by
PAMELA FAGAN HUTCHINS
Genre: Romantic Mystery
Publisher: SkipJack Publishing
Date of Publication: March 6, 2019
Number of Pages: 270
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"Maggie is irresistible."
Robert Dugoni, #1 Amazon bestselling
author of My Sister's Grave
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This is my first book by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, and I enjoyed getting to experience a new author's writing. Live Wire is a continuation of her "What Doesn't Kill You" series, and though some references are made to previous characters and situations, Live Wire, for the most part, can be read as a stand-alone mystery.
Maggie is a washed-up musician, turned junk picker who is travelling in Wyoming on her way back to her home state of Texas. Her travels have an ulterior motive, though, as she is sort of stalking a former lover, Hank. When she finds out that he is in a new relationship (even though the last time they were together she told him to take a hike), her jealousy leads to to an unfortunate one-night-stand with someone she picks up in a bar. Imagine her shock when said one-night-stand ends up with a bashed-in skull in the hotel parking lot after the encounter!
Instead of facing the music, so to speak, and admitting she was with the victim the night of his murder, Maggie hides out on a ranch with a group of quirky characters who were some of my favorites in the book. Maggie investigates the murder on her own, and there will be more than one dead body before she finds out the who and the why of this mystery.
Maggie Killian is a very unique character, one I didn't necessarily like all that much at first, but one I could appreciate as well-drawn and distinct, with so much personality that I talked to her a bit while I was reading the book! Mainly, things like, "that's fairly immature and selfish, Maggie;" but I recognized the very human emotions that she was experiencing, and could relate to her in that aspect. Normally I feel that using profanity as character-development is lazy on an author's part, but the language does seem to fit with the rest of who Maggie Killian is, in all her complexity as a character. But if you don't care for f-bombs, just be warned there are a number of them in this novel.
The title "Live Wire" is an appropriate moniker for the main character - dangerous to be around, and better to be avoided at all costs. Maggie wants what she wants, but recognizes that she often leaves disaster in her wake. She says near the end of the book: "I am a dangerous person. I hurt everyone;" but ultimately she makes a sacrificial decision that goes against her normal nature. I find myself wanting to know what will happen next in her life.
The pace of the narrative is smooth and there is a welcome lack of editing issues to deal with, which is always a pleasure in a reading experience. I can see recommending this book to someone who who enjoys unique characters and realistic dialogue with their mysteries. There are also two more books in the "Maggie" series coming, so readers will be able to see what she is up to next. Look for Sick Puppy coming next month.
Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a USA Today best seller. She writes award-winning romantic mysteries from deep in the heart of Nowheresville, Texas and way up in the frozen north of Snowheresville, Wyoming. She is passionate about long hikes with her hunky husband and pack of rescue dogs and riding her gigantic horses.
If you'd like Pamela to speak to your book club, women's club, class, or writers' group, by Skype or in person, shoot her an e-mail. She's very likely to say yes. Connect with Pamela on the web.
WEBSITE │ FACEBOOK │ TWITTER │ BOOKBUB
INSTAGRAM │ GOODREADS │ AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
2017 WINNER Silver Falchion Award, Best Mystery
Praise for Pamela Fagan Hutchins
2018 USA Today Best Seller
2017 WINNER Silver Falchion Award, Best Mystery
2016 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction
2015 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Cross Genre Fiction
2014 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Cross Genre Fiction
2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-finalist, Romance
2013 USA Best Book Award Finalist, Business: Publishing
2012 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Ghost Story Contest
2012 WINNER USA Best Book Award, Parenting: Divorce
2011 Winner of the Houston Writers Guild Novel Contest, Mainstream
2010 Winner of the Writers League of Texas Manuscript Contest, Romance
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Signed paperback of Live Wire + eBook of Buckle Bunny + $5 Amazon Gift Card
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Signed paperback of Live Wire
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Audio downloads of Fighting for Anna and Searching for Dime Box
March 6-16, 2019
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I really enjoyed this book and your review of it. Isn't it wonderful that this book was so cleanly edited? (And isn't it sad that there are so many edit fails these days?)
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