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Love You Till Tuesday
The death of April Easton makes no sense. She was a jazz singer working the clubs. Maybe the recording contract she just signed would have been her breakthrough. It certainly wasn’t a motive for murder. Steve Robledo, Houston PD, is on the scene. He’s known for working fast and closing cases. This one has all the markings of a head scratcher. And when witnesses and security cameras confirm Declan Shaw, a local P.I. with police connections, spent the night with the woman, it just makes everything more complicated.
Not that Declan has anything to do with the murder. He likes music and he liked April. He certainly didn’t kill her.
A collaboration, uneasy at first, is in the works. Declan can’t get April out of his head. Her memory is fading and he wants to hang on to it. What better way than to find more about her? Steve is running out of time, a few more days and he’ll have to turn his attention to other cases. They strike a mutually beneficial alliance.
For the powerful men behind April’s death, that alliance means trouble. Declan is stubborn and resourceful. He worries them a lot more than the police. There’s no telling what he could dig up. The stakes are a trial with the death penalty in play, cartel ties, money. Ultimately, it’s always about money.
Declan has to be stopped, incapacitated. He’s put under surveillance, a trap is set to ensnare him, a campaign is launched to discredit him—The P.I. and the Dead Jazz Singer. It’s a mistake. Declan will bite back.
Many will get hurt.
What folks are saying...“Beautifully written and crafted, Love You Till Tuesday weaves a story akin to a complex jazz rhythm. At the center, a compelling P.I. named Declan Shaw supplies the beat. Proctor’s work sings with authenticity and grit.”
—Craig Terlson, author of the Luke Fischer series.
“M.E. Proctor is going to be the next BIG name in crime fiction. Her writing is intelligent, exciting, cool and slick as hell.”
—Punk Noir Magazine
“Strong narrative pulled me in, precision dialogue kept me tuned, and characters that surged from the page held me to the end.”
—David Cranmer, editor of BEAT to a PULP
“In a crime fiction universe overcrowded with cookie-cutter detectives, M.E. Proctor’s Love You Till Tuesday shows how to breathe originality into an investigation of the seamy underside. You won’t easily forget P.I. Declan Shaw’s witty, often dark pursuit of a killer.”
—Nick Kolakowski, author of Boise Longpig Hunting Club
“M.E. Proctor writes crime fiction that sits aside the masters of the craft whilst also standing alone in its pure originality and innovation to an often hackneyed genre. Elegant, flowing prose that tugs at your heartstrings whilst ramping up your heart beat.”
—Stephen J. Golds, author of a Say Goodbye When I’m Gone
“Make way for Declan Shaw, sharp as the edge of a knife, tough as a bucket of nails, emotionally damaged and irrepressibly charming, searching for truth in the mean streets of the modern American South—the neo-noir hero we need in these trying times!”
—Douglas Lumsden, author of A Troll Walks into a Bar
“For the numerous fans of M.E.
Not that Declan has anything to do with the murder. He likes music and he liked April. He certainly didn’t kill her.
A collaboration, uneasy at first, is in the works. Declan can’t get April out of his head. Her memory is fading and he wants to hang on to it. What better way than to find more about her? Steve is running out of time, a few more days and he’ll have to turn his attention to other cases. They strike a mutually beneficial alliance.
For the powerful men behind April’s death, that alliance means trouble. Declan is stubborn and resourceful. He worries them a lot more than the police. There’s no telling what he could dig up. The stakes are a trial with the death penalty in play, cartel ties, money. Ultimately, it’s always about money.
Declan has to be stopped, incapacitated. He’s put under surveillance, a trap is set to ensnare him, a campaign is launched to discredit him—The P.I. and the Dead Jazz Singer. It’s a mistake. Declan will bite back.
Many will get hurt.
What folks are saying...“Beautifully written and crafted, Love You Till Tuesday weaves a story akin to a complex jazz rhythm. At the center, a compelling P.I. named Declan Shaw supplies the beat. Proctor’s work sings with authenticity and grit.”
—Craig Terlson, author of the Luke Fischer series.
“M.E. Proctor is going to be the next BIG name in crime fiction. Her writing is intelligent, exciting, cool and slick as hell.”
—Punk Noir Magazine
“Strong narrative pulled me in, precision dialogue kept me tuned, and characters that surged from the page held me to the end.”
—David Cranmer, editor of BEAT to a PULP
“In a crime fiction universe overcrowded with cookie-cutter detectives, M.E. Proctor’s Love You Till Tuesday shows how to breathe originality into an investigation of the seamy underside. You won’t easily forget P.I. Declan Shaw’s witty, often dark pursuit of a killer.”
—Nick Kolakowski, author of Boise Longpig Hunting Club
“M.E. Proctor writes crime fiction that sits aside the masters of the craft whilst also standing alone in its pure originality and innovation to an often hackneyed genre. Elegant, flowing prose that tugs at your heartstrings whilst ramping up your heart beat.”
—Stephen J. Golds, author of a Say Goodbye When I’m Gone
“Make way for Declan Shaw, sharp as the edge of a knife, tough as a bucket of nails, emotionally damaged and irrepressibly charming, searching for truth in the mean streets of the modern American South—the neo-noir hero we need in these trying times!”
—Douglas Lumsden, author of A Troll Walks into a Bar
“For the numerous fans of M.E.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2024
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
M.E. Proctor
46 books40 followersM.E. Proctor was born in Brussels and lives in Texas. She’s currently working on a contemporary PI series. The first book in the series, Love You Till Tuesday, is out from Shotgun Honey Books. Her short story collection Family and Other Ailments (from Wordwooze Publishing) is available in all the usual places. Her short fiction has appeared in Vautrin, Bristol Noir, Pulp Modern, Mystery Tribune, Reckon Review, Shotgun Honey, and Thriller Magazine among others. She’s a Derringer nominee. Website: www.shawmystery.com
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 17, 2024
Like the best mysteries, Love You Till Tuesday begins with a corpse. In this case, a corpse in an apartment with the thermostat kicked up to 90 degrees during a hot Houston summer. And days between deed and discovery. Let that settle. Those are the details that, unpleasant as they are, envelope you, put your feet on the ground and get you mind melding with the characters. The body belongs to jazz singer April Easton. Her death was a violent one. There’s blood. There’s a broken shower door. With the motive far from obvious, the Houston PD is stumped, and it’s up to P.I. Declan Shaw to unravel a tangled web. His involvement is not a detached one, not a simple case for hire. He knew April. He was one of the last to see her alive.
M.E. Proctor writes with such skill, intelligence, and wit, you’re not only involved in the case, you’re hooked as the plot rolls forward with the drive of music played directly on the beat.
Dialogue is one of the book’s chief strengths. The characters’ words not only service the story, but Proctor creates speech that reveals the distinctiveness of each individual, adding depth, revealing personalities that feel genuine. A sense of place—Texas to Florida—is another strength. The author zooms in on the details that vivify. Proctor has a painter’s eye.
Engrossing, satisfying, and done with class.
Classic novel. Classic premise. Classic characters. I loved it.
M.E. Proctor writes with such skill, intelligence, and wit, you’re not only involved in the case, you’re hooked as the plot rolls forward with the drive of music played directly on the beat.
Dialogue is one of the book’s chief strengths. The characters’ words not only service the story, but Proctor creates speech that reveals the distinctiveness of each individual, adding depth, revealing personalities that feel genuine. A sense of place—Texas to Florida—is another strength. The author zooms in on the details that vivify. Proctor has a painter’s eye.
Engrossing, satisfying, and done with class.
Classic novel. Classic premise. Classic characters. I loved it.
Read
November 1, 2024Jazz, Morality, and Murder
Love You Till Tuesday introduces a tense dynamic between private investigator Declan Shaw and Houston PD officer, Steve Robledo, as they both delve into the murder of jazz singer April Easton.
Declan's affections for April test his principles in investigating her murder, and he’s haunted by personal demons and the complexities of his profession. An example of Declan's internal struggle is mirrored in the scene with Adam Leary from the courtroom trial. Just as Adam’s moral beliefs are tested by external pressures, Declan grapples with his own conflicts, balancing his desire for justice with the gritty reality of detective work.
One of Declan’s standout moments is when he's forced to hold back from digging too deep into the case, knowing it might put him at odds with more powerful figures. This reluctance stems from both fear and self-preservation, but it eats away at him.
Declan’s investigation is driven by a sense of duty and a cynical outlook. His ongoing conflict with Steve Robledo also fuels the tension, as Robledo's more aggressive, morally scrupulous methods clash with Declan's more cautious and thoughtful approach.
This exploration of character highlights how Declan Shaw's internal battle and external conflicts create a layered and gripping detective narrative. Love You Till Tuesday is not only a thrilling mystery but also a deep dive into the personal costs of pursuing justice when the odds—and powerful adversaries—are stacked against you.
Love You Till Tuesday introduces a tense dynamic between private investigator Declan Shaw and Houston PD officer, Steve Robledo, as they both delve into the murder of jazz singer April Easton.
Declan's affections for April test his principles in investigating her murder, and he’s haunted by personal demons and the complexities of his profession. An example of Declan's internal struggle is mirrored in the scene with Adam Leary from the courtroom trial. Just as Adam’s moral beliefs are tested by external pressures, Declan grapples with his own conflicts, balancing his desire for justice with the gritty reality of detective work.
One of Declan’s standout moments is when he's forced to hold back from digging too deep into the case, knowing it might put him at odds with more powerful figures. This reluctance stems from both fear and self-preservation, but it eats away at him.
Declan’s investigation is driven by a sense of duty and a cynical outlook. His ongoing conflict with Steve Robledo also fuels the tension, as Robledo's more aggressive, morally scrupulous methods clash with Declan's more cautious and thoughtful approach.
This exploration of character highlights how Declan Shaw's internal battle and external conflicts create a layered and gripping detective narrative. Love You Till Tuesday is not only a thrilling mystery but also a deep dive into the personal costs of pursuing justice when the odds—and powerful adversaries—are stacked against you.
August 28, 2024
Make way for Declan Shaw, sharp as the edge of a knife, tough as a bucket of nails, emotionally damaged and irrepressibly charming, searching for truth in the mean streets of the modern American South--the neo-noir hero we need in these trying times!
I had the privilege of reading this story before it was published and was eager to see private detective Shaw launched on the world at large. After it came out, my wife and I read it together (she read it out loud while I looked on over her shoulder). Both of us loved it, she for the first time, and me all over again. In addition to Shaw, the major characters--Robledo, Moira, Daisy Diamond--are each extremely well drawn out, real, and likeable. Sergeant Robledo could easily have a series of his own; Moira is Shaw's Della Street; and Daisy Diamond is the perfect foil for reminding us that Shaw is a complex, flawed human being, rather than just another cookie-cutter noir P.I.
Special shoutout to passionate but hopelessly single-minded (and violent) cop Bogs Sorenson, a truly despicable character I'd love to see more of, perhaps as a bounty hunter, debt collector, or born-again evangelical preacher.
Love You Till Tuesday is more than a murder mystery: it's a vehicle for introducing us to the intriguing and complicated life of Shaw, with demonstrations of his both his competence and his limitations, as well as important insights into what makes him tick. Halfway into the story, I was CRAVING a television series with these characters (and anticipating a Robledo spinoff). It seems like such a natural.
My HIGHEST recommendation for fans of neo-noir and thrilling edgy drama.
I had the privilege of reading this story before it was published and was eager to see private detective Shaw launched on the world at large. After it came out, my wife and I read it together (she read it out loud while I looked on over her shoulder). Both of us loved it, she for the first time, and me all over again. In addition to Shaw, the major characters--Robledo, Moira, Daisy Diamond--are each extremely well drawn out, real, and likeable. Sergeant Robledo could easily have a series of his own; Moira is Shaw's Della Street; and Daisy Diamond is the perfect foil for reminding us that Shaw is a complex, flawed human being, rather than just another cookie-cutter noir P.I.
Special shoutout to passionate but hopelessly single-minded (and violent) cop Bogs Sorenson, a truly despicable character I'd love to see more of, perhaps as a bounty hunter, debt collector, or born-again evangelical preacher.
Love You Till Tuesday is more than a murder mystery: it's a vehicle for introducing us to the intriguing and complicated life of Shaw, with demonstrations of his both his competence and his limitations, as well as important insights into what makes him tick. Halfway into the story, I was CRAVING a television series with these characters (and anticipating a Robledo spinoff). It seems like such a natural.
My HIGHEST recommendation for fans of neo-noir and thrilling edgy drama.
August 19, 2024
As a fan of both PI fiction and M.E. Proctor’s writing, I’m not sure there was a more anticipated book on my 2024 radar than Love You Till Tuesday, her first Declan Shaw novel. Time and time again Proctor has written lean-and-mean stories that leave a lasting mark, and this one is no exception.
The story opens with Shaw having a one-night stand with musician April Easton; hours later Easton is viciously murderded in her apartment and Shaw becomes the primary suspect. What follows is a gritty whodunit filled with a large cast of characters — cops, investigators, lawyers, hackers, good and bad people aplenty — all fully fleshed out and made memorable, whether front-and-center or just serving a bit part. While the action is propulsive and Proctor rarely lets her foot off the gas, her masterful characterization is once again on display here, bringing people to life and making you invested in their individual stories. Here’s hoping there will be more books in the series, bringing back many of these unforgettable characters.
If you’re looking for an action-packed tale with more twists and turns than a funhouse maze, Love You Till Tuesday will keep you flipping pages well past your bedtime. Highly recommended.
The story opens with Shaw having a one-night stand with musician April Easton; hours later Easton is viciously murderded in her apartment and Shaw becomes the primary suspect. What follows is a gritty whodunit filled with a large cast of characters — cops, investigators, lawyers, hackers, good and bad people aplenty — all fully fleshed out and made memorable, whether front-and-center or just serving a bit part. While the action is propulsive and Proctor rarely lets her foot off the gas, her masterful characterization is once again on display here, bringing people to life and making you invested in their individual stories. Here’s hoping there will be more books in the series, bringing back many of these unforgettable characters.
If you’re looking for an action-packed tale with more twists and turns than a funhouse maze, Love You Till Tuesday will keep you flipping pages well past your bedtime. Highly recommended.
January 17, 2026
Love murder mysteries and this one doesn’t disappoint. Extra fun as I live in Houston and recognize many of the places she references. The plot has many twists and turns and keeps you wondering “whodunit”. Looking forward to reading another by this author.
December 25, 2024
Look, I’m partial to Declan. I have been since I read him the first time. Does this novel disappoint? Nope. It’s wonderful. It has a great set up and a wonderful side character in the Houston detective and friend. Do I want to see more? Yes.
December 27, 2024
Don’t you just hate it when you get lucky and score with the jazz singer at the bar, only for her to turn up dead, brutally murdered actually, a couple days later and you find yourself totally framed up for it? I know I do. Fortunately, that hasn’t actually happened to me because I don’t think I would have the determination, perseverance, or skills to figure out what actually happened. You know who does possess those characteristics? PI Declan Shaw, the protagonist of M.E. Proctor’s terrific Love You Till Tuesday does. And he’ll need to be firing on all cylinders to get himself clear of this jam.
The trick to the noir-ish, hard-boiled PI genre is how to hit enough tropes to fit recognizably in the genre – a genre I love, by the way – while also subverting enough tropes to make it fresh and different. It’s a tough genre to stand out in. And this book accomplishes all of that and more. From the twisty-turney storyline to the crackling dialogue. Love You Till Tuesday is a top-drawer read. And while Declan Shaw is a great character that I can’t wait to read more of, equally important is the ensemble cast. Proctor has done a wonderful job of fleshing out a supporting group of characters, almost all of which could be featured in stories of their own. I particularly enjoyed Detective Robledo, and Shaw’s partner with complicated benefits, Daisy Diamond. Well rounded, fleshed out characters all the way through.
Definitely a must read, and read it soon so that you’re ready for the next Declan Shaw mystery which can’t come soon enough.
The trick to the noir-ish, hard-boiled PI genre is how to hit enough tropes to fit recognizably in the genre – a genre I love, by the way – while also subverting enough tropes to make it fresh and different. It’s a tough genre to stand out in. And this book accomplishes all of that and more. From the twisty-turney storyline to the crackling dialogue. Love You Till Tuesday is a top-drawer read. And while Declan Shaw is a great character that I can’t wait to read more of, equally important is the ensemble cast. Proctor has done a wonderful job of fleshing out a supporting group of characters, almost all of which could be featured in stories of their own. I particularly enjoyed Detective Robledo, and Shaw’s partner with complicated benefits, Daisy Diamond. Well rounded, fleshed out characters all the way through.
Definitely a must read, and read it soon so that you’re ready for the next Declan Shaw mystery which can’t come soon enough.
September 11, 2024
M. E. Proctor has burst onto the crime fiction scene with tenacity and grace. Love You Till Tuesday gives the reader more than a cookie cutter detective series. She introduces us to Declan Shaw, a wise cracking, soft spoken hard ass who lives his life at 100 mph in every single aspect. Choices and consequences of his younger self made him who he is today.
After a sordid one-night stand with a musician, April Easton is found dead in her apartment and Declan can be placed in her presence the weekend of the murder. His calm and cool demeanor helps him to get the answers that he needs. Even though this relationship with April was fleeting, he wants to get answers. He needs ‘to understand what happened. Clearly her ‘murder served a purpose’ and Declan Shaw needs ‘to believe that there’s logic in the world, even if it’s twisted.’
Readers, there is nothing that I find more fulfilling than a detective mystery full of high-profile players that you follow along pulling that individual’s string seeing how each one is connected to the other. Finding out how deep their pockets are and the connections to each other all while wrapping it all up and leaving me wanting more. I got everything I could ask for! I cannot wait to see what M.E. Proctor comes up with next. Declan Shaw is here to stay.
After a sordid one-night stand with a musician, April Easton is found dead in her apartment and Declan can be placed in her presence the weekend of the murder. His calm and cool demeanor helps him to get the answers that he needs. Even though this relationship with April was fleeting, he wants to get answers. He needs ‘to understand what happened. Clearly her ‘murder served a purpose’ and Declan Shaw needs ‘to believe that there’s logic in the world, even if it’s twisted.’
Readers, there is nothing that I find more fulfilling than a detective mystery full of high-profile players that you follow along pulling that individual’s string seeing how each one is connected to the other. Finding out how deep their pockets are and the connections to each other all while wrapping it all up and leaving me wanting more. I got everything I could ask for! I cannot wait to see what M.E. Proctor comes up with next. Declan Shaw is here to stay.
October 29, 2024
I had the privilege of reading an early version of Proctor's first Declan Shaw novel, Love You Till Tuesday. The author introduces this complex character in a complex story of intrigue, character, and dancing rhythms with their own bebop score. I will note, that the reader has to pay attention, because there is a lot at work here. Proctor has a gift with character and setting—both sing with authenticity and grit (as mentioned in an earlier review of mine.) And the book is best if read at a slower pace, if only to let the world wash over you.
On my second reading (which I would recommend) nuances bubble up to the surface. As I followed the serpentine plot down dark alleys where bad guys smash bones with hammers, I was drawn more and more to Declan Shaw, wondering who he is and what drives him. This is the mark of a main character that a series can hang its hat on. And I'll admit, I have a softness for characters who can take a beating... and Shaw certainly can.
The literary quality of the novel matches the verisimilitude of the world of crime and law enforcement that Proctor paints. And painting is a good metaphor for a book full of so many interesting nooks, crannies, and characters who could (and should) have their own books.
Read it, and get ready for more Shaw to come. Proctor is one to watch.
On my second reading (which I would recommend) nuances bubble up to the surface. As I followed the serpentine plot down dark alleys where bad guys smash bones with hammers, I was drawn more and more to Declan Shaw, wondering who he is and what drives him. This is the mark of a main character that a series can hang its hat on. And I'll admit, I have a softness for characters who can take a beating... and Shaw certainly can.
The literary quality of the novel matches the verisimilitude of the world of crime and law enforcement that Proctor paints. And painting is a good metaphor for a book full of so many interesting nooks, crannies, and characters who could (and should) have their own books.
Read it, and get ready for more Shaw to come. Proctor is one to watch.
March 21, 2025
I love complicated characters, and private investigator Declan Shaw, in M.E. Proctor’s novel Love You Till Tuesday, fits the bill.
He’s smart and good looking, but arrogant, obsessed with work, and unable (or unwilling) to commit to Daisy Diamond, a woman he obviously cares about. Shaw’s strong feelings for Daisy do not prevent him from hooking up with April Easton one night when he meets her in a club, and after April’s brutally murdered, Shaw feels compelled to help find the killer.
Enter detective Steve Robeldo, who smokes like a chimney, whether he’s in the cool air conditioning of the police station or the Houston, Texas heat. Shaw and Robledo investigate, and the early chapters are very much police procedural, with character building via backstory from Shaw’s troubled youth spent in New Orleans. In the present, he’s got a support team that includes cops, I.T. experts, and other P.I.s to help him along the way. There is a sub-plot where Shaw works on behalf of a builder in Florida with ties to an old-school mobster, as sweat and rain cover scenes like ill-fitting clothes the characters can’t shake off.
Love You Till Tuesday is a well-written addition to the P.I. sub-genre, filled with enough grit to satisfy even the most noir of readers, and I’m looking forward to the second installment in the series, which, if I’m not mistaken, comes out later this year.
He’s smart and good looking, but arrogant, obsessed with work, and unable (or unwilling) to commit to Daisy Diamond, a woman he obviously cares about. Shaw’s strong feelings for Daisy do not prevent him from hooking up with April Easton one night when he meets her in a club, and after April’s brutally murdered, Shaw feels compelled to help find the killer.
Enter detective Steve Robeldo, who smokes like a chimney, whether he’s in the cool air conditioning of the police station or the Houston, Texas heat. Shaw and Robledo investigate, and the early chapters are very much police procedural, with character building via backstory from Shaw’s troubled youth spent in New Orleans. In the present, he’s got a support team that includes cops, I.T. experts, and other P.I.s to help him along the way. There is a sub-plot where Shaw works on behalf of a builder in Florida with ties to an old-school mobster, as sweat and rain cover scenes like ill-fitting clothes the characters can’t shake off.
Love You Till Tuesday is a well-written addition to the P.I. sub-genre, filled with enough grit to satisfy even the most noir of readers, and I’m looking forward to the second installment in the series, which, if I’m not mistaken, comes out later this year.
January 31, 2025
Love You Till Tuesday by M.E. Proctor and from Shotgun Honey books was published in August, 2024.
If you occasionally feel the need to sit down and spend some quality time with a good detective story; a new, current, and fun to read detective story story that delivers all the intrigue and drama and real-to-life characters that define today’s version of the genre, then check out Love You Till Tuesday. The story is M.E. Proctor’s first entry in full length detective literature, the first featuring Declan Shaw, a handsome, driven and restless P.I. The premise can be easily found elsewhere but suffice it to say the story begins with murder and ends with, well, you’ll have to read it for yourself. It’s a worthy and a delightful and intriguing story that’s set in Houston and spends some time in Florida. The cast of characters is colorful, well-drawn, lively and diverse. There are good cops, bad cops, villains and cigarettes and cigars and strong female characters who can hold their own. All the ingredients of a terrific P.I. caper by a terrific author.
M.E. Proctor has written many high quality short stories – Love You Till Tuesday easily measures up to the bar she’s raised herself.
If you occasionally feel the need to sit down and spend some quality time with a good detective story; a new, current, and fun to read detective story story that delivers all the intrigue and drama and real-to-life characters that define today’s version of the genre, then check out Love You Till Tuesday. The story is M.E. Proctor’s first entry in full length detective literature, the first featuring Declan Shaw, a handsome, driven and restless P.I. The premise can be easily found elsewhere but suffice it to say the story begins with murder and ends with, well, you’ll have to read it for yourself. It’s a worthy and a delightful and intriguing story that’s set in Houston and spends some time in Florida. The cast of characters is colorful, well-drawn, lively and diverse. There are good cops, bad cops, villains and cigarettes and cigars and strong female characters who can hold their own. All the ingredients of a terrific P.I. caper by a terrific author.
M.E. Proctor has written many high quality short stories – Love You Till Tuesday easily measures up to the bar she’s raised herself.
February 7, 2026
First and foremost, I loved it!
There were a lot of moving parts to this story, and certainly neither an easy nor simple feat to have both created it and to have maintained its momentum so well as M.E. Proctor did here.
Populated by a rich cast of realistic characters, all of whom come with their own unique strengths and foibles, they immediately draw us in to the heart of the story. Paths intersect and collisions occur, some quite unexpectedly, with our assumptions sometimes rewarded but more often shattered as the stories truths are rebuilt paragraph by paragraph and page by page.
Loved the dialogue, the cadence and pace of the story, the main character of Declan Shaw and his supporting "entourage", with whom he sometimes clashes and yet also relies upon. Even in this instance, for a P.I. like Declan, it does take a village.
I'm very much looking forward to reading more in the Declan Shaw series and other works by this author. Well done. Masterful!
There were a lot of moving parts to this story, and certainly neither an easy nor simple feat to have both created it and to have maintained its momentum so well as M.E. Proctor did here.
Populated by a rich cast of realistic characters, all of whom come with their own unique strengths and foibles, they immediately draw us in to the heart of the story. Paths intersect and collisions occur, some quite unexpectedly, with our assumptions sometimes rewarded but more often shattered as the stories truths are rebuilt paragraph by paragraph and page by page.
Loved the dialogue, the cadence and pace of the story, the main character of Declan Shaw and his supporting "entourage", with whom he sometimes clashes and yet also relies upon. Even in this instance, for a P.I. like Declan, it does take a village.
I'm very much looking forward to reading more in the Declan Shaw series and other works by this author. Well done. Masterful!
November 4, 2024
If you think the crime fiction market has enough PIs, think again. Declan Shaw is the kind of PI this genre has been waiting for. Declan is a well-developed, complex and nuanced character, wrestling with his own internal conflicts as he investigates the murder of April Easton. Sharp, witty dialogue and a fast-pace makes ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ an engaging read - one of those books you can’t put down and keep reading late into the night. It is a fun, intense read from beginning to end and M.E. Proctor displays her incredible talent at creating a well-written and beautifully crafted book. Once you’re finished you’ll want to read every short story she ever wrote (spoiler alert: they are all excellent), while you’re waiting for the next Declan Shaw book in what will hopefully be a very long series
August 26, 2024
A classic PI novel that offers something new.
Love You Till Tuesday pulled me immediately due to the settings—mostly places I’ve called home.
I smiled throughout the reading experience, and was pleased when the story took unexpected turns, avoiding the cliché PI tropes.
It’s always refreshing when a genre novel doesn’t rely on shock value, gratuitous violence or swearing to stand out.
M.E. Proctor’s debut is not your typical PI novel. It’s also character heavy. The dialogue’s witty and realistic. The action scenes are sudden, not overdone, and move the story.
Highly recommended for fans of Crime, the Detective genre, and Mystery. Fans of M.E. Proctor will definitely not be disappointed.
Love You Till Tuesday delivers.
Love You Till Tuesday pulled me immediately due to the settings—mostly places I’ve called home.
I smiled throughout the reading experience, and was pleased when the story took unexpected turns, avoiding the cliché PI tropes.
It’s always refreshing when a genre novel doesn’t rely on shock value, gratuitous violence or swearing to stand out.
M.E. Proctor’s debut is not your typical PI novel. It’s also character heavy. The dialogue’s witty and realistic. The action scenes are sudden, not overdone, and move the story.
Highly recommended for fans of Crime, the Detective genre, and Mystery. Fans of M.E. Proctor will definitely not be disappointed.
Love You Till Tuesday delivers.
December 14, 2024
A fun detective thriller from a writer who knows what she's doing. The story takes its time setting the stage before you’re even introduced to the nominal Declan Shaw whom the novel's cover promises as the main protagonist. Pacing is solid and pulls you along by referencing Shaw’s history like hearing a story about an acquaintance. Just past the midway point we pacing jumps from steady to frantic in all the right ways and you’re compelled to get to the end just as soon as your little eyes can get you there. The final payoff was unexpected and yet satisfying, which felt like the best of both worlds. Great read.
September 29, 2024
Proctor plunges the reader into P.I. Declan Shaw's business, and it's a wild homicide investigation. At first a suspect, once Shaw is cleared he teams up with smart cop Steve Robledo to solve the case. The dicey legwork goes all over Houston, from the high end to the grimy dregs, with a bit of corrupt Florida thrown in, as well as flashbacks into The Big Easy. An atmospheric and suspenseful novel.
January 1, 2025
M.E. Proctor drops a new worthy P.I. character Declan Shaw into the pantheon of detective novels with “Love You Till Tuesday”. Cliches are broken in this book that starts off as a police procedural about the death of a jazz singer then dives into Declan’s private detective world as he is implicated in her death. Corrupt men are trying their best to bury Declan. Is Declan wily enough to stay above ground? Find out what happens in this tense thriller from M.E. Proctor.
March 12, 2025
Like most of us, Declan Shaw is a work in progress. More than that, he’s a fine addition to the pantheon of gumshoe that has come before. He’s not a total throwback, however, and Proctor brings her protagonist to the here and now with ease. Add humour, murder, and great dialogue to the mix, and yup, you guessed it: Go forth, seek out, purchase and enjoy. Tell ‘em another fan of great storytelling sent you.
March 11, 2025
Love You Till Tuesday by M.E. Proctor is one of those books you have to call page-turner even as cliche as it has become.
The author moves around an impressive cast of characters, keeping them all distinctive and memorable. No easy feat. Declan Shaw is a great recent addition to the P.I. universe with his own unique attributes. This is an engaging story with the (NO SPOILERS) operation sometimes being run from an unusual location. I hope there are more Declan Shaw books coming our way.
The author moves around an impressive cast of characters, keeping them all distinctive and memorable. No easy feat. Declan Shaw is a great recent addition to the P.I. universe with his own unique attributes. This is an engaging story with the (NO SPOILERS) operation sometimes being run from an unusual location. I hope there are more Declan Shaw books coming our way.
October 20, 2024
Great new detective on the crime fiction scene! Declan Shaw is nobody's fool, and this debut novel from stellar short story writer M.E. Proctor is a fast and gripping read. Looking forward to many more appearances.
October 12, 2024
I will admit it took me a bit to get into this one, but then BOOM! I could not put it down. I loved it. Great characters, excellent story, and the writing! Ya'll really got to check this one out.
February 10, 2025
From early on I got the strong sense that M.E. Proctor was not just an assured storyteller but an aficionado of the detective classics. The opening line (“It didn’t feel like a crime scene”) reminded me of intros to those oh-so-tightly scripted Dragnet radio plays of the 1950s. Then we were into the messy aftermath of a murder, with characters named Steve Robledo and ‘Bogs’ Sorensen bouncing cop talk off each other, and I was getting vibes of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct novels. Good way to begin.
The plot to Love You Till Tuesday involved a cast of damaged characters – both friend and foe – forming a suitably murky swamp for PI Declan Shaw to wade through. I always like to see an investigator with the classic Sam Spade style set-up (one detective, one secretary, one top-floor agency) and Shaw certainly possessed all the swagger and repartee to hold his own among the big beasts of the genre.
If the sheer number of women, and a few men, who swooned in his presence felt like an unfair super power at times, I soon found myself having to give the guy his due. Once bully cops had put a dent in those good looks (a rite of passage for any self-respecting PI) our protagonist proved he was made of some pretty stern stuff behind the dashing smile. Confession: I liked him even better after that. Probably just jealousy.
The fact the pages of this book seemed to fly by is always a sure sign of good writing: dialogue crisp, descriptions tight, air of seedy menace constant. As someone who prefers the 20th century to the 21st, I did occasionally wonder if the author had been tempted to fully embrace the noir ambience and set the book in the past – a lot of the characters had a timeless feel to them. But perhaps I’m just projecting my own preferences there. I would happily read an M.E. Proctor detective story from any era.
The plot to Love You Till Tuesday involved a cast of damaged characters – both friend and foe – forming a suitably murky swamp for PI Declan Shaw to wade through. I always like to see an investigator with the classic Sam Spade style set-up (one detective, one secretary, one top-floor agency) and Shaw certainly possessed all the swagger and repartee to hold his own among the big beasts of the genre.
If the sheer number of women, and a few men, who swooned in his presence felt like an unfair super power at times, I soon found myself having to give the guy his due. Once bully cops had put a dent in those good looks (a rite of passage for any self-respecting PI) our protagonist proved he was made of some pretty stern stuff behind the dashing smile. Confession: I liked him even better after that. Probably just jealousy.
The fact the pages of this book seemed to fly by is always a sure sign of good writing: dialogue crisp, descriptions tight, air of seedy menace constant. As someone who prefers the 20th century to the 21st, I did occasionally wonder if the author had been tempted to fully embrace the noir ambience and set the book in the past – a lot of the characters had a timeless feel to them. But perhaps I’m just projecting my own preferences there. I would happily read an M.E. Proctor detective story from any era.
October 21, 2024
ME Proctor's short stories have veered from offbeat crime to horror and all points between, but here she brings us into classic detective mystery terrifory. For me, these books live and die (heh) with the characters. Long after the details of who killed April Easton and why, and the subplot of the Cassino land deal in Florida have been forgotten, I'll remember Declan, Robledo, Daisy, and the others.
Smart, sexy, funny. Stands tall with anything else I've read in the genre. Updated for the modern era but still timeless enough to become a classic.
It hits all the beats you want in this kind of story. There's a sly subversion of the mystery PI novel at work here as well. The intrepid hero cracks wise, but he doesn't like guns and he's also carrying the weight of misspent youth. The mystery unfolds with the usual twists, but by the end when all is solved, there remain bigger questions about this guy.
"Tout et son contraire" ,as Declan says at one point.
Can't wait to read more.
Smart, sexy, funny. Stands tall with anything else I've read in the genre. Updated for the modern era but still timeless enough to become a classic.
It hits all the beats you want in this kind of story. There's a sly subversion of the mystery PI novel at work here as well. The intrepid hero cracks wise, but he doesn't like guns and he's also carrying the weight of misspent youth. The mystery unfolds with the usual twists, but by the end when all is solved, there remain bigger questions about this guy.
"Tout et son contraire" ,as Declan says at one point.
Can't wait to read more.
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