Would you listen to Come to Dust again? Why?
Definitely. Cook weaves very complex plots together (that also contribute to a overall character arc through the series). After reading the book you want to turn back and discover all the threads that are revealed once you know the outcome of the mystery. This is certainly one of the most complex and rich m/m themed books i’ve ever read. It’s practically a Dickens novel with some incredibly rich gay characters.
What other book might you compare Come to Dust to and why?
Cook is clearly tipping her hat to Conan Doyle – there are recurring characters Raft consults with who are clearly based on Sherlock and Watson in personality (here they are lovers, rather than confirmed bachelors). She also has a very clever way of weaving other famous Victorian fictional characters and real history through the world of the plot. If you are looking for a really enjoyable read – rather than a book is thinly veiled plot to get to sex scenes – you will love this. The characters are dense and layered and when the book does explore sexual material the pay off is fantastic. Raft really reminds me of Michael Sheen – he’s a wonderful, vulnerable and flawed character. The narrator dives into this book with both feet… it’s very much in the vein of Game of Thrones, or Harry Potter narration… the range of voices, accents and characters is staggering. It’s like a full Masterpiece Mystery – I was really impressed.
Which scene was your favorite?
The scenes between Raft and Cholmendely as their relationship shifts is really endearing. I loved their dynamic together. Which, considering that readers of the previous books in the series were invested in another pairing with Raft… is pretty impressive. You didn’t resent this character – you couldn’t help but adore him.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I don’t want to give it up – but there was certainly a scene at the end that had me in tears. I wasn’t expecting it and I hadn’t even realized how attached I had become to a certain character.
Any additional comments?
I’m eager for them to release the earlier two books in the series – hopefully with the same narrator. It would be great to have the entire series…but this book certainly does stand on it’s own. You won’t be at a great disadvantage listening to this (the third) in the series before the others… but I’ll be it will whet your appetite to back and read more of them.