Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Harry Starke #2

Two for the Money

Rate this book
A Late-Night Phone Call. A Voice from the past. An Apparent Suicide.The phone call came on a Tuesday evening in the middle of August. Harry Starke hadn't heard from his old school friend in almost five years, and he hadn't thought about him in almost as long. Tom Sattler wanted to meet, and it wouldn't wait until morning. But when Harry arrived at Sattler's home less than an hour later, he found him lying in a pool of blood with a single gunshot wound to his head and .22 revolver lying close to his hand.

Was it suicide, or was Tom Sattler murdered? If so, by whom and why?

The search for answers plunges Harry into a far-reaching investigation that involves murder, corruption, organized crime, and duplicity. As always, there’s a twist in the tail.

"Well written tightly sculptured. A well contrived story and a good page turning read." Amazon ReviewerIf you enjoy a good mystery and crime stories with riveting plots and unexpected twists, Two for the Money is for you! Buy now.

340 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 18, 2015

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Blair Howard

513 books349 followers
Blair C. Howard is a Royal Air Force veteran, a retired journalist, and the best-selling author of more than 50 novels, including the international best-selling Harry Starke series, and 23 travel books. In 2021, having been fascinated by the heavens almost from childhood, and a SciFi fan for almost as long, he decided to try his hand at writing a military space opera. His first journey into this genre resulted in the Sovereign Stars series. Book 1 in the series, Avenger was quickly followed by Gods of War and Armored Fleet.

Blair lives in East Tennessee with his wife Jo, and Jack Russell Terrier, Sally.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
474 (49%)
4 stars
317 (33%)
3 stars
122 (12%)
2 stars
31 (3%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
6,471 reviews83 followers
August 16, 2018
An old friend calls Harry, but before he can get there, the friend ends up dead from an apparent suicide, which turns out to be murder. Harry goes to find out whudunnit, and in the process, gets a lot closer to Amanda, his newswoman nemesis than he expected.

Fairly decent.
Profile Image for Ladory.
330 reviews
August 1, 2017
I bought these first 3 books in a bundle on my kindle. The first book was okay as a quick read murder mystery. This second book is the same. However, I began disliking Harry Starke in the second book. He's apparently a young soul who has not evolved himself beyond his current state, which is more like a teenager. He has not gotten beyond seeing only appearances in people rather than seeing who they really are. He especially judges women according to how beautiful they are, or not. His description of one woman, in particular, really turned me off. These books are full of descriptions of clothing and how far up the knee the skirt is cut or the name brand of Harry's shoes. I find this disgusting. Harry Starke is not a man I would like. He reminded me of Donald Trump in his attitude toward women.

I stuck it out and read all three of these as pure entertainment and just because I really hate quitting something I've started, if I can help myself. However, I will not be purchasing any more of this author's books.
Profile Image for Jennifer M..
989 reviews55 followers
February 25, 2025
These type of books always leave me a little confused as to why I enjoy them so much. The main character leaps in and out of bed with multiple women and I really shouldn’t like him much because of that. I mean it does kind of annoy me but I still like him. Weird! The mystery is great. Following along as they try to figure out who did it and why, keeps me flipping pages. It seemed like they might never figure it all out but Harry and his friends are good. Harry is pretty bad ass too and that part is fun. Maybe that is why I put up with his leaping in and out of bed. I mean how can a guy be bad ass and not be a bit like that? I am not sure since I am not a guy but I suspect a certain amount of that behavior goes hand in hand. Maybe if you are attracted to a true bad ass you better be able to put up with this. 🤔 Regardless this was a fast and fun read. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Profile Image for Joyce.
1,801 reviews22 followers
November 2, 2023
This was a solid 3.5 stars raised to a 4. Stark and Kate investigate the apparent suicide of a financial advisor that is later determined to be a murder by the coroner. It is a procedural and is really well done. The ending was somewhat unexpected for reasons that will be obvious to the reader. The distractions that led to a lower star rating (I am a fan) were his Stone Barringtonish escapades with the three women in his life. Telling more of the plot would lead to spoilers. Thanks to the author and publisher for ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jim.
1,108 reviews20 followers
December 20, 2021
Book two in series. I did enjoy this one. Harry is typical hard nosed private eye and surrounded by beautiful women. Harry's not afraid of pulling his gun and shooting at bad guys. I had the who done it well before conclusion but it kept my interest throughout. I hope to jump into next entry of series soon. Check it out.
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,734 reviews120 followers
Want to Read
July 6, 2020
Author gift 2nd in Harry Starke series after novel Harry Starke
Profile Image for Liz Crowe.
Author 100 books1,231 followers
May 13, 2016
For book 2 of the Harry Starke series, Harry is back to his old tricks...so speak, alongside his ever loyal buddy and long-time on-again, off-again girlfriend Kate Gazzara, one of several smoking-hot women who can't seem to resist his mysterious charms.

Harry is an ex-cop who owns his own PI agency, has a dry sense of humor, and very expensive tastes in food, booze and clothes. He is also, apparently, like catnip to the many women in his world--including Kate (although she is the one who does the best job resisting him for the most part), Amanda the red-headed bombshell local TV reporter, Linda the sexually open-minded Senator, and even Jessica, an rich widow with a penchant for exhibitionism and who is a person of interest in the mystery at hand.

I've compared Harry to another favorite in the series thriller world--Jack Reacher, Lee Child's ex (or not, depending on which book you grab first) MP, whose adventures are all fairly widespread, geographically speaking. Both Jack and Harry are ladies' men but the thing that makes the Starke series more appealing to me is that, while Harry's background seems to keep lurching up and biting him on the butt, at least relationship-wise, he stays in one place (Chattanooga, Tennessee) and lives his life, running his PI business. I've said before that I prefer my novels, no matter the genre, to contain characters of three-dimensions with rich casts of supporting types who further the story and the main character's evolution. You get that with this second novel.

The mystery--a fairly straight-forward murder disguised as suicide--has a bad-guy banker's financial motive, served up with side of hidden dirty family secret and the mob--a theme that will repeat itself (since I read these books out of order and already know what happens in book 3, Hill House). There is a pleasantly realistic build-up to the big reveal, the bad guys are caught, and then Harry resumes messing up his love life. Each of the first 2 books are completely stand alone and contain no cliffhangers so you could read one and move along, but Harry is such an enigma--a seemingly simple dude with some extraordinary skills being a bad ass, who can't sort out which end is up when it comes to the many women in his life and that makes this series deliciously compelling.
Profile Image for Tulay.
1,202 reviews2 followers
January 2, 2016
Was free....

Whole book is about who killed his friend and who has the money. Harry Starke says he is expensive but for this three weeks of work how did he get paid? Only thing he has in his mind is sex. Looks like only investigations his firm is doing is this job, nothing else. Daily meetings with his stuff includes a TV reporter and homicide investigator. And yes he goes to bed with both of them.
506 reviews3 followers
June 3, 2019
AWESOME, AWESOME READ!!

A MUST READ!!
Harry Starke gets a call from a guy he knew from going to school with. The man begs Harry to come see him. Harry arrives at the man's home, only to find him dead, shot in the head. Was it suicide or was it murder?
Harry calls 911 and the search for the truth begins...
Profile Image for Linda.
1,036 reviews
September 26, 2019
Book 1: I got this book as part of the first 3 books and then bought the audible version. I started reading and got hooked on Harry’s totally laid back attitude about his job and his long time relationship with Lt. Kate Gazarra. I enjoyed the text version but not so much the audible version. The narrator is probably excellent at his job and he does a fair southern accent but it grates on me and I find myself getting irritated at his narration. It is me and I apologize because the story is excellent. Harry is a PI in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is tight with Lt. Kate Gazarra, both on the job and after hours. They have been ‘friends with benefits for ten years’ and it has worked. But, then Harry happens to be on the bridge when a beautiful young woman jumps off right in front of him. So close that he grabs her hands and she just lets her coat slide off. The reason for her apparent suicide haunts him and he wants to find out why she was so terrified that she jumped. The story is about a wealthy congressman who has set up an organization to attract the wealthy of Chattanooga and Washington, DC, so he can blackmail them and become stronger in his political seat. Like all good PI stories, there are beautiful women, lots of corrupt men (could be women but in this case it is men) and Harry and Kate, the good guys saving the day. I like the casual way the author writes his stories and will keep reading his books.
Book 2: Two for the Money. After not liking the narrator, Tom Landon, I find that he grew on me and I find him doing a good job. Book 2 is about a suicide or is it murder of Tom Sattler, head of a hedge fund, who is also an acquaintance of Starke’s from his younger days. There are many suspects as to who stole the money and who killed the Sattler but none of them seem fit. Could the two things be unrelated? Detective Kate Gazarra and Starke join forces to find the answers. It is a fast story and lots of red herrings appear including a truly bad guy who has his money stolen but claims he has nothing to do with Sattler’s death. Blair Howard writes a good novel, maybe a little heavy on the swear words but it is a detective story after all. Book 3 is up next.
2 reviews
June 16, 2021
I enjoyed another Harry Starke murder case. The cast of characters and their skills are becoming familiar. Learning more about a 'cast of characters' is usually a good thing. It is in this case. Their skills and background(s) are important to the story as the role of each is elaborated, each becomes better understood (and the author doesn't beat it to death.) More development ahead.
The crime is a reported suicide and the disappearance of $350 million from an investment fund run by four major shareholders. The breakout of the crimes and the suspects is elaborate and done well.
Too many suspects. Too many motives. Not enough evidence.
A challenge that PI Harry Stark and his team, including beautiful Detective Lieutenant (former colleague and lover) Kate Gazzara of Chattanooga PD work together to solve the mystery. It doesn't get solved until the end and there are some curves along the way. Enjoy it. I did!
Profile Image for Scott Kalas.
536 reviews10 followers
October 30, 2022
The first book in teh series was okay, good storyline, but Harry Starke's character is not so good. At least to my liking. He continues being arrogant, but even more so in this book, and his sex life takes away enough from the plot, which on its own is a four-star but add the arrogance and sex stuff, and it goes to a two-star.

If you like stories where your protagonist lives the life you fantasize your life was, probably four stars. I'm beyond those years and like good plots, characters with morals, not the claim to love someone but jump into bed with anyone that winks. That isn't loving and caring about someone; it's the love of and caring about self first and foremost.

In short, it's one of those books where after reading a few chapters, I find myself looking for something else to do.

But I'm an old curmudgeon, so what do I know?
386 reviews6 followers
December 31, 2017
A former classmate of Harry's calls him late at night and tells him he needs to see him right away. Although reluctant, Harry heads out ti Tom's house. A little over an hour after the call Harry shows up and can't get an answer at the door or on the phone. He finds an unlocked door and proceeds to enter and find Tom, shot in the head, an apparent suicide. But like most things in Harry's world, nothing is as it seems. Harry and Kate and associates decide that Tom was murdered but they have no evidence. But they do discover that earlier that day, Tom and his three partners in an investment company, have had $312 million stolen from an account with no trail to follow. As with most things Harry Starke, there are lots of twists and turns. A good read with no easy answers.
Profile Image for Cyndi.
429 reviews9 followers
September 19, 2020
Who did it? That question is huge in this book and we don't find out right until the end and the reason, oh I can't say it would spoil it for you. There is an awful lot happening in this story. It feels like the bad guys are out to see who can be the baddest boy in Chattanooga and sometimes I feel like it could even be Harry if he wasn't on the right side of the law. Not only is Harry having a hard time solving this case but boy he is over his head in his personal life also, if he doesn't watch out he's going to be left alone and out in the cold. You don't want to miss this one Mr. Howard does an amazing job.
I received a free download of this book from the publisher. This review is my own honest opinion.
678 reviews4 followers
September 4, 2021
I loved ‘Harry Starke’, book one of this series, and was eager to see where Blair Howard would take his Private Investigator next. The answer is into the world of high end investment and murder. $350m has been stolen and a partner in the investment firm has committed suicide. Or has he? Harry Starke knew the man years ago and feels compelled to investigate. The author weaves a twisting tale that takes in many diverse characters all with reason and motive before Harry does what he does best and comes up with a plan to get answers. I won’t give away the ending but I didn't guess where it was going at all. A great book with a character that has quickly become a firm personal favourite. Overall an excellent murder mystery & a fitting sequel. Now, on to book three.
Profile Image for Donna.
875 reviews4 followers
May 13, 2020
Private Investigator Harry Starke is in the thick of it again. An old "friend" calls late in the evening begging Harry for help, and he needs it NOW. Harry, against his better judgment drives to Tom's house, only to find him murdered. Thicken the plot, Tom and his 3 associates have lost a huge amount of money, only hours before Tom's death. It look like a suicide, but is it? Harry finds himself in the middle of a wide ranging investigation that involves murder, corruption, organized crime, and deception. Did Tom commit suicide? Or was he murdered? And where did the money go? Follow Harry and his crew as he investigate the elite in Chattanooga along with the local underbelly.
Profile Image for Rosemary Hughes.
4,192 reviews23 followers
June 24, 2020
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobook of this title.

Harry, responding to an urgent call from an old friend, walks in to that friends home, to find him dead.

This starts a chain reaction, where a further crime had been committed, of a transfer of billions of money from a hedge fund.

Harry, along with Detective Kate, had their hands full, with the number of possible suspects.

There were a lot of very tense situations that occurred, but to discuss them here, would reveal a lot of the tale.

Let's just say, it is very difficult to guess who had done it, unlike many of this type of murder mystery.
Profile Image for Aparna J.
442 reviews5 followers
August 13, 2021
Brilliant

Outstanding thriller! Very very interesting. Harry Clarke gets a phone call from his friend Tom Sattler asking him to come home as he is in trouble. However, it's too late before Harry reaches his house and finds him lying dead in a pool of blood with a gun in his hand. He calls his friend and former partner Detective Kate and they search for clues. All the data in the computer has been wiped out. Harry learns about mysterious disappearance of $ 350 million. His friend had a dirty secret. His list of suspects is quite long and one of the suspect ends up being murdered. Join Harry and Kate in this deadly adventure. Awesome book.
Profile Image for Martin Pingree.
1,035 reviews17 followers
January 7, 2020
Harry Starke (Private Investigator and ex cop), gets phone call from an old school friend he hasn’t talked to in years who called and asked him to come over. When he arrives his friend lays dead in a pool of blood. He calls his ex girlfriend, a local cop, and then the fun begins. 350 million dollars disappeared at the same time as his friend was killed. Harry and Kate then work together to figure out who killed his friend and who took the money. An awesome cast of characters, loads of action and a well written story line keeps you guessing to the end !
522 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2020
What Holmes said to Watson.

An investment firm has 350 million dollars stolen, one of the partners is found murdered, a mobster is after his 12 million and tortures to get it.
Plenty of suspects, no obvious culprit for either murder or theft. Is it one person or two? Rumours abound. Harry keeps busy getting injured or bedding his latest fancy. Three guns confiscated along the way, all justified shootings, even the death of a mobster's minder.
Good story, kept guessing till the end.
201 reviews3 followers
July 19, 2020
Yet another great Harry Starke Book. Once again he teams up with Kate Gazzara to investigate £350 million that’s gone missing from an investment firm. Surely it must be one of the four partners? But is it? It soon transpires that the suspect pool needs to expand and what a tangled web of deceit and lies Blair Howard weaves. Leaving no one disappointed. He’s a great author whose books grow from strength to strength. Do yourself a favour and get into the Harry Starke and Kate Gazzara sequence of books crime writing at its best. I’m reading another tomorrow. The worst part is always finishing!
460 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2020
Twists And Turns And Dead Ends

An entertaining read with action, twists, turns and a surprise ending. This whodunit keeps you guessing right up to the end. Harry Starke has has a successful career in law enforcement as well as a family legacy that puts him at odds with certain folks, both criminal and law-abiding. That friction only adds to the richness of the sort. Just how do you solve a murder and $350,000,000 theft of investment funds when you have a possible suspect list of 15 names? Read Two For The Money and you'll find out!
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
February 18, 2018
"An Exciting Investigative Novel"

Harry Starke hasn't heard from an old school friend in five years. Tom Sattler calls and wants to urgently meet with Harry late one night. When Harry arrives at Tom's luxury home, he finds Tom dead, laying in a pool of blood. This wasn't suicide, and Harry begins to investigate the case which draws him into a web of corruption, organized crime, and deception. An awesome story for readers. It's well written with intriguing characters. Highly recommend.
549 reviews6 followers
June 27, 2019
If you can accept that all these "stunning" women are throwing themselves at Harry, and that Harry likes to bully the creeps and criminals, then you'll probably like this well-paced who-done-it. It's a rather formulaic mystery with a surprising, but satisfying end.

Tom Lennon delivers another excellent performance in this second audiobook of the series.

Note: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Jay Williams.
1,718 reviews34 followers
December 31, 2019
Harry has another adventure as his relationship with Kate has cooled and he gets involved with the TV journalist he has hated. This is one of those stories where you can never figure out who is the perp, and there is a good reason for that. The author is a little light on descriptions, but the characters are all very realistic and the action is handled well without becoming gory. This book is good entertainment without being too demanding.
1,888 reviews15 followers
January 11, 2020
Tom Sattler calls Harry and said he needs to see him urgently. Harry goes to his house and finds him dead from an apparent suicide that turns out to be murder. An investment fund that is missing 350 million dollars. Sattler and his three partners are in charge of this fund. A crime boss has 12 million in this fund and wants his money. Harry teams up with detective Kate Gazzara to investigate the murder.
A page turner in this series.
64 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2020
Good stories; Immature main character

Depicting admiration for a male character who treats women like trash went out 50 years ago and it is surprising to find it in a contemporary novel. The mystery stories are well done and minor male personalities are well presented. The Harry Starke character is so emotionally immature, he has no business with a firearms license. I will not continue reading the series.
262 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2020
Another great Harry Starke book

Blair Howard has done it again, another great book with lots of twists and turns. Harry Starke is a PI who works with his old police partner, Kate Gazzara. He is drawn into a murder investigation when an old friend calls him in a panic and he finds him dead. Family, girlfriend, investment partners and investors are all suspects. There is a lot of stolen money and few clues. I really enjoyed trying to figure it out.
2,000 reviews39 followers
October 17, 2020
A phone call from an old acquaintance leads Harry to unravel a mystery involving murder, child abuse and an embezzling scam involving big money in this Harry Starke PI story. This is the second story in a great series but it works just as well as a stand alone.
I love the character of Harry Starke. He's the kind of hard boiled, smart mouthed, womanizing PI that would have gotten along well with the great P.I.s of pulp fiction.
A great read.
2,670 reviews23 followers
January 18, 2021
Good

While this was a good mystery,it also moved slowly at times . Overall this was a decent mystery with some sexiness thrown in to make it interesting. There are also times when you not only smile but you laugh out loud.The hero of the story is definitely the star and you are going to be drawn to him. There are going to be times when you see that the writer has fleshed this character and you like him. Overall you are going to like this story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews