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Memento Mori #4
Hudson River Homicides
The Cold Case Squad has a problem: Someone won’t stop taunting Detective Everett Larkin. He’s been able to apprehend some of the worst criminals to ever stalk the streets of New York City, thanks in great part to forensic artist and boyfriend, Ira Doyle, but after their last case, events have taken a turn for the worse.
A body recovered from the Hudson River bears a message addressed to Larkin and another token from Victorian mourning culture. As nineteenth-century hair jewelry leads Larkin deeper into the growing tangle of interconnected crimes, it becomes evident that solving these mysteries will come at a profound cost. To be a good detective, Larkin will have to endure sleepless nights—lest the sender act on their threat against his partner—as well as put his relationship on the line when clues lead in the direction of Doyle’s past.
What began as a game of cat and mouse has turned into a fight for love and life itself.
A body recovered from the Hudson River bears a message addressed to Larkin and another token from Victorian mourning culture. As nineteenth-century hair jewelry leads Larkin deeper into the growing tangle of interconnected crimes, it becomes evident that solving these mysteries will come at a profound cost. To be a good detective, Larkin will have to endure sleepless nights—lest the sender act on their threat against his partner—as well as put his relationship on the line when clues lead in the direction of Doyle’s past.
What began as a game of cat and mouse has turned into a fight for love and life itself.
ebook
First published July 31, 2025
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About the author
C.S. Poe
40 books1,225 followersC.S. Poe is an author of gay mystery, romance, and speculative fiction. She’s a winner of the Next Generation and e-Lit book awards, as well as a finalist of the Lambda Literary award.
She resides in New York City and is a Gilded Age New York historian and board director for the Victorian Society of New York. She loves Romanticism artwork, the films of Buster Keaton, coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, true crime, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.
C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.
Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.
cspoe.com
She resides in New York City and is a Gilded Age New York historian and board director for the Victorian Society of New York. She loves Romanticism artwork, the films of Buster Keaton, coffee in the morning and whiskey in the evening, true crime, and cats. She’s rescued two cats—Milo and Kasper do their best to distract her from work on a daily basis.
C.S. is an alumna of the School of Visual Arts.
Her debut novel, The Mystery of Nevermore, was published 2016.
cspoe.com
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August 20, 2025Buy Links:
Ebook and Paperback
coming soon... audio narrated by Kale Williams, 12/2025 - 01/2026
coming soon... Italian edition with Quixote Edizioni and French edition with Juno Publishing
Ebook and Paperback
coming soon... audio narrated by Kale Williams, 12/2025 - 01/2026
coming soon... Italian edition with Quixote Edizioni and French edition with Juno Publishing
July 27, 2025
Oh, so Larkin really is just going to be out here absolutely FUCKING RUINING MY PERCEPTION OF LOVE? AND RESETTING THE BAR/THE STANDARD OF WHAT IT SHOULD FEEL LIKE TO BE LOVED??????
Because the way he talks about Doyle is.... like.... "I would recognize him by touch alone" and "He is half of my soul, as the poets say" but in a modern day setting equivalent?
R U KIDDING ME??
Larking setting the bar WAAYYYYY TOO HIGH!
Every human deserves to be spoken about, the way Larkin speaks of & utterly admires Doyle in his inner monologues.
And EVERY HUMAN DESERVES TO BE SEEN. The EXACT WAY that Doyle see's Larkin.... Every 👏 damn 👏 broken 👏 piece 👏
"There you are"
OH....... To be seen by Ira Doyle is to be known, and to be known is to be complete 💖
I fear I should mention:
NO ONE is more upset or shocked than me, that I've taken one star off my expected rating...
Yes, 4 stars is still amazing, but I have alot of feelings.
And 90% of them are FERAL. Absolute UNFILTERED FERAL FEELINGS.
Because that's minimum that Larkin and Doyle deserve.
But I also have to be brave, and stick to the fact that I am always honest in my reviews and feelings, and I felt a CONSIDERATE let down in the 2 complete sections of this book, that ultimately skewered my experience and my hopelessly devoted beyond necessary feelings that I have for this series..
Without spoiling, I fear I will not be alone in this disappointment, and just know my inbox is always open for all who need to scream, cry, vent, take deeps breaths together, throw up, whatever because this book felt like... different, and in some ways, that was not good thing.
(ACTUALLY IM BACK TO ADD, I AM DEVASTATED TBH. I'm trying to be positive and kind but HOLY FUCK I AM SO DISTAUGHT, SOMEONE HOLD ME)
This 1 star less than perfection, DOES NOT NEGATE THAT THIS SERIES IS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING PHENOMENAL.
You can feel that CS Poe, has put heart, soul, sweat, blood and tears into the creation of every FUCKING SECOND of this masterpiece, and I'm still processing all my feelings.
IF YOU LISTENED ON AUDIO, WAIT FOR THE AUDIO. 🙏 I feel this will translate better as audio.
IF IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN LIKE.... 2 WEEKS SINCE YOU READ BOOK 3, RE-READ BEFORE YOU DO 4 because there is sooooooo much call back to book 3 characters that you'll be having a confusing time if you aren't good at remembering things like me.
Pre read thoughts:
I got the arc, I am going to combust from joy 💀💀💀💀
ITS HAPPENING!!!!!!
JULY!!!!!
ITS FUCKING HAPPENINGGGGGGG
THE BOYS ARE BACKKKKKKK
I'm straight out going to cum when I get my grubby lil fingers and grubby lil eardrums into this book idgaf.
My body is ready.
Because the way he talks about Doyle is.... like.... "I would recognize him by touch alone" and "He is half of my soul, as the poets say" but in a modern day setting equivalent?
R U KIDDING ME??
Larking setting the bar WAAYYYYY TOO HIGH!
Every human deserves to be spoken about, the way Larkin speaks of & utterly admires Doyle in his inner monologues.
And EVERY HUMAN DESERVES TO BE SEEN. The EXACT WAY that Doyle see's Larkin.... Every 👏 damn 👏 broken 👏 piece 👏
"There you are"
OH....... To be seen by Ira Doyle is to be known, and to be known is to be complete 💖
I fear I should mention:
NO ONE is more upset or shocked than me, that I've taken one star off my expected rating...
Yes, 4 stars is still amazing, but I have alot of feelings.
And 90% of them are FERAL. Absolute UNFILTERED FERAL FEELINGS.
Because that's minimum that Larkin and Doyle deserve.
But I also have to be brave, and stick to the fact that I am always honest in my reviews and feelings, and I felt a CONSIDERATE let down in the 2 complete sections of this book, that ultimately skewered my experience and my hopelessly devoted beyond necessary feelings that I have for this series..
Without spoiling, I fear I will not be alone in this disappointment, and just know my inbox is always open for all who need to scream, cry, vent, take deeps breaths together, throw up, whatever because this book felt like... different, and in some ways, that was not good thing.
(ACTUALLY IM BACK TO ADD, I AM DEVASTATED TBH. I'm trying to be positive and kind but HOLY FUCK I AM SO DISTAUGHT, SOMEONE HOLD ME)
This 1 star less than perfection, DOES NOT NEGATE THAT THIS SERIES IS ABSOLUTELY FUCKING PHENOMENAL.
You can feel that CS Poe, has put heart, soul, sweat, blood and tears into the creation of every FUCKING SECOND of this masterpiece, and I'm still processing all my feelings.
IF YOU LISTENED ON AUDIO, WAIT FOR THE AUDIO. 🙏 I feel this will translate better as audio.
IF IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN LIKE.... 2 WEEKS SINCE YOU READ BOOK 3, RE-READ BEFORE YOU DO 4 because there is sooooooo much call back to book 3 characters that you'll be having a confusing time if you aren't good at remembering things like me.
Pre read thoughts:
I got the arc, I am going to combust from joy 💀💀💀💀
ITS HAPPENING!!!!!!
JULY!!!!!
ITS FUCKING HAPPENINGGGGGGG
THE BOYS ARE BACKKKKKKK
I'm straight out going to cum when I get my grubby lil fingers and grubby lil eardrums into this book idgaf.
My body is ready.
August 13, 2025
Romantic subplot. Romantic subplot. Romantic SUBPLOT. I love Larkin. I love Doyle. I love the mysteries and the writing and the characters. And I love the setting - C.S Poe clearly knows her New York history. But damn..I couldn’t bring myself to 5 star this despite giving every other book in the series 5 stars and eagerly anticipating this release.
I hate to say this…but I felt the sexual chemistry was really lacking. Lower all expectations my friends! We waited four books to experience these guys finally getting together (after sharing a bed for months) and it was very..underwhelming. I didn’t need smut or anything overly graphic-but they didn’t feel emotionally connected to me. Zilch. In fact I felt awkward for them and I think I would have actually preferred complete fade to black than what occurred here. I have so many thoughts about this 🤯
Doyle deserves more! 🥹 I couldn’t help but feel he was like a side character here to the Evie show and there was so many great moments where he could have had more impact on the story that I felt were missed.
I absolutely love these guys and all their interactions are beautiful, I love their banter and the way Doyle is so protective of Larkin, exasperated by him but also overwhelmed with fondness. Don’t get me wrong, this stuff is BEAUTIFUL. Please don’t hate me but a part of me screams that they work better as friends. Best friends in the most beautifully platonic, forehead kisses kind of way.
I read this super slowly so I could savour every delicious word and every lift of Larkin’s singular eyebrow.
I have strong feelings about the ending that contributes to my lower than expected rating. Would have loved a bit more of a key scene shown on page.
I feel bad for Noah and NEED him to get a HEA.
Also there are maggots. Many of them.
I still cannot wait for book 5!
I’m probably getting kicked off the ARC team 😢
Pre-read
Yeewwwww! ARC has arrived!! Immediately dropping everything else to read🤓
I hate to say this…but I felt the sexual chemistry was really lacking. Lower all expectations my friends! We waited four books to experience these guys finally getting together (after sharing a bed for months) and it was very..underwhelming. I didn’t need smut or anything overly graphic-but they didn’t feel emotionally connected to me. Zilch. In fact I felt awkward for them and I think I would have actually preferred complete fade to black than what occurred here. I have so many thoughts about this 🤯
Doyle deserves more! 🥹 I couldn’t help but feel he was like a side character here to the Evie show and there was so many great moments where he could have had more impact on the story that I felt were missed.
I absolutely love these guys and all their interactions are beautiful, I love their banter and the way Doyle is so protective of Larkin, exasperated by him but also overwhelmed with fondness. Don’t get me wrong, this stuff is BEAUTIFUL. Please don’t hate me but a part of me screams that they work better as friends. Best friends in the most beautifully platonic, forehead kisses kind of way.
I read this super slowly so I could savour every delicious word and every lift of Larkin’s singular eyebrow.
I have strong feelings about the ending that contributes to my lower than expected rating. Would have loved a bit more of a key scene shown on page.
I feel bad for Noah and NEED him to get a HEA.
Also there are maggots. Many of them.
I still cannot wait for book 5!
I’m probably getting kicked off the ARC team 😢
Pre-read
Yeewwwww! ARC has arrived!! Immediately dropping everything else to read🤓
Want to read
July 17, 202513 DAYS LEFT AHHHHHHHHHHH
Larkin and Doyle foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 💜💜💜 I miss my babies sm 😭😭
Larkin and Doyle foreverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr 💜💜💜 I miss my babies sm 😭😭
August 2, 2025
Okay yeah, I have thoughts. Some good, some downright ecstatic, and some - sadly - not so good.
Let’s start with the good:
The case itself is - again - very gruesome (so be warned) but so well crafted and it really forced you to think along. What impressed me most was how tightly it ties back to the earlier books. Characters and plot threads from previous cases are brought back in completely new ways, and the payoff is enormous. The structure, the planning, the forethought CS Poe put into this - it’s genuinely impressive.
And now the ecstasy:
Larkin and Doyle and the incredible connection they have.
The tenderness, the care, the absolute devotion between them was present on every page. And in this book, especially from Larkin. He’s so clearly in awe of Doyle (same, babe, same), and that unflinching love was something I felt in every scene they shared. They see each other, they hear each other, they are absolutely and unwaveringly IT for each other and it was incredibly beautiful to read. The scene where Larkin started singing to Ira in a moment of great pain and vulnerability, I almost lost it. I think that was my fav moment of the book, hands down.
Ira remains an absolute standout for me. Him being there for Evie when he’s falling and struggling, his quiet but powerful presence, is everything. I love that man with all I have.
Yes, you read that right, HE’S CALLING EVIE SUNSHINE AND I’M ABOUT DONE WITH LIFE.
While we’re on the topic of my husband Ira: every time this man talks about historical mourning practices or takes a pencil in his hand, I’m melting into a puddle of satisfied-competency-kink goo.
Now to the sadly not-so-good thoughts:
Their first time together, after all the build-up, felt emotionally muted. Not bad, just… underwhelming. The chemistry that’s been so palpable throughout the series didn’t quite land in that moment, and that surprised me. I didn’t need explicit smut, but I wanted to feel the intensity of them finally coming together - and it didn’t reach me like I’d hoped. Which is frustrating, because the bathroom scene earlier was electric. So it’s not that the connection isn’t there - it just didn’t translate when it mattered most and that’s honestly so disappointing 😔
In general, to me, this book had a little too much Larkin (and Nietzsche, Kant and statistics tbh) and while I do love him, I wish Doyle had been given more space to exist as his own person, outside of the relationship with and in relation to Larkin. He deserves to be more than just the perfect side kick, and that’s what his role in this book felt like, sadly.
Fortunately, we do get more of his interiority as the book goes on, and those final chapters made me hurt for him so much. He’s such a compelling and complex character, and I really hope we get more of his story in the next book.
All in all this was a very solid addition to the series. Not as good as the previous ones imo (😭😭), but still really fucking good. Give me a liiittle less Evie next time and a liiiittle (a lot) more Ira and imma be even more happy.
Let’s start with the good:
The case itself is - again - very gruesome (so be warned) but so well crafted and it really forced you to think along. What impressed me most was how tightly it ties back to the earlier books. Characters and plot threads from previous cases are brought back in completely new ways, and the payoff is enormous. The structure, the planning, the forethought CS Poe put into this - it’s genuinely impressive.
And now the ecstasy:
Larkin and Doyle and the incredible connection they have.
The tenderness, the care, the absolute devotion between them was present on every page. And in this book, especially from Larkin. He’s so clearly in awe of Doyle (same, babe, same), and that unflinching love was something I felt in every scene they shared. They see each other, they hear each other, they are absolutely and unwaveringly IT for each other and it was incredibly beautiful to read. The scene where Larkin started singing to Ira in a moment of great pain and vulnerability, I almost lost it. I think that was my fav moment of the book, hands down.
Ira remains an absolute standout for me. Him being there for Evie when he’s falling and struggling, his quiet but powerful presence, is everything. I love that man with all I have.
‘Larkin lifted his head from Doyle’s shoulder. His face felt raw and his eyes were sore. He probably looked puffy. He probably looked awful. But Doyle put a hand under Larkin’s chin, gave it a little nudge up, and smiled when their gazes met.
“Hey, sunshine.”’
Yes, you read that right, HE’S CALLING EVIE SUNSHINE AND I’M ABOUT DONE WITH LIFE.
While we’re on the topic of my husband Ira: every time this man talks about historical mourning practices or takes a pencil in his hand, I’m melting into a puddle of satisfied-competency-kink goo.
’Competence in the workplace would always be an attractive trait, but Doyle in his element took sexy to a whole other level.’ - I could NOT agree more 😮💨
Now to the sadly not-so-good thoughts:
Their first time together, after all the build-up, felt emotionally muted. Not bad, just… underwhelming. The chemistry that’s been so palpable throughout the series didn’t quite land in that moment, and that surprised me. I didn’t need explicit smut, but I wanted to feel the intensity of them finally coming together - and it didn’t reach me like I’d hoped. Which is frustrating, because the bathroom scene earlier was electric. So it’s not that the connection isn’t there - it just didn’t translate when it mattered most and that’s honestly so disappointing 😔
In general, to me, this book had a little too much Larkin (and Nietzsche, Kant and statistics tbh) and while I do love him, I wish Doyle had been given more space to exist as his own person, outside of the relationship with and in relation to Larkin. He deserves to be more than just the perfect side kick, and that’s what his role in this book felt like, sadly.
Fortunately, we do get more of his interiority as the book goes on, and those final chapters made me hurt for him so much. He’s such a compelling and complex character, and I really hope we get more of his story in the next book.
All in all this was a very solid addition to the series. Not as good as the previous ones imo (😭😭), but still really fucking good. Give me a liiittle less Evie next time and a liiiittle (a lot) more Ira and imma be even more happy.
Larkin took Doyle’s face in one hand.
“Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
This is me with this series and these two men. To the ends of the earth.
August 16, 2025
So, I think that first things first, if you have read the first three books of this series, you realistically know what you are in for with Larkin and Doyle and the 4th instalment and that chances are you are going to like it.
I definitely fall into that group of readers. I read the first three books early last year and they left enough of an impact on me that I still remembered the plot and character details when I picked this one up (I planned a reread in the lead up to the release but that didn’t go to plan, whoops lol).
I will admit, that I had a little trepidation going into this one after the initial release of this book was scrapped for the author to perform major rewrites (never a fantastic sign), but I think that the final product, whilst not perfect, was still a perfectly entertaining read.
I did find that the mystery at times can be a little confusing and almost wished for a mind map to be able to keep track of all the connections between current murders and past murders and the relationships between different perpetrators and the victims. Like it’s a fascinating vibe for the murders but its just A L O T.
Larkin and Doyle are, as always, so sweet together and I really find their emotional connection and love to be a delight to read about. That being said I did find the balance between the romance and mystery in this to be a little off, which says a lot cause the romance tends to exist very subplot to the core murder mystery ordinarily anyway, but this instalment it felt even more so. I kind of felt like after three books of intense sexual chemistry and emotional intimacy build up that the physicality of their relationship would have a bit more of an emotional pay off for the reader…… and it just didn’t land with the ground shaking significance I wished it would have, which is a bit of a bummer.
Also… this book felt shorter than the others? And I found that the book ended really suddenly?…. And I get that we are leading on directly into book 5 now (and my suspicion is that we are getting close to the end) but this ending of this book kind of gave me the feeling of when you are going doing stairs, and one is slightly off distance wise and you get that little shock….
Finally…. I hated Larkins mother SO MUCH. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me that she had this elitist condescension going on and looked down her nose so much at Doyle for being an artist (and detective) when comparing him to Noah… when Noah is a kindergarten teacher? Not exactly the career of the 1%’er ya know??….
I have been aggressively avoiding every review and comment made by friends on here for this story and I was desperate to avoid spoilers so now I get to back track suss out everyone else’s thoughts! Ultimately, still a fun time and I will still be sitting front and centre for the next book with everyone else lol.
But as he took in Doyle—seated at one of the stools, hunched over an open laptop and digital tablet, stylus in hand and earbuds in—Larkin found that he’d completely blanked on what it was he’d wanted to say. Competence in the workplace would always be an attractive trait, but Doyle in his element took sexy to a whole other level. And while staring unabashedly, Larkin was struck with a sense of astonishment—that even fifty-one days into their romantic entanglement, the solace he found in Doyle wasn’t abating, wasn’t normalizing. It was still a wonder, like a tiny star going supernova in his chest.
I definitely fall into that group of readers. I read the first three books early last year and they left enough of an impact on me that I still remembered the plot and character details when I picked this one up (I planned a reread in the lead up to the release but that didn’t go to plan, whoops lol).
I will admit, that I had a little trepidation going into this one after the initial release of this book was scrapped for the author to perform major rewrites (never a fantastic sign), but I think that the final product, whilst not perfect, was still a perfectly entertaining read.
I did find that the mystery at times can be a little confusing and almost wished for a mind map to be able to keep track of all the connections between current murders and past murders and the relationships between different perpetrators and the victims. Like it’s a fascinating vibe for the murders but its just A L O T.
Larkin and Doyle are, as always, so sweet together and I really find their emotional connection and love to be a delight to read about. That being said I did find the balance between the romance and mystery in this to be a little off, which says a lot cause the romance tends to exist very subplot to the core murder mystery ordinarily anyway, but this instalment it felt even more so. I kind of felt like after three books of intense sexual chemistry and emotional intimacy build up that the physicality of their relationship would have a bit more of an emotional pay off for the reader…… and it just didn’t land with the ground shaking significance I wished it would have, which is a bit of a bummer.
Also… this book felt shorter than the others? And I found that the book ended really suddenly?…. And I get that we are leading on directly into book 5 now (and my suspicion is that we are getting close to the end) but this ending of this book kind of gave me the feeling of when you are going doing stairs, and one is slightly off distance wise and you get that little shock….
Finally…. I hated Larkins mother SO MUCH. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me that she had this elitist condescension going on and looked down her nose so much at Doyle for being an artist (and detective) when comparing him to Noah… when Noah is a kindergarten teacher? Not exactly the career of the 1%’er ya know??….
I have been aggressively avoiding every review and comment made by friends on here for this story and I was desperate to avoid spoilers so now I get to back track suss out everyone else’s thoughts! Ultimately, still a fun time and I will still be sitting front and centre for the next book with everyone else lol.
But as he took in Doyle—seated at one of the stools, hunched over an open laptop and digital tablet, stylus in hand and earbuds in—Larkin found that he’d completely blanked on what it was he’d wanted to say. Competence in the workplace would always be an attractive trait, but Doyle in his element took sexy to a whole other level. And while staring unabashedly, Larkin was struck with a sense of astonishment—that even fifty-one days into their romantic entanglement, the solace he found in Doyle wasn’t abating, wasn’t normalizing. It was still a wonder, like a tiny star going supernova in his chest.
August 13, 2025
Apologies in advance because this is long. I tried to make it shorter and failed. Enjoy? 😂
Have you ever read book where you wanted to highlight every third sentence because it was that good? For me, Hudson River Homicides was that book. There were so many lovely moments and quotes worth remembering that my heart was full to bursting by the end 🥹 Are there a couple of things I would've changed? Sure! But ultimately, I adore Larkin & Doyle and loved being back in their world for a little bit longer 🥰
From the first page to the last, I was never bored. The case was compelling and nicely interwoven with Larkin and Doyle’s relationship development. Although it’s all tied together, I’m going to split the two up for the sake of this review.
The Case:
Hands down incredible! 🙌🏻 It was interesting, fast-paced, and had my mind reeling with everything going on. I was thankful to have re-read the prior two books before starting this one because there were a ton of callbacks to the earlier cases. At the very least, I highly recommend re-reading Broadway Butchery beforehand.
I was in awe of how Poe pulled in the prior cases and tied them together in relation to the overarching big bad plot in this one. I was increasingly impressed as the book moved along, and I realized the amount of groundwork she laid in the first three books for it to all come together the way it did here. Freaking bravo! 👏🏻
Even knowing that this case would somehow intersect with Doyle’s past, I was not fully prepared for how much it made my heart hurt having certain things confirmed. It probably would've hurt less to have my heart dug from my chest with a rusty spoon. All I’ll say is that there aren’t enough wishes in the world for the healing I want for Ira Doyle ❤️🩹
The Romance/Relationship Dynamics:
So freaking swoon worthy I had to stop and cover my face on multiple occasions because of FEELS. Remember this beauty from Subway Slayings?
Well, buckle up, friends, because there are some A+ gold star award winning lines in this one that are going to TAKE YOU OUT, and don't even get me started on how Doyle calls Larkin "sunshine." 🥹
That being said, I feel slightly conflicted because some things didn’t go the way I’d hoped, which is a bit disappointing, but overall, I loved the book with my whole heart 💙
I couldn't pinpoint what I felt was missing as I read, but by the time I finished, I realized it was Doyle. It's not that he wasn't there or present most of the time but more that he felt underutilized. This could just be the unintended consequence of everything coalescing around Larkin for the case more than a conscious decision, but either way, I noticed his "absence," if you will. At the same time, we got a ton of Larkin's heart in this one. In a way, the book felt like his love letter to Doyle, and if I look at it from that perspective, I feel better about it.
The thing I'm having more trouble reconciling is
Why am I sticking with 5* instead of 4* despite some disappointments? The simple truth: my heart. In my heart, I don't feel this is a 4* book. I loved it too much for that. The writing was fabulous and the casework was on point. No notes. Did I want some things to go differently in the relationship department? Absolutely. But, in the end, my heart loves Larkin & Doyle more than my brain can reason me out of it, and I'm okay with that 💙
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you ever read book where you wanted to highlight every third sentence because it was that good? For me, Hudson River Homicides was that book. There were so many lovely moments and quotes worth remembering that my heart was full to bursting by the end 🥹 Are there a couple of things I would've changed? Sure! But ultimately, I adore Larkin & Doyle and loved being back in their world for a little bit longer 🥰
From the first page to the last, I was never bored. The case was compelling and nicely interwoven with Larkin and Doyle’s relationship development. Although it’s all tied together, I’m going to split the two up for the sake of this review.
The Case:
Hands down incredible! 🙌🏻 It was interesting, fast-paced, and had my mind reeling with everything going on. I was thankful to have re-read the prior two books before starting this one because there were a ton of callbacks to the earlier cases. At the very least, I highly recommend re-reading Broadway Butchery beforehand.
I was in awe of how Poe pulled in the prior cases and tied them together in relation to the overarching big bad plot in this one. I was increasingly impressed as the book moved along, and I realized the amount of groundwork she laid in the first three books for it to all come together the way it did here. Freaking bravo! 👏🏻
Even knowing that this case would somehow intersect with Doyle’s past, I was not fully prepared for how much it made my heart hurt having certain things confirmed. It probably would've hurt less to have my heart dug from my chest with a rusty spoon. All I’ll say is that there aren’t enough wishes in the world for the healing I want for Ira Doyle ❤️🩹
The Romance/Relationship Dynamics:
So freaking swoon worthy I had to stop and cover my face on multiple occasions because of FEELS. Remember this beauty from Subway Slayings?
“Have you been in love.”
“Sure.”
“How’d it end.”
There was a pause before Doyle answered, “It hasn’t started.”
Well, buckle up, friends, because there are some A+ gold star award winning lines in this one that are going to TAKE YOU OUT, and don't even get me started on how Doyle calls Larkin "sunshine." 🥹
That being said, I feel slightly conflicted because some things didn’t go the way I’d hoped, which is a bit disappointing, but overall, I loved the book with my whole heart 💙
I couldn't pinpoint what I felt was missing as I read, but by the time I finished, I realized it was Doyle. It's not that he wasn't there or present most of the time but more that he felt underutilized. This could just be the unintended consequence of everything coalescing around Larkin for the case more than a conscious decision, but either way, I noticed his "absence," if you will. At the same time, we got a ton of Larkin's heart in this one. In a way, the book felt like his love letter to Doyle, and if I look at it from that perspective, I feel better about it.
The thing I'm having more trouble reconciling is
Why am I sticking with 5* instead of 4* despite some disappointments? The simple truth: my heart. In my heart, I don't feel this is a 4* book. I loved it too much for that. The writing was fabulous and the casework was on point. No notes. Did I want some things to go differently in the relationship department? Absolutely. But, in the end, my heart loves Larkin & Doyle more than my brain can reason me out of it, and I'm okay with that 💙
*I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 29, 2025
ℍ𝕦𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣 ℍ𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕤 (𝕄𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕄𝕠𝕣𝕚, #𝟜) — ℂ.𝕊. ℙ𝕠𝕖
I love Everett Larkin and Ira Doyle. I was expecting this book like my next breath. It felt like a celebration of their love and devotion—the way they fit together is genuinely beautiful. It’s also total quote porn; they say and do the most thoughtful, tender things, and it melts me every time.
I also want to praise Carrol’s writing—it’s superb and fits perfectly with the characters’ personalities. The amount of research is mind-blowing and adds layer upon layer of richness to this book. We get to know more about them—their past, what shaped them, what truly makes them who they are and why we love them so much. They flow together effortlessly, and I love that.
The crime plot was incredible. I only regret not rereading Book 3 beforehand—completely my fault. I need to accept that no one has Evie’s Rolodex mind, and some details went over my head. So just a heads-up: events from Book 3 are heavily present, and it’s best to go in prepared. You can be sure I won’t make the same mistake when Book 5 comes out.
As for mothers… God in heaven. I won’t even give them the dignity of a proper mention. Also Noah felt more real to me in this book, and I sympathized with him much more than I did in the first three.
What I adore most is the quiet intimacy—watching their daily life, the routine, the small gestures that feel so full of love. But yes… there’s a but.
I’ve spent three books deeply understanding and empathizing with Evie’s situation. Four months have passed in their relationship, and it’s naturally evolving. But I expected more from their first time together. The lack of Ira’s POV didn’t help, and unfortunately, it ended up being all about Evie—again.
The Ira Doyle fandom deserved better. We deserved to see him worshiped—to hear what it’s like when he’s being touched, kissed in every crease, undone in the most romantic and intimate way. And we didn’t get that. I feel so guilty saying this—maybe it makes me sound like a smut addict—but truly, it could’ve been just two sentences. I only wanted something that reflected both of their pleasure, their desperation, their want.
I really hope Book 5 brings that, because I love them so much. I need them to be perfect in every way.
All that said—I absolutely loved this book. Even with my frustrations, my heart is full.
Larkin took Doyle’s face in one hand. “Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.
I love Everett Larkin and Ira Doyle. I was expecting this book like my next breath. It felt like a celebration of their love and devotion—the way they fit together is genuinely beautiful. It’s also total quote porn; they say and do the most thoughtful, tender things, and it melts me every time.
I also want to praise Carrol’s writing—it’s superb and fits perfectly with the characters’ personalities. The amount of research is mind-blowing and adds layer upon layer of richness to this book. We get to know more about them—their past, what shaped them, what truly makes them who they are and why we love them so much. They flow together effortlessly, and I love that.
The crime plot was incredible. I only regret not rereading Book 3 beforehand—completely my fault. I need to accept that no one has Evie’s Rolodex mind, and some details went over my head. So just a heads-up: events from Book 3 are heavily present, and it’s best to go in prepared. You can be sure I won’t make the same mistake when Book 5 comes out.
As for mothers… God in heaven. I won’t even give them the dignity of a proper mention. Also Noah felt more real to me in this book, and I sympathized with him much more than I did in the first three.
What I adore most is the quiet intimacy—watching their daily life, the routine, the small gestures that feel so full of love. But yes… there’s a but.
I’ve spent three books deeply understanding and empathizing with Evie’s situation. Four months have passed in their relationship, and it’s naturally evolving. But I expected more from their first time together. The lack of Ira’s POV didn’t help, and unfortunately, it ended up being all about Evie—again.
The Ira Doyle fandom deserved better. We deserved to see him worshiped—to hear what it’s like when he’s being touched, kissed in every crease, undone in the most romantic and intimate way. And we didn’t get that. I feel so guilty saying this—maybe it makes me sound like a smut addict—but truly, it could’ve been just two sentences. I only wanted something that reflected both of their pleasure, their desperation, their want.
I really hope Book 5 brings that, because I love them so much. I need them to be perfect in every way.
All that said—I absolutely loved this book. Even with my frustrations, my heart is full.
Larkin took Doyle’s face in one hand. “Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion.
August 17, 2025
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One of the things I love most about this series is that you go through the book learning about philosophical concepts, psychology, and weird art history, and end up feeling you learned a bunch of stuff you’d never have. Could you use it in a conversation? Likely not, but it still leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.
In this fourth installment, so much happens that it will make your head spin a little, and the ending is a bit... abrupt, but it’s still a book to eat up.
Larkin is finally on the road to recovery from his benzo addiction, and Doyle can finally reap the perks of his patience and care. It’s very nice to see, even if a bit underwhelming for us readers.
It’s now time for Doyle to fall apart before he can get back up stronger than before.
5 Things I loved about this book
1 I missed them so much I would have taken ANYTHING to get more of them
2 We got to see a deeper shade of both Larkin and Doyle
3 They are still very much relationship goals. Unwavering trust on top
4 Larkin is healing, and I hope we will see him helping Doyle do the same next
5 Everything is connected and it feels like we are getting very close to the heart of the mystery
🔖Larkin checked the nearby desks before leaning closer and saying, quiet but firm,
"I enjoy the privilege of watching my significant other take control of their own pleasure."
"That's a very eloquent way to say you like a power bottom, Evie."
"You woke up and chose violence today, didn't you."
🔖For one hundred and three days, Larkin had been finding tiny shards of Doyle's soul, had been collecting them, putting together those fragments to reveal guilt and betrayal and shame, lacquering their edges together with gold because he just wanted Doyle to see, to understand, that he was still beautiful, that he deserved to be whole, that he had done nothing to warrant being shattered into millions of pieces.
Pre-read
It's time 🥹😍😍😍
One of the things I love most about this series is that you go through the book learning about philosophical concepts, psychology, and weird art history, and end up feeling you learned a bunch of stuff you’d never have. Could you use it in a conversation? Likely not, but it still leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.
In this fourth installment, so much happens that it will make your head spin a little, and the ending is a bit... abrupt, but it’s still a book to eat up.
Larkin is finally on the road to recovery from his benzo addiction, and Doyle can finally reap the perks of his patience and care. It’s very nice to see, even if a bit underwhelming for us readers.
It’s now time for Doyle to fall apart before he can get back up stronger than before.
5 Things I loved about this book
1 I missed them so much I would have taken ANYTHING to get more of them
2 We got to see a deeper shade of both Larkin and Doyle
3 They are still very much relationship goals. Unwavering trust on top
4 Larkin is healing, and I hope we will see him helping Doyle do the same next
5 Everything is connected and it feels like we are getting very close to the heart of the mystery
🔖Larkin checked the nearby desks before leaning closer and saying, quiet but firm,
"I enjoy the privilege of watching my significant other take control of their own pleasure."
"That's a very eloquent way to say you like a power bottom, Evie."
"You woke up and chose violence today, didn't you."
🔖For one hundred and three days, Larkin had been finding tiny shards of Doyle's soul, had been collecting them, putting together those fragments to reveal guilt and betrayal and shame, lacquering their edges together with gold because he just wanted Doyle to see, to understand, that he was still beautiful, that he deserved to be whole, that he had done nothing to warrant being shattered into millions of pieces.
Pre-read
It's time 🥹😍😍😍
August 3, 2025
Let me start this review by saying that I’ve had the MOST fun I’ve had on Goodreads in the lead up to this release, interacting with my internet friends and refreshing GR for updates constantly. It’s truly felt like hanging out with an unofficial book club, eating crumbs off the floor when the incredibly blessed ARC readers dropped them in their updates. I ate it all up. It’s been so great. CS Poe you have some really adoring fans and you should be so proud.
This review will be rambly and full of spoilers because much like Hackett, I have ADHD.
First, the GREAT:
-The ambience and mood and descriptions in this book were top tier. I’m not sure if it’s because I was reading this really slowly, savouring every word, that the pages came alive and I was right in NYC, I could smell it. I could hear it. I wonder if this was intentional to show how Larkin was not drugged up and clouded under the influence of his meds. Whatever it was, it made the experience for me all the more vivid and thrilling.
-The mystery in this one was superb. In the earlier books, I had a bit of a harder time following who was who and who’d done what, but this one had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. The way Poe weaved in events and characters from three books ago and made it all click into this seamless net of mystery? It was masterful. That alone earned the immediate 5 stars. I have ZERO complaints about the murder mystery in this one.
-Doyle. Ira. What a good man. I love how much he loves Larkin and how unafraid he is to show him. Every “sunshine” had me melting. What a sweet, patient, incredible, smart, capable man. I wish he existed in real life, I’d be obsessed. I felt SO much for him in this book. I cried when he cried. My heart broke for him when the uglier parts of his past came to the surface. I hate everyone who’s ever failed him. I especially hate his mom.
-Larkin, as usual, what a fucking boss. I love him and his brilliant mind and his prickly attitude and sharp edges, his asshole demeanour and his quirks. He’s so well written. I love how much we got to see in his inner monologue about how smitten he is with Doyle (as he should). I felt a lot of barriers came down in this one and he let himself FEEL the love for Ira. I loved every interaction, every touch, every word. They really understand each other, the love is real. That was beautiful to witness. On the topic or horrible moms, his takes the cake. Horrendous bitch.
-Surprisingly, Noah. I felt for him a lot, I want to see him be happy. Didn’t think I’d ever say that.
-The supporting characters of O’Halloran and Millet, and the good doctor? Excellent. Although I felt Miyamoto was missing from this one.
-Adored the introduction of Hackett, I hope we see much more of him in the next one.
-The bathroom scene. You know the one. It was electric. Freaking scorching. I was vibrating. My stomach did *the thing*. I re-read the whole chapter twice. I highlighted every line. It was setting the scene so well for what I KNEW WAS COMING. Which leads us to…
THE NOT SO GREAT
Oh no, that part… hurt. I’m a little sad. I don’t read Memento Mori for the smut obviously, but you’re telling me that these two people who have had INSANE off-the-charts chemistry for 3 whole books get a “blink and you miss it” sex scene? After that bathroom scene that was SO PROMISING?
I wasn’t expecting to read about body parts or cum or anything of that sort (although I do love that, I know this is not that kind of book), but I wanted to really be able to feel the emotional weight of that moment. I wanted them to see each other, be with each other, read about them coming together for the first time and gazing into each other’s eyes and Doyle getting absolutely worshipped as he deserves. I wanted tears, I wanted fireworks, tectonic plates shifting, stars aligning, I wanted something more.
Instead this felt like when Fleabag finally fucks Hot Priest but kicks us out of the room. I wasn’t there with them and I really wanted to witness. Instead I got to read about Nietzsche. Aahhhhhh!!!!
Okay. To be fair It was not all bad. The whole “Like this. So you can watch me” and the hands on headboard and the “Evie, don’t- don’t stop” still worked for me. I’m only human after all.
But honestly even the flashback where Larkin recalls fucking Doyle into the mattress was hotter than the actual scene we got. I don’t know man. I know I’m not alone in this. I ran straight to Chelsea’s inbox because I had to talk to someone (thanks girl for putting up with my messages this week :D )
HOWEVER
I rate my books by how they made me feel as a whole. And this one was an experience.
This is a great book. This is a fantastic story told in such a compelling way, that even with the bedroom scene disappointment, I read the last word, shook my body to let go of the tension, and had no choice but to rate it 5 stars.
I am DYING to read the next one. I’m not sure what I’ll do to fill the Memento Mori void until we meet our boys again <3. See you all in a couple years!
----
Full review to come!
I need a moment to digest and then vomit out my thoughts. Yes I’m very annoyed and disappointed and SAD at one thing (IYKYK), but the rest? The rest was so incredibly good. It was my favourite of the series so I can’t give this anything less than 5 stars. Okay, gonna take a break now and ponder. MASSIVE yap incoming.
——
We have a release date people!!! July 31st can’t come soon enough
This review will be rambly and full of spoilers because much like Hackett, I have ADHD.
First, the GREAT:
-The ambience and mood and descriptions in this book were top tier. I’m not sure if it’s because I was reading this really slowly, savouring every word, that the pages came alive and I was right in NYC, I could smell it. I could hear it. I wonder if this was intentional to show how Larkin was not drugged up and clouded under the influence of his meds. Whatever it was, it made the experience for me all the more vivid and thrilling.
-The mystery in this one was superb. In the earlier books, I had a bit of a harder time following who was who and who’d done what, but this one had me at the edge of my seat the entire time. The way Poe weaved in events and characters from three books ago and made it all click into this seamless net of mystery? It was masterful. That alone earned the immediate 5 stars. I have ZERO complaints about the murder mystery in this one.
-Doyle. Ira. What a good man. I love how much he loves Larkin and how unafraid he is to show him. Every “sunshine” had me melting. What a sweet, patient, incredible, smart, capable man. I wish he existed in real life, I’d be obsessed. I felt SO much for him in this book. I cried when he cried. My heart broke for him when the uglier parts of his past came to the surface. I hate everyone who’s ever failed him. I especially hate his mom.
-Larkin, as usual, what a fucking boss. I love him and his brilliant mind and his prickly attitude and sharp edges, his asshole demeanour and his quirks. He’s so well written. I love how much we got to see in his inner monologue about how smitten he is with Doyle (as he should). I felt a lot of barriers came down in this one and he let himself FEEL the love for Ira. I loved every interaction, every touch, every word. They really understand each other, the love is real. That was beautiful to witness. On the topic or horrible moms, his takes the cake. Horrendous bitch.
-Surprisingly, Noah. I felt for him a lot, I want to see him be happy. Didn’t think I’d ever say that.
-The supporting characters of O’Halloran and Millet, and the good doctor? Excellent. Although I felt Miyamoto was missing from this one.
-Adored the introduction of Hackett, I hope we see much more of him in the next one.
-The bathroom scene. You know the one. It was electric. Freaking scorching. I was vibrating. My stomach did *the thing*. I re-read the whole chapter twice. I highlighted every line. It was setting the scene so well for what I KNEW WAS COMING. Which leads us to…
THE NOT SO GREAT
Oh no, that part… hurt. I’m a little sad. I don’t read Memento Mori for the smut obviously, but you’re telling me that these two people who have had INSANE off-the-charts chemistry for 3 whole books get a “blink and you miss it” sex scene? After that bathroom scene that was SO PROMISING?
I wasn’t expecting to read about body parts or cum or anything of that sort (although I do love that, I know this is not that kind of book), but I wanted to really be able to feel the emotional weight of that moment. I wanted them to see each other, be with each other, read about them coming together for the first time and gazing into each other’s eyes and Doyle getting absolutely worshipped as he deserves. I wanted tears, I wanted fireworks, tectonic plates shifting, stars aligning, I wanted something more.
Instead this felt like when Fleabag finally fucks Hot Priest but kicks us out of the room. I wasn’t there with them and I really wanted to witness. Instead I got to read about Nietzsche. Aahhhhhh!!!!
Okay. To be fair It was not all bad. The whole “Like this. So you can watch me” and the hands on headboard and the “Evie, don’t- don’t stop” still worked for me. I’m only human after all.
But honestly even the flashback where Larkin recalls fucking Doyle into the mattress was hotter than the actual scene we got. I don’t know man. I know I’m not alone in this. I ran straight to Chelsea’s inbox because I had to talk to someone (thanks girl for putting up with my messages this week :D )
HOWEVER
I rate my books by how they made me feel as a whole. And this one was an experience.
This is a great book. This is a fantastic story told in such a compelling way, that even with the bedroom scene disappointment, I read the last word, shook my body to let go of the tension, and had no choice but to rate it 5 stars.
I am DYING to read the next one. I’m not sure what I’ll do to fill the Memento Mori void until we meet our boys again <3. See you all in a couple years!
“You said you’d been in love since we met. I think I was too.”
“I told you that I would kill for you, Ira. That wasn’t an exaggeration. I will always choose you.”
Larkin took Doyle’s face in one hand. “Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
----
Full review to come!
I need a moment to digest and then vomit out my thoughts. Yes I’m very annoyed and disappointed and SAD at one thing (IYKYK), but the rest? The rest was so incredibly good. It was my favourite of the series so I can’t give this anything less than 5 stars. Okay, gonna take a break now and ponder. MASSIVE yap incoming.
——
We have a release date people!!! July 31st can’t come soon enough
Want to read
November 6, 2023It's been a month since I've read the first three books and I'm still thinking about Larkin and Doyle. I can't wait for this one. I can't remember the last time I was so excited over an upcoming book.
August 29, 2025
Hudson River Homicides, the long-awaited fourth instalment in C.S. Poe’s Memento Mori series, opens, once again, with Detective Everett Larkin confronted with a dead body in a most unusual location. This time, the murder victim is inside a refrigerator which has been dumped in the Hudson River, and scrawled across the door in all caps are the words “PIN ME TO DETECTIVE LARKIN”. So there Larkin is, at just after 11pm, waiting while the fridge is pulled out of the river – and waiting to discover the next step in the increasingly dangerous game of cat-and-mouse he’s being forced to play by his unknown tormentor.
Note: The plotline in Hudson River Homicides is very closely intertwined with those in the previous books in the series, so this is absolutely not the place to start. If you like the sound of intricate, superbly thought-out mysteries combined with a gorgeous, slow-burn romance, then I suggest jumping back to where it all started – Madison Square Murders . I promise you won’t regret it. (And there are spoilers for the previous books in this review.)
At the end of Broadway Butchery , Larkin received another another anonymous, cryptic note telling him to “COME FIND ME”, accompanied by, of all things, a toothpick. That was a few weeks before the discovery of the fridge in the river, and the intervening weeks have not been easy on Larkin. Following the violent showdown at the end of the previous book, in which his boyfriend, forensic artist Ira Doyle, was targeted by a killer, Larkin’s already erratic sleep patterns have become worse as his fears for Doyle’s safety have not only been keeping him awake at night, but have grown into a compulsion to do everything he possibly can to keep him out of harm’s way. If he could, Larkin would even put a stop to Doyle’s involvement in the case – except he knows how that would be received, that, no matter, how noble his intention, Doyle would see it as a betrayal, or a sign that Larkin doesn’t believe he’s up to the task. And there’s no way Larkin can do that to the man he’s come to love more than life itself.
Fast forward to the discovery of the fridge and the body inside – which, unlike the other murders Larkin and Doyle have investigated lately, can’t be classified as a cold case. The ME estimates the woman has been dead for only around three weeks, and when Larkin is able to get a good look at her face he’s surprised to find he recognises her. It’s Mathilde Wagner, the woman responsible for the murder of dozens of Broadway-based sex-workers, for the recent murder of her husband, and for the attempt on Doyle’s life that has Larkin so tied up in knots. Looking closer, Larkin can see the item to which the word “pin” refers; there’s an antique brooch pinned to her tongue, a brooch made from black stone and cut glass that contains strands of braided human hair. It’s another item associated with Victorian mourning culture - and is further confirmation that his and Doyle’s last three cases haven’t been random events, but have all been part of a tangled web of blackmail, extortion, corruption, and murder in which all the perpetrators are connected by a twisted, symbiotic relationship to whoever is leading Larkin on this merry dance.
As in the earlier books, the plotline of Hudson River Homicides is clever, complex and utterly compelling, and you won’t want to put the book down. (I stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime to finish reading it!) The author’s love for and knowledge of New York City and its history shine through as Larkin and Doyle slowly begin pulling together everything they know about crimes new and crimes past, and the bigger picture starts to emerge. And once more, it’s the beautifully drawn relationship between these two damaged but loving men that is the emotional heart of the book. They’ve been together for just over three months, they’re deeply in love and are absolutely committed to one another, sharing a soul-deep connection arising from mutual trust, affection, understanding and unquestioning support. Their relationship is absolutely a two-way street, and the way they care for each other and fight for one another is a joy to read. But their association has already put Doyle at risk, and now it seems that whoever is taunting Larkin has been leading him towards something with the power to wreck everything. Larkin has long known that there is something badly broken buried inside the deeply caring, charming man that is Ira Doyle, and even though he has some idea of exactly what that thing is, Larkin knows that Doyle hasn’t yet reached a place where he’s able to talk about it and start to heal. But by the time Larkin realises where the clues left for him are leading him, he is faced with an impossible choice – does he follow those clues to their logical conclusion and risk breaking Doyle’s already wounded heart? Or does he put the man he loves first and refuse to play the game any longer?
Needless to say, there are some intensely emotional moments in this story that will tug at the heartstrings and/or make you want to throw things (the behaviour of Larkin’s snobby mother certainly made me want to do the latter!), but these are expertly balanced by lighter ones; in the quiet tenderness and affection of Larkin and Doyle’s personal interactions, Doyle’s flirtatiousness, Larkin’s world-weary snark, and the more overtly comedic exchanges with colleagues. And on top of all that, the author finds the space to drop one of the most beautiful – and so perfectly them - declarations of love I’ve read:
Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The characterisation throughout is excellent. We’ve come to know Larkin and Doyle quite well by now, but they continue to evolve both individually and as a couple, and the small but strongly-written secondary cast comprises a handful of well-drawn new characters as well as the more familiar ones. I was pleased to see CSU Neil Millett again (he and the new ME are definitely striking sparks off each other!) and at the return of Detective O’Halloran who, for all he’s a grouchy fucker, clearly respects Larkin.
The author does a great job of creating an increasing sense of foreboding throughout the story and by the end of the book the stakes – already high – have ratcheted up several notches. Larkin and Doyle may have foiled yet another attempt on their lives and have untangled some of the threads in the murky web of deceit and mayhem they’ve been pulled into, but they’re not given much breathing space before being once again confronted by another demand to “COME FIND ME.”
Tightly plotted, totally gripping, and deeply romantic, Hudson River Homicides was one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2025, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
Note: The plotline in Hudson River Homicides is very closely intertwined with those in the previous books in the series, so this is absolutely not the place to start. If you like the sound of intricate, superbly thought-out mysteries combined with a gorgeous, slow-burn romance, then I suggest jumping back to where it all started – Madison Square Murders . I promise you won’t regret it. (And there are spoilers for the previous books in this review.)
At the end of Broadway Butchery , Larkin received another another anonymous, cryptic note telling him to “COME FIND ME”, accompanied by, of all things, a toothpick. That was a few weeks before the discovery of the fridge in the river, and the intervening weeks have not been easy on Larkin. Following the violent showdown at the end of the previous book, in which his boyfriend, forensic artist Ira Doyle, was targeted by a killer, Larkin’s already erratic sleep patterns have become worse as his fears for Doyle’s safety have not only been keeping him awake at night, but have grown into a compulsion to do everything he possibly can to keep him out of harm’s way. If he could, Larkin would even put a stop to Doyle’s involvement in the case – except he knows how that would be received, that, no matter, how noble his intention, Doyle would see it as a betrayal, or a sign that Larkin doesn’t believe he’s up to the task. And there’s no way Larkin can do that to the man he’s come to love more than life itself.
Fast forward to the discovery of the fridge and the body inside – which, unlike the other murders Larkin and Doyle have investigated lately, can’t be classified as a cold case. The ME estimates the woman has been dead for only around three weeks, and when Larkin is able to get a good look at her face he’s surprised to find he recognises her. It’s Mathilde Wagner, the woman responsible for the murder of dozens of Broadway-based sex-workers, for the recent murder of her husband, and for the attempt on Doyle’s life that has Larkin so tied up in knots. Looking closer, Larkin can see the item to which the word “pin” refers; there’s an antique brooch pinned to her tongue, a brooch made from black stone and cut glass that contains strands of braided human hair. It’s another item associated with Victorian mourning culture - and is further confirmation that his and Doyle’s last three cases haven’t been random events, but have all been part of a tangled web of blackmail, extortion, corruption, and murder in which all the perpetrators are connected by a twisted, symbiotic relationship to whoever is leading Larkin on this merry dance.
As in the earlier books, the plotline of Hudson River Homicides is clever, complex and utterly compelling, and you won’t want to put the book down. (I stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime to finish reading it!) The author’s love for and knowledge of New York City and its history shine through as Larkin and Doyle slowly begin pulling together everything they know about crimes new and crimes past, and the bigger picture starts to emerge. And once more, it’s the beautifully drawn relationship between these two damaged but loving men that is the emotional heart of the book. They’ve been together for just over three months, they’re deeply in love and are absolutely committed to one another, sharing a soul-deep connection arising from mutual trust, affection, understanding and unquestioning support. Their relationship is absolutely a two-way street, and the way they care for each other and fight for one another is a joy to read. But their association has already put Doyle at risk, and now it seems that whoever is taunting Larkin has been leading him towards something with the power to wreck everything. Larkin has long known that there is something badly broken buried inside the deeply caring, charming man that is Ira Doyle, and even though he has some idea of exactly what that thing is, Larkin knows that Doyle hasn’t yet reached a place where he’s able to talk about it and start to heal. But by the time Larkin realises where the clues left for him are leading him, he is faced with an impossible choice – does he follow those clues to their logical conclusion and risk breaking Doyle’s already wounded heart? Or does he put the man he loves first and refuse to play the game any longer?
Needless to say, there are some intensely emotional moments in this story that will tug at the heartstrings and/or make you want to throw things (the behaviour of Larkin’s snobby mother certainly made me want to do the latter!), but these are expertly balanced by lighter ones; in the quiet tenderness and affection of Larkin and Doyle’s personal interactions, Doyle’s flirtatiousness, Larkin’s world-weary snark, and the more overtly comedic exchanges with colleagues. And on top of all that, the author finds the space to drop one of the most beautiful – and so perfectly them - declarations of love I’ve read:
Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
The characterisation throughout is excellent. We’ve come to know Larkin and Doyle quite well by now, but they continue to evolve both individually and as a couple, and the small but strongly-written secondary cast comprises a handful of well-drawn new characters as well as the more familiar ones. I was pleased to see CSU Neil Millett again (he and the new ME are definitely striking sparks off each other!) and at the return of Detective O’Halloran who, for all he’s a grouchy fucker, clearly respects Larkin.
The author does a great job of creating an increasing sense of foreboding throughout the story and by the end of the book the stakes – already high – have ratcheted up several notches. Larkin and Doyle may have foiled yet another attempt on their lives and have untangled some of the threads in the murky web of deceit and mayhem they’ve been pulled into, but they’re not given much breathing space before being once again confronted by another demand to “COME FIND ME.”
Tightly plotted, totally gripping, and deeply romantic, Hudson River Homicides was one of my most eagerly anticipated books of 2025, and it absolutely did not disappoint.
August 3, 2025
4.25
What a roller coaster ride, oh my god.
C.S. Poe once again single-handedly giving me a respite from the atrocious reading slump I'm in, I AM SO HAPPY I MANAGED TO READ THIS. "Hudson River Homicides" was an absolute gem.
As all the other books in this fabulous, nail-biting series, this fourth installment features a complex, twisty mystery that left my head spinning and gasping out loud. I probably could have used a re-read of the previous books to make it easier on my poor brain, but this fourth case was an absolute blast. Slightly less haunting and gruesome than the previous ones, for which I'm grateful, but it also featured so many moving chess pieces, so many hidden clues, so many red herrings, so many layers. C.S. Poe is a genius for the way she manages to keep everything so interconnected and so tightly wound together. At this point we're only missing another book (I think? Unless the author changed her mind), and I've absolutely no idea who the mysterious, sadistic Adam Worth could be. I'm dying to know if everything eventually connects to Larkin's past (IT WOULD MAKE SO MUCH SENSE, BUT ALSO KILL ME DEAD, because OUCH).
I adore Larkin. He's an amazing protagonist, and the way his mind works, the way he talks and interacts, is so so so so real to me. He's got this pervasive river of self-loathing and pain running through him, piercing through his heart, and my soul literally aches for him so damn much. Such a fascinating protagonist.
And Doyle is his perfect counterpart: opposites, but also so damn similar in so many ways. I love their developing romance so, so, so much.
So why am I knocking off a bit of the rating? First of all, I want to say that I adored this novel so very much. It's not my favourite of the series, but the mystery was just as gripping. Poe's writing was just as magical and evocative. Larkin's voice was just as fascinating.
But idk, I feel like, unlike a whole lot of reviews I've seen, that we should be getting more of Larkin. No, it doesn't make sense when I say it like this, because he's our damn protagonist, you know? BUT amidst all the moving pieces, I feel like he still needs his time to shine, pages and pages and chapters and chapters to really delve into his past and what happened with his first boyfriend. His family life too. We get somethings here, but his POV is always very, very, very centred around Doyle (and who can blame him? The man is a DREAM) but to such a degree at times it feels like it's coming at the cost of his character development. I don't know if it makes sense. Maybe it's because I'm a Larkin girlie first and foremost, and the romance in my mind is secondary. And again, this won't make sense, but
ANYWAY, these small things aside. I adored being in Larkin's head again. I love that man so very much. I love how contradictory and complex he is, how he's one light breeze away from crumbling BUT also so cocky and confident. He's an excellent detective, he's hard on the people around him but he's even more unforgiving towards himself. He's everything. I love him.
I also ADORED all the Neil Millet crumbs (also WHO ELSE SCREAMED AT THE )
Also, I loved Baxter (I need his and Neil's romance ASAP ASAP ASAP I MIGHT PERISH OTHERWISE) and Hackett. Poe, you need to tell me where are you headed with this. I will gift you my soul, and my heart, and a few non-vital organs. YOU NEED TO TELL US.
Those last chapters were heart-attack inducing. I was on the edge of my seat, rock lodged into my throat, the whole time. WHAT AN ENDING oh my god.
Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
What a roller coaster ride, oh my god.
C.S. Poe once again single-handedly giving me a respite from the atrocious reading slump I'm in, I AM SO HAPPY I MANAGED TO READ THIS. "Hudson River Homicides" was an absolute gem.
As all the other books in this fabulous, nail-biting series, this fourth installment features a complex, twisty mystery that left my head spinning and gasping out loud. I probably could have used a re-read of the previous books to make it easier on my poor brain, but this fourth case was an absolute blast. Slightly less haunting and gruesome than the previous ones, for which I'm grateful, but it also featured so many moving chess pieces, so many hidden clues, so many red herrings, so many layers. C.S. Poe is a genius for the way she manages to keep everything so interconnected and so tightly wound together. At this point we're only missing another book (I think? Unless the author changed her mind), and I've absolutely no idea who the mysterious, sadistic Adam Worth could be. I'm dying to know if everything eventually connects to Larkin's past (IT WOULD MAKE SO MUCH SENSE, BUT ALSO KILL ME DEAD, because OUCH).
I adore Larkin. He's an amazing protagonist, and the way his mind works, the way he talks and interacts, is so so so so real to me. He's got this pervasive river of self-loathing and pain running through him, piercing through his heart, and my soul literally aches for him so damn much. Such a fascinating protagonist.
And Doyle is his perfect counterpart: opposites, but also so damn similar in so many ways. I love their developing romance so, so, so much.
So why am I knocking off a bit of the rating? First of all, I want to say that I adored this novel so very much. It's not my favourite of the series, but the mystery was just as gripping. Poe's writing was just as magical and evocative. Larkin's voice was just as fascinating.
But idk, I feel like, unlike a whole lot of reviews I've seen, that we should be getting more of Larkin. No, it doesn't make sense when I say it like this, because he's our damn protagonist, you know? BUT amidst all the moving pieces, I feel like he still needs his time to shine, pages and pages and chapters and chapters to really delve into his past and what happened with his first boyfriend. His family life too. We get somethings here, but his POV is always very, very, very centred around Doyle (and who can blame him? The man is a DREAM) but to such a degree at times it feels like it's coming at the cost of his character development. I don't know if it makes sense. Maybe it's because I'm a Larkin girlie first and foremost, and the romance in my mind is secondary. And again, this won't make sense, but
ANYWAY, these small things aside. I adored being in Larkin's head again. I love that man so very much. I love how contradictory and complex he is, how he's one light breeze away from crumbling BUT also so cocky and confident. He's an excellent detective, he's hard on the people around him but he's even more unforgiving towards himself. He's everything. I love him.
I also ADORED all the Neil Millet crumbs (also WHO ELSE SCREAMED AT THE )
Also, I loved Baxter (I need his and Neil's romance ASAP ASAP ASAP I MIGHT PERISH OTHERWISE) and Hackett. Poe, you need to tell me where are you headed with this. I will gift you my soul, and my heart, and a few non-vital organs. YOU NEED TO TELL US.
Those last chapters were heart-attack inducing. I was on the edge of my seat, rock lodged into my throat, the whole time. WHAT AN ENDING oh my god.
Many thanks to the author for the ARC. This is my honest review.
September 3, 2025
Очень ждала продолжение...но если честно, мне показалось, что эта книга немногого all over the place.
Ларкина как обычно вызывают на место преступления и снова убийца оставил ему персональное послание. Структурно ничего нового, и этого вроде не ждешь от детектива. Но как только начинается расследование, то все смешивается в кучу: рандомные преступники, которые то всплывают, то исчезают, секундное появление мамы Ларкира, опять этот Ноа, внезапная драма Дойла и его lore drop, и многое из этого просто пронеслось мимолетно и практически не оставило следа...Такое ощущение, что книга должна была быть более длинной.
Раскрытие убийства не принесло особо чувства удовлетворения, потому что на расследование как снежный ком наваливалась куча запутанных деталей и появлялись новые связи, которые лично мне было трудновато отследить. То ли я не успевала за мозгом Ларкина, то ли сама часть расследования была слабо прописана и больше ориентировалась на то, чтобы сам герой что-то там понял, нежели читатель.
По кусочкам в этой части много хороших моментов. Уязвимость Дойла, когда он столкнулся с его прошлым, передана абсолютно прекрасно и аккуратно. Ларкин с его повышенной тревожностью после того, как в прошлой части Дойл оказался под дулом пистолета. Их такие зрелые и чувственные отношения, которые в этой части поднялись еще на одну важную ступень. То, как они полностью дополняют друг друга во время любого расследования и допроса! Я действительно наслаждаюсь каждым их взаимодействием.
Но книга в целом оставляет после себя сдержанные эмоции. Немного не соблюден баланс между личностными отношениями и переживаниями Ларкина и рабочими делами, которые становятся все запутанней и сложней. Назревает вопрос, в каком же виде была эта книга, когда изначальной датой релиза вообще стоял прошлогодний Ноябрь...
Я все еще очень люблю Ларкира, он мне совсем не надоедает, но у меня такое ощущение, что автор не достигнет того пика как со второй частью, где было ну все хорошо, как само расследование, так и личная жизнь Ларкина. Не знаю, будет ли пятая книга последней (и когда она вообще выйдет), но буду надеяться, что история снова пойдет в гору, слишком уж хороши тут герои, чтобы их историю сливать.
И все же несмотря на то, что это, наверное, самая слабая часть серии, я все равно очень рекомендую этот детектив.
тг канал про книжули и не только
--
damn girl 5-й книги еще даже нет на гудридз...rtc
--
НАКОНЕЦ ТО ЕСТЬ ДАТА ВЫХОДА!!! И ЭТО ВСЕГО ЧЕРЕЗ 10 ДНЕЙ
Ларкина как обычно вызывают на место преступления и снова убийца оставил ему персональное послание. Структурно ничего нового, и этого вроде не ждешь от детектива. Но как только начинается расследование, то все смешивается в кучу: рандомные преступники, которые то всплывают, то исчезают, секундное появление мамы Ларкира, опять этот Ноа, внезапная драма Дойла и его lore drop, и многое из этого просто пронеслось мимолетно и практически не оставило следа...Такое ощущение, что книга должна была быть более длинной.
Раскрытие убийства не принесло особо чувства удовлетворения, потому что на расследование как снежный ком наваливалась куча запутанных деталей и появлялись новые связи, которые лично мне было трудновато отследить. То ли я не успевала за мозгом Ларкина, то ли сама часть расследования была слабо прописана и больше ориентировалась на то, чтобы сам герой что-то там понял, нежели читатель.
По кусочкам в этой части много хороших моментов. Уязвимость Дойла, когда он столкнулся с его прошлым, передана абсолютно прекрасно и аккуратно. Ларкин с его повышенной тревожностью после того, как в прошлой части Дойл оказался под дулом пистолета. Их такие зрелые и чувственные отношения, которые в этой части поднялись еще на одну важную ступень. То, как они полностью дополняют друг друга во время любого расследования и допроса! Я действительно наслаждаюсь каждым их взаимодействием.
Но книга в целом оставляет после себя сдержанные эмоции. Немного не соблюден баланс между личностными отношениями и переживаниями Ларкина и рабочими делами, которые становятся все запутанней и сложней. Назревает вопрос, в каком же виде была эта книга, когда изначальной датой релиза вообще стоял прошлогодний Ноябрь...
Я все еще очень люблю Ларкира, он мне совсем не надоедает, но у меня такое ощущение, что автор не достигнет того пика как со второй частью, где было ну все хорошо, как само расследование, так и личная жизнь Ларкина. Не знаю, будет ли пятая книга последней (и когда она вообще выйдет), но буду надеяться, что история снова пойдет в гору, слишком уж хороши тут герои, чтобы их историю сливать.
И все же несмотря на то, что это, наверное, самая слабая часть серии, я все равно очень рекомендую этот детектив.
тг канал про книжули и не только
--
damn girl 5-й книги еще даже нет на гудридз...rtc
--
НАКОНЕЦ ТО ЕСТЬ ДАТА ВЫХОДА!!! И ЭТО ВСЕГО ЧЕРЕЗ 10 ДНЕЙ
August 11, 2025
It’s almost not fair to not give this five stars because once again, the writing, the research, the existential depth…meticulous. But my five star reads are the ones I want to reread again and again.
I should read these again and again because not gonna lie, I am confused. I don’t enjoy murder mysteries enough to reread between releases, so pulling the pieces together is very confusing for me.
I hit the spoiler button so for all you fellow dogs out there, yes they have sex. One scene (2 goes at it), it was honestly pretty lame after all that buildup. It wasn’t exactly closed door, but pretty close. I felt like we deserved a bit more than that after waiting 4.5 books. After that, I realized these books are about love and intimacy but mostly about murder. I will definitely read the last one, no question, but I will also be happy when it’s wrapped up.
I should read these again and again because not gonna lie, I am confused. I don’t enjoy murder mysteries enough to reread between releases, so pulling the pieces together is very confusing for me.
I hit the spoiler button so for all you fellow dogs out there, yes they have sex. One scene (2 goes at it), it was honestly pretty lame after all that buildup. It wasn’t exactly closed door, but pretty close. I felt like we deserved a bit more than that after waiting 4.5 books. After that, I realized these books are about love and intimacy but mostly about murder. I will definitely read the last one, no question, but I will also be happy when it’s wrapped up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
May 26, 2024I'm so bummed the publication date was pushed back! I can't wait for this book to come out! :)
August 12, 2025
It took me awhile to read this but that was just because of my mood. I enjoyed this even though I felt lost at times. These are intricate mysteries and since it’s been awhile since I read the previous books I felt confused. I remembered enough though and I didn’t want to reread the previous books at this time.
I loved Larkin’s progression since first meeting Doyle. He’s come so far! Doyle is just a gem though! Everyone needs an Ira Doyle in their life!
So much develops in this book and both Larkin and Doyle are now involved in a way they could never have expected. Doyle especially has a lot to face.
This got very exciting and it was fast moving but the end felt lackluster. There was so much build up but then it was over in the blink of an eye. If it wasn’t for that I would’ve given this 5 stars.
ARC received for review
I loved Larkin’s progression since first meeting Doyle. He’s come so far! Doyle is just a gem though! Everyone needs an Ira Doyle in their life!
So much develops in this book and both Larkin and Doyle are now involved in a way they could never have expected. Doyle especially has a lot to face.
This got very exciting and it was fast moving but the end felt lackluster. There was so much build up but then it was over in the blink of an eye. If it wasn’t for that I would’ve given this 5 stars.
ARC received for review
July 31, 2025
The story has taken a huge turn, I think. Somehow it wasn't like all the previous books, but at the same time the plot and characters definitely didn't lose their original form.
It was really overwhelmingly good. And sure, the spice was wholeheartedly disappointing for lack of a better word, but in the end I didn't care because the romance and glorious amount of feels were enough for me.
It was really overwhelmingly good. And sure, the spice was wholeheartedly disappointing for lack of a better word, but in the end I didn't care because the romance and glorious amount of feels were enough for me.
August 2, 2025
I can’t recall the last time I had to look up so many consecutive words while reading 😭 decedent (deceased person), NIH (no human involvement), adipocere (corpse wax), aphids (dansk: bladlus), pharisaic (hypocritically pious); and that’s just in the first three chapters!
I’d been a bit too optimistic about jumping into this series without rereading or skimming the previous books, but after chapter three, I had to go back and skim books 1, 2, and 3 because there were simply too many callbacks and names. I’m going to add recaps at the end of this review, so [SPOILER WARNING], but I’ll need them when book 5 comes out in a year or two, lol.
Now, my thoughts on this book: in some ways, I think the writing is too descriptive for my normal taste, but I like it anyway. It makes sense given who Everett is and how his brain works. His narration has to be descriptive because he literally doesn’t forget a thing.
I love these characters so much. I still kind of choose to ignore how fast Evie and Doyle’s courtship and relationship have been, because not that much time has passed in the story, but I’m dangerously attached to them. They’re already such a well-oiled pair. I’m worried about Ira, who’s been so caring and good with Evie in previous books. Now it’s Evie’s turn to handle Doyle’s emotional trauma, but I think he’s up for it; they’re both so tender with each other’s hearts.
I’m kinda over the whole Noah thing. He’s not inherently evil, but I’m ready for him to fade into the background. At least this book put a lid on their story and failed marriage, so hopefully Noah won’t be as present in the next one.
Here's my recaps: As said, I just skimmed books 1, 2, and 3, so please forgive me for any discrepancies, but the following is also only for my own sake. Again: [SPOILER WARNING]
Book 1:
Major Events:
Book 2:
Major Events:
Backstory:
Ending:
Book 3:
Case:
Murder Within a Murder Theme:
Book 4:
Opening:
Leads:
Mob Connections:
Theory:
Clues/Threads:
Climactic Ending:
I’d been a bit too optimistic about jumping into this series without rereading or skimming the previous books, but after chapter three, I had to go back and skim books 1, 2, and 3 because there were simply too many callbacks and names. I’m going to add recaps at the end of this review, so [SPOILER WARNING], but I’ll need them when book 5 comes out in a year or two, lol.
Now, my thoughts on this book: in some ways, I think the writing is too descriptive for my normal taste, but I like it anyway. It makes sense given who Everett is and how his brain works. His narration has to be descriptive because he literally doesn’t forget a thing.
I love these characters so much. I still kind of choose to ignore how fast Evie and Doyle’s courtship and relationship have been, because not that much time has passed in the story, but I’m dangerously attached to them. They’re already such a well-oiled pair. I’m worried about Ira, who’s been so caring and good with Evie in previous books. Now it’s Evie’s turn to handle Doyle’s emotional trauma, but I think he’s up for it; they’re both so tender with each other’s hearts.
I’m kinda over the whole Noah thing. He’s not inherently evil, but I’m ready for him to fade into the background. At least this book put a lid on their story and failed marriage, so hopefully Noah won’t be as present in the next one.
Here's my recaps: As said, I just skimmed books 1, 2, and 3, so please forgive me for any discrepancies, but the following is also only for my own sake. Again: [SPOILER WARNING]
Book 1:
Major Events:
Book 2:
Major Events:
Backstory:
Ending:
Book 3:
Case:
Murder Within a Murder Theme:
Book 4:
Opening:
Leads:
Mob Connections:
Theory:
Clues/Threads:
Climactic Ending:
July 26, 2025
OMG.
Absolutely stunning.
I loved it so much— this might actually be my favorite in the series so far. This is truly a saga that keeps getting better with every book. Hats off to the author!
This book had everything I could’ve hoped for. The mystery was incredibly gripping, full of twists and turns, and even more personal than usual for the main characters— it had me hooked from start to finish.
The characterization of the two leads was just brilliant. There’s no one quite like Evie and Ira— they’re unique, fascinating, and such a joy to read about. It’s ridiculously easy to get attached to both of them. Larkin is phenomenal: complex, realistic, and totally unforgettable. And Ira— he’s something special. His empathy and huge heart won me over completely. I’m so glad he had such a big role in this one.
And OMG their relationship! Aaaaaaah I adored every single thing that happened between them in this book ❤️❤️❤️ They’re absolutely beautiful together, and their love is one of the most powerful and heartwarming I’ve ever read. These two are everything ❤️❤️❤️ They go straight to the heart, made me feel all the feels, and had me rooting for them the whole way. I honestly could’ve read about them forever ❤️
Memento Mori is a true gem— so well-written, with incredible attention to detail. The mystery pulls you in, and the characters are impossible not to love: flawed, human, and utterly captivating. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone!
I kindly received an ARC of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
Fav quotes:
Absolutely stunning.
I loved it so much— this might actually be my favorite in the series so far. This is truly a saga that keeps getting better with every book. Hats off to the author!
This book had everything I could’ve hoped for. The mystery was incredibly gripping, full of twists and turns, and even more personal than usual for the main characters— it had me hooked from start to finish.
The characterization of the two leads was just brilliant. There’s no one quite like Evie and Ira— they’re unique, fascinating, and such a joy to read about. It’s ridiculously easy to get attached to both of them. Larkin is phenomenal: complex, realistic, and totally unforgettable. And Ira— he’s something special. His empathy and huge heart won me over completely. I’m so glad he had such a big role in this one.
And OMG their relationship! Aaaaaaah I adored every single thing that happened between them in this book ❤️❤️❤️ They’re absolutely beautiful together, and their love is one of the most powerful and heartwarming I’ve ever read. These two are everything ❤️❤️❤️ They go straight to the heart, made me feel all the feels, and had me rooting for them the whole way. I honestly could’ve read about them forever ❤️
Memento Mori is a true gem— so well-written, with incredible attention to detail. The mystery pulls you in, and the characters are impossible not to love: flawed, human, and utterly captivating. I wholeheartedly recommend this series to everyone!
I kindly received an ARC of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
Fav quotes:
July 28, 2025
I wish I had the adequate words to express *just* how good this book is. I'll try...
Larkin and Doyle's relationship. The ongoing and brilliantly thought out story arc. The cleverness of the plot, the subplots, the plot devices, and plot surprises. The rich tapestry of dirt and noise and nuance that is New York City and its boroughs. The intricacies and intimacies. The mother of twists and the frenzy of the final chapters.
Once again Poe delivers excellence in storytelling and I. Am. Here. For. It!!!
I can't wait to see what she gifts us with next.
5 star murder-mystery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Note: You cannot read Hudson River Homicides as a stand alone and you must read the previous three books in this series.
Larkin and Doyle's relationship. The ongoing and brilliantly thought out story arc. The cleverness of the plot, the subplots, the plot devices, and plot surprises. The rich tapestry of dirt and noise and nuance that is New York City and its boroughs. The intricacies and intimacies. The mother of twists and the frenzy of the final chapters.
Once again Poe delivers excellence in storytelling and I. Am. Here. For. It!!!
I can't wait to see what she gifts us with next.
5 star murder-mystery ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Note: You cannot read Hudson River Homicides as a stand alone and you must read the previous three books in this series.
July 29, 2025
This book was utter perfection to me. Evie and Ira are one of the best fictional couples that I have ever read. The way they just fit together, the way that they care and support each other, the way they understand each other is just amazing.
I love the author's approach to the history of New York, criminal investigations, mourning period and all that entails as well as humor. The humor here is top notch and C.S. Poe never disappoints. The smart banter is a joy to read. The interactions between the characters range from witty to cute, from romantic to anguished. It's a full gamut of emotions and experiences. I feel like I have visited the places with Everett and Ira while they investigated this tight well thought out mystery. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what the author has in store for my fave guys!
I love the author's approach to the history of New York, criminal investigations, mourning period and all that entails as well as humor. The humor here is top notch and C.S. Poe never disappoints. The smart banter is a joy to read. The interactions between the characters range from witty to cute, from romantic to anguished. It's a full gamut of emotions and experiences. I feel like I have visited the places with Everett and Ira while they investigated this tight well thought out mystery. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to see what the author has in store for my fave guys!
August 19, 2025
Larkin took Doyle’s face in one hand.
“Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“Thank you for following me.”
“To the ends of the Earth.”
“Earth is spherical.”
“Yeah, it is.”
August 10, 2025
Just saw that this book has been pushed back. Amazon cancelled my preorder. I'm very disappointed. I hope that the blurp is right and the book will still be published in 2024. I think this was my most anticipated book for this year.
8/10/2025. Wonderful addition to the Memento Mori series. I love Larkin and Doyle just as much as they love each other. So glad there will be at least one more book. As always the action can be a little fast and furious at times and some of the scenes a little gruesome, but then Larkin and Doyle appear together and its magic.
8/10/2025. Wonderful addition to the Memento Mori series. I love Larkin and Doyle just as much as they love each other. So glad there will be at least one more book. As always the action can be a little fast and furious at times and some of the scenes a little gruesome, but then Larkin and Doyle appear together and its magic.
Want to read
October 27, 2023HYPPPPEEEEEEEE
LOVE THIS SERIES SM
LOVE THIS SERIES SM
July 29, 2025
I was happy, then sad, then stressed af, then anxious, then again happy, then extra happy wink wink, then sad again, then tears because yes, then scared, then furious, then screaming because ofc, then it was over.
A rollercoaster of twists and turns and everything in between. I still have accelerated palpitations, do I need a midnight grilled cheese (without tomatoes, please and thank you) to try calm my heart and soul? Probably.
I adore these two; Evie and Ira have come a long way since they first met. Their relationship has grown so much. They communicate, they love each other a lot and I love them a lots, too. From the first time, the very beginning. They don't get to have many domestic scenes since the case takes away so much of their time but what we saw took me to heaven and beyond, they were so perfect that I'm still smiling. Those two are soulmates, two men with trauma and sadness who have each other and put the other first, who sees the other, support them, understand them, who is a safe place. And that is the best freaking thing ever! Tears, so many tears!
And I want them to catch that bad guy asap because this is so stressful I might be bald by the end of the series! I need him found, caught and if I'm allowed to be kind of vigilante, tortured and sent to hell.
A rollercoaster of twists and turns and everything in between. I still have accelerated palpitations, do I need a midnight grilled cheese (without tomatoes, please and thank you) to try calm my heart and soul? Probably.
I adore these two; Evie and Ira have come a long way since they first met. Their relationship has grown so much. They communicate, they love each other a lot and I love them a lots, too. From the first time, the very beginning. They don't get to have many domestic scenes since the case takes away so much of their time but what we saw took me to heaven and beyond, they were so perfect that I'm still smiling. Those two are soulmates, two men with trauma and sadness who have each other and put the other first, who sees the other, support them, understand them, who is a safe place. And that is the best freaking thing ever! Tears, so many tears!
And I want them to catch that bad guy asap because this is so stressful I might be bald by the end of the series! I need him found, caught and if I'm allowed to be kind of vigilante, tortured and sent to hell.
August 6, 2025
crying sobbing throwing up im so happy and sad and a proper review to come later when i can think properly
August 7, 2025
TBH this fell flat for me. I found myself bored with the storyline. Just tell me who it is already! The interactions between the main characters is what saved this book.
August 8, 2025
It was a 5-star read up until the end of chapter 9, but after that slowly went downhill to 3-star anticlimactic level, so I am giving 3.5-stars in total. It is definitely not the best Author's work.
I think the reason is that there are too many side characters involved in the mystery and that their reasons and connections are all very implausible or underdeveloped ones.
Joe's part was particularly promising only to end up with nothing, literally. Phillis's role also had so much sudden and unexpected potential but resulted in clumsy explanation that she is a wierdo. And apparently we are expected to believe that this wierdo has no issues with killing random people and then inviting police to a next room for a quick chat.
By the way - how Esther's belongings ended up in a Stephanie's house? How come that no one reported the missing for several weeks cat-sitter? How is it possible that Stephanie's neighbour did not notice the smell of a month old rotting body?
Noah. That was bad, really bad. He had beed so delightfully and consistently self-centered and antagonistic throughout the first 3 books and even in the beginning of HRH, but switched gears sometime in the middle and now is ready to sigh any papers and actually seems to be a nice guy. That's one more underexplored avenue that promised a battle of the century but ended up with a light breeze..
The main evil. Well, I am 99% sure who it is and it's getting boring. And of course Larkin could guess it as well. Police employee, man, close to retirement, personally met Larkin during the first book, have Arts degree. And the name is.. Was it really hard? By the end of the second book Larkin new all of this except for the gender. By the end of the third book he got gender confirmation as well.
I can't help myself, but I am thinking now about the prevous versions of this book. As we know it was re-written at least couple of times. Maybe, innesessary.
I think the reason is that there are too many side characters involved in the mystery and that their reasons and connections are all very implausible or underdeveloped ones.
Joe's part was particularly promising only to end up with nothing, literally. Phillis's role also had so much sudden and unexpected potential but resulted in clumsy explanation that she is a wierdo. And apparently we are expected to believe that this wierdo has no issues with killing random people and then inviting police to a next room for a quick chat.
By the way - how Esther's belongings ended up in a Stephanie's house? How come that no one reported the missing for several weeks cat-sitter? How is it possible that Stephanie's neighbour did not notice the smell of a month old rotting body?
Noah. That was bad, really bad. He had beed so delightfully and consistently self-centered and antagonistic throughout the first 3 books and even in the beginning of HRH, but switched gears sometime in the middle and now is ready to sigh any papers and actually seems to be a nice guy. That's one more underexplored avenue that promised a battle of the century but ended up with a light breeze..
The main evil. Well, I am 99% sure who it is and it's getting boring. And of course Larkin could guess it as well. Police employee, man, close to retirement, personally met Larkin during the first book, have Arts degree. And the name is.. Was it really hard? By the end of the second book Larkin new all of this except for the gender. By the end of the third book he got gender confirmation as well.
I can't help myself, but I am thinking now about the prevous versions of this book. As we know it was re-written at least couple of times. Maybe, innesessary.
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