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Sean Stranahan #2
The Gray Ghost Murders
Montana’s favorite fly fisherman detective is back on the case in this compelling follow-up to
The Royal Wulff Murders
When the graves of two men are discovered on Sphinx Mountain, Sheriff Martha Ettinger suspects murder. But with the only evidence a hole in a skull that might or might not have been caused by a bullet, she once more finds herself turning to private investigator Sean Stranahan for help. Stranahan already has a case, having been hired by a group of eccentric fly fishermen called The Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club to find a valuable fly that they suspect has been stolen. Could the disappearance of a vintage Gray Ghost from a riverside cabin in the Madison Valley be connected to the gray ghosts who haunt Sphinx Mountain? Stranahan will cross paths, and arms, with some of the most powerful people in the valley to find out, in a novel that is sure to capture new fans for one of the mystery genre’s rising stars.
When the graves of two men are discovered on Sphinx Mountain, Sheriff Martha Ettinger suspects murder. But with the only evidence a hole in a skull that might or might not have been caused by a bullet, she once more finds herself turning to private investigator Sean Stranahan for help. Stranahan already has a case, having been hired by a group of eccentric fly fishermen called The Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club to find a valuable fly that they suspect has been stolen. Could the disappearance of a vintage Gray Ghost from a riverside cabin in the Madison Valley be connected to the gray ghosts who haunt Sphinx Mountain? Stranahan will cross paths, and arms, with some of the most powerful people in the valley to find out, in a novel that is sure to capture new fans for one of the mystery genre’s rising stars.
Paperback
First published February 21, 2013
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About the author
Keith McCafferty
23 books375 followersKeith McCafferty is the Survival and Outdoor Skills Editor of Field & Stream. He has written articles for publications as diverse as Fly Fisherman Magazine, Mother Earth News, Grays Sporting Journal and the Chicago Tribune, and on subjects ranging from mosquitoes to wolves to mercenaries and exorcism. Based in Montana and working on assignment around the globe he recently spent a month in India trekking the Himalayas, fishing for golden mahseer and studying tigers. Keith has won numerous awards, including the Robert Traver Award for angling literature. He has twice been a finalist for a National Magazine Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
June 27, 2019
Two graves are found on the Sphinx Moutain and Sheriff Martha Ettinger suspects murder. But, the only evidence is a hole in a skull that could be a bullet hole. So, she calls in private investigator Sean Stranahan for hep. Sean already has a case, trying to find a valuable fly that has been stolen from The Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club. But, he agrees to help Martha out with the dead bodies case.
I was delighted to discover The Sean Stranahan series when I ran out of Longmire books to read. (Check up Craig Johnsons Longmire books, they are great). Sean Stranahan moved to Montana after a failed marriage and he is now a painter, fly fisherman, and private investigator. In the first book, The Royal Wulff Murders did he help out Martha Ettinger with a case and they have an easy-going relationship with banter and quite a lot of chemistry between them. Unfortunately, they are also seeing other people, but that doesn't stop the sparks between them.
I do like these kinds of books. There is just something about Montana, the mountains, sheriffs and strange crimes that just floats my boat. As I wrote above did I start to read this series when I didn't have more Longmire books to read, and I recommend this series to Longmire fans. For one thing, Keith McCafferty has created some really good characters. Sean Stranahan is great, and I love that it's a female Sheriff in charge and Martha Ettinger is one hell of a woman. They make a great team!
The story in this book is good, and the dead body case took an interesting turn when the circumstances for the deaths were revealed, although I was not surprised when it came to whom was involved in it. Well, I did not figure out the whole plot, there were still some things that happened that I didn't see coming. Still, it was an interesting case. The missing fly case felt a little like a second case, not that important and not that big a mystery. Still, it served its purpose in the end.
I did, however, feel that the book becomes a bit slow now and then in the middle, but it picked up speed towards the end and it ended on a high note. There was, however, one part of the book that really got to me and that was Sean and his new "girlfriend" dealing with her dying cat. I have a serious problem reading and watching anything that deals with animals getting hurt or dies. But, at the same time, it dealt with really beautiful in this book because the cat was really loved.
3.5 stars
I was delighted to discover The Sean Stranahan series when I ran out of Longmire books to read. (Check up Craig Johnsons Longmire books, they are great). Sean Stranahan moved to Montana after a failed marriage and he is now a painter, fly fisherman, and private investigator. In the first book, The Royal Wulff Murders did he help out Martha Ettinger with a case and they have an easy-going relationship with banter and quite a lot of chemistry between them. Unfortunately, they are also seeing other people, but that doesn't stop the sparks between them.
I do like these kinds of books. There is just something about Montana, the mountains, sheriffs and strange crimes that just floats my boat. As I wrote above did I start to read this series when I didn't have more Longmire books to read, and I recommend this series to Longmire fans. For one thing, Keith McCafferty has created some really good characters. Sean Stranahan is great, and I love that it's a female Sheriff in charge and Martha Ettinger is one hell of a woman. They make a great team!
The story in this book is good, and the dead body case took an interesting turn when the circumstances for the deaths were revealed, although I was not surprised when it came to whom was involved in it. Well, I did not figure out the whole plot, there were still some things that happened that I didn't see coming. Still, it was an interesting case. The missing fly case felt a little like a second case, not that important and not that big a mystery. Still, it served its purpose in the end.
I did, however, feel that the book becomes a bit slow now and then in the middle, but it picked up speed towards the end and it ended on a high note. There was, however, one part of the book that really got to me and that was Sean and his new "girlfriend" dealing with her dying cat. I have a serious problem reading and watching anything that deals with animals getting hurt or dies. But, at the same time, it dealt with really beautiful in this book because the cat was really loved.
3.5 stars
January 12, 2022
Another really good mystery book by a new author I was introduced to in my Mystery Book Club. I really enjoyed the story and when I finished I wanted to read more, so I will look for other books in this series. I loved all the characters and did not want to leave them. This is especially a good book if you enjoy fly fishing and big game hunting but you will also enjoy it if you enjoy the outdoors. Book Club compared it to C.J. Box or James Lee Burke. Definitely recommend.
May 18, 2013
The Gray Ghost Murders by Keith McCafferty is a Viking publication released in February 2013.
Sean Stanahan, a former detective in a law firm, now living in Montana, working as a guide and various other odd jobs, is helping the Sherriff, Martha Ettinger and her crew as they try to determine what caused the deaths of two men they found buried while on a routine missing persons search.
Sean is also helping a group of fly fisherman that were robbed of some valuable flies.
The story deals with controversial issues about life and death and the right to die with dignity. This issue is handled exactly the way an author should handle it. The focus is on the mystery and murders and not on social commentary.
How does Sean's investigation into the stolen flies tie in with the murder investigation?
A clever plot, quirky Montana characters, and the bittersweet complications that plague the personal relationships of the main characters made this a very thought provoking and tense mystery.
I am not familiar with Montana, nor fly fishing, guns, or big game hunting. There are some in depth conversations regarding those topics that went a little over my head, but didn't take away from the heart of the story. Men will find those topics quite interesting, and women reading the book will enjoy the drama regarding the love lives of Sean and Martha and everyone will enjoy the complex mystery that will keep Thanks to Viking and Netgalley for the ARC digital copy of this book.
This one gets an A.
Sean Stanahan, a former detective in a law firm, now living in Montana, working as a guide and various other odd jobs, is helping the Sherriff, Martha Ettinger and her crew as they try to determine what caused the deaths of two men they found buried while on a routine missing persons search.
Sean is also helping a group of fly fisherman that were robbed of some valuable flies.
The story deals with controversial issues about life and death and the right to die with dignity. This issue is handled exactly the way an author should handle it. The focus is on the mystery and murders and not on social commentary.
How does Sean's investigation into the stolen flies tie in with the murder investigation?
A clever plot, quirky Montana characters, and the bittersweet complications that plague the personal relationships of the main characters made this a very thought provoking and tense mystery.
I am not familiar with Montana, nor fly fishing, guns, or big game hunting. There are some in depth conversations regarding those topics that went a little over my head, but didn't take away from the heart of the story. Men will find those topics quite interesting, and women reading the book will enjoy the drama regarding the love lives of Sean and Martha and everyone will enjoy the complex mystery that will keep Thanks to Viking and Netgalley for the ARC digital copy of this book.
This one gets an A.
June 20, 2013
The farther I progressed in this book the less I liked it.
The motive of the murder was unusual, but it was exposed too early by the author. As a result there wasn't much mystery in the second half of the book - I figured out the perpetrator as soon as he was introduced.
The part of the book I found most interesting had to do with the history and descriptions of different types of flies used in fly fishing, and the characters surrounding a secondary minor crime in the book (a theft).
Unfortunately, the author basically dropped that storyline until the end.
I didn't care for many of the characters.
During the climax I was more concerned about the animals (a dog and a horse)that were possibly in danger than the protagonist and other human characters who were definitely in danger.
The motive of the murder was unusual, but it was exposed too early by the author. As a result there wasn't much mystery in the second half of the book - I figured out the perpetrator as soon as he was introduced.
The part of the book I found most interesting had to do with the history and descriptions of different types of flies used in fly fishing, and the characters surrounding a secondary minor crime in the book (a theft).
Unfortunately, the author basically dropped that storyline until the end.
I didn't care for many of the characters.
During the climax I was more concerned about the animals (a dog and a horse)that were possibly in danger than the protagonist and other human characters who were definitely in danger.
October 23, 2025
J'aime le Montana grâce à ses écrivains, dont le bien-aimé Jim Harrisson. Avec ce livre-ci, je découvre Keith McCafferty, et je ne suis pas déçue. Certes, pour la non-initiée à la pêche à la mouche que je suis, ce fut un peu difficile (et parfois ennuyeux, je l'avoue), mais la beauté sauvage du pays et l'intrigue bien ficelée, ont largement contribué au plaisir de ma lecture.
June 27, 2013
A weak 3 even a 2.5, but with the promise of his narrative voice, I can't, in good conscience, leave it a 2.
Not too bad actually, even though it is a bit of a men's cosy mystery, with some nice descriptions, and certainly a change with fishing, fly tying, hunting all incorporated into the mystery. Some nice observations and character interactions. And more readable than some books I have experienced. And quick.
Quite a few characters, which meant that interactions were typically brief, so the character development was fairly superficial. The weakest characters were the women, which is part of the lower rating, not so much as characters (Katie I would have liked to have seen more of), but their interest/involvement with Stranahan was... wishful thinking on the part of the author? Character's actions were revealed but with little of the depth to make the reader care, it seemed more like a checker board, lining the pieces up to move the plot lines along. And the medical mystery element carried a lot of the narrative weight.
That being said, if this is only the author's 2nd novel and his narrative voice is very readable (fishing, fly tying and all), I would give him another try when he gets more comfortable in straddling that line of personal detail and character while still being all manly and such.
Note: I like his observations on pp 121-122 about the Montana women, now if only his female characters could show that so well.
Not too bad actually, even though it is a bit of a men's cosy mystery, with some nice descriptions, and certainly a change with fishing, fly tying, hunting all incorporated into the mystery. Some nice observations and character interactions. And more readable than some books I have experienced. And quick.
Quite a few characters, which meant that interactions were typically brief, so the character development was fairly superficial. The weakest characters were the women, which is part of the lower rating, not so much as characters (Katie I would have liked to have seen more of), but their interest/involvement with Stranahan was... wishful thinking on the part of the author? Character's actions were revealed but with little of the depth to make the reader care, it seemed more like a checker board, lining the pieces up to move the plot lines along. And the medical mystery element carried a lot of the narrative weight.
That being said, if this is only the author's 2nd novel and his narrative voice is very readable (fishing, fly tying and all), I would give him another try when he gets more comfortable in straddling that line of personal detail and character while still being all manly and such.
Note: I like his observations on pp 121-122 about the Montana women, now if only his female characters could show that so well.
February 11, 2017
My first Keith McCafferty book. I'm a sucker for any story set in Montana with fly fishing. I'll likely read more of the Sean Stranahan series. Good story line although a couple of weak loose ends and explanations, or maybe I missed something, which is always possible.
Just learned it was chosen by Oprah’s Book Club as one of “5 Addictive New Mysteries We Can’t Put Down” for whatever that's worth.
Might want to check out McCafferty's website and/or Facebook page. Interesting dude. Hope I meet him on a Montana river some day.
Just learned it was chosen by Oprah’s Book Club as one of “5 Addictive New Mysteries We Can’t Put Down” for whatever that's worth.
Might want to check out McCafferty's website and/or Facebook page. Interesting dude. Hope I meet him on a Montana river some day.
January 6, 2020
The plot lines are good, but I can see they are meant to titillate the male audience. I know that some men do talk about women like what the author depicts in his books; however, I would think that one could progress past that neanderthal image of women. The women in McCafferty's books are also portrayed as seductresses and a mentally unstable, although Sheriff Ettinger is a stable female influence. Of course, Stranahan doesn't get it.
April 25, 2017
Not as good as Johnson or Box. Found it annoying that 3 major characters had names so similar: Crawford, Cummings, and Caulfield; they were hard to keep straight. Fly fishing & tying was prominent and not my interest.
January 25, 2021
2.5 ⭐️
Ce livre comporte, à mon avis, plusieurs longueurs : personnages plus ou moins attrayants, propos fades et dialogues de premier degré, figures de style limitées et vieillottes, etc.
Peut-être que la traduction française comporte aussi quelques défauts ? J’en retiens des phrases plus ou moins bien ponctuées et une syntaxe peu élaborée. Autrement dit, j’ai eu l’impression de lire, par moment, un livre quelque peu défraichi malgré sa parution en 2013.
J’ai également trouvé que les intrigues étaient prévisibles, voire ternes, et je n’ai su m’attacher ou m’identifier à aucun des personnages.
Toutefois, j’ai apprécié sortir de ma zone de confort par le thème omniprésent de la pêche. Cela m’a permis d’avoir accès à un monde que je connais très peu, et qui n’est pas souvent exploité dans le genre policier.
Ce livre comporte, à mon avis, plusieurs longueurs : personnages plus ou moins attrayants, propos fades et dialogues de premier degré, figures de style limitées et vieillottes, etc.
Peut-être que la traduction française comporte aussi quelques défauts ? J’en retiens des phrases plus ou moins bien ponctuées et une syntaxe peu élaborée. Autrement dit, j’ai eu l’impression de lire, par moment, un livre quelque peu défraichi malgré sa parution en 2013.
J’ai également trouvé que les intrigues étaient prévisibles, voire ternes, et je n’ai su m’attacher ou m’identifier à aucun des personnages.
Toutefois, j’ai apprécié sortir de ma zone de confort par le thème omniprésent de la pêche. Cela m’a permis d’avoir accès à un monde que je connais très peu, et qui n’est pas souvent exploité dans le genre policier.
February 23, 2021
Je vais commencer à trier les Gallmeister que je lis. Je prends un réel plaisir à lire des récits de nature, de rivières, de feuillages, tandis que je compte les pages des polars en espérant qu’ils finissent vite.
Les morts de Bear Creek est un polar.
SPOILER :
Il fait sans arrêt référence à une nouvelle, appelée « le plus dangereux des gibiers » qui a été adaptée au cinéma sous le titre « les chasses du comte Zarroff »...
l’énigme se résout en lien avec celle de cette nouvelle et au final, je pense que j’aurais préféré lire la nouvelle que l’enquête y afférente. Il y a là un bon sujet pour un thriller glauque et sous tension, le genre que pourrait écrire David Vann.
Finalement le bouquin n’était pas mal, mais la résolution de l’enquête ne m’a pas intéressée.
Bechdel OK.
Les morts de Bear Creek est un polar.
SPOILER :
Il fait sans arrêt référence à une nouvelle, appelée « le plus dangereux des gibiers » qui a été adaptée au cinéma sous le titre « les chasses du comte Zarroff »...
l’énigme se résout en lien avec celle de cette nouvelle et au final, je pense que j’aurais préféré lire la nouvelle que l’enquête y afférente. Il y a là un bon sujet pour un thriller glauque et sous tension, le genre que pourrait écrire David Vann.
Finalement le bouquin n’était pas mal, mais la résolution de l’enquête ne m’a pas intéressée.
Bechdel OK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 7, 2024I grew up in a family with a dad and brothers who fished. I'm not a fisherman myself, but I love reading about the fishing in these books. I see my dad or brother wading wet casting a fly rod in our favorite river, the Douglas. Other things I love about these books: 1. There isn't a head honcho who thwarts the underlings and therefore mucks up the case. 2. There are no lurid, graphic sex scenes. 3. Sean is such a likable fellow.
July 18, 2018
An interesting book combining murders and fly-tying and fishing. Finding two buried bodies of terminally ill men starts off a murder investigation that requires investigating many strange motivations. Although the fly fishing does relate to the investigation, unless you are a sports fisher, the descriptions of fly tying and fishing are likely to become a bit tedious.
January 13, 2020
Another good read!
July 10, 2024
I really starting to enjoy this series in Montana.
July 2, 2025
3.5 stars
August 7, 2017
Very outdoorsy, and I now know more than I ever wanted to about fly fishing. This should appeal to Longmire fans.
October 8, 2025
In this second book in the 'Sean Stranahan' series, the painter/private detective is involved in two investigations. The book works fine as a standalone, though familiarity with the characters is a bonus.
****
Sean Stranahan - an artist and private investigator - moved from the East Coast to Bridger, Montana for a change of scenery and the excellent fly fishing.
A while back, Stranahan helped Sheriff Martha Ettinger track down a murderer, and Ettinger now hires Sean on occasion, to work with her team.
Martha's crew includes Deputy Sheriff Walt Hess, who was once a Chicago police detective;
and Native American tracker Harold Little Feather, who can follow footprints and animal tracks that are almost invisible.
Sean is asked to assist after dog handler Katie Sparrow and her German Shepherd Lothar search Sphinx Mountain for schoolteacher Gordon Godfrey, whose wife reported him missing.
It turns out Godfrey is shacked up with another woman, but Lothar sniffs out SOMEONE ELSE'S bones in a shallow grave. Worse yet, this area appears to be a 'graveyard' because a second set of bones is located nearby.
When Katie and Sean search the area for evidence, they find a wedding ring and a bullet.
These clues lead the police to discover that the victims were older men with terminal illnesses, and that at least one victim was shot with a fancy expensive hunting rifle, like those used by trophy hunters on safari.
While all this is going on, private detective Stranahan accepts a case of his own. The 'Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club', which owns a fishing lodge on the Madison River, has experienced a serious theft.
The club purchases and displays collectible fishing flies, and two flies - worth thousands of dollars each - have been stolen. The club hires Sean to track down the thief and retrieve the fishing flies.
Sean works on the two cases simultaneously: the Sphinx Mountain murderer and the fishing fly burglar.
For the burglary case, Sean stays in the fishing lodge for a few days, and speaks to the neighbors: a nasty cheapskate and his school age son; and a wealthy U.S. Senator. However, no one saw any suspicious characters lurking in the area.
The murder investigation reveals a complicated scheme that led to the victims' deaths, and - as it turns out - there's a connection with the stolen fishing flies. All this leads to an action-packed denouement.
In Stranahan's personal life, his long-distance romance with a beautiful club singer seems to have petered out, and Sean starts dating a pretty bikini barista/veterinary student named Martinique. Martha Ettinger is sniffy about Sean's new girlfriend, who serves coffee in barely-there outfits.
(Note: Author Keith McCafferty leans toward what I call 'male fantasy writing'. It seems every woman who lays her eyes on Sean is smitten, including the sheriff and the dog handler. At least Sean is described as handsome, which reduces my irritation a tiny bit. LOL)
As in the first book in the series, characters in this novel do lots of fly fishing and chat about making and using fishing flies. Though I don't fish, I find this interesting.
I enjoyed the book, but I found the plot overly complicated and not quite credible. Still, it's fun to visit with the recurrent characters, who are an interesting bunch.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
February 24, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
The Gray Ghost Murders is actually a sequel to Keith McCafferty’s first mystery novel, The Royal Wulff Murders. I didn’t realize that when I received this ARC so I had not read it. I have to say that it didn’t seem to affect my enjoyment of this novel as everything was still easy to follow, but I do intend to go back and read it when I have a chance. The only drawback, for me, to not having read the debut novel was that it took me a little while to get all the characters straight in my head. Other than that, I had no problems jumping straight into this book.
Sean Stranahan makes his living as a fly fishing guide and part-time PI in a relatively rural Montana town. He has been asked to look into the disappearances of two prized fishing lures and then finds himself pulled into a cold case murder investigation after the remains of two bodies are discovered in the woods. Are the two mysteries connected? Are these actual murders or is there the possibility of a suicide pact? Sean must find the answers before someone else ends up dead.
Sean was a great character. I liked that he was a little bit damaged and trying to find himself. He was supported by a wonderfully diverse supporting cast as well. I really liked his girlfriend Martinique and the local sheriff, Martha. Katie the dog handler was also a hoot. All of the members of the fly fishing club were interesting as well, especially Winston the barber, Willoughby, and poor old Polly Sorenson. The whole town is described so vividly that I can just picture it in my head — I can see all the characters milling about and living their daily lives. Having never been to Montana myself, the fact that this book makes me feel like I have is quite a tribute to Mr. McCafferty’s skill.
The mystery aspect was very well-done and kept me guessing to the end. I had a hunch about a particular character, but the way it actually played out was not as I expected. The pacing was fairly quick throughout the entire novel, but I did get a little bogged down in some of the fly fishing passages. I found it was okay to skim over them and not miss any important information; it was more or less background to explain the club and why Sean ended up in Montana. I liked that the author included a lot of personal interactions between the characters instead of focusing on the murders all the time. With this being such a small town, it is inevitable that everyone would know everyone else’s business and it was fun to see that play out.
I really enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to go back and read the first one in the series. I think this has general appeal to all mystery readers but I could see it fitting especially well with cozy readers that want to try a more standard mystery and of course it would be great for anyone who enjoys fishing. Mr. McCafferty is a writer that I intend to keep my eye on.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Adult for providing an ARC copy of this book!
The Gray Ghost Murders is actually a sequel to Keith McCafferty’s first mystery novel, The Royal Wulff Murders. I didn’t realize that when I received this ARC so I had not read it. I have to say that it didn’t seem to affect my enjoyment of this novel as everything was still easy to follow, but I do intend to go back and read it when I have a chance. The only drawback, for me, to not having read the debut novel was that it took me a little while to get all the characters straight in my head. Other than that, I had no problems jumping straight into this book.
Sean Stranahan makes his living as a fly fishing guide and part-time PI in a relatively rural Montana town. He has been asked to look into the disappearances of two prized fishing lures and then finds himself pulled into a cold case murder investigation after the remains of two bodies are discovered in the woods. Are the two mysteries connected? Are these actual murders or is there the possibility of a suicide pact? Sean must find the answers before someone else ends up dead.
Sean was a great character. I liked that he was a little bit damaged and trying to find himself. He was supported by a wonderfully diverse supporting cast as well. I really liked his girlfriend Martinique and the local sheriff, Martha. Katie the dog handler was also a hoot. All of the members of the fly fishing club were interesting as well, especially Winston the barber, Willoughby, and poor old Polly Sorenson. The whole town is described so vividly that I can just picture it in my head — I can see all the characters milling about and living their daily lives. Having never been to Montana myself, the fact that this book makes me feel like I have is quite a tribute to Mr. McCafferty’s skill.
The mystery aspect was very well-done and kept me guessing to the end. I had a hunch about a particular character, but the way it actually played out was not as I expected. The pacing was fairly quick throughout the entire novel, but I did get a little bogged down in some of the fly fishing passages. I found it was okay to skim over them and not miss any important information; it was more or less background to explain the club and why Sean ended up in Montana. I liked that the author included a lot of personal interactions between the characters instead of focusing on the murders all the time. With this being such a small town, it is inevitable that everyone would know everyone else’s business and it was fun to see that play out.
I really enjoyed this novel and can’t wait to go back and read the first one in the series. I think this has general appeal to all mystery readers but I could see it fitting especially well with cozy readers that want to try a more standard mystery and of course it would be great for anyone who enjoys fishing. Mr. McCafferty is a writer that I intend to keep my eye on.
Thank you to Netgalley and Viking Adult for providing an ARC copy of this book!
September 8, 2016
First Sentence: The hands shook as the watcher adjusted the focus ring of the binoculars.
Katie Sparrow’s search and rescue dog doesn’t find the reported lost hiker. Instead, they find a buried body which, when uncovered, was a murder victim. And then they find another. Fly-fishing guide, painter and PI Sean Stranahan is hired to find a lost tackle box. The box is also an entry to his being introduced to the members of the Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club; a group of men who bought a cabin along the river. It is they who really want to hire Stranahan to find two valuable fishing flies which have been stolen from their cabin. The trail turns very dark as Sean is asked to help the police with the murders while still searching for the flies.
From the beginning, the author’s love of fly fishing is very apparent. Even if fishing and hunting, are not your style, don’t let that stop you from reading this book for it is the characters that carry the story.
Stranahan may be described as extremely good looking, but that really doesn’t much play into the character. Yes, women are attracted to him, but he is anything but a womanizer, and how refreshing is that. Not only that, there is no profanity in the book; another nice change. And although he knows how to use a gun, he doesn’t own one. If anything, it is Sherriff Martha Ettinger who comes across as the tougher character, except where her love life is concerned. Then, she is classically vulnerable. Katie, the dog handler, facilitates moments of humor…”Godfrey, a schoolteacher with a scratch to itch and lay south of his belt buckle and a history of women cutting his fact out of photographs….” What’s nice is that are the characters are clearly drawn and distinct.
McCafferty provides excellent descriptions which help the reader understand the love of fly fishers and give a desire for traveling to Montana…”Above him was one of those summer skies that people who live in the East can’t believe are real, the light over the Gravelly Range lavender bleeding to pink, the clouds rimmed with golden light from the setting sun and the river a study in pointillism, as wavelets bounced colors back and forth…”
The plot is interesting and compelling. There are layers and twists enough to keep you going. There is a classic short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," referenced which, if the reader is familiar with the story, gives a hint of the story’s path, but one isn’t certain quite how it’s going to play in. There are characters one suspects, but enough uncertainty to keep one guessing.
“The Gray Ghost Murders” is a very good read. It kept me involved from first page to last.
THE GRAY GHOST MURDERS (PI- Sean Stranahan-Montana-Contemp) – VG
McCafferty, Keith – 2nd in series
Viking, 2013
Katie Sparrow’s search and rescue dog doesn’t find the reported lost hiker. Instead, they find a buried body which, when uncovered, was a murder victim. And then they find another. Fly-fishing guide, painter and PI Sean Stranahan is hired to find a lost tackle box. The box is also an entry to his being introduced to the members of the Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club; a group of men who bought a cabin along the river. It is they who really want to hire Stranahan to find two valuable fishing flies which have been stolen from their cabin. The trail turns very dark as Sean is asked to help the police with the murders while still searching for the flies.
From the beginning, the author’s love of fly fishing is very apparent. Even if fishing and hunting, are not your style, don’t let that stop you from reading this book for it is the characters that carry the story.
Stranahan may be described as extremely good looking, but that really doesn’t much play into the character. Yes, women are attracted to him, but he is anything but a womanizer, and how refreshing is that. Not only that, there is no profanity in the book; another nice change. And although he knows how to use a gun, he doesn’t own one. If anything, it is Sherriff Martha Ettinger who comes across as the tougher character, except where her love life is concerned. Then, she is classically vulnerable. Katie, the dog handler, facilitates moments of humor…”Godfrey, a schoolteacher with a scratch to itch and lay south of his belt buckle and a history of women cutting his fact out of photographs….” What’s nice is that are the characters are clearly drawn and distinct.
McCafferty provides excellent descriptions which help the reader understand the love of fly fishers and give a desire for traveling to Montana…”Above him was one of those summer skies that people who live in the East can’t believe are real, the light over the Gravelly Range lavender bleeding to pink, the clouds rimmed with golden light from the setting sun and the river a study in pointillism, as wavelets bounced colors back and forth…”
The plot is interesting and compelling. There are layers and twists enough to keep you going. There is a classic short story, "The Most Dangerous Game," referenced which, if the reader is familiar with the story, gives a hint of the story’s path, but one isn’t certain quite how it’s going to play in. There are characters one suspects, but enough uncertainty to keep one guessing.
“The Gray Ghost Murders” is a very good read. It kept me involved from first page to last.
THE GRAY GHOST MURDERS (PI- Sean Stranahan-Montana-Contemp) – VG
McCafferty, Keith – 2nd in series
Viking, 2013
December 23, 2016
It takes a little while to get going as McCafferty's style for lots of description can bog you down a bit, but once the plot is understood I found myself intrigued with ever page.
December 10, 2020
Former Boston PI, current painter/fishing guide Sean Stranahan is still trying to balance his life. Through one of his fly-fishing gigs, he is hired to find two valuable antique and collectible lures. Concurrently, his work with Sheriff Martha Ettinger involves him in the discovery of two bodies buried on Sphinx Mountain. His investigations of case 1 may lead him to clues to case 2.
The beautifully described rivers and mountains add depth as well as suspense and danger to the story. Urban investigators are rarely attacked by a grizzly bear. The characters are a mixed lot of tough, quirky westerners and wealthy, new owners of parts of Montana. Some may even think that hunting human game is the biggest rush.
This novel should appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, the outdoors, fly-fisher people, and those who try to understand them. Recommended.
Readalikes:
William Kent Krueger’s Cork O'Connor mysteries; C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels; Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries; Victoria Houston’s Loon Lake fishing mysteries and Dead Renegade; Anne Hillerman – Spider Woman’s Daughter; J.A. Jance’s Sheriff Joanna Brady series, especially Partner in Crime; C.J. Carmichael – Bitter Roots.
Pace: Moderately paced
Characters: Flawed; quirky; loners
Storyline: Character-driven; Intricately plotted
Writing style: Richly detailed
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Montana; contemporary
Theme: Rural police
The beautifully described rivers and mountains add depth as well as suspense and danger to the story. Urban investigators are rarely attacked by a grizzly bear. The characters are a mixed lot of tough, quirky westerners and wealthy, new owners of parts of Montana. Some may even think that hunting human game is the biggest rush.
This novel should appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, the outdoors, fly-fisher people, and those who try to understand them. Recommended.
Readalikes:
William Kent Krueger’s Cork O'Connor mysteries; C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels; Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire mysteries; Victoria Houston’s Loon Lake fishing mysteries and Dead Renegade; Anne Hillerman – Spider Woman’s Daughter; J.A. Jance’s Sheriff Joanna Brady series, especially Partner in Crime; C.J. Carmichael – Bitter Roots.
Pace: Moderately paced
Characters: Flawed; quirky; loners
Storyline: Character-driven; Intricately plotted
Writing style: Richly detailed
Tone: Strong sense of place; Suspenseful
Frame: Montana; contemporary
Theme: Rural police
August 19, 2013
If you are an outdoorsy type this may have the sort of detail that will get you through what I found slow, peopled with too many characters, and overwritten with dialogue. I gave it my best shot but it lacked pace and for me was a self indulgence for the author. I can see that it offers a different sense of place but by page 43 I had little idea which character was the key player and the bear attack story which interupts the discovery of the bodies makes this a halting read. Perhaps the Native Indian bear thing has import later on but it makes the structure a continuing introduction of character and sets the plot to one side. Add to this some cliched dialogue and a black metrosexual fly fishing hairdresser and for me it added up to some great fun for the writer but a failure for the art of editing. Some will love it but I think most will find it frustrating.
June 16, 2014
This is my third Sean Stranahan mystery. Obviously, I've read them out of order. Probably not my best idea but if you love fly fishing, hunting, Montana and the great outdoors, order may not be important. I enjoy the detail, most of the characters and the plots. Unfortunately, there is one main character who is so unpleasant that I can't stand the thought of encountering this creature again. Yes, it sounds nuts even to me but this character always spoils my mood. That would be fine in a bad guy--we're not supposed to like them anyway-- but this person is on the side of the angels. I am puzzled that the author hasn't given me a single thing to admire about this person. I hate to throw the baby out with the bathwater but oh well.
August 2, 2016
Mystery; 2nd book in the Sean Stranahan series. First off, I enjoyed this book more than the first one. It was a very interesting storyline and now that we finally live in Montana, we have the added bonus of recognizing a lot of what the author describes. (Yes, my husband has actually tried Moose Drool beer.) As always, we enjoy a book that includes fly fishing and insights into nature, parks, and life in general. This is not a book for everyone and there are a couple of characters I could do without because of their crude language or actions--there is swearing in the book, but nothing too descriptive otherwise. My husband has already read all existing books in the series (there are 5) and I am playing catch-up. Recommend to those with an interest in fly fishing or Montana.
February 2, 2014
The Gray Ghost Murders by Keith McCafferty
This is another great work of art! The thrilling murder mystery takes place in the heavenly area of Southwest Montana. Like his first novel, the story is built around flyfishing fanatics. Mr. McCafferty’s description of the fishing is so good that it has made me want to pick up a fishing pole after more than one decade. Beyond the setting, the love of trout fishing, and the complex murder investigations is the very fine development of the personal relationship among the most interesting members of the Madison River rats. A fine, easy, most enjoyable read!
This is another great work of art! The thrilling murder mystery takes place in the heavenly area of Southwest Montana. Like his first novel, the story is built around flyfishing fanatics. Mr. McCafferty’s description of the fishing is so good that it has made me want to pick up a fishing pole after more than one decade. Beyond the setting, the love of trout fishing, and the complex murder investigations is the very fine development of the personal relationship among the most interesting members of the Madison River rats. A fine, easy, most enjoyable read!
April 12, 2020
Des retrouvailles très sympathiques avec Seam et surtout le retour dans le Montana. Chronique à venir sur mon blog. J’hésite encore sur la note finale. Je viens de refermer tout juste le livre. Les oiseaux chantent. Une très belle journée en perspective.
February 20, 2024
Beautifully written. Sean is again recruited by Martha Ettinger to assist in solving the murders of men found buried on Sphinx Mountain. Katie Sparrow's dog alerts while on another case, and when the group goes to find the grave a sow grizzly with two cubs is disturbed excavating the buried remains. She is not left as Little Feather thinks, as one cub has climbed a tree in fear, and Harold is mauled badly, nearly dying. Sean had taken his tracking course and had learned as a boy. They finda second grave. Sean goes with Katie, and using a metal detector, they unearth a bullet, a very large caliber, along with a wedding ring. It is determined that the men were both terminally ill. Their identities are finally determined, one Aleko Gutierrez, suffering from Valley Fever, and Orvel Webster, suffering from cancer. He had gone hunting and never returned. Both men had attended retreats that were helping terminally ill patients cope with their deaths. It was at these sessions that they had been recruited to participate in an arrangement. Emmitt Cummings, a gentle cowboy, who is himself dying, has been given a book "Stories for Men", in which a short story entitled "The Most Dangerous Game" describes hunting the most dangerous prey...man. He proposes that they hunt one another, the one who is killed experiences "death with honor", rather than the undignified and painful deaths that they face from their various illnesses.
It was ultimately proposed to Cummings by Weldon Crawford, a Montanan congressman, who is also a big game hunter with a very dark side. He intends to eventually take over the "game". Sean meets him and realizes that he both likes and dislikes the man, who has an uncanny way with persuasion and manipulation.
At the same time Sean is recruited by a Liars and Fly Tiers Club to recover two valuable historical ties: the Quill Gorden for which the group had paid $17,500, and the Gray Ghost, tied by Carrie Stevens in the mid 20th century. Through this association with four members: Patrick Willoughby, Polly Sorenson (who is dying of COPD and is being recruited subtly by Crawford), Jonathan Smithy, and Kenneth Winston, Sean will find new fishing friends. Winston is an African American hairdresser with a salon in the South, whom Sean guides. He is one of the top tiers in the country, and intrigues a young boy, Sidney, that Sean befriends. Neither had met a Black fly fisherman.
He will eventually find that Sidney had been trying to get a key to the club's cabin and was caught by Crawford, who took the flies. Crawford hid them in the trap in the buttplate of the rifle used to kill the men, a .470 Nitro Double. His intent was to return them to Polly and recruit him for the game.
During this story Sean also gets up the courage to ask out one of the baristas of Lookers and Lattes, a coffee kiosk that uses scantily clad young women to serve. Martinique agrees to go out with him after he helps her take care of her father's cat that is dying and needs fluid injections. She lives in a converted grain elevator. She is a veterinarian student who will be going to OSU in a short time, but they develop a strong relationship in the meantime.
When they determine that Emmitt Cummings is the killer, Sean goes onto the mountain to stop him. One of the men with whom he had made an arrangement changes his mind. He decides when he is one his way that he has a new lease on the rest of his life. He tells Peach Morris of the arrangement and begins a relationship with Harriet Langhor. Melvin Kauffeld will provide information leading to Sean where Crawford has shot Cummings through his tent. He confronts Crawford, who gets the drop on him, thankfully killed by Martha, who has come to the mountain. She and Harold had found a journal and notes that implicate him and explain his reasons. Then finding the bullet that Cummings carried they find further evidence of the collaboration of Crawford.
This was as good as any mystery I have read. It was clever and creative using the short story and with the philosophizing of Sean while fishing and tracking. He is brilliant at describing nature, especially the river and the trout, the sensuality of fishing.
It was ultimately proposed to Cummings by Weldon Crawford, a Montanan congressman, who is also a big game hunter with a very dark side. He intends to eventually take over the "game". Sean meets him and realizes that he both likes and dislikes the man, who has an uncanny way with persuasion and manipulation.
At the same time Sean is recruited by a Liars and Fly Tiers Club to recover two valuable historical ties: the Quill Gorden for which the group had paid $17,500, and the Gray Ghost, tied by Carrie Stevens in the mid 20th century. Through this association with four members: Patrick Willoughby, Polly Sorenson (who is dying of COPD and is being recruited subtly by Crawford), Jonathan Smithy, and Kenneth Winston, Sean will find new fishing friends. Winston is an African American hairdresser with a salon in the South, whom Sean guides. He is one of the top tiers in the country, and intrigues a young boy, Sidney, that Sean befriends. Neither had met a Black fly fisherman.
He will eventually find that Sidney had been trying to get a key to the club's cabin and was caught by Crawford, who took the flies. Crawford hid them in the trap in the buttplate of the rifle used to kill the men, a .470 Nitro Double. His intent was to return them to Polly and recruit him for the game.
During this story Sean also gets up the courage to ask out one of the baristas of Lookers and Lattes, a coffee kiosk that uses scantily clad young women to serve. Martinique agrees to go out with him after he helps her take care of her father's cat that is dying and needs fluid injections. She lives in a converted grain elevator. She is a veterinarian student who will be going to OSU in a short time, but they develop a strong relationship in the meantime.
When they determine that Emmitt Cummings is the killer, Sean goes onto the mountain to stop him. One of the men with whom he had made an arrangement changes his mind. He decides when he is one his way that he has a new lease on the rest of his life. He tells Peach Morris of the arrangement and begins a relationship with Harriet Langhor. Melvin Kauffeld will provide information leading to Sean where Crawford has shot Cummings through his tent. He confronts Crawford, who gets the drop on him, thankfully killed by Martha, who has come to the mountain. She and Harold had found a journal and notes that implicate him and explain his reasons. Then finding the bullet that Cummings carried they find further evidence of the collaboration of Crawford.
This was as good as any mystery I have read. It was clever and creative using the short story and with the philosophizing of Sean while fishing and tracking. He is brilliant at describing nature, especially the river and the trout, the sensuality of fishing.
March 12, 2025
Mlle Alice, pouvez-vous nous raconter votre rencontre avec Les Morts de Bear Creek ?
"Encore un livre que je n'ai pas hésité à acheter le jour où je suis enfin tombée dessus en librairie étant donné qu'il semblait presque introuvable, voire épuisée, et que j'avais trop peur que l'occasion ne se représente pas."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Avec le dégel et le printemps qui approche, un grizzly affamé exhume deux cadavres dans les Rocheuses. Sean, de son côté, cherche des mouches de collection qui ont été volées mais il n'est jamais contre l'idée de donner un coup de main sur une affaire de meurtres..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Je ne sais pas comment l'expliquer : je ne pêche pas, ça ne me tente même pas, mais j'adore lire des romans autour de ce thème. Je pense que c'est à la fois la passion des pêcheurs pour leur sport, leur minutie, le fait de fabriquer leurs propres mouches qui me fascine et la patience, le calme que cette ambiance dégage toujours et dans lequel je me sens vraiment bien, le tout dans les grands espaces américains, proche de la nature. Et ce fut encore le cas ici, à chaque fois que je reposais le roman, j'avais envie d'y retourner. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé l'histoire, l'enquête et le personnage principal alors, plus d'hésitations, je continuerai cette série, c'est sûr. Pourtant, comme dans le premier tome, je trouve que les relations du héros avec les femmes sont quand même extrêmement 'cliché', ce sont toutes de pauvres petites choses qui ont besoin d'être sauvées, sauf le Shérif bien sûr, qui elle est exécrable. J'espère vraiment que c'est un aspect-là finira par évoluer dans le bon sens."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Il m'a fallu deux tomes pour être certaine de vouloir prolonger l'aventure au côté de Sean Stranahan mais cette fois, j'ai déjà hâte d'enfiler à nouveau mes waders et de retourner patauger dans la rivière. En espérant trouver le suivant rapidement."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
"Encore un livre que je n'ai pas hésité à acheter le jour où je suis enfin tombée dessus en librairie étant donné qu'il semblait presque introuvable, voire épuisée, et que j'avais trop peur que l'occasion ne se représente pas."
Dites-nous en un peu plus sur son histoire...
"Avec le dégel et le printemps qui approche, un grizzly affamé exhume deux cadavres dans les Rocheuses. Sean, de son côté, cherche des mouches de collection qui ont été volées mais il n'est jamais contre l'idée de donner un coup de main sur une affaire de meurtres..."
Mais que s'est-il exactement passé entre vous ?
"Je ne sais pas comment l'expliquer : je ne pêche pas, ça ne me tente même pas, mais j'adore lire des romans autour de ce thème. Je pense que c'est à la fois la passion des pêcheurs pour leur sport, leur minutie, le fait de fabriquer leurs propres mouches qui me fascine et la patience, le calme que cette ambiance dégage toujours et dans lequel je me sens vraiment bien, le tout dans les grands espaces américains, proche de la nature. Et ce fut encore le cas ici, à chaque fois que je reposais le roman, j'avais envie d'y retourner. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé l'histoire, l'enquête et le personnage principal alors, plus d'hésitations, je continuerai cette série, c'est sûr. Pourtant, comme dans le premier tome, je trouve que les relations du héros avec les femmes sont quand même extrêmement 'cliché', ce sont toutes de pauvres petites choses qui ont besoin d'être sauvées, sauf le Shérif bien sûr, qui elle est exécrable. J'espère vraiment que c'est un aspect-là finira par évoluer dans le bon sens."
Et comment cela s'est-il fini ?
"Il m'a fallu deux tomes pour être certaine de vouloir prolonger l'aventure au côté de Sean Stranahan mais cette fois, j'ai déjà hâte d'enfiler à nouveau mes waders et de retourner patauger dans la rivière. En espérant trouver le suivant rapidement."
http://booksaremywonderland.hautetfor...
July 5, 2021
It just gets better!
Keith McCafferty's first book in this series ("The Royal Wulff Murders") was so good that I still remember most of the characters and situations from it, making revisiting them for book two after a long interim much less confusing than it could have been. So it was like dropping in on old friends Sean Stranahan (artist, fly-fisherman and helpful assistant to...), Sheriff Martha Ettinger, Harold Little Feather, and dog handler Katie Sparrow.
This time Sean's involved in two investigations: a missing, very expensive fly from the Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club and a cold case murder when a body is discovered on a nearby mountain. Mix in a little frustrated romance, plenty of odd characters and fly-fishing descriptions as fine as the feathers tied to the tippets (okay, I'm sure I got *that* wrong) and you have a page-turning mystery that even those of us who can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we've held a fishing rod will love, and you have a successful novel.
Don't let references to fly fishing turn you off if it's not your sport -- McCafferty does such an excellent job with those details you'll appreciate this aspect of the book despite any ignorance of it :)
I love books with a strong sense of place, and McCafferty has firmly planted Sean Stranahan in a setting that echoes all the moods of the story -- shadowy forests, jagged cliffs, rushing rivers... He will immerse your in this beautiful part of Montana as deeply as he'll plunge you into the mysteries it holds.
Keith McCafferty's first book in this series ("The Royal Wulff Murders") was so good that I still remember most of the characters and situations from it, making revisiting them for book two after a long interim much less confusing than it could have been. So it was like dropping in on old friends Sean Stranahan (artist, fly-fisherman and helpful assistant to...), Sheriff Martha Ettinger, Harold Little Feather, and dog handler Katie Sparrow.
This time Sean's involved in two investigations: a missing, very expensive fly from the Madison River Liars and Fly Tiers Club and a cold case murder when a body is discovered on a nearby mountain. Mix in a little frustrated romance, plenty of odd characters and fly-fishing descriptions as fine as the feathers tied to the tippets (okay, I'm sure I got *that* wrong) and you have a page-turning mystery that even those of us who can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times we've held a fishing rod will love, and you have a successful novel.
Don't let references to fly fishing turn you off if it's not your sport -- McCafferty does such an excellent job with those details you'll appreciate this aspect of the book despite any ignorance of it :)
I love books with a strong sense of place, and McCafferty has firmly planted Sean Stranahan in a setting that echoes all the moods of the story -- shadowy forests, jagged cliffs, rushing rivers... He will immerse your in this beautiful part of Montana as deeply as he'll plunge you into the mysteries it holds.
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