After reminding you of the first book in
this very good crime fiction series, The
Last Second Chance, last Friday, I thought I would remind you today of
the second book, The Right Wrong Number: An Ed Earl Burch Novel by Jim
Nesbitt. Best to read in order. Dodge the flying ashtrays.
It has been several years since the events of The
Last Second Chance: An Ed Earl Burch Novel and private detective Ed
Earl Burch still carries those scars and many more. Many of those scars haunt
his dreams and daylight memories often inspired by drinking, smoking, or the
way a woman’s hair moved on the lady across the bar. Dangerous women were
always his downfall and one of those has crawled back into his life.
Her name is Savannah Crowe these days though Ed knew
her in every sense possible before she got married. She lives down in Houston
and is married to an attorney who does oil and gas partnerships. At least that
was what he was supposed to be doing. Apparently he was shady, at best, and now
he is dead. No doubt murdered by some guys out of New Orleans who are looking
for the money he stole. Savannah wants Ed Earl Burch to come down from Dallas
and protect her. Not just from those guys out of New Orleans, as the cops are
also pushing hard at her thinking she killed her own husband, and there might
be some other players as well.
Sure, she can hire the best attorney in Texas, a
certain man by the name of Racehorse Haynes, but having the money to do that is
not enough. A lot more than she has is missing because her husband stole it.
Savannah wants Ed Earl Burch to find her husband---the body left in the flaming
wreckage wasn’t positively identifiable--- or the guys who killed him. If he
can find either party, the money should also turn up.
Being broke thanks to a downturn in business as the
economy improves under President Clinton means Ed Earl Burch is already in a
bind before his attorney pushes him hard. His attorney concocted an elaborate
evidentiary pyramid to keep his rear end out of prison at the cost of 20k plus
and is calling everything due and payable now. He can’t pay so the prison
option and far worse things are back on the table. He has other money trouble
as well. While Savannah is willing to offer far more than money to Ed Earl
Burch for coming down and helping out, all he wants is money with at least half
of his fee upfront to stall out the attorney. She’s trouble, but she can pay
the bucks, and he needs the bucks desperately.
Before long, he is down in Houston, and all hell is
breaking loose. The case will lead him across Texas to a little place just down
south of Big Bend in Northern Mexico for a final showdown to settle lots of
scores.
The Right Wrong Number: And Ed Earl
Burch Novel is a sequel of sorts to The Last
Second Chance. Sequel in terms of the characters, grudges held, and
memories that haunt the living as more than one character from the first book
appears here as the point of view shifts throughout the read. That means it is
very important to have read that book first before taking on this read.
Readers should also be aware that, as they were in
the first, graphic language and descriptions in terms of sexuality as well as
plenty of violence are present in this read. This is a hard hitting and graphic
crime fiction read written in a noir style. Therefore, the full range of
language is used and a substantial portion of it is graphic in terms of
description regarding sexual situations, violent actions, motivations of
others, etc. as the read shifts in point of view. Those point of view shifts
are very frequent by way of a number of characters throughout the book while
maintaining a fast paced and often violent flow of action.
A read that powers along with plenty of action while
providing some serious as well as funny social commentary, The Right
Wrong Number: An Ed Earl Burch Novel is another mighty good read from
author Jim Nesbitt. Both books are highly recommended. The third book in the
series is underway according to a recent comment on Facebook by the author.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/47a5srP
An ARC was supplied by the author’s publicist, a
long time ago for my use to read and review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2018, 2025
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