'Copper Script' by KJ Charles
- Reed
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
Author: KJ Charles
Rating: A-
Vibe: : 1920s London noir meets charming con-man-who-isn't-conning-anyone romance with crackling banter
Detective Sergeant Aaron Fowler doesn't believe in graphology. When his pompous cousin drags him to Joel Wildsmith—a graphologist who claims he can read people's entire lives through their handwriting—Aaron's convinced it's a scam. But Joel isn't a charlatan. He's the real deal. And worse, he's charming, irreverent, deeply suspicious of the police, and completely uninterested in making Aaron's life easy. What starts as Aaron trying to figure out the trick becomes something much more dangerous: a murder investigation that puts both their lives on the line, set in a 1924 London where their growing attraction to each other is illegal.
I loved this book. Joel is an absolute gremlin—flirtatious, witty, anti-establishment, and entirely himself. Aaron is all backbone and buried trauma, a man trying to be decent while working for a corrupt system and enforcing laws he knows are unjust, including the one that criminalizes who he is. Watching Joel slowly disarm him, watching Aaron soften without losing his moral center, was a complete joy. The chemistry between them is electric. Their banter feels natural and sharp, and the yearning—god, the yearning—is beautifully done.
As for Joel's abilities—yes, he can genuinely read people through their handwriting. Is it realistic? No. Did I care? Not even a little. This is the kind of book where you just let it happen. Charles uses Joel's skill as a narrative engine, not a gimmick, and it works because the story doesn't ask you to analyze it too deeply. I was happy to go along for the ride.
The mystery is solid and kept the pages turning, but it could've been sharper. A few more red herrings, a better scattering of clues, maybe one more twist before the reveal—it would've elevated the whole thing. As it stands, it leans more romantic suspense than mystery, which is fine. The real draw here is the romance, and Charles absolutely delivers.
The historical setting is vivid without being heavy-handed. Charles never lets you forget that Aaron and Joel's relationship is illegal, that discovery means ruin, but she doesn't let that danger overwhelm the story. The stakes are present and real but not suffocating. It's 1924 London in all its post-war griminess and complexity, and it feels authentic.
If you're a KJ Charles fan, this is exactly what you want from her: sharp dialogue, characters you're rooting for immediately, and a romance that feels genuine and hard-won. If you're new to her work, this is a great entry point. It's funny, tense, deeply romantic, and it gave me everything I wanted—except maybe one more plot twist.