When your latest job as a PI becomes more complicated than thought!

Synopsis

Angela Hardwicke isn’t just any private eye. She’s a PI from Eternity, the cosmic realm responsible for the design, creation, and maintenance of the Universe. 

When accountant Gil Haberseau hires her to find an intern with stolen corporate files, Hardwicke soon finds herself embroiled in a deadly case of lies, intrigue, and murder, clashing with vengeful gangsters, MinderNot rallies, and a madman who’s come a long way to get what he wants. 

In Russ Colchamiro’s thrilling Sci-Fi mystery Crackle and Fire, Angela Hardwicke learns once and for all that when it comes to being an intergalactic private eye, there’s no telling what threats she may face on-realm and off… including the demons that lurk deep within her soul.

Bonus story included! The AI-themed Angela Hardwicke murder mystery, “The Case of Jarlo’s Buried Treasure”

My review

Angela Hardwicke has just accepted a new job as a PI. But she is not a normal PI, she is an intergalactic PI in Eternity, the cosmic Realm responsible for the whole Universe.
She has been hired by accountant Gil Haberseau, as an intern has gone missing, together with important corporate files.
What seems to be an easy search and find job, Angela quickly realizes that there is more to Gil’s story. And before she knows, she finds herself embroiled in a case full of lies, intrigues, murders and gangsters. And then she has her own demons to fight…

When I was asked to write a review for this book, I was a bit sceptical. Intergalactic stories are not really my cup of tea, and don’t start with stories about aliens, mind controlling things or “Beam me up Scotty”. Of course I understand that there are many people who enjoy such stories, so no judgement from my side if you are one of them.
The plot itself intrigued me, so I was ready to give it a chance.

It’s clear from the very start that Angela is not a PI like we all imagine a PI to be. When this story is taking place, she has endured already a lot. She has several demons she needs to fight every day, and the struggle is truly hard for her.
Despite her own demons, she has the determination to solve the mystery of the missing person and missing files.
And even when she realizes that her new task may come at a high price, she is ready to discover the truth, no matter what that may be.
And that aspect was something I truly admired in Angela.

Of course it helps that she has people around her to help her on her mission, and that they are ready to help her with her demons.

This is a story that could have been easily taking place on Earth, without the intergalactic aspect, with of course some changes to make some sense. But letting this story staking place in the Universe, added this extra dimension, making it even more intriguing.
But this isn’t a story you can easily read through in one session. You need to keep your attention to it, taking some breaks to let your mind process everything that has been taking place.

I was pleasantly surprised and loved it that it wasn’t a too big sci – fi story. The characters come over as real persons, with real issues. Even the ‘higher forces’, if I can call them like that, are not these perfect beings, they also have their own problems.

I found this a dark story, with a lot of mystery, action and twists. And even if there were some moments that I didn’t see how the story would end and the few sci – fi elements, I found myself totally submerged in Angela’s world, wanting to know more and more after each chapter!