Kill Her Twice

by Jack Fredrickson

In the Dead of Night

On a quiet street in a suburb west of Chicago, a neighbor hears a woman scream. A second one sees the lights in Sara Jansen’s house being switched on, one by one, room after room. A third receives a call from a voice he doesn’t recognize, screaming at him to come over right away. When the police arrive, Sara is discovered brutally murdered.

Her husband, Martin Tripp, is put on trial for her murder and acquitted. Now he’s asking Chicago PI Dek Elstrom to find the real killer. Martin is convinced Sara was scared of something before she died, and it’s Dek’s job to find out what it was. As he investigates, Dek makes a series of disturbing discoveries. But can he get to the truth of what happened that terrifying night…before a second victim pays the ultimate price?

Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

About the author

Jack Fredrickson’s first Dek Elstrom mystery, A Safe Place for Dying, was nominated for the Shamus Award for Best First Novel. His short fiction has appeared in the acclaimed Chicago Blues and in Michael Connelly’s Burden of the Badge anthologies. He lives with his wife, Susan, west of Chicago, where he is crafting the next Dek Elstrom novel.

Series:
* Dek Ekstrom Mystery

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, now.....

Once should have been enough. Just sayin'.

Jack Fredrickson presents a mystery with less thrill in the thriller. I grabbed this one because of the Chicago connection. The City With Big Shoulders and all that. Fredrickson spotlights his private detective, Dek Elstrom, who resides west of Chicago in Rivertown in Du Page County. Dek is part of his series of which I had not read before.

Kill Her Twice starts out with a brutal murder in the dead of the night. Martin Tripp finds his partner, Sara Jansen, on the floor of their bedroom. She's been stabbed to death. Tripp is tried for her murder. Even with no other suspects and the murder weapon found at the scene, Tripp is found not guilty and he walks.

Time passes and Tripp finds Dek at his favorite hot dog stand owned by one of his friends. Tripp prompts Dek into finding the real killer. He slides a couple of hundreds across the table as a down payment. Dek obliges.

Let's just say that Kill Her Twice rang very few bells for me. I kicked it up from a 2.5 to 3 Stars for the location alone. Fredrickson filled the majority of his novel with background noise. We're subjected to everything that Dek eats from morning until night. There's an attempt at humor with the hot dog stand owner's mother and her madcap kielbasa and pierogi menu that takes the town by storm. The constant mention of it gave me indigestion. And then, of course, Dek has a great relationship with his ex-wife who lives lavishly on Lake Shore Drive.

Kill Her Twice started out strong, but it lost its way with wild attempts to stretch out the storyline. As for me, I'll be leaving Dek standing in that long line for kielbasa. Maybe the next one will change the menu with a little more thriller sauce instead.

I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Severn House and to Jack Fredrickson for the opportunity.

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Severn House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.

Full disclaimer: This is the first book I've read in this series, but that did not impact my ability to understand the recurring characters or storylines.

Writing: 2/5 | Plot: 2/5 | Ending: 2/5

THE PLOT

Dek Elstron is hired by Martin Tripp, accused an acquitted of his wife's murder, to find out if he really did murder her but he just had a lil brain fart and forgot.

MY OPINION

Lord have mercy... This book was NOT for me. I picked this up because the premise sounded juicy; I love a did he or did he not moment. But after the first chapter recounting Martin's arrest, it all fell apart. I recognize that this book is written for a very specific audience (evidently not me)—so if you like mafias, underground criminal syndicates, guns, bombing, old timey stories, and did I mention mafias?? then this book could be for you.

I gave this 2 stars because I think there's potential in the mystery if it had taken a less unbelievable and convoluted path. In this book we have:

- Quirky guy humor. Think: guy with shaggy brown hair, glasses, who always wear band tees, loose long ass dark washed jeans, and those weird leather flip flops.

- All female characters were reduced to mounds of flesh with terrible personalities. They were intolerable shrewds, drunks, hoes, or horny, lewd grandmas. Take your pick.

- The weird friend who speaks in riddles/like Socrates but is somehow rich and knows ALL the tea to help with your case

- Typical "guy" stuff... as I mentioned, mafias, mafia slang, mafia run businesses, a random bombing, guns, you know the vibes.

My other gripes with this book are: what fking time period is this supposed to be in??? It's giving me 1929 prohibition era but I think it's supposed to be modern day? I D K. And this is supposedly set in the Chicago area, but it felt more like sweet home Alabama. I lived in Chicago and I'm very familiar with the area, but this Riverland town or whatever was NOT an accurate representation. It was whack. Choose a lane. I think it would've landed better if this literally took place in Alabama.

Anyways. CLEARLY not for me, but I can see how this would work for others. So, if any of my complaints actually sound like positives for you, give it a whirl girl.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: the mystery had potential

Cons: clearly written for dudes who like john wick and the godfather—which I am not

Follow me on insta I'm funny over there too

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Chicago, Kill Her Twice by Jack Fredrickson is the eighth book in the Dek Elstrom series. Earning money as a non-licensed Private Investigator, Dek is on the hunt for the cat of the Mayor’s wife in order to collect the reward. Dek is then approached by a man acquitted of his wife’s murder, wanting Dek to prove his innocence. So, sets off a series of events that not only baffle Dek, but see him being tailed, arrested and seeking answers. Having read none of the previous instalments, this was read as a standalone novel with its terse but enjoyable narrative. So, an archetypal detective mystery with amusing characters and a three-and-a-half-star read rating. With thanks to Severn House and the author, for an uncorrected advanced copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given

[Donna]

I checked this book out of the library because of its intriguing title. I stopped reading at page 10 when I knew I didn't care for the style of writing.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill Her Twice by Jack Fredrickson is a highly recommended hard-boiled detective story set by Chicago.

Private investigator Dek Elstrom is hunting for a lost cat with a $100 reward when Martin Tripp wants to hire him to prove he didn't kill Sara Jansen. Tripp has already stood trial and been acquitted for Sara's murder. The problem is that he says he can't find a job now due to his infamy and he thinks Sara was afraid of something before she died. Elstrom isn't exactly eager to take on this case and he thinks Tripp is guilty of her murder, but he can use the $200 Tripp pushes on him. Once he begins to causally investigate, he discovers that a whole lot more was going on in the corrupt River City.

On the one hand I do appreciate an involved and complicated hard-boiled detective case that resembles a tale of gangsters from the 1930s. The description that Kill Her Twice is a Windy City noir with a distinctly retro feel is apropos. A story that actually tries to be timeless is appreciated and to be applauded. On the other hand, elderly women being lewd in a corrupt town is just not my thing. If I set that aside, during the investigation the suspense does build incrementally and the atmosphere becomes tense and full of suspicion in Kill Her Twice.

This can be read as a stand-alone novel even though it is the eighth book featuring Dek Elstrom. As my first Elstrom book I didn't feel behind or out of pace with the character and plot. Suspicions grow with each page and each new character introduced. There is also a humorous element to the novel, which helps in creating the noir-feeling as it propels the action forward. There are plenty of characters to draw your suspicion and entertain you, a tense atmosphere that grows as each new development, and complications to keep you guessing.

The narrative is told through Elstrom's first person point-of-view which means you are privy to his private thoughts and perceptions. He is an intelligent character, personable while also jaded with the corruption around him. He knows how the system works and how to use it to his advantage. 3.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Severn House via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...

[Katy The Sleepy Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Jack Fredrickson book and I really enjoyed it! The main character Dek Elstrom is apparently part of a series he writes but I have not read it yet. Seeing how much I liked this story; I will have to check it out.

The story starts out with a bang, or rather a slice. Sara Jensen is brutally murdered by her live in boyfriend, Martin Tripp. Stabbed to death and left to bleed out on her bedroom floor, Martin immediately confesses. Due to some fancy footwork by his attorney, Martin is acquitted and walk free. A local hot dog joint is one of the main locations mentioned and also happens to be Deks favorite place to hang out. Martin tracks Dek down there and implores him to find out what happened the night Sara was murdered.

Martin gives Dek a deposit of a couple hundred dollars to see if he can find anything that might indicate his innocence with the promise of more money to come. Dek isn't sure this is anything he'd like to be involved in but relents and starts asking questions. And boy, does he get into some crazy stuff. Martin goes missing, someone thinks they saw Sara at a hotel (despite her supposedly being dead), there's a crazy party with elderly women taking their tops off, an explosion at the bank, and a very corrupt little town that Dek is determined to stay in.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story. It could have been shorter, there is a lot of filler and stuff I found to be really boring, like what Dek ate all day and the crazy pierogi cooking grandma. The chapters are short which I like and despite the filler, the story has great pacing. I really was stumped with how he was going to wrap it all up, but in the end, it all comes together nicely. I will definitely be checking out more from this author. I received this book free from NetGalley for an honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest installment of the Dek Elstrom series was a bit lackluster for me. It did have interesting twist and turns in the plot, but left me wanting better. 5 out of 10.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Kill Her Twice, the eighth novel to feature Chicago PI Dek Elstrom.

Martin Tripp was acquitted of murdering his partner, Sara Jansen and now he wants Dek to find out what Sara was frightened of in the days before her death and if he really killed her, he says he can’t remember.

I have not read this series before, so always on the lookout for a new (to me) author I decided to try it out. Joining a series late is not always the best idea, but no worries here as it works well as a stand-alone and any necessary backstory is fully explained. I thoroughly enjoyed Kill Her Twice, which is a fun read with a complicated plot in the sense of trying to work out did what, where they fit in and what their motives are. Suffice to say I needed the conclusion to understand it all.

The novel is set in the extremely corrupt suburb of Rivertown. The corruption seems overblown and made me laugh, but is it too near the knuckle for some people? Whatever, it seems to have it’s own personality in the novel and plays an integral part.

The novel opens with a description of the background to Sara’s murder. The tone caught my attention and intrigued me, so that was it it, I was well and truly hooked. The novel is then a mixture of humour, with a running gag about the mayor’s mother’s cat, and mystery, the who, what why etc., so I laughed and puzzled over the plot the whole way through. It’s smart and clever.

It is told from Dek’s first person point of view. He has a keen eye for the absurd and a determined attitude for discovering the truth. His tone is knowing and sardonic, which somewhat belies his belief in justice and just deserts. And, boy, does this novel deliver on the just deserts. I adored his solution to the many problems he faced as it made me laugh and satisfied my need for the good guy to win.

Kill Her Twice is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun foray into the western suburbs of Chicago, "Kill Her Twice" finds Dek Elstrom investigating the death of a wife where her husband confessed but got off on a (very weird) defense. Now the husband is wondering if he really did kill her, being high at the time and unclear what really did happen.... and what was his wife frightened of?

And all of this ties back to good old Rivertown, and the local corruption and "family" connections. There seem to be a lot of people interested in what Dek is doing, with old acquaintances popping back up and disturbing the status quo. Throw in some octogenarian shenanigans, a missing black cat, and some Polish delicacies crowding out the traditional hot dog stand and now you have a party!

Gets a little cartoony at times, but still a lot of smiles.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a first time read for me by this author so I didn't know what to expect. This was an intriguing read with a gripping tale that kept me on the edge of my seat anxiously turning the pages to see what happens next. The story was well-written and interesting and held my attention from beginning to end. The storyline was well crafted and flowed smoothly and the twists and turns within the plot kept me guessing till the end. Although I have not read others in the series, I had no trouble following this story and would like to go back and read more of this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to review. This review is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill her twice by Jack Fredrickson.
A Dek Elstrom Mystery Book 8.
A shocking chain of events occur after midnight one night on a quiet suburban street in West Chicago. The first neighbor hears a woman scream. The second sees the lights in the Tripps' house being switched on, one by one, room after room. The third receives a call from a voice he doesn't recognize, screaming at him to come over right away. But to where?.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story.
Can't wait for next book. 4*.

[Eydie sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a lot of books that are part of a series, they are perfectly fine as stand-alones. This is not the case with this series. I have the feeling that a lot of people who are less than enthralled with this book haven't read the other books in the series and really, that's a requirement in this case. That being said, while I liked this installment, I didn't love it. I actually found it hard to follow at times, especially toward the end. I'm looking forward to the next book and hoping it will be more straight forward.

[Salome G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I didn't like this much at all. This was my first foray into this series, so I can't speak for the collection as a whole. But this one reads like the unsuccessful merging of two different genres. One is a fairly standard crime thing. The other is the quirky town story, the kind that used to be compared to Northern Exposure. I liked the quirky town story, but this is supposed to be a mystery and it wasn't much of that.

[Don Gorman · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2 1/2). Such a tasty noir feel to this simple but wildly complicated little book. Side stories galore from a tight little coil, with colorful characters everywhere. I don’t know that I ever totally figured out Dek Elstrom, let alone his relationship with his ex wife, but that was fine, as the convoluted story played out with quite an array of twists and turns. Very hard to believe this book was just published, it has that classic feel. Pretty good stuff.

[Aria Harlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written with good character development and a really well written storyline that was full of subtle humour, twists and turns and quirkyness. I have not read any other titles in this series but this worked as a standalone for me and I will definitely be checking out more now.

[George Tackes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual laugh out loud moments in this story. Not dark humor, but charming characters that are enjoying life with a murder mystery weaved in between. The setting is in towns west of Chicago, but their residents are out of this world.
Definitely worth a read that will leave you with a smile on your face.
Like Frederickson wrote, "It is good that such good can exist."

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

About page eight was like this is going be a waste of time and brain cells. Then thought only 216 pages so gave it a go. Its a basic story of the genre. We get four different versions of the caper which extends out the book like it was a high school project that needed so many words. If the mayor was an actual lizard it would add a star.

[Matt. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you in need of a book that will keep you entertained from the first page to the last? Then this is the book for you! This book was crafted excellently and did not disappoint. On April 5th, 2022 do yourself a favor and get Kill Her Twice. Thank you to NetGalley and Severn for the advanced copy.

[John Raspanti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read ALL of the previous books in the series, but sadly found this one convoluted and slow. I hate to write these words because I've really enjoyed all of Mr. Fredrickson's work. The way he works humor into his stories is fabulous. Not so much with this one...

[Rae Anne Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting. The pace was good, tye mystery was good, left you wondering who had done what and the ending was good. Kill Her Twice was worth reading.

[Susan Krutzler]

Not for me. Tried the beginning but just not the style
Of police procedural books that I enjoy. Could be a good book for others.

[Harlequin Books]

Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
A Dek Elstrom Mystery

[Donald Nitti · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it confusing and difficult to follow.