Tony
Heyes
ReviewsPerfect
Trust
by
S. Hardy Brondos
 Perfect Trust by S. Hardy Brondos ISBN 1-903531-02-0 Wayward Books Tony Heyes (contact) is one of our more prolific reviewers. He lives in Greater Manchester, England, with his partner of 31 years. | Buddy
movies and
stories can be really annoying. From Hawkeye and Chingachcook, through
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson to Smith and Jones, the homoerotic
undertow remains just that – an undertow. True, cowboys are
allowed to
share a bed but their all-enveloping underwear, seemingly made out of
surplus army blankets, ensures that any unwonted stirrings of the flesh
are as dampened down as those of any medieval saint wearing a hair
shirt. The love that dare not speak its name becomes the love that has
had its jaw wired firmly shut. So it is refreshing to come across a book that throws this self-denying ordinance to the wind. S. Hardy Brondos’ book, “Perfect Trust” is a tale of two men, Jason Swedborg and Daniel Reilly, who together embark on deeds of derring-do and find each other on the way. Swedborg, a deputy sheriff and Reilly, a lawyer, both previously in the armed forces, are recalled by the government to go into deep cover to try to uncover a drugs ring. Whilst undergoing pre-assignment survival training in the Everglades they unwittingly stumble on three desperadoes who seem to be involved in some sort of peculiar cult. It seems that they have crossed paths with practitioners of voodoo. The desperadoes intend to rape Reilly with a view to eating him later but are foiled by Swedborg who is seriously wounded saving Reilly. Reilly in turn saves Swedborg by dealing coolly and swiftly with his injuries and in the process they become ever more reliant on each other, both physically and emotionally. They are rescued by their agency in the nick of time. When Swedborg recovers they are thought to be in need of deeper cover while they are recuperating. They are ordered to pretend to be a gay couple working as environmental mercenaries in the pay of big business. This, they are assured, will explain why they are in the Everglades and why they are inseparable. They are initially furious at being required to pose as social outcasts, but their shared experiences and near misses cause them to bond even more closely. Each realises not only how much he relies on the other but how emotionally involved he has become. Their shared bed ceases to be problematic! Unfortunately trouble is attracted to them as moths to a flame. Their first night of mutual exploration is interrupted by the explosion of a case which they have again accidentally encountered into their lives in a very violent way. Fortunately, they are able to renew their mutual endeavours several times before the plot moves into crescendo mode and they are up to their eyes in voodoo, mayhem and violence. The book concludes with a thrilling and dangerous climax in which only their mutual trust, hence the book’s title, enables them to survive. All becomes clear, as it were, only in the last reel. Their relationship is confirmed and the bad exposed. Mr. Brondos (internal evidence suggests that S. Hardy Brondos is a man although, for all I know, the author may be a little old lady in Nether Backwash who writes gay novels on the side: the publisher is very sparing on biographical details) writes a fast-paced and exciting story that neglects neither character development, sexual imperatives nor humour. The voodoo details are very atmospheric and put me in mind of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. I could have wished for a fuller and slower treatment of the developing relationship between the two main characters but this is greed on my part. The book is so good I wanted more! Fortunately there is a sequel to the book, “Perfect Hope”, in which the reader will be able to get to know them better. This is a gripping and ripping yarn and a fun read. Enjoy! |
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