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.

Gotta spend money

Wow. so not what I had expected. love it. now I gotta get ALL of the books.

It's Gregory Ashe, therefore, I love it!

Did you thought that everything was fine when you finished '[book:Criminal Past|41103639]'? You (as I) were wrong :(

Damn! This is probably the best book of these two, but it's so hard to read! Hazard's reaction to the changes in his life are logical, realistic, even expected, and yet... it's so difficult to see him that way. It's raw, heartbreaking, an emotional rollercoaster that got me glued to the story until the end, because, OMG! Ree is in a very dark place in this book, and Somers is at lost at how to help him when his partner refuses to open up to him. It's so brilliantly portrayed! <blockquote>“I can’t do this again. I love you. I love you so much that I think it might kill me. Jesus Christ, I didn’t even know I could feel this way. But I can’t do this again. Not the silence. Not the darkness. Not you going away to someplace I can’t reach you. Not knowing—” Somers cut off, choking on the words, but the images in his head were enough: knives, rope, the rat poison in the cabinet in the garage. “I can’t.”</blockquote> *tears her hair* Ashe's writing is simply magnificent.

Somers has a new partner, Gray, which I can't help to see as an eager, overgrown Labrador puppy :P And I love Hazard's reaction to him. And he might be a little jealous, too *laughs*

This book opens a new arc, which is something I love in all Gregory Ashe's series. Yes, each book has the main story closed at the end, but there is also a bigger story going on. The case in this one is, as always, very twisty and intricate. And it's wonderful that Hazard and Somers get to work the case together for the most part, although not without some hitches and problems. And this working together is used to, again, bring to the front the insecurities and flaws of the characters. The writing is utterly honest, and none is spared of this clarity. Nobody is perfect and falling in love is not the cure to all ails. and I love this. I love it.

But I was talking about the plot, wasn't I? Sorry! We again have the 'Ozark Volunteers' in the background, now revamped in 'Bright Lights' which are a less aggressive version of them and might or might not be involved in the case. We have a shady professor at the local college who gets killed in front of at least a couple of dozens of witnesses, but hardly anyone saw a thing. And the ones who did see something are, strangely, the ones with a motive to want him dead. Then, Ree's first client and the sheriff’s son and his husband go missing. There is a lot going on, and John-Henry's colleagues not liking having Hazard working the case by his own, which creates him a lot of troubles. The resolution of the murder is surprising, but, as always, very well-done, although there is still a vicious killer on the loose.

But the ending in regards Hazard and Somers is... wait, wair for it... sweet! I know, I know there is a lot more of pain coming, because is Gregory Ashe, and, therefore, I'll take my comfort whenever I can, so I choose to swoon a bit at that ending :P

So, yes. another fantastic book, a new favourite series, and thanks god is not long until January 31st because I NEED the next book!

Tristan James does an awesome job with the narration, as always :)

love this so much

where can I start from the beginning oh how I am falling in love with these two men I'm fixing to get the second book I wish this series never ended and the narrator oh my god I love Tristan James

Really enjoyable

4.5 stars!

Ok now we're getting somewhere. Really appreciated seeing the depression arc throughout this, and the utter feeling of emptiness and not knowing how to exist- a mooood. Also, I love that they have found adult friends with kiddos that are outside of the normal folks in the last series. There's some growth going on, emotional vulnerability, and working through the trauma that was the H&S series of endless concussions, st*bbings, and sh**tings. Go relax and hand out candy at a trunk or treat in the neighborhood.

The angle of someone obsessed with Hazard and going on a k*lling spree is an arc I'm curious to read more on and see how they capture them and their motive. I already have my guess of who this person is.

Also very much am glad that I did read the OG series of Hazard & Somers to understand the emotional connection and how hard it is for each MC to not self-sabotage or lash out at the other during conflict or stress. I also like all the check ins they have and am loving the emphasis on their emotional and intimate relationship, and less on their sexual relationship. We know that's working right, show us the demons.

The writing has also improved a lot, and while I'm glad the same narrator is continuing with the series, there are unfortunate some background sounds that didn't get edited out, and randomly it sounds like someone is walking around upstairs, and I thought I had a ghost in my house, lol.