More About One Dead, Two to Go
“ONE DEAD TWO TO GO is a well-written fast-paced story that kept me fully engaged from beginning to end. It’s one of those stories where you get to the end of a chapter and think, “Okay, just a few more pages.” And the next thing you know, you’ve read three more chapters.”
~ Mayor Sonni, Readeropolis
In One Dead, Two to Go, 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.
More About Elena Hartwell
Elena Hartwell spent several years working in theater as a playwright, director, designer, and educator before turning her storytelling skills to fiction. Elena is also a senior editor with Allegory Editing, a developmental editing house, where she works one-on-one with writers to shape and polish manuscripts. If you’d like to work with Elena, visit www.allegoryediting.com.
Her favorite place to be is at Paradise, the property she and her hubby own south of Spokane, Washington. They live with their horses, Jasper, Radar, and Diggy, their dogs Polar and Wyatt, and their cats Coal Train and Cocoa. 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.
She also writes as Elena Taylor, to learn more visit www.ElenaTaylorAuthor.com
My Thoughts on One Dead, Two to Go
I like my detectives quirky but relatable and likable. I got all three with Eddie Shoes who is fascinating, has a frustrating relationship with her mom (who doesn't?) and seems like the type of person I would enjoy meeting for a cup of coffee (tea for me but you get the idea). I loved that this book started out as a standard, boring PI assignment and quickly spiraled out of control with the introduction of people from Eddie's past, family members and quite a few new & shady characters.
One Dead, Two to Go kept me guessing. Who was a good guy? Who was a bad guy? Who were the two people with a target on their back? This book spun along at a fast pace - made even faster by the fact that I didn't want to put it down until I figured out who did what and why.
Eddie wasn't the only great character in this series. The supporting characters are well developed and believable plus they've all got secrets. Some secrets were revealed in One Dead, Two to Go but others remain just out of reach. I love someone who is hiding secrets! Author Elena Hartwell's descriptions of the places throughout the book did a great job setting the mood - desperation, threats, wealth, danger - her words helped reinforce all those feelings.
A Little Extra
Seems I'm late to the party! I just read Book 1 in the Eddie Shoes Mysteries series: One Dead, Two to Go. And if you're looking for a great deal the ebook is just $1.99. But there are already two more books: Two Heads Are Deader Than One and Three Strikes, You're Dead. I'm going to try and squeeze these two into my TBR pile and let you know my thoughts later. (I can hear all the others in my teetering stack of book groaning.) The only thing better than discovering an engaging character is finding out you can read more about their world! Stay tuned!
