he isn't. Everything I feared when Ree resigned, and then some, is what happens. And John knows something is wrong but he doesn't know what, and he doesn't know how to fix it.

The beginning of the book is just as dark and wrenching as anything they've gone through before, and maybe even more so. Both guys are struggling. It's pretty clear that Ree is suffering some degree of PTSD from all that happened before and for the first time, John doesn't know what to do. Then both a new partner for John and a new case comes along, and when John brings it home, it's like Ree wakes up and all of a sudden, he's interested. As the case progresses, it becomes clear that somebody is interested in Hazard too.

No matter how bad things do get, one thing that's clear is Ree and John need each other and their connection is more intense and volatile in a way it hasn't been before. And though they absolutely put each other through the wringer this time, by the end *thank God* their relationship feels even stronger. Ree was able to finally trust John with things about himself that he'd held back before and I think they both needed that.

These guys both have so many damn issues, they do & say things the wrong way and sometimes I just want to bang their heads together, see if that won't knock some sense loose. But they both never stop caring, and they always want to do what's right, even when it costs them.

And one of my favorite things? I love how excited Emery Hazard gets about his dry as dust documentaries, and how completely uninterested *but amused* Somers is over it all. <3

The writing every bit as sharp as I've come to expect from Gregory Ashe and the plot is fast paced, tense and compelling as always. I cannot put these stories down and I resent every minute I have to. As a note for the audiobook, I have to give props to Tristan James, who gave perfect voice to Hazard and Somers. He made the story live and breathe for me and I'm really looking forward to seeing where our guys go from here.

Disclaimer: A copy of the audiobook was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Winning duet; Tristan James and Gregory Ashe

I love this series with Somerset and Hazard and read by the outstanding Tristan James a winner!

Beginning of a brilliant series

I started this series at book 2 then did 4 and 5 and am now circling back to 1. Do I recommend the series be read in order? Yes. Can you dive in and enjoy yourself? Also, yes. This series is also a spin-off from a previous one and I haven’t listened to those – but I have plans.

So, on to the actual story. Hazard and Somerset were partners in the Wahredua police department. Hazard left and is at loose ends while Somerset continues on the job, but now with a new partner. Somerset isn’t sold on Gray Dulac, but he’s at least willing to give the younger man a chance. Hazard isn’t pleased at all – he misses his time with Somerset. And now he’s at home with time on his hands. He’s trying to be a good house husband, but it’s tough. The men share custody of their three-year-old daughter with Somerset’s ex-wife and Hazard is protective of the little girl. And of the family they’ve made.

A murder of a college professor brings out many different characters – most of whom hated the man - and a few who wished him ill. Somerset and Dulac are officially on the case while Hazard is hired by a third party to solve the mystery. Then the sheriff’s son and his husband go missing and Hazard’s hands are full. Then there’s the utility sink that needs repair. The symbol of what isn’t working in the Hazard/Somerset relationship.

There are plenty of twists and turns in this book. As the mystery unfolds and the professor’s murder is solved, things shift to the missing men. That resolution will propel the next few books.

I like being challenged as a reader. I don’t read many thrillers, but I’m so glad I’ve picked up this series. I also like the dynamic duo of Hazard and Somerset, although sometimes their treatment of each other made me uncomfortable. But then, life isn’t all chocolates and roses.

Finally, I’ll mention Tristan James. I love his narration style and he nails the two men as well as the myriad of other characters in the series. I look forward to moving on to the next review.