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The Flip-Flop Detective Series #2
Strait to Hell: A fun, action-packed mystery
Rule #2 – No attachments.
Sam Strait didn’t want to leave home early for the snowbird season, but the rules he lived his life by demanded it. When a relationship turned sour, the rules dictated he pack his bags and get out of town.
He could have gone anywhere in the world, but Sam picked Phoenix, Arizona. With its beautiful women, fall baseball league, and warm winters, what more could a single guy ask for?
When the death of a new friend brings violent strangers into his life, Sam is forced to make a choice—run out of town or find a killer.
If he were smart, he’d adhere to the second rule, but there’s a beautiful woman in the mix. Soon, Sam is racing across the California desert with a band of outlaws on his heels. He’s must find the killer quick before there’s never a chance to leave.
Sam Strait didn’t want to leave home early for the snowbird season, but the rules he lived his life by demanded it. When a relationship turned sour, the rules dictated he pack his bags and get out of town.
He could have gone anywhere in the world, but Sam picked Phoenix, Arizona. With its beautiful women, fall baseball league, and warm winters, what more could a single guy ask for?
When the death of a new friend brings violent strangers into his life, Sam is forced to make a choice—run out of town or find a killer.
If he were smart, he’d adhere to the second rule, but there’s a beautiful woman in the mix. Soon, Sam is racing across the California desert with a band of outlaws on his heels. He’s must find the killer quick before there’s never a chance to leave.
- GenresMystery ThrillerFiction
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2021
39 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Colin Conway
81 books133 followersAre you on BookBub? You can follow Colin there at: www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-conway
Colin Conway is the creator of the 509 Crime Stories, a series of novels set in Eastern Washington with revolving lead characters. They are standalone tales and can be read in any order.
He also created the Cozy Up series which pushes the envelope of the cozy genre. Libby Klein, author of the Poppy McAllister series, says Cozy Up to Death is “Not your grandma’s cozy.”
Colin co-authored the Charlie-316 series. The first novel in the series, Charlie-316, is a political/crime thriller that has been described as “riveting and compulsively readable,” “the real deal,” and “the ultimate ride-along.”
He served in the U.S. Army and later was an officer of the Spokane Police Department. He's owned a laundromat, invested in a bar, and ran a karate school. Besides writing crime fiction, he is a commercial real estate broker.
Colin lives with his beautiful girlfriend, three wonderful children, and a codependent Vizsla that rules their world.
Colin Conway is the creator of the 509 Crime Stories, a series of novels set in Eastern Washington with revolving lead characters. They are standalone tales and can be read in any order.
He also created the Cozy Up series which pushes the envelope of the cozy genre. Libby Klein, author of the Poppy McAllister series, says Cozy Up to Death is “Not your grandma’s cozy.”
Colin co-authored the Charlie-316 series. The first novel in the series, Charlie-316, is a political/crime thriller that has been described as “riveting and compulsively readable,” “the real deal,” and “the ultimate ride-along.”
He served in the U.S. Army and later was an officer of the Spokane Police Department. He's owned a laundromat, invested in a bar, and ran a karate school. Besides writing crime fiction, he is a commercial real estate broker.
Colin lives with his beautiful girlfriend, three wonderful children, and a codependent Vizsla that rules their world.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 2, 2025
Strait to Hell by Colin Conway
Flip-Flop Detective Novel #2
Sam Strait is a man who lives by rules, rules that keep his world in alignment and allow him to be “free” snowbird-ing every winter to a new warm climate. This book sees Sam in Arizona working as a furniture mover, making friends, watching minor league baseball games, meeting a new woman, and then becoming embroiled in locating a murderer…even though one of his rules is to avoid drama he seems unable to do so.
What I liked:
* Seeing where Sam ended up next and what he was up to
* Watching Sam try to live by his rules and have a hard time doing so
* The chuckles I had from time to time
* That again Sam has more goons after him and poundings from them than he should have – he really does need to take some martial arts classes!
* Morena: the new female interest that finds him
* Bennie: work friend of Sam’s and brother to Morena
* The way all the elements of the story were moved around like puzzle pieces till they all fit to make the complete clear picture
* Finding out who killed Diego – Morena & Bennie’s uncle – and why he was killed
* The investigation and how it played out
* The way the police were involved in the story
* That there as a clear conclusion to the investigating Sam did
* Knowing that Sam will likely move on for book three and looking forward to finding out where he will end up and what issue he will have to deal with next.
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like
* That Sam, unless he gets his act together, will probably never self-actualize. That said…if he did get his act together the series would probably be finished rather quickly.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Flip-Flop Detective Novel #2
Sam Strait is a man who lives by rules, rules that keep his world in alignment and allow him to be “free” snowbird-ing every winter to a new warm climate. This book sees Sam in Arizona working as a furniture mover, making friends, watching minor league baseball games, meeting a new woman, and then becoming embroiled in locating a murderer…even though one of his rules is to avoid drama he seems unable to do so.
What I liked:
* Seeing where Sam ended up next and what he was up to
* Watching Sam try to live by his rules and have a hard time doing so
* The chuckles I had from time to time
* That again Sam has more goons after him and poundings from them than he should have – he really does need to take some martial arts classes!
* Morena: the new female interest that finds him
* Bennie: work friend of Sam’s and brother to Morena
* The way all the elements of the story were moved around like puzzle pieces till they all fit to make the complete clear picture
* Finding out who killed Diego – Morena & Bennie’s uncle – and why he was killed
* The investigation and how it played out
* The way the police were involved in the story
* That there as a clear conclusion to the investigating Sam did
* Knowing that Sam will likely move on for book three and looking forward to finding out where he will end up and what issue he will have to deal with next.
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like
* That Sam, unless he gets his act together, will probably never self-actualize. That said…if he did get his act together the series would probably be finished rather quickly.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
October 15, 2021
3.5 stars
thanks to the writer for a preview copy of the ARC.
Poor Sam...so much for the "no drama" rule #2.
He's relocated to Phoenix, AZ for the winter. He wanted to keep it simple while working as a furniture mover and watching baseball. Not so...
This time 3 different groups have assumed he's a skip tracer and can find a missing person. Of course they've used violence to convince him to do it.
Paired with his new pals, he's off & running.
Sam is likable character. I also like how he's not invincible (as per some other PI characters) and does get hurt a lot. It makes you feel more empathy for him. Per his rules, ( #2 no attachments), he has yet again met another female who will ultimately test that.
This is a series that is getting better with each book as it develops. I enjoyed this one more than the first book. Some chuckle out loud humor.
I will continue with the series as I'd like to see what happens next in Sam's snowbird world.
It was reminiscent of Carl Hiassen, Dave Barry, Gregory McDonald, James Swain, Tim Dorsey & John D. MacDonald so I'd recommend it to those who like those writers.
thanks to the writer for a preview copy of the ARC.
Poor Sam...so much for the "no drama" rule #2.
He's relocated to Phoenix, AZ for the winter. He wanted to keep it simple while working as a furniture mover and watching baseball. Not so...
This time 3 different groups have assumed he's a skip tracer and can find a missing person. Of course they've used violence to convince him to do it.
Paired with his new pals, he's off & running.
Sam is likable character. I also like how he's not invincible (as per some other PI characters) and does get hurt a lot. It makes you feel more empathy for him. Per his rules, ( #2 no attachments), he has yet again met another female who will ultimately test that.
This is a series that is getting better with each book as it develops. I enjoyed this one more than the first book. Some chuckle out loud humor.
I will continue with the series as I'd like to see what happens next in Sam's snowbird world.
It was reminiscent of Carl Hiassen, Dave Barry, Gregory McDonald, James Swain, Tim Dorsey & John D. MacDonald so I'd recommend it to those who like those writers.
October 9, 2022
A fun read !
Having just finished the second of the Flip Flop Series, I can't wait to start the next one. This has been such a fun series to read. I love the main character, and can completely see his logic in his "rules"......they're actually pretty good rules to follow.
From the movie Live By Night:
"I realized it's not enough to break the rules. You have to be strong enough to make your own"........ Ben Affleck (couldn't resist the movie quote lol)
Having just finished the second of the Flip Flop Series, I can't wait to start the next one. This has been such a fun series to read. I love the main character, and can completely see his logic in his "rules"......they're actually pretty good rules to follow.
From the movie Live By Night:
"I realized it's not enough to break the rules. You have to be strong enough to make your own"........ Ben Affleck (couldn't resist the movie quote lol)
July 26, 2021
It's another hit out of the park! Colin Conway writes with style, humor, and love. His characters are believable and likeable (not the bad guys, they are always mean and nasty.) Liking this new series, and can be read in any order.
This was an ARC read.
This was an ARC read.
March 2, 2025
Flip-Flop Detective Novel #2
Sam Strait is a man who lives by rules, rules that keep his world in alignment and allow him to be “free” snowbird-ing every winter to a new warm climate. This book sees Sam in Arizona working as a furniture mover, making friends, watching minor league baseball games, meeting a new woman, and then becoming embroiled in locating a murderer…even though one of his rules is to avoid drama he seems unable to do so.
What I liked:
* Seeing where Sam ended up next and what he was up to
* Watching Sam try to live by his rules and have a hard time doing so
* The chuckles I had from time to time
* That again Sam has more goons after him and poundings from them than he should have – he really does need to take some martial arts classes!
* Morena: the new female interest that finds him
* Bennie: work friend of Sam’s and brother to Morena
* The way all the elements of the story were moved around like puzzle pieces till they all fit to make the complete clear picture
* Finding out who killed Diego – Morena & Bennie’s uncle – and why he was killed
* The investigation and how it played out
* The way the police were involved in the story
* That there as a clear conclusion to the investigating Sam did
* Knowing that Sam will likely move on for book three and looking forward to finding out where he will end up and what issue he will have to deal with next.
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like
* That Sam, unless he gets his act together, will probably never self-actualize. That said…if he did get his act together the series would probably be finished rather quickly.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Sam Strait is a man who lives by rules, rules that keep his world in alignment and allow him to be “free” snowbird-ing every winter to a new warm climate. This book sees Sam in Arizona working as a furniture mover, making friends, watching minor league baseball games, meeting a new woman, and then becoming embroiled in locating a murderer…even though one of his rules is to avoid drama he seems unable to do so.
What I liked:
* Seeing where Sam ended up next and what he was up to
* Watching Sam try to live by his rules and have a hard time doing so
* The chuckles I had from time to time
* That again Sam has more goons after him and poundings from them than he should have – he really does need to take some martial arts classes!
* Morena: the new female interest that finds him
* Bennie: work friend of Sam’s and brother to Morena
* The way all the elements of the story were moved around like puzzle pieces till they all fit to make the complete clear picture
* Finding out who killed Diego – Morena & Bennie’s uncle – and why he was killed
* The investigation and how it played out
* The way the police were involved in the story
* That there as a clear conclusion to the investigating Sam did
* Knowing that Sam will likely move on for book three and looking forward to finding out where he will end up and what issue he will have to deal with next.
What I didn’t like:
* What I was meant not to like
* That Sam, unless he gets his act together, will probably never self-actualize. That said…if he did get his act together the series would probably be finished rather quickly.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews