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Stop Cock (The Plumber's Mate Mysteries Book 6) Kindle Edition
Plumber Tom Paretski and his newly wedded husband, PI Phil Morrison, plan to enjoy their honeymoon in Italy to the full. It should be the start of a wonderful future together. But when Wayne—Phil’s ex-best mate and Tom’s former bully—turns up unexpectedly at their hotel, issues from their schooldays threaten to derail the fun. Tom may no longer bear a grudge against Phil for past injuries, but Wayne’s another matter—or is he?
Wayne seems determined to make friends, but Tom’s struggling to forgive and forget. To add to his confusion, cryptic messages from home spark the question: Are he and Phil really as in tune as he thought? Tom’s not the first man Phil made a commitment to, and that marriage turned sour sooner rather than later.
It shouldn’t surprise them when death explodes onto the scene in shocking fashion, and their honeymoon turns into a murder investigation. When the group of locals Wayne had been meeting with turn their attention to Tom’s psychic abilities, he and Phil will need to pull together to figure out what’s going on—or risk this trip being the last they’ll ever take.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJune 14, 2021
- File size3.9 MB
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Product details
- ASIN : B094YX96GJ
- Publisher : Riptide Publishing
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : June 14, 2021
- Language : English
- File size : 3.9 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 314 pages
- ISBN-13 : 978-1626499508
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 6 of 6 : The Plumber's Mate Mysteries
- Best Sellers Rank: #764,329 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5,239 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #5,603 in Traditional Detective Mysteries (Books)
- #5,867 in Mystery Romance
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again.
She writes (mostly) contemporary gay romance and mysteries, and is frequently accused of humour. Her novel Slam! won the 2013 Rainbow Award for Best LGBT Romantic Comedy, and several of her books have been EPIC Awards finalists, including Muscling Through, Relief Valve (the Plumber’s Mate Mysteries) and To Love a Traitor.
JL Merrow is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, International Thriller Writers, Verulam Writers and the UK GLBTQ Fiction Meet organising team.
Find JL Merrow online at: https://jlmerrow.com/, on Twitter as @jlmerrow, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jl.merrow
Customer reviews
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To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers love the characters in this book and find it to be a good read. The pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the impressive surrounding area.
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Customers love the characters in the book.
"...The story reads like an Agatha Christie mystery, with lots of interesting characters and scenic places...." Read more
"...series, it's still a good read for anyone who already knows and loves the characters, and Tom is definitely one of my favorite literary characters...." Read more
"...and plots are so well developed and with each book, you see the characters evolve. I cannot recommend it enough!" Read more
Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, with one mentioning the impressive surrounding area and another noting the interesting contrast between the characters.
"...The couple remain an interesting contrast, and the plot of this installment in the series necessarily brings up their troubled past when Paul and..." Read more
"...Agatha Christie mystery, with lots of interesting characters and scenic places...." Read more
"...The details about Pompeii and the surrounding area are impressive, but not really why I buy a Plumber's Mate book for...." Read more
Customers find the book to be a good read.
"...detail they're described in definitely helps make this story such a fun read...." Read more
"...as previous books in The Plumber's Mate series, it's still a good read for anyone who already knows and loves the characters, and Tom is definitely..." Read more
"If you've enjoyed the series so far, this is a must read." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI love these two guys. Tom and Phil may not have had the easiest route to travel to this place in their relationship but they are so perfect for each other. Now they are on their honeymoon and of course they wind up in the middle of a situation. These two just can’t go anywhere! They run into Wayne from their old school days and it isn’t either one of their idea of a happy occasion. It seems someone wants to capitalize on Tom’s semi-fame and is making promises he can’t keep. Add in one body and some Italian wanna be mafiosos and it can get downright dangerous. But no matter what, Tom and Phil will always have each other’s backs and write their own happily ever afters, no matter what anyone else thinks or what tries to get in between them.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseTom and Paul are looking forward to a romantic honeymoon in Sorrento but things take a disappointing turn when Paul's old school friend Wayne, who bullied Tom in school, shows up at breakfast the first morning, staying in the same hotel. The situation doesn't exactly improve when Wayne falls to his death from the hotel terrace a few nights later. It's hard for the pair not to look into the man's death, especially when it comes to light that Wayne may have had plans that involved Tom and some local gangsters.
I certainly thought the Plumber's Mate series had come to an end when the last book was published more than two years ago, but here we are, with another mystery full of red herrings and snarky dialog. This time, though, there's the added twist of a foreign setting among the ruins of ancient Rome.
The different setting means that, aside from Tom and Paul, the usual cast of friends and family is largely absent, except for a few phone calls. Instead we have a bit larger group of suspects, most of whom are guests at the hotel. It's all rather Agatha Christie “Evil Under the Sun” or “Caribbean Mystery”, which is no bad thing at all. Of course, Tom and Paul are completely different kinds of detectives compared to the classic sleuths, with their relationship being a key factor in the stories. Still, the variety of other characters and the rich detail they're described in definitely helps make this story such a fun read.
The couple remain an interesting contrast, and the plot of this installment in the series necessarily brings up their troubled past when Paul and Wayne bullied Tom, ultimately causing an injury which left Tom slightly handicapped. As always, it's nice to see a couple that has real problems of the kind most face when they have history together. The fact that they keep overcoming these obstacles together probably means that we might still be in for more from this series.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2021Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI have missed Tom & Phil and was glad to join them on their Italian Honeymoon. The story reads like an Agatha Christie mystery, with lots of interesting characters and scenic places. We get to know the guys better and what makes them so perfect for each other. I was not sure who was behind the murder of one of the characters, it was fun to read the mystery play out. Hope to see more of these guys as they arrive home and start the new chapter in their lives.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseAlthough not as compelling as previous books in The Plumber's Mate series, it's still a good read for anyone who already knows and loves the characters, and Tom is definitely one of my favorite literary characters. It was nice to meet him again.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2021Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI was very surprised to see a new plumbers mate book and loved the idea of a vacation. Phil was just as I remembered him. Tom however was very different. It may be my memory is off but I don't remember so many British words and slang. Some are necessary and many endearing but cossies..... really???? All that said I loved revisiting Phil and Tom and look forward to another story.... Maybe with a little more Gary???
- Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2022Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI love this series, and this installment of Tom and Phil's romance was nothing less than I hoped for. I started reading this when I was stuck in the hospital with a long illness, and it really helped take my mind off troubles. My writing skills are rusty, so I'll just end by saying, read this book please.
Top reviews from other countries
- MinerReviewed in Mexico on June 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars never disappoints me
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseExcellent, I was looking forward to you and in the end it was everything I expected and more
they always put a smile on my face these guys are so aww and so dumb sometimes just perfect
and Dave that man is really a friend
- Christopher DaviesReviewed in Australia on August 25, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Read
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseSo happy to find another book in this series. Loved the humour at the most unexpected times, as enjoyable as the other 5 books. Really Looking forward to number 7. 👍🏼
- Bruce ForrestReviewed in Canada on June 26, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Plumbers Mate mystery hit
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseJ L Merrow never disappoints. Tom and Phil are two of my favourite characters. I feel like they are old friends who I never get to see enough and each new instalment is like a gift. The dialogue they share is so realistic and often hilarious i find myself laughing out loud. Is it normal that I read these books with a British accent in my head ? Anyways the reader with this instalment gets to join Tom and Phil on their honeymoon vacation to Italy. We get to meet a whole new cast of characters and visit some amazing sights as the mystery unfolds. A perfect summer read and I can't recommend Stop Cock enough. Is this the last one of the series? Goodness I hope not, I mean Tom and Phil did discuss the prospect of becoming parents a few times.... ; )
- ceebeeReviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Another triumph!
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseWhile wallowing in a regular re-read of this wonderful series, I noticed to my delight that book six had just been published. As far as I am concerned, that has set a precedent and so the next time I revisit these books I fully expect book seven to be released!
Joking aside, I am happy to carry on reading about our couple's adventures for as long as J.L. Merrow is willing to write about them. I mean, wouldn't Tom and Phil make lovely grandparents?
Although it has been a while since the previous book, it was great to see this one start off where we left our newlyweds at the end of book five and follow them on honeymoon together. Despite leaving friends and family behind, less desirable elements from Hertfordshire seem to dog their tracks, leading to the usual murder, mayhem and peril.
The mystery was a well-plotted and engaging as ever, in turns both genuinely tense and hilarious, and Tom's travelogue of sunny Sorrento (complete with a mild obsession with classical penis art) was wildly entertaining. As always, the deepening relationship between Tom and Phil is at the heart of these stories, and it was nice to see them being able to talk about their feelings without one of them storming off (at least sometimes!) A real joy to read.
- P. ShuttleworthReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Is Stop Cock a plumbing job gone too far..
Format: KindleVerified PurchaseThe plot line was relatively straight forward and some clever jokes and narrative around volcano eruptions! I didn’t think the dialogue was as snappy and witty as the earlier books to be honest.
I like the characters though and will stick with them for one more book… hope it is not a wet one!