Red Fish, Dead Fish by Amy Lane Audiobook Review

They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.

Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.

Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.

Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.

Length: 11 hrs, 48 mins
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Book 2
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Audible US  ~  iTunes

Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m currently kicking myself for not listening to Red Fish, Dead Fish sooner. Honestly, with as much as I loved Fish out of Water, I’m still uncertain as to how it took me so long to cue up its sequel. Between the continuation of Jackson and Ellery’s story and Greg Tremblay back as narrator, it boggles my mind. I can only assume that I was subconsciously worried – needlessly and unnecessarily – that I wouldn’t love book two as much as I loved book one. How utterly silly of me.

Picking up two months after the end of book one, Red Fish, Dead Fish has Jackson just getting back to work… well, chomping at the bit to get back to work full-time after his part-time return didn’t go as well as planned (and thanks for the bonus chapter that showed just how that went down). On par with the aggressively independent man we met in Fish out of Water, Jackson is bordering on resentful that those close to him are trying to keep him from doing for himself. Ellery, Jade, and Mike walk a fine line trying to support Jackson while trying to keep him from overdoing it and ending up back in the hospital, AGAIN! Good intentions be damned, Jackson Rivers has a home still being renovated, meth dealers to roust from said home, and a serial killer to catch, and he’s going to do it all or die trying. Unfortunately for all involved, dying trying isn’t off the table. While Jackson might be sharing some of Billy Bob’s nine lives, there are some situations when even a tomcat can’t land on his feet. And that’s exactly what has Ellery so scared. I have to say that Lane did a fabulous job of keeping Ellery and Jackson true to the characters we met in book one. While there is definitely some character growth in Jackson, it occurs in kicks and starts, stunted just like the man; and the level of emotional and physical trauma Jackson endures this time around just adds to the complications and obstacles he has to overcome. Jackson’s sense of recklessness comes off like a bit of a death wish, but it’s the objective observation of Ellery’s mother that makes it easier to understand why Jackson seems so out of control – and had me nearly crying for the little boy Jackson once was. If it weren’t for the fact that Ellery is as stubborn as Jackson is reckless, I don’t know that the showdown with the serial killer would have felt nearly as believable, but it was absolutely perfect for my favorite crime-fighting couple. And the threat to Taylor’s client… WOW! The fact that I get to dive right into the next book is the only thing that makes my waiting to listen to Red Fish, Dead Fish worth it.

It’s no secret that Greg Tremblay is my favorite narrator, so there’s not a lot I haven’t already said about his talent in my previous reviews. What was new for me was just how CREEPY he was able to make the serial killer’s voice. I love the amount of emotion he taps into when narrating Ellery and Jackson, but the whiplash level of crazy that Owens displayed was superbly done. I can’t forget the damaged vocal cords voice of Tess Dakin because that had to hurt to perform, but it was an excellent touch. And I love the way he’s able to capture Taylor’s cool aloofness and warm amusement – the woman is a bit of a contradiction at times and Tremblay conveys that so well. The accompanying stories were a delight because I’ve recently read Racing for the Sun and was amazed by the voices Tremblay created for Ace, Sonny, Jai, and Alba. It was such a treat that left me grinning and even more enamored with his narration. Being as I don’t have to say goodbye yet, I’m off to listen to A Few Good Fish.

Also Available in the Fish out of Water Series

Book 1
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Audible US  ~  iTunes

Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Fish out of Water Audiobook Review post.

AMY LANE is a mother of two college students, two grade-schoolers, and two small dogs. She is also a compulsive knitter who writes because she can’t silence the voices in her head. She adores fur-babies, knitting socks, and hawt menz, and she dislikes moths, cat boxes, and knuckle-headed macspazzmatrons. She is rarely found cooking, cleaning, or doing domestic chores, but she has been known to knit up an emergency hat/blanket/pair of socks for any occasion whatsoever, or sometimes for no reason at all. Her award-winning writing has three flavors: twisty-purple alternative universe, angsty-orange contemporary, and sunshine-yellow happy. By necessity, she has learned to type like the wind. She’s been married for twenty-plus years to her beloved Mate and still believes in Twu Wuv, with a capital Twu and a capital Wuv, and she doesn’t see any reason at all for that to change.

Connect with Amy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Amy Lane Anonymous Facebook Group

Trained in vocal and stage performance, Greg Tremblay brings a passion for storytelling to every aspect of his life and work.

Critically-recognized and listener-beloved, Greg’s work has been praised by Audiofile Magazine’s “Earphone” award, numerous blogs, and is the recipient of the Goodreads Reader’s Choice award for Best Narrator – 2016 in M/M Romance.

Greg also maintains a curated collection of uniquely and delightfully spicy boudoir treats branded under the “Greg Boudreaux” narration name.

Connect with Greg

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Red Fish, Dead Fish (Fish out of Water #2) by Amy Lane, narrated by Greg Tremblay to read or listen to and review.

Red Fish, Dead Fish by Amy Lane

They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.

Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.

Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.

Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

The second of Amy Lane’s new mystery series has Jackson and Ellery hunting a serial killer in Sacramento. This time, the two are attempting a romantic relationship but the street rat PI and the elegant lawyer have a few things to work through before they can ever work as a couple.

I made the mistake of reading this book without reading Fish out of Water first and I really struggled to get into this story – there isn’t much recap at the start of this book so readers really need to read these books in order.

Both Jackson and Ellery are complicated, interesting characters who continue to develop in this second book. Their family and friends are engaging and watching this new couple attempt to mesh their very different family and friend groups is entertaining.

I enjoyed the crime solving action in this book but I had a few reservations. I love Amy Lane’s emotional, high angst romance writing but I’m not sure it works well in this format. I really wasn’t convinced that the hardened PI and the shark-like lawyer would be crippled by emo angst at various points in a terrifying hunt for a serial killer. The relationship angst slows down the action and weakens both characters.

The pacing of this story also confused me. The crime is solved at 70% and the rest of the story is relationship drama. When Ellery’s mum visits, we even get one of Amy Lane’s super-mums providing acceptance and nurture to the injured men. This familiar device works well in new adult writing like the Candy Man series, but it doesn’t really work for proper grown up men who have just saved the city from a serial killer.

I’m conflicted about this story. I’ll probably go back and read the first book but I’m not sure if I’ll stick with the series. I think I need less romantic angst in my crime stories and I might need a little less gore in my angsty romances.

Also Available in the Fish out of Water Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Amazon Audiobook  ~  Audible  ~  Dreamspinner Press

For reviews & more info, check out our Fish out of Water post.

AMY LANE is a mother of two college students, two grade-schoolers, and two small dogs. She is also a compulsive knitter who writes because she can’t silence the voices in her head. She adores fur-babies, knitting socks, and hawt menz, and she dislikes moths, cat boxes, and knuckle-headed macspazzmatrons. She is rarely found cooking, cleaning, or doing domestic chores, but she has been known to knit up an emergency hat/blanket/pair of socks for any occasion whatsoever, or sometimes for no reason at all. Her award-winning writing has three flavors: twisty-purple alternative universe, angsty-orange contemporary, and sunshine-yellow happy. By necessity, she has learned to type like the wind. She’s been married for twenty-plus years to her beloved Mate and still believes in Twu Wuv, with a capital Twu and a capital Wuv, and she doesn’t see any reason at all for that to change.

Connect with Amy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Red Fish, Dead Fish (Fish out of Water #2) by Amy Lane to read and review.

Fish out of Water by Amy Lane Audiobook Review

PI Jackson Rivers grew up on the mean streets of Del Paso Heights—and he doesn’t trust cops, even though he was one. When the man he thinks of as his brother is accused of killing a police officer in an obviously doctored crime, Jackson will move heaven and earth to keep Kaden and his family safe.

Defense attorney Ellery Cramer grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, but that hasn’t stopped him from crushing on street-smart, swaggering Jackson Rivers for the past six years. But when Jackson asks for his help defending Kaden Cameron, Ellery is out of his depth—and not just with guarded, prickly Jackson. Kaden wasn’t just framed, he was framed by crooked cops, and the conspiracy goes higher than Ellery dares reach—and deep into Jackson’s troubled past.

Both men are soon enmeshed in the mystery of who killed the cop in the minimart, and engaged in a race against time to clear Kaden’s name. But when the mystery is solved and the bullets stop flying, they’ll have to deal with their personal complications… and an attraction that’s spiraled out of control.

Length: 9 hrs, 20 mins
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Amazon Audiobook  ~  Audible  ~  Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I. Love. Jackson Rivers and Ellery Cramer. This is due to both Lane’s crafting of the characters and Tremblay’s ability to give them such distinct personalities through his performance. I also want to add that I thought the narrator did a wonderful job with the voices of young Jackson and Kaden, and Jade’s voice as well. One of the reasons I stick to M/M audiobooks is that I have a difficult time listening to sex scenes when the narrator is performing the character of the opposite sex – it doesn’t matter if the narrator is male or female, it just throws me. With Jade playing such a large role in the book, I was tickled pink that Tremblay performed her character so convincingly and it just goes to reinforce what I already knew – Greg Tremblay’s vocal talents are superb.

Now back to Jackson and Ellery. Theirs is a case of opposites attract as no one in either man’s life would ever pair them up. They come from two different worlds and appear to have very little in common, hence the book’s title. While the chemistry between them is palpable (and hawt), I enjoyed how the author brought them together gradually. Even when they finally wound up in bed together, there were no immediate vows of love. On the contrary, those vows were avoided and danced around until both men were comfortable with where the relationship was headed – and to be honest, I’m not 100% sure either man actually said the words. I should note that the book is written in such a way that even though the events progress quickly, as does their relationship, Lane avoids the insta-love feel. There is a history between Jackson and Ellery which makes it obvious that their coming together was a long time in the making, and that history added to the intensity of the investigation gives the progression of their relationship a more organic feel. I loved how Lane cajoled her characters to open up to one another, giving each man the chance to see behind the professional facade they each maintain, making them more relatable and realistic. I also loved just how unapologetically bisexual Jackson was and that Ellery never once questioned it or fretted about him not being enough for Jackson. As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve said practically nothing about the criminal investigation that the book centers around and that’s because I don’t want to spoil it for you. You have to read it for yourself because… um… WOW! I’ll just say that it’s the kind of police corruption you pray only occurs in fiction.

I am making a slight distinction regarding the rating for Fish out of Water because had I read this rather than listening to the audiobook, I’m not convinced it would have received five stars. Amy Lane is still a relatively new author for me because despite her large body of works, I’ve only read the books she’s written for the Bluewater Bay series, with each earning five stars. Fish out of Water has an entirely different feel to it and it’s one I enjoyed immensely. I’m a fan of romantic suspense novels and this had almost everything I look for – lots of action, heroes determined to take down the bad guys, believable steamy scenes that left me squirming, and romance. With that said, there is an element that was missing – the full resolution of the crime or an indication that there will be a sequel (or two), in which the bad guys will get their due. This lack of closure is one of the very few realistic elements I don’t enjoy in my fiction, but that’s on me. EDITED TO ADD: Since initially writing my review, I have learned that a sequel is scheduled for release (YAY!!!) and that makes Fish out of Water a solid 5-star read. I cannot wait to spend more time with Jackson and Ellery. And Billy!

AMY LANE is a mother of two college students, two grade-schoolers, and two small dogs. She is also a compulsive knitter who writes because she can’t silence the voices in her head. She adores fur-babies, knitting socks, and hawt menz, and she dislikes moths, cat boxes, and knuckle-headed macspazzmatrons. She is rarely found cooking, cleaning, or doing domestic chores, but she has been known to knit up an emergency hat/blanket/pair of socks for any occasion whatsoever, or sometimes for no reason at all. Her award-winning writing has three flavors: twisty-purple alternative universe, angsty-orange contemporary, and sunshine-yellow happy. By necessity, she has learned to type like the wind. She’s been married for twenty-plus years to her beloved Mate and still believes in Twu Wuv, with a capital Twu and a capital Wuv, and she doesn’t see any reason at all for that to change.

Connect with Amy

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Fish out of Water (Fish out of Water #1) by Amy Lane, narrated by Greg Tremblay to listen to and review.