Cards on the Table

By: Josh Lanyon

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Fifty years ago, a glamorous Hollywood party ended in murder - the only clue a bloody Tarot card. Timothy North is trying to find out what happened that long ago summer's night, but when a Tarot card turns up pinned to his front door, the only person Tim can turn to for help is his ex-lover, Detective Jack Brady.

Note: This novella contains scenes of gay erotic content.

©2011 JustJoshin Publishing, Inc (P)2014 JustJoshin Publishing, Inc

Another great read!

I love that all Joshes protagonist are all relatable and not perfect. They're guys I can relate to.
He always keeps us guessing and always keeps my attention!

Great mystery, romance - historical & contemporary

Audiobook Review September 2019:
I still absolutely love the blending of historical, mystery, and contemporary romance in this Josh Lanyon novella. Course, I still want to smack Tim and Jack's heads together a couple of times with their lack of communication but you have to have drama somewhere right? Sean Crisden's narration is pretty spot on and adds a kindof noir flare to this blended contemporary mystery. Now I can enjoy re-visiting Cards on the Table in both ebook and audio for years to come.

Re-Read Review August 2016:
Here's another one I read first back in 2014 but never wrote a review for(who knows why). So, I gave it another re-read and guess what? I still love it! It's a wonderful blend of historical mystery and contemporary romance. Sometimes truths just need to come out even 50 years later. The dynamic between Tim and Jack is wonderful, fun, and a bit heartbreaking at times even if the heartbreaking part is really of their own doing due to lack of communication. Awesome novella that may have been better had it been longer but for this reader it was pretty darn spot on.

Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon

Would you listen to Cards on the Table again? Why?

Yes, I already have listened to it a couple of times. It is one of my favorite short stories by Josh Lanyon. I really enjoy his work, and I think this is one of his best.

What did you like best about this story?

There are really two things. First is the mystery and how it gets solved and the second is the relationship.

What does Sean Crisden bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Yes, I think it does. I am partial to audio books over reading but I have read this book so many times I have practically memorized it. Hearing it in audio is really a treat.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh and feel sad at certain points. However, the fact that there is always hope that makes the book fun and interesting.

Any additional comments?

Josh Lanyon is one of my favorite authors so I am very biased about his work, that said, I really did enjoy this book in the audio format.

Another hit by Lanyon!!!

I am beginning to think that Josh Lanyon can do no wrong. I'm not kidding. I love EVERYTHING he writes. How the hell is that possible? While I ponder that one, I will continue with my review.

We meet Tim, who's an author writing about a Hollywood star's 50 year old murder mystery. It's clear that someone, somewhere, isn't too keen on Tim completing his story. But while we're engrossed in the mystery of who killed the starlet, and the more recent mystery of who wants to shut Tim up, we're also trying to figure out what issue plagues Tim. It's clear that there's chemistry between Det. Jack and Tim, so why aren't they getting their 'love' on.
Well, I won't spoil it for you, but I do have to say that once we're told, it made me question how I would have reacted to being faced with such a situation. Both Tim and Jack were likable characters, and I have a thing with all of Lanyon's 'flawed' characters (ie. Adrien English), so I was Team Tim from the get-go. This is an entertaining, short read.

Vintage Lanyon

Any additional comments?

A nice tight little mystery about a 50-year old Hollywood cold case. In addition to delighting in some very colorful secondary characters, I loved both main characters. Especially Tim, a writer whose perception of his own limitations almost hold him back from a meaningful connection with his policeman neighbor Jack. This would have been all the better had it been a full-length novel. It certainly had the foundation for "more". Lanyon's wonderful shorts always end too soon. The fabulous Sean Crisden narrated. Highly recommended.