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Niki Alexander Mysteries #1
Less Dead
How is a Goth teen involved in the murder of a city councilman? Former police officer Niki Alexander risks her life to find out. When a homeless teenage girl wakes up in Houston's Tranquility Park next to a murdered city councilman and then disappears, Homicide Investigator Luis Perez turns to his ex-partner Niki Alexander. Now a counselor with a teen shelter, she may be his only hope in locating the girl. Three years earlier Niki quit the Houston Police Department after a fatal shooting involving a teenage boy. Haunted by the memory and the guilt, she is driven to help troubled teens who have run away or been abandoned. Soon she suspects that the missing teen is a street girl she knows as Jade. Niki fears there is more of a connection between Jade and murdered man than was initially apparent. Niki's search takes her among homeless teens, and into predominantly male gay bars, where dangerous secrets are revealed. She soon realizes she isn't the only one desperate to find the girl. The closer she gets to the truth, the more her own life is at risk.
276 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2008
32 people want to read
About the author
Laura Elvebak
15 books34 followersI am the author of THE PAST NEVER DIES, THE FLAWED DANCE and the Niki Alexander mysteries. LESS DEAD, LOST WITNESS, and A MATTER OF REVENGE. Niki is an ex-cop turned counselor at a Houston teen shelter for runaway and throwaway. My short story, "Searching for Rachel," appears in A DEATH IN TEXAS, the second Final Twist anthology published by L&L Dreamspell. Their third anthology, A BOX OF TEXAS CHOCOLATES, includes my short story, "Dying for Chocolate" followed by "The Banditos of Telephone Road" in TWISTED TALES OF TEXAS LANDMARKS. I've also wrote three screenplays which were optioned, and wrote, directed and acted in a one act play.
I settled in Houston about 30 years ago and am surrounded by my three grown children and six grandchildren, all within driving distance.
I settled in Houston about 30 years ago and am surrounded by my three grown children and six grandchildren, all within driving distance.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 27, 2009
Fifteen-year-old Jessica Keeling's eyes stung as she forced them open. Milky eyes stared into hers, the eyes of a dead man. For a moment she couldn't breath. She opened her mouth to scream, but instead tasted death. The smell of stale urine and dried blood filled her nostrils.
Jessica, or Jade as she called herself, was a street kid and had been since her father dropped her off at a Starbucks and never returned. Now she was in big trouble. The one person who said he knew her father and would help bring them together was dead. But this wasn't just any man, this was a Councilman. Did she kill him? She couldn't remember. In fact she couldn't remember anything after having a drink at Numbers, the club where they were to meet. Now she's on the run.
Rube is Jade's only friend in the world and he's worried. He's not seen her in a week and that's just not like her. He turns to the only person that he feels will help who is Niki.
Niki is an ex-policewoman who works as a counselor at Open Palms which is a shelter for run-away kids. Jade had been there before and Niki had seen the potential in this young girl through her ability to dance. So through her sources on the street and through Open Palms, she and Rube strike out to find Jade. Their fear for her survival climbs as other young street girls are molested and murdered. Will they find her in time or is it already too late?
Less Dead turned out to be a book that I really had problems putting down. Every page brought a new problem for Niki and Rube. And every time I thought I knew who was to blame for the murder of the Councilman and the street girls, is found that I was wrong. Less Dead will really keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages.
Less Dead is the 1st in the Niki Alexander series. Lost Witness will be released September 26, 2009. I can't wait!
Jessica, or Jade as she called herself, was a street kid and had been since her father dropped her off at a Starbucks and never returned. Now she was in big trouble. The one person who said he knew her father and would help bring them together was dead. But this wasn't just any man, this was a Councilman. Did she kill him? She couldn't remember. In fact she couldn't remember anything after having a drink at Numbers, the club where they were to meet. Now she's on the run.
Rube is Jade's only friend in the world and he's worried. He's not seen her in a week and that's just not like her. He turns to the only person that he feels will help who is Niki.
Niki is an ex-policewoman who works as a counselor at Open Palms which is a shelter for run-away kids. Jade had been there before and Niki had seen the potential in this young girl through her ability to dance. So through her sources on the street and through Open Palms, she and Rube strike out to find Jade. Their fear for her survival climbs as other young street girls are molested and murdered. Will they find her in time or is it already too late?
Less Dead turned out to be a book that I really had problems putting down. Every page brought a new problem for Niki and Rube. And every time I thought I knew who was to blame for the murder of the Councilman and the street girls, is found that I was wrong. Less Dead will really keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages.
Less Dead is the 1st in the Niki Alexander series. Lost Witness will be released September 26, 2009. I can't wait!
May 28, 2017
I really enjoyed Less Dead and plan to download the next book in the series. Though I tend to read mostly fantasy, I’m also a fan of noirs that have flawed, interesting female main characters. Some of my favorite mystery authors are JA Konrath, Alan Bradley, Edward Fallon, and Ann Voss Peterson. Laura Elvebak is a worthy addition to this list.
The book begins as many in this genre do, with the victim, Peter Belton. Jade, a runaway wakes up beside this corpse and can’t remember how she got there. Worst, she fears she may have killed him. I found the beginning very well-written, but truly was caught hook, line and sinker when the main character, Niki Alexander is introduced. Niki is a flawed hero, ex-cop who now works as a counselor in a teen shelter, a career she pursued out of a sense of guilt and a driving need to help. Niki has the perfect character cocktail of vulnerability, toughness, focus, and a deep caring for others. The minor characters are diverse and well-defined, and add much to the story. I was especially curious about Rube and Jade. I hope they both return in the sequel. The characters are complex and believable.
The dead bodies pile up, all of them runaways except for Peter, a councilman. Niki works with her ex-partner to hunt down the killer and find Jade, who she suspects may have fallen victim to the culprit. I suspected the killer fairly early, but there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the end.
I have lived in Houston and am familiar with the Montrose area. Elvebak’s description truly captured the place. I strongly recommend this book.
The book begins as many in this genre do, with the victim, Peter Belton. Jade, a runaway wakes up beside this corpse and can’t remember how she got there. Worst, she fears she may have killed him. I found the beginning very well-written, but truly was caught hook, line and sinker when the main character, Niki Alexander is introduced. Niki is a flawed hero, ex-cop who now works as a counselor in a teen shelter, a career she pursued out of a sense of guilt and a driving need to help. Niki has the perfect character cocktail of vulnerability, toughness, focus, and a deep caring for others. The minor characters are diverse and well-defined, and add much to the story. I was especially curious about Rube and Jade. I hope they both return in the sequel. The characters are complex and believable.
The dead bodies pile up, all of them runaways except for Peter, a councilman. Niki works with her ex-partner to hunt down the killer and find Jade, who she suspects may have fallen victim to the culprit. I suspected the killer fairly early, but there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing until the end.
I have lived in Houston and am familiar with the Montrose area. Elvebak’s description truly captured the place. I strongly recommend this book.
October 15, 2016
I really liked this story. Laura Elvebak created a great character in Niki Alexander, a compassionate former police officer who has dedicated her life to working with troubled teens. A real page-turner as Niki fights against time and frustrations to save one of the teens from a terrible fate. Great Book Laura!
September 15, 2008
Wonderful debut novel from Ms. Elvebak. The characters come to life in this great new mystery series. Hope Ms. Elvebak is hard at work on the next one because I'm ready to read it.
May 2, 2017
Laura Elvebak spins a gritty crime mystery that takes place in the heart of Houston. It focuses on homeless teens and runaways and makes the readers empathetic to urban misfortune and the struggles of humanity in the sweltering heat. I found myself constantly wondering who done it--if it was this character or that, and who might be guilty in the twisting plot that hinges on a missing girl and an unidentified serial killer. I could feel the sweat dripping down my back and smell the urban blight. Awesome read if you like reading crime/mystery and detailed, wonderfully descriptive writing.
May 3, 2017
I love the city of Houston, and Laura Elvebak makes the pavement come to life with her crusty descriptions of Urban city woes and teens on the street. I love the main character, Niki Alexander, who inspires empathy in her cause to help kids get off the street and find a better life. I could feel the fear, pride, desperation and angst in Jade's dialogue and actions and who couldn't love Rube by the end. I loved this story and recommend it for a bit of eerie entertainment that will make you contemplate life and thank the heavens for what gifts you have.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews