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First Chance
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26
First Chance
is a suspenseful thriller that listeners can’t wait to sink their teeth into—perfect for fans of Sue Grafton, Michael Connelly, and
Mare of Easttown.
Chance Kirby isn’t new to detective work, but starting over in Hopeful, Texas is a big step. Determined to leave behind her father and stepmother’s shadow and carve out a future of her own, she opens a small PI agency expecting missing heirlooms and small disputes. What she gets is anything but.
Darla Weaver’s sister, Patience, was found abandoned on the roadside months ago. The official investigation has gone cold, leaving Darla without answers. Frustrated by the town’s indifference and desperate to know what really happened, she turns to Chance.
As she begins to dig, Chance discovers a small town brimming with secrets, uncovering layers of eccentricities, unexpected alliances, and quiet tensions simmering just beneath the surface. Slowly, Chance begins to suspect that Patience’s murder may be only one shade of a much darker pattern …
Chance Kirby isn’t new to detective work, but starting over in Hopeful, Texas is a big step. Determined to leave behind her father and stepmother’s shadow and carve out a future of her own, she opens a small PI agency expecting missing heirlooms and small disputes. What she gets is anything but.
Darla Weaver’s sister, Patience, was found abandoned on the roadside months ago. The official investigation has gone cold, leaving Darla without answers. Frustrated by the town’s indifference and desperate to know what really happened, she turns to Chance.
As she begins to dig, Chance discovers a small town brimming with secrets, uncovering layers of eccentricities, unexpected alliances, and quiet tensions simmering just beneath the surface. Slowly, Chance begins to suspect that Patience’s murder may be only one shade of a much darker pattern …
- GenresMystery
327 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Every detective has to survive their first case. Every writer has to survive their first novel. Kasey Lansdale pulls off both with First Chance, a debut that mixes classic PI fiction with a healthy helping of East Texas attitude.
Chance Kirby isn't a super-sleuth. She interviews people, waits for leads, makes mistakes, and slowly pieces together a cold murder case. That grounded approach is refreshing, even if the investigation occasionally spins its tires. A little less world-building and a few more detours into side cases would've kept the engine humming. But once Lansdale floors it, the story kicks like a Texas twister. Better yet, Chance's friendship with Police Chief Izzy Lopez gives the novel a warmth and authenticity that makes you want to follow these characters into the next book.
First Chance isn't a perfect debut, but it's an honest, confident, and thoroughly entertaining one. Kasey Lansdale proves she has a voice all her own, seasoned with plenty of Texas charm and just enough grit to leave you eager for Chance Kirby's next case.
Read my full review over on Read @ Joe's for the complete breakdown, favorite moments, and why I'd happily ride shotgun for Case No. 2.
Chance Kirby isn't a super-sleuth. She interviews people, waits for leads, makes mistakes, and slowly pieces together a cold murder case. That grounded approach is refreshing, even if the investigation occasionally spins its tires. A little less world-building and a few more detours into side cases would've kept the engine humming. But once Lansdale floors it, the story kicks like a Texas twister. Better yet, Chance's friendship with Police Chief Izzy Lopez gives the novel a warmth and authenticity that makes you want to follow these characters into the next book.
First Chance isn't a perfect debut, but it's an honest, confident, and thoroughly entertaining one. Kasey Lansdale proves she has a voice all her own, seasoned with plenty of Texas charm and just enough grit to leave you eager for Chance Kirby's next case.
Read my full review over on Read @ Joe's for the complete breakdown, favorite moments, and why I'd happily ride shotgun for Case No. 2.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
"First Chance" torched the rest of my TBR pile with no mercy as soon as I picked it up. This is not a common occurrence, but Kasey Lansdale's debut is a rare thing. I fully inhabited the world of Hopeful, Texas, while reading -- and every time I was forced to put the book down, it called me back.
"First Chance," laced with sharp (and sassy) dialogue, leads our newly-solo PI and matchless crew on a chase to find a cold case killer. The intriguing rollout of this case, with higher and higher stakes at every turn, draws everyone into its maze alongside Chance and Tia, and let's not forget a couple of really awesome canine characters.
Fans of John Connolly's fast-burning Charlie Parker series will find a refreshing in-between read with a gritty flavor, layers of detection deep enough to sink teeth into, and plenty of action in "First Chance." Hang on for the ride, and let's hope this is the first of many Chance Kirby adventures to come!
Chance Kirby and her found family are far from perfect, but all the more enjoyable for it. The motto "Nose forward, ears back," printed on the new business cards for her small startup agency, will no doubt pop into my head at needed moments in life from now on, and I will be glad of it. "First Chance," best chance -- until the next one comes out please please please, and then we get to do it all again!
"First Chance," laced with sharp (and sassy) dialogue, leads our newly-solo PI and matchless crew on a chase to find a cold case killer. The intriguing rollout of this case, with higher and higher stakes at every turn, draws everyone into its maze alongside Chance and Tia, and let's not forget a couple of really awesome canine characters.
Fans of John Connolly's fast-burning Charlie Parker series will find a refreshing in-between read with a gritty flavor, layers of detection deep enough to sink teeth into, and plenty of action in "First Chance." Hang on for the ride, and let's hope this is the first of many Chance Kirby adventures to come!
Chance Kirby and her found family are far from perfect, but all the more enjoyable for it. The motto "Nose forward, ears back," printed on the new business cards for her small startup agency, will no doubt pop into my head at needed moments in life from now on, and I will be glad of it. "First Chance," best chance -- until the next one comes out please please please, and then we get to do it all again!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First Chance by Kasey Lansdale is a top-notch police procedural that completely hooked me from the start. I loved all of the main characters, especially Chance, a private detective taking on her first major case. When a young woman is murdered, Chance finds herself investigating a crime that may be connected to several other killings.
Chance’s good friend, Police Chief Izzy, allows her to consult on the related cases, and together they uncover more suspects and more danger. As the investigation intensifies, Chance and Tia, the teenage girl she is raising, may find themselves in serious jeopardy.
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that I could not put down. I finished it in a single day and was eager to see how everything would unfold. The mystery kept me guessing, and the characters were compelling enough that I wanted to spend more time with them.
This is an easy 5-star read for me. I hope this becomes a series because I would love to see more of these characters and continue reading Kasey Lansdale’s excellent writing.
Chance’s good friend, Police Chief Izzy, allows her to consult on the related cases, and together they uncover more suspects and more danger. As the investigation intensifies, Chance and Tia, the teenage girl she is raising, may find themselves in serious jeopardy.
This was a fast-paced, suspenseful read that I could not put down. I finished it in a single day and was eager to see how everything would unfold. The mystery kept me guessing, and the characters were compelling enough that I wanted to spend more time with them.
This is an easy 5-star read for me. I hope this becomes a series because I would love to see more of these characters and continue reading Kasey Lansdale’s excellent writing.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC!
First Chance is a gritty police procedural mystery about young women being murdered in a small Texas Town and Chance getting her first opportunity to solve a big case as PI. It deals with the topics of feminine rage and empowerment, motherhood-how it changes you and the relationships you have with your children, and found family.
This definitely kept me guessing and it held my interest. I didn’t see some of the twists coming. The characters felt real and I enjoyed the relationships between Chance, Tia, and Izzy. There were times I frustrated with Chance’s choices and lack of knowledge of procedures given her past. I had some moments that took me out of the story for a moment due how some things were worded, but I was able to get back into the story.
Overall, an enjoyable mystery with strong female characters.
First Chance is a gritty police procedural mystery about young women being murdered in a small Texas Town and Chance getting her first opportunity to solve a big case as PI. It deals with the topics of feminine rage and empowerment, motherhood-how it changes you and the relationships you have with your children, and found family.
This definitely kept me guessing and it held my interest. I didn’t see some of the twists coming. The characters felt real and I enjoyed the relationships between Chance, Tia, and Izzy. There were times I frustrated with Chance’s choices and lack of knowledge of procedures given her past. I had some moments that took me out of the story for a moment due how some things were worded, but I was able to get back into the story.
Overall, an enjoyable mystery with strong female characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC to review!
I got to say the characters make this book so enjoyable. Everyone we come across does not feel like the same person down to the dialogue and traits. And I really loved seeing how they all interacted with each other.
The investigation part as our FMC Chance alludes to does not yield immediate results. So we are for the majority of the book trying to solve the mystery, but I liked how we pieced together the clues along the way. I was making a list of suspects in my own head along with her.
Overall, it was a fun mystery and everyone needs a dog like Sissy.
I got to say the characters make this book so enjoyable. Everyone we come across does not feel like the same person down to the dialogue and traits. And I really loved seeing how they all interacted with each other.
The investigation part as our FMC Chance alludes to does not yield immediate results. So we are for the majority of the book trying to solve the mystery, but I liked how we pieced together the clues along the way. I was making a list of suspects in my own head along with her.
Overall, it was a fun mystery and everyone needs a dog like Sissy.
July 6, 2026
I unfortunately wasn’t a fan of this story.
My biggest pet peeve in a book is when characters talk with slang or in a very unnatural way, which was a big part of this book. It took me so far out of the story and nearly every conversation with Tia was frustrating to read.
I also feel like this story did a lot of telling instead of showing - a big example being the final chapter where they tie up every possible loose end by saying “what happened to - this .. and as for - this happened ! and we never spoke to - again” obviously fans don’t like loose ends but it just seemed redundant.
The writing style and characters weren’t for me at all and this was a story I wouldn’t recommend .
My biggest pet peeve in a book is when characters talk with slang or in a very unnatural way, which was a big part of this book. It took me so far out of the story and nearly every conversation with Tia was frustrating to read.
I also feel like this story did a lot of telling instead of showing - a big example being the final chapter where they tie up every possible loose end by saying “what happened to - this .. and as for - this happened ! and we never spoke to - again” obviously fans don’t like loose ends but it just seemed redundant.
The writing style and characters weren’t for me at all and this was a story I wouldn’t recommend .
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A wonderful book featuring a new private detective, Chance Kirby, as she unravels a cold case featuring the murder of a teenage girl. With her adopted sister Tia and her dog Sissy, Chance begins to suspect that this case might be connected to a string of murders in the local Texas area. Will Chance crack the case, or become a victim herself?
I read this book in two days and loved every minute of it. Strong, engaging characters and a tightly woven plot make for what I hope to be the first book in a series. Kasey Lansdale is a phenomenal author, and this book is worth celebrating. 5/5 stars.
I read this book in two days and loved every minute of it. Strong, engaging characters and a tightly woven plot make for what I hope to be the first book in a series. Kasey Lansdale is a phenomenal author, and this book is worth celebrating. 5/5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kasey Lansdale's first full length novel is worth reading. I've been familiar with her short stories for more than a decade and was excited to experience this. I was not let down. She is an accomplished author and the storytelling was flowing, engaging, and told with a real voice. Her outlooks on life and Texas are experienced and thoughtful. If you've come this far checking out reviews, I would like to encourage you to go on and read First Chance. Good characters, good story, and hopefully setting up for further adventures.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this book and the the twist and turns to find out who was the killer. It was a thrilling murder mistery- whose done it with quirky banter. I would definitely like to read more books about the main character Chance. Kasey Lansdale hits it out of the park- I will be looking for more of her books. Thank you Netgalley for the free read for honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A satisfying boil of rich ingredients from noir to humor with a smart character driven storyline full of snappy dialogue, all of it mixed with wit and sharp human insight. Loved it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley...
This was a real page turner, with great characters. I definitely look forward to more from this author...
This was a real page turner, with great characters. I definitely look forward to more from this author...
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews