Is this the end?

If this is the end we have a fitting finale.
Gregory Ashe is great storyteller who does not shield you from the truth and in Tristan James he has found the perfect narrator to take Hazard and Somerset to a kind of peace.
I have enjoyed this series but it is not a series for the fainthearted.

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I've said it before ...

I've read these books several times and I still get carried away with them. Now that I'm listening instead of reading them I'm enjoying them even more. The narrator is great.

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Hazard & Somerset Series 1 End

This book (and the whole series but this book in particular) gave me so much anxiety. I loved every minute of it.

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A fitting finale

Shocking, violent, complex, and searingly emotional, this instalment needs all its extra hours to chase down every loose thread. It's a rollercoaster that whips along the tracks at quite some speed, carrying the reader along with it. Violence jostles with tenderness, loyalty, the past, determination, and Hazard's powers of logic. At times, it can be a hard listen. Persevere though, and you will be rewarded.

The relationship between Hazard and Somers is as complex as ever. Satisfyingly so. Frustratingly so. It is the hook that keeps drawing me into these novels.

Tristan James is Hazard. Also Somers of course, but particularly Hazard.

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Good story

The concept is interesting and well written. The characters are likeable and the narration is good.

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Didn't want it to end....

Knowing this would possibly be the final book for Hazard & Somers, I was dreading the end. The guys are really tested personally & professionally as secrets from the past come to light. Not for the first time, I found myself wondering why either man wants to even to live in that helltown. Anyway, I feel like this book ties up some loose ends and answer some questions I had about events and people from their past. It's hard to talk about without spoiling, so I'll just say there are awful characters who get what they deserve and some surprising revelations. I can't decide if this one is actually a little more violent than the previous books or if it just seems that way because so much of it is aimed at H&S this time (the fingernails! omg!). Although I can't say I'm happy that the series is over, I am happy with the ending itself. Hazard's vision for their future was sweet and hopeful and I'm just hoping the author will give us a 5 years later epilogue or something one day.

Tristan James does an amazing job as usual. I don't always love the voices he chooses to give side characters, but it doesn't take away from my listening enjoyment or anything. I do love how consistent he is throughout the entire series with his voices for Hazard & Somers. this book is almost 19 hours long and I didn't get bored or tired of hearing his voice so obviously I have to give 5 stars for narration.

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superb

I am totally enamoured by this series.
I love the interplay between Hazard and Somers

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OMG - it's finished!

I am heartbroken that we have come to the end of the series (for the moment!) I have so loved the full series. I think you need to read ALL the books to 'get' Hazard and Somerset. You can't start half way through (but then - why would you!) The whole series shows their development (literal enemies to friends to lovers)

The final book was excellent as always with Gregory Ashe doing an amazing job in tying up all the loose ends (with some surprises!) . No spoilers I am afraid. It was a bit darker then the others in the series and the middle did drag a little (although that didn't bother me too much)

Tristan continued his great work with the characters. Loved the characterisations. Really brought it alive. One of my fav narrators

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Best series I've read in a long time

I love this series and look forward to the next book, which is coming out at the end of Nov 19. Really looking forward to seeing how Hazard and Somers navigate their relationship now that Hazard has made the decision he did at the end of this book (no spoilers).

I did balk at the horror show that was effectively the last quarter of this book, hence the four instead of five stars I wanted to give the whole series. How many injuries do you expect your MCs to sustain, Mr Ashe before they effectively turn into gibbering wrecks!? Hazard turns up in the hospital at the end of every book like it's a right of passage (bit like the Hogwarts Express home each academic year!). Somers is right there sharing the same hospital room this time, instead of sitting keeping watch. I certainly won't be visiting the US Mid West anytime soon as half of a same sex couple. Even with writers licence, there is a lot of insight into the civil factions represented in this series.

All that said, I enjoyed the writing style and laughed out loud at the banter between the two MCs, or rather Somers' banter and Hazard's harrumphing grumpy responses. Quite masterful! The plot was complicated at times but kept my mind working all through the books, and the tangled relationship of the MCs just added to the angst and mystery of the sub-plots.

I did find the slow-burn of the earlier books frustrating but considering the short time that was covered by all six books, I felt that was justified in the end. I also liked the fact that each book centred around a significant date, and covered only a few days around it, making each case fast paced to counter act the personal relationship going on in parallel.

Just started the Off Duty book on kindleunlimited, LOL moments there with this collection of connected short stories. I would be looking at Shaw and North series on audio if it weren't for the new narrator, perhaps I'll try them with Kindle instead. A real shame Tristan James isn't doing those books also, he is an excellent voice for Hazard and Somers, I've listened to him before, and would highly recommend his style. Mr James' distinct individual voices kept me going when I was at my most frustrated with Ree and John Henry, (and Nico - eye roll - so immature). Many thanks for keeping me going, it was well worth finishing this series.

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Not sure I'll be able to finish this one

The narrator keeps struggling to remember which character he's supposed to be, and for all that the author keeps stating that Hazard is smart, analytical etc. all the character actually does is get emotional, act irrationally, yell at everyone and make violent threats at his partner, Somers. Ugh, show, don't tell. And no, it doesn't help that the author attempts to acknowledge that side of Hazard through the rare criticisms he gets from Somers, when the there's never any character progression. If only the narrator had included an ounce of humour maybe it wouldn't be quite so grating, but instead the whole series just reads as a very long-winded contradiction with way too much monologue and repetition.

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