Rating: 3.25🌈

The Bone Collector jump starts a new series about the school of young psychopaths, The Watchtower, that’s been assembled by the government using techniques and methodology on raising children who exhibit this type of behavior for the purpose of turning them into weapons. Off the record black operatives, who can operate at the highest levels of government and society.

The base of their scientific research is the Mulvaney family so it’s helpful to know that history and structures that help foster the development here. Those characters also play a role in this series.

It’s a Psychopaths R Us approach in some respects. Not so for the government.

I thought The Bone Collector had some strong elements but wasn’t the best book the author has written. Especially as a intro into a new series.

Best aspects of the book:

Gift Ayutthaya. One of the main characters, Gift shows up as a touch starved young man who hides his real personality behind an innocent facade. All along, he’s mentally assessing the situation and trying to figure out how to fit in, adjusting to a environment where his roommates are killers who have adopted him as an adorable pet and he’s a klutzy handler to be. This dynamic between Gift , Payton , and all other psychopaths in his personal “pod” is the most interesting and fascinating part of the story.

Gift and Payton’s non-sexual comfort, constant touch connection, along with the occasional puppy pile aspect of the other young killers when it comes to Gift is something I needed more of. The growth Gift exhibits from the start of the story is seen and communicated through his interactions here with the group.

The group, Payton , Dove, Remi, Mos, and the rest? Totally invested in. I wanted more of their assignment and murder mystery they were investigating. This segment was fascinating but the author let the whole thing fade away with just a few wrap up sentences. Shame.

Weaknesses of the story:

Park Chen. He starts and ends as a one dimensional character. We get little in depth background and, his emotional response to things and Gift are all less likely for the hardcore operator the author is trying to convey. Frankly, the only way we knew he was a scary assassin was that the author said so. Nothing in the story or character descriptions really made him look like a monster, the psychological killer he was supposed to be. Never bought it.

All James other books made those assassins feel gut wrenchingly raw, or deadly or whatever. But Park Chen? Nope.

And the manner in which Gift got through to him and into a sexual relationship after a ton of denial? Well , that was a sneeze and a breeze. Blink and it’s bye bye virgin and onto the D/s and pain kink! So much sex that the rest of the plot is forgotten.

Than the elements about Gift, his background, some of which was easily guessed at, others were a bit extreme. But it left the main focus, The Watch, and everything going on there behind, which felt like a huge mistake, narratively speaking. that’s where I wanted to be. And where my questions were.

That scenario wound up too fast. Left too many unanswered plots holes. Which I suppose might be revealed in the next novel.

Overall, I feel The Bone Collector suffers was a over abundance of a lackluster relationship, not enough of a story with the other elements that are forming the foundation of the series, weak villains, and uncertain focus. Half the couple I liked, the other didn’t feel realistic.

I’m looking forward to Peyton’s story because he’s one of the more dynamic characters here. And Gift and his relationship is more interesting than the romance of the main couple.

Interesting only as an introduction to the series.

The Watch:

The Bone Collector #1

The Sin Eater #2 – TBD

Connected series:

Necessary Evils – Mulvaney Family

Jericho’s Boy’s

Buy Link:

The Bone Collector (The Watch Book 1)

The Watch:

The Bone Collector #1

Blurb:

Park Chen has spent most of his life as a killer—a deadly, deep cover operative known as the Bone Collector. Now, he’s been benched. Reassigned as an instructor at Project Watchtower, he’s tasked with training a school of psychopathic assassins while trying to keep a promise to his friends.

Gift Ayutthaya isn’t treated like a gift at all. If anything, his parents treat him as a burden, though a spoiled one. After an attempt on his life, they pass that burden onto someone else. Park. The man Gift’s been fantasizing about for years. A man who sees him as an adorable but incompetent distraction.

It’s no secret that Gift doesn’t belong at the Watch, but Park’s made a vow to keep him safe. Gift has made a vow, too. He’s going to use every weapon in his arsenal to find a way to seduce Park and make him love him, once and for all. Or die trying.

Loving Gift was never the issue—Park’s already there. But assignments at the Watch aren’t optional. To stay, Gift has to prove himself, something Park just can’t allow. Can Gift get Park to see that, when it comes to murder, Gift is aptly named? Or will he be relegated to the sidelines in both school and in love?

The Bone Collector is an action packed, smoking hot, age gap romance with an HEA and no cliffhangers. It features a rule-following assassin turned reluctant teacher of psychopaths and an adorable, off-limits, fumbling student who just can’t seem to stay away from each other. Prepare yourself for gratuitous violence, very dark humor, more blood than an ‘80s horror movie, and enough heat to fog up a window factory. This is book one in the The Watch series. Each book follows a different couple.