Orlando and Jonty are back in Book 5 of the Cambridge Fellows Mysteries series, which contains sweet (not explicit) M/M romance. It's 1907, and the lovers and amateur sleuths are visiting the spa city of Bath before they take a holiday in France. Mathematician Orlando is keen to examine some old manuscripts, while Jonty intends on finishing his book of poetry. But Orlando, though happy, is also a little bored. They haven't had any mysteries to solve for a while, and he complains about this to Jonty.

However, trouble soon appears in the shape of American Jimmy Harding, an old university friend of Jonty's who has grown up exceedingly handsome and who makes no bones about wanting to rekindle their friendship and turn it into something more. Orlando's insecurity threatens his relationship with Jonty, and while his lover is enjoying himself getting involved with Jimmy's performance of Macbeth, Orlando is drawn into investigating the murder of a local prostitute, which occurred 25 years ago. As the investigation takes on twists and turns, so do Jonty's emotions as he fights against his love for Orlando and his desire for Jimmy. Will this mystery spell the end for the two Cambridge fellows?

Each story in Charlie Cochrane's Cambridge Fellows Mysteries series is a real delight. As well as being well constructed murder mysteries, they're excellent character studies, with Jonty's stolid upper class outward certainty matched against the beautiful Orlando's much more fragile yet inwardly tough personality. Even after five books, a time in which many series begin to lose their way, this one is still very strong. The fact that Orlando and Jonty are a long-established couple might cause other authors to drop the ball on occasion, and yet it's clear that even two years into their relationship, both men are still learning about one another-and about themselves. Charming and whimsical, dark and torrid, Lessons in Temptation is a lovely read.

Reviewed by: Maija