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Chase Harlem
In the colorful chaos of New Orleans, Chase Harlem has three essentials for happiness: her trusted red Converse, a reliable taser, and a good sense of humor to survive it all. All she wants is a simple life – morning jogs in cemeteries, jazz that soothes the soul, and enough quirky cases to pay the bills without summoning her FBI past.
But when a priest waltzes into her office with a divine mandate to crack a grisly double homicide involving an LSU football star and his actress girlfriend, Chase's plans for peace get thrown out like last week's gumbo, especially when the priest's estranged son lands square in the NOPD's crosshairs.
With her best friend, a "maybe" boyfriend, and a teenage neighbor who's too curious for her own good, Chase dives headfirst into a case that reminds her why she took up drinking in the first place.
From jazz joints to voodoo shops, Chase Harlem's escapades through the Big Easy are a mix of mayhem and mirth as she juggles clues, cocktails, and the occasional alligator. Can she crack the case before it cracks her, or will she end up as the city's next ghost tour attraction?
In this puzzle through the Crescent City, author Elise Burke Brown serves up a gumbo of mystery, mischief, and a side of sass that'll leave readers thinking of the story long after the final page turns.
But when a priest waltzes into her office with a divine mandate to crack a grisly double homicide involving an LSU football star and his actress girlfriend, Chase's plans for peace get thrown out like last week's gumbo, especially when the priest's estranged son lands square in the NOPD's crosshairs.
With her best friend, a "maybe" boyfriend, and a teenage neighbor who's too curious for her own good, Chase dives headfirst into a case that reminds her why she took up drinking in the first place.
From jazz joints to voodoo shops, Chase Harlem's escapades through the Big Easy are a mix of mayhem and mirth as she juggles clues, cocktails, and the occasional alligator. Can she crack the case before it cracks her, or will she end up as the city's next ghost tour attraction?
In this puzzle through the Crescent City, author Elise Burke Brown serves up a gumbo of mystery, mischief, and a side of sass that'll leave readers thinking of the story long after the final page turns.
- GenresMysteryMurder Mystery
340 pages, Paperback
Published June 17, 2025
8 people are currently reading
131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
May 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! Chase is sarcastic, witty, sharp and flawed. She is a former FBI agent and is now a private investigator in New Orleans that prefers her cases to not involve murder. But when she is approached by a local priest to take the case of a double homicide, she can’t say no.
This is a solid mystery that also has emotional depth to it and one I definitely recommend. I am hoping we get a series out of it!
This is a solid mystery that also has emotional depth to it and one I definitely recommend. I am hoping we get a series out of it!
May 27, 2025
When a priest walks into Chase Harlem's office with a divine mandate to crack a grisly double homicide involving an LSU football star and his actress girlfriend, Chase's plans for peace get thrown out like last week's gumbo, especially when the priest's estranged son lands square in the NOPD's crosshairs. Chase is a former FBI profiler turned New Orleans private investigator. Throw in her flirty bartender, a foster kid who wants to be a PI, and the story takes off from there!
I loved Chase and Reese so much. Chase is sarcastic, witty, sharp, and broken. Reese is driven and broken. It was fun reading how they made each other whole again. I also loved Chase's emotional support ferret, Louis. (Now I want a ferret...) Chase Harlem is an excellent debut, and I hope, hope, hope this will become the start of a series!
Thank you, #RisingActionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Chase Harlem has an expected publication date of June 17, 2025.
#EliseBurkeBrown #NewOrleans #PrivateInvestigator
I loved Chase and Reese so much. Chase is sarcastic, witty, sharp, and broken. Reese is driven and broken. It was fun reading how they made each other whole again. I also loved Chase's emotional support ferret, Louis. (Now I want a ferret...) Chase Harlem is an excellent debut, and I hope, hope, hope this will become the start of a series!
Thank you, #RisingActionPublishing, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Chase Harlem has an expected publication date of June 17, 2025.
#EliseBurkeBrown #NewOrleans #PrivateInvestigator
May 15, 2025
3.75 stars.
This was a good mystery read involving a quirky, tough former FBI profiler now a private investigator, Chase, and a police detective, Burke, set in New Orleans. The secondary characters, especially Reese, added to the story as did Chase’s emotional support animal, Louis.
This was an easy, quick read that slowly revealed Chase’s past and her coming to terms with trauma from her FBI past as she worked to solve the murder of two college students. I thought some of her past could have been revealed earlier on in the story to aid in context setting. In addition, some of the past was not fully revealed but I think it will be revealed in the next in the series.
Overall, fans of mystery reads with strong females will like this one.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
This was a good mystery read involving a quirky, tough former FBI profiler now a private investigator, Chase, and a police detective, Burke, set in New Orleans. The secondary characters, especially Reese, added to the story as did Chase’s emotional support animal, Louis.
This was an easy, quick read that slowly revealed Chase’s past and her coming to terms with trauma from her FBI past as she worked to solve the murder of two college students. I thought some of her past could have been revealed earlier on in the story to aid in context setting. In addition, some of the past was not fully revealed but I think it will be revealed in the next in the series.
Overall, fans of mystery reads with strong females will like this one.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
July 7, 2025
(4.25 stars)
Thank you to Rising Action Publishing for access to this free ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Chase Harlem is a New-Orleans based private investigator and former FBI agent with some serious trauma in her past. As we meet her she has sworn off violent crime as part of her portfolio, but she gets pulled back in when a potential client wants her help investigating the recent murders of a star college football player and his girlfriend. Chase is sarcastic, independent, and often standoffish, but you can tell that she has a heart of gold.
I really liked this book! I've been lucky enough to visit New Orleans a couple of times, so it was easy to picture the setting. Whether you've been there or not, the city definitely lends its distinct character and atmosphere to the story.
I also enjoyed how the book explored Chase's relationships with her police detective friend Burke, her flirtatious bartender potential boyfriend Deuce, and the teenage neighbor with whom she begrudgingly forms a bond. The mystery plot itself was also compelling! I definitely recommend this one to mystery fans who enjoy protagonist sleuths with emotional depth plus a hearty dose of found family, all set against a magical, gritty New Orleans backdrop.
Thank you to Rising Action Publishing for access to this free ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Chase Harlem is a New-Orleans based private investigator and former FBI agent with some serious trauma in her past. As we meet her she has sworn off violent crime as part of her portfolio, but she gets pulled back in when a potential client wants her help investigating the recent murders of a star college football player and his girlfriend. Chase is sarcastic, independent, and often standoffish, but you can tell that she has a heart of gold.
I really liked this book! I've been lucky enough to visit New Orleans a couple of times, so it was easy to picture the setting. Whether you've been there or not, the city definitely lends its distinct character and atmosphere to the story.
I also enjoyed how the book explored Chase's relationships with her police detective friend Burke, her flirtatious bartender potential boyfriend Deuce, and the teenage neighbor with whom she begrudgingly forms a bond. The mystery plot itself was also compelling! I definitely recommend this one to mystery fans who enjoy protagonist sleuths with emotional depth plus a hearty dose of found family, all set against a magical, gritty New Orleans backdrop.
August 26, 2025
Former FBI profiler Chase Harlem now lives and works as a PI in New Orleans. She still bears several mental and gruesome physical scars from her last assignment with the Bureau, and refuses to take on any violent cases.
When the father of an accused college football player hires her to find out who really killed a young budding actor and friend to his son. Though this case violates her rule, she is reluctantly convinced to take the case. Going to her best friend, police detective Matt Burke, for what the police know so far, Chase begins investigating the young man’s and the dead woman’s connections, leading her to complicated relationships and deep jealousies.
Chase also unwillingly confronts a drunken neighbour who is beating his wife, and whose foster daughter has begun hiding out in Chase’s apartment. At the same time, a pair of siblings, whose bar Chase regularly hangs out in at when not working, push her unwittingly to begin processing her trauma.
Though I found Chase’s ability to process gobs of information to almost magically come up with leads and profiles strained some credibility, I think this is an interesting start to what I hope is a series, particularly as I was immediately fond of the teen who essentially adopts Chase as a friend and employer.
Chase is an intriguing protagonist, and though hiding in New Orleans from her past, she has begun to deal with it, and I have high hopes for her professional relationship with her teenaged neighbour.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for this ARC in exchange for my review.
When the father of an accused college football player hires her to find out who really killed a young budding actor and friend to his son. Though this case violates her rule, she is reluctantly convinced to take the case. Going to her best friend, police detective Matt Burke, for what the police know so far, Chase begins investigating the young man’s and the dead woman’s connections, leading her to complicated relationships and deep jealousies.
Chase also unwillingly confronts a drunken neighbour who is beating his wife, and whose foster daughter has begun hiding out in Chase’s apartment. At the same time, a pair of siblings, whose bar Chase regularly hangs out in at when not working, push her unwittingly to begin processing her trauma.
Though I found Chase’s ability to process gobs of information to almost magically come up with leads and profiles strained some credibility, I think this is an interesting start to what I hope is a series, particularly as I was immediately fond of the teen who essentially adopts Chase as a friend and employer.
Chase is an intriguing protagonist, and though hiding in New Orleans from her past, she has begun to deal with it, and I have high hopes for her professional relationship with her teenaged neighbour.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rising Action Publishing Co. for this ARC in exchange for my review.
September 30, 2025
What a debut novel from Elise Burke Brown!
Chase Harlem is a fun little murder mystery in the heart of Nola. We meet Chase, a damn good PI, in the middle of her job only to be thrown into a new case hired by a priest involving his son, a murder suspect, who happens to be the second string quarterback at LSU. So if you don't know anything about Louisiana, just know that screams New Orleans LOL! We follow Chase along as she tries her hardest to deal with her traumatic past while solving the spotlight murder case with her possible couyon hot bartender flirt, bff detective, and new teen neighbor growing up in system. The story and beautiful back drop of the city made this debut novel a comforting and quick pace read.
Being from New Orleans, all the nostalgia feels came out strong throughout this read. I also may be a little biased since I had the pleasure of meeting the creative author, Elise Burke Brown, at Bouchercon 2025 earlier this month.
I'm eager to see where the next book(s) take Chase and her fun supporting cast of characters. Oh did I also mention there is an albino, emotional support ferret named Louis that loves jazz! I mean honestly that should sell you right there.
Chase Harlem is a fun little murder mystery in the heart of Nola. We meet Chase, a damn good PI, in the middle of her job only to be thrown into a new case hired by a priest involving his son, a murder suspect, who happens to be the second string quarterback at LSU. So if you don't know anything about Louisiana, just know that screams New Orleans LOL! We follow Chase along as she tries her hardest to deal with her traumatic past while solving the spotlight murder case with her possible couyon hot bartender flirt, bff detective, and new teen neighbor growing up in system. The story and beautiful back drop of the city made this debut novel a comforting and quick pace read.
Being from New Orleans, all the nostalgia feels came out strong throughout this read. I also may be a little biased since I had the pleasure of meeting the creative author, Elise Burke Brown, at Bouchercon 2025 earlier this month.
I'm eager to see where the next book(s) take Chase and her fun supporting cast of characters. Oh did I also mention there is an albino, emotional support ferret named Louis that loves jazz! I mean honestly that should sell you right there.
May 14, 2025
Chase Harlem is a former FBI profiler turned private investigator in New Orleans. NOPD is investigating the murder of a football player and his girlfriend. When a priest’s son is suspected of the murder, Chase is hired to work the case. This is a fast-paced mystery set in a vibrant city! The author made me feel like I was walking down a sidewalk lined with jazz bars.
February 24, 2025
Premise: Chase Harlem used to be a profiler for the FBI, but she doesn't like to think or talk about those times. Now she is a P.I. in New Orleans who just likes interesting cases, preferably NOT murder cases, to pay the bills. But when she is approached by a priest with a heartfelt plea to investigate the double homicide of a football hero and an actress, she cannot bring herself to say no. So Chase joins forces with her cranky police detective friend and embarks on a whirlwind of an investigation to bring an elusive murderer to justice.
Thoughts: Through a combination of the Big Easy setting, the wisecracking PI, and the humourous banter between Harlem and Burke, this novel has the feel and mood of an old-fashioned, hardboiled detective story from the 70s. Both Harlem and Burke have a gruff, dismissive exterior to protect soft and vulnerable hearts. I loved the interactions with Reese ("her kid"), her precocious and adventurous young neighbour, and the adorable, spunky pet ferret. I had fun reading this and can recommend for fans of detective fiction.
Thoughts: Through a combination of the Big Easy setting, the wisecracking PI, and the humourous banter between Harlem and Burke, this novel has the feel and mood of an old-fashioned, hardboiled detective story from the 70s. Both Harlem and Burke have a gruff, dismissive exterior to protect soft and vulnerable hearts. I loved the interactions with Reese ("her kid"), her precocious and adventurous young neighbour, and the adorable, spunky pet ferret. I had fun reading this and can recommend for fans of detective fiction.
March 11, 2025
This was brilliant!
It is also possible one of the most self assured debut novels I’ve ever read!
The protagonist is Joanna Chase Harlem, a former FBI profiler turned New Orleans private investigator. She’s funny smart and has a terrific backstory that Elise Burke Brown revels by degrees. She also has an amazing, funny group of friends surrounding her.
The plot is brilliant as well. Harlem wants a simple life, investigating insurance fraud to cover her bills and teaching self defence classes at a local church hall. Against her better judgment she agrees to investigate the murders of a local college football player and his girlfriend.
Chase Harlem sizzles with personality. She’s funny, intelligent and reluctantly kind. She seems genuinely bemused by the friendships she’s forged which is pretty funny to witness. She is also damaged on a fundamental level and seeing how she and those that care for her deal with this gives the characters depth.
The only area of the story that was weak in anyway was her profiling past. We are told she was one of the FBI’s best and several characters attempt to persuade her to use these skills to hunt for the killer, but she never quite gets round to it. It’s sort of explained by the story (her past is something she wants to leave behind) but considering the page inches that are devoted to it it’s a bit of a glaring omission.
It doesn’t take away from the fact that the story is brilliant and I really hope this is the start of a long and successful series.
*** Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***
It is also possible one of the most self assured debut novels I’ve ever read!
The protagonist is Joanna Chase Harlem, a former FBI profiler turned New Orleans private investigator. She’s funny smart and has a terrific backstory that Elise Burke Brown revels by degrees. She also has an amazing, funny group of friends surrounding her.
The plot is brilliant as well. Harlem wants a simple life, investigating insurance fraud to cover her bills and teaching self defence classes at a local church hall. Against her better judgment she agrees to investigate the murders of a local college football player and his girlfriend.
Chase Harlem sizzles with personality. She’s funny, intelligent and reluctantly kind. She seems genuinely bemused by the friendships she’s forged which is pretty funny to witness. She is also damaged on a fundamental level and seeing how she and those that care for her deal with this gives the characters depth.
The only area of the story that was weak in anyway was her profiling past. We are told she was one of the FBI’s best and several characters attempt to persuade her to use these skills to hunt for the killer, but she never quite gets round to it. It’s sort of explained by the story (her past is something she wants to leave behind) but considering the page inches that are devoted to it it’s a bit of a glaring omission.
It doesn’t take away from the fact that the story is brilliant and I really hope this is the start of a long and successful series.
*** Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***
September 11, 2025
TLDR: For fans of 1st person POV mysteries, NOLA and morally grey female investigators who aren’t afraid to break the rules.
Former FBI profiler and New Orleans PI Chase Harlem has a strict no murder investigations rule. But when a priest tracks her down and begs her to look into the murder of a star LSU football player she can’t turn him away. Along with her best friend, NOPD officer Burke, her trusty ferret and joined by her teenage foster-kid neighbor she will have to confront the ghosts of her past and come face to face with her own darkness to uncover the truth. There is also a little romance with a dangerously handsome bartender with a Cajun accent.
What worked:
•The romance, I love how Chase ultimately let her bartender into her heart
•The setting: is there any city better suited for a crime/mystery novel than one with the soul of NOLA
•Harlem’s backstory and how it was revealed
What did not work
•Some of the language choice felt juvenile and unnecessarily wordy, for example, “Next, I printed some incriminating pictures of an older lady along with some notes from the Daryl Wayne case, grabbed a snack, met up with my employers, got paid, filled the gas tank, and blah blah blah—you get the point.”
Former FBI profiler and New Orleans PI Chase Harlem has a strict no murder investigations rule. But when a priest tracks her down and begs her to look into the murder of a star LSU football player she can’t turn him away. Along with her best friend, NOPD officer Burke, her trusty ferret and joined by her teenage foster-kid neighbor she will have to confront the ghosts of her past and come face to face with her own darkness to uncover the truth. There is also a little romance with a dangerously handsome bartender with a Cajun accent.
What worked:
•The romance, I love how Chase ultimately let her bartender into her heart
•The setting: is there any city better suited for a crime/mystery novel than one with the soul of NOLA
•Harlem’s backstory and how it was revealed
What did not work
•Some of the language choice felt juvenile and unnecessarily wordy, for example, “Next, I printed some incriminating pictures of an older lady along with some notes from the Daryl Wayne case, grabbed a snack, met up with my employers, got paid, filled the gas tank, and blah blah blah—you get the point.”
Read
October 29, 2024I love New Orleans and I love strong female characters and I love Chase Harlem!!! She is a spunky PI with a cutting sense of humor and a past that she is trying to escape. She doesn’t take crap from anyone and trying to take her down will only get you tazzed. You either love Chase or hate her but you can’t ignore her.
Just when you think you have the “who dun it” figured out there is another twist. I laughed. I cried. I got angry.
The characters will draw you in and have you rooting for each of them in their own special situations. From Reese, the teen who inserts herself in Chase’s life, to Duece (mysterious, hot Cajun wanna be boyfriend) and his twin sister Dice (I mean are these their real names or are they hiding something), a priest with an illegitimate son, and the best friend (homicide detective) who just wants to solve a murder and keep Chase safe in the mix.
Chase Harlem is a 5+ Star read for me. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Just when you think you have the “who dun it” figured out there is another twist. I laughed. I cried. I got angry.
The characters will draw you in and have you rooting for each of them in their own special situations. From Reese, the teen who inserts herself in Chase’s life, to Duece (mysterious, hot Cajun wanna be boyfriend) and his twin sister Dice (I mean are these their real names or are they hiding something), a priest with an illegitimate son, and the best friend (homicide detective) who just wants to solve a murder and keep Chase safe in the mix.
Chase Harlem is a 5+ Star read for me. I can’t wait for the sequel!
February 10, 2025
I had the privilege of reading this book early, and it's an absolute must-read! The author brings New Orleans to life so vividly that you’ll feel like you’re actually there, even if you've never visited. I also adore the dynamic between her and the detective!
June 21, 2025
I had the pleasure of meeting the author and her family at a book signing recently. She seems like a delightful person who cares about her craft. In this novel, she has created a memorable (although inconsistently characterized) protagonist in Chase Harlem.
I loved the humor in the book. Elise Burke Brown shines in the sarcasm and wit of her characters. I also enjoyed some of the moments when she allows the readers to infer rather than directly stating character traits (secondary characterization vs direct characterization as ELA teachers are happy to point out). An example of this is early on, when Chase handles a man brandishing a small knife easily.
As much as I wanted to love this book, especially having met the delightful author and knowing the struggle it was getting this book published, I think it could have used more beta reads. I kept stumbling over small details that interrupted the flow for me and took me out of the story. This is especially sad because I could tell that the book would have had a wonderfully quick pace had I not been tripped up so much.
One of the most annoying impediments to me was in word choice. Ferrets do not “purr,” they “dook” or “chuckle.” I have not heard the phrase “straight edge” since the 1990s. Speaking of archaic terminology, Chase refers to herself as a “gumshoe,” which took me out of this modern tale and into the world of Mickey Hammer and Phillip Marlowe. Chase uses the term “mustelid” in referencing Louis. While this is an absolutely accurate term, hardly anyone outside of David Attenborough’s friend group would use this term.
This brings me to a related problem that I had with the characterization of Chase. Her inner monologue and dialogue use two different sets of vocabulary. As this is first-person narration, the reader is treated to the thoughts of Chase who uses a diverse academic vocabulary. However, when she speaks, that disappears. I understand that most people have an inner personality that they keep to themselves and another that they share with the world, but the voices of the narrator and her dialogue seemed far too distant to me.
There were other errors that my ADHD brain would not let me skim over, some were small things like a period that was not placed next to the last character in the sentence or that Brown divided Bluesmobile into “Blues Mobile,” which of course made me think of the town of Mobile, AL having a festival in honor of W.C. Handy. SEC fans were probably triggered by the lack of capitalization of Tigers on page 18. As I stated earlier, these are small details that could have been fixed by more readers being involved, and the exclusion of these little accidents would have helped me enjoy the book more.
Bigger issues that I had with the book include a heavy hand with NOLA references (to where it felt like pandering) and my questioning the verisimilitude of this tale. While adding details such as dialect and specific locations can enhance a story, the oversaturation of the references in this book seemed like the author was name-dropping to prove her knowledge and love of The Big Easy. For example, on page 82 the narrator mentions the “New Orleans heat” in the same paragraph as the “New Orleans light.”
As to the realism portrayed in the novel, there are two examples that pulled me straight out of enjoyment. The first is the scene where Chase is running through a graveyard with a holstered gun. I used to run through cemeteries all the time; they are quiet places with hardly any traffic and decent pathways, not to mention how they provide a meditative experience. However, in my running days, there would be no way I would run recreationally with a holstered gun! That would restrict my movement and add an unbalanced weight to my stride. (I hated even wearing the small water bottles on my running belt during my half-marathon training days).
The other example of my questioning the reality of this book is Chase being allowed into Burke’s investigation at all. Yes, she WAS an FBI profiler. However, in the timeline of this story, she IS a civilian. To let her into the investigation as much as Burke did is inconceivable to me, especially with how regulated everything is today out of concern for litigation, chain of evidence, and general public perception.
I want to end this review by saying that this book did have a lot of heart to it. I could tell that the character Burke was inspired by the author’s brother because the rapport between the police detective and Chase seemed familial. There is also a lot of love for the Crescent City (even though I believe it could be dialed back just a little). Elise Burke Brown has put her soul into this book, and I hope that my comments are seen in a constructive light– should she read them. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
I loved the humor in the book. Elise Burke Brown shines in the sarcasm and wit of her characters. I also enjoyed some of the moments when she allows the readers to infer rather than directly stating character traits (secondary characterization vs direct characterization as ELA teachers are happy to point out). An example of this is early on, when Chase handles a man brandishing a small knife easily.
As much as I wanted to love this book, especially having met the delightful author and knowing the struggle it was getting this book published, I think it could have used more beta reads. I kept stumbling over small details that interrupted the flow for me and took me out of the story. This is especially sad because I could tell that the book would have had a wonderfully quick pace had I not been tripped up so much.
One of the most annoying impediments to me was in word choice. Ferrets do not “purr,” they “dook” or “chuckle.” I have not heard the phrase “straight edge” since the 1990s. Speaking of archaic terminology, Chase refers to herself as a “gumshoe,” which took me out of this modern tale and into the world of Mickey Hammer and Phillip Marlowe. Chase uses the term “mustelid” in referencing Louis. While this is an absolutely accurate term, hardly anyone outside of David Attenborough’s friend group would use this term.
This brings me to a related problem that I had with the characterization of Chase. Her inner monologue and dialogue use two different sets of vocabulary. As this is first-person narration, the reader is treated to the thoughts of Chase who uses a diverse academic vocabulary. However, when she speaks, that disappears. I understand that most people have an inner personality that they keep to themselves and another that they share with the world, but the voices of the narrator and her dialogue seemed far too distant to me.
There were other errors that my ADHD brain would not let me skim over, some were small things like a period that was not placed next to the last character in the sentence or that Brown divided Bluesmobile into “Blues Mobile,” which of course made me think of the town of Mobile, AL having a festival in honor of W.C. Handy. SEC fans were probably triggered by the lack of capitalization of Tigers on page 18. As I stated earlier, these are small details that could have been fixed by more readers being involved, and the exclusion of these little accidents would have helped me enjoy the book more.
Bigger issues that I had with the book include a heavy hand with NOLA references (to where it felt like pandering) and my questioning the verisimilitude of this tale. While adding details such as dialect and specific locations can enhance a story, the oversaturation of the references in this book seemed like the author was name-dropping to prove her knowledge and love of The Big Easy. For example, on page 82 the narrator mentions the “New Orleans heat” in the same paragraph as the “New Orleans light.”
As to the realism portrayed in the novel, there are two examples that pulled me straight out of enjoyment. The first is the scene where Chase is running through a graveyard with a holstered gun. I used to run through cemeteries all the time; they are quiet places with hardly any traffic and decent pathways, not to mention how they provide a meditative experience. However, in my running days, there would be no way I would run recreationally with a holstered gun! That would restrict my movement and add an unbalanced weight to my stride. (I hated even wearing the small water bottles on my running belt during my half-marathon training days).
The other example of my questioning the reality of this book is Chase being allowed into Burke’s investigation at all. Yes, she WAS an FBI profiler. However, in the timeline of this story, she IS a civilian. To let her into the investigation as much as Burke did is inconceivable to me, especially with how regulated everything is today out of concern for litigation, chain of evidence, and general public perception.
I want to end this review by saying that this book did have a lot of heart to it. I could tell that the character Burke was inspired by the author’s brother because the rapport between the police detective and Chase seemed familial. There is also a lot of love for the Crescent City (even though I believe it could be dialed back just a little). Elise Burke Brown has put her soul into this book, and I hope that my comments are seen in a constructive light– should she read them. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Read
August 13, 2025Recipe for a Terrific Mystery
Blend a heaping helpin’ of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone with a cup of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, add a spoonful of The Closer’s Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and a jigger of Michael Connelly’s Detective Renée Ballard, let the dough rise in sweltering New Orleans, and you have Elise Burke-Brown’s hot new Private Investigator CHASE HARLEM.
When PI Chase Harlem reluctantly agrees to clear a priest’s son (a star Tulane football quarterback) of a double homicide, she puts herself in the crosshairs of a knife-wielding murderer bent on hiding the crimes. Against Chase’s better judgment, she befriends a lockpicking teenage foster child who—literally and figuratively—breaks down her barriers. And then the author throws the self-imposed loner another complication in the form of a sexy Cajun bartender with a sketchy past. Deuce will do anything to protect her. Chase doesn’t want protection. She wants a simple life. She ain’t gettin’ it.
Elise Burke-Brown builds a character layered in pain, determination, and self-effacing humor. Chase Harlem is a first-person narrator who draws the reader in with droll humor and “asides,” and then shoves him back before he can get too close. I found myself anxiously looking for clues into Chase’s past-- especially when she refuses to look at herself in a mirror and has flashes of soul-devouring PTSD. The book is a mystery within a mystery, a captivating look into a woman who must battle the demons of her past to heal her soul.
I haven’t seen a protagonist with such a mixture of grit and wit in a very long time. I can’t wait for the sequel and then, of course, the Chase Harlem series. (And a movie!)
Incidentally, Elise Burke-Brown won the prestigious Killer Nashville Claymore Award last year for the first 50 pages of this wonderful book. She’s a finalist and Judges’ Top Pick once more for her two upcoming novels. If you want to buy a good book that will keep you up late turning pages, CHASE HARLEM is it!
Blend a heaping helpin’ of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone with a cup of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, add a spoonful of The Closer’s Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson and a jigger of Michael Connelly’s Detective Renée Ballard, let the dough rise in sweltering New Orleans, and you have Elise Burke-Brown’s hot new Private Investigator CHASE HARLEM.
When PI Chase Harlem reluctantly agrees to clear a priest’s son (a star Tulane football quarterback) of a double homicide, she puts herself in the crosshairs of a knife-wielding murderer bent on hiding the crimes. Against Chase’s better judgment, she befriends a lockpicking teenage foster child who—literally and figuratively—breaks down her barriers. And then the author throws the self-imposed loner another complication in the form of a sexy Cajun bartender with a sketchy past. Deuce will do anything to protect her. Chase doesn’t want protection. She wants a simple life. She ain’t gettin’ it.
Elise Burke-Brown builds a character layered in pain, determination, and self-effacing humor. Chase Harlem is a first-person narrator who draws the reader in with droll humor and “asides,” and then shoves him back before he can get too close. I found myself anxiously looking for clues into Chase’s past-- especially when she refuses to look at herself in a mirror and has flashes of soul-devouring PTSD. The book is a mystery within a mystery, a captivating look into a woman who must battle the demons of her past to heal her soul.
I haven’t seen a protagonist with such a mixture of grit and wit in a very long time. I can’t wait for the sequel and then, of course, the Chase Harlem series. (And a movie!)
Incidentally, Elise Burke-Brown won the prestigious Killer Nashville Claymore Award last year for the first 50 pages of this wonderful book. She’s a finalist and Judges’ Top Pick once more for her two upcoming novels. If you want to buy a good book that will keep you up late turning pages, CHASE HARLEM is it!
July 6, 2025
In New Orleans, Chase Harlem, an ex-FBI officer who had now become a private investigator, was visited by a priest who was asking her to investigate the homicide of an LSU football star and his actress girlfriend. Chase has been avoiding every homicide case, so it didn’t remind her of the fatal mistake she made during her past FBI life. But the priest keeps begging for her to investigate this murder case, then eventually she accepts it. Could Chase find out who the true murderer is?
The story is mystery crime fiction. The story happened in New Orleans and I could feel the strong involvement of culture as the foundation of the characters' personalities. Chase, the FMC, is a bulldozer plus sleuth personality who really loves music and dance. She is working with a grumpy uncle MMC detective. Their Tom & Jerry interaction and the involvement between P. I and the detective in the case, is natural and not being forced.
I love each character’s personality and their development along the way. How they helped Chase by starting a theory, assumption, deduction “Who is the murder” and their thoughts and opinions affecting Chase's analysis. Also, the process of forming a relationship between Chase and her boyfriend is warm and sweet plus still in a realistic way. Of all the characters, Chase is definitely my star, and she is one of my favorite FMC. Plus, Chase Harlem is a very iconic name for FMC.
As for the story, the plot is very smooth, nice and the thriller plus tension is very good breathtaking. This book is very fun to read.
However, this story requires a murder case with a wide scoop of suspects, so this story will be more challenging for reader to guess who the true murderer is. Beside the concerns, this book really has some potential and I hope this book will be made into a series.
The story is mystery crime fiction. The story happened in New Orleans and I could feel the strong involvement of culture as the foundation of the characters' personalities. Chase, the FMC, is a bulldozer plus sleuth personality who really loves music and dance. She is working with a grumpy uncle MMC detective. Their Tom & Jerry interaction and the involvement between P. I and the detective in the case, is natural and not being forced.
I love each character’s personality and their development along the way. How they helped Chase by starting a theory, assumption, deduction “Who is the murder” and their thoughts and opinions affecting Chase's analysis. Also, the process of forming a relationship between Chase and her boyfriend is warm and sweet plus still in a realistic way. Of all the characters, Chase is definitely my star, and she is one of my favorite FMC. Plus, Chase Harlem is a very iconic name for FMC.
As for the story, the plot is very smooth, nice and the thriller plus tension is very good breathtaking. This book is very fun to read.
However, this story requires a murder case with a wide scoop of suspects, so this story will be more challenging for reader to guess who the true murderer is. Beside the concerns, this book really has some potential and I hope this book will be made into a series.
April 4, 2025
When I saw this cover I jumped at the chance to an early copy. I’m originally from New Orleans and love reading books that take place there. I loved the descriptions of the city and love how the culture was incorporated into the story (it definitely made me want to plan a trip soon!)
Yes this is a great murder mystery and I definitely enjoyed trying to figure out whodunit, but there is so much more to this book. I really liked Chase - she is smart and funny but she also has a past…and her days as a FBI profiler were tough.
The side characters are quirky and interesting and I really liked the author’s writing style. There some good twists and turns too - I am hoping this isn’t the last we see of Chase!!
Yes this is a great murder mystery and I definitely enjoyed trying to figure out whodunit, but there is so much more to this book. I really liked Chase - she is smart and funny but she also has a past…and her days as a FBI profiler were tough.
The side characters are quirky and interesting and I really liked the author’s writing style. There some good twists and turns too - I am hoping this isn’t the last we see of Chase!!
June 23, 2025
Is this going to be a series? I'd like it to be a series. Can it be a series pretty please? The main character, Chase, is wonderfully snarky and I loved all the popular cultural references. Though I do wonder if an audience younger than me might miss some of them. Too bad for them because they were really gems! This was a super great and quick read! The only drawback is that I felt it could have done a better job with Chase's history. It felt artificially withheld from the reader and I still don't think we got it all cleared up. But, hey, if it is a series there is more time!
Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
March 26, 2025
Chase Harlem is a witty PI that I can’t wait to read more about! Chase is hired to defend a boy accused of murder and with her history at the FBI and her connections to local police make her perfect for this job. The premise of the book is to solve a crime but what really captured my attention was Chase. At times she talked directly to the reader, which is not often seen in books. It was perfect! Her sharp witted dialogue had me highlighting phrases, which I normally don’t do. Chase is one of my favorite characters now and I can’t wait to read more about her.
August 20, 2025
It is a quick read. If you are looking for a mystery with quirky characters, then this is the book for you. The author left out some details as to the main character's reason for leaving the FBI. Even thought it was discussed throughout the book. It definitely leaves the door open for the next book. I wasn't a big fan of the sidebar comments. A bit distracting for me. The end of the book leads to the next mystery in the series. Quick read and a decent mystery.
July 10, 2025
Great Read
A great read that blends suspense, grit, and heart. Chase Harlem’s complex background and emotional baggage makes her someone you want to follow and know more about and root for. It’s an easy read and keeps you engaged so you don’t put it down until you’re finished.
A great read that blends suspense, grit, and heart. Chase Harlem’s complex background and emotional baggage makes her someone you want to follow and know more about and root for. It’s an easy read and keeps you engaged so you don’t put it down until you’re finished.
October 26, 2025
3.5 stars. Audiobook
August 18, 2025
I loved this book! Such a good mystery story with great comedic breaks.
July 12, 2025
Loved this book! So much fun in the “big easy” with this character. Chase is brilliant, witty and tenacious. I appreciated her snark, her dedication and her love of jazz!
August 14, 2025
Wonderful book! Ready for the next one. I met this amazing author at a book signing @dorothyjunebooksellers in Foley, Alabama. Amazing book love the setting New Orleans. You definitely need to put this on your TBR list!
September 15, 2025
I wish I could give 4.5 stars. I enjoyed the story and the mystery. I liked Chase - a flawed ex-FBI agent who is trying to figure things out. When I finished, I was ready to start the next one. Only to realize that this one just came out. Hoping this will be an ongoing series.
July 22, 2025
What a fun read! I can’t wait to see what sort of mayhem Chase gets herself into next.
September 12, 2025
Chase is a former FBI agent and is now a private investigator. She tries to stay clear of violent crime cases, but gets wrapped up in a murder case. She struggles through her past to try to catch the murderer. This book has comedy and drama along with a little romance. I was hoping to see some resolution on a couple of things especially with Reese.
June 4, 2025
Thank you Rising Action Publishing efor a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.
This is the story of Chase Harlem a PI who doesn't do violent crimes But she is hired by a man to clear her son of a murder that is being investigated by police.
Her best friend is a detective investigating this murder and she pulls all the strings to help her client and solve this case.
Throw in her bartender and his sister who watch out for her on a personal level, and the neighbor, who is a foster kid that wants to be a PI.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sometimes when you get towards the ends of books and what you think needs to be wrapped up is and you just want to read the last word? I didn't have that with this book. I was disappointed it was over. I was left thinking there is a second book coming, and I really hope that is the case
This is the story of Chase Harlem a PI who doesn't do violent crimes But she is hired by a man to clear her son of a murder that is being investigated by police.
Her best friend is a detective investigating this murder and she pulls all the strings to help her client and solve this case.
Throw in her bartender and his sister who watch out for her on a personal level, and the neighbor, who is a foster kid that wants to be a PI.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Sometimes when you get towards the ends of books and what you think needs to be wrapped up is and you just want to read the last word? I didn't have that with this book. I was disappointed it was over. I was left thinking there is a second book coming, and I really hope that is the case
June 27, 2025
Set in New Orleans. Everything else you can read in a synopsis. Chase was approached by a priest and she couldn’t refuse to take the double homicide case of a LSU footballer and his girlfriend. Author’s writing is really compelling. The book is action-paced and suspenseful. Characters were really interesting. A lot of things happened in the plot and they kept me on the edge. If you like FBI police procedural with murder mystery, this is the book for you.
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