What Doesn't Kill You

A favor for a friend turns into a murder investigation, drawing apprentice PI Willa Pennington into a labyrinth of lies and deception in the shadows of Washington, D.C.

Willa Pennington thought that becoming a PI would be better than being a cop. She thought she'd never have to make another death notification or don a bulletproof vest again. She thought she could move past the pain of losing her best friend. She thought she'd be safe.

But she couldn't have been more wrong.

Now, agreeing to do a simple favor has brought her to a dead body, a missing person, and a battle of wits with an old friend who has dangerous secrets. If Willa can keep her focus, she could solve the murder, find the missing girl, and figure out if the person she's trusted with her life is the one trying to end it.

Praise:

"One of the best debut efforts I've ever seen. Tight plotting, edge-of-your-seat suspense and a protagonist in PI Willa Pennington you'll want to read about again and again. I couldn't put this book down."—Maggie Barbieri, author of Once Upon a Lie

"A debut that saddles tough-girl noir with the heart of a cozy." — Kirkus Reviews

 "Character work is very strong indeed, introducing us to a protagonist who instantly has a believable and compelling set of relationships, goals, strengths and flaws, as well as a past that matters without ever being turned into a series of 'shocking' revelations. The nascent romance between Willa and someone from her past is satisfying in both its heat and the realistic obstacles faced by two stubborn people who’ve known each other for too long to not be wary around each other. This is a solid beginning to a character and setting that could go on to very good things." — RT Book Reviews

"Hix skillfully teases out the plot throughout the book and adds layers to the story as she goes. The pacing of the book is perfect...Hix introduces last minute plot twists and turns that you don’t see coming. She does a great job of planting seeds of what’s to come, but they are so subtle that you don’t think anything of an offhanded comment at that time. Hix works misdirection into the book like a pro. Aimee Hix is an up and coming author everyone should watch." — Crimespree Magazine