Edwin Steelside: Searching Out the Devil

by Bradford Bennett

Unsolvable murders, and innocent suspects. It's time to bring in Steelside.

The Final Scene
Two talented performers take center stage for a heart-wrenching love song. Their soaring voices deliver a dramatic aria for a scene that will never be surpassed. Or will it?

The Marathon Murder
Great human sports achievements fill our history books with superhuman feats. Then comes one runner to break all the records, plus anyone else in his way.

The Pharmacy Incident
Advancing the science of medicine gives us miracle cures for life-saving treatments. Now Ed is hired to look into their dark closets and finds—do we trust them too much?

There's Death in Texas
A deadly killer stalks the state of Texas, and no one knows he's coming except for fate and a crack detective. Now, Ed must find the path to stop one of the most deadly killers in North American history.

Genres: Mystery

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Exploring the mind of a person who has an ability to see beyond the normal and find the unsolvable problem has always been intriguing to me. So, upon retirement, I looked into fiction writing of just such a person. A detective, who would not lose direction, never lose faith, until after every clue is uncovered, and brings the criminal to justice. Edwin Steelside is just that man.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously inspired by the Alec Baldwin incident, a PI starts snooping around when someone is shot on a movie set.

Told, not shown, and it takes all the immediacy away.

[Karen Siddall · Rating 4 out of 5]

See what happens when an old-school senior officer who misses the street action retires and opens his own private investigation office.

Edwin Steelside: Searching Out the Devil by Bradford Bennett is a collection of short stories featuring the former head of detectives turned private eye. This volume includes four intriguing and mysterious cases for the new PI to solve.

Ed Steelside is an engaging protagonist for the series. Divorced after his job as the head of Vancouver PD’s Homicide Detectives Bureau kept him away from home and his wife too much, he’s considering getting back in the dating game to get to know Molly, a smart, fast-talking, and saucy waitress at his favorite coffee shop. He retired from the police department when, after climbing the ladder, he discovered that most of his time was spent on administrative tasks rather than solving crimes and pursuing justice for victims. Instead, he’s opened his own private investigation office, and his stellar reputation is starting to attract some big cases.

Each story is a self-contained case, and Ed conducts a thorough investigation, following clues and his instincts. The police procedural style employed puts the reader alongside Ed every step of the way as he puzzles through the information he uncovers, leading to the final resolution. Suspects come and go as the clues either rule them out or put them on a fast track to arrest by his former colleagues, with whom he maintains a positive, mutually beneficial relationship.

I recommend EDWIN STEELSIDE: SEARCHING OUT THE DEVIL to mystery readers who enjoy their police procedurals in bite-sized chunks.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

[Christine Woinich · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Four stories of varying ratings and different cases.
The Final Scene - We met Edwin, Detective Doland, Molly, and Jerry "Hound Dog". An actress was killed in the middle of a performance. Edwin was hired to find the actual killer. With the help of the detective and Hound Dog, he was able to put the clues together.
The Marathon Murder - An astonishing record-breaking marathon winner led to a murder. Edwin traveled in order to solve this case. He again had help from his friends/team.
The Pharmacy Incident - Big Pharma, drug trafficking, and death by plane crash made this a little convoluted, but Edwin had his usual assistance and new friends.
There's Death in Texas - Edwin tracked down a very unusual serial killer in Texas. He gained the trust of police and gangs in order to solve this one.
I loved the interactions with everyone Edwin worked with. Sometimes it felt like there were unnecessary conversations, mostly phone calls. I was incredibly happy to see Molly and Edwin work things out.

I received a copy through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.

[Gina Rae Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwin Steelside: Searching Out the Devil has a classic detective feel that leans into logic, structure, and steady storytelling rather than fast-paced chaos.

What makes this one stand out is the format. Instead of a single long case, the story is built around four separate mysteries, each growing a bit more complex. It creates a satisfying rhythm and keeps the reading experience fresh as the stakes slowly build.

The writing is clean and easy to follow, which works well for a mystery driven by reasoning and deduction. Edwin Steelside himself is a steady, grounded character, and the small thread of romance adds just enough personal depth without taking focus away from the investigations.

If you enjoy classic PI-style stories with layered cases and consistent logic, this is a strong, engaging read.

CAWPILE score: 7.7/10 (rounded to 4 stars)

Read more of my reviews at
Gina Rae Mitchell • Championing indie authors and stories worth discovering

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

These four stories hit the spot for this overly-busy, mystery-lovin’ reader! Each of the stories were short enough to read in a short setting, but still full of mystery, intrigue, and good old fashioned detecting. They were all good, but my favorite one by far was The Marathon Murder.

It was good to see recurring characters in the stories as well…and Ed really depends on his team to help him solve the mysteries. He depends on his friends and associates to really find out a lot of information that leads him to solve the cases. Plus, he has quite a bit of luck several times.

I really enjoyed his relationship with his old partner… it was good to see a private investigator and the police working so well together. Very refreshing.

My favorite extra character, though, has to be Molly. And, I have to admit, Ed drove me crazy with his wishy-washy ways towards her. I wish she had had a bigger role in the stories.

I’m hoping to see more of Ed Steelside….thanks, Mr. Bennett. I would love to see this character and his crew all fleshed out in a full length book!

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
Edwin Steelside: Searching Out the Devil by Bradford Bennett

Four unsolved murders. One brilliant detective. And far too many innocent lives hanging in the balance.

The writing style is simple, clean, and easy to follow, giving the story a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic old-Hollywood detective films. Each case brings something different to the table, and the suspense builds steadily with every chapter.

I especially enjoyed the subtle touch of romance woven into the story. Ed is portrayed as a skilled and dedicated detective, yet his personal life reveals a more flawed and human side, which adds depth to his character.

My favorite case was the second one, and the proposal scene stood out as a memorable highlight. Although the cases are resolved relatively quickly, the investigations feel thorough and well-developed, never rushed.

If you enjoy murder mysteries with a classic detective vibe, this is definitely a book worth picking up.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection of mysteries, each feeling like a blend of noir and mystery, light on the thriller. Each story is unique, and you'll enjoy following along trying to solve the mystery. There seems to be an attempt at blending old pulp noir with more modern PI detective stories, but it can get a bit clunky at times, and makes it, so the flow isn't as smooth as I'd like. Overall, I enjoyed Steelside as a detective, he's good at his job, and the side characters were fun to meet. The first story made me think of the scene in Phantom of the Opera when the theater manager is trying to assure everyone a tragic death is just an unfortunate accident, although the Alec Baldwin incident is also mentioned. If you're looking for a collection of quick PI mysteries, then you'll want to read this!

[Country Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwin Steelside: Searching Out The Devil by Bradford Bennett is a story where the main character is trying to figure out what happens when someone is shot on set of a movie. Edwin is our MC who is a PI and he is hired to find the killer. He is paired with “Hound Dog” in several of these cases, and that is something unique to this story. We hear about multiple cases and mysteries instead of one long story. I love a good PI classic detective story and the writing in this one was very good for this book. Edwin is a likeable character who you can really get involved with as a reader. I really liked the unique way that the author told this story, it is worth a read to fans of mystery and thrillers.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of four murder mysteries featuring private investigator, Edwin Steelside. Steelside left his job on the police force as a detective to start his own PI business. He quickly finds himself involved in four different murder mysteries that he has to solve.

I thought the mysteries themselves were pretty decent. Well thought out, although pretty easy to figure out. My biggest issue with the book was the writing itself. Once again, I find myself critiquing a book because the writing - and particularly the dialogue - is very mechanical and awkward. It slowed down the pace of each of the stories considerably and made me not as interested in them.

I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Bonne Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read!! Some parts are predictable but overall it holds your interest and the characters are well written.