Dead Man's Image

Lacey Summers, PI Mysteries #2

by Edna Curry

In DEAD MAN'S IMAGE the hero is shocked to see a police artist's sketch of a murder suspect which looks like himself. When he calls to ask who the victim is, he's given his own name. So, he can't tell them he's alive, because he'll be accused of murdering the man who looks like him. Therefore, he hires Lacey, an attractive PI, to help him out of this jam. But he didn't count on falling in love with her.

Nook

First published June 1, 2005

About the author

Edna Curry lives in Minnesota and often sets her novels there among the lakes, evergreens and river valleys. She especially enjoys the Dalles area of the St. Croix Valley, gateway to the Wild River, which draws many tourists who give her story ideas. Besides non-fiction articles, she writes mystery, romance and romantic suspense novels.
Edna is married and is a member of the Romance Writers of America and one of its chapters: Northern Lights Writers.
Circle of Shadows (half of Deadly Duos #1) was a finalist in RWA's prestigious Golden Heart Contest. She also does editing and proofreading as Fern Valentine. Details on the editing page of her website.

Visit her webpage at http://www.ednacurry.com

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/ednacurry
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Edna.Curry.a...

Twitter: @Edna_Curry

Reviews

[Kim (Wistfulskimmies Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to recieve a complimentary copy of this book, in order for me to review it. This is a thrilling mystery story with more twists and turns in it than spaghetti junction. It is a clever idea and one that I have not seen used before.

I really identified with the lead characters. They were completely believable. The story flowed along nicely at a good pace with plenty of action to keep things going.

Having read this book and really enjoyed it, I will certainly be on the lookout for more of this author's work.

[Kelly Gressley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story of Paul and Lacey. I could not put the story down, I wanted to know what was going to happen next.

[Amber Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book!

Not to lovey and very good twist!

[Roger]

Dead Man's Image (A Lacey Summers PI Mystery Book 1), my second read from author Edna Curry. I was given a copy of Dead Man's Image (Lacey Summers, PI Mysteries #2) to read & review & wanted to read the first book in the series first, so I did. "I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." I look forward to Dead in Bed (Lacey Summers, PI Mysteries #3). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story with lots of twists turns & intrigue. It's just the writing style was a little stilted, didn't seem to flow, in some places kind of like making a report on sequence of events. In addition the end was casual & abrupt, I finished with feelings of that's it? No emotional attachment to the characters.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Menns knew that he was adopted but never knew that he was a twin until he sees a newspaper sketch of himself as a murder suspect ... and then finds out that the body has been identified as Paul Menns. He hires P.I. Lacey Summers to help him work out what has happened and who the victim really was. I admit - the book had so many options that I was totally misled!!

[Emilie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining read!

Secrets have a tendency of being revealed when one least expects it. A long held secret and mistaken identity adds distance to the story. Add a dash of greed and you have a very entertaining mystery. I hope that Edna Curry writes more mysteries with PI Lacey Summers.

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great novel with lots of action, suspense, and romance included in one! I enjoyed the entire novel without a bit of boredom. There was a lot of twists and turns that kept me going! There were many surprises throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book!

[Sally Stackhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short-ish book (under 200 pages), a reasonable plot but some things didn’t quite gel. It has a good twist at the end.

[mary arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing book! I didn’t want it to end.

[Sharon A. Gilliland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow starting

Took a few pages to decide to keep reading. Did finish reading and it was a little more than ok.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul stopping to get something to eat, and picking up the newspaper, see’s his face starring up at him. Suspect wanted for a murder, description of the victim, could have been him also.A phone call confirms saying it was him, His trucking business would’t last if he inquired about it, and landed in jail.
Picking a P I to help him, she was new and young, could she help.
Good mystery, what was really behind trying to frame him, and with a touch of romance for his PI

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Menns is dead....Or at least that's what the morning paper says. This is all a great surprise to Paul as he sips coffee at a local diner and reads the paper. The sketched face looks just like his and his landlady has already identified the body. In the small town of Canton, MN, there is only one P.I. and she's got the case. Lacey Summers is contacted by a man claiming to be the dead guy in the county morgue and being the brave (or desperate) investigator that she is, she decides that she is going to take the case. A few problems arise as Paul and Lacey try and figure out why there's dead guy with Paul's face abut to be buried: The Sheriff's department thinks it has the case solved...a witness comes up dead....someone is still trying to kill Paul (who should already be dead)...and Lacey has got a serious crush on her client.

This book was a pretty quick read but long enough for me to fall right in to the this-is-the-worst-week-ever action of the story. The characters were simple enough people and the storyline was just zany enough be believable. Paul is a simple trucker who pays his bills on time and would have never thought to be caught in the mess he finds himself in. Lacey is a struggling investigator who has a complicated relationship with local law enforcement. Though Curry didn't spend too much time on secondary characters, I found that it turned out to be alright because of the pace of the story. There were a few funny moments but nothing too strained. Can't wait to see what Lacey gets into in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paul Menns seeks the services of private investigator Lacey Summers, after unexpectedly seeing a picture of himself in the newspaper, and life suddenly becomes very complicated.

[Martha Cheves]

Dead Man's Image - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of: Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish

It was just after dark when they turned off the interstate onto a winding, two-lane blacktop. He grinned. He knew this road, it had plenty of hills, curves and lakes. In fact, there was one spot in particular that was dangerous. That spot was a sharp curve overlooking a steep valley of the St. Croix River. It would be perfect. No one would suspect that it wasn't an accident. As they neared the dangerous curve, he stayed fairly close to the red Chevy. He wasn't taking any chances on losing them. He stepped on the gas to get closer, then as they rounded the curve, he suddenly raced alongside and forced the little Chevy off the road.

Lacey Summers is a licensed private investigator but when the phone rang and it was a man asking her to take a case regarding his death, she was curious but also a bit lost. He explained to her that he was a long-haul truck driver who had just returned home to find his picture in the paper. He had been murdered. She tried to tell him that all he had to do was go to the police department, show his ID and they would see that they have the wrong name for the body. Then he explained to her that the woman who saw a man dumping 'his' body gave a description to the police and the dumper and dumpee both looked alike! What the trucker couldn't believe after sneaking into the funeral home with Lacey was that the dead man looked identical to him. Who was he and why was he killed?

I must be losing my touch or authors are simply adding more twists to the story. About 1/3 through the book I had it all figured out. I knew who did it and why. I took my theory all the way to the last couple of chapters. Boy was I surprised to find out that I was completely wrong. This book took me on some winding curves that led me to a big surprise as to who and why.

Turns out this is book 2 in the series and you can bet I'm going to go back and read book 1 Yesterday's Shadow and then head for book 3 Dead in Bed. This author is good!