Book Highlight: Addict by Matt Doyle

Title: Addict (The Cassie Tam Files #1)

Author: Matt Doyle

Publisher: Nine Star Press

Publication Date: May 8, 2017

Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery

New Hopeland was built to be the centre of the technological age, but like everywhere else, it has its dark side. Assassins, drug dealers and crooked businessmen form a vital part of the city’s make-up, and sometimes, the police are in too deep themselves to be effective. But hey, there are always other options …

For P.I. Cassie Tam, business has been slow. So, when she’s hired to investigate the death of a local VR addict named Eddie Redwood, she thinks it’ll be easy money. All she has to do is prove to the deceased’s sister Lori that the local P.D. were right to call it an accidental overdose. The more she digs though, the more things don’t seem to sit right, and soon, Cassie finds herself knee deep in a murder investigation. But that’s just the start of her problems.

When the case forces Cassie to make contact with her drug dealing ex-girlfriend, Charlie Goldman, she’s left with a whole lot of long buried personal issues to deal with. Then there’s her client. Lori Redwood is a Tech Shifter, someone who uses a metal exoskeleton to roleplay as an animal. Cassie isn’t one to judge, but the Tech Shifting community has always left her a bit nervous. That wouldn’t be a problem if Lori wasn’t fast becoming the first person that she’s been genuinely attracted to since splitting with Charlie. Oh, and then there’s the small matter of the police wanting her to back off the case.

Easy money, huh? Yeah, right.

_{-from Amazon}

Why This Book

Addict is the first book in The Cassie Tam Files series, combining science fiction with mystery to feature a smart, rough around the edges PI named Cassie Tam. Addict is a fast-paced, relatively short novel, but does an amazing job of introducing the characters and the world.

I picked this book because this one introduces Cassie’s love interest, Lori, who also happens to be her client. While their blossoming relationship isn’t strong in this novel, it beautifully sets up an interesting relationship that just brings out all the humanness in Cassie. I loved this couple together and just how off balance it set Cassie, especially since she’s still recovering from her last relationship. I also loved just how normal LGBTQ relationships are in this world. There’s also a very strong likelihood this was the first book with a sapphic romance I ever reviewed on The Lily Cafe, as well as being the first indie book I ever accepted for review, so this one has a very special place in my heart and my blog’s history.

Reviews

My review: “[Lori] was often amused by Cassie, but their relationship unfolded quite beautifully, and I loved their interactions. They were real and fun while moving the story along. But what I loved was seeing Cassie being so confident and self-assured while she worked, only to have it upended when in Lori’s presence.”

Farid-ul-Haq from The Geekiary enjoyed it.

Ben from The Novel Approach Reviews liked it.

Alicia from Miss Honeybug’s Reads thought it well-balanced.

Megan Casey from The Lesbrary was not a fan, but provided some great information.