Just wonderful

Gregory Ashe is a superb writer and Tristan James is a superb narrator. This is a partnership made in audiobook heaven. I adore Hazard and Somerset and although the author has spoiled us with three series so far, I hope their will be more. Gregory Ashe is a one click author for me.

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Enjoyable Story

The story premise is good and the characters are likeable. The narration was good too.

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Powerful

Final Orders is the last book in the Arrows in the Hand arc within the Hazard and Somerset series. Fair warning - these books MUST be read in order otherwise you’ll be confused.

I adore the Hazard and Somerset series, and Final Orders was spectacular from the enthralling mystery to the intricate relationships between Emery and John, their family, and friends. These men have grown so much. They aren’t perfect, but they feel real, and they have come so far. This book is full of suspense, humor, and action.

Tristan James has been an incredible narrator for the Hazard and Somerset series. This final book in the Arrows in the Hand arc was masterfully narrated and produced. Tristan embodies all the characters extremely well and has a keen sense of pacing and drama which only enhances the listening experience.

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So topical

Much of this book could be ripped from the headlines – fanatical parents, woke teachers, paramilitary groups, controversial author – all in and of themselves would make a compelling story. Throw it all together and you’ve got chaos. But, good chaos.

Although this is a Hazard and Somerset book, the story was more weighted in Emery’s point of view. This made sense – he has the most to lose. If he can’t hold on to their foster son, he’s likely to come apart at the seams. John Henry still has to deal with his meddling father and a police force who won’t always do what they’re told.

What begins as a simple bodyguard assignment for Emery turns darker when his protectee turns up dead. The famous author’s murder sets off a string of events that weren’t predictable, and yet made total sense as they happened. And every time Emery thinks he’s got a grasp on what’s going on, that knowledge slips through his fingers like sand and he’s back to figuring out who has which motive, who might’ve done the crime, and whether or not he can keep his foster son safe. Colt just seems to attract trouble wherever he goes.

I’ve always wanted this family to come together, and when that was threatened, I wanted to shake some sense into Colt. Yet over and over, he did the wrong thing for the right reason.

As usual, I didn’t see who the murderer was. Everything fell into place, of course, and I felt satisfied with the end. Throw in another couple of ripped from the headlines events, and the story rounded out nicely.

Is this the end of the line? The title refers to Colt’s future adoption into the household, but a few loose ends are still hanging. Gregory Ashe really loves this couple and their found family, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he started a new branch – after all, Colt hasn’t left for college yet.

Tristan James has narrated this series brilliantly, and I’ve enjoyed all his performances. Glad he helmed this one. If this is the end, I’ll be sad to see the men walk off into the sunset. If there’s more to come, count me in for the wild ride ahead.

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Because you have to!!

I have already reviewed the e-book which you can read below this audiobook review. This may make you question well why listen to the audiobook? Well because you have to! You feel that you are in the moment. If you have not already done so you must listen to the audio recordings with Tristan James in both this and the past series which feature Hazard and Somerset. As with the other books in the series, this book is emotionally hard-going but not without its' ridiculous moments and Tristan captures all of these moments beautifully because he really gets Ashe's writing. His phrasing is sublime and you feel that he really is Hazard and Somerset and all the other great, good and bad characters in this series.
It is the end of the series but I hope not the end of the author/narrator relationship.


Ebook review
'Well, the plan was to read this book slowly and savour it as I knew it was to be the last in the series. Initially, that was fine but then as Gregory Ashe cranked up the action I had to finish off the last half in a day.

It was the perfect ending with some beautiful moments of love, growth and laughter but also painful moments when no matter what you do you are never deemed good enough and kept dangling on a string. In the latter case, many of us get through this and seek and create loving relationships elsewhere; but as seen in this book and sadly in everyday life not all of us can manage the complex emotions that arise from a love that is continuously couched in criticism.

In this book we see how far Hazard and Somerset have come through the prism of watching the young; Colt, Ash and several others. Particularly for Somerset for whom it reignites what the past has cost him until recently in trying to please everyone but not himself.

I am prepared to let Hazard and Somerset go only if they continue with their short stories and pop up in other series

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Just great!

Fully engaging great story. Our characters developing so well and authentically. A beautiful study of love in the context of queerness that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of a heteronormative and at times terrifying world.

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What a rollercoaster

Wow. Really - just, wow.

In a series finale, Gregory Ashe always seems to pull out the stops. He does so here, but more than before?

Final Orders is a rollercoaster with highs and lows and sudden momentary pauses which turn your emotions inside out. In many ways, this has been a fraught series. Colt's effect on Hazard and Somers; Hazard navigating parenthood; Somers growing painfully into his new job as chief of police. There's not been much in the way of unalloyed happiness.

There's more emotional sunshine here - hard-won but perhaps all the brighter for it. However the intervals are still patchy. There's plenty of anger, resentment, and bigotry which come across as alarmingly real. A febrile, poisonous atmosphere drives the plot, an atmosphere which is too close to the bone for Hazard and Somers and many other characters.

As ever with a finale, Ashe draws together many of the outstanding plot threads and weaves them with consummate skill. This is the best finale novel so far. Tightly-written, compelling, emotionally charged, it held me in its grip like few other novels have.

Tristan James is Hazard and Somers, his characterisations honed over 16 novels. Perfect.

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