Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Lucky “Simon Harrison” Lucklighter left behind his criminal past to become one of the best agents in the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. He’s found a committed partner in fellow agent Bo Schollenberger and built a life.
Now, enemies within the SNB and a friend’s betrayal leave him nowhere to turn—not even to his mentor.
His boss’s life, the future of the SNB, and Lucky’s career depend on him. With the help of his lover, an old enemy turned ally, and a man Lucky thought he’d seen the last of, he must stand and fight for what he believes in.
Even if he has to step outside the law.
Suspicion picks up after the events in Reunion, the sixth book in Eden Winters’ fabulously entertaining and complex Diversion series. There Lucky “Simon Harrison” Lucklighter had quite the reunion with his father as well as old lover. Bo Schollenberger too had his emotional travails and sorrows that almost broke him and them. Now with Lucky recovered, the focus shifts back to their shared office and enemies at the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau’s Department of Diversion Prevention and Control. And that also means danger for Walter, Lucky’s boss, mentor, and unspoken “father” stand-in.
Through six books, we have been through incredible growth with these characters. Emotional and great personal development as they matured and endured great upheavals in every sector of their lives. Near death experiences, addiction, great loves lost and reunited, unbelievable angst, and yes, betrayal, laughter and joy. This is quite the saga.
At this point, Lucky and Bo have settled into an established relationship, out at work as a couple,live in nephews, pets and all. It’s been hard won, and we’ve been with them every step of the way. Lucky and Bo, along with all the supporting cast of characters either from their work or from outside (Lucky’s sister, people from their pasts…) are all so well constructed. Flawed, vivid, ornery at times, and all so real that you often forget they don’t exist outside this series. They feel that authentic as do their situations and everyday complex realities of the pharmaceutical business.
Winters plot is tightly laid out, dense layers threaded through with both an overall series arc as well as a singular storyline plot makes for a complex, adventurous tale. A monkey box puzzle sort of feel at times, not sure if it’s going to be scary or fun or both. So many twists and turns for us and our main characters to fight through, one hurdle, one barrier or more at a time. At its heart is Lucky, scrabbling with everything in him for the people he loves, Bo, Walter, his extended family, trying to figure out who to trust while coming out ahead.
How I love this man and the man he loves.
Eden Winters has said she has two more books planned for this series. That both distresses me because it means the end is in sight for this series I love and that it not over yet. Something to celebrate.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting both Lucky and Bo, please don’t start here. Do these great characters and their series justice by starting at the beginning. I’ve listed them all for you below. Watch that first inauspicious meeting, then that wild ride of a road to romance, love and a settled relationship you will find here. It’s one hell of a rocky road and should be read in the order they were written. Don’t miss a book. I highly recommend them all, including this one, Suspicion (Diversion Book 7) by Eden Winters.
It’s one of my favorites this year!
Cover art: LC Chase. It’s always hard for me to really get into these headless torso covers. They are overdone these days, especially those with a gun. I’d at least like to a Lucky the Cat or another element special to this story or series included.
Sales Links: Amazon
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 281 pages
Expected publication: January 5th 2019 by Rocky Ridge Books
ASINB07LDYVBTV
Edition Language English
Series Diversion – add to Goodreads here.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 