My first ever KJ Charles! I know, gasp! This was a long time coming and whew, worth it. Fabulous story about a smut peddler who reconnects with his boyhood friend and former lover who is now a lawyer to try and find a missing man. Their only clue is the parents' plea and some explicit photos that if they get caught with, would land them both in a world of hurt and gaol.

I adored how, in the short span of this novella, Charles explored class, race, privilege AND sex worker (plus more), without ever making it feel like an "issues" book. Vikram Pandey, lawyer, is uptight and looks down up and does not understand sex work or how Gil Lawless can do 'illegal acts,' but Gil helps bring him to understanding and not making everyone a 'victim.'

All the little details, to how Gil and Vik explored a relationship as boys, to how they both grew up in their own ways, and how they find their HEA. Loved it! Cannot wait to read more by this author.

Content notes: Gil Lawless is a Black, cis male English bookseller; Vikram Pandey is an Indian cis male lawyer who has lived in England since he was three, but considers himself an Indian National. Death, murder, wounds (described), danger, violence, discussion of sex work (both of choice and not), discussions of poverty, fear of outting