A Bitch Called Hope

An ex-cop-turned-private-investigator becomes too involved with her work when her new lover turns out to be a murder suspect.
 
A "bitch called hope" is the poker term for drawing the queen-eight in Texas Hold'em. There's not enough luck in the world to build a winning hand with those cards, but it's so tempting to try. As a smart poker player, Lennox Cooper knows this.

But as a detective, Lennox has issues. A year ago, her affair with a married cop got her fired from the Portland Police. Now she's trying to build a new life as a private investigator, but all she's landed so far are surveillance gigs.

The murder of a wealthy developer gives her a chance to reestablish herself as a homicide detective. During the course of the investigation she meets Mr. Right. Only problem, he's on the short list of suspects. Lennox bets on her lover's innocence, but the odds aren't much better than drawing a bitch called hope...
 
"A well-crafted mystery novel with a heroine you can root for, plenty of action and a satisfying ending."―Phillip Margolin, New York Times-bestselling author of Capitol Murder

"A noir with heart...Beware, it's hard to put down."―Cara Black, New York Times-bestselling author of the Aimee Leduc mysteries

"Gardner deftly balances the detailed intricacy of the police procedural with a richly nuanced tale of betrayed love, family conflict, and murder. Told with a crisp voice and sharp pacing, the story of private investigator Lennox Cooper packs a wallop from the opening scene."―Bill Cameron, author of the Spotted Owl Award-winning Country Line