Two Bodies Are Better Than One

Lorraine Highsmith Mysteries #1

by Erica Ruth Neubauer

Loaded with dark humor and sharp wit, this wild ride through the ’80s follows an advice columnist trying to unravel the mystery of the dead body on her lawn—while keeping her own secrets under wraps.

Until 1989, the wildest thing to happen in the sleepy town of Sheboygan Bay was surfers catching waves on frigid Lake Michigan. Then one summer morning, Lorraine Highsmith wakes up to find a corpse on her lawn.

Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni is on the case immediately, eager to make a name for herself in a male-dominated precinct. And Lorraine is close behind—as the local advice columnist, she’s always looking for a scoop.

What they don’t know is that Lorraine once had ties to the mob, and those connections could be coming back to haunt her. A recent transplant to Wisconsin, she keeps her past shrouded in mystery, and she’d like to keep it that way.

Mike might be working with her to find the killer, but Lorraine knows that alliances can change on a dime. She needs to get ahead of this story . . . no matter who’s trying to put an end to hers.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Humor, Crime, Ebooks, Cozy

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2026

Reviews

[Anne Gardepe · Rating 2 out of 5]

"And who'd hired Rupp to investigate Baker? Wass it the person Baker had stolen the money from? It was real easy to believe Rupp had taken on a drug dealer as a client. It seemed like a perfect skeezeball match, actually. But it still left the question on who'd killed Rupp and dumped him on Mrs. Highsmith's lawn. The big boss?" -Mike, from the novel

I am glad this novel was a free selection because it would have been a waste of my money. It didn't do much for me, in fact I was happy to be done with it.

The murder mystery is told with two points of view: Lorraine Highsmith, an advice columnist with a mysterious past, and Micheala "Mike" Zenoni, the only female detective in her unit, always fighting for the respect she deserves. I found nothing to like about Lorraine right from the beginning, but I was rooting for Mike's success in solving the two murders, referred to in the title. Apparently, this is book one of a Lorraine Highsmith series. I guarantee I will not be looking for #2!

The revelation of the perpetrator was a big surprise but if I were you, I wouldn't bother. I was going to rate this a 3 until the ending where I changed my mind!

[Tea · Rating 2 out of 5]

this wasn't great. the characters annoyed me, the writing was lacking, and the dialogue/internal dialogue tried too hard to fit the 80s time period and it just didn't work.

[Carlton Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast Paced

Ms Neubauer can spin a great story.
The story is fast paced mystery with plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing.
The story revolves around a smart woman detective, an incompetent chief, and a woman who has had a dark past.
Mix in some murders and drug dealers and you have the makings of the of a fun mystery that leaves you wanting more.

[Marta]

Did not finish at 21% read/read-aloud.
The blurb made this one sound interesting, but unfortunately I just could not get into this story after multiple attempts. I found the characters to be annoying and the story did not grab me at all. The highlight of what I read was the mention of Jessica Fletcher from Murder She Wrote and Cagney and Lacey.

I hope others enjoy this! It wasn’t a good fit for me but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a winner for others. I don’t like giving up on books so early, but between this and another I am hugely struggling with, I didn’t want to force myself and end up in a slump.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to try this book. I am sorry it didn’t work for me.

Notes on why I dnf’d etc posted: 3/10/26

[Jess ☠️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me for-EV-er to finish because I kept falling asleep. All of the exposition and interior monologuing that the two main characters do to keep the reader informed is exhausting. It's boring. It's dry. The dark humour isn't dark enough and it's certainly not funny enough.

I started this with high hopes because I genuinely liked the Mrs Highsmith character (hopefully named thusly after Patricia Highsmith) and thought she could be fun. She wasn't.

It's not a terrible book by any means but with SO many characters, you'd think dialogue would be easier to come by.

[Amy K · Rating 3 out of 5]

80's references were the highpoint

Marginally entertaining, fun bit of humor with cute eighties references, but a slow drawn out plot full of unlikeable characters. The end is rather unsatisfying. I won't be reading the next in the series.

[Bronco · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an FREE early copy from Amazon First Reads and it was literally the only reason it ended up on my Kindle and I'm suprised I even finished it. This book wasn't super great but being from Minnesota, I appreciated the Midwest slang thrown in from time to time. Book was too long for a shallow plot IMO. Giving 3 stars which is better than a DNF!

[Beautiful_Jade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dull, unlikable characters.

[Rachel]

Spectacular. I adored this book and am only sad that the second one isn't due out for another year! Everything hit perfectly: the Wisconsin vibes and colloquial weird sayings, the 1980s vibes, the two main female characters, the spin on the old lady stumbling over bodies....it was all just great. Seriously sad I'm done already, lol.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt extremely underwhelmed by this story. While it’s important to note that this is a police procedural rather than a thriller or suspense novel, I still found myself hoping for more. I appreciated the author’s endearing use of Northern dialogue—especially touches like “No, yah no” and “oh yah”—but charming regional flavor alone wasn’t enough to elevate the story for me. Ultimately, it fell short of my expectations and earned no more than two stars.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the blurb on the jacket. This book promised dark humor, sharp wit and a wild ride. There was humor, and there was wit. It just wasn’t 100% for me. I loved the idea of Lorraine with her dark unknown past. But I really didn’t like her and didn’t care about her being successful. I was on the fence about Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni. Even though I didn’t have much reason to like her, I was rooting for her. I feel like there was missed opportunity that these two opposites could know a little more about each other and possibly even help each other. But again, missed opportunity.

Oddly enough I felt this book was way too long, however I also was a little lost at times because I felt it jumped around too much. Lots of internal dialog. I did laugh at some of the 80’s slang and references.

The narrator was listed as Suzie Althens. This narrator has a pretty big resume, however in this narration, I questioned if it was an AI narrator more than once. Talented narrator, but it lacked the human feeling.

I’m hopeful this book was just starting to stretch as it’s the first in a cozy mystery series. Fingers crossed for the next books! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my Amazon first reads pick for February and obviously I chose wrong. I got 23% of the way in and was so bored I couldn't finish the book. I am an avid reader and this one just didn't draw me in. I feel like it was moving so slowly and the characters were just not interesting, like there was a lot of description and at the same time too little. DNF

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crime Caper

I read this as a Kindle First choice and thoroughly enjoyed it. Set in the late 1980's, I found the two lead characters, female detective in a man's world, Michaela 'Mike' Zenoni and seemingly harmless elderly busybody Lorraine Highsmith great foils for each other. Written from a dual point of view with short chapters which I just wanted to keep in reading, just who is committing all those American small town murders? I look forward to reading more in the series.

[Fiona Powrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy of this book.

In all honesty the start of this book was very weak, to the point that I almost closed the story. However I persevered, and by the 40% mark I was (somewhat) enjoying the book! It is a fairly easy read, if with some frustrations throughout.

Lorraine was a generally unlikeable character, with motivations both explicitly laid out and unclear. I do enjoy characters with complexities or difficult personalities, but Lorraine was too much with minimal depth.

Mike is a character far too obsessed with their father yet unable to prioritise family, and has an unhealthy fixation on Lorraine. Character fluff (eg the roller skating?) was randomly inserted and added nothing to their development.

The near-misses throughout the book were quite fun, as they did add some risk to the book. I didn't manage to guess one of the revelations (but in a way feel it would have been very hard to guess?), and another i caught very near the end. It feels quite untidy.

Overall this was fairly disappointing but I did manage to finish the book and enjoyed some parts.


2.25/5

[Reading Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was a fun time. I liked the 80s references. I wasn't to attached to any of the characters though so I won't continue with the series.

[Sara M. Kovacs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfinished

What a disappointment to spend my time reading and then get to THAT ending. I do not recommend wasting your time.

[Bryan VanMeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly fun and clever book. Very different from her other novels, but in fantastic and imaginative ways!

[Bookedupwithsayde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Bodies Are Better Than One

First off, I absolutely love the title, it immediately caught my attention. This was my first time reading this author, and I discovered the book through a Goodreads giveaway. The synopsis intrigued me, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.

Let me just say, Lorraine Highsmith is a standout. She’s effortlessly funny in a way that feels natural and genuine, and I found myself really enjoying her personality throughout the story. I could easily see this series being adapted into a TV show with the right actress bringing Lorraine to life.

From the very beginning, I put on my “Jessica Fletcher” detective hat, ready to solve the mystery… and failed miserably. I’ll gladly leave the sleuthing to Jessica

Now, Mike? Whew she tested my patience. I kept wanting her to speak up for herself and stop letting the chief take all the credit. And seriously, why didn’t she think to grab Lorraine’s glass for fingerprints? Come on, Mike, think! Even though I’m firmly Team Lorraine, I’d love to see more back-and-forth and stronger dynamics between the two of them in future installments.

Overall, I really enjoyed both the book and the audiobook. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what Book 2 has in store!

[Michelle Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. I could have read this in one day if I didn’t have other books already started. Funny, quirky, interesting characters and an engaging plot and a twist at the end. Everything I love about a good start to a series! I can’t until the next book comes out. Thank you to Goodreads for allowing me access to this book before it was published via a giveaway.

[Gerald Matzke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my eye because of the location in Wisconsin. The fictional town of Sheboygan Bay promised a humorous look at small town Wisconsin life. When a body shows up on the lawn of a widow who happens to write an advice column for the local paper, the search for the killer and the motive begins. Small towns often have an active rumor mill and the investigation starts to expose some secrets that many town folk had suspected. This leads to some of the humor that makes this an interesting read. If you are familiar with Wisconsin culture, you will chuckle at some the customs and vocabulary used by the locals. Unfortunately there is a lot of coarse language that perhaps the author felt was funny coming from an older woman and others but it spoiled my enjoyment of the book.

[Trisha]

this title is hilarious! definitely try to get my hands on this one!

pub date: 3/1/2026

[Shawna Mayerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderfully reminiscent of the detective shows I grew up with as a kid. I loved that. Great characters that will have you giggling and routing for too. Super glad I selected this as my February first reads title. really enjoyed the story.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I made it 41% but I just couldn't do it anymore. Neither of the main characters were very likable. Lorraine was supposed to be funny but I just found her to be a selfish jerk.The story seemed to drag on and on and not make any real progress and I really didn't care what was going to happen so I decided to not waste my time anymore

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did love reading all the 80s slang, that helped me enter into the era and the novel ! fun read overall.. Mrs H certainly is a better detective than people give the old woman credit for!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent mystery read, very white trash type town with a big drug problem. Some of the plot was predictable but I enjoyed it overall.

[Reilly Herman]

I just COULD NOT get into this book.. idk if it was just a reading slump or what but it’s been over a month and I just can’t read it

[Erika S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 - this was a fun read, very twisty, and I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. I also LOVED the reveal of the drug lord. The characters were great, and it was overall a solid read, but it was a little slow for me for this genre.

[Trish · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. With the exception of Detective Michaela (Mike) Zenoni, there wasn't a single character in this book with a single redeeming feature. And Lorraine herself wass horrible. I think the sarcastic tone is supposed wass supposed to be funny, but I just found it nasty. The only smile I got was when the identity of the drug kingpin was revealed. Definitely won't be reading any more in this series.

[Rosemarie Quagliata McMahan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't like to quit books so I didn't but it was truly grueling! It was truly fiction. No way information would be shared with a "reporter" the way they did.
Don't waste your time with this book and I'm certainly not interested in the rest of the series.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A corpse on your lawn is already a rough start to the morning. Like that is not a “sip coffee and watch the sunrise” situation. That is a “well… this is going to ruin the entire week” situation. And that is exactly where Two Bodies Are Better Than One kicks things off, with Lorraine Highsmith stepping outside in sleepy Sheboygan Bay and discovering that someone has decided her yard is the perfect drop-off location for a dead body. Which is incredibly rude, honestly.

Lorraine, for the record, is not just some sweet little old lady who bakes muffins and minds her business. She’s a local advice columnist with a sharp tongue, a suspiciously mysterious past, and the kind of vibe that makes you immediately think, “Oh this woman has absolutely done something illegal in the past and refuses to apologize for it.” And listen, that is a character type I usually love. A woman with secrets? A possible mob connection? A dead guy on the lawn? Yes please, I will take two.

Enter Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni, who is trying to prove herself in a police department where the men seem to treat female detectives like they just wandered into the wrong locker room. Mike is smart, driven, and extremely aware that she has to work twice as hard for half the respect. So when Lorraine starts hovering around the investigation like a cat who has decided it now works for the police department, Mike is understandably suspicious.

And the setup here is genuinely delicious. Small town Wisconsin in 1989. Lake Michigan surfers somehow existing in freezing water. A dead private investigator. Drug connections, shady locals, and the strong possibility that Lorraine’s past is about to come stomping back into town like it owns the place.

On paper? This is the kind of premise that makes mystery readers start rubbing their little detective hands together like goblins. And there are definitely moments where the book delivers that fun. The 80s setting has personality without turning into a full blown Back to the Future costume party. The Midwest dialogue pops up here and there with little “oh yah” moments that feel oddly charming. Lorraine herself has flashes of dry humor that made me laugh because she absolutely has the energy of someone who has lived long enough to stop pretending she likes anyone.

But here’s where my reading experience turned into that slightly awkward “I like you but we need to talk about a few things” conversation.

The pacing gets a little wobbly. Not disastrous, but enough that I occasionally felt like we were circling the same thoughts a few too many times. There is a lot of internal monologue happening. Lorraine is thinking. Mike is thinking. Everyone is doing a lot of thinking while I’m sitting here like a gremlin banging on the table yelling, “INTERROGATE SOMEONE. THROW A CHAIR. SOMETHING.”

And Lorraine herself is… complicated. Which I love in theory. I adore a messy, prickly protagonist. But I never fully clicked with her emotionally. Her mob-adjacent past is intriguing, and the book clearly wants that mystery hanging over everything, but she can come across so guarded and self-focused that it’s hard to latch onto her as the beating heart of the story.

Meanwhile Mike quietly became the character I was rooting for, which surprised me a little. She’s trying to navigate sexism, solve a murder, and deal with a very suspicious advice columnist who keeps wandering into her case like she’s conducting her own private episode of Cagney & Lacey.

The real thing that feels like a missed opportunity is the dynamic between Lorraine and Mike. Because the ingredients are perfect. Veteran woman with a shady past versus ambitious young detective trying to make her mark. That should be sparks. That should be verbal sparring. That should be chaos.

Instead they spend a lot of the story kind of orbiting the same investigation rather than colliding head-on, and I kept wanting more moments where they actually clashed or teamed up in a way that crackled.

The mystery itself works well enough though. There are multiple threads involving drugs, shady characters, and suspicious motives, and I didn’t completely guess where things were going. Which is honestly my favorite part of any whodunit. Nothing keeps a reader humble like confidently accusing the wrong person three chapters in.

Here’s the thing though. Even with the pacing bumps and my complicated feelings about Lorraine, this very much feels like a first book stretching its legs. Like the pilot episode of a show that hasn’t quite figured out how chaotic it wants to be yet. The bones of a really fun series are absolutely here.

Which is why I am already eyeing the sequel, Dead Men Can't Deadlift, like a detective who refuses to close the case. Because if the Lorraine and Mike dynamic sharpens and the pacing tightens just a little, this series could easily slide into that sweet spot of smart, funny, slightly chaotic small town mystery.

So this one lands at a solid three stars for me. Not a knockout punch, but definitely enough intrigue to keep me coming back for the next round. Also, any series that starts with a corpse aggressively dumped on someone’s lawn has my attention forever.

Whodunity Award: Most Passive-Aggressive Lawn Decoration in Cozy Mystery History

And a huge thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC, because nothing says a good time like solving fictional murders while judging everyone’s life choices from the comfort of your couch.