Rating: 3.5đ
The Fix Is In is the fourth book in Mary Calmesâ Torus Investigations series and itâs probably my least favorite of the group to date.
Surprisingly because this one sort of breaks a number of patterns set out in all the previous novels and it includes a circle of friends and support characters that I really got into.
Shaw James, seventh son of a seventh Scottish son and Torus fixer, has been handed a new case from his bossâ idea of helping people who canât normally afford their expensive services by doing pro bono work on a selective basis.
His new assignment involves rainy Oregon, and a paranormal investigator that someone seems to feel might be in danger.
The character of Shaw James is splendid . Heâs not what I term a typical Calmes golden boy but I do love the character traits she gave him and the personality as well as family history that makes Shaw so interesting and attractive. Heâs terrific and incredibly likable immediately.
The small town he arrives at feels realistically sodden and uncomfortable (Iâd leave). And the towns citizens are what Iâd expect of some of the Pacific Northwest small townshipsâŠquirky, interesting, a patchwork of humanity. Calmes really does a excellent job here in getting a feel for life as in this area and itâs people.
Even the investigations into the potential âghostly scaresâ that the other main character, Benjamin Grace and tiny crew, are inquiring about, are done with equal amounts of respect, seriousness, and a smidge of humor.
So my issue? Sigh. Itâs that for the majority of the story, I felt that Benjamin Grace is or was an absolute dunderhead. A twit of the biggest proportions! Honestly, there were so many times I just wanted to smack him myself. The man was as clueless as can be. A kindergartner would have glommed onto the facts around him, seen the lightbulb going off over his head, and not been a total nit about things! And not once did any of the supposedly sane people around him, at any time, ever speak up and announce âBenjamin Grace, you great doofus, thatâs the dumbest thing Iâve ever heard or seen anyone ever do or utter outside of a Adam Sandler movie. â!!!!
He withholds important information from everyone all the time!
Outside of Monty Python, when did idiocy become so attractive?
Good thing everyone and everything is so good that I worked overtime to ignore Benny there. Heâs not even one of the typical âgolden boysâ but a cousin. Many, many âŠâŠ many times removed.
Trust me, Benjamin is a character I feel just didnât work. Why even write a character this dim?
Calmes does break a pattern here with her formula for the series which makes me think sheâs setting up her next novel in the series and itâs couple.
Needed to get them out and away.
I look forward to that one.
Iâve enjoyed this series and if youâre a Mary Calmes fan, I know you have too. Iâve listed the series below in case youâve missed any. Check them out.
Torus Intercession series:
No Quick Fix #1
In A Fix #2
Fix It Up #3
The Fix Is In #4
https://www.goodreads.com âș showThe Fix Is In (Torus Intercession, #4) by Mary Calmes – Goodreads
How can a man who doesnât believe in things that go bump in the night possibly protect a man who does?
Itâs safe to say that Shaw James is a pragmatist who has no patience for anything but the facts. He is good at assessing threats and focusing on a clear objective when he goes out on a job for Torus Intercession. But he hasnât had to be a detective before, itâs all brand new, so why his boss chose him to figure out who may, or may not, be trying to kill Benjamin Grace is beyond him. Protecting a paranormal investigator from whoeverâor whateverâmay be trying to kill him is completely out of Shawâs wheelhouse, and how is he supposed to help find an attacker when the guy heâs sent to protect maintains that the threat is ghostly in origin? Itâs insane, and Shaw does not do insane. Benjamin Grace is going to be a problem.
But Benji is nothing at all like Shaw imagined heâd be, and the fixer is spellbound from their first meeting. Benji is kind and can laugh at himself, doesnât take things too seriously, and, more than anything, he wants to help everyone. The man is inarguably Shawâs polar opposite, and he brings out every protective instinct in Shaw. Best of all, though, is that Benji seems every bit as enchanted by the man sent to protect him.
Together, Benji and Shaw must work to figure out whatâs happening in the small town of Rune, Oregon, and it quickly proves more difficult than it should be to keep Benji alive. When it goes from difficult to seemingly impossible, Shaw packs Benji up and takes him back home to Chicago where the most frightening thing is Shawâs own big, loud, loving, and overly-invested-in-his-love-life family who canât seem to resist meddling in his affairs.
Or not. Turns out the scariest thing might just be Benji, the guy who seems perfect for Shaw.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 