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Pamela Cowan
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Fire And Lies: (The El & Em Detective Series Book One) Kindle Edition

by Pamela Cowan (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
Emma Richland, hurting from a recent divorce, needs to prove her competence as a private investigator. Her sister, Ellen Richland, a retired military investigator, wants to find her place in the civilian world. When an arson investigation leads to murder, and Emma needs help, who better to turn to than family? Together, Emma and Ellen uncover the truth and confront a killer—while a hidden enemy watches every move they make.
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The El & Em Detective Series
  2. Print length
    352 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    July 15, 2020
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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 See full series
There are 2 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08BLWLY12
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Windtree Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 15, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1952447204
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ The El & Em Detective Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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Pamela Cowan

Pamela Cowan

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Pamela Cowan is a Pacific Northwest author most recognized for her psychological thrillers. Her books are known for their dark and gritty themes, exploring the uglier side of human nature, but often with a twist of humor. Her short stories have been featured in various magazines, and anthologies, and have been broadcast on public radio.

With a background in Communications and Organizational Psychology, Pamela spent her career in social services, honing her understanding of human behavior, which she incorporates into her books.

An army brat, she was born in Germany and moved with her family 17 times before her father retired to Oregon, where she has steadfastly remained. She has two grown children, a remarkably patient and supportive husband, and a dog whose life-long goal is to end the tyranny of UPS, USPS and FedEx drivers.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
20 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • William J. Cook
    5.0 out of 5 stars Edgy and Unsettling
    Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    OK. This is not your “sisters cozy mystery.” Author Cowan has filled her story with unsavory characters doing nefarious deeds, including a cringe-worthy scene near the beginning that I’m glad was not more graphic. The writing is edgy and unsettling, lending a kind of “noir authenticity” to the characters and the rural countryside they inhabit. If you like your coffee black in the morning and your bourbon neat at night, this might just be the novel for you. It’s the first in the author’s new series, and the second book is already out there. The game is afoot. Four and a half stars, rounded up to five.
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  • Heather E. Ames
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Nail-biter from the First Page to the End.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This novel starts off with a bang and never stops. Many twists and turns I didn't see coming, and I'm a fellow mystery writer. Emma is determined to be her own woman and step away from her sister's influence and assistance as she forges her own career as a private detective. She becomes entangled in a case that appears first to be a simple (or not so simple) arson, but morphs into a murder in a rural area where cell service is spotty and the inhabitants of the area are even spottier in character. People aren't who they seem, their livelihoods aren't what they seem, either, and knowing who, why and when becomes a matter of life and death, most particularly for Emma. The opening of what looks to be an intriguing series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Thomas Stimson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters and visual imagery
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2023
    Format: Kindle
    Fire and Lies is an engrossing murder mystery with a strong, if insecure female P.I. as the lead who starts with investigating an arson that soon leads into the underbelly of a rural county's drug rings. The visual imagery used in describing characters, locations and weather lend a lighter, balanced touch to the often gritty actions taking place almost from the first page.

    A great read set in rural Oregon that has you guessing who really did what and how to the very end.
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  • T Reader
    3.0 out of 5 stars El and Em N-O
    Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    This one didn't work for me. The story is good; the problem is the main character, Emma. Emma is a wannabe PI. She has basic PI experience but no military or law enforcement background. (Ironically, her sister Ellen has this experience, so why didn't the author make Ellen the main character? ). Emma is hired to investigate an arson claim. When the claimant is killed, Emma decides to investigate his death. Because of her inexperience and immaturity, this story quickly turns into a woman-in-peril-who-must-constantly-be rescued cliche.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • RoseEllen
    5.0 out of 5 stars I'm looking forward to more of Cowan's writing
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2020
    Format: Paperback
    Fire and Lies is a good read. I was drawn in from the first page, and read it all in one sitting. The plot is complicated enough that I didn't really predict the ending, which sometimes happens with detective type stories. One thing I really liked about it is that there is enough interesting story to make this first book satisfying, but also to definitely reveal that there will be future installments, and not just because the author calls it "The El & Em Detective Series." I liked the characters, and am looking forward to learning more about them in time! If you have not read any of Cowan's books, give them a try. Her Storm series is chilling, and Yetzirah: The Pocket Worlds is a captivating young adult tale (but you really don't need to be young to read it- I'm not!).
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  • Cockadock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Two sisters, one scary crime
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2020
    Format: Kindle
    A story of two sisters, one older and experienced, the other trying to master her new career. Em has recently hung out her shingle as a Private Investigator. This story begins when an acquaintance calls to ask her to do an arson investigation. This pushes Em out of her comfort zone, but she takes it on. As a younger sister myself, I empathize with how badly Em wants to manage on her own . . . but how much she needs her sister's expertise. Through Em's occasional wrong turns, we see an experienced PI emerging. The tale has some nice complications, scary scenes, a hot guy just when you need one! In addition, the information on tribal existence in the Pacific Northwest feels very real and highly informative.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Karen Martin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read only if cliffhangers aren’t a problem. Great book!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2021
    Format: Kindle
    Great book. Great story, great characters, interesting setting, interesting backgrounds.... I hate cliffhangers when there is not another book in sight....
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