The Two Gentlemen of Altona

Title: The Two Gentlemen of Altona (Playing the Fool #1)
Author: Lisa Henry, J.A. Rock and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: February 11th 2016
Genre(s): M/M Contemporary Mystery/Suspense
Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
Reviewed by: Belen
Heat Level: 1.5 flames out of 5
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Mischief, thou art afoot.

Special Agent Ryan “Mac” McGuinness is having a rough week. Not only is he on a new diet, but he’s also been tasked with keeping Henry Page-the world’s most irritating witness-alive. Which is tough when Mac’s a breath away from killing the Shakespeare-quoting, ethically challenged, egg-obsessed Henry himself. Unless killing isn’t really what Mac wants to do to him.

Con man Henry Page prefers to keep his distance from the law . . . though he wouldn’t mind getting a little closer to uptight, handsome Agent McGuinness. As the sole witness to a mob hit, Henry’s a valuable asset to the FBI. But he’s got his own agenda, and it doesn’t involve testifying.

When evidence surfaces of a mole in the FBI office, Mac and Henry are forced to go into hiding. Holed up in a fishing cabin, they’re surprised to discover that their feelings run more than skin deep. But as the mob closes in, Henry has to make his escape. And Mac has to decide how far he’s willing to go to keep Henry by his side.

Con man meets G-man in this fun, funny, smart, and suspenseful read!

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Nick J. Russo’s narration of this mystery!

As the sole witness to a murder by a mob boss, Henry Page is now the FBI’s best shot at putting the bad guy away. But it’s a little tricky here because Henry isn’t that good a guy himself. Henry isn’t even his real name. See, Henry is a con man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and though he calls in the murder (because hey, he’s not a “bad” guy), he doesn’t intend to stick around for the fall out.

Special Agent Ryan “Mac” McGuinness is the one who has to find Henry, protect him, and ultimately get him to testify, which means getting him to stick around. Which is not Henry’s strong suit. This occurs with hilarious results.

The writing is sharp, smart, funny, and very engaging. The narration is spot on and fantastic with terrific timing and great character voices.

My only complaint is the (what I would call a) “Quantum Leap” ending. The initial story told is finished, but the end jumps to the beginning of a new story thread before coming to a cliffhanger-type ending.

That’s all right, it just makes me hungry for the next story in the series! Now I just have to wait patiently for the audio to come out. *cough, cough*

Highly recommended!

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