Act One

What Doesn't Kill You #0.5

by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

USA Best Book Award-Winning Series, Cross Genre Fiction A fast-paced prequel mystery featuring all the kick ass What Doesn't Kill You female sleuths.

It's five years before Katie runs away to the islands, and this time her travels take her closer to home: back to her law school reunion. With Emily as her plus-one and Michele rounding out the party, their evening at a murder mystery dinner theater goes awry with weird former classmates, too many cocktails, and—oh yeah—a real murder onstage before the cast finishes Act One. Meanwhile, fallen-star Maggie loses out on her chance at redemption in the starring role when she shows up polluted, and Ava gleefully fills in, in more ways than one. Laura, on a stopover between races, attends on gifted tickets from a grateful horse owner, and has a ringside view to the circus. The women's paths crisscross and backtrack over each other in ways that will resonate for years to come, with each holding clues she doesn't know she has to the identity of the murderer, who is far too close to one of them for comfort.

>>> See why Pamela's novels have won contest after contest. 2016 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction 2015 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction 2014 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Cross Genre Fiction 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, Romance 2013 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Business: Publishing 2012 WINNER of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest 2012 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Parenting: Divorce 2011 WINNER of the Houston Writers Guild Novel Contest, Mainstream 2010 WINNER of the Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest, Romance >>> Once Upon A Romance calls Hutchins an ""up-and-coming powerhouse writer."

>>> The reviews for the What Doesn't Kill You series are in, and they're good. Very, very good.

“Immediately hooked."" — Terry Sykes-Bradshaw, Author of Sibling Revelry

""Spellbinding."" — Jo Bryan, Dry Creek Book Club

""Fast-paced mystery."" — Deb Krenzer, Book Reviewer

""Can't put it down."" — Cathy Bader, Reader

""LOVED IT!"" — Marcy McKay, Author of Pennies From Burger Heaven

>>> Check out the entire What Doesn't Kill You romantic mystery series. Scroll up and order your copy of Act One, today!

Genres: Mystery, Novella, Fiction, Cozy Mystery

169 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2017

About the author

I'm a USA Today bestselling mystery/suspense/thriller author and a big horse and sled dog enthusiast.

My hunky husband and I ride our beloved draft cross horses way up in the frozen north of Snowheresville, WY, where we run a rustic, off-the-grid lodge on the face of the Bighorn Mountains. When I'm not writing or riding, I'm passionate about wilderness sports, always with a couple of rescue dogs, bear spray, a mountain lion knife, and my Judge. NO ANIMALS HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS LIFE ADVENTURE (but don't sneak up on me).

I've made some lists and won some awards, yada yada. Amazon Charts Top 25 bestseller. USA Today Bestseller. The Silver Falchion for Best Adult Mystery WINNER (Fighting for Anna), the WINNERS for USA Best Books Fiction: Cross Genre (Hell to Pay, Heaven to Betsy), and others. With books "in print" of over 3,000,000, readers seem to enjoy the books—I think they have exceptionally good taste. {insert goofy grin here} Lots of them follow my show Wine Women & Writing, too, where I fangirl my favorite authors and interview them for your listening and viewing pleasure. Subscribe free at http://bit.ly/PamelaWWWR <--case sensitive.

You can read my series in any order or as standalones, but they're a lot of fun if you do them like this:

* Detective Delaney Pace (coming soon!): Her Silent Bones, Her HIdden Grave, Her Last Cry, Her Forgotten Shadow, Her Burning Lies, and Her Cold Heart.

* Patrick Flint Wyoming-based series (PG):
Switchback, Snake Oil, Sawbones, Scapegoat, Snaggle Tooth, Stag Party, Sitting Duck, and Skin & Bones. #9 coming in 2026.

* The Jenn Herrington Wyoming Mysteries (PG-13):
BIG HORN, WALKER PRAIRIE, and RED GRADE coming in 2026.

* What Doesn't Kill You Super Series:
1.Caribben-based Katie Connell (PG-13): Saving Grace, Leaving Annalise, Finding Harmony, and Seeking Felicity
2. Texas-based Emily Bernal (PG-13): Heaven to Betsy Earth to Emily, Hell to Pay
3. Texas-based Michele Lopez Hanson (PG-13): Going for Kona, Fighting for Anna, Searching for Dime Box
4. Wyoming-based Maggie Killian (R, language): Live Wire, Sick Puppy, Dead Pile (plus shorts Buckle Bunny and Shock Jock)
5. Caribbean-based Ava Butler (R, sexual situations): Bombshell, Stunner, Knockout

I also have a children's book series featuring Poppy, the world's best grandfather, and Petey, his blind Boston terrier.
Free starter library https://pamelafaganhutchins.com/maili...

If after all that you still want to learn more about my books, my podcast, or me, then God Bless Ya.

There are many ways: My website and its blog. The aforementioned newsletter. Email me: Pamela at PamelaFaganHutchins dot come. And you can follow me around the web:

Website: https://pamelafaganhutchins.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamel...
Pamela's Posse for Readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pamel...
Facebook http://facebook.com/pamela.fagan.hutc...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/pamelafa...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela_faga...
Twitter http://twitter.com/PamelotH
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/pamelafaganh...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pamelafaganhu...
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pamela_fagan...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pamelafaganhu...

And, finally, to learn more about my fellow SkipJack Publishing authors, visit: http://skipjackpublishing.com/.

Reviews

[Lis Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the "What Doesn't Kill You" mystery series. Katie, Emily, and Michele attend a dinner mystery theater performance that's part of a law school reunion. Unfortunately, the performance ends abruptly with a real murder on stage before the end of Act One.

We also meet the actors, including Maggie, Becky, and Ava, who have more than enough conflict amongst them to spark a murder.

Laura is on a stopover between races, attending on tickets given to her by a grateful racehorse owner.

They all cross paths, sparking connections and conflicts. There's a lot going on, and none of them can keep track of it all.

It's fast-paced and engaging, and gives a look at the sleuths of "What Doesn't Kill You" before they were sleuths.

Worth a listen, especially if you enjoy the series.

[Tanya Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

This was a fun prequel and introduction to the ladies of this series! It's short, kinda sweet, kinda sad, funny as all Ms. Hutchins stories tend to be in that snarky, realistic way that everyone thinks and some people actually say out loud...with a little mystery thrown in for fun!

[kc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several books in this series. This prequel introduces us to the protagonists. Although I found it a bit difficult to follow as it jumps around, it is a worthwhile read. Do get to know the ladies.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Act One” is a prequel novella to the 'What Does Kill You” series which seems to be up to about 15 books featuring a series of female characters.
To be perfectly honest it is a bit of a mess, with some chapters in the present tense while others, seemingly at random, are past tense.
Legal graduates are attending a fifth year reunion weekend which includes a murder mystery show called 'It Happened One Weekend in Waco.'
When a real murder occurs on stage it is the highlight of the evening for the spectators, well right up until the penny drops.
Two of the main characters, Maggie Killian and Katie Connell, spend most of the novella drinking too much.
The murder gets solved almost immediately.
It reads like someone's first attempt at putting a short book together – it doesn't work.
I like the idea behind the series so I will read further but this first short introduction is disappointing.
2 Stars.

[Julie Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and loved the way the author combined all the heroines from her series in place. Some knew each other and some didn't and it was fun listening out for names I knew especially as I listened to this book last so I knew the characters and what happens to them. It is a bit short for my liking as I like a real mystery but it was still fun and is great for if you only have a few hours to fill in. Each chapter is told from the perspective of a different character.
There is a lawyer reunion and as part of the entertainment they put on a murder mystery play but before the end of act one there is a real life murder on stage. With lies,drink and drugs on the menu will the murder get soloved before the second act?
The narrator is the same one that reads the Emily books in the series and I like her easy reading style.

[Roger]

Act One (What Doesn't Kill You #0.5), my first read/listen from author Pamela Fagan Hutchins, Well-written & enjoyable. a cute, clean entertaining mystery. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. I was impressed and enjoyed the vocal variety & inflections of narrator Tracy Hundley. I look forward to reading more in this series & from this author, my only question is why did I wait so long to read this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible and the narration wasn't my favorite. I enjoyed the story and found it to be a great prequel to the series! I've read several of the books in this series and was entertained by the way their lives intertwined!

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful prequel introducing us to the ladies of this series. Murder, and humour is definitely on this menu. Not to be missed by anyone.

[Jan Sjostrand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written mystery. Liked the characters and settings .Would highly recommend this book. I received the book free from the author and this is my honest review.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Somewhat confusing. Did not really enjoy it as the characters seemed all muddled up.

[Judy Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading this short story, I couldn't put it down. Riveting.