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Dewey Webb is back in a suspenseful short story! When Ellis Dukakis – a man known to skirt the boundaries of the law – hires Denver PI Dewey Webb for a quick surveillance job, Dewey figures it’s some fast cash to help him pay bills. But when the subject of Dewey’s surveillance turns on him, Dewey finds himself caught between two thieves bent on double-crossing each other. Now Dewey may lose out on not only several days’ pay, but his life as well. This 9,000 work short story is a hard-boiled, historical mystery that's great for fans who love a traditional detective crime story with a noir flavor, but without a lot of sex or swearing. From an Amazon #1 Bestselling Author - over 1 million books in circulation. Dewey Webb first appeared in the Reed Ferguson mystery, Back Story. Pick up a copy of Back Story to find out more about this classic hard-boiled detective. The Dewey Webb historical mystery • Book 1: Web of Deceit • Book 2: Murder In Fashion • Book 3: Secrets and Lies • Book 4: Honor Among Thieves • Book 5: Trouble Finds Her • Short Second Chance • Short Double Cross Great Reviews for the Reed Ferguson private investigator Kirkus The promising kickoff to Pawlish's comic mystery series, starring far-from-perfect PI Reed Ferguson. Pawlish earns high marks for plot construction, with twists and turns naturally unfolding as Ferguson, inexperienced but not incapable, feels his way through the case. A good-humored mystery series worth following. 5 star Oh how I’ve missed the Sam Spade and Philip Marlowe characters that saw me with a flashlight in the dead of night flipping pages to see what happened next. Thank you Ms. Pawlish for bringing back to life this long-lost art of the detective battling against all odds and getting to the bottom of things. - Maureen with zencherry book reviews The Reed Ferguson mystery • Book 1: This Doesn't Happen In The Movies • Book 2: Reel Estate Rip-off • Book 3: The Maltese Felon • Book 4: Farewell, My Deuce • Book 5: Out Of The Past • Book 6: Torch Scene • Book 7: The Lady Who Sang High • Book 8: Sweet Smell Of Sucrets • Book 9: The Third Fan • Book 10: Back Story • Book 11: Night of the Hunted • Book 12: The Postman Always Brings Dice • Book 13: Road Blocked • Book 14: Small Town Focus • Book 15: Nightmare Sally • Book 16: The Damned Don't Die • Book 17: Double Iniquity • Ace in the Hole • Walk Softly, Danger • short Elvis And The Sports Card Cheat • short A Gun For Hire • short Cool Alibi • short The Big Steal • short The Wrong Woman Private Investigator Mystery Series - Mystery Series - Private Investigator Series - Crime Fiction - Crime Series - Private Detective Novels - historical mystery, thriller & suspense fiction - pulp - hard-boiled - noir - detective - private eye - traditional - historical mysteries

61 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2018

119 people are currently reading
23 people want to read

About the author

Renee Pawlish

115 books347 followers
From the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.

Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.

Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.

The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off

The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released

The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest

Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.

The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.

To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....

on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/

on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
128 reviews2 followers
July 24, 2018
Double Cross by Renee Pawlish

review by fritzi redgrave

Dewey gets an easy but boring job--surveillance. He needs the money, so there he is. sitting on a crate in the attic of a building watching the house across the street.

But this is Private Detective Dewey were are talking about and you can bet your britches that things will not stay boring for long. Dewey gets Double Crossed and it seems that he will not even get paid. Not to mention that he comes very close to making his wife a widow.

This little short story is a Dewey gem! A quick read with all the impact of a longer saga.
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,897 reviews45 followers
July 16, 2018
This is a very short story about PI Dewy Webb. He has taken a surveillance job from a known crook because a job is a job and money is tight.It becomes apparent that there is a double cross or two involved with the story of a bank job. The characters involved aren't particularly pleasant or trustworthy, but Dewy has bills to pay, so he does what he has to do.
Dewy is a very focused individual, and as much as he would like to call it quits and go home, he never does! That same focus helps him stay a half step ahead of the bad guys and live to tell of another day! I love the world of Dewy that is created by Renee Pawlish. Details always remain in period and appropriate to his character. It appears Renee is just as focused as Dewy!
Interesting and engaging story.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,276 reviews98 followers
July 16, 2018
When Dewey takes a job from Ellis Dukakis he has some big doubts. Ellis isn't the most law abiding citizen he knows. But Dewey needs the income, so he does the job. Then Ellis skips out on him without paying even though he keeps saying he will pay him double. Then the person Dewey is watching for Ellis finds Dewey and almost gets him! There was only one other person who knew where he was, and Dewey isn't liking the way things are being played out. Can Dewey get to the bottom of this and get what money is owed to him? Or will he be another victim of a Double Cross? I voluntarily read an ARC of this book
4 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2018
Noir short story at its best

I fell in love with the noir elements of the Reed Ferguson books, then she came out with the Dewey Webb series. I always enjoyed the film noir genre and the hard edge of the private investigators of the era. Dewey is an excellent example of this genre with the softer side of being married with a son. He's honest, mostly. He's good at what he does, too. This short story gives us an interesting sample of the whole genre with all the ambience and colorful men and women of the post war era. Double Cross is a fast paced engaging story that stokes the need for more Dewey stories.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,706 reviews28 followers
July 17, 2018
The latest Dewey Webb book from author Renee Pawlish is too short by far, that's the problem with short stories. Dewey Webb is an experienced PI, with a military background, this short story continues Dewey's growth as a private eye. Webb is darker and grittier than Pawlish's Reed Ferguson character she made her name on, but he's such a solid family man. As always a good, entertaining read. Pawlish pays great attention to detail and gets everything right. I received an advance reader copy of this book from the author.
Profile Image for Becky .
603 reviews17 followers
July 22, 2018
Poor Dewey!

I truly enjoy reading Ms. Pawlish's stories. She has great characters and believable plots. There's always a few twists and turns that keep everything interesting and keep it from being predictable.
Sometimes I feel bad for poor Dewey Webb. He's so trusting, unfortunately too much at times, and this was one of those times. A simple job, that's all it was, but when he didn't get paid things got complicated and interesting. Recommended reading, especially if you want a quicker story.
795 reviews5 followers
August 31, 2018
Not long enough to develop

Double Cross really has no plot and excitement, though I did learn what a porkpie hat was. There was little action and left me wondering where the rest of the story was. I know it was a novella, but could have used more development.
Profile Image for Debbie Mcnally.
980 reviews1 follower
July 17, 2018
I got a ARC copy of this book from the author. This book was well worth the wait. My favorite thing about this series is that it. Let's me imagine what Denver was like when my parents lived there.
650 reviews4 followers
August 1, 2018
Another great short

Renee Pawlish is one of those authors who I can always trust. Her books never fail to provide characters that I care about in situations that are intriguing.
Profile Image for Richard.
432 reviews3 followers
January 11, 2024
Nice short story

Pay what you owe and the nice private investigator will leave you alone. Some debts are harder than others to collect payment due.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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