Cosplay Killer

Cosplay Killer (2020) Dahlia Donovan (London Podcast Mystery)

Osian Garey used to be a paramedic but now has a podcast. His partner and best friend from childhood, Dannel Ortea, is a fireman. Unfortunately, Dannel is being forced to accept that he probably cannot go on being a firefighter.

It wasn’t the work itself. Or not only the daily grind of potentially life-threatening situations. The constant racket at the station between sirens, co-workers, and engine noises combined with dealing with people non-stop made life hell. He wondered how many years had been knocked off his life from the damage of the high-stress environment.

And Osian is still struggling with an accident a worked the year before, where a young woman they tried to save ended up dying.

No matter how many times his counsellor told him that he’d done his best and circumstances had been out of his control, Osian knew it hadn’t been enough. A young woman had died in his care.

This is similar in some ways to the Grasmere Cottage Mystery, in that one of the leads is autistic, although one better able to function in “normal” society, even if trying to do so is slowly destroying him.

Both characters are unabashed geeks, and love cosplay, even if it’s hard for Danny, it’s not quite as difficult as it could be.

The best thing about a convention was being able to put a helmet on— and have people ignore him. He got fist bumps and high fives.

The characters were really lovely, and I do love all the rep in this story–especially how neither sexuality or skin color is one of the “issues” that has to be overcome. It’s just who they are, and the mystery is the focus of the story. (Let me be completely clear–I love that this world is accepting of them as they are, and they don’t have to battle society while trying to solve a murder. If only real society were like this.)

There is another book coming in this series, and I think I’d like to read it.

Publisher : Hot Tree Publishing
Rating: 8/10

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