What do you think?
Rate this book
Lana Denae Mystery Series #1
Dead Broke
It was the perfect murder... almost.
An elderly woman is found murdered in her apartment. Cause of death; a single gunshot wound to the chest. The only door is locked from the inside. There are no signs of entry, no bullet holes in the walls, and no weapon is recovered from the scene. That’s when Detective Lana Denae of the Portland Police Bureau is assigned the case. The investigation gets off to a slow start until she realizes there is more to the story than a single random murder. Someone is looking to rake in a profit to the tune of more than a million dollars, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Lana is determined to stop the killer before he strikes again but with limited evidence, finding just who is responsible is more difficult than she imagined.
An elderly woman is found murdered in her apartment. Cause of death; a single gunshot wound to the chest. The only door is locked from the inside. There are no signs of entry, no bullet holes in the walls, and no weapon is recovered from the scene. That’s when Detective Lana Denae of the Portland Police Bureau is assigned the case. The investigation gets off to a slow start until she realizes there is more to the story than a single random murder. Someone is looking to rake in a profit to the tune of more than a million dollars, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Lana is determined to stop the killer before he strikes again but with limited evidence, finding just who is responsible is more difficult than she imagined.
- GenresMystery
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 16, 2016
81 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Bruce A. Borders
21 books26 followersBruce A. Borders was born in 1967 in Cape Girardeau, MO. Bruce’s childhood years were spent in a number of states, including Missouri, Oregon, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
During his high school years, he was a member of the football, basketball and track teams, involved in various non-athletic activities such as school yearbook production and photography, and won numerous awards for his artistic creations. Bruce graduated Valedictorian in 1984.
While in school, Bruce held three part-time jobs; a store clerk, a janitor, and a dental technician, working about 60-70 hours per week. After graduation he became employed full time as a dental technician. Other jobs have included restaurant manager, carpenter and grocery store cashier. For the past sixteen years, he has worked as a commercial truck driver, logging more than two million miles.
At the age of fifteen, Bruce decided to become a writer. He began by writing songs, news articles and short stories. Eventually, books were added to the list. Over the years, he continued to write and currently has a catalog of more than 500 songs, numerous short stories and fifteen completed books. He writes on a variety of subjects such as the Bible and politics, as well as fictional novels of legal issues and westerns.
During his high school years, he was a member of the football, basketball and track teams, involved in various non-athletic activities such as school yearbook production and photography, and won numerous awards for his artistic creations. Bruce graduated Valedictorian in 1984.
While in school, Bruce held three part-time jobs; a store clerk, a janitor, and a dental technician, working about 60-70 hours per week. After graduation he became employed full time as a dental technician. Other jobs have included restaurant manager, carpenter and grocery store cashier. For the past sixteen years, he has worked as a commercial truck driver, logging more than two million miles.
At the age of fifteen, Bruce decided to become a writer. He began by writing songs, news articles and short stories. Eventually, books were added to the list. Over the years, he continued to write and currently has a catalog of more than 500 songs, numerous short stories and fifteen completed books. He writes on a variety of subjects such as the Bible and politics, as well as fictional novels of legal issues and westerns.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 13, 2017
Denae is a loner detective in Portland, given the assignment of the death of a woman in what seems to be a locked room. She is friends and works well with partners Damian and Jamie, who are investigating a series of what appear to be suicides from a common location. These three, along with department computer specialist Ray face a dearth of leads for their cases. Author Borders sets up suspects who may or may not be red herrings well. The computer hacker component is well done. Not being particularly partial to snarky friendships, those of Lana and Damian and Jamie didn't do much for me, and I would hope their characters are better developed in subsequent books in the series. For much of this, there were three stars, but a good quirk in the conclusion pushed it up. It goes into my group of mysteries I'd read more, but not at the top of that list.
April 29, 2016
Excellent
Great book. Kept me guessing until the end, when they finally solved the case. Loved the main character. Would want to have her as the detective on my case. Not that I have one. Lol
Great book. Kept me guessing until the end, when they finally solved the case. Loved the main character. Would want to have her as the detective on my case. Not that I have one. Lol
May 6, 2017
This book was better than many I’ve read lately, including some by some long-established authors.
It was an interesting story with enough surprises to keep it from getting boring or predictable, but not so many that the reader says, “Enough is enough!”
On the down side, the highly omniscient POV never let me get close to Lana, the main character. I never felt that I got to know her. It also left me feeling like I was watching a TV show, seeing the action from across the room instead of being next to the characters, experiencing it with them.
And that’s my second nit to pick: there was action but no tension, no ‘Oh, my God, what’s gonna happen now?’ danger-filled moments. Lana and her fellow detectives go about their business, tracking down clues to the killer. While that is how things mostly are in real life, that’s not how readers want them to be in books.
But those things were not enough to make me put Borders on my ‘Never read again ever’ list.
It was an interesting story with enough surprises to keep it from getting boring or predictable, but not so many that the reader says, “Enough is enough!”
On the down side, the highly omniscient POV never let me get close to Lana, the main character. I never felt that I got to know her. It also left me feeling like I was watching a TV show, seeing the action from across the room instead of being next to the characters, experiencing it with them.
And that’s my second nit to pick: there was action but no tension, no ‘Oh, my God, what’s gonna happen now?’ danger-filled moments. Lana and her fellow detectives go about their business, tracking down clues to the killer. While that is how things mostly are in real life, that’s not how readers want them to be in books.
But those things were not enough to make me put Borders on my ‘Never read again ever’ list.
March 16, 2018
A story full of intrigue, mystery, suspense, and interesting characters. Lana is the main detective who is believable and likeable. The main suspect in the seven murders leaves the reader if he is guilty or is working for the real killer. Well written and a page turner. An interesting twist to the ending. A great read.
May 1, 2018
Detective Lana Denae is assigned a case where an elderly woman has been murdered in
her apartment. What's odd about this case is the apartment door was locked and could
only be opened from the inside. At the same time there have been several suicides and
Lana gets the feeling they are all connected. The story is fascinating to read how the
murder is solved.
her apartment. What's odd about this case is the apartment door was locked and could
only be opened from the inside. At the same time there have been several suicides and
Lana gets the feeling they are all connected. The story is fascinating to read how the
murder is solved.
May 1, 2016
The main character, Lana Denae, is a detective who is allowed to work without a partner since her mentor died two years earlier. She's assigned a case of an older woman who was mysteriously shot in her apartment. Later, she realizes that her case intersects with a series of jumpers who have used a nearby bridge which results in her teaming up with two other detectives who were assigned to that case.
The plot takes several twists and turns. I didn't guess who the murderer was until it was revealed (which is usual for me). I liked the story, but I did feel like there was something missing that would make it even more compelling--but I can't quite put my finger on what. It's possible that since this is the first book in the series, subsequent books will have a slightly different feel as the author settles into his own creation.
The plot takes several twists and turns. I didn't guess who the murderer was until it was revealed (which is usual for me). I liked the story, but I did feel like there was something missing that would make it even more compelling--but I can't quite put my finger on what. It's possible that since this is the first book in the series, subsequent books will have a slightly different feel as the author settles into his own creation.
November 20, 2016
"Dead Broke" is a murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Detective Lana Denae works alone after her partner died. She quickly connects two open cases. How did a woman get shot in a locked room? Why were people jumping to their death off a local bridge? Lana teams up with other detectives and finds clues that don’t take her where she expected to go. Mr. Borders wrote an enjoyable read that is for those who enjoy an interesting whodunit.
April 28, 2016
Very well written.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like that it was not easy to figure out. I look forward to more from this writer. Though I still don't know how one guy would get so many people up on a bridge to throw them off. Did they not watch the news? Still a good story.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like that it was not easy to figure out. I look forward to more from this writer. Though I still don't know how one guy would get so many people up on a bridge to throw them off. Did they not watch the news? Still a good story.
May 5, 2016
This book was okay but didnt really pike my interest a lot. Investment company and identity thief .
People were jumping off the bridge at the same time all thought to be suicides . A man who was a computer intellect is involved .Started with a old woman in an apartment building being shot. Why ? How? The end was a bit confusing to have to keep up with figuring who the actual murderer .
People were jumping off the bridge at the same time all thought to be suicides . A man who was a computer intellect is involved .Started with a old woman in an apartment building being shot. Why ? How? The end was a bit confusing to have to keep up with figuring who the actual murderer .
March 2, 2016
very good
April 29, 2016
Nicely written
I love it when a book not only has a great plot, but also keeps it clean of swearing and sex. Thanks
I love it when a book not only has a great plot, but also keeps it clean of swearing and sex. Thanks
May 1, 2016
Mysterious, intriguing
What an awesome story, a lot of twists that kept me turning the pages to see what would be next.
What an awesome story, a lot of twists that kept me turning the pages to see what would be next.
June 10, 2016
Murder Mystery Review
This has a good story line with enough detail to make it believable but not so much to overwhelm the reader.
This has a good story line with enough detail to make it believable but not so much to overwhelm the reader.
June 17, 2016
Quick beach read entertaining moved well
September 24, 2016
Good story
I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. Story dragged a little in some spots but overall I enjoyed it. Author seemed to understand his topic.
I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. Story dragged a little in some spots but overall I enjoyed it. Author seemed to understand his topic.
January 3, 2017
Good read
A bit repidative in some parts. However, distractive thou it was to a chronic reader, it did not deter me from enjoying. Thanks
A bit repidative in some parts. However, distractive thou it was to a chronic reader, it did not deter me from enjoying. Thanks
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews