Dead Ringer

Alex St. James Mystery #3

by Michael A. Black, Julie Hyzy

PI Ron Shade is looking for Bob Bayless, a dead-&-buried executive who was spotted playing blackjack in vegas, while news reporter Alex St James fights of the attentions of a creepy mortician who's a little too eager to show her his moves.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

429 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2008

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Black and Hyzy come together for their inevitable joint novel and what a treat for the reader. For any reader who have read the Ron Shade and Alex St. James books, this merging of the two characters seems as seamless as the authors make it. Both stories take the shape of their usual plot, Shade enters into a PI agreement with a client and St. James begins research on a television investigative report. What may seem innocuous ends up blowing things wide open for all involved. With the ongoing sub-plot of Slade training for another bout and St. James looking for information on her birth family, the authors weave a great story, full of action, adventure, and raw character development.

Told in two first-person narratives, the author present two parallel stories that will eventually merge into one larger one, using their chance meeting at the end of the respective previous books as a launching point, Black and Hyzy weave a great story together that refers strongly on the previous novels and creates more ends needing tying off, rather than more answers. As far as I can see, there are no further books, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions as to what ever happened to the two great characters. Even when working together, the two characters uphold this unique narrative style, which gives the reader two sides of the same story, told from the perspective of the character at hand. A great traditional ending, just as the reader would expect for both main characters!

Black keeps up his great work throughout the series and never lets up. Hyzy seems to move away from this style and rawness after this book, turning to her White House Chef series and Mansfield Manor books, both of which are watered down in their language and character development.

Awesome work and kudos, Mr. Black and Ms. Hyzy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the two series you’ve penned. Any chance you’ll work together again?

[Evanston Public Library]

In this Chicago-based mystery private eye Ron Shade and news anchor Alex St. James (who each appeared in their own novels earlier) join forces. Ron is tracking down a dead businessman seen gambling in Las Vegas while Alex wants to avoid an unpleasant undertaker who tries to get her to tour his back office! The authors switch off chapters, which did not take away from the story, as I feared it would. Ron and Alex travel to the Las Vegas Strip and back to the seamier side of Chicago to uncover more clues. Before they confront the criminals, Ron and Alex encounter some odd people and some humorous, but more often than not, grisly scenes. Unusual subject, good mystery. (Shira S., Reader's Services)

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to try reading something by authors I hadn't read before. I really liked how the two authors took turns writing the story from the viewpoints of the two main characters--that really added to moving things along. As much as I liked the characters, the plots/subplots, and the action, especially towards the end, I didn't feel grabbed by them. I think I may try another new author or return to some I have previously enjoyed.

[Jerry Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing a book with a partner is not easy, particularly when the writing styles and habits of the partners don't match. But Michael Black and Julie Hyzy made it work because they are longtime friends and colleagues in the mystery writing biz.

Good story, well told. I can assure you that you will enjoy it.

[Sanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't bother checking out the authors to find out what happened to Alex St James or Ron Shade. They might as well have killed the characters since neither series did anything with them after this book. Very dissatisfying. Yah yah, well written, interesting plot, etc., but one big hairy cliffhanger.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea of two characters from two series meeting up for a book. However this ending was very obvious to me. At 50% I guessed the ending and was 100% accurate.

[Cathie Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The way the storyline and plot worked itself out was great. It reminded me of a Seinfeld episode. Everything coming from different directions only to unite together in the end. Characters were great. The two main characters, Shade and Alex were great characters. Lots of twists and turns. I had never heard of this author before, but I'm looking forward to another book. This would be a great series. Highly recommend.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the Alex St. James mystery series... all fun to read but completely unbelievable. Somehow she always gets in very violent, life-threatening situations and comes out just fine, thanks. Most people would be traumatized, not Alex!

[Nancy]

3.74 · Rating Details · 47 Ratings · 9 Reviews
Private eye Ron Shade and news reporter Alex St. James star in their first adventure together. Shade is looking for Bob Bayless, a dead-and-buried executive who was recently spotted playing blackjack in Vegas, while Alex fights off the attentions of a creepy mortician who’s a little too eager to show Alex his backroom moves.

Bob Bayless is alive and the ring leader of a scheme to sell body parts. The body parts go through a mortuary in Chicago, where Alex knows the owner. Bayliss is killed and the funeral director is caught and wounded.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has two different authors, and two different protagonists with different points of view. Each short chapter is from the point of view of one of the two main characters and they don't meet until the middle of the book, where their plots intersect. Other than that, it is your basic murder mystery... the plot isn't as interesting as the two main characters.

[Teesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back and forth was obvious between the two authors and tedious for the reader (me). I did like the characters and will check out each author individually

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like it...ended up abandoning it...though, I skipped to the end to see if I was right about the issue. It was much better when Julie was writing by herself.