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Hennessey Reed Mystery Series #1
One for Another
Bordello madam Hennessey Reed suspects even the combined magic of laudanum and Irish whiskey will not soothe her distress on this occasion. The girl lying violated on the undertaker's table will remain dead, wounds horrifying, inexplicable, and reminiscent of Indian sacrifice.
Hennessey treasures the uneasy peace she has found in the remote town of Melancholy in 1880s Idaho Territory. However, the discovery of three more young victims compromises this hard-won equilibrium when she recognizes one of them.
Hennessey decides Marshal Rafael Cooper requires her help to find the killer, although acknowledges he may not necessarily agree. Nevertheless, with her Bowie strapped to her calf and wolfhound Raven at her side she sets out to investigate—a one-woman stampede.
Hennessey treasures the uneasy peace she has found in the remote town of Melancholy in 1880s Idaho Territory. However, the discovery of three more young victims compromises this hard-won equilibrium when she recognizes one of them.
Hennessey decides Marshal Rafael Cooper requires her help to find the killer, although acknowledges he may not necessarily agree. Nevertheless, with her Bowie strapped to her calf and wolfhound Raven at her side she sets out to investigate—a one-woman stampede.
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First published June 1, 2018
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About the author
Andrea Jacka
3 books27 followersAndrea lives in Orewa, New Zealand. When not working or writing she can be found either inching through the novels of Charles Dickens with reasonable success; learning to stand-up paddle board with fair to middling success; or attempting to control her addiction to peanut M&Ms with little to no success.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 19, 2018
I READ many books and this is the first book in a LONG TIME that I HUNG ON EVERY WORD!! Loved this western mystery drama with a gritty madam and a serious marshal in the town of Melancholy in 1880's Idaho Territory. Indian attaches were still frequent occurrence as were unsolved murders. Travel back to time when individuals could escape their past to a brighter location and life. Kind of a Gun Smoke theme but Hennessey Reed is no Kitty and Rafael Cooper has way more sex appeal than Matt ever did. Jacka has a talent to tell a tale that is fast paced and portrays characters that are carried close to the heart. "A copy of this book was supplied by Red River Pony Publishing via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
July 29, 2018
I have lots to say about this story.
Bear with me whilst I get a few things out there first...
1) The author was new-to-me (really love to find new authors and double points for a debut)
2) The cover caught my eye (female lead, bold monochromatic color)
3) The blurb was something different (a mystery set in the American West in the 1800s is different from the typical historical romances of the Medieval and Regency periods I favor)
4) Yet similarly appealing (the hint that there was a relationship between the heroine and the local law enforcement is a proven winner for me, plus I've been trying to widen/go back to mysteries in my reading goals)
5) I could read it thru Netgalley (I'm very, very new to Netgalley and it's awesome #shoutout)
With that out of the way. What did I think of "One For Another"?
1) The author's writing style. Hmmmmm...this is a head scratcher for me, assessing a new-to-me author. I'd say her writing style is pretty darn good for a debut. I'm not a professional "anything," just an avid reader. But I've been reading steadily since my teens (yeah. that would be circa 1960s) and I still get a thrill from opening a new story. This author's style feelz like it was written by a author from a different time period (Adele Ashworth popped in my head in the first few wordy chapters). A great writing style, just not one I would expect from a younger author.
And there were a LOT of words...here's an example for your perusal.
I like to call this "Ode to a Minor Character's Nose:
See? A LOT of words LOL
But after reading the entire story, I am still head scratching about all those words. Would the story have been better with a good edit? Would the mood or pace changed? Would the mystery be any less mysterious without all those pools and ebbs of words to keep the tension interesting?
No. I think I really liked all those words, in the end.
2) The female lead, Hennessey. Sharp. Resourceful. Nicely complex, if not a bit impulsive to leap into danger. But without that flaw, where would the fun be in reading about her?
And then there is that little thing she can do, don't know if that helped or hindered the story. #sixthsense Everyone has demons, so there is that.
3) Mystery in the Old West. Hmmmm.... Well, it wasn't too detailed. That's a good thing, because Melancholy, Idaho Territory, could have been anyplace. The sadness of the mystery wasn't particularly new, but how the author laid it all out there in bits and pieces, wrapped up in the backstories of the H/h, kept it interesting. No spoilers in my review on the mystery. The blurb sums that up for you. I will say that the arbitrary quotes at the beginning of the chapters and one distinct native American character, a few horses and a saloon, for me, were the only points of historical western feelz. But that worked for me.
4) U. S. Marshal Rafael Cooper, our H. Well, now. This story was primarily Hennessey's, but told in dual POV. Raf's voice was mostly inner thoughts on his own perceived weaknesses in solving the mystery, what he thought about people in general, and a glimmer or two of his need to protect Hennessey from herself. Very clever on how the author incorporates his POVs and how they made me feelz. I REALLY didn't see THAT twisty coming at the end. Nicely played, dear author.
I did enjoy this mystery and it's characters of Melancholy. Nicely paced in tension, even if getting to the end took way longer than I had expected LOL.
Ironically I feel that the author could have added more words.
Yes, dammit.
There was a LOT I still wanted to know about these characters.
That is saying something about this story.
I want more of this world. Hennessey and Raf have a lot more backstory that I need to know about.
I'll be waiting for book two, dear author!
I rated this 3.5*, because like my review #itswordy
5) Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a electronic copy of "One For Another" (great title, by the way) for an honest (long, long) review.
Bear with me whilst I get a few things out there first...
1) The author was new-to-me (really love to find new authors and double points for a debut)
2) The cover caught my eye (female lead, bold monochromatic color)
3) The blurb was something different (a mystery set in the American West in the 1800s is different from the typical historical romances of the Medieval and Regency periods I favor)
4) Yet similarly appealing (the hint that there was a relationship between the heroine and the local law enforcement is a proven winner for me, plus I've been trying to widen/go back to mysteries in my reading goals)
5) I could read it thru Netgalley (I'm very, very new to Netgalley and it's awesome #shoutout)
With that out of the way. What did I think of "One For Another"?
1) The author's writing style. Hmmmmm...this is a head scratcher for me, assessing a new-to-me author. I'd say her writing style is pretty darn good for a debut. I'm not a professional "anything," just an avid reader. But I've been reading steadily since my teens (yeah. that would be circa 1960s) and I still get a thrill from opening a new story. This author's style feelz like it was written by a author from a different time period (Adele Ashworth popped in my head in the first few wordy chapters). A great writing style, just not one I would expect from a younger author.
And there were a LOT of words...here's an example for your perusal.
I like to call this "Ode to a Minor Character's Nose:
His nose was an unfortunate continuation of his lack of aesthetic gifts. It reposed decidedly off-center, as though the entity responsible for its placement was distracted at the last moment and had begun to turn away - or sneezed - therefore positioning the pointed beak at a curious angle, which threw his countenance into an extraordinary arrangement.
See? A LOT of words LOL
But after reading the entire story, I am still head scratching about all those words. Would the story have been better with a good edit? Would the mood or pace changed? Would the mystery be any less mysterious without all those pools and ebbs of words to keep the tension interesting?
No. I think I really liked all those words, in the end.
2) The female lead, Hennessey. Sharp. Resourceful. Nicely complex, if not a bit impulsive to leap into danger. But without that flaw, where would the fun be in reading about her?
And then there is that little thing she can do, don't know if that helped or hindered the story. #sixthsense Everyone has demons, so there is that.
3) Mystery in the Old West. Hmmmm.... Well, it wasn't too detailed. That's a good thing, because Melancholy, Idaho Territory, could have been anyplace. The sadness of the mystery wasn't particularly new, but how the author laid it all out there in bits and pieces, wrapped up in the backstories of the H/h, kept it interesting. No spoilers in my review on the mystery. The blurb sums that up for you. I will say that the arbitrary quotes at the beginning of the chapters and one distinct native American character, a few horses and a saloon, for me, were the only points of historical western feelz. But that worked for me.
4) U. S. Marshal Rafael Cooper, our H. Well, now. This story was primarily Hennessey's, but told in dual POV. Raf's voice was mostly inner thoughts on his own perceived weaknesses in solving the mystery, what he thought about people in general, and a glimmer or two of his need to protect Hennessey from herself. Very clever on how the author incorporates his POVs and how they made me feelz. I REALLY didn't see THAT twisty coming at the end. Nicely played, dear author.
I did enjoy this mystery and it's characters of Melancholy. Nicely paced in tension, even if getting to the end took way longer than I had expected LOL.
Ironically I feel that the author could have added more words.
Yes, dammit.
There was a LOT I still wanted to know about these characters.
That is saying something about this story.
I want more of this world. Hennessey and Raf have a lot more backstory that I need to know about.
I'll be waiting for book two, dear author!
I rated this 3.5*, because like my review #itswordy
5) Thank you Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a electronic copy of "One For Another" (great title, by the way) for an honest (long, long) review.
April 7, 2018
On the surface this appears to be like every other western: a bordello in a remote town called Melancholy is the main location. The madam, Hennessey Reed, lost her family in an Indian raid when she was a girl and it still haunts her. (So far, a familiar story line...)
Raised by relatives back east, Hennessey ends up in Idaho Territory with more than a few secrets. When a young girl is found brutally murdered, she can't stop from interfering (with the best intentions) in the investigation led by her lover, U.S. Marshal Rafael Cooper.
As more bodies are discovered, Hennessey soon finds herself targeted for her snooping. In a small town like Melancholy, everyone comes with secrets, but these people are used to peace, few questions and some don't want to be found.
The group of misfits who keep the barstools warm in her saloon create an interesting investigative team, but with little evidence in the bizarre ritualistic killings, Raf will take all the help he can get.
When Hennessey's daughter Evie goes missing, she'll stop at nothing to find the killer.
At times, One for Another is overwritten and the dialogue between characters seems stilted. The big reveal of the killer and their motives was well done but the last 20% of the book dragged a bit.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel. I especially enjoyed the minor characters, their brief back stories, and what they contributed to the story. I appreciated the author shaking things up with a female main character and a band of misfits in a western.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for offering a digital ARC.
Raised by relatives back east, Hennessey ends up in Idaho Territory with more than a few secrets. When a young girl is found brutally murdered, she can't stop from interfering (with the best intentions) in the investigation led by her lover, U.S. Marshal Rafael Cooper.
As more bodies are discovered, Hennessey soon finds herself targeted for her snooping. In a small town like Melancholy, everyone comes with secrets, but these people are used to peace, few questions and some don't want to be found.
The group of misfits who keep the barstools warm in her saloon create an interesting investigative team, but with little evidence in the bizarre ritualistic killings, Raf will take all the help he can get.
When Hennessey's daughter Evie goes missing, she'll stop at nothing to find the killer.
At times, One for Another is overwritten and the dialogue between characters seems stilted. The big reveal of the killer and their motives was well done but the last 20% of the book dragged a bit.
Overall, this was an entertaining novel. I especially enjoyed the minor characters, their brief back stories, and what they contributed to the story. I appreciated the author shaking things up with a female main character and a band of misfits in a western.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for offering a digital ARC.
June 5, 2018
GNab One for Another is an exceptional western historical novel. The characters are very human, either very bad or very personable. The story line is complex but easily followed, and the little town of Melancholy, Idaho Territory is home to a fine mix of the good and the bad and occasionally the ugly.
Our hero is the U. S. Marshal of Melancholy, Rafael Cooper. And our heroine, now known as Hennessey Reed, is the owner of Fleur, a saloon and bordello and the tallest building in Melancholy. Neither Raff nor Henn are still suffering the bloom of youth, and they bring to the table many interesting thoughts and life lessons. It is a pleasure to see them interact with one another, and you are sure that they will solve the crimes against the children of Melancholy, even if it kills them. There are times when it's fairly evident that it will. Or will it?
Andrea Jacka is an excellent wordsmith. She is an author I will watch for, and follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this western novel from Netgalley, Andrea Jacka, and Red River Pony Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. pub date June 2 2018
Red River Pony Publishing
Our hero is the U. S. Marshal of Melancholy, Rafael Cooper. And our heroine, now known as Hennessey Reed, is the owner of Fleur, a saloon and bordello and the tallest building in Melancholy. Neither Raff nor Henn are still suffering the bloom of youth, and they bring to the table many interesting thoughts and life lessons. It is a pleasure to see them interact with one another, and you are sure that they will solve the crimes against the children of Melancholy, even if it kills them. There are times when it's fairly evident that it will. Or will it?
Andrea Jacka is an excellent wordsmith. She is an author I will watch for, and follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this western novel from Netgalley, Andrea Jacka, and Red River Pony Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. pub date June 2 2018
Red River Pony Publishing
November 19, 2020
“One For Another” by Andrea Jacka is a weirdly wonderful adventure such as you have never experienced. It is a western, which takes place in 1880’s Idaho, and boasts a vibrant roster of compelling characters. The heroine, Hennessey, has many secrets; and she is as stingy with them as she is tough! The rich narrative is both entertaining and beautifully written. Debut author Jacka’s command of the language truly provides for a stimulating and engaging experience. If you are a fan of westerns, great storytelling or strong heroines, do yourself a favor and read this book!
September 4, 2018
One For Another by Andrea Jacka
Idaho Territory in the era this story was written still had Indian raids as well as settlers and prospectors looking for gold. In remote and larger towns there were businesses that catered to the needs of those living in the vicinity and Hennessey Reed was the proprietor of the Fleur-de-lis – in her own words: a cathouse, bordello, house-of-ill-repute, den of iniquity, place of solace. She is the madam and has a group of women selling liquor and flesh to those that come to buy. The patrons are varied and quirky as are many of the characters in this story.
Ness is a woman that is as different as the rest of those peopling Melancholy, Idaho. She lost her entire immediate family at the age of six and how they died has that left her with rather unsettling memories and flashbacks. In addition she sees apparitions, has an addiction, works in a profession many look down on, and keeps personal secrets that increase her mystery. Marshal Rafael “Raff” Cooper is another interesting character that seems to know Ness better than most. He has history with her that is only alluded to for the most part. He is part Indian but in a position of power – something different for the time and the location.
Into town slithers evil and when the first body of a young girl is found the unveiling of multiple heinous murders begins. Who is killing young girls and why? Will they find the murderer and be able to impart justice or will the murderer continue killing in a painful sordid way?
The writing reminds me of novels of the past with more description than modern books tend to have. I believe someone who has nothing on their mind and wants to sink into a historical novel rich with phrases that paint pictures in the mind might fall in love with this book. I have to say that today was not the day for me to read this book but I have a feeling that if I were to pick it up in a month and have nothing else to contemplate this story would be one I would sink into and truly enjoy. My takeaway today is that I wished that I had learned more about Hennessey between the time she was six and the time that this book takes place. I think I might have preferred either a straight-line story or flashbacks that told more of the backstories of Ness and Raff. That said, if this is to be a series then perhaps more will be unveiled in future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red River Pony Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Idaho Territory in the era this story was written still had Indian raids as well as settlers and prospectors looking for gold. In remote and larger towns there were businesses that catered to the needs of those living in the vicinity and Hennessey Reed was the proprietor of the Fleur-de-lis – in her own words: a cathouse, bordello, house-of-ill-repute, den of iniquity, place of solace. She is the madam and has a group of women selling liquor and flesh to those that come to buy. The patrons are varied and quirky as are many of the characters in this story.
Ness is a woman that is as different as the rest of those peopling Melancholy, Idaho. She lost her entire immediate family at the age of six and how they died has that left her with rather unsettling memories and flashbacks. In addition she sees apparitions, has an addiction, works in a profession many look down on, and keeps personal secrets that increase her mystery. Marshal Rafael “Raff” Cooper is another interesting character that seems to know Ness better than most. He has history with her that is only alluded to for the most part. He is part Indian but in a position of power – something different for the time and the location.
Into town slithers evil and when the first body of a young girl is found the unveiling of multiple heinous murders begins. Who is killing young girls and why? Will they find the murderer and be able to impart justice or will the murderer continue killing in a painful sordid way?
The writing reminds me of novels of the past with more description than modern books tend to have. I believe someone who has nothing on their mind and wants to sink into a historical novel rich with phrases that paint pictures in the mind might fall in love with this book. I have to say that today was not the day for me to read this book but I have a feeling that if I were to pick it up in a month and have nothing else to contemplate this story would be one I would sink into and truly enjoy. My takeaway today is that I wished that I had learned more about Hennessey between the time she was six and the time that this book takes place. I think I might have preferred either a straight-line story or flashbacks that told more of the backstories of Ness and Raff. That said, if this is to be a series then perhaps more will be unveiled in future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red River Pony Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
June 20, 2019
A mystery set in 1880's Idaho with a bordello madam Hennessy Reed at the centre of it, that has a lot going for it. I know....
Hennessey Reed is a bordello madam with a liking for laudanum, irish whiskey and the local marshal. Although they keep that last one on the quiet as much as possible. Reed is more than a bit annoyed when her 3 young girls are murdered near her town, Melancholy, where she's part come to hide out and start again. When her own daughter goes missing, she's into the hunt, whether US Marshal Rafael Cooper likes it or not, and she's convinced that a threat from the past - the awful Jedidiah Cannon - is behind these killings.
Armed with a Bowie knife strapped to her calf, with faithful wolfhound Raven at her side, as the blurb puts it she becomes a one-woman stampede. And you can really believe that's exactly what Hennessey Reed would become when anybody is wronged on her watch. Needless to say Reed is the stand out of this novel. Strong, determined, bolshie and independent, this madam-come-avenger is a tremendous character with considerable ongoing series potential. Sure there's a tendency for this novel to get overly wordy at points, and the overtness of the threat and the white hat / bad hat obviousness needs dialling back a bit, along with some tweakage to the flow of dialogue and plot to help achieve a more overall pace consistency, but they are mostly minor irritations that could be easily resolved, and might not even be an issue if you're more of a fan of historical styled novels than fast paced crime fiction.
At the heart of ONE FOR ANOTHER, the standouts, however, are the great character of Reed, the strong supporting cast around her, and the interesting scenario into which those characters are placed. Tighten the delivery up and you can't help but feel there's something very good coming our way.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Hennessey Reed is a bordello madam with a liking for laudanum, irish whiskey and the local marshal. Although they keep that last one on the quiet as much as possible. Reed is more than a bit annoyed when her 3 young girls are murdered near her town, Melancholy, where she's part come to hide out and start again. When her own daughter goes missing, she's into the hunt, whether US Marshal Rafael Cooper likes it or not, and she's convinced that a threat from the past - the awful Jedidiah Cannon - is behind these killings.
Armed with a Bowie knife strapped to her calf, with faithful wolfhound Raven at her side, as the blurb puts it she becomes a one-woman stampede. And you can really believe that's exactly what Hennessey Reed would become when anybody is wronged on her watch. Needless to say Reed is the stand out of this novel. Strong, determined, bolshie and independent, this madam-come-avenger is a tremendous character with considerable ongoing series potential. Sure there's a tendency for this novel to get overly wordy at points, and the overtness of the threat and the white hat / bad hat obviousness needs dialling back a bit, along with some tweakage to the flow of dialogue and plot to help achieve a more overall pace consistency, but they are mostly minor irritations that could be easily resolved, and might not even be an issue if you're more of a fan of historical styled novels than fast paced crime fiction.
At the heart of ONE FOR ANOTHER, the standouts, however, are the great character of Reed, the strong supporting cast around her, and the interesting scenario into which those characters are placed. Tighten the delivery up and you can't help but feel there's something very good coming our way.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
June 15, 2018
3.5 stars. I'm a big fan of historical fiction. I haven't previously read old westerns so when I happened upon this book I was intrigued. To combine an old western with a murder mystery made for a refreshing read.
Hennessy Reed owns the bordello and saloon called the Fleur in 1880's Melancholy, Idaho. The story is told in her voice as we discover her colorful past. We discover Hennessy has a previous history with our hero Melancholy's U.S. Marshall Rafael Cooper and she also has a past with our villain Jed Cannon.
The characters (both human and animal) in the story were done exceptionally well. I liked all of them for their kindness and quirkiness. I would have liked to discover what the history was between Raff and Hennessy. We know they have a past but it is never revealed.
For me the first half of the book was very slow, it picked up with suspense midway and then it delivered in the last quarter. I appreciated Andrea Jacka's skill as a wordsmith in this novel, however for me it felt over done. To have such expansive dialogue, thoughts and vocabulary in a novel based in 1880's unrefined Indian territory didn't fit. Sometimes the paragraphs were so wordy I had to go back and reread them.
A very good read here with lots of suspense. If it's slow in the beginning for you, hang in there, it definitely delivers in the end.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Andrea Jacka and Red River Pony Express for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hennessy Reed owns the bordello and saloon called the Fleur in 1880's Melancholy, Idaho. The story is told in her voice as we discover her colorful past. We discover Hennessy has a previous history with our hero Melancholy's U.S. Marshall Rafael Cooper and she also has a past with our villain Jed Cannon.
The characters (both human and animal) in the story were done exceptionally well. I liked all of them for their kindness and quirkiness. I would have liked to discover what the history was between Raff and Hennessy. We know they have a past but it is never revealed.
For me the first half of the book was very slow, it picked up with suspense midway and then it delivered in the last quarter. I appreciated Andrea Jacka's skill as a wordsmith in this novel, however for me it felt over done. To have such expansive dialogue, thoughts and vocabulary in a novel based in 1880's unrefined Indian territory didn't fit. Sometimes the paragraphs were so wordy I had to go back and reread them.
A very good read here with lots of suspense. If it's slow in the beginning for you, hang in there, it definitely delivers in the end.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Andrea Jacka and Red River Pony Express for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2020
This is a must read!! I instantly fell in love with the characters especially the very fascinating Hennessey and Raf, and everyone needs a Raven! I could not put this book down the twists and turns kept surprising me and at times shocked me, as I dove into the many layers of this mystery. I truly hope someone makes a movie from this book as it has all the elements of a Hollywood Blockbuster. Who would you cast as Ness? If you haven't enjoyed this book yet I highly recommend you do yourself a favour and saddle up for an amazing ride!!
September 15, 2018
A good concept for a series, spottily executed. Far too wordy, particularly in the first half., which seriously slowed down the action. The pace picked up in the second half and the last quarter of the book was excellent. If the whole of the book had been like last fourth, it would have been a 5 star book. I’d like to see a sequel and, hopefully, the pacing issues will improve.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC ebook for my review.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC ebook for my review.
November 2, 2018
Good story. Had to adjust to the author's writing style.
July 18, 2021
Well researched and well written. Is one of those books which can transfer the reader right there. Had me hooked early on.
December 31, 2021
maybe a Saturday afternoon read!
Overwritten. Drags on and on and on. Hennessy Reed mystery does an injustice to Raff but then what do I know?
Overwritten. Drags on and on and on. Hennessy Reed mystery does an injustice to Raff but then what do I know?
November 30, 2022
Different and well written with interesting characters. I intend to get the second one as well.
August 27, 2024
Interesting read, lots of twists.
July 31, 2018
Wow! A good Western story that actually has a woman hero!!!! I selected the book for the noveltry but kept reading because the story and characters are so good. I don't want to spoil the ending, but, it certainly will not disappoint! This is a must read!
September 16, 2018
I received this book as an ARC thanks to NetGalley!
One for Another is a fun Fast paced Wonderful western story of Hennessey Reed an independent Bordello madame who is rough and tumble with demons and how she becomes an amateur sleuth when she is pulled into the mysterious deaths of some young girls in her town. I Love this book I love Hennessey. I Loved her cast of misfits, I Loved the setting, I Loved the story, I even loved the flowery prose filled writing! I finished the book quickly and quickly went to buy it! Can't recommend this book highly enough!
One for Another is a fun Fast paced Wonderful western story of Hennessey Reed an independent Bordello madame who is rough and tumble with demons and how she becomes an amateur sleuth when she is pulled into the mysterious deaths of some young girls in her town. I Love this book I love Hennessey. I Loved her cast of misfits, I Loved the setting, I Loved the story, I even loved the flowery prose filled writing! I finished the book quickly and quickly went to buy it! Can't recommend this book highly enough!
September 21, 2018
This book had it all. Mystery, Drama, Love and the Evil bad guy.
Hennessey Reed is the owner of the local Fleur Bordello in the Western town of Melancholy Idaho. As is typical in this type of setting, the patrons are rough and tough and there is always of plenty to keep the U.S. Marshall Rafael Cooper on his toes. He and Ness have had feelings for each other for as long as they can remember even though it isn't common knowledge to everyone else.
Life in the Mid West was very hard and many lost their lives in this setting. Hennessey found herself in a situation that was untenable and after watching her very dear friend unable to have the family she desperately wanted, Hennessey knew her circumstances could give her friend everything she wanted. However, when evil descends upon Melancholy, life as it was before is upended and death and destruction starts to tear the town apart. People are being killed and all Hennessey holds dear are put in jeopardy.
This is a good length book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the characters and setting and was left very satisfied with the ending. Would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in Western Dramas with a touch of Mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Red River Pony Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Hennessey Reed is the owner of the local Fleur Bordello in the Western town of Melancholy Idaho. As is typical in this type of setting, the patrons are rough and tough and there is always of plenty to keep the U.S. Marshall Rafael Cooper on his toes. He and Ness have had feelings for each other for as long as they can remember even though it isn't common knowledge to everyone else.
Life in the Mid West was very hard and many lost their lives in this setting. Hennessey found herself in a situation that was untenable and after watching her very dear friend unable to have the family she desperately wanted, Hennessey knew her circumstances could give her friend everything she wanted. However, when evil descends upon Melancholy, life as it was before is upended and death and destruction starts to tear the town apart. People are being killed and all Hennessey holds dear are put in jeopardy.
This is a good length book which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the characters and setting and was left very satisfied with the ending. Would definitely recommend this book if you are interested in Western Dramas with a touch of Mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and Red River Pony Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 29, 2019
I'm a sucker for a good Western tale, throw in a whiskey drinking Madam and a mystery and I'm already half way to loving it before I finish the first chapter.
One For Another follows the adventures of Hennessey Reed as she tries to track down the killer responsible for the deaths of several young girls in the town of Melancholy, and when a face from the past turns up in the small town, threatening to reveal her deepest secrets, young girls may not be the only ones in danger.
I really enjoyed this whodunnit set in the Idaho Territories in the 1840's and Hennessey is a really fun character. However I would say that the book is a little overwritten at times, and the wordiness really slowed down what had the potential to be a gripping page turner. That being said it is an impressive debut and I would not hesitate to read more by this author given the opportunity. She has a skill when it comes to creating well developed characters, not just the central characters of Hennessey and the other POV character, Sherriff Rafael Cooper, but also the various residents of the town, and while some of her descriptive passages may ramble a little too much for my taste, there is no denying that she really does have a way with words.
I read a review copy supplied by NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
One For Another follows the adventures of Hennessey Reed as she tries to track down the killer responsible for the deaths of several young girls in the town of Melancholy, and when a face from the past turns up in the small town, threatening to reveal her deepest secrets, young girls may not be the only ones in danger.
I really enjoyed this whodunnit set in the Idaho Territories in the 1840's and Hennessey is a really fun character. However I would say that the book is a little overwritten at times, and the wordiness really slowed down what had the potential to be a gripping page turner. That being said it is an impressive debut and I would not hesitate to read more by this author given the opportunity. She has a skill when it comes to creating well developed characters, not just the central characters of Hennessey and the other POV character, Sherriff Rafael Cooper, but also the various residents of the town, and while some of her descriptive passages may ramble a little too much for my taste, there is no denying that she really does have a way with words.
I read a review copy supplied by NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.
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