Fortune Favors the Dead

A Novel

By: Stephen Spotswood

Narrated by: Kirsten Potter

A wildly charming and fast-paced mystery written with all the panache of the hardboiled classics, Fortune Favors the Dead introduces Pentecost and Parker, an audacious new detective duo for the ages.

“Razor-sharp style, tons of flair, a snappy sense of humor, and all the most satisfying elements of a really good noir novel, plus plenty of original twists of its own.”—Tana French, bestselling author of The Searcher

It's 1942 and Willowjean "Will" Parker is a scrappy circus runaway whose knife-throwing skills have just saved the life of New York's best, and most unorthodox, private investigator, Lillian Pentecost. When the dapper detective summons Will a few days later, she doesn't expect to be offered a life-changing proposition: Lillian's multiple sclerosis means she can't keep up with her old case load alone, so she wants to hire Will to be her right-hand woman. In return, Will is to receive a salary, room and board, and training in Lillian's very particular art of investigation.

Three years later, Will and Lillian are on the Collins case: Abigail Collins was found bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball following a big, boozy Halloween party at her home—her body slumped in the same chair where her steel magnate husband shot himself the year before. With rumors flying that Abigail was bumped off by the vengeful spirit of her husband (who else could have gotten inside the locked room?), the family has tasked the detectives with finding answers where the police have failed.

But that's easier said than done in a case that involves messages from the dead, a seductive spiritualist, and Becca Collins—the beautiful daughter of the deceased, who Will quickly starts falling for. When Will and Becca's relationship dances beyond the professional, Will finds herself in dangerous territory, and discovers she may have become the murderer's next target.

Great characters

This book is a 4.6 but I will be in love with the characters before the end of the second book. A really solid and interesting story.

Great who done it and excellent narration!!

I love mysteries with smart bad ass women sleuths and this book gives us two of them! I love Will’s humor and Ms P’s sense of justice. There were so many layers to this story and each thread kept me engaged. I didn’t figure out who did it and there were a good amount of twists and turns to keep me guessing. The narrator was brilliant! Every voice was unique and the accents superb! I must say she’s one of the best narrators I’ve listened to. I plan on seeing if she narrated any other sapphic books! I am so excited to see that there’s a sequel! On to book 2 😀

Great story!

Awesome narrator and very original and fun Murder mystery. Can’t wait for the sequel in December!

I LOVE Pentecost and Parker!

Me and my daughter are loving these books, all of them. We love the voice of Will and how easy the author makes us understand the times and the context, and we love the stories!

Interesting mystery, likable characters

This was a solid murder mystery with a good twist at the end that was very difficult to pick up on beforehand. The main characters are relatively likable — I’m not a huge fan of tomboy-ish characters, but this one was tolerable for me. Easy and interesting listen.