Crazy Eights

Jake Hines #6

by Elizabeth Gunn

For Jake Hines, Captain of Detectives in Rutherford, Minnesota, the fact that Benny Niemeyer was found not guilty of murder is a personal insult. Jake spent months developing the case, Benny's attorney almost sleepwalked through the trial, and the D.A. did a great job during the trial, even if several key witnesses had either disappeared or developed courtroom amnesia.

Even so, when Benny is found dead two nights later, and it's clear there's nothing natural about his demise, Jake sucks up and does what he has to do. At first there are more questions than answers, more blind alleys and stone walls than a growing city like Rutherford should have.

But in this sixth installment in the Jake Hines mystery series, the detectives follow leads, no matter how ridiculous they appear. After all, what could missing silver at the Aldrich estate have to do with the death of a lowlife thug? What could the death of a prisoner in Stillwater have to do with a missing Beretta in Rutherford?

Jake pieces the puzzle together meticulously. Even a killer deserves justice.

Genres: Mystery, Novels, Mystery Thriller

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

A one-time innkeeper with a taste for adventure, Elizabeth has been a private pilot, sky diver, SCUBA diver, and liveaboard sailor. Extensive travel in the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe led to a second career as a free-lance travel writer, during which she began writing a series of police procedural mysteries set in southeast Minnesota, where she grew up. Her books contrast the sometimes gritty routine of police work with the idyllic rural scenes around a mid-size city in the upper Midwest.

Reviews

[Angelica Sterner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me awhile to get thru this one lol I think the mystery was solid and the way it was divulged was good! Some good mini twists. To me, there was a lot of characters to keep up with, that I’d get lost who’s who. I’d be interested to read another Jake Hines mystery in the future!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different kind of mystery for me because most of the first third of the book was taken up by courtroom scenes, which I am not used to. But very realistic about the time police officers may have to spend in court supporting their cases (not 1/3 of their time, but every day when a trial is happening that they were lead investigator on). The last third of the book was incredibly gripping. And the detective, his family and his colleagues were all fun and enjoyable. I am looking forward to going back to the beginning of this series.

[Terry Tschann Skelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet again I wish we could do half-star ratings, cause I'd give this 3.5 for sure. It started out way too slowly for me, but then courtroom antics leave me cold (I worked in them for several years). I stuck with it because the writing style was good enough and then the pace accelerated soon after. This is the first of this series that I've read, but now I'll try another.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by this author that I’ve read. Enjoyed it and will definitely read more in the series.

[Mary E Kilpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

Very exciting story...Full of intriguing information. Murders are solved and some very bad guys end up in jail! Ending made the novel the best so far!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poorly downloaded ebook plus skipped first 3rd of the book because of too much court room detail. I like Jake and his team but less procedural.

[Alfred New · Rating 4 out of 5]

First one that I read by this author. I'm going back for more.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the Jake Hines series. I liked it less than most of the others because of the way the police felt that a guy was guilty of murder and then he got off. Too much time was spent on the trial and the police feelings about how it would all go right, and then it didn't.
Aside from that I liked the police procedural part and the character interplay continuing threads from previous books.
Series recommended, but don't begin with this one.
The game mentioned in the title is Crazy-Eights. All the books have a number and a sport of game in the title, beginning with Triple Play, which involved softball.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Police procedural, first I have read from this author. I sense that some of the interplay between the characters would resonate a good bit more had I read the earlier books in the series. Given that the characters are well drawn, the plot takes interesting turns, and the action moves along rapidly, I will be looking for more by this author.

[Rae · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first part of this one I found boring because they were in the midst of a trial and he was to much like a transcript. But be patient! ... once you get past it, it's her usual twists and turns.

I'm not quite sure she thinks well of people...

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

First time reading a book by Gunn..It started off good then she ruined 30 or 40 pages with filler..then the ending was a little to much to believe..just another cop book...This was the 6th in the Jake Hines series....

[Mischelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is ok. Not much action in it though but ok.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters.

[Vontel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one. Know I have read some in the past, but likely much earlier in the series, when Jake was still single.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series. Jake Hines and the rest of the ensemble are a treat from book to book, and the crimes at the core of this book are well handled (with a couple of twists).

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

good police procedural series--interesting characters and cases.

[Kathleen Messmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok. I kept reading it, but it definitely wasn't a page turner.