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Evan Buckley #13
Dig Two Graves: An Evan Buckley Crime Thriller
Revenge proves its own executioner.
After PI Evan Buckley intervenes to break up a fight in his local bar and saves Boston heiress Arabella Carlson from being stabbed to death, she doesn’t even stick around long enough to say, thank you.
But then she’s good at disappearing. Her family haven’t seen or heard from her in over thirty years. Hired to find her and bring her home safe before the killers hunting her get lucky, Evan finds himself caught up in the middle of a family feud that suddenly isn’t as open and shut as it first seemed.
There’s more than money at stake as Evan opens up old wounds, peeling back a lifetime of lies and deceit to lay bare the tragic story hidden underneath. Someone’s about to learn a painful lesson the hard Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
After PI Evan Buckley intervenes to break up a fight in his local bar and saves Boston heiress Arabella Carlson from being stabbed to death, she doesn’t even stick around long enough to say, thank you.
But then she’s good at disappearing. Her family haven’t seen or heard from her in over thirty years. Hired to find her and bring her home safe before the killers hunting her get lucky, Evan finds himself caught up in the middle of a family feud that suddenly isn’t as open and shut as it first seemed.
There’s more than money at stake as Evan opens up old wounds, peeling back a lifetime of lies and deceit to lay bare the tragic story hidden underneath. Someone’s about to learn a painful lesson the hard Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.
- GenresThriller
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2021
98 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
James Harper
197 books94 followersLibrarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 1, 2021
Dig Two Graves grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. There were no boring moments and the unexpected twists in the plot kept me guessing. I’ll be keen to follow all the Evan Buckley PI series to find what else life has in store for him.
June 10, 2022
Evan Buckley is a P.I. who knows when his clients are out-and-out lying to him, or feeding him half-truths. He has the sense not to call them out on it, but waits until he can ferret out the truth. he also has a wicked sense of humour, a trait much needed in this story to alleviate some of the tension.
This book is part of the Dead Silent Box Set.
This book is part of the Dead Silent Box Set.
November 8, 2024
Kindle Unlimited
This one is a quickie, but goodie. Evan accidentally saves Anabella Carlson from an attempted murder. Then the Carlson family hires Evan to locate their sister Arabella, voluntarily missing for 30 years, continue protecting her, and bring her home before her father dies. Home is Boston and Martha's Vinyard which we get to wander through. Arabella will be the heir, and everyone needs to be in her good graces before the old man bites the dust. But I know and you know it could never be as simple as that. James Harper brings us in on intrigue, revenge, and oddly established family loyalties as we join the Carlsons for the last days of patriarch Thomas. Long live the king. But everyone knows that old adage, if you operate from the heart with revenge. Before you even start, dig two graves. Evan is not very good with a shovel. Kate probably is, though.
Reviewed on August 30. 2024, at Goodreds, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Notavailable for review at B&N or Kobo.
This one is a quickie, but goodie. Evan accidentally saves Anabella Carlson from an attempted murder. Then the Carlson family hires Evan to locate their sister Arabella, voluntarily missing for 30 years, continue protecting her, and bring her home before her father dies. Home is Boston and Martha's Vinyard which we get to wander through. Arabella will be the heir, and everyone needs to be in her good graces before the old man bites the dust. But I know and you know it could never be as simple as that. James Harper brings us in on intrigue, revenge, and oddly established family loyalties as we join the Carlsons for the last days of patriarch Thomas. Long live the king. But everyone knows that old adage, if you operate from the heart with revenge. Before you even start, dig two graves. Evan is not very good with a shovel. Kate probably is, though.
Reviewed on August 30. 2024, at Goodreds, AmazonSmile, and BookBub. Notavailable for review at B&N or Kobo.
May 1, 2021
This is book thirteen in the Evan Buckley Thrillers series and is a short story of the P.I. and his accidental breaking up of an assassination attempt on a long missing heiress. Evan was in his favourite watering hole with his friend Kate Guillory and when she leaves to take a phone call outside, another woman takes her stool at the bar, even though Evan tries to explain that the seat is taken. He gets talking to her but she reveals very little, apart from making a few jokes about his chat up lines needing updating. Evan sees a fight start just across from him and gets up from his stool quickly, but bumps into a man coming from behind him, who drops a knife. The knife blade was already open and sticks into the floor, meaning the man was about to use it on someone. When Kate walks back in as the other two men leave, she doesn’t quite believe him about the knife, which is now gone, as is the stranger he was talking to! What she did leave behind was her wallet, with lots of cash, no cards except a driver’s license decades out of date and a photo of two young women, one of whom was the woman he was talking to.
On the back of the photo is a phone number and this leads to him being asked to fly to Boston and return the wallet in person! It appears the woman is Bella (Arabella) Carlson, a Boston heiress who has been missing from her family and home for some thirty years. Her father is on his last legs and she is due to inherit control of his company on his death, if not it would pass on to her sister’s son, Merritt, rather than her sister. This brings about all the messy family history, as he is asked to find her before these killers who are clearly hunting her, can find her again. Why Bella has been hiding from her family and everyone she knew for so long is going to be the answer to Evan finding out who wants to kill her. There is ancient bad blood between her father and a former partner, now competitor in the same business and whose son Vance married his other daughter Blair. Someone is obviously feeding recent information about her father’s health to Bella, as she has resurfaced after so long.
Bella is good at staying hidden and she has kept herself out of danger for a long, long time. Now it is time for her to say goodbye to her father and try to stay alive to actually do so. There is more to this story than a family feud, as long hidden secrets become revealed and some tragic events of the past are finally brought to the present. Someone wants Bella out of the way permanently, so that Merrick can inherit. An act of revenge may be the only way out of this situation and Evan will have to turn a blind eye to any final resolution that takes place. A difficult case to follow through on, as Evan needs to find out who wants Bella dead and who they have hired to do the task, whilst working his way through decades old secrets and lies that the family are still holding onto. The title is so apt and comes from a well know saying. Another good read which takes no time to read straight through, as the secrets and lies get dug out from the past. This one is Evan going solo, with no assistance from Kate. I can’t wait to see what his next case may be. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
On the back of the photo is a phone number and this leads to him being asked to fly to Boston and return the wallet in person! It appears the woman is Bella (Arabella) Carlson, a Boston heiress who has been missing from her family and home for some thirty years. Her father is on his last legs and she is due to inherit control of his company on his death, if not it would pass on to her sister’s son, Merritt, rather than her sister. This brings about all the messy family history, as he is asked to find her before these killers who are clearly hunting her, can find her again. Why Bella has been hiding from her family and everyone she knew for so long is going to be the answer to Evan finding out who wants to kill her. There is ancient bad blood between her father and a former partner, now competitor in the same business and whose son Vance married his other daughter Blair. Someone is obviously feeding recent information about her father’s health to Bella, as she has resurfaced after so long.
Bella is good at staying hidden and she has kept herself out of danger for a long, long time. Now it is time for her to say goodbye to her father and try to stay alive to actually do so. There is more to this story than a family feud, as long hidden secrets become revealed and some tragic events of the past are finally brought to the present. Someone wants Bella out of the way permanently, so that Merrick can inherit. An act of revenge may be the only way out of this situation and Evan will have to turn a blind eye to any final resolution that takes place. A difficult case to follow through on, as Evan needs to find out who wants Bella dead and who they have hired to do the task, whilst working his way through decades old secrets and lies that the family are still holding onto. The title is so apt and comes from a well know saying. Another good read which takes no time to read straight through, as the secrets and lies get dug out from the past. This one is Evan going solo, with no assistance from Kate. I can’t wait to see what his next case may be. I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
May 1, 2021
Where do I start? Evan Buckley is a super PI who is so human, making endless mistakes along the way, as you’d perhaps expect when you’re not told everything you need to know but he’s got a good heart and he really gets to the crux of the matter when others don’t. I love the relationship he has with Kate Guillory here and the constant mocking that again is so real to life. This case makes him sick to the stomach and even more likely to play dirty in order to help the victim(s). In fact the real victim is not who you think it is and this really is a case of ‘the tangled webs we weave’. A tale of fear, despair, fighting back and finally the ultimate revenge. James Harper plays a blinder with this tale and it was absolutely riveting. He deserves a real pat on the back because I didn’t see that coming. The Evan Buckley series just gets better and better,
I received a free ARC in return for an honest review if I enjoyed it. I certainly did! Thank you.
I received a free ARC in return for an honest review if I enjoyed it. I certainly did! Thank you.
October 19, 2024
I'd finished “Dig Two Graves” before discovering that it is not a stand-alone but deep into the 'Evan Buckley Crime Thriller' series (#13 to be exact).
It did strike me that P.I. Evan Buckley seemed to lack a backstory but, these days, that's not unusual.
It's a nicely written procedural which has a layered plot – just when you think you have it figured out it takes a different turn.
Evan is having a drink in a local bar and meets an older woman. A fight breaks out and, when the dust settles, she's gone but left her wallet behind.
Returning the wallet to her family home he discovers that the woman is an heiress who has been missing for three decades. Her father is close to death and hires Evan to find her before he pops his clogs.
Finding her isn't difficult but keeping her alive proves an increasingly difficult problem.
Who wants her dead, and why?
The final paragraph is very nicely done.
I galloped through it and will be starting from book one right away.
4 Stars.
It did strike me that P.I. Evan Buckley seemed to lack a backstory but, these days, that's not unusual.
It's a nicely written procedural which has a layered plot – just when you think you have it figured out it takes a different turn.
Evan is having a drink in a local bar and meets an older woman. A fight breaks out and, when the dust settles, she's gone but left her wallet behind.
Returning the wallet to her family home he discovers that the woman is an heiress who has been missing for three decades. Her father is close to death and hires Evan to find her before he pops his clogs.
Finding her isn't difficult but keeping her alive proves an increasingly difficult problem.
Who wants her dead, and why?
The final paragraph is very nicely done.
I galloped through it and will be starting from book one right away.
4 Stars.
April 30, 2021
Note: This review is for Dig Two Graves by James Harper.
As a Buckley/Harper fan, I always look forward to the next one and this doesn't disappoint. The story moved at a nice pace and the characters are just as well defined in this short story as they are in the novels. No mean feat given the length. My only complaint: the ending was too abrupt for me. Not that the ending was unexpected or unbelievable, but it felt a bit like hitting a dead end you didn't know was there. I kind of stared at it for a minute. However, I still found it worth 5 stars because ultimately it lives up to the previous stories and I really enjoyed it.
As a Buckley/Harper fan, I always look forward to the next one and this doesn't disappoint. The story moved at a nice pace and the characters are just as well defined in this short story as they are in the novels. No mean feat given the length. My only complaint: the ending was too abrupt for me. Not that the ending was unexpected or unbelievable, but it felt a bit like hitting a dead end you didn't know was there. I kind of stared at it for a minute. However, I still found it worth 5 stars because ultimately it lives up to the previous stories and I really enjoyed it.
May 24, 2021
Whether or not you are new to Evan Buckley, this is a book you will totally enjoy. A page-turner not to be missed does fine as a standalone but you'll certainly want to go back and read the others, if for no other reason because this author is an amazing writer and weaves a fabulous story. Never a spoiler in my reviews, Plenty of action fills the pages as you eagerly swipe to get to the end because this book is hard to put down and a quick enough read to complete in one sitting. Great characters consume you as twists and turns lead you toward a great, non-cliffhanger ending. I love this entire series and expect that if you love thrillers and action, you will too.
May 5, 2021
Evan encounters Bella Carling at a bar just before a bar fight happens. He was there with Kate Guillory and Bella just took Kate's seat when she left to freshen up. When the fighters leave the bar, Bella was gone but she left her wallet. There was something off about the fight that Evan just can't figure out. Where did Bella go? Evan looks for Bella and finds out that things are about to get real complicated for everyone. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
August 17, 2021
Short and Succinct
I have loved every book in the series. I like the character Evan Buckley and Guillroy. Sadly there is not the normal interaction readers usually have the pleasure of experiencing. More surprising is comes across as a dashed book...a quick whipped dessert using chemically created cream vs the real. The book is short and lacks his normal depth. The plot is good just could have more meat on the bones.
I have loved every book in the series. I like the character Evan Buckley and Guillroy. Sadly there is not the normal interaction readers usually have the pleasure of experiencing. More surprising is comes across as a dashed book...a quick whipped dessert using chemically created cream vs the real. The book is short and lacks his normal depth. The plot is good just could have more meat on the bones.
April 30, 2021
James Harper Dig 2 Graves
This is another great read from James, in this book he showcases Evan with Guillory only in the back round and what a great read this was great plots that has you using your brain to follow the characters and wrong footing you on the way a must read for James Harper fans.
I have read this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review on my free will.
This is another great read from James, in this book he showcases Evan with Guillory only in the back round and what a great read this was great plots that has you using your brain to follow the characters and wrong footing you on the way a must read for James Harper fans.
I have read this book as an ARC and I am leaving this review on my free will.
May 3, 2021
Great short story!
Evan unwittingly gets drawn into a situation, at his favourite watering hole, which leads to a case of family betrayal. Intriguing mystery with the usual quick witted one liners from Evan
Really enjoyable read!
I purchased this as part of a box set but thought I would review the book as a stand-alone, as well.
Evan unwittingly gets drawn into a situation, at his favourite watering hole, which leads to a case of family betrayal. Intriguing mystery with the usual quick witted one liners from Evan
Really enjoyable read!
I purchased this as part of a box set but thought I would review the book as a stand-alone, as well.
May 4, 2021
A short Evan Buckley thriller that packs a punch. No matter what he does Evan can't catch a break. He is drawn into a missing person case that is thirty years old. This story contains non-stop action, which is what we have come to expect from James Harper's Evan Buckley... knocked it out of the park. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
May 3, 2021
Another Evan Buckley, action packed (right from the beginning) thriller with exciting twists that kept me entertained. Great story with characters to love and loathe.
Only minimal appearances from Kate but I love her exchanges with Evan.
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
Only minimal appearances from Kate but I love her exchanges with Evan.
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
May 1, 2021
Great story
Great tread
This is the best story in the series,I think. Well written,with a surprising twist at the end. Well worth getting.
Great tread
This is the best story in the series,I think. Well written,with a surprising twist at the end. Well worth getting.
May 4, 2021
Fantastic story of a missing daughter with a big secret. This one will keep you guessing until the very end.
July 5, 2021
Great read
I have enjoyed all of these mysteries. Love the main characters and the plots are excellent! Hope they make this into a movie or series one day.
I have enjoyed all of these mysteries. Love the main characters and the plots are excellent! Hope they make this into a movie or series one day.
January 22, 2022
Short but Good
Had me from the start. I couldn't put the book down. The relationship with Kate is great. Can't wait for the next.
Had me from the start. I couldn't put the book down. The relationship with Kate is great. Can't wait for the next.
July 9, 2023
Another great read
Can't imagine James Harper writing a book I don't enjoy! As usual this one left me hungry for more about Evan Buckley. Can't wait to see what's next.
Can't imagine James Harper writing a book I don't enjoy! As usual this one left me hungry for more about Evan Buckley. Can't wait to see what's next.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews