The Next Time You Die

Lee Henry Oswald Mystery #2

by Harry Hunsicker

The second, breath-taking crime novel in the acclaimed Lee Henry Oswald series.

“Truly satisfying…Hunsicker's characters take on a life of their own and his action is amazing." Crimespree Magazine

Dallas PI Lee Oswald is busy working for a preacher, looking for a stolen file, when he agrees to help a state senator who is being threatened – if the politician doesn’t change his vote on a controversial environmental bill, his family will be killed, one by one, until he does. The two cases violently converge, making Oswald both a target for killers and wanted by the police for a murder he didn’t commit. The only way out is to confront a dark secret from his past that could destroy him.

"Complex, interesting characters [and] relentless narrative drive. Compelling reading." Booklist

“Hunsicker is a slick, smooth writer and Oswald is a great noir character.” Omaha World Herald

“Hunsicker provides solid characterizations and great descriptions. You can almost feel the sweat off of the brows or see the drops of blood as they splatter.” Lansing State Journal

"Hunsicker has a wonderfully ironic sense of Dallas society and an even funnier take on those pretensions." The Dallas Morning News

"Lee Henry Oswald should earn Dallas a colored pushpin on the wisecracking-gumshoe map." Texas Monthly

Genres: Mystery, Thriller

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Harry Hunsicker is the bestselling author of nine crime thrillers including The Life and Death of Rose Doucette, shortlisted for a 2025 Thriller Award, his second nomination. Hunsicker's work has been shortlisted for the Shamus Award. His story "West of Nowhere" (originally published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine) was selected to appear in The Best American Mystery Stories 2011, edited by Otto Penzler and Harlan Coben. Hunsicker lives in Dallas with his wife, Alison.

Reviews

[E Sano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good series, but i have to argue that all the characters--good guys and bad--suffer from enough personal flaws as to make them unsympathetic. The plots tend to be a little too complicated, too.

Still, all in all, a good read.

[Tom Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dallas at its realist

Harry knows where all the bodies are buried, literally and figuratively. The Oswald series is irreverent at its title and fulfills all long time N Texas residents questions about all parts of Town. Love em, want more.

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old boy Texans, country joes, corrupt politicians and city bars - all a good mix with nice regional dialogue. Lots of violence, some off set but there all the same. PI Lee Henry Oswald's a bit too close with his nutcase homeboys for my comfort.

[David White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Excellent read I couldn't put it down great characters so you keep turning the pages.
Cannot wait to read the next one

[Suzy Renz]

I have just started this but it's even better than Harry's first book "Still River". He is a friend of ours so we have supported him in this new venture. His main character is a P.I. named Lee Henry Oswald and the stories are set in Dallas. He is extremely descriptive - I feel like I am right there with him every step of the way.

[Kendall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very similar to Hunsicker's first entry, Still River, following it closely but with enough new material to keep your interest I give it a strong recommendation to all noir PI fans, and a definite must-read if you're also from north Texas.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't realised before i started reading that there was a book prior to it, i don't think it mattered i'd not read the other although i wished i had. i really enjoyed this book, oswald is a fantastic character. i will be reading still river asap.

[Cp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good crime read, but the female lead's personality kept chopping and changing which was a little bit of a credibility negater for me. I'd read more. Enjoyed the minor characters and the main guy held my attention. Some things seemed to go missing, but that may have been my reading in bed problem

[Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Billed as Chandleresque PI novel...it really is more of a high body count narrative. Hank Oswald is a licensed PI but takes a lot of "projects" that are in a more "gray" area.

Wanted more plot/mystery.

[Georgene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but no more than 3 stars.