Swift Edge

A Charlie Swift Mystery #2

by Laura DiSilverio

When world-class figure skater Dmitri Fane goes missing, his partner knows just whom to hire. It’s up to Swift Investigations to find the missing Fane, and fast---the Olympics are just weeks away. It should be no trouble for the investigative team of Charlie Swift and Gigi Goldman: Their chief obstacle is Gigi’s teenage daughter, Kendall, and her mad crush on Fane. That is, until the skating team’s coach is brutally attacked and a colleague of Dmitri is killed, and things start to get complicated. 

Gigi’s corralling a lovesick Kendall and dying to test out the hilarious techniques from her surveillance class. Charlie’s dodging bullets and fending off Detective Connor Montgomery’s advances. Their client is suddenly MIA. Can Charlie and Gigi solve two missing-persons cases and a murder at once, or will the culprit get off skate-free?

Fast-paced adventure, high-stakes intrigue, and the madcap capers of these unlikely partners-in-crime solving make Swift Edge a delightful and welcome addition to the series. 

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Humor

304 pages, Hardcover

First published November 22, 2011

About the author

I'm the author of the Swift Investigations, Mall Cop and Readaholics mystery series.

After twenty years as an Air Force intelligence officer – serving as a squadron commander, with the National Reconnaissance Office, and at a fighter wing – I retired to parenting and writing full-time.

Spying was easier.

(Laura DiSilverio is also Ella Barrick.)

Reviews

[Mark Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

PI Charlette “Charlie” Swift has a new client. Dara Peterson needs Charlie to track down her ice skating partner, Dmitri Fane, before the Olympic trials start in just a few days. With her new business partner, Gigi Goldman, semi-helping, Charlie begins investigating. She quickly gets attacked and finds someone left for dead on the ice. What has happened to Dmitri?

I read the first book in this series years ago, and I kept meaning to go back and read this one. I’m so glad I did. This book is as much fun as I remember the first being. The plot is fast paced with plenty of action and a page turning climax. What Gigi doesn’t know about the PI business she makes up for in enthusiasm, and her antics add some great laughs. Yet none of the characters come across as caricatures; there is a depth to all of them. Mostly, we only see glimpses of that depth, but it is enough to make them seem real. The book skirts around the edges of the cozy genre with just a touch more violence and language than a traditional cozy, but as long as you expect that, you’ll be fine. I really did enjoy this book, and it won’t be as long before I go back to visit these characters again.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[R. Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

less absurd than the first in the series (Gigi doesn't have any calamities, basically), with a bunch of irritating characters. the love triangle continues. (sort of unsatisfactorily - I'm rooting for Dan, but it seems like Charlie is more interested in Montgomery?) I was surprised that Charlie didn't connect some things sooner in the story, although I suppose when you don't know you're in a book you don't expect things to tie up so neatly. still a fun read!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this one, largely because I am not sure how I feel about protagonist/narrator Charlie Swift. I will the next book of the series and decide from there whether to continue with more. I enjoy giving more details but this is a book from the big five publishing companies (see note below).

Note: I used togive full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies (GR Authors' Feedback), the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing effort by only giving full reviews to books published by: companies outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of the big five companies so will not receive a more detailed review by me.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

P.I. Charlie Swift in Colorado Springs is hired to find an ice skater who has disappeared shortly before the Olympic Trials. A separate strand concerns a homeless youth who Fr. Dan wants found.
The slightly manic tone of the first book in the series is toned down in "Swift Edge" though there are still some comic moments.
Gigi, Charlie's unskilled and mostly unwelcome partner, continues to bumble her way through but it is her teen daughter, Kendall, herself a talented skater, who provides Charlie with an insight into their rarefied world.
It's a mostly solid procedural with an ending that I found underwhelming but, in fairness, the guilty do not always get punished in real life.
Charlie continues to flirt with Det. Montgomery but their slow-burn relationship is hampered by her memories of her ex-husband.
Towards the final third of the book I found that it was becoming a slog and I had to make an effort to finish it.
2.5 Stars raised to 3 Stars.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good installment of the Charlie Swift series. This one deals with ice skaters, a youth hostel, tattoo parlor and identity theft. One of the top ice skaters practicing for the nationals (olympic hopefuls) goes missing and his partner is worried engaging Charlie to help find him. The world of competitive and expensive ice skating with big egos, jealousy and envy is a world Charlie knows nothing about. Luckily? or not. Kendall, her partner Gigi's daughter, is also a skater and has an insight into this strange world but she also has a huge crush on the missing skater, Dimitri. Add in another missing person, a runaway from the youth hostel and things get even more complicated. A fast moving story that's fun to read.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, which features private investigator Charlie Swift and her unexpected, but growing-on-her sidekick Gigi Goldman as they find missing persons and encounter other crime-fighting adventures. Fun and realistic dialogue between Gigi and Charlie, Charlie's wry observations, Gigi's growth (and the fact that she's easy to identify with!), the standard interest with a detective, and the completely intriguing friendship with the next-door neighbor, Episcopalian priest Dan. A fun read and each book leaves you wanting to read another one!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd actually give this book a 3.5/5. It was good and the storyline well written. At times it seemed a bit simplistic and some character development was overdone. I was surprised by the ending and did find myself sucked into the plot and suspense about half way through. If given the chance I'd probably read another Charlie Swift mystery but I don't know that it'd be my first pick. I appreciated the different approach to mystery fiction though.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Swift, ex-Air Force law enforcement officer, is a P.I. in Colorado Springs. She is asked by his skating partner to find a missing Olympic contender skater. Charlie's new partner, G.G., wants to learn to be a P.I. on the job. G.G.'s daughter is also a skater and may have information that will help Charlie find the missing skater. Charlie's relationship with Connor Montgomery, police detective, seems to be heating up. And the body count keeps rising.

[RC Prentice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cozy in the sense of providing comedy mixed with mystery, this tale of dead-on-the-ice and a missing skating star will keep you entertained well as continually guessing about the who and the why. Snafus here and there provide comic relief without indulging in absurdities.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light and fun book to read. It is the 2nd in the series and I plan to get the 1st one.

[Carl Brookins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judicious blending of two quite different characters as private investigators carries this story of murder and identity theft on a rollercoaster of humor and tension. Gigi Goldman, one half of the investigator team of Swift Investigations is inept at best. I mean how about trying a surveillance gig from a yellow Hummer? Charlie Swift is the more competent partner with background and experience and she carries the bulk of the serious investigation that is at the core of this slickly written, well-laid out story.

A world class figure skater disappears on the eve of national trials. Charlie Swift is up for the challenge of finding the guy but she keeps stumbling over her partner Gigi and Gigi’s petulant teen-aged daughter. Then the client, another figure skater, disappears, a world-renowned coach is attacked and almost everywhere she goes, somebody is shooting at Charlie. If that isn’t enough trouble, almost every male she encounters seems to be after Charlie’s body in a less destructive way. But maybe that’s just Charlie Swift’s take on the situations.

The action is constant, often funny and requires the occasional suspension of disbelief. The characters are well-drawn and consistent. This is a sometimes zany, very enjoyable addition to what appears to be a swiftly growing series of light to medium crime novels.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#2 in the Charlotte “Charlie” Swift series. PI Charlie Swift, ex-Air Force investigator, is getting accustomed to her new partner Gigi Goldman, who inherited half of the agency. But it's harder to get used to Gigi's obnoxious, lazy, teenaged daughter who is supposedly working part time at the agency during her school break. A new client is a skater looking for her pairs partner before the Nationals are scheduled. As Charlie tries to track him down, with peripatetic help from Gigi's daughter, also a skater, she encounters assaults, murders, explosions, shootings, and nary a sympathetic character. I couldn't care if she found her quarry or not and he was such a total sleaze that getting him back for the competition would seem like a miscarriage of justice. DiSilverio loses a star for producing a downer.

Charlotte “Charlie” Swift series - Hired by a world-class figure skater to find her missing pairs partner in time for the upcoming Olympics, Charlie Swift and Gigi Goldman tackle complications in the form of a smitten teen, an attack on the pair's coach, and the murder of the missing athlete's colleague.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is in CO Springs, CO. Charlotte Swift (Charlie) is a P.I. that is hired to find a missing Ice Skater, and of course she knows nothing about the sport. She has an assistant who is the personality of the two. Charlie has no-nonsense attitude and even through multiple body injuries continues to do what she was hired to do. Her assistant has a 14 yr old pampered and petty girl that is woven through out. Lots of action and humor. The book is filled with Russian Mafia ties, family members and friends of the missing skater becoming targets, another different story line that involves many of the same characters and events that brings out the best sarcasm. I enjoy watching ice skating events, and found it was pretty true to life. Found some of it, like the girl frustrating and a tad out of place. For the most part it was a good read.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it's possible that a second book in the series is better than the first book, then this story proves it.
DiSilverio has created a believable plot centered around the extremely competitive world of amateur pairs skating. Charlie, the part-owner of Swift Investigations, has begun to accept that Gigi (Georgia Goldstein, the ex-wife of Charlie's former silent partner) has certain skills that complement the agency. In this book, Detective Morgan and neighbor Father Dan (Episcopalian priest) set Charlie's juices flowing. Which one does she really want?
Engaging characters (Gigi's daughter is a rip in this book) and a totally believable plot make for not-to-put-down-until-finished reading.
Definitely add this one to your list to read soon!

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It has earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in DiSilverio's 'Charlie Swift' mystery series. Charlie and her inexperienced new partner Gigi accept what seem to be two straightforward missing persons cases; both a world-class figure skater and a homeless youth have gone missing, and the agency is hired to find both - by separate people. It soon becomes obvious that the skater is not just hiding away for a few days with a new squeeze, a theory advanced by an old friend, when his coach is discovered after being brutally beaten. Gigi again provides much of the comic relief, as she continues to learn the p.i. trade.

[Susan Oleksiw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the Charlie Swift and Gig Goldman series set in Colorado Springs. In this outing Charlie and Gigi investigate corruption and crime in the world of competitive ice skating. Even though, like many people in the US, follow skating on TV, I had no idea how these amazing skaters got to be where they are. This mystery was a revelation about what goes on behind the scenes, long before the skaters appear with huge smiles in gorgeous costumes. Charlie's assistant, the air-head Gigi, almost steals the show.

[Kristi | Hidden Staircase | · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Swift is hired to find a missing ice skater, who has disappeared a week before an important competition to qualify for the Olympic games. As Charlie looks into the disappearance, people start getting hurt and then killed. Meanwhile, Gigi is put on the case to help Father Dan locate a missing teen. While Charlie would still rather work alone, she and Gigi have begun to work better together. The second in the series, this was another fun read.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Swift is hired to find famed ice skater Dmitri Fane, who is missing just when he and his partner should be practicing for the forthcoming Olympic trials. Fortunately, Charlie's partner's daughter Kendall is an aspiring skater and can fill Charlie in on what she needs to know. But nothing can prepare Charlie for the series of murders that follow, with all the victims being people who know Dmitri well.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of figure skating, but this book centers around it...and, it may be cliche to say there is a Russian skater controversy, but the story isn't "one of those". I enjoyed it, I was trying to figure out "who done it", I was CRACKING up reading about Gigi's escapades, wanting to slap her obnoxious daughter into next week, and wondering when Charlie is going to flirt back with the men in her life!

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is a Colorado based Stephanie Plum. The protagonist is a little less accident prone but so similar. there is the cop love interest...there is the ex hubby baggage...and there is the Lula in the form of Gigi her partner.
It was entertaining but I am truly curious to know what came first the Plum or the swift

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swift Investigations was hired to find world-class figure skater Dmitri Fane after he disappears weeks before the Olympics try-outs. Charlie Swift and her partner, Gigi Goldman, feels that this will not be too difficult to solve. But after Dmitri skating team's coach is brutally attacked and one of Dmitri's friend is murdered, things starts getting complicated. A fast paced, easy read.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent sophomore effort from DiSilverio in the Charlie Swift Mystery series. Once again, Charlie and Gigi provide laughs and thrills against a beautiful Colorado Springs backdrop. However, this book did seem a little rushed at the end, which causes it to lose 1 star. The debut novel was a tough act to follow, but I have high hopes for the remainder of this series. DiSilverio, keep writing!

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this wasn't as good as the first Charlie Swift mystery, but it was ok. Good premise, more or less easy to figure out the mystery, but seemed to get bogged down in little backstory details, and not nearly as funny as the first. Perhaps in the 3rd book DiSilverio will find her stride again.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable mystery set in Colorado Springs. Private detective Charlie Swift and her unlikely sidekick Gigi are trying to find a missing figure skater bound for the Olympics. Several things get in their way of course with a little mayhem to make things interesting.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because there seemed to be chaos and adventure throughout the story. Lots of ironic humor. The location of their office makes me think of the character, Vic in Sara Paretsky's mysteries.

[Chaitra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay? The mystery was alright, and it was fine while I was reading it, but it's forgettable. I still find Charlie and Gigi relatable, but there was less of Gigi this go around. Gigi is the better of the two, so that's a bad thing.

[Nana Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Had me laughing almost all the way through the book.

[Lizzytish · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first encounter with Charlie was entertaining as was getting acquainted with Colorado Springs. Interesting mystery along with getting a peek into the professional ice skating world.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light reading, reminds me of cotton candy. Liked it anyway.