Eddie Shoes Mysteries Series by Elena Hartwell ~ Review

This is Book 1 of the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series – and while each book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading the whole series, they’re so much fun!!

Synopsis for One Dead, Two to Go, Book 1:

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

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller,

Get Your Copy: Amazon | Goodreads 

This book felt like a fun ride along with a PI… and her mom. (Who was hilarious, btw)

I love it when the characters are written in a way that you feel like you could be friends, and that’s definitely the case here. Eddie and her mom Chava were funny, snarky, intelligent, and I couldn’t get enough! Even Kendra wasn’t that bad. When she wasn’t crying, that is. 

Eddie’s skilled investigative work takes us through a murder mystery that has quite a few twists and turns. If you’re paying attention, you might see them coming, or maybe you’ll be surprised as you watch it all play out. The best part for me was watching how the once strained relationship between mother and daughter changed throughout the book.

There were also some intriguing connections to her past that I think we might be learning more about in the rest of the series (it’s Chance, I’m talking about Chance) so you better believe I’m going to read book two!!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, Partners In Crime Tours

My Review of Book 2: Two Heads Are Deader Than One

My Review of Book 3: Three Strikes, You’re Dead

Elena Hartwell started out her storytelling career in the theater. She worked for several years as a playwright, director, designer, technician, and educator before becoming a novelist.

Elena has more than twenty years of teaching experience and now works one-on-one with writers as a manuscript consultant and writing coach.

She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and the greatest pets in the world, two cats, three horses, and two dogs. When she’s not writing, teaching writing, or talking about writing, she can be found reading, working with the animals, or driving the tractor around Paradise.

Elena also writers under Elena Taylor.

For more information please visit www.elenahartwell.com