Subway Slayings (Memento Mori)

This is the sequel of Madison Square Murders that I wanted and never expected at the same time.

Larkin and Doyle are back to solve another murder, this time deep in the tunnels of the New York City subway system. While hints of this case were dropped near the end of book one, this is just as complex and complicated as the first case they worked together. Not only is their work relationship heating up, but so is their personal one.

Larkin is in the middle of a divorce but he's also in the middle of falling in love with Doyle--even if he doesn't realize that yet. Larkin is...complex. His HSAM makes his life difficult and his associations attack him left and right, leaving him a bit of a mess most days.

By Larkin's side is the steady and calm Ira Doyle. Doyle is a grieving father who's making the best of his life. Or is he? We learn more about Doyle and his past in this book and it's heartbreaking. Doyle keeps up a good front. He's Larkin's rock, but Larkin is learning to be Doyle's as well.

Between trying to solve the new batch of murders discovered, Larkin and Doyle become closer. Feelings, while not outright confessed, are presented in a more straightforward manner than before and it's wonderful to see these two slightly broken, but doing their best to live in a world that doesn't understand them, men find solace in each other.

This is a wonderful follow-up to the first book, the case is interesting and hard to figure out at first because there are so many moving pieces. Larking is heartbreaking and I cried for him. Doyle is wonderful but my heart broke for him over and over as his pain was revealed. And the writing is of course brilliant in only the way CS Poe knows how to do.

I've been waiting for this book so so much after reading the first one and fall in love.
The first book was immediately rate as one of my favorite, touching, romantic, subtle absolutely great.
But this one....not so much.
The romance was just bad. The book starts by the tow MC sharing a bad (!!!) already in each other arms. What?? How did we got here? And there is absolutely no development. Yes they are kissing but it feels forced and not genuine. Also the author keeps reference the previous book but again in a forced way. Like the hair tie, it was full of meaning when they are in the pre intimate phase, but after sharing a bed? Come on...
Same with the love language, coming back to it in the first chapter was so redundant and even annoying (and I loved it on the first book).
One more thing asking Ira to join the investigation this time seems out of the blue what a scratch artist has to do with old photo recovery?
And Everett...I even didn't recognize him he became totally different from his usual self it was just impossible to connect to.
Sorry I really waited for this book but not going to buy next one