Lucky the Hard Way

Book excerpt: “Evanovich…with a dash of CSI.” – Publishers Weekly (review of Lucky Stiff) Murder Takes a Holiday For Lucky O’Toole, living with murder is, well…murder. As the Chief Problem Solver for the Babylon, Las Vegas’s most over-the-top destination, mischief is in her job description, but murder? Not so much…until recently… LUCKY THE HARD WAY Facing a murder indictment, Lucky’s first love, Teddie, has flown to Macau on the heels of the real killer. A powerful figure in the Macanese underworld has Lucky’s father and his empire over a barrel. Lucky’s own hotel is days away from opening. And her engagement is very new. So, there’s only one thing for Lucky to do… Take a trip to Macau. She has five days to catch a killer, save Teddie, and rescue her empire from financial ruin. Piece of cake for someone with Lucky’s superpowers… Right? A light, funny, romantic mystery providing a Vegas escape appropriate for anyone looking for a good laugh. Get your copy today! AN INTERVIEW WITH DEBORAH COONTS Why did you decide to write humor? I’m not sure I decided to add snark to the Lucky books, specifically to Lucky’s own voice, it just happened that way. When I was a kid, my mouth always got me into trouble. Finally, I’ve found a way to harness the sarcasm for the Forces of Good—or at least in a way not to anger my grandmother. And when Lucky started talking to me, she had a strong dose of sass in her. The Lucky O'Toole Vegas Adventure series is hard to categorize. Is that by design? When I set out to write Wanna Get Lucky?, I knew I wanted to write a romp through Las Vegas. I had the characters and the setting but no real understanding of narrative drive. So, I threw a young woman out of a tour helicopter into the middle of the Pirate Show and let the story unfold. A bit of murder to keep the plot moving, some wisecracking and Vegas mischief to make you laugh, and some romance to keep it interesting. A bit of a mash up, but it works. PRAISE FOR THE LUCKY O’TOOLE VEGAS ADVENTURE SERIES “Lucky’s story is funny, fast-paced, exuberant and brilliantly realized.” - Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Get ready to win big--with a novel that will keep you glued to the pages all the way to the end.” - Brenda Novak, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author "More fun than a winning streak in Vegas. Lucky O’Toole is a character with brains, beauty, and a wry sense of humor. Readers will want to meet her again—and soon." - Diane Mott Davidson, New York Times bestselling author "Deborah Coonts...entrusts the sleuthing to a brainy beauty who sees the lighter side of human folly." - New York Times Book Review "Las Vegas is the perfect setting for this witty tale of misdirection and larger-than-life characters. Fans of J. A. Konrath's Jack Daniels series will love this." - Library Journal, starred review “A whirlwind of a kooky crime novel, and readers will enjoy every minute of it. Coonts provides the perfect solution for readers waiting for the next Stephanie Plum book.” - Booklist