Double Whammy: A Davis Way Crime Caper, Book 1

This is a Davis Way crime caper and it's a doozy! Davis is unemployed, fired by her dad from the police department in Pine Apple, Alabama. So, not finding anything locally, she heads west to Biloxi, Mississippi. She wants a job in security and winds up with CEO Richard Sanders interviewing her at the Bellisimo Resort and Casino. She didn't give the best interview as she had been nibbling on red-hot cinnamon candies from his desk as she waited for him. Being only 5 feet, 2 inches tall, she's never been considered ample for a security job. But she was considered perfect for this job and was hired instantly. But, she had to sign a long contract, and the job is considered classified information and no one was to know her identity or what she did. Richard's personal assistant, Natalie Middleton, briefed her on her responsibilities, gives her a room key, a little cash, new cell phone, and ID. Their new in-house investigation is to play video poker: the Double Whammy Deuces Wild Progressive machines. "Learn how to play it and tell me how it's won!" directs Natalie. Why did Davis choose Biloxi to find a job? Is it because it is where her ex-ex-husband lives? How's she going to get back the $150,000 he swiped from her inheritance? There is so much more to this enthralling novel. The author writes with humor where she can, but is also serious and concise when it comes to analyzing crime, and even taking apart a slot machine. This is a GREAT read, one which I was glued to the end. I will be reading more from talented author Gretchen Archer. She has really captivated me in her vigorous writing style and unique twists and turns. You'll enjoy this caper, too!

I don't remember who recommended Gretchen Archer to me, but thank you. I set the bar fairly high for "new" murder mystery authors, and she comes really close with "Double Whammy" which, btw, is the name of a slot machine as well as the "crime caper." Davis Way is a woman ex-cop without the experience to know when she's in too deep or involved in something that doesn't make sense (except for her ex-husband), but she has backup (her daddy - it takes place in the South - is a Chief of Police) and unexpectedly some of the characters... I won't go into it further because the twists and turns, and whose on "her side" and whose "using her" is part of the fun. It's also what kept me up till 2 AM, and that is high praise from me if you've read my other reviews. Having actually lived and worked in Vegas many, many, many years ago, it rings as true as "Oceans 11, 12, and 13" if there was a 13. Davis has a lot going for her, and she is funny at times using the "thought behinds what she wants to say" and what she says. Why not 5 stars? Well, what happens to Davis isn't entirely believable ... and yet it is. (Otherwise, why stay up will 2 AM?) But the real reason why it loses a star is that four-fifths of the way through, it bogs down almost to the point where in pre-Kindle days I would have skipped ahead. Her ex also becomes a bigger pain in the ... neck ... which has had growing pains since the second chapter. And last, "Double Whammy" ends rather abruptly as though Ms. Archer had to tie up many loose ends in two pages. Overall, satisfying, but a bit of a let down at the end.

Well written. Well scripted. Well, just awesome. The story line was fantastic. I loved the humor, the seriousness and the whole fabulous story. I loved the characters in the story, so much so I felt I knew them. Amazing writing and few spelling issues. Smooth, funny, easy to read and be sucked into. The plot/story was well thought out. Much work went into the book and it shows. This is a Must Read. Get. It. Now. You won't be able to stop once you start.

I enjoyed everything about the book except the head scratcher romance between Davis our FMC with a random cool name and Bradley the lawyer she sub leased from. And how the couldn't identify her when she gave them her name, DOB, social, etc. There are several plot holes, (large ones) but it's a random, cute cozy so let most slide. Told from her POV. Standalone. No cliffhanger. HFN as this is a series with ongoing arc. That being said, the book is really entertaining and I loved the little mysteries she helped solve.You just have to accept it's a beach read, not accurate or sometimes even plausible mystery. ******spoilers****** Bradley randomly shows up to prison where she was arrested, because of a note she left on his fridge. She basically invaded his entire life and in her head only, as she never met him, became attached and talked to his picture. She is in prison because she is an idiot. She didn't do what they accused her of. BUT she didn't put anyone who could identify her on her list of visitors. Also, they kept saying her name wasn't real and entered her as Jane Doe. They are cops, lawyers, judge and prison system. Is there a reason running her drivers license and the social security number she gave them didn't produce her freaking picture and name? She spent a month in prison. They said her father had heart attack. How did they know that if she didn't show up in system under him as child. She was also an officer previously. Which means her prints are on file. They had to verify who she was via her father. A man who wasn't available for weeks because he had a heart attack and couldn't be contacted. Her entire family except her dad were complete Jack holes who should never be allowed near children. So she meets Bradley for first time while she's in prison. He doesn't know her. Tries to get her out. Suddenly, with no flirting,chemistry, backstory, NOTHING, they are in a relationship. It was weird and random like most of this book. I rated a three and will read book two, because it was also highly entertaining. I loved the mysteries she was asked to help solve with the hotel, the Casino, etc.

Let me start off by saying I'm an extremely avid reader. Sometimes I read as many as two or three books a day. I've read so many books that I have a hard time finding books I haven't read that I might actually enjoy. I also tend to be extremely picky and hate books filled with fluff and cliches and this book surprised me tremendously. It was a very funny witty well written story. The characters actually had depth and humanity that made you understand and relate to their motivations. My favorite thing about this book is that it was actually a stimulating read. I can read an average 'cozy' mystery novel in 2-3 hours and I had to work on this one for a full day. It felt more like two books in one. I absolutely loved this book and look forward to reading the second book in this series next year.

Unemployed former police officer Davis Way is down on her luck when she gets a job too good to be true. Working undercover in a Biloxi casino Davis is given a set of instructions and that’s to figure out how a particular slot machine is won. At first Davis grudgingly takes on the job, but the further she digs the more she finds that some things just don’t make sense. For example, what does her ex-husband have to do with the slot machines? Suddenly Davis finds herself in too deep and when she’s arrested for attempted murder no one believes her story and to make matters worse, there’s questions surrounding her identity. Will Davis be able to prove her innocence before the real culprit skips town? We have good character development. Davis isn’t your typical former police officer; not only does she have a degree in criminal justice but one in computer science. She’s also not one to shy away from a job even if she hates it and she relies on no one except herself. We have a wide array of secondary characters that play a role including the mysterious Bradley Cole. I won’t go into detail regarding his character because I had so much fun meeting him and I want you to experience it. The real treat was Davis’ sister and her family. Narration is first person and at times it is hard to trust Davis as a narrator because she’s all over the place and by that I mean…it’s hard keeping up with her and her thought process. She’s always has one foot ahead of the reader and I really like how Archer set this up because everyone around Davis wonders what Davis is talking about. Like them, we are kept in the dark and it’s a fun and unique experience. If I have one small compliant it’s that we get too much personal history intertwined with the narrative. This can prove problematic in the long run especially new readers coming to the series and having to backtrack for information or the narrative can quickly grow stale with recycled information we already know. While I do appreciate getting to know how Davis became who she is, she spends a good amount of time talking about her ex Eddie that I wish we would have seen more of him. No doubt Archer plans a book dedicated solely to Eddie and perhaps his demise? Or is that wishful thinking? As for the overall mystery we’re left with a few unanswered questions, but that’s okay. I won’t go into detail regarding the plot since I don’t want to spoil anything, but let’s just say I didn’t see that coming even though I had my suspicions. There are also a few relationships that aren’t quite cleared up. Archer just makes a general assessment that so and so were in on it or had a history, but nothing is gone into detail. A little more information would have been nice. Despite a few hiccups, Archer’s DOUBLE WHAMMY was such a delightful read. I can’t wait to read more in the series and of course spend more time with Bradley. If you’re a fan of amateur sleuths, you’ll really enjoy Gretchen Archer’s DOUBLE WHAMMY.

Gretchen Archer- Double Whammy. This is one of the best cozy mysteries I have read in a long time! It is funny but fast paced and intriguing. The characters are well written and interesting. There are some twists and turns. I wondered about the culprit but there were several possibilities so I wasn't sure. It was hard to put down. Davis Way finally gets a job at a casino after a year of being unemployed. She was a police officer but ran into a few problems, namely her ex - ex husband (divorced twice). Things appear to be improving until she gets in the middle of figuring out how the casino and games work. There are some funny parts. Some ups and downs for Davis. Friendship, family,romance. It is fairly clean, not graphic or too detailed. It was very enjoyable! Can't wait for book 2!

I laughed out loud so many times in this book I lost track. I love the characters, and I couldn't get enough of Davis' relationship with Bradley Cole before she even met him, and I wish this was a movie just so I could have seen the interview at the beginning of the book. The characters are great, and a good mix of ones you love and some you hate, and others you are not sure about. There were at a few times where it got a little choppy and I had to go back and re-read as to what happened because it was a little confusing jumping from Davis' crazy thoughts to reality. One example being when the gun went off in No Hair's office and I had to re-read the part where she picked up the gun and and was pretending to shoot and the next sentence it jumped to her looking back on what happened, calling someone an idiot, and then back to the present again. I'm also a little confused as to what happened with Bianca's part at the end. Overall I loved it, I would recommend it to anyone looking for a funny romantic mystery. I will be pre-ordering "Double Dip" as soon as its available. Gretchen if you read this, thank you for making a young(ish) stay-at-home mom of 4 kids aged between 13 & 2 truly enjoy the first day of summer vacation:) I honestly can not wait to read more about Davis, Bradley, No Hair, hopefully George, and the ex-ex-husband Edward The A**.

Brilliant, love these books

A great read from a fun series that I re-read every year.

Ich kann mich meiner Vorrednerin nur anschließen: Ab etwa der Hälfte dürfte der durchschnittliche europäische Leser Verständnisprobleme haben. Ich habe öfter gestutzt, zurückgeblättert und den Teil gesucht, der mir eine plötzliche Wendung der Ereignisse doch noch erklärt hätte. Es wirkt irgendwie, als ob die Autorin ab der Hälfte nur einfach schnell fertig werden wollte. Die durchschnittliche amerikanische Amazon-Wertung von 4,5 Punkten bei über 170 Wertungen und das Lob von Janet Evanovich scheint mir da aber ein klarer Hinweis darauf zu sein, dass amerikanische Leser/innen nicht automatisch über die selben Logiklöcher stolpern wie die nicht-amerikanischen. Tipp: Wer ein Fan von Stefanie Plum ist, sollte sich vielleicht lieber Jana DeLeons Bücher anschauen. Und auf jeden Fall immer im Original lesen! Double Whammy ist für nicht-muttersprachliche Leser ab einem B2-1 Level geeignet.

This is a fun book and is helping to hold me over until Janet Evanovich comes out with something new.

Loved the concept of having someone who looks exactly like someone else - not sure Davis Way is so enamoured. I really liked the plot ( I am not writing about it here as I think many of these reviews are spoilers) and I loved the end. Bought Double dip straight after and was not disappointed.