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Eddie Shoes Mysteries #1
One Dead, Two to Go
Private Investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” Schultz’s most recent job has her parked outside a seedy Bellingham hotel, photographing her quarry as he kisses his mistress goodbye. This is the last anyone will see of the woman … alive. Her body is later found dumped in an abandoned building. Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings, disappears soon after. Eddie hates to be stiffed for her fee, but she has to wonder if Kendra could be in trouble too. Or is she the killer?
Eddie usually balks at matters requiring a gun, but before she knows it, she is knee-deep in dangerous company, spurred on by her card-counting adrenaline-junkie mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas. Chava is only sixteen years older than Eddie and sadly lacking in parenting skills. Her unique areas of expertise, however, prove to be helpful in ways Eddie can’t deny, making it hard to stop Chava from tagging along.
Also investigating the homicide is Detective Chance Parker, new to Bellingham’s Major Crimes unit but no stranger to Eddie. Their history as a couple back in Seattle is one more kink in a chain of complications, making Eddie’s case more frustrating and perilous with each tick of the clock.
Book 1 in the Eddie Shoes Mystery series.
Eddie usually balks at matters requiring a gun, but before she knows it, she is knee-deep in dangerous company, spurred on by her card-counting adrenaline-junkie mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas. Chava is only sixteen years older than Eddie and sadly lacking in parenting skills. Her unique areas of expertise, however, prove to be helpful in ways Eddie can’t deny, making it hard to stop Chava from tagging along.
Also investigating the homicide is Detective Chance Parker, new to Bellingham’s Major Crimes unit but no stranger to Eddie. Their history as a couple back in Seattle is one more kink in a chain of complications, making Eddie’s case more frustrating and perilous with each tick of the clock.
Book 1 in the Eddie Shoes Mystery series.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2016
45 people are currently reading
722 people want to read
About the author
Elena Hartwell
10 books256 followersElena Hartwell started out her storytelling career in the theater. She worked for several years as a playwright, director, designer, technician, and educator before becoming a novelist.
Elena has more than twenty years of teaching experience and now works one-on-one with writers as a manuscript consultant and writing coach.
She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and the greatest pets in the world, two cats, three horses, and two dogs. When she’s not writing, teaching writing, or talking about writing, she can be found reading, working with the animals, or driving the tractor around Paradise.
Elena also writers under Elena Taylor.
For more information please visit www.elenahartwell.com
Elena has more than twenty years of teaching experience and now works one-on-one with writers as a manuscript consultant and writing coach.
She lives in Spokane, Washington, with her husband and the greatest pets in the world, two cats, three horses, and two dogs. When she’s not writing, teaching writing, or talking about writing, she can be found reading, working with the animals, or driving the tractor around Paradise.
Elena also writers under Elena Taylor.
For more information please visit www.elenahartwell.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 14, 2015
Attention mystery fans hungering for the good stuff: One Dead, Two to Go is a full course buffet. Infidelity, murder, and kidnapping are all on the menu, but the main course is Eddie Shoes (great name!), who is an engaging, resourceful, and tough female P.I. Throw in her poker-playing, Mafia-connected, breaking-and-entering mother named Chava and a pot-boiler of a plot, and I finished this book with a full belly, yet starving for more Eddie Shoes adventures. The writing is cinematic and vivid, the characters well-drawn, but the dynamic between Eddie and Chava, which reminded me fondly of Cagney and Lacey, is what makes the story. Fans of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich should definitely check out One Dead, Two to Go. Recommended.
May 28, 2016
OK I loved this book - a good short vacation read for sure. Refreshing to take a break from the 500 page novels... The mystery is good, and it has left me excited for more.. don't want to spoil it for anyone so I won't say much more.
January 18, 2023
A very engaging private eye book. And in Bellingham, Washington, a location I've never seen used in mysteries. Eddie Shoes is a very likable character and her sidekick, her law-challenged, card shark mother, is great fun. Lots of terrific twists and turns. This is a fun read.
January 2, 2017
I loved this book. The lead characters, Eddie and her mom, Cha Cha, are crazy funny and keep the action going. Looking forward to the next book.
May 1, 2024
I’m a huge fan of cozy mysteries and there are several things I need to make me love one. First is the setting. I prefer small town ones but even big cities or someplace on the other side of the pond works for me if the author can really show it to me, which Elena Hartwell did.
And then I need the author to populate it with quirky, flawed people I can connect with and almost see as someone I know. She did that too. Edwina, AKA Eddie Shoes, was a hoot. A private investigator with a tangled mess of a personal life that made me laugh. Her mother, Chava, is a card shark and a huge handful. Made me think of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character. She’s a whirling dervish.
There needs to be a love interest. In this case it was Eddie’s ex, Chance Parker. The sparks are still there but he’s not happy with how things ended. Perhaps it ended too soon? I was excited to find out.
Last but not least is the mystery. I require lots of suspects and false leads. I’m like a bloodhound. I get the scent and won’t stop until the culprit is found. Got that with this one. And so much fun getting there.
This is a super fun beginning to a series I can sink my teeth into. Next up is Two Heads Are Deader Than One. Tallyho!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
And then I need the author to populate it with quirky, flawed people I can connect with and almost see as someone I know. She did that too. Edwina, AKA Eddie Shoes, was a hoot. A private investigator with a tangled mess of a personal life that made me laugh. Her mother, Chava, is a card shark and a huge handful. Made me think of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character. She’s a whirling dervish.
There needs to be a love interest. In this case it was Eddie’s ex, Chance Parker. The sparks are still there but he’s not happy with how things ended. Perhaps it ended too soon? I was excited to find out.
Last but not least is the mystery. I require lots of suspects and false leads. I’m like a bloodhound. I get the scent and won’t stop until the culprit is found. Got that with this one. And so much fun getting there.
This is a super fun beginning to a series I can sink my teeth into. Next up is Two Heads Are Deader Than One. Tallyho!
I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.
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May 13, 2018I'm very proud of book one in my series. I learned a lot about my genre. As a playwright, I never thought about how to set up a series before. The characters were fun to "get to know" as was thinking about how their relationships might unfold down the road. I hope you enjoy meeting Eddie Shoes and her merry band.
September 12, 2018
Elena Hartwell has written a fun, engaging mystery with original characters in this mother-daughter sleuthing duo, with Eddie the responsible one and her mother the irresponsible. The relationship between the two drives the story, along with Eddie's ironic voice. A well written, relaxing romp.
March 3, 2016
Mystery, murder and mayhem collide in this intriguing new series!
Read full review in the 2016 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2016 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 22, 2016
This was a fun short read. It would make fantastic vacation or beach reading this summer.
March 27, 2024
I loved Eddie Shoes (real name: Edwina Schultz) and her dry wit from the very first page of One Dead, Two to Go, courtesy of the 1st person POV that author Elena Hartwell uses so superbly. Eddie is a delightfully endearing mix of traits that reminded me of the type of character that Sandra Bullock plays in all her romcoms – spunky and self-sufficient but also not quite as smooth as she’d like to be. And once her feisty mom Chava shows up, I spent a great deal of time laughing out loud at their dynamic, especially their hilarious back-and-forth and how Chava just barrels over Eddie with all the good (but exasperating) intentions in the world. These two may butt heads at nearly every turn but there’s also so much love there. In fact, they would make a perfect sitcom mother-daughter duo.
The mystery in One Dead, Two to Go keeps getting more complicated at every turn, keeping Eddie on her toes as she tries to sift out truth from lies. Infidelity, gambling, kidnapping, murder… the crimes and sins keep piling up, along with some surprising twists that I thought were well-placed AND an escalation in danger for Eddie and Chava. My favorite complication is, of course, the fact that her ex-boyfriend is the newest detective on the local force because we all know how much I love even the hint of romance potential. (And that’s all it is so far – just a hint – but I remain hopeful.) But even without the swoony detective, I would have been just as invested in following the case(s) to the end.
Bottom Line: One Dead, Two to Go by Elena Hartwell is fun and snappy and well-plotted, and its delightful characters are diverse and vividly-drawn. I felt like I was right in the middle of the unpredictable investigation and I loved every minute of it. Eddie and Chava are characters I would hang out with in a heartbeat, though I have a feeling I’d laugh the whole time at their goodnatured bickering … because I certainly did while reading it. What an entertaining introduction to a series that promises to earn a place among my favorites!
Reviewer’s Note: Followers of my reviews may want to be aware that there is some occasional cursing in this book, most of it mild but there are a couple of stronger words & one profanity used.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
The mystery in One Dead, Two to Go keeps getting more complicated at every turn, keeping Eddie on her toes as she tries to sift out truth from lies. Infidelity, gambling, kidnapping, murder… the crimes and sins keep piling up, along with some surprising twists that I thought were well-placed AND an escalation in danger for Eddie and Chava. My favorite complication is, of course, the fact that her ex-boyfriend is the newest detective on the local force because we all know how much I love even the hint of romance potential. (And that’s all it is so far – just a hint – but I remain hopeful.) But even without the swoony detective, I would have been just as invested in following the case(s) to the end.
Bottom Line: One Dead, Two to Go by Elena Hartwell is fun and snappy and well-plotted, and its delightful characters are diverse and vividly-drawn. I felt like I was right in the middle of the unpredictable investigation and I loved every minute of it. Eddie and Chava are characters I would hang out with in a heartbeat, though I have a feeling I’d laugh the whole time at their goodnatured bickering … because I certainly did while reading it. What an entertaining introduction to a series that promises to earn a place among my favorites!
Reviewer’s Note: Followers of my reviews may want to be aware that there is some occasional cursing in this book, most of it mild but there are a couple of stronger words & one profanity used.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
October 4, 2022
I got to know Elena Hartwell's work through her plays, which are humane and insightful and compassionate. (I actually published one of those plays in the anthology Plays and Playwrights 2008.) The great thing about her detective creation Eddie Shoes is that she shares all of those qualities. I love that she's a gumshoe who doesn't like guns, and that she holds on to a kind of idealism in the face of ugly doings.
I also enjoyed the character of Eddie's flamboyant and unconventional mom.
I hadn't realized it had been so long since I'd read this first book in the series; I really need to move on reading the next volumes!
I also enjoyed the character of Eddie's flamboyant and unconventional mom.
I hadn't realized it had been so long since I'd read this first book in the series; I really need to move on reading the next volumes!
May 13, 2017
This book was recommended to me by a longtime friend. I trusted her judgment when she told me I would enjoy this author and book. ELENA HARTWELL has captured my attention with ONE DEAD, TWO TO GO. This is the first book in a series featuring a Jewish (but not practicing her religion) private investigator in Bellingham in the northwest corner of the state of Washington in the United States.
"Eddie Shoes" was born Edwina Schultz in Spokane Washington. Her mother Chava was a teenager when Eddie was born. Her father Eduardo Zapata deserted his family before Eddie's birth. In her late teens, Eddie leaves her Mom and sees her irregularly thereafter. Her father is not in her life at all.
As the story opens, Eddie is a self-employed P.I. in Bellingham, on her own since the suicide of her Seattle based mentor a couple of years earlier. Her cases are relatively simple - she specializes in divorce related opportunities. While on a case involving a male owner of a Chevrolet car dealership, she sees him leave a seedy hotel with a woman, Deirdre, who is not his wife. Good news for Eddie, bad news for her client, Kendra, the wife. The next day, the Deirdre is found dead and stuffed behind a wall in a deserted building.
Eddie feels guilty because she may have been the last one to see her alive. Kendra keeps showing up in Eddie's life for several days and is always in tears. As the story unfolds, Eddie realizes all is not what it appears to be. Her mother, Chava, shows up looking like she had been beaten up. Then her long lost father enters the picture as a Mafioso from Las Vegas, Nevada. An incredible story of money laundering and a financial scam then unfolds. To complicate matters even more, Eddie's former "boyfriend" shows up in Bellingham as the new homicide detective for the Bellingham police and he is the investigator in Deirdre's death. Most of the violence is off-screen except for the final three way shootout that is more Keystone Cops than Dirty Harry.
Mystery readers can rejoice at this newcomer to this genre. Hartwell is a terrific new voice in the detective novel category whom I plan to follow. If you like Janet Evanovich, you will find this author worth reading.
GO! BUY! READ!
"Eddie Shoes" was born Edwina Schultz in Spokane Washington. Her mother Chava was a teenager when Eddie was born. Her father Eduardo Zapata deserted his family before Eddie's birth. In her late teens, Eddie leaves her Mom and sees her irregularly thereafter. Her father is not in her life at all.
As the story opens, Eddie is a self-employed P.I. in Bellingham, on her own since the suicide of her Seattle based mentor a couple of years earlier. Her cases are relatively simple - she specializes in divorce related opportunities. While on a case involving a male owner of a Chevrolet car dealership, she sees him leave a seedy hotel with a woman, Deirdre, who is not his wife. Good news for Eddie, bad news for her client, Kendra, the wife. The next day, the Deirdre is found dead and stuffed behind a wall in a deserted building.
Eddie feels guilty because she may have been the last one to see her alive. Kendra keeps showing up in Eddie's life for several days and is always in tears. As the story unfolds, Eddie realizes all is not what it appears to be. Her mother, Chava, shows up looking like she had been beaten up. Then her long lost father enters the picture as a Mafioso from Las Vegas, Nevada. An incredible story of money laundering and a financial scam then unfolds. To complicate matters even more, Eddie's former "boyfriend" shows up in Bellingham as the new homicide detective for the Bellingham police and he is the investigator in Deirdre's death. Most of the violence is off-screen except for the final three way shootout that is more Keystone Cops than Dirty Harry.
Mystery readers can rejoice at this newcomer to this genre. Hartwell is a terrific new voice in the detective novel category whom I plan to follow. If you like Janet Evanovich, you will find this author worth reading.
GO! BUY! READ!
February 1, 2017
You know you’re in wonderful trouble when you read the perfect line in Elena Hartwell’s debut mystery novel, “Maybe in their line of work a gunshot wound was a sign of affection.” After you’ve been hooked, snooked, waylaid, and headspun, there’s no chance of putting down this lovely ride-of-a-book until you’re finished.
Start with one-part splendiferously sexy name, Eddie Shoes (a woman—of course). Add two parts cardshark/mother figure on the lam from Las Vegas. Add three twists of sputtering old romantic flame, soggy life-saving doggy, and Italian Mafiosi at Indian casino. Sprinkle in a murder or two. Lightly stir in the ghost of Freud and Raymond Chandler. Shake with sass, verve, and intelligent chutzpah. And serve very Washington wet.
Eddie Shoes is the perfect imperfect woman—and PI. She’s constantly in on her own joke, which makes us insiders to the inside of a joke until we realize we’ve been politely duped by a crafty craftsmen of a writer named Elena Hartwell. And we love her, and Eddie Shoes, for having yanked our chain with such silky deception.
Oh, Eddie/Elena—please don’t stop. You’ve got me hooked, snooked, and ready for another long and lovely rain-drenched mystery-reading night from the pitch-perfect pavement-pounding Eddie Shoes. I can’t wait!
Start with one-part splendiferously sexy name, Eddie Shoes (a woman—of course). Add two parts cardshark/mother figure on the lam from Las Vegas. Add three twists of sputtering old romantic flame, soggy life-saving doggy, and Italian Mafiosi at Indian casino. Sprinkle in a murder or two. Lightly stir in the ghost of Freud and Raymond Chandler. Shake with sass, verve, and intelligent chutzpah. And serve very Washington wet.
Eddie Shoes is the perfect imperfect woman—and PI. She’s constantly in on her own joke, which makes us insiders to the inside of a joke until we realize we’ve been politely duped by a crafty craftsmen of a writer named Elena Hartwell. And we love her, and Eddie Shoes, for having yanked our chain with such silky deception.
Oh, Eddie/Elena—please don’t stop. You’ve got me hooked, snooked, and ready for another long and lovely rain-drenched mystery-reading night from the pitch-perfect pavement-pounding Eddie Shoes. I can’t wait!
April 1, 2024
Eddie is a very likable heroine in this enjoyable start to a new series. She is a flawed character but with a great heart and sleuthing instincts. Support characters come out of her past, adding interest to the personal aspect of the story. Her old boyfriend from the Seattle Police Department, Chance, has now moved to Eddie's current Bellingham location. There is more tension in her life when her mother arrives on the scene. Chava is an expert at card playing and is perhaps more involved with the mob than she appears to be on the surface.
The plot is a little complex as people are not who we think and others are not entirely honest about their activities. The lead characters, all with well crafted personalities, make this novel so interesting and fun to read. That and the location of Bellingham, the last major city on the I-5 corridor before the Canadian border. I love books set in my native Washington and I am very familiar with Bellingham and the places Hartwell mentions.
This is an enjoyable first novel in a new sleuthing series. I have become quite interested in Eddie's life and am anxious to read the next in the series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
The plot is a little complex as people are not who we think and others are not entirely honest about their activities. The lead characters, all with well crafted personalities, make this novel so interesting and fun to read. That and the location of Bellingham, the last major city on the I-5 corridor before the Canadian border. I love books set in my native Washington and I am very familiar with Bellingham and the places Hartwell mentions.
This is an enjoyable first novel in a new sleuthing series. I have become quite interested in Eddie's life and am anxious to read the next in the series.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
March 26, 2017
she changed her name to eddie shoes and is a pi. she looks into cheating husbands. the woman she caught the man cheating on with ended up dead. her x boyfriend is the detective handling the case. the wife of the cheating husband was kidnapped. she is preg. eddies mom got thrown out of vegas (and the state), she counts cards. she moved in with eddie. they ran into eddies dad who she never met before. they are trying to find the kidnapped wife.
turns out she is more involved in things than she let on. eddie did find her and save her , but ended up in the water. a dog came out of no where and saved her so she put him in her car.
later the bad guy got shot, the kidnapped lady got shot, and eddies mom got shot! the bad guy died in the hosp (allergic reaction to meds) but the 2 women will be ok.
eddie likes the police detective but we'll see how that goes. i hope i get to read the next one in the series
turns out she is more involved in things than she let on. eddie did find her and save her , but ended up in the water. a dog came out of no where and saved her so she put him in her car.
later the bad guy got shot, the kidnapped lady got shot, and eddies mom got shot! the bad guy died in the hosp (allergic reaction to meds) but the 2 women will be ok.
eddie likes the police detective but we'll see how that goes. i hope i get to read the next one in the series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2016
If you like cozies and would like to try a PI mystery, this book is a perfect match. Eddie Shoes is a funny, smart private detective who is incredibly likable. I read this book in a couple of days, and while I wasn’t on vacation, it felt like one every time I turned the pages. The plot moves quickly, but the characters are well drawn. Eddie’s mother, Chava, is just as memorable as Eddie, and I loved the dialogue between the unlikely pair. I can’t wait for the next book in this fun new series!
April 14, 2017
Fun read! The pace of the book moved right along. Great characters. There was one time when I felt Eddie should have been a little more skeptical on some information she got, but that did not detract from my pure enjoyment of this book. I especially loved the relationship that developed between Eddie and Chava! Looking forward to Book 2!!!
November 18, 2019
Elena Hartwell has created a witty mother-daughter crime-fighting duo in the first of her engaging Eddie Shoes Mysteries, ONE DEAD,TWO TO GO. Eddie is equal measures smart and savvy with a healthy dose of ironic sarcasm mixed in. The interplay between characters is snappy and I’m looking forward to the next mystery in this well-written series.
February 22, 2016
A fun mystery starring a gutsy, smart, witty female detective. Set in Bellingham, WA certainly helped the appeal for me. Fast-paced, unpredictable. A great mystery that promises to be the first in a series featuring Eddie Shoes. Can't wait for more.
May 18, 2020
I recently read all three books in the Eddie Shoes Private Investagator series and I can’t wait for the next one. Fresh, well researched, fun, lively stories with serious underlying messages. The perfect read!
May 9, 2021
A rousing Pacific Northwest PI 🕵️♀️ with plenty of relationship issues (family, friend, romantic, self). Just the right amount of danger mixed in with a twisting plot. I was hooked and surprised again and again throughout the book.
June 4, 2016
I can't remember the last time I read a book in one day, but I did with this one. A very enjoyable page-turner that kept me hooked! Can't wait for the next one, Elena Hartwell!
October 28, 2016
Quick fun read! The characters are delightful and interesting. Can't wait for the second book to come out.
March 29, 2024
Private eye Eddie Shoes has finally found the evidence needed to close her case—clear evidence of a cheating husband. However, her client kept pushing off paying, and Eddie made the fatal mistake of not getting paid upfront. But when the mistress of her client’s husband ends up dead, this case becomes much more than Eddie expected in One Dead, Two to Go by Elena Hartwell.
Edwina Schultz, or as she prefers to be called, Eddie Shoes, is a private eye who investigates cheating spouses just to make ends meet. Her latest case involves discovering whether Matthew Hallings is cheating on his wife, Kendra. Unsurprisingly, Eddie gets the evidence of his infidelity and presents it to her client, Kendra. But Kendra seems hesitant to pay.
Getting payment, however, is the least of Eddie’s problems when two detectives arrive at her office to inform her Matthew Hallings’ mistress has been found dead. Oh, and one of the detectives happens to be Eddie’s old flame. And if things couldn’t get any worse, her mother arrives at her door ready to make herself at home. Trying to juggle her personal problems with those of her client, Eddie must figure out if the Hallings are involved in the murder. But things are not as they seem, and the more Eddie investigates, the more questions she uncovers.
I really enjoyed the character of Eddie in this book. She is funny and confident but also a little self-conscious. The dichotomy of her character made her much more believable and made her easy to connect with. I also like the character of Eddie’s mother, Chava. It was fun to see how they went from distant to nearly inseparable by the end of the novel.
Hartwell is a great author, and her writing is solid. What I did struggle with was the pacing. It was so incredibly slow for about 2/3rds of the book. Then it goes from zero to sixty in the last third. I know this was the first book in a series, but the character and world-building bogged down the book and made it very hard to stick with. I kept hoping for the book to punch it up, but it felt a little convoluted when it did. It was especially disappointing as I believe Hartwell is a better author than what the pacing showed.
One Dead, Two to Go is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don’t miss a chance to join Eddie and Chava in their next adventure! ~ Tierney for Novels Alive
Edwina Schultz, or as she prefers to be called, Eddie Shoes, is a private eye who investigates cheating spouses just to make ends meet. Her latest case involves discovering whether Matthew Hallings is cheating on his wife, Kendra. Unsurprisingly, Eddie gets the evidence of his infidelity and presents it to her client, Kendra. But Kendra seems hesitant to pay.
Getting payment, however, is the least of Eddie’s problems when two detectives arrive at her office to inform her Matthew Hallings’ mistress has been found dead. Oh, and one of the detectives happens to be Eddie’s old flame. And if things couldn’t get any worse, her mother arrives at her door ready to make herself at home. Trying to juggle her personal problems with those of her client, Eddie must figure out if the Hallings are involved in the murder. But things are not as they seem, and the more Eddie investigates, the more questions she uncovers.
I really enjoyed the character of Eddie in this book. She is funny and confident but also a little self-conscious. The dichotomy of her character made her much more believable and made her easy to connect with. I also like the character of Eddie’s mother, Chava. It was fun to see how they went from distant to nearly inseparable by the end of the novel.
Hartwell is a great author, and her writing is solid. What I did struggle with was the pacing. It was so incredibly slow for about 2/3rds of the book. Then it goes from zero to sixty in the last third. I know this was the first book in a series, but the character and world-building bogged down the book and made it very hard to stick with. I kept hoping for the book to punch it up, but it felt a little convoluted when it did. It was especially disappointing as I believe Hartwell is a better author than what the pacing showed.
One Dead, Two to Go is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don’t miss a chance to join Eddie and Chava in their next adventure! ~ Tierney for Novels Alive
March 29, 2024
Private eye Eddie Shoes has finally found the evidence needed to close her case—clear evidence of a cheating husband. However, her client kept pushing off paying, and Eddie made the fatal mistake of not getting paid upfront. But when the mistress of her client’s husband ends up dead, this case becomes much more than Eddie expected in One Dead, Two to Go by Elena Hartwell.
Edwina Schultz, or as she prefers to be called, Eddie Shoes, is a private eye who investigates cheating spouses just to make ends meet. Her latest case involves discovering whether Matthew Hallings is cheating on his wife, Kendra. Unsurprisingly, Eddie gets the evidence of his infidelity and presents it to her client, Kendra. But Kendra seems hesitant to pay.
Getting payment, however, is the least of Eddie’s problems when two detectives arrive at her office to inform her Matthew Hallings’ mistress has been found dead. Oh, and one of the detectives happens to be Eddie’s old flame. And if things couldn’t get any worse, her mother arrives at her door ready to make herself at home. Trying to juggle her personal problems with those of her client, Eddie must figure out if the Hallings are involved in the murder. But things are not as they seem, and the more Eddie investigates, the more questions she uncovers.
I really enjoyed the character of Eddie in this book. She is funny and confident but also a little self-conscious. The dichotomy of her character made her much more believable and made her easy to connect with. I also like the character of Eddie’s mother, Chava. It was fun to see how they went from distant to nearly inseparable by the end of the novel.
Hartwell is a great author, and her writing is solid. What I did struggle with was the pacing. It was so incredibly slow for about 2/3rds of the book. Then it goes from zero to sixty in the last third. I know this was the first book in a series, but the character and world-building bogged down the book and made it very hard to stick with. I kept hoping for the book to punch it up, but it felt a little convoluted when it did. It was especially disappointing as I believe Hartwell is a better author than what the pacing showed.
One Dead, Two to Go is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don’t miss a chance to join Eddie and Chava in their next adventure!
Review for NovelsAlive.com
Edwina Schultz, or as she prefers to be called, Eddie Shoes, is a private eye who investigates cheating spouses just to make ends meet. Her latest case involves discovering whether Matthew Hallings is cheating on his wife, Kendra. Unsurprisingly, Eddie gets the evidence of his infidelity and presents it to her client, Kendra. But Kendra seems hesitant to pay.
Getting payment, however, is the least of Eddie’s problems when two detectives arrive at her office to inform her Matthew Hallings’ mistress has been found dead. Oh, and one of the detectives happens to be Eddie’s old flame. And if things couldn’t get any worse, her mother arrives at her door ready to make herself at home. Trying to juggle her personal problems with those of her client, Eddie must figure out if the Hallings are involved in the murder. But things are not as they seem, and the more Eddie investigates, the more questions she uncovers.
I really enjoyed the character of Eddie in this book. She is funny and confident but also a little self-conscious. The dichotomy of her character made her much more believable and made her easy to connect with. I also like the character of Eddie’s mother, Chava. It was fun to see how they went from distant to nearly inseparable by the end of the novel.
Hartwell is a great author, and her writing is solid. What I did struggle with was the pacing. It was so incredibly slow for about 2/3rds of the book. Then it goes from zero to sixty in the last third. I know this was the first book in a series, but the character and world-building bogged down the book and made it very hard to stick with. I kept hoping for the book to punch it up, but it felt a little convoluted when it did. It was especially disappointing as I believe Hartwell is a better author than what the pacing showed.
One Dead, Two to Go is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Don’t miss a chance to join Eddie and Chava in their next adventure!
Review for NovelsAlive.com
May 6, 2024
One Dead, Two To Go is a PI Mystery. Eddie Shoes’ latest client is the worst. She lies. She cheats. And now, just after the body of her husband’s mistress is found, she’s gone missing. Eddie has to go find her…it’s the only way she’s going to get paid.
Bottom line: One Dead, Two To Go is for you if you like comedic PI mysteries where good sleuthing goes toe to toe with bad luck.
Strengths of the story. The storytelling style is the first thing I noticed. It’s fun, free, and fast-paced. Written in the same vein as Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Hartwell’s Eddie Shoes is serious about her work. She has to be to manage the chaos around her.
Eddie Shoes, born Edwina Zapata Shultz, is the daughter of card shark and a mafioso. She’s a woman who uses her brains to make a living as a PI. She isn’t a fighter but she is tenacious and willing to go where good sense doesn’t tread. She was well developed and an easy character to cheer for.
Eddie’s mother drops in for an uninvited extended visit and decides to help out. Chava is different from most mother characters. She was 16 when Eddie was born, so this mama is only in her mid-forties. She is a slight of hand pro in addition to card player and has the same tenacity as her daughter. Chava becomes Eddie’s ad hoc assistant, bringing her own skills and connections to the case.
The story has a murder but the plot is focused on the disappearance of Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings. Between a cheating husband and a mystery man, it seems all but certain that Kendra was kidnapped. Before Eddie can put the pieces together…she has to find them. Kendra’s life isn’t what she painted it to be. Her husband isn’t what she thought he was. And then there’s that mystery man again.
Where the story fell short of ideal: With comedic style stories, it’s often hard to check all the boxes, but this one does. The bones of the kidnapping mystery are strong with the actions of the parties being consistent with their motivations. I thought about the end for several days after reading it, following each thread to see if they stood up, and they do.
Eddie drives her part of the plot and, in doing so, forces the bad guys to act. She could have stopped looking for Kendra, and the story would have ended. Eddie, with the help of Chava, pushed this story to a satisfying end.
Bottom line: One Dead, Two To Go is for you if you like comedic PI mysteries where good sleuthing goes toe to toe with bad luck.
Strengths of the story. The storytelling style is the first thing I noticed. It’s fun, free, and fast-paced. Written in the same vein as Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, Hartwell’s Eddie Shoes is serious about her work. She has to be to manage the chaos around her.
Eddie Shoes, born Edwina Zapata Shultz, is the daughter of card shark and a mafioso. She’s a woman who uses her brains to make a living as a PI. She isn’t a fighter but she is tenacious and willing to go where good sense doesn’t tread. She was well developed and an easy character to cheer for.
Eddie’s mother drops in for an uninvited extended visit and decides to help out. Chava is different from most mother characters. She was 16 when Eddie was born, so this mama is only in her mid-forties. She is a slight of hand pro in addition to card player and has the same tenacity as her daughter. Chava becomes Eddie’s ad hoc assistant, bringing her own skills and connections to the case.
The story has a murder but the plot is focused on the disappearance of Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings. Between a cheating husband and a mystery man, it seems all but certain that Kendra was kidnapped. Before Eddie can put the pieces together…she has to find them. Kendra’s life isn’t what she painted it to be. Her husband isn’t what she thought he was. And then there’s that mystery man again.
Where the story fell short of ideal: With comedic style stories, it’s often hard to check all the boxes, but this one does. The bones of the kidnapping mystery are strong with the actions of the parties being consistent with their motivations. I thought about the end for several days after reading it, following each thread to see if they stood up, and they do.
Eddie drives her part of the plot and, in doing so, forces the bad guys to act. She could have stopped looking for Kendra, and the story would have ended. Eddie, with the help of Chava, pushed this story to a satisfying end.
April 7, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Elena Hartwell and Partners In Crime Tours. I'm excited to be a part of this tour and am over the moon thrilled to have the opportunity to review all three books!
One Dead, Two to Go is the first in the Eddie Shoes Mysteries series. When Edwina “Eddie Shoes” isn’t fending off surprise visits from her troublemaking mother, she makes a living spying on cheating husbands, hoping to hand their wives huge divorce settlements as payment for their broken hearts and humiliation. When one of the mistresses Eddie caught on tape ends of dead things begin to take a twisted turn. As Eddie realizes she may be the last person to see the mistress alive she must figure out the who before its too late.
Things take an even more interesting turn when Eddie’s ex, Chance Parker, is the detective assigned to the case. Change is also not happy with how Eddie left things and their unfinished business makes for an interesting dynamic between the two. Insert Chava’s (Eddie’s mom) who is intimately acquainted with the criminal mind and the crew is ready to sleuth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters are well developed, and their backstories give them depth. It also helps to understand the characters and how their dynamics evolve. In this story, mother and daughter couldn’t be more different, yet it’s those differences that create their seamless working relationship.
The author does an excellent job of world building which completely immersed me in the story, the characters, and how it would resolve. Filled with twists and turns you won’t see coming, this hilarious cozy mystery will have you reading this book in one sitting. Don’t forgot to stop by to read my reviews for books two and three. I am excited to see how this series unfolds!
One Dead, Two to Go is the first in the Eddie Shoes Mysteries series. When Edwina “Eddie Shoes” isn’t fending off surprise visits from her troublemaking mother, she makes a living spying on cheating husbands, hoping to hand their wives huge divorce settlements as payment for their broken hearts and humiliation. When one of the mistresses Eddie caught on tape ends of dead things begin to take a twisted turn. As Eddie realizes she may be the last person to see the mistress alive she must figure out the who before its too late.
Things take an even more interesting turn when Eddie’s ex, Chance Parker, is the detective assigned to the case. Change is also not happy with how Eddie left things and their unfinished business makes for an interesting dynamic between the two. Insert Chava’s (Eddie’s mom) who is intimately acquainted with the criminal mind and the crew is ready to sleuth.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. The characters are well developed, and their backstories give them depth. It also helps to understand the characters and how their dynamics evolve. In this story, mother and daughter couldn’t be more different, yet it’s those differences that create their seamless working relationship.
The author does an excellent job of world building which completely immersed me in the story, the characters, and how it would resolve. Filled with twists and turns you won’t see coming, this hilarious cozy mystery will have you reading this book in one sitting. Don’t forgot to stop by to read my reviews for books two and three. I am excited to see how this series unfolds!
December 22, 2017
Private Investigator Edwina “Eddie Shoes” Schultz’s most recent job has her parked outside a seedy Bellingham hotel, photographing her quarry as he kisses his mistress goodbye. This is the last anyone will see of the woman … alive. Her body is later found dumped in an abandoned building. Eddie’s client, Kendra Hallings, disappears soon after. Eddie hates to be stiffed for her fee, but she has to wonder if Kendra could be in trouble too. Or is she the killer? Eddie usually balks at matters requiring a gun, but before she knows it, she is knee-deep in dangerous company, spurred on by her card-counting adrenaline-junkie mother who has shown up on her doorstep fresh from the shenanigans that got her kicked out of Vegas. Chava is only sixteen years older than Eddie and sadly lacking in parenting skills. Her unique areas of expertise, however, prove to be helpful in ways Eddie can’t deny, making it hard to stop Chava from tagging along. Also investigating the homicide is Detective Chance Parker, new to Bellingham’s Major Crimes unit but no stranger to Eddie. Their history as a couple back in Seattle is one more kink in a chain of complications, making Eddie’s case more frustrating and perilous with each tick of the clock.
I did kind of get a Stephanie Plum/Janet Evanovich feel, but maybe that's just me?
I really liked Eddie and the way she held her own and did her best to do her job around certain problems that cropped up. She was funny, smart and probably could have kicked butt if it had come down to it. I did like how usually (except for one instance, but that was self-defense) she tried to talk down the people waving their guns around, rather than just joining in the shooting fray. The case did have plenty of twists and turns and while I saw some of them coming (Kendra's not so unwillingness to help, Kendra's "change of heart", mostly everything regarding Kendra in some form), there were a few I didn't see (the meeting at the casino, Chava's friends, Turner, Hallings involvement--at least the extent of his involvement, etc)
Chava was interesting...I was equal parts frustrated (Eddie specifically told her to stay in the car; Eddie grudgingly allowed her to cut her hair on the promise it wouldn't be much and she gave Eddie a completely new hairstyle; etc), amused and surprised (Rudy; The way she figured out certain clues). I did like how Eddie pointed out that even her childhood wasn't as candy and rainbows as she would have liked, she did know that if anything had happened, Chava would be there the pull her back up again.
I'm really interested in Chance and Eddie's previous relationship. Obviously there was something that appears to have ended on maybe not the best of terms? But, it does look like both might be interested again? At least, something tells me that they might be able to have a good friendship and maybe even a good working relationship?
3.5 Stars!This was a really cute start to this series. Eddie definitely has some promise and I can't wait to read more about her adventures (is that the right word?)
I did kind of get a Stephanie Plum/Janet Evanovich feel, but maybe that's just me?
I really liked Eddie and the way she held her own and did her best to do her job around certain problems that cropped up. She was funny, smart and probably could have kicked butt if it had come down to it. I did like how usually (except for one instance, but that was self-defense) she tried to talk down the people waving their guns around, rather than just joining in the shooting fray. The case did have plenty of twists and turns and while I saw some of them coming (Kendra's not so unwillingness to help, Kendra's "change of heart", mostly everything regarding Kendra in some form), there were a few I didn't see (the meeting at the casino, Chava's friends, Turner, Hallings involvement--at least the extent of his involvement, etc)
Chava was interesting...I was equal parts frustrated (Eddie specifically told her to stay in the car; Eddie grudgingly allowed her to cut her hair on the promise it wouldn't be much and she gave Eddie a completely new hairstyle; etc), amused and surprised (Rudy; The way she figured out certain clues). I did like how Eddie pointed out that even her childhood wasn't as candy and rainbows as she would have liked, she did know that if anything had happened, Chava would be there the pull her back up again.
I'm really interested in Chance and Eddie's previous relationship. Obviously there was something that appears to have ended on maybe not the best of terms? But, it does look like both might be interested again? At least, something tells me that they might be able to have a good friendship and maybe even a good working relationship?
April 10, 2024
"One Dead, Two to Go" by Elena Hartwell plunges readers into the gritty world of private investigator Edwina "Eddie Shoes" Schultz as she navigates a treacherous case in the seedy underbelly of Bellingham, Washington.
Eddie's latest job involves staking out a dubious hotel, capturing evidence of infidelity for her client, Kendra Hallings. However, the routine surveillance takes a sinister turn when Kendra's husband Mr Hailings is seen bidding his Mistress Deirdre Fox goodbye for the last time; Deidre's lifeless body is soon discovered in an abandoned building. As suspicions swirl and Kendra disappears, Eddie finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and danger.
Reluctantly delving into the murky depths of the investigation, Eddie is spurred on by her adrenaline-junkie mother, Chava, whose arrival adds a layer of chaos to Eddie's already complicated life. Despite Chava's lack of parenting skills, her unconventional expertise proves unexpectedly valuable, making it difficult for Eddie to shake her off.
Complicating matters further is the presence of Detective Chance Parker, a former flame of Eddie's from their time together in Seattle. Now tasked with investigating Kendra's disappearance, Chance's reappearance adds tension and emotional turmoil to Eddie's already fraught situation.
As Eddie races against the clock to unravel the truth and find Deirdre's killer, she must navigate a perilous landscape of deception, betrayal, and hidden motives. With each twist and turn, Eddie's determination is tested, and the line between friend and foe blurs.
"One Dead, Two to Go" is a gripping mystery that combines pulse-pounding suspense with sharp wit and unforgettable characters. Elena Hartwell crafts a compelling tale of murder and intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the very end. As Eddie Shoes dives headfirst into danger, she proves herself to be a formidable and tenacious protagonist, ensuring that this is just the beginning of her thrilling adventures in the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series.
Eddie's latest job involves staking out a dubious hotel, capturing evidence of infidelity for her client, Kendra Hallings. However, the routine surveillance takes a sinister turn when Kendra's husband Mr Hailings is seen bidding his Mistress Deirdre Fox goodbye for the last time; Deidre's lifeless body is soon discovered in an abandoned building. As suspicions swirl and Kendra disappears, Eddie finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and danger.
Reluctantly delving into the murky depths of the investigation, Eddie is spurred on by her adrenaline-junkie mother, Chava, whose arrival adds a layer of chaos to Eddie's already complicated life. Despite Chava's lack of parenting skills, her unconventional expertise proves unexpectedly valuable, making it difficult for Eddie to shake her off.
Complicating matters further is the presence of Detective Chance Parker, a former flame of Eddie's from their time together in Seattle. Now tasked with investigating Kendra's disappearance, Chance's reappearance adds tension and emotional turmoil to Eddie's already fraught situation.
As Eddie races against the clock to unravel the truth and find Deirdre's killer, she must navigate a perilous landscape of deception, betrayal, and hidden motives. With each twist and turn, Eddie's determination is tested, and the line between friend and foe blurs.
"One Dead, Two to Go" is a gripping mystery that combines pulse-pounding suspense with sharp wit and unforgettable characters. Elena Hartwell crafts a compelling tale of murder and intrigue, keeping readers guessing until the very end. As Eddie Shoes dives headfirst into danger, she proves herself to be a formidable and tenacious protagonist, ensuring that this is just the beginning of her thrilling adventures in the Eddie Shoes Mystery Series.
April 3, 2024
MY THOUGHTS!
Fun, fun, fun! That’s what this was. From page one until the end I was in a constant state of giggle. With a few snort laughing thrown in. I could’ve easily read this in one sitting. It was THAT enjoyable.
I love snarkiness. Maybe because I’m snarky myself. And I love a book with a character who knows how to use her snarkiness. That would be Edwina, aka Eddie. LOVED her! I think I have found my new best friend!
Oh my word this book hit home in so many ways that I can’t even mention! Let’s just say… Déjà vu!
I started highlighting the parts that made me laugh out loud… I ended up highlighting half the book!
Yes I loved the characters (Eddie, and her mom - Chava, and Chance - hope to be seeing more of him in the future!)… But I loved the storyline too! It was just so fun and quirky and you just never knew what was gonna happen next! Towards the end I had one of those "I knew it!" moments. I was quite proud of myself!
I only signed up for book one thinking that if I like that one I would grab the other two… Well you better believe I’m gonna read the other two! LOL I am totally hooked. You might say I'm an Eddie addict now. I can't get enough.
If you are looking for a very good mystery with a side of snark and a good helping of humor - this is the book for you!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!!
Fun, fun, fun! That’s what this was. From page one until the end I was in a constant state of giggle. With a few snort laughing thrown in. I could’ve easily read this in one sitting. It was THAT enjoyable.
I love snarkiness. Maybe because I’m snarky myself. And I love a book with a character who knows how to use her snarkiness. That would be Edwina, aka Eddie. LOVED her! I think I have found my new best friend!
Oh my word this book hit home in so many ways that I can’t even mention! Let’s just say… Déjà vu!
I started highlighting the parts that made me laugh out loud… I ended up highlighting half the book!
Yes I loved the characters (Eddie, and her mom - Chava, and Chance - hope to be seeing more of him in the future!)… But I loved the storyline too! It was just so fun and quirky and you just never knew what was gonna happen next! Towards the end I had one of those "I knew it!" moments. I was quite proud of myself!
I only signed up for book one thinking that if I like that one I would grab the other two… Well you better believe I’m gonna read the other two! LOL I am totally hooked. You might say I'm an Eddie addict now. I can't get enough.
If you are looking for a very good mystery with a side of snark and a good helping of humor - this is the book for you!
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Tours - Thank You!!
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