As part of a Blog Tour organized by Great Escapes Free Virtual Book Tours, I recently had the pleasure of reading One Dead, Two to Go, the first book in a new cozy mystery series.
Description
Private Investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” Schultz’s most recent job has her parked outside a seedy Bellingham hotel, photographing her quarry as he kisses his mistress goodbye. This is the last anyone will see of the woman… alive. Her body is later found dumped in an abandoned building. Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings, disappears soon after. Eddie hates to be stiffed for her fee, but she has to wonder if Kendra could be in trouble too. Or is she the killer?
Eddie usually balks at matters requiring a gun, but before she knows it, she is knee-deep in dangerous company, spurred on by her card-counting adrenaline-junkie mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas. Chava is only sixteen years older than Eddie and sadly lacking in parenting skills. Her unique areas of expertise, however, prove to be helpful in ways Eddie can’t deny, making it hard to stop Chava from tagging along.
Also investigating the homicide is Detective Chance Parker, new to Bellingham’s Major Crimes unit but no stranger to Eddie. Their history as a couple back in Seattle is one more kink in a chain of complications, making Eddie’s case more frustrating and perilous with each tick of the clock.
My Review
First of all, I loved the main character’s name (and its origins) and enjoyed learning about her personal journey. As Eddie tells her story, she shares her feelings and thought processes with the reader in a candid way – no holds barred. She is for the most part level-headed, although her quirky mother’s arrival on the scene does lead her into making some not-so-smart decisions. And the dynamic between the two women evolved as they spent time together and Eddie learns more about her past. The mystery itself kept me wondering what was really going on and the plot took several turns before coming to a satisfying resolution. An occasional touch of silliness and humor make this an enjoyable light mystery and a great start to a new series.
FTC Disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.
Giveaway
Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for the chance to win one of seven print copies of One Dead, Two to Go.
About the Author
After twenty years in the theater, Elena Hartwell turned her dramatic skills to fiction. Her first novel, One Dead, Two to Go introduces Eddie Shoes, private eye. Called “the most fun detective since Richard Castle stumbled into the 12th precinct,” by author Peter Clines, I’DTale Magazine stated, “this quirky combination of a mother-daughter reunion turned crime-fighting duo will captivate readers.”
In addition to her work as a novelist, Elena teaches playwriting at Bellevue College and tours the country to lead writing workshops.
When she’s not writing or teaching, her favorite place to be is at the farm with her horses, Jasper and Radar, or at her home, on the middle fork of the Snoqualmie River in North Bend, Washington, with her husband, their dog, Polar, and their trio of cats, Jackson, Coal Train, and Luna, aka, “the other cat upstairs.” Elena holds a B.A. from the University of San Diego, a M.Ed. from the University of Washington, Tacoma, and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.
- Webpage – http://www.elenahartwell.com
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ElenaHartwellAuthor/
- Twitter – https://twitter.com/Elena_Hartwell
- Blog – http://www.arcofawriter.com
- GoodReads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3975429.Elena_Hartwell,
- Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/emhartwell/
Purchase Links:
Amazon B&N iTunes kobo
Cassidy's Bookshelves 
Leave a comment