The Sword-Edged Blonde: An Eddie LaCrosse Novel (Eddie LaCrosse Novels)

It should have been a case like any other: a missing princess, a king willing to pay in gold for her return. But before he realizes it, sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse is swept up in a web of mystery and deceit involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime, and the tragic past he thought he’d left behind. In order to uncover the answers he seeks, Eddie must delve into the dark underbelly of society while digging deep into his own private history, drawing past and present together. Vast conspiracies, women both beautiful and deadly, and a centuries-old revenge scheme are only a few of the pieces in a lethal puzzle. The Sword-Edged Blonde is a tour-de-force foray into a realm of action, intrigue, and murder.

Alex Bledsoe’s first novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, drew rave reviews for its ingenious blend of fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction. Now Bledsoe returns with an all-new tale of mean streets and medieval intrigue.

Above Angelina’s Tavern in down-and-dirty Neceda you’ll find the office of Eddie LaCrosse, a freelance sword jockey who, for twenty-five gold pieces a day, will take on any task short of murder for hire. 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.

Eddie isn’t the kind of guy to just let something like this pass. But who killed Laura Lesperitt? Eddie’s quest for payback leads him to a tangled mystery involving a notorious crime lord, a backwoods dragon cult, royal scandals, and a duplicitous femme fatale who has trouble keeping her clothes on. As bodies pile up, attracting the unwelcome attention of the king’s guards, Eddie must use all his wits if he hopes to survive . . .

Publishers Weekly

Proving that 2007's The Sword-Edged Blonde was no fluke, this sequel gives every evidence that Bledsoe's combination of sword and sorcery with hard-boiled detection will have a long and successful run. Eddie LaCrosse, a former noble who gave up his title and now works as a freelance sword-jockey, is flagged down by a damsel in distress, Laura Lesperitt. Before LaCrosse can get Lesperitt to safety, they are ambushed, an encounter that leaves her dead. When he recovers, LaCrosse's search for those responsible for the murder brings him into contact with powerful thug Gordon Marantz, the king's Special Office of Domestic Security and a dragon-worshipping cult. Bledsoe effortlessly draws readers into his created world and manages to stay true to both fantasy and mystery traditions. (Nov.)

it Should Have Been A Case Like Any Other: A Missing Princess, A King Willing To Pay In Gold For Her Return. But Before He Realizes It, Sword Jockey Eddie Lacrosse Is Swept Up In A Web Of Mystery And Deceit Involving A Brutally Murdered Royal Heir, A Queen Accused Of An Unspeakable Crime, And The Tragic Past He Thought He’d Left Behind.

in Order To Uncover The Answers He Seeks, Eddie Must Delve Into The Dark Underbelly Of Society While Digging Deep Into His Own Private History, Drawing Past And Present Together. Vast Conspiracies, Women Both Beautiful And Deadly, And A Centuries-old Revenge Scheme Are Only A Few Of The Pieces In A Lethal Puzzle.

the Sword-edged Blonde Is A Tour-de-force Foray Into A Realm Of Action, Intrigue, And Murder.

publishers Weekly

equal Parts Sword-and-sorcery Action/adventure And Noir Whodunit, Bledsoe's Finely Polished Debut Is Evocative Of Fantasy Legend Fritz Leiber's Classic Tales Of Fafhrd And The Gray Mouser. Bledsoe's Narrative, While Set In A Comparable World, Features Only One Protagonist: Sword Jockey Eddie Lacrosse, A Private Investigator Who Has Spent Most Of His Life Trying To Distance Himself From A Shadowy And Tragic Past. When His Old Childhood Friend, King Philip Of Arentia, Enlists His Help To Unravel A Scandalous Mystery Surrounding The Brutal Death Of The Young Royal Heir-a Murder In Which The King's Beautiful Wife, Rhiannon, Is The Prime Suspect-lacrosse Accepts Only To Encounter A Deity Who Forces Him To Come To Grips With The Horrific Events Of His Youth. Incorporating Elements From Both Hard-boiled Mystery And Heroic Fantasy, Bledsoe's Genre-blending First Novel Is Both Stylish And Self-assured: Raymond Chandler Meets Raymond E. Feist. (nov.)

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Alex Bledsoe's first novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, drew rave reviews for its ingenious blend of fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction. Now Bledsoe returns with an all-new tale of mean streets and medieval intrigue.Above Angelina's Tavern in down-and-dirty Neceda you'll find the office of Eddie LaCrosse, a freelance sword jockey who, for twenty-five gold pieces a day, will take on any task short of murder for hire. 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.Eddie isn't the kind of guy to just let something like this pass. But who killed Laura Lesperitt? Eddie's quest for payback leads him to a tangled mystery involving a notorious crime lord, a backwoods dragon cult, royal scandals, and a duplicitous femme fatale who has trouble keeping her clothes on. As bodies pile up, attracting the unwelcome attention of the king's guards, Eddie must use all his wits if he hopes to survive...At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Alex Bledsoes first novel, The Sword-Edged Blonde, drew rave reviews for its ingenious blend of fantasy and hard-boiled detective fiction. Now Bledsoe returns with an all-new tale of mean streets and medieval intrigue. Above Angelinas Tavern in down-and-dirty Neceda youll find the office of Eddie LaCrosse, a freelance sword jockey who, for twenty-five gold pieces a day, will take on any task short of murder for hire. Eddies 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. Eddie isnt the kind of guy to just let something like this pass. But who killed Laura Lesperitt? Eddies quest for payback leads him to a tangled mystery involving a notorious crime lord, a backwoods dragon cult, royal scandals, and a duplicitous femme fatale who has trouble keeping her clothes on. As bodies pile up, attracting the unwelcome attention of the kings guards, Eddie must use all his wits if he hopes to survive . . . It should have been a case like any other: a missing princess, a king willing to pay in gold for her return. But before he realizes it, sword jockey Eddie LaCrosse is swept up in a web of mystery and deceit involving a brutally murdered royal heir, a queen accused of an unspeakable crime, and the tragic past he thought he'd left behind.In order to uncover the answers he seeks, Eddie must delve into the dark underbelly of society while digging deep into his own private history, drawing past and present together. Vast conspiracies, women both beautiful and deadly, and a centuries-old revenge scheme are only a few of the pieces in a lethal puzzle.The Sword-Edged Blonde is a tour-de-force foray into a realm of action, intrigue, and murder.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Left for dead by unknown assailants who have murdered a woman he was protecting, swordsman-for-hire Eddie LaCrosse sets out to avenge the attack and finds himself entangled in a mystery involving a notorious crime lord, a backwoods dragon cult, and royal scandals