Fatal Foul Play

Fatal Foul Play

by David S. Pederson

Jan 4, 2025 | 2025 Articles, Lorie Lewis Ham, Mysteryrat's Maze

by Lorie Lewis Ham

Fatal Foul Play is only the second mystery novel by David S. Pederson that I have read, but it definitely won’t be the last. This book features friends Mark and Milo. Mark is invited by his ex-boyfriend Brick to a weekend getaway for his birthday together with a group of their friends. Knowing he still has feelings for Brick, Mark invites his best friend Milo to go with them to help him keep a level head. Their mutual friend, Vaughn, is hosting the party at a cabin in northern Arizona together with his new husband Tim. Things start off rocky before they even leave on the trip when the chef that was hired for the weekend turns out to be Tim’s crazy ex. Not having any other choice, they take him along.

The group ends up being snowed in at the cabin, which doesn’t help calm the already growing tensions as almost everyone there has a reason to be angry with Vaugh, who is never shy about speaking his mind. The boredom of being snowed in doesn’t last long as an attempted murder, and then an actual murder, turn this into a closed circle mystery where the only possible suspects are the friends themselves.

Being stuck and unable to call for help, Milo and Mark decide they have to take it upon themselves to figure out what happened for all of their sake and before someone else dies. They quickly learn that everyone there has secrets and things get pretty tense.

The mystery was filled with plenty of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters were complex and interesting, and David threw in plenty of relationship drama as well—and a budding new romance. If you are looking for a fun quick read that has almost as much gay romance drama as it does mystery, then be sure to pick up Fatal Foul Play.