Tuesday Reviews: Detained by Luna Mason

 

Amidst the brutal yet alluring underbelly of the New York City, a ruthless mafia boss and a determined NYPD detective play a dangerous and seductive game of cat and mouse in this thrilling dark romance for fans of J.T. Geissinger, Sav R. Miller, Sophie Lark, Rina Kent, HD Carlton, and Shantel Tessier.

Frankie

I don’t have to hide behind a mask anymore.

I rule New York.

It’s time to finish what I started ten years ago—destroy the man who took my life.

No one can get in my way.

That is, until I’m arrested for murder and have my first taste of Detective Zara O’Reilly.

The woman is hell-bent on ruining my plans.

She thinks I don’t know she’s watching my every move, waiting to drag me back into that prison cell.

She can pretend I’m the enemy all she likes.

In reality, she craves me as much as I do her.

No matter how much we fight it, my stalker becomes my obsession.

She doesn’t realize the power she holds over not only me but the city.

Together, we will be unstoppable . . . if she lets me break her.

The final book in Luna Mason’s Beneath the Mask series ends with a bang, dark, passionate, and full of fire. Detained brings the world of the mafia and law enforcement crashing together as Frankie, the ruthless yet misunderstood mafia boss, meets his match in Zara, a determined NYPD detective. Their connection is volatile, magnetic, and completely addictive.

Frankie and Zara are the definition of twin flames, two broken souls who burn brighter together. Their chemistry is intense, and Luna does not hold back on the spice or the tension. I loved seeing how Frankie, a man defined by vengeance and control, found balance and redemption through Zara’s strength and fire. She challenges him, stands her ground, and matches his darkness with her own light.

The romance does lean into fast-paced, insta-love territory, and I found myself wishing for a bit more emotional build-up before things exploded between them. The pacing can feel a little rushed at times, but the overall payoff both romantically and narratively still delivers. The detective versus mafia setup was clever and engaging, and I would have liked to see that dynamic explored for a bit longer before their worlds fully collided.

What really makes Detained stand out is how it ties the whole series together. Seeing past couples like Luca and Rosa, Keller and Sienna, and Grayson and Maddie brings the story full circle and makes the ending even more satisfying. Luna’s found-family dynamic remains one of the strongest parts of her writing, and it is clear how much love and pain have built this world.