Down to No Good (Charlie Miner)

Charlie Miner #2

by Earl Javorsky

Private investigator Charlie Miner, freshly revived from his own murder, gets a call from Homicide Detective Dave Putnam. Self-styled “psychic to the stars” Tamara Gale has given crucial information about three murders, and the brass thinks it makes the Department look bad. Dave wants Charlie to help figure out the angle, since he has first-hand experience with the inexplicable. Trouble is, Charlie, just weeks after his full-death experience, once again has severe cognitive problems and may get them both killed.

At once a riveting mystery and a completely unique character study, Down to No Good will both captivate you and work its way into your heart.

PRAISE FOR EARL JAVORSKY'S FIRST CHARLIE MINER NOVEL, DOWN

“Earl Javorsky's bold and unusual Down Solo blends the mysterious and the supernatural boldly and successfully. The novel is strong and haunting, a wonderful debut.”

– T. Jefferson Parker, New York Times bestselling author of Full Measure and The Famous and the Dead

“Awesome”
– James Frey, New York Times bestselling author

“Offbeat and dark and wonderful. This book caught me in the first few pages and never let me go. Javorsky is a prodigious dark, intelligent, often hilariously funny, and he holds the accelerator to the floor throughout the whole amazing story.”
– Timothy Hallinan, bestselling author of the Poke Rafferty series and the Junior Bender series

“Don't miss Earl Javorsky's Down Solo. It's kick-ass, man. Excellent writing. This guy is the real deal.”
– Dan Fante, author of the memoir Fante and the novel Point Doom

“Javorsky's dark and gritty prose is leavened with just enough humor to make Down Solo a compelling story that will take readers to the outer limits of noir.”
– San Diego City Beat

Genres: Fiction, Paranormal

220 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2017

About the author

Earl Javorsky grew up in Los Angeles. He has written three novels and numerous short stories, and has worked as a musician, proofreader, and editor.
You can read more about him at www.earljavorsky.com

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlie Miner is a Private Detective, a single dad to his teenage daughter. He is also dead ...well, sort of. Seems like he underwent some experimental therapy to end his addiction to drugs and the fact that he cannot be killed is a result of that.

Very few people know this, but Homicide Detective Dave Putnam is one who does, And when Putnam gets information about three murders by a woman who bills herself as a psychic, his first thought is of Charlie.

Charlie is still rocking from his last death experience; hopefully he won't get anyone else killed.

This is billed as an edgy and intense thriller with a touch of paranormal. Edgy - yes. Intense .. depends on the reader's definition. Touch of paranormal .. way more than just a touch.

I like a little paranormal, although it's not my preferred genre. However, this one was just too much. When Charlie leaves his body and then re-enters same body through a bullet hole in his head and mends himself from the inside out.. well, that's where I draw a line.

That aside, the story premise is a good one. There is suspense and mystery, and there are unique characters.

Many thanks to the author / The Story Plant / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Earl Javorsky's debut novel "Down Solo".
In "Down To No Good" Charlie Miner is back. A wise cracking private investigator, hooked on heroin, wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head. He is able to leave and re-enter his body at will.
Charlie receives a call from Homicide Detective Dave Putnam asking for his assistance to investigate a self-proclaimed psychic who has given critical information about 3 murders. However, Charlie, just weeks after being murdered, is having severe cognitive issues and may get them both killed.
Entertaining with page turning action throughout.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only took a couple of days in between reading the first book in the series and this one. This story more or less carries on where the other left off, or that is the feeling that I got. There are little recaps as gentle reminders of stuff that has already taken place but I would say read book one because it is just pure entertainment, so do it for the pleasure rather than need.
Charlie Miner has to be one of the worst down and out sort of P.I’s that I have come across. OK he did start off with a house, which he doesn’t have now, not his fault like, but he does like his booze and drugs, in not too healthy quantities. but then again he is dead. Charlie Miner, having been murdered in the first book and not ‘moved on’ can still use his body to get round in. Pretty cool really. Thing is I just can’t help but really like this guy.
A homicide detective friend of his, Dave Putnam, calls on him to give a hand when a lady psychic is solving crimes faster than he can get to the scene, well real quick anyway. How do you prove she is genuine? Her book sales are certainly soaring but so is the attention of someone trying to discredit her.
This is again a super story the follows Charlie Miner and his rather unconventional methods of asking suspects questions. I love how he repairs his ever increasing battered body. It isn’t like he can just walk into a hospital is it? I would love a prequel to this book, just to see how he lived before because boy does he get shot a lot. If he was a cat he would have used up all his lives by now!
I was very taken with the story as it had an unusual twist with it and I don’t just mean because of Charlie. The whole thing just drew me in and fascinated me. I can see that this could become quite a series with quite a following.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead is dead, except when it's not. Charlie Miner can't seem to stay dead. This story takes on an intriguing concept that challenges our perceptions of the body, the mind, and death.

'Down to No Good' is the second book in the Charlie Miner Series. I didn't read the first book, and I highly recommend you don't make the same mistake. I felt lost at the start, and I can only assume that's because this book picks up where the first one left off. There isn't much in the way of introduction to the characters and their situation.

The story is told from two POVs; one in first person and the other in third person. Javorsky's writing style places us right in the midst of the characters' lives. We see the world through their eyes and feel their emotions.

I didn't personally like the storytelling style, as far as how it all unfolded. The timeline fluctuates constantly, from past to present, back to a different time in the past, back to the present, etc. While I understand the author's choice in using this method, I'd have preferred a straightforward timeline. As it's told, the story, to me, feels disjointed. Because I was already at a disadvantage with not having a full grasp of the characters' history and relationships, I found I had to work too hard at understanding the story.

I also have to say that both main characters are a mess. Charlie is a drug addict and Dave, the homicide detective, is a severe alcoholic. I grew weary of both main characters constantly chasing the high and/or being totally trashed.

Despite my grumbling, the writing style is engaging and kept me reading.

*I received an ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.*

[Shell Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down To No Good is the second book in the Charlie Miner series. The author gives us plenty of background information so this can be read has a standalone You can check my read review out for Down Solo here. https://chellesbookreviews.blogspot.c... if you fancy the first one.

In this book we catch up with Charlie weeks after his near death experience with a broken down marriage and doing his to look after his daughter Mindy and finds himself involved on a case after a phone call from David about Psychic Tamara Gale giving crucial information about three murders

Not only are the characters unique and quirky and but the whole story is I also love the element of humour in it. Charlie and David make a brilliant team.

Once again I absolutely loved the idea of this story with a twist of paranormal. It is a fast paced easy read that will have you hooked from start to finish.

If you're looking for a crime book that is a little bit different then this is the book for you, which I highly recommend giving it 4.5 stars.

[Leo Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun twist on the noir thriller--private detective who can't be killed!

Worth your time if you like the sound of that premise :D

[Margaret Tidwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Down To No Good by Earl Javorsky was such a unique story, and I loved that. I have read tons of books, and I love when I find books like this one because I have a hard time figuring out what is going to happen. This is the second book in this series, and you don’t have to read them in order, but it will make more sense if you do. I wish I had I read the first book first because it would have made more sense. This book reminded me of the tv show “Heroes.” I say that because Charlie reminded me of Claire from that show. I always thought about that show as I was reading this book. Even though I know how the first book ends I am going to go back and read that one because I want to know the whole backstory of this book. I really enjoyed this author writing and the premise of this series of books. If you loved the “Heroes” tv show, I am sure that you will love this book just as much as I do.

If

[Amy Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new investigation

This is a sequel story to Down Solo, and I never read the first one, but this story does not require the first one be read. It can pretty much stand on its own. I do wish I read the first one, and I will one day. I liked Charlie, and he has his own way about him, which makes him a unique and especially talented for investigations. And, Charlie is still getting used to dealing with his own murder. It's a definite unique story, with a twist on an old staple of investigations. It's full of dark and off-beat humor, and it leads the way for great storytelling

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read by author, Earl Javorsky. The paranormal aspect of this book was good. I liked that the main character was a newly resurrected PI. It gave Charlie personality. Yet, behind every resurrected person is a good friend. In this case, it is Homicide Detective Dave Putnam. Dave was likable. He may have some flaws but that is what name him human and what I liked about him. Together these two make a good team. Throw in a psychic and you have a real party.

Speaking of psychic's; Tamara is an interesting character. She is a bit kooky but aren't all psychics a bit kooky. She really did have some psychic ability. The clues she gave the police did help solve cases. Which the most recent case was fine. I just wanted more. The action and intensity was more of a light tap then a punch in the stomach. The story did not grab me and hold me the whole time. In regards to the whole package, it was almost there. Although, I liked what I read and would try Mr. Javorsky again.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Private eye, Charlie Miner, has the unusual ability to leave his body and ‘walk around’ leaving his body behind to investigate problems that need solutions – his job, after all –and he can also ‘mend himself’, fill in bullet holes in his head, for example, and come back to life, as when we first meet him in this book. But he is also a strung out druggie, needing various chemicals to keep him active.

His friend, the alcoholic police detective, Dave Putnam, is the one who arrives too late on a murder scene, to find the killer standing over Charlie’s body and about to fire at Dave, before Dave shoots the killer, picks Charlie up and carries him back to his car and then to his apartment.

Dave’s new case has his head tied in knots. He has two unsolved killings involving kids. IN each case, after weeks of going no where, a local psychic, Tamara Gale, gives him – and the newspapers – vague clues to where the bodies area and in each case these clues are enough to find the boys’ bodies and at least get that far in the murder cases.

Is the psychic making fools out of the LAPD? The papers think so.

When an investigator is about to reveal the real truth behind the so called psychic, he is murdered, and Charlie and Dave join forces to find the truth behind the psychic’s uncanny success, especially after she predicts a catastrophe that might kill hundreds.

This mystery is told first person, present tense (Charlie), and third person limited (Dave) and is just too clunky in its telling. First person present tense is just dumb – the person is reporting as whatever is happening to him or her? Really? – and the alternating third person makes for a clumsy structure.

A talented writer would have alternating narrators in their own voices telling their points of view.

Three stars for inventiveness. This needs SERIOUS editorial help.

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Charlie Miner is a most unusual man. He's a private investigator, a single father to a teenaged girl, a drug addict and, oh yeah, he can't die. That last is because of an experimental therapy that resulted in a very unexpected side effect. Not many people know this about Charlie but his friend, Dave, does and has pretty much accepted this state of affairs even if he doesn't understand it and finds it really hard to believe. Dave has his own failings but he and Charlie are good friends.

Dave asks Charlie to help him look into a psychic, Tamara, who has raised red flags about herself with her statements about some murders. When another investigator who may have had information about Tamara is murdered, the stakes get higher and Charlie's ability to leave his own body may be just what is needed to get to the bottom of who Tamara is and the truth behind several killings.

One of my biggest pet peeves about crime fiction comes into play when the tale is told in first person present tense and that's the case here. It's impossible for me to become really engaged because I'm so distracted at the idea that I'm supposed to believe the protagonist is telling me what's happening in real time. What, is he speaking to me as he goes about his investigative business? Because of this, I can't say I was totally enthralled but I did like Charlie and Dave and their weird story. In fact, I'd say the author's strength really lies in his characters, likeable and not.

[Michelle Willms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Down to No Good is a really weird, strangely captivating mystery revolving around reanimated (for the second time) Private Investigator Charlie Miner. He’s just been killed again, so his brain isn’t working as well as it once did. While he waits for it to (hopefully) kick back into gear, he tries – sometimes – to be a better father to his daughter, drinks a lot, takes drugs, and generally tries to be an unlikable character.

In spite of Charlie’s overall unlikability, I found myself greatly enjoying this book. It’s well written, humorous, with great character development. Charlie is MEANT to be a real jerk. I truly wanted to kick him in the gonads more than once. That shows some great writing.

The mystery was intriguing, and kept me going all the way until the end. In spite of not having read the first book in the series, I was never lost. I have already purchased the first book and plan to read it, too. I need to know how Charlie died the first time, and how his reanimated status began.
If you like quirky, REAL characters, good writing, and interesting mysteries with a touch of the supernatural, this is the tale for you.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tamara Gale is a psychic that has made some predictions to the police that turn up to be the truth. Detective Dave Putnam is not impressed but calls in Charlie Miner to find out what is going on. Dave is one of a few people that really know Charlie’s situation and hopes that he can shed some light on Tamara. The trouble is Charlie is still trying to figure out his current condition and is having some troubles that might get Dave and himself killed.

This is a great story with Charlie back trying to figure out what is going on with Tamara’s information on the three dead women. Of course he is very unconventional when it comes to find out the truth, but what can you expect for someone that can leave his dead body and go places that normally other’s cant.

This is another great mystery that had me guessing until the end. I can’t help but cheer for Charlie as he tries to keep his battered/dead body going. This is a great series and one I recommend checking out. I can’t wait to read more about Charlie Miner.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Jay Phillippi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earl Javorsky brings back the most interesting new detective of the last several years. Charlie Miner first appeared in 2014 in "Down Solo", a book that grabbed from the first sentences. The slick combination of the supernatural and murder mystery continues with this second installment. In addition to being dead (but not a zombie he wants us to know), Charlie is still a junkie, divorced from a crazy ex, and trying to do better as a dad. Then there is the whole trying to figure out the being dead part. While Detective Putnam knows Miner's secret only an ethereal character named Daniel seems to really understand what's going on. He just doesn't seem to be in a big hurry to explain it. Except that Charlie has a purpose and he needs to figure that out too.

Javorsky has created something really special here. It would have been easy to cop a standard zombie detective and roll with it. What you get here is infinitely more interesting.

[Lawrence Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie Miner is used to waking up in the morgue. After going through a Mexican detox ritual to kick a ferocious drug habit, Charlie has the ability to supernaturally heal himself of point blank gun shot wounds. He can also leave his body at will and see things others can’t, a skill that is useful to homicide detective Dave Putnam. Dave enlists Charlie and his special abilities to stop a deadly psychic whose predictions bring murder. Charlie must survive his raging drug addiction to stop a final, catastrophic prophecy that threatens all of Los Angeles. Javorsky’s smart and enthralling thriller straddles the crime and fantasy genres successfully, combining police procedural and astral projection, with a hot shot of Lou Reed street-sense injected into the mix. Charlie’s opiate addiction and Dave’s battle with the bottle make them all too human, and you can't help rooting for these two anti-heroes right up to the exciting climax. Five stars.

[Skye Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earl Javorsky’s protagonist Charlie Miner, a death-defying PI who has an amazing ability to heal himself from fatal wounds, is one of the most unusual and intriguing characters I’ve encountered in crime fiction. Miner is also a drug addict and shamanic journeyer who travels through time and space at will, gaining information while out of his body that no ordinary investigator could.

After two teenagers die mysteriously and an ambitious pseudo-psychic makes headlines for finding their bodies, Miner and his veteran LAPD cop buddy Dave Putnam pursue the case, intent on stopping more deaths. In the process, they place their own lives on the line.

Javorsky grabs readers on the first page and never lets go. Part cop thriller, part paranormal adventure story, Down to No Good is one helluva ride from beginning to end. – Skye Alexander, author of the Lizzie Crane Jazz Age mystery series

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no preconceived ideas about this book. The thought of investigating a psychic interested me. I didn't realize Charlie Minor had such difficulty dying. He is a devoted father despite being a drug addict. He also cannot stay off the shady side of the law, even when working somewhat alongside Detective Dave Putnam.
Much of this is Dave's story. It is gritty, dangerous and unpredictable. Part police procedural (although definitely not by the book) part psychic con job with added stalker hit man aspects and potential terrorist action.
Told in an unconventional format with various viewpoints and jumps back and forth in time, the reader gets all the information required, never in a linear fashion.
You will enjoy this story more than you expect. Definitely surprising.

[Seamus O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Down To No Good, by Earl Javorsky. What a ride!
If you have not yet met Charlie Miner and his Los Angeles cop friend, Dave Putnam, in the previous book, Down Solo, you have a new treat in store.
Javorsky – to paraphrase Charlie – is a hell of a writer. The prose fairly snaps and sparks as he takes you on a breathless hunt for a killer while exposing a demonic psychic fraud. If you start reading this at bedtime, believe me, you are going to miss your beauty sleep.
I will not spoil the reader’s fun by revealing what it is that make Charlie unique – but “unique” doesn’t even come close to covering the subject.
Buy it or steal it but definitely read, Down To No Good.

[T. F. Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book from this author. I picked this title because the genre is similar to the one I write. The writing and story kept me engaged the entire time. This was a fast, entertaining read!

Charlie's voice was fresh and immediate, written in first person present. The other main character, Dave Putnam, is a jaded cop who will do anything to catch the bad guy. Each of these characters seem to be on their last leg throughout the story, always teetering on the edge of physical and mental collapse, but somehow find the strength to push forward.

This is a dark, gritty, and engaging story. I will definitely check out more of this author's work.

[Alec Cizak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining mystery book featuring two protagonists who briefly merge during the third act to thwart the villains. Javorsky does a good job painting characters that very much reflect the kind of people you meet in Los Angeles. The book is also drenched in chemicals, both legal and illegal. It's told in a unique style, switching POVs from chapter to chapter, giving us multiple POVs on events. A very enjoyable read and refreshingly sparse of the overly descriptive passages that weigh a lot of mystery books down.

[Todd Morr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice mix of good old-fashioned hard-boiled P.I. crime fiction and the paranormal. Javorsky keeps the balance right as formally dead P.I. Charlie Miner and tough but troubled cop Dave Putman try to solve a series of crimes connected to psychic while dealing with their own messed up lives. More crime fiction than paranormal but this is a solid crime tale given a unique bit of flavor with supernatural elements fans of both genres should dig this one.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave the first book in this series a 'weird but brilliant', this is not as weird but is just as brilliant. I love the characters and the easy writing of Javorsky, writing from Charlie Miner's perspective is really interesting. Hope there are more in this series.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good. Much better than Down Solo. I think it helps to read them back to back. More review later.

[Peter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy the book. From the reviews I saw of it, I thought I would be reading a police procedural thriller. But it wasn't. The story line and time line was disjointed, the characters pretty one dimensional, unreal and uninteresting. The climax was unlikely, inconsistent with the villains actions to that point in the book and a little cliche. All that was missing was "Made it Ma, Top of the World"

[Cheryl Masciarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and really enjoyed it. A mystery with a hint of supernatural. It is the sequel to DOWN SOLO but easily read as a stand-alone.

As the synopsis states, Tamara Gale, a known psychic has given the Police Department information about 3 murders. Is she legit? Should the Department rely on her “gift”? And then she predicts more incidents, bigger and more devastating.

With a cast of characters, all with their own personal baggage and defective personalities, they start to investigate if she is the real deal.

This book has plots and subplots that held my interest throughout. The story flows with non stop action and suspense. This read had me reading “just one more chapter”, wanting to know what was coming next, which ended up having read this book in 2 sittings. Many abrasive twists and turns had me turning the pages as fast as I could read. An “I didn’t see that one coming” ending! WOW!

I hope to read the 1st book in this series in the near future and looking forward to reading more by this author. A really tense read! I highly recommend it!