Kill Her Twice

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Kill Her Twice, the eighth novel to feature Chicago PI Dek Elstrom.

Martin Tripp was acquitted of murdering his partner, Sara Jansen and now he wants Dek to find out what Sara was frightened of in the days before her death and if he really killed her, he says he can’t remember.

I have not read this series before, so always on the lookout for a new (to me) author I decided to try it out. Joining a series late is not always the best idea, but no worries here as it works well as a stand-alone and any necessary backstory is fully explained. I thoroughly enjoyed Kill Her Twice, which is a fun read with a complicated plot in the sense of trying to work out did what, where they fit in and what their motives are. Suffice to say I needed the conclusion to understand it all.

The novel is set in the extremely corrupt suburb of Rivertown. The corruption seems overblown and made me laugh, but is it too near the knuckle for some people? Whatever, it seems to have it’s own personality in the novel and plays an integral part.

The novel opens with a description of the background to Sara’s murder. The tone caught my attention and intrigued me, so that was it it, I was well and truly hooked. The novel is then a mixture of humour, with a running gag about the mayor’s mother’s cat, and mystery, the who, what why etc., so I laughed and puzzled over the plot the whole way through. It’s smart and clever.

It is told from Dek’s first person point of view. He has a keen eye for the absurd and a determined attitude for discovering the truth. His tone is knowing and sardonic, which somewhat belies his belief in justice and just deserts. And, boy, does this novel deliver on the just deserts. I adored his solution to the many problems he faced as it made me laugh and satisfied my need for the good guy to win.

Kill Her Twice is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Eccentric, Quirky Crime..
The eighth in the Dek Elstrom series of mysteries finds the Chicago P.I. approached by a man recently acquitted of his wife’s murder asking him to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death. Whilst doing so Dek makes some very worrying discoveries. Cleverly written with a well drawn cast of characters, especially Dek himself, and an atmospheric backdrop. Eccentric and quirky and laced with wry humour. A solid addition to the series.

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written with good character development and a really well written storyline that was full of subtle humour, twists and turns and quirkyness. I have not read any other titles in this series but this worked as a standalone for me and I will definitely be checking out more now.

Are you in need of a book that will keep you entertained from the first page to the last? Then this is the book for you! This book was crafted excellently and did not disappoint. On April 5th, 2022 do yourself a favor and get Kill Her Twice. Thank you to NetGalley and Severn for the advanced copy.

This was a first time read for me by this author so I didn't know what to expect. This was an intriguing read with a gripping tale that kept me on the edge of my seat anxiously turning the pages to see what happens next. The story was well-written and interesting and held my attention from beginning to end. The storyline was well crafted and flowed smoothly and the twists and turns within the plot kept me guessing till the end. Although I have not read others in the series, I had no trouble following this story and would like to go back and read more of this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Severn House for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to review. This review is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Kill Her Twice by Jack Fredrickson is a highly recommended hard-boiled detective story set by Chicago.

Private investigator Dek Elstrom is hunting for a lost cat with a $100 reward when Martin Tripp wants to hire him to prove he didn't kill Sara Jansen. Tripp has already stood trial and been acquitted for Sara's murder. The problem is that he says he can't find a job now due to his infamy and he thinks Sara was afraid of something before she died. Elstrom isn't exactly eager to take on this case and he thinks Tripp is guilty of her murder, but he can use the $200 Tripp pushes on him. Once he begins to causally investigate, he discovers that a whole lot more was going on in the corrupt River City.

On the one hand I do appreciate an involved and complicated hard-boiled detective case that resembles a tale of gangsters from the 1930s. The description that Kill Her Twice is a Windy City noir with a distinctly retro feel is apropos. A story that actually tries to be timeless is appreciated and to be applauded. On the other hand, elderly women being lewd in a corrupt town is just not my thing. If I set that aside, during the investigation the suspense does build incrementally and the atmosphere becomes tense and full of suspicion in Kill Her Twice.

This can be read as a stand-alone novel even though it is the eighth book featuring Dek Elstrom. As my first Elstrom book I didn't feel behind or out of pace with the character and plot. Suspicions grow with each page and each new character introduced. There is also a humorous element to the novel, which helps in creating the noir-feeling as it propels the action forward. There are plenty of characters to draw your suspicion and entertain you, a tense atmosphere that grows as each new development, and complications to keep you guessing.

The narrative is told through Elstrom's first person point-of-view which means you are privy to his private thoughts and perceptions. He is an intelligent character, personable while also jaded with the corruption around him. He knows how the system works and how to use it to his advantage. 3.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Severn House via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Amazon.

Good book, this book had a big murder mystery attached to it but it also had suspense, intrigue, action, and tons of twists and turns! The storyline was interesting and had a who done it too! I will definitely recommend reading this book, its well worth reading! It wasn't one of my top favorites but it was still really good! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!