Includes bonus audio!

I felt like Red Fish, Dead Fish was a really strong sophomore installment to the Fish Out of Water series.

There's a solid mystery element, suspense in trying to figure out serial killer Owens' next move, some pretty hairy situations Jackson stupidly puts himself in, and even a bit of suspense in just how far Ellery is willing to go for Jackson and their relationship. Spoiler: He's willing to go all the way.

I loved the way Ellery handles Jackson. Their relationship is so much better this time around. They seem more comfortable with one another and Ellery knows Jackson so well he's able to anticipate certain boneheaded moves before it ruins everything.

I really liked that Red Fish, Dead Fish ties up most of the loose ends from Fish Out of Water and we get an ending where Jackson and Ellery are in a good place relationship-wise, while opening a side plot to be explored in a future story. Yes, it technically ends on a cliffhanger, but it's not the kind that will probably drive anyone nuts.

I have loved listening to this series because I can get lost in Greg Tremblay's voice and just sit back and enjoy. He has great character voices, and he paces his delivery to really draw out the suspense.

While Red Fish, Dead Fish could possibly be read as a standalone, there's a lot happening that directly ties in to Fish Out of Water, so I would definitely recommend reading/listening to Fish Out of Water first for background and the case that finally brought Jackson and Ellery together as a couple.

P.S.: The audiobook includes a bonus after the book of four stories that were posted on various blogs before Red Fish, Dead Fish began that Greg narrates for the listener. Two of the stories involve Ace and Sonny from Racing for the Sun and the action from these stories is discussed in Red Fish, Dead Fish. I sort of wish they'd been at the beginning of the audio rather than the end.

4 people found this helpful

This is a fantastic story

If you could sum up Red Fish, Dead Fish in three words, what would they be?

Holy fucking hell

Who was your favorite character and why?

It’s a tie between all of them. Making me choose is cruel. Jackson and Ellery for different reasons. Also Lucy Satan. Also mike. Seriously there is no choosing. They are all wonderfully written well rounded characters whom I would love to meet in real life.

What does Greg Tremblay bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The accents and the pacing. I’d read too fast, miss too much. And Greg isn’t just reading, he’s acting. It’s like watching tv but better.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Oh god, if only. I would have if i could have. But at the same time i wanted to draw it out and make it last because god only knows how long it’s going to be until the next one. I’ve been waiting for this book since last summer. It was worth the wait, no question, but I listened to it a lot faster than It’ll take for the next one to come out.

Any additional comments?

I’m about to go fangirl at Amy Lane. These books, both Fish out of Water and Red Fish Dead Fish are some of favorite books. And Greg Trembly is a narrator of unimpeachable quality. The combination is outstanding.

4 people found this helpful

Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

This is the story I was missing when I read book one, Fish Out of Water. The characters were there and the action was there, but I was really missing the feels and the romance.

Amy gives us these things here. We finally get to really plumb the depths of Jackson and Ellery’s feelings for one another and get some of the ooey gooey romance that I crave so much!

There is certainly still a lot of mystery and action going on, and I was so pleased by the romantic elements, too!

If you’ve read book one you’ll want to read this – even if book one wasn’t your favorite – I think this does a lot to make book one come together.

Highly recommended! (Not as a standalone!)


5 of 5 stars

Audio

Woot! So Greg Tremblay is AWESOME and in addition to doing all the awesome he did for book 1, we get the bonus chapters Amy published in her blog and performed those too! While he won’t replace Nick for me as far as Ace and Sonny – I did appreciate his version
This was wonderful and definitely the best way to experience this story! (The ficlets are maybe the best part…;)

6 of 5 stars

3 people found this helpful

fabulous

This is the second book in the series I have listened to, and once again Greg Tremblay was amazing! He brought Jackson and Ellery to life for me. I thought my imagination was good but nothing like hearing Jackson an Ellery out loud. I hear their sweetness, the anger, the frustration, the snarkiness, they way the love and fight, and oh the loving. We again get to see Jackson's interactions with Jade, Mike, Kaden, Ellery's mom Lucy Satan and the most beloved cat there every was, Billy Bob. This was fast pace, gritty, edgier, and so much pain and hurt from Jackson. Thank goodness for Ellery. How Amy Lane manages to rip my heart out and then put it back together again constantly amazes me. Well done!

2 people found this helpful

Why did I wait so long to listen to this one???

I received a free copy of this audiobook to listen to and review for Wicked Reads.

I’m currently kicking myself for not listening to Red Fish, Dead Fish sooner. Honestly, with as much as I loved Fish out of Water, I’m still uncertain as to how it took me so long to cue up its sequel. Between the continuation of Jackson and Ellery’s story and Greg Tremblay back as narrator, it boggles my mind. I can only assume that I was subconsciously worried – needlessly and unnecessarily – that I wouldn’t love book two as much as I loved book one. How utterly silly of me.

Picking up two months after the end of book one, Red Fish, Dead Fish has Jackson just getting back to work… well, chomping at the bit to get back to work full-time after his part-time return didn’t go as well as planned (and thanks for the bonus chapter that showed just how that went down). On par with the aggressively independent man we met in Fish out of Water, Jackson is bordering on resentful that those close to him are trying to keep him from doing for himself. Ellery, Jade, and Mike walk a fine line trying to support Jackson while trying to keep him from overdoing it and ending up back in the hospital, AGAIN! Good intentions be darned, Jackson Rivers has a home still being renovated, meth dealers to roust from said home, and a serial killer to catch, and he’s going to do it all or die trying. Unfortunately for all involved, dying trying isn’t off the table. While Jackson might be sharing some of Billy Bob’s nine lives, there are some situations when even a tomcat can’t land on his feet. And that’s exactly what has Ellery so scared. I have to say that Lane did a fabulous job of keeping Ellery and Jackson true to the characters we met in book one. While there is definitely some character growth in Jackson, it occurs in kicks and starts, stunted just like the man; and the level of emotional and physical trauma Jackson endures this time around just adds to the complications and obstacles he has to overcome. Jackson’s sense of recklessness comes off like a bit of a death wish, but it’s the objective observation of Ellery’s mother that makes it easier to understand why Jackson seems so out of control – and had me nearly crying for the little boy Jackson once was. If it weren’t for the fact that Ellery is as stubborn as Jackson is reckless, I don’t know that the showdown with the serial killer would have felt nearly as believable, but it was absolutely perfect for my favorite crime-fighting couple. And the threat to Taylor’s client… WOW! The fact that I get to dive right into the next book is the only thing that makes my waiting to listen to Red Fish, Dead Fish worth it.

It’s no secret that Greg Tremblay is my favorite narrator, so there’s not a lot I haven’t already said about his talent in my previous reviews. What was new for me was just how CREEPY he was able to make the serial killer’s voice. I love the amount of emotion he taps into when narrating Ellery and Jackson, but the whiplash level of crazy that Owens displayed was superbly done. I can’t forget the damaged vocal cords voice of Tess Dakin because that had to hurt to perform, but it was an excellent touch. And I love the way he’s able to capture Taylor’s cool aloofness and warm amusement – the woman is a bit of a contradiction at times and Tremblay conveys that so well. The accompanying stories were a delight because I’ve recently read Racing for the Sun and was amazed by the voices Tremblay created for Ace, Sonny, Jai, and Alba. It was such a treat that left me grinning and even more enamored with his narration. Being as I don’t have to say goodbye yet, I’m off to listen to A Few Good Fish.

2 people found this helpful

Brilliant narration for a gritty, sexy, REAL book

What can I say that hasn't already been said to praise the brilliance of this book, the characters, the storytelling, and the superb narrator?

There just aren't words. But I'm pretty confident in saying that this is my favorite series by this author, and I LOVE Jackson and Ellery. They are fire, snark, chemistry, and everything.

Bring on Racing For the Sun and then Fish #3!

2 people found this helpful

Red Fish, Dead Fish

* Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Red Fish, Dead Fish is Book 2 in Amy Lane's Fish Out of Water series. This book is a continuation of the story and the MC's introduced in the first book, so I absolutely believe you need to read these in the appropriate order! The first book, Fish Out of Water, introduced us to Jackson and Ellery. This was no easy, quick overnight, happily ever after story. In fact, there was never an I love you in the first book. Jackson is a self-proclaimed tom cat, and thinks he can't be tamed. Of course, Ellery proved differently when he had Jackson's tom cat Billy Bob neutered. Tom cats can become loving lap cats with persistence and Ellery certainly has plenty of that. Ellery knows Jackson, he knows how his mind works and has to be a step or two ahead of him to keep their relationship going. Though no I love you's have been said, only a man in love would work as hard as Ellery does to keep Jackson from bolting at the smallest provocation. And though Jackson claims to be a tom cat, since being with Ellery, he's stopped sleeping with anyone who offers.

As shown in the first book, Jackson and Ellery (and Jade) are an amazing team, and are able to take all the clues and put them together. Unfortunately, they've put these clues together on serial killer Tim Owens and the police and DA aren't listening, leaving Jackson and Ellery to hunt down a serial killer. They are running down leads and working cases, but then people Jackson cares about are targeted, upping the pace of the case. And if you read Fish Out of Water, you'll know Jackson is also like a cat in having nine lives, though that number is running out as he survives everything he goes through. Jackson faces new personal struggles in this story, and Ellery, doing what he does best, continues to hold Jackson up, support him, keep him going, and loving him unconditionally. Even at the toughest moments, Ellery continues to prove to Jackson that he can be counted on, something Jackson desperately needs outside of his self-made family.

The hunt for the serial killer is not easy, and there are a lot of disturbing pieces that go with it, including drug use and rape. These are difficult topics for any book, but I think the author does a great job of not letting this be an overwhelming, heavy topic in this story. You know it's there, but for the most part, you aren't reading about the rape and killing.

As much as I love the main characters in this story, there are also a lot of strong secondary characters that I love. Jackson's self made family of Mike, Jake, Kaden and his family is always going to be a huge part of Jackson's life and they bring so much to the story. We continue to see more of Jackson's childhood which sucked until Jade and Kaden's mom brought him into their family. And I absolutely love Ellery's mom, Lucy Satan. She is a snob, wealthy, pure lawyer but man, she is just fantastic! Despite her being all business, she absolutely loves Ellery, Jackson and even Jackson's family. She is a great support to all of them!

This is a fast paced story! Once I started reading, I did not want to put the book down! I highly, highly, highly recommend you read this series! The author does such a fantastic job with this story. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

Rating: 5 stars!!!

1 person found this helpful

Chaos, panic and disorder... before breakfast.

I'm going to preface this review by saying this is the second book in a series that MUST be read in order. After the shenanigans in Fish out of Water, book 1, Jackson has moved in the Ellery along with his cat while he recovers and his house is refurbished. While Ellery is ready to add Jackson's name to the deed and write Jackson into his will, Jackson already has one foot out the door, waiting for the guillotine to drop on his head. You'd think these two have been through enough and it's time for their happy ever after, right? Yeah... not so much. Chaos erupts at Jackson's house and Ellery is in a panic, his perfectly planned life in disorder. And that's all before breakfast!

Holy crap this book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end! I love the way Amy Lane can weave intricate plots and characters together and keep you wanting more in the middle of the maelstrom. Jackson's life has been nothing but miserable, one disappointment after another, so when Ellery starts making promises Jackson already has his running shoes on. Ellery's life is perfectly planned out, everything routine, normal and boring until Jackson comes along and pulls him out of his shell, makes Ellery want something more. Their relationship is like lightening, sunshine and an atomic bomb sewn together with barbed wire, duct tape and long stem roses with lots and lots of thorns.

The narration is nothing less than extraordinary. Tremblay has a way with words that truly brings the characters to life, makes them feel real. He totally nails Ellery's sarcasm and Jackson's internal struggle with his world falling down around him with tones, nuances and inflections.

This is an audio that I'll be listening to again. On a side note, can somebody tell Amy Lane that I really want Ellery and Jackson to work a case with Ian and Miro (Mary Calmes Marshall series)?! THAT would be an amazing story.

1 person found this helpful

Fish out Water series is another wonderful world o

Falling in love with Jackson and Ellery more with every book. Can't wait to listen to the next in series.

Awesome!

I loved every minute of listening to this audio. Once again Reg did an amazing job narrating this book.