Two Bodies Are Better Than One (Lorraine Highsmith Mysteries)
Amateur Sleuth Mysteries/Police Procedural
1st in Series
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher : Thomas & Mercer
Publication date : March 1, 2026
Print length : 347 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1662535945
ISBN-13 : 978-1662535949
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1662535932
ASIN : B0FHJ2S7WY
Loaded with dark humor and sharp wit, this wild ride through the ’80s follows an advice columnist trying to unravel the mystery of the dead body on her lawn—while keeping her own secrets under wraps.
Until 1989, the wildest thing to happen in the sleepy town of Sheboygan Bay was surfers catching waves on frigid Lake Michigan. Then one summer morning, Lorraine Highsmith wakes up to find a corpse on her lawn.
Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni is on the case immediately, eager to make a name for herself in a male-dominated precinct. And Lorraine is close behind—as the local advice columnist, she’s always looking for a scoop.
What they don’t know is that Lorraine once had ties to the mob, and those connections could be coming back to haunt her. A recent transplant to Wisconsin, she keeps her past shrouded in mystery, and she’d like to keep it that way.
Mike might be working with her to find the killer, but Lorraine knows that alliances can change on a dime. She needs to get ahead of this story . . . no matter who’s trying to put an end to hers.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Lorraine Highsmith is relatively new to Sheboygan Bay. She works as a local advice columnist and has a past she would like to keep buried. One morning, she wakes up to find a very wet corpse on her lawn. Her sprinklers may have caused the moisture, but they didn’t kill him.
Newly promoted Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni catches the murder case. She is anxious to show Chief Schneider that she can handle the tough investigations.
Lorraine isn’t sitting back to let the police handle the case. She needs to make sure her past isn’t responsible for the body dropped in her yard. She can use the guise of investigating to write an article for the Sheboygan Bay Chronicle.
Can Mike and Lorraine work together to catch the killer? Or will they go their separate ways and try to beat each other in solving the crime?
I have been a fan of Erica Ruth Neubauer’s Jane Wunderly Mystery Series, so I was thrilled to find this book available as an Amazon First Read.
Set in Wisconsin in 1989, the story is told from two distinct perspectives: Lorraine Highsmith, our protagonist, and Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni, who leads the police investigation. Lorraine stands out as a complex character with a unique past and a rather chilling approach to dealing with those she disagrees with. Although she arguably deserves to be behind bars, her cunning and ability to cover her tracks make her a fascinating character. Despite her questionable actions, I found myself rooting for her—just as the author intended.
Detective Michaela “Mike” Zenoni is still a character I am forming an opinion on. She is new to detective work and must contend with her boss, Chief Schneider, who seems more interested in closing the case quickly and taking all the credit rather than seeking true justice. Mike also appears to have a personal life, but is primarily focused on proving herself in a male-dominated department. There is significant potential for her character to develop as the series continues.
The residents of Sheboygan Bay are not depicted as particularly representative of real Wisconsinites. Instead, this small town is filled with characters who are flawed in various ways. Some of their interactions provide comic relief, while others are more somber. Lorraine, in particular, is known for her sharp tongue and takes pleasure in using it. The supporting cast also offers plenty of opportunities for further character development.
The central mystery is compelling and full of surprises. Following Lorraine and Mike’s separate investigations kept me engaged, and I was genuinely shocked by the revelation of the true culprit and the roles of their accomplices. The twist was cleverly executed and memorable.
Two Bodies Are Better Than One is a dark, satirical tale that stands apart from Ms. Neubauer’s other work. While the dual perspectives occasionally slowed the story’s pace and some plot points could have been tighter, the ending left me curious about the future—was this meant to be a standalone or the start of a series? I have discovered that Book 2, Dead Men Can’t Deadlift, is set for release in March 2027. The continuation of the series will allow the author to further explore the characters and resolve lingering questions from this installment.
Book contains explicit language.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving it free as an Amazon First selection. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Amazon First for providing me with a copy.
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About the Author
Erica Ruth Neubauer is the Agatha Award–winning author of the Jane Wunderly Mystery series. She spent eleven years in the military, nearly two as a Maryland police officer, and one as a high school English teacher before finding her way as a writer. For several years, she was a reviewer of mysteries and crime fiction for publications such as Publishers Weekly and Mystery Scene magazine. She’s currently a member of the Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America. Erica Ruth lives outside Madison, Wisconsin, although her heart will always be in Milwaukee.
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Also written by Erica Ruth Neubauer
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