In the Ring

June 1, 2018

In this latest installment in Lear's "Dan Stagg Mystery" series (after Straight Up and The Hardest Thing), the grizzled marine colonel has nearly lost his life, again, during a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. He's slowly recuperating at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with the uniquely physical therapy of attractive young nurse Luiz but is shocked to find out that, for all intents and purposes, he's considered dead. When he's called in to assist the CIA, he must assume an entirely new identity and ends up in Britain working closely with MI6. He was discharged from the marine corps for being gay in 2009, but it looks like times have changed, and now Dan's sexuality is proving to be an asset for his mission. Dan Stagg becomes Greg Cooper, a soon-to-be "man on the inside" of an extremist right-wing group targeting marginalized communities. Through a series of twists and turns (some dark and many decadent), Stagg puts himself once more in jeopardy to uncover the sinister secrets of Manchester-based boxing promoter Alan Vaughan and his fierce fighters. VERDICT A gritty and witty contribution to the world of M/M military erotica. Recommended for fans of the genre with a large side of action and angst.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.