Puzzle for Two by Josh Lanyon

If a dime store detective novel mated with a cozy mystery this book might be the offspring – a bit slow to begin with but oh so sweet by the end. I am unsure if this is a one and done or perhaps the beginning of a new series. Either way – a fun way to spend the day.

What I liked:
* Zachariah “Zach” Davies: accountant, private investigator, brother, son, wants to keep his father’s business open, and has high hopes for the future.
* Flint Carey: private investigator, ex-marine, wants to buy the Davies business, might have a yen for Zach, more than meets the eye
* Brooke Davies: Zach’s younger sister, receptionist, has dreams that do not include college, bright and more capable than her brother thinks
* The mystery of who the murderer was and the reason for murder that finally was illuminated
* The creep-factor provided by Alton- the client who hired Zach
* The way the relationship between Flint and Zach developed and the potential they have for the future
* The feel-good ending

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the motivations of some the characters and how amoral they must have been

Did I enjoy this book? Yes, but have enjoyed other books by this author more
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

I absolutely loved this new mystery from my go to author Josh Lanyon. It definitely had all of Josh's strong elements, excellent writing, wonderful plot, and likeable characters. I couldn't put the book down.
The story centers around competing private investigators that get sucked in together to work a case that is baffling the police and putting Zack as a prime suspect Zach has been trying to keep his father's private investigator agency afloat since his untimely death. He was going to be an accountant but realized he'd rather be in the field. Flint, who has a competing agency is trying to buy Zack out. As the mystery deepens and murder occurs, the men work together to find out who is causing all these problems. This was an excellent mystery and a riveting story that I just simply couldn't get enough of. I was so sad to see it end.
I highly recommend this mystery/romance and hope there is a sequel to this awesome couple that is Flint and Zack.
Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy for my reading pleasure.

This was lovely! I devoured "Puzzle for Two" in less than a day. It was gripping and clever and witty, and what I have come to expect from Josh Lanyon's brilliant writing.

These murder mystery standalones she writes are an utter delight: I do love a series, don't get me wrong, but these kinds of stories, quick and twisty with a smidge of romance, are the reason why this genre has become a comfort to me. I absolutely love them, and I absolutely love Josh Lanyon's in particular.

The murder mystery at the centre of this standalone is, at first glance, fairly straightforward; but, as Zach, our fledgling PI, soon discovers, the case the reader is thrown into is anything but simple. Needless to say, I loved it! It was creepy and clever and a bit crazy but I absolutely adored every single aspect.

And I also adored Zach, our lead.
He's a quintessential Josh Lanyon protagonist: he means well and he snoops even better, but he sure is a bit of stubborn idiot at times. Thankfully he has Flint, his rival PI turned love interest, who was an absolute delight of a character. He and Zach have incredible chemistry and I loved their (albeit secondary) romance to bits!!!! It had a bit of enemies to lovers and oblivious pining from afar, and it was packed with banter and affection and ugh, it was just lovely.

The side characters were vividly characterized, from sassy Brooke to toxic Ben and all the slightly unhinged, villainous rich people Zach and Flint's case was centred on.

I had such a fun time with this novel and I highly recommend it.

Prepare to be drawn into a web of intrigue, suspense, and unexpected alliances in "Puzzle for Two" by Josh Lanyon. This suspenseful and mysterious novel will take you on a thrilling journey alongside fledgling private investigator Zachariah Davies as he navigates a complex case that pushes him to his limits.

When wealthy toymaker Alton Beacher hires Zach to pose as his boyfriend and uncover the truth behind the recent attempts on his life, Zach is hesitant but desperate enough to accept the job. As he dives deeper into the investigation, he quickly realizes that things are not what they seem. The strange and bizarre circumstances surrounding the case leave him questioning the motives of everyone involved.

Caught in a tangled web of deception, Zach finds himself with nowhere to turn except to his rival and more experienced private investigator, Flint Carey. Despite their rivalry and Flint's ulterior motives, he cannot resist the call for help from Zach, who is struggling to save his father's detective agency. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey to unravel the truth behind the mysterious events and protect themselves from unseen threats.

Lanyon weaves a suspenseful narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolds. The story is rife with twists, turns, and unexpected alliances, creating an atmosphere of constant suspense and intrigue. Lanyon's ability to build tension and maintain a sense of mystery throughout the novel is commendable, making "Puzzle for Two" a page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

The characters of Zach and Flint are intricately developed, each harboring their own secrets, desires, and motivations. Zach's journey from an inexperienced investigator to a determined seeker of the truth is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for his success. Flint's complex personality adds depth to the story, and his evolving relationship with Zach brings an additional layer of tension and complexity to the narrative.

Lanyon's writing style is engaging and atmospheric, creating a vivid world that will immerse you in the dark underbelly of the investigation. His attention to detail and ability to create a sense of place enhances the overall reading experience, adding depth and authenticity to the story.

If you're looking for a thrilling and unpredictable mystery that will keep you guessing, "Puzzle for Two" is an excellent choice.

Well, well, well. Three Josh Lanyon books in less than six months- I'm not sure if I deserve such happiness. Be that as it may, I found "Puzzle for Two" to be quite good, overall, with a very engaging mystery and some interesting characters in Zach and Flint, two competing private investigators who join forces for a bizarre case.

The mystery itself kept me guessing until the very end but made perfect sense, and I enjoyed how the two men solved the puzzle before them, particularly Zach's insight at the end about a reason for murder. Even with that particular part of the case solved, I found it interesting that there were some unanswered questions about whether Zach and Flint's theory about Alton Beacher's motivations were correct or not. And the two men's attraction to one another felt real, as well, if a bit rushed toward the end of the story.

The main thing that I might mark the book down on would be the character of Ben, Zach's ex-boyfriend. Their interactions didn't really add anything to the story, particularly one over the top scene set in a restaurant. I understand the author was trying to make a point about Zach "settling" for an unhealthy relationship but it seemed to me that it could have been addressed in a more concise manner.

Other than that quibble, though, I found the book highly entertaining, not that that's much of a surprise with Lanyon, one of my favorite mystery writers around now.

**********Thank goodness JL doesn't do the faux angst trope. Decent sleuthing from 2 Dicks & A Dame.***************

This is a standalone from JL, one that it seems was initially written for her subscribers. It’s a tale that could have relied on the done-to-death faux angst trope between rivals to make it work, but I’m glad JL shied away from that. Instead, the leads come together because of a case that has so many bells ringing, that the rookie PI, Zach, would have totally been in above his head had he gone alone and tried to prove his very new creds.
I liked that neither lead felt the need to score points or to take point, and the eventual outcome felt like a natural progression. As to the actual storyline? More herrings than a can of the stuff, and at the end, I still had questions about 2 characters.
So, someone loses their life and there’s a bevy of potential suspects. The person who dies seems to have an issue with the truth, but so do at least 3 other characters, and on top of the whodunnit, there’s the whole issue of what was lie and what was truth in what was told to Zach for him to take the case. At times, I did wonder about his naivety and how he could believe Alton’s antics. One aspect in particular crossed a serious line and I couldn’t see how that wasn’t a deal breaker for Zach. But, there was actual sleuthing and not just from Flint and Zach, but from Zach’s not-so-little little sister, and Zach’s former career helped solve the case.
It wasn’t the deepest, most convoluted read from JL, but at the same time, I enjoyed the slightly more relaxed read.
I’ve come across a review that disses this book and JL. I’m not entirely sure if I should be sticking my 2 pence in, but I think the author of said review has a pretty unique take on it, due to who they are. That’s fine, but similarly, my take is due to who I am - I don’t agree that there’s bi/pan erasure here. I think there’s a particularly nasty individual whose life from college age has been a series of machinations and using people to advance no one but himself, and that he’s hidden his true self, because of $$$. I think that becomes even more clear during one of the reveals towards the end, and with the mention of the contents of said person’s safe. But, each to their own, and peace.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and JustJoshin Publishing, Inc. for my reading pleasure.

It's not a trap if you know it's a trap.

Isn't it? I highly recommend that everyone goes into this book without reading the blurb. Therefore my review will be solely about vibes and impressions and our main character, Zachariah.


It's been a while since I finished a book in one sitting. I think the last time I did was probably 2018. But so compelling was this mystery that I had to stare at my work computer and my e-book and decided to focus on Zachariah's problems instead of mine.

Zachariah is a newly minted private investigator who inherited his father's investigative firm to the objections of everyone. But for Zach, this feels like what the heart wants. And when you feel your heart burning and yearning, you should probably take some antacids and once you've ensured you're not suffering from reflux but conviction, move on with your plans.

The story kicks off with Zach receiving an eccentric job that leads him on a wild goose chase around his state. Car chases, break ins and bush tumbles ensue. And the cat, Mr Bigglesworth steals the show every time he's on page. Zach is running the business with his sister Brooke who is a vivacious gen Z completely alien to Zach's oblivious and sweet heart,

Brooke was an inveterate People magazine reader. She also claimed to be Army, whatever the hell that was, and seemed to communicate with her comrades almost solely through hashtags and gifs. Which was just one reason why Zach was secretly dubious about Pop's plans for her to become a human-resources manager. He wasn't convinced she as entirely human. Surely somewhere in outer space an alien civilization was scouring the volcanic plans for one of their Army?

Josh can still make me bust a lung.

One thing I really really loved about this book is that it harkened back to the old detective stories where sleuthing was the name of the game. There are also Lanyonisms like eccentric neighbours, emotional angst, comedic hijinks and a final showdown that took place over multiple pages... Everything I had hoped for. This book is a great puzzle for one. I had the murderer pegged wrong until Zach and his sleuthing partners figured it out. If you heed one thing, please go into this book completely unaware.

This book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.