Rating: 4.5 stars
Buy Link:
Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novella


Michael Carmac is a cop in a small town. He’s suffering from PTSD due to an incident that led to a child being killed and it’s taking its toll on him. Michael’s drinking a lot, self medicating because he doesn’t think the department’s psychologist is helping him. If it wasn’t for his friend and partner, Angel, Michael would fall to the bottom of the bottle and never crawl out. Michael’s feelings for Angel run much deeper than friendship, though. He finds himself unable to stop fantasizing about him.

As it turns out, Angel is feeling the same about Michael, and as he tries to be a source of comfort, he discovers he actually wants to make Michael’s fantasies come true. As their friendship begins to turn into love, Michael and Angel will need to rely on each other for support in order to make the long road to happiness a little smoother.

I am very partial to cop stories, especially ones where partners fall for each other. So, when I saw the blurb for The Incident, it seemed to be right up my alley. I dove right in, and I’m happy to say, this novella was quite good.

First of all, I want to say that it took me a while to get attached to Michael and Angel. It’s not that I disliked them. I found both men to be a bit abrasive. They both drank too much, especially Michael, and that actually made me a little uncomfortable. However, I’m sure it was supposed to be that way, so I was able to press past my discomfort. The men do have an undeniable chemistry. It felt almost desperate, especially from Michael. Their first kiss felt like an actual ache. The sex between them is explosive, once again with a certain feeling of desperation, almost like they cling to each other so they won’t be blown away by a hurricane.

The pace of The Incident is well done. There’s never a dull moment, and since the story is a novella, it’s not really very long. Everything is steady with an increase in the action in the last 1/4 of the book. By then, it really takes off. It’s tense and grabs hold and won’t let go until the end. The atmosphere of the story is what I’d consider dark and brooding. I would compare it to the old film noir movies where happy endings are always easily come by.

In this story, you get to know Michael and Angel and what makes them tick. Also, you’ll see how they and the other officers in the department get along together. Mostly, though, this is a character-driven story. Michael and Angel take complete center stage, as well they should.

The ending of The Incident wrapped up well, and I found myself to be completely satisfied. I closed up with a smile and a sigh. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer. I highly recommend this novella, especially if you’re a fan of moody cop stories. This one is very worth your time. Definitely check it out.