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Burn Me Deadly: An Eddie LaCrosse Novel by…
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Burn Me Deadly: An Eddie LaCrosse Novel (edition 2012)

by Alex Bledsoe (Author)

Series: Eddie LaCrosse (book 2)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
18015150,280 (3.7)11
e Eddie LaCross books simply because I loved the Tufa series the author has written, and wanted to see how his writing was for a different type of book. The answer? Delightful. Simply put, Bledsoe created an approachable world and has created characters who engage the reader, a storyline that provides enough side curls and twists to intrigue, and a series that just keeps on giving. (I've read one book that took place before this one, and one following, so filling in some details was a bonus.) It's fantasy, it's detective, it's a good read.

In this particular story, Eddie saves a young woman one night, as she runs across his path, fleeing from attackers. He promises to keep her safe, which, despite his best intentions, doesn't happen. Haunted by her death, and the death of two other women he swore to keep safe, he sets off to search for her killers and set matters right. ( )
  bookczuk | Nov 2, 2016 |
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This is fun. Well written fluff. ( )
  KittyCunningham | Apr 26, 2021 |
e Eddie LaCross books simply because I loved the Tufa series the author has written, and wanted to see how his writing was for a different type of book. The answer? Delightful. Simply put, Bledsoe created an approachable world and has created characters who engage the reader, a storyline that provides enough side curls and twists to intrigue, and a series that just keeps on giving. (I've read one book that took place before this one, and one following, so filling in some details was a bonus.) It's fantasy, it's detective, it's a good read.

In this particular story, Eddie saves a young woman one night, as she runs across his path, fleeing from attackers. He promises to keep her safe, which, despite his best intentions, doesn't happen. Haunted by her death, and the death of two other women he swore to keep safe, he sets off to search for her killers and set matters right. ( )
  bookczuk | Nov 2, 2016 |
Eddie LaCrosse is back in a new mystery! Eddie’s on his way back from a routine investigation when his horse almost runs down a half-naked blonde in serious trouble. Against his better judgment, he promises to protect the frightened young woman, only to find himself waylaid by unknown assailants and left for dead beside her mutilated body. Who killed Laura Lesperitt? And Eddie's awesome horse? And left him for dead beside the both of them? Eddie is out for revenge and nothing will stop him.

I liked this story better than the first one. I felt the plot had more movement to it. The first book had some pacing issues and places where I felt it got bogged down in backstory exposition. I didn't feel that this book had that problem. It did have a few other problems but nothing that made me dislike the book and I did give it five stars on goodreads. The writing is still as crisp and fast-paced as ever and the story is interesting and fun. The story goes to some interesting places that I really enjoyed.

I like that these stories aren't afraid to hurt the main character. A lot of stories will have a protagonist that is basically immune to being injured. Those stories always have some sort of save for the main character or deus ex machina that helps them get away unscathed from most of their troubles. Eddie gets hurt....a lot. And so do the people around him a lot of the time.

Eddie is written better here and seems to be less flat than the last book. His issues from the past have mostly resolved and he has dealt with them so there isn't a need to dwell on them in this book. He seems happier in general and more content with his life. One reason is certainly his new girlfriend Liz who was introduced at the end of book one.

Liz is a pretty good character in her own right. She has her own job and past secrets but they never fall int o the cliche of seriously affecting the relationship with Eddie. These are both older characters (i.e- not angsty teenagers) who know that , well, life happens. And sometimes in life secrets happen that you feel you can't tell your romantic partner about. Both Liz and Eddie have some serious secrets weighing on their mind, but luckily they come out in to the open and DO NOT affect the relationship they are working on. THANK GOD. I hate books like that, I want people in relationships to deal with things like the adults that they are.

This is a story with lots of murder, crime bosses, secret dragon cults/religions, and some torture. I really did like a lot of it and the points that dragged didn't do so for long and nothing made me exasperated or roll my eyes. Definitely recommended. ( )
  Sarah_Buckley | Sep 17, 2016 |
Pleasant read, nice characters ( )
  Gerardlionel | Apr 1, 2016 |
I wished the author would lay off putting female characters in the fridge.

After all, that his first girlfriend died is part of the main character's 'tragic past'. The sister of his current love interest also got killed in the past, although it's unclear if he could've saved here and then there's this books dead girl who provides the motivation for the main character to act. In my opinion, this story would've worked as well if the position of the girl and her father had been reversed: if he had been tortured and if she had sought for help without getting captured. Women in Refrigerators is a trope that annoys me to no end because some people also use it for their female characters. UGH. ( )
1 vote Sparrowlicious | Apr 13, 2015 |
"But the advantage to my plan was that, for the most part, all I had to do was wait. Since there was no way to get around this animal, it seemed an especially good plan."

Eddie LaCrosse is a sword-jockey, as he calls himself. He's a bit past his prime, has an, ahem, colorful background, and is therefore smart- most of the time- and has no illusions.

So when a girl who'd obviously been beaten and tortured runs into him on the road, he's a bit less than enthusiastic to help her. But, well, what the hell, he doesn't have anything else on at the moment.

Well, that's when things start going pear-shaped.

Second in the series, Burn me Deadly is a fun read, with a reluctant hero, some intriguing pals, and a chase that keeps you guessing throughout.

I look forward to reading more of Eddie, Liz and Little Blackie. ( )
  majkia | Dec 10, 2014 |
Note: This rating reflects my happiness with the audio version of Burn Me Deadly. Four stars for the print version.

Ah, the combination of Alex Bledsoe (the author), Eddie LaCrosse (the hero) and Stefan Rudnicki (the reader) ƒ?? it doesnƒ??t get much better than that!

Burn Me Deadly is the sequel to The Sword-Edged Blonde, which I adored, and since Mr. Bledsoe has been picked up by Tor, Iƒ??m guessing Iƒ??m not the only one who felt that way. Iƒ??m ... Read More: http://www.fantasyliterature.com/reviews/burn-me-deadly/ ( )
  Kat_Hooper | Apr 6, 2014 |
ORIGINALLY POSTED AT Fantasy Literature.

Audio version

Ah, the combination of Alex Bledsoe (the author), Eddie LaCrosse (the hero) and Stefan Rudnicki (the reader) — it doesn’t get much better than that!

Burn Me Deadly is the sequel to The Sword-Edged Blonde, which I adored, and since Mr. Bledsoe has been picked up by Tor, I’m guessing I’m not the only one who felt that way. I’m happy to report that I enjoyed Burn Me Deadly even more than The Sword-Edged Blonde. Mr. Bledsoe’s got a good thing going here and I think his success results primarily from three factors:

1. His writing style is consistently clear, spare, and straightforward. There is no feel of a conscious attempt to be stylish, yet there are occasional beautiful insights and figures of speech (especially Eddie’s similes) and a splash of grim humor. This style works perfectly with the first-person voice and noir style of these books — just the facts, ma’am.

2. His hero is mature (not an angsty teenager) and naturally likable. Eddie LaCrosse is just a normal guy. Well, he’s actually from a minor noble family, but this is almost irrelevant so far. (I’m not sure if Mr. Bledsoe plans to capitalize on Eddie’s connections later, but if so, thankfully there’s no foreshadowing.) Eddie’s got some serious skills since he worked as a sword-jockey, but he doesn’t have any magical powers or instruments, or any sort of prophecy, destiny, or hero complex.

3. His plot is quick, exciting, tense, and realistic. There are no foreshadowed events or ridiculous plot contortions to get characters in the right places at the right times, and the things you think you see coming don’t come. You often feel like you’re reading a straight crime novel (in a different world), until suddenly there’s a god or a dragon. Also, nothing is prettied up. Sex happens, torture happens, swearing happens, murders happen. Not in an Abercrombie shock-value kind of way; just in a real-life kind of way.

Those three things make for a terrific original fantasy, but add in one more factor — Stefan Rudnicki as the reader in the audio version — and you’ve got something that goes beyond. Rudnicki is always a wonderful reader, but this part was made for him. Not only does he have the perfect deep gruff voice for noir, but he also pulls off female characters quite well. Kudos to Blackstone Audio for recognizing this obvious pairing.

If you listen to audiobooks, you absolutely must choose that format for The Eddie LaCrosse Mysteries. If you don’t listen to audiobooks, it’s time to start with The Sword-Edged Blonde.
Read more of our Bledsoe reviews at FanLit. ( )
  Kat_Hooper | Apr 6, 2014 |
I didn't like this one quite as much as [b:The Sword-Edged Blonde|1354323|The Sword-Edged Blonde (Eddie LaCrosse, #1)|Alex Bledsoe|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266780830s/1354323.jpg|1344024]. It's still getting three stars, but I don't know.. I just had a couple of complaints.

First of all, I don't like Liz, and I don't find her relationship with Eddie to be believable. I don't know what it is about her, she just grates on my nerves. Maybe it has to do with how quickly she came into the story; there was no development with her character or the relationship, she just showed up at the end of SEB and the relationship was full on at the beginning of this one. We don't see the wooing process, the wooing is just supposed to be assumed. Maybe if I had seen some of it I'd believe it more? I don't know.

Also... I don't know that I really like Eddie either. He's just so cold.. He has no guilt or regret over killing anyone, woman or man or probably even child if he thought they deserved it. And his style of solving cases just seems to be to wander around and get lucky a lot. I hoped that was just the first book, but it happened a lot during the second as well. There doesn't seem to be much actual sleuthing going on, just a lot of coincidencing.

Despite that.. It was still a quick, fun read. Not the best story I've ever read, but a good way to pass an evening. I'll be reading the third one today.. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it gets better and not worse. ( )
  breakofdawn | Jun 11, 2013 |
The next in the Eddie LaCrosse series I had only meant to make a start on it but then found, like the first book, that I couldn't put it down. Whilst it wasn't as good as the first book it was still a decent tale.

This time it is more straight forward with less of the humour and almost none of the anachronisms of the first book. Eddie is sucked into danger and adventure when he tries, and fails, to save a young woman running from something. All the action takes place around his current home town and is less detective and more swordsman this time.

I want to know more about Angelica's past and Liz didn't add much except for the appropriate impetus for action and the right time. I think this book is a step backwards from its predecessor but it hasn't slipped far enough away to not be salvageable.

Hopefully things bounce back up in the next book which I believe is actually a prequel to the first two books. Bring it on. ( )
  Shirezu | Mar 31, 2013 |
These books have been an unexpected treat so far. The mix of medieval-lite fantasy and hardboiled noir detective is a surprising and unique one, but one that Alex Bledsoe manages to meld together seamlessly. Strong in both the fantasy aspects - more prevalent here than in the first - and the twisty mystery, this is an author that can and does manage to surprise you as a reader. Much like the first one, I was kept guessing until the final pages and Eddie's big reveal. Compared to Jim Butcher's Dresden series in terms of tone, if not execution, the Eddie LaCrosse novels are inventive, fun, and a lot of that is down to how thoroughly awesome Eddie himself is. I find these novels to be more violent than Butcher's (though not really gorey - just full of typical fantasy world distasteful things.) He's a charming bastard, and one I find myself enjoying more and more as the books and pages go on and more is revealed about this smart, caustic mercenary turned sword jockey.

An immediate sequel that could easily work just as well as a standalone, Burn Me Deadly is just as immersive and hard to put down as its predecessor, The Sword-Edged Blonde. Entertaining and original, this homage to the classic Kiss Me Deadly reads both quickly and well. The detailed, complete world shown in the first book is further built upon and expanded. Eddie's voice is the exact same as in the first - hard but still likeable in all his faults, mistakes and errors with a twisty mystery to unravel. His hard-edged charm works through his tough-guy exterior more and more and the same tone, vice, and overall feel I had for Eddie before comes through in spades. Building on the hints and foundations of book one, everything from the world he lives in to Eddie's own personal history is detailed more. Alex Bledsoe's talent as an author is clearly growing steadily, and as it does, so does his characterization of this quasi-anti-hero protagonist.

This is not your typical fantasy novel. I wouldn't classify it as high or low fantasy, because it rally does mix both the fantasy aspects and the mystery elements to a highly original degree. Before this series, I'd never thought to combine them, nor would I have expected them to be so fun if I had. The plot of Burn Me Deadly has its infusion of fantasy (a dragon cult, patronized by royalty) and noir (one that is sponsored by a crime lord/smuggler), and boasts an elaborate setup. This sequel just feels more fantasy-esque than the first - it's still heavy on the whodunit, but peppered with more fantasy tropes. The mystery took a little longer to really heat up (hahaha) than it did for book one, but the ending payout is just as rewarding. This is a fast-paced read, one without the time-line jumps that could be a bit confusing in the first novel. It's a tad simpler, but no less involving or entertaining.

If you're looking for a fresh take on fantasy or mystery-genre, this noir sword-and-sorcery novel (and series) is exactly what you need to try. Burn Me Deadly is equal parts funny, dramatic, and filled with the same humor and danger that I came to expect from The Sword-Edged Blonde. With a clear writing style, an even hand at pacing and creating tension, and ability to craft a good mystery, Alex Bledsoe proves that his success with book one was anything but a fluke. I especially loved how the ending wrapped up and tied so neatly into book one (a great way to tie everything thus far together), and I finished eager to continue my adventures with Eddie. Burn Me Deadly may be my favorite of the series, but there are still two more (so far) adventures to go on and mysteries to unravel in this easily-envisioned world with this charismatic narrator. Sign me up. ( )
  msjessie | Feb 4, 2013 |
I didn’t like this story quite as much as the first one in the series about Eddie LaCrosse, a PI in a fantasy world. The tale, with its mix of mystery and fantasy, is engrossing, and the writing solid, but the ending disappointed because the stakes are so blurry. This PI is on a quest for justice without a case.
For the entire novel, Eddie is trying to figure out who killed the girl in chapter one. He follows a kingpin gangster, investigates a bunch of religious fanatics, and generally risks his hide repeatedly out of the goodness of his heart, with no paying client in sight. It’s hugely out of character for him. He’s not a bad guy, don’t get me wrong, but he is a practical man who earns his living. He can’t afford to spend time and money following leads for a non-existing case.
Then, when in the grand finale his girlfriend is captured by a vicious killer, Eddie is not the one who delivers the victory. Instead, a baby dragon burns the villain out of Eddie’s way by accident. It’s a deus ex machina all the writing books warn the writers not to use. And then Eddie kills the creature to save himself. Really blah.
Although the book reads easy and fast, the end left a bitter taste in my mouth.
( )
  olga_godim | Oct 4, 2012 |
In his last outing Eddie dealt with gods and a homicidal dwarf. This time it's a fanatical band of worshippers and...dragons? A chance encounter with a fleeing blond has Eddie attempting rescue. But when his efforts end in a beating, a dead comrade, and failure - well, like any good detective/sword jockey, he just can't leave well enough alone.

I've always had a weak spot for tough guys, no matter their era. ( )
  SunnySD | Feb 10, 2011 |
This book takes place around a year, maybe more I can’t recall, after the first one, The sword-edged blonde and since then Eddie and Liz have become a couple. Apart from that nothing much has changed for Eddie. He is still a sword-jockey for hire, and returning one night from a job he almost runs over a blonde woman who is about to mess up his life.

Full review: http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2010/05/14/burn-me-deadly ( )
  Fence | May 14, 2010 |
This book provides a quick, reasonably entertaining read. Eddie LaCrosse, a resourceful former mercenary, makes his living investigating and solving problems in a medieval-style city. There are some fantasy elements, but LaCrosse has little faith in magic (or in most other people).
I haven't read the first book in the series; there were numerous references to previous events, but the backstory was explained well enough that I didn't have any trouble understanding motivations or following the plot here.
One thing that bothered me was LaCrosse's frequent references to brand-named, as though mass-manufactured, weapons, which conflicted with the otherwise fairly standard medieval fantasy background.
The plot elements are also pretty standard; not much surprised me here. However, it's all assembled pretty well, and I enjoyed how the author crossed the fantasy genre with the hard-boiled detective genre. Overall, it's a fun diversion.
Warnings: Killings, torture (referred to after the fact, but not depicted), and an elimination toward the end that I found somewhat disturbing. ( )
  pmatson | Feb 8, 2010 |
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