ARC Review: Somebody to Die For (Requiem Inc. 3) by Kris T. Bethke

Blurb:

Dying is easy. New love is terrifying.

Avery Wagner quit ghostwalking when he lost his beloved anchor to cancer. Now teaching others who have the ability, he’s beginning to live again—but he’s not looking for another lover, not now, maybe not ever.

But then he meets Jameson… younger, talented, dedicated, almost perfect, even though his mouth sometimes opens ahead of his brain. And Jameson wants Avery desperately, though he’ll settle for friendship if he can’t have more.

When an emergency demands they work together in the field, Avery discovers just how perfect Jameson is. But he had a perfect love once before, and he’s scared to even consider that he might have a chance at another. Can he trust Jameson with his newly healing heart?

Dani's rating:

We first met Avery in book 1 of the series. Having lost his bonded Anchor and husband four years prior, Avery is broken and lost. He no longer ghostwalks, as he can't imagine having anyone other than Luke anchor him, but he is willing to train new ghostwalkers on the art of leading the dead into the afterlife.

Jameson is a new Anchor. He doesn't have the Anchor gene, so he has to work harder than some of the new recruits, but Jameson is eager to learn and care for someone. He has boundless energy and the unfortunate tendency to blurt things out without thinking.

Jameson attaches to Avery almost immediately. Avery is almost two decades older than Jameson, but that's of little consequence in a world where ghostwalkers easily live 120 years or more. Avery resists Jameson's affection initially, but the thought of Jameson anchoring anyone else makes him jealous.





The men's relationship moves beyond friendship when Avery is asked to find a novice ghostwalker lost in the spirit realm. Avery asks Jameson to be his Anchor and has to move past the guilt he feels over ghostwalking without Luke.

I liked the slow burn, strong hurt/comfort trope, and vivid world building (this book cannot be read as a standalone; the series needs to be read in order). Both MCs are likable and complex, although Avery has a richer backstory.

However, because so much was made of the bond Avery had with his deceased mate, Luke, the romance between Avery and Jameson paled in comparison. Jameson will never be Avery's bonded; he will never share with Avery what Avery shared with Luke. That doesn't mean Avery and Jameson can't be happy together, but a small part of me wanted more for Jameson, who deserved all the love.

The story ends with a tentative HEA (the epilogue was too short to be truly satisfying), but the series doesn't feel complete. We're introduced to some new secondary characters, who'd make wonderful MCs. I'd love to read more Requiem books.

Get the book:

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.

~Harper Lee

An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Download links are provided as a courtesy and do not constitute an endorsement of or affiliation with the book, author, publisher, or website listed.