One Dead, Two to Go

One Dead, Two to Go

by Elena Hartwell
One Dead, Two to Go

One Dead, Two to Go

by Elena Hartwell

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Overview

This mystery featuring a crime-fighting mother-daughter duo is “smart, page-turning fun, with the most feisty and likable P.I. since Kinsey Millhone” (Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist).

When private investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” isn’t fending off surprise visits from her troublemaking mother, she’s spying on cheating husbands, hoping to land hefty divorce settlements for their heartbroken wives. But when the latest mistress Eddie captures on film dies—and Eddie realizes she’s the last person who saw the woman alive—things begin to take a twisted turn. It doesn’t help that the detective on the case is her ex, Chance Parker, who’s none too happy with the way Eddie left things between them. So when Eddie’s mom, Chava, unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep, Eddie’s actually glad to see her for a change. Because there’s no one better acquainted with the criminal mind than her card-shark of a mother. And now that Eddie’s in deep with the dangerous crowd, she’s going to need all the help she can get . . .

“Private eye Eddie Shoes and her cardsharp mother plunge the reader into a tale of fractured relationships, mayhem, and thrills.” —Deborah Turrell Atkinson, author of the Storm Kayama Mysteries

“The writing is cinematic and vivid, the characters well-drawn, but the dynamic between Eddie and Chava, which reminded me fondly of Cagney and Lacey, is what makes the story. Fans of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich should definitely check out One Dead, Two to Go.” —Max Everhart, author of the Eli Sharpe series

“A fast, memorable and entertaining read.” —Scott Driscoll, author of Better You Go Home

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781504089395
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
Publication date: 03/12/2024
Pages: 260
Sales rank: 1,098,107
Product dimensions: 5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Elena Hartwell has spent years supporting writers and constructing stories. Her award-winning and bestselling works include the Eddie Shoes mysteries and All We Buried (written under Elena Taylor). Her plays have been seen around the US and UK, garnering critical acclaim and stellar reviews. As a developmental editor, she has worked with hundreds of writers, most recently as senior editor and director of programming for the boutique editing house, Allegory Editing. She regularly teaches writing workshops and enjoys helping others achieve their writing dreams


 

Read an Excerpt

"Come on in," I said, standing aside to let the two of them through the door. I shut it behind them, taking a deep breath before I turned around to face them.


Chance began to pace, his nervous energy filling the room. From the way he averted his gaze from the two of us, I could tell his mind was now focused solely on whatever brought him to my door. I respected that about him. His attention would be directed at you for a moment--intense, all consuming--then he'd turn outward again, as his work took precedence.


Chance was taller than Kate by at least six inches. I could look him in the eye if I were wearing tall shoes, so he stood just over six feet. His hair was brown, but if we were outside, sunlight would glint off red highlights. His eyes were the color of dark chocolate--that satiny look it took on when you melted it on the stove to make some delicious, fattening dessert you knew you shouldn't eat but couldn't help yourself from making.


"What can I do for you?" I asked, curious about why a Seattle detective--and my old flame--had appeared on my doorstep up here in Bellingham.


"We've got some questions about Deirdre Fox," Kate said.


That certainly threw me for a loop. I don't know what I thought they might question me about, but Deirdre Fox wasn't even in the top ten.


"Okay," I said, wanting to see where their questions would lead.


"Were you following her or working for her?" Chance asked, confusing me even further.


"Neither," I said, which was technically true.


"Care to explain this?" Kate handed me a photo that looked like a still picture taken from a video surveillance camera. It wasn't very high quality, but it was good enough to identify me in my Subaru taking pictures with my telephoto lens. I could tell from the background it was from my stakeout at Hallings' dealership.


"Why would you think I was tailing Deirdre?" Maybe the woman had filed a report she was being stalked and my name had come up as the stalker.


Maybe I wasn't as stealthy as I thought.


"Because she turned up dead this morning," Chance said, carefully gauging my reaction. Shock kept me quiet and he continued, "In recreating her final day, we scanned the videotapes from her place of business, looking for anything unusual. Then you showed up." Chance tilted his head in that way he had, eyes narrowed, reading your every move, like a cat getting ready to pounce.


"Dead?" I repeated, trying to absorb the fact that someone I saw yesterday in her lingerie was no longer breathing.

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