Murder Two Doors Down: An HOA Homicide Mystery
Amateur Sleuth Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Georgia
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
Publication date : October 14, 2025
Print length : 304 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-13 : 979-8892423342
Paperback
ISBN-13 : 979-8892423366
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 979-8892423359
ASIN : B0DT2BPW2V
Welcome to the Estates at Chestnut Lake, home of perfect lawns, matching houses, and an inconvenient murder or two.
This hilarious and compelling whodunit mystery has the “crime close to home” feel of Only Murders in the Building and is perfect for readers who loved Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect and Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.
Brad Hanson’s life in his suburban Atlanta subdivision is unremarkable. He investigates insurance fraud, which is as dull as it sounds, though if he’s able to get a good bonus this year, his wife, Rhonda, will finally get to have her new kitchen. His highest achievement in life is being secretary and de facto parliamentarian on the homeowners association board, which is the center of all the neighborhood drama.
As frustrating—and heated—as the arguments over tennis court resurfacing and dog droppings may be, much like his subdivision compatriots, Brad would never kill a neighbor, but… he might enjoy thinking about it from time to time. (Who hasn’t?)
When someone murders cranky old Inga Oskarsdotter—a frequent source of complaints to the HOA board—a literal smoking gun turns Brad into the chief suspect. But Brad is not waiting around to be arrested—after all, he is an investigator by trade—and he takes it upon himself to find the real killer. Then the body count starts to rise.
One thing is sure: A murderer on the block is not good for property values.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Brad Hanson and his wife, Rhonda, reside in the Estates at Chestnut Lake outside of Atlanta. Besides working as an insurance fraud investigator, he is active on the board of the homeowners’ association and acts as secretary and the de facto parliamentarian. Arguments can get out of hand with heated debates over people not cleaning up after their dogs or pickleball courts vs. tennis courts, but he never thought murder would ever be on the agenda.
Inga Oskarsdotter was a cantankerous old soul and always ready with a list of complaints at each HOA meeting. Most members of the community may have had murderous thoughts about her a time or two, but it is Brad who finds himself in the hot seat when the woman is killed. Knowing agents Stewart and Maloney are working hard to pin him with the crime, Brad decides to use his investigative skills to try to prove his innocence. But then another neighbor is killed, and Brad is running out of time to save himself.
Will Brad be able to give the police and GFI more options? Will he reveal the real killer before he lands in a jail cell? Or will he be the 3rd person killed on the block?
Mr. Storla has created an interesting neighborhood at The Estates and filled it with a broad variety of characters. Brad Hanson is bored with his life and latches onto the murder investigations as a new hobby. His wife, Rhonda, is all about appearances and is anxiously awaiting the go-ahead to remodel her kitchen. Their neighbor, Tony, is Brad’s best friend with two passions: sports and action movies. Brad hoped he would be a great sounding board, but Tony has a short attention span. Attorney Jill Richards enters the fray when Brad knows he is over his head. She is a smart woman who knows the ropes. She also knows she needs her savvy investigator, Cassandra (Dix) Dixon, on this case. All these characters develop well, while leaving room for growth.
The mystery was a twisty one filled with many comedic and suspenseful moments. Brad is a typical man without much self-awareness and a dry sense of humor, but he tries hard to follow or make up clues to move the case forward, which was quite funny. The addition of Dix added so much as she investigated while trying to keep Brad out of trouble. She is one smart cookie, and after Brad’s theory didn’t pan out, she had other ideas and a plan. It was a plan I loved because it cemented theories I had earlier in the story.
The HOA theme really worked. Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with the HOA, but small towns can be just as ruthless when neighbors get a bug in their bonnet. The theme is great, too, if this expands to a series. Homeowners’ Associations always have complaints, drama, and tension that could definitely lead to more murders.
High on hilarity and a curious mystery, Murder Two Doors Down was an entertaining read, filled with some truly quirky characters, especially our well-meaning protagonist. I truly hope there is a sequel, because I would love to see what Brad gets mixed up in next.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
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About the Author
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Chuck Storla considered following his muse until he saw her checks bounce because of insufficient funds. Instead, Chuck joined a well-known and occasionally well-run computer manufacturer. Upon leaving the corporate world, he rediscovered his inner artist. Chuck also discovered the great thing about being a writer is that the barrier to entry is incredibly low. He has learned humor can be an effective way to deal with anger while avoiding almost all legal consequences. His short piece of fiction, “I Chat, Therefore I Am,” was runner-up for the 2023 Terry Kay Prize. You can find other examples of his writing in past editions of The eQuill, a publication of the Atlanta Writers Club. Website
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.” I am also an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.” These funds are often used for gift cards and other giveaways.
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