In From the Cold: The I Spy Stories

I Spy Something, Volume 1

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Alexander J. Masters

I Spy Something Bloody

Espionage was always a game, but now British spy Mark Hardwicke wants to retire and settle down with ex-lover Dr. Stephen Thorpe - if Stephen will have him.

Unfortunately, Stephen has other plans - and so do the terrorists who want Mark dead.

I Spy Something Wicked

It's All Hallow's Eve and Mark Hardwicke's past has come back to haunt him. The Old Man needs Mark to go on one last mission to the wild, lonely hills of Afghanistan - a mission Mark knows he can't survive. Even if he does make it back, Stephen has made it very clear Mark is out of second chances. Should Mark place his lover and his own happiness before duty undefined?

I Spy Something Christmas

Nothing says Christmas like a bullet with your name on it. Mark is used to death and danger. Stephen will never be okay with violence - or Mark's attitude toward it. Like the holidays weren't tough enough on a romance.

©2013 Josh Lanyon (P)2013 Josh Lanyon

Very satisfying listen

Alexander J. Masters does a very nice job of narrating.
His interpretation of Mark starts by portraying the lack of emotion one would expect from a spy dealing in lies, then shows Mark's psychological healing by bringing emotion into Mark's voice.
Josh Lanyon's characters are never flat, they make tough decisions in a realistic fashion.
I preferred listening to this collection rather than reading them.
Highly recommended.

A Keeper!

This collection of I Spy stories, In From The Cold has been in my audio library wishlist for a few years and thank goodness I rediscovered it. This is a classic Josh Lanyon mm romantic story told through the eyes of an emotionally and physically traumatized British spy. Mark is a young man in years but old in the ways of war, lies, and betrayal. His experience as a spy almost cripple his ability to trust and love without fear of loss or abandonment. Mark regrets leaving Steven behind 10 years ago when Mark went on “one more” mission for the British government, a mission that led to more and ultimately almost to the end of a possible romantic relationship with Steven.
The narrator is marvelous! Perfect nuances for the myriad of conversations and inner dialogues. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoy this genre.

a little slow, but a fun guilty indulgence

There was something off about the pacing in this book- well, it's partially that it's not actually a book, but rather a series of short stories. Still, the narrator's slow, slow, slow drawl, the long and thoughtful pauses, the flashbacks, the exposition re-hashing things that were covered in the previous short... I found it hard to stay interested in what should have been a much more compelling story.

Now for the good; MAN OH MAN is this fun, when it's at the good parts. An emotionally indulgent love story that actually made my eyes burn in sympathy for the poor hero, maybe lacking little nuance yeah but WHATEVER this is basically porn! I really liked both main characters and the dynamic between them was hot and fun and I'm going to look for more by this author for sure.

I Spy series by Josh Lanyon

Mark is a loner, a cold British intelligence operative who longs to retire but struggles with loyalties to his boss mentor. Stephen is a small town doctor, the last of several generations of southern small town gentry.
This is a series of short stories progressing the arc of Marks journey to break free from his old life, and start anew with older established Stephen. Marks past continually comes back to cause drama and complications.
I did enjoy this short book, because Josh Lanyon always turns out a good story, but its not my favorite. I found Mark to be a hard character to like, his iceberg personality never really thawed, and his repeated discision to keep information from Stephen to protect got annoying, not sympathetic.
Still a nice short listen.
Loved narrator Alexander Masters performance. Characters voices were different and distinguishable. Well done.

I spy something... beautiful

Three stories involving an English spy and an American doctor. Really interesting and emotionally deep. Strong thinking about life, love and what being in a relationship involves. The narration by Alexander Masters is perfect.

Short but sweet!

It's not what I expected, I don't usually like short story's but I love the way they put it together,
And the narrator did the accents!

Well-done, not fully engaging for me

I wish to first note the wonderful performance by Alexander Masters, whose British voice perfectly fit the narrator. Josh Lanyon also did a very good job using British turns of phrase where appropriate, to further delineate the main character.

The story and romance are fine, and standard for Josh Lanyon who normally delivers quality writing.

I did find the main character difficult to care for, especially in contrast to the more endearing love interest. I found it hard to understand what had driven the characters together in the first place, and made them willing to rekindle a relationship.

Overall, while not a stand-out, it is a recommended read for those who enjoy the genre or the author.

A warm cup of coffee by the fire

This is a collection of the first three I Spy novellas. It was really a pleasure. The narrator was great as well as the stories;but be warned they are short. I'm glad Mr. Lanyon put them in one collection, otherwise it would not be worth a credit.. The romance between Mark and Stephen was sweet and they have some adventures, but it is mostly about them rekindling their relationship after a two year absence by Mark. I really liked that Mark (the younger of the two) actively pursues Stephen (who is 50). In the age of youth, it was a very pleasant change. I look forward to a continuation of the series, although I will buy as this type of anthology due to the length of the stories. As a anthology, worth a credit.

Perfect accents

What did you like about this audiobook?

The accents brought out the characters so well. I've read this book twice before and enjoyed it again, maybe more this time.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

Josh Lanyon has a way of adding romance, suspense and mystery together to make beautiful stories that are so much more than so many others out there. Jordan Castillo Price is the only other author I think that compares.

Do you have any additional comments?

Listen to this or any of Josh Lanyon's stories and you won't be disappointed.

Perfect! suspenseful and romantic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this audiobook. The story is so good - suspenseful and romantic, it's about decisions and fears and how they can affect someone's life, and you feel everything right along with the characters. Plus, the narration is one of the best i've heard, it really enhances how one experiences this story.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The two main characters are both favorites for different reasons, so since i cannot choose between them, I'll go with one of the secondary characters, namely Lena, the housekeeper. She's kind and sensitive and tough and observant. She knows how to pick her battles, she's fiercely protective, and she's willing to set aside her personal likes and dislikes so that someone else's happiness may prevail. I just love her.

Which character – as performed by Alexander J. Masters – was your favorite?

Mark, by far. Alexander does a superb job of bringing to light every nuance of this very complex character. I've never heard such a good rendition of character in an audiobook before.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh yes. I couldn't put it down when i read it, and i didn't want to stop listening once i started either. Very engaging.

Any additional comments?

I really liked how the flashbacks were done narration- and sound-wise. So cool.