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Jules Clement #1
The Edge of the Crazies
Perched at the foot of Montana's Crazy Mountains, Blue Deer is a small town boasting an uneasy mix of longtime residents and hotshots from both coasts looking to possess their own piece of the Big Sky. Local sheriff Jules Clement manages the town's tensions fairly well...until someone blasts a hole in screenwriter George Blackwater's office window--and in George himself.
As more of the town's prominent citizens start turning up dead, the pressure on Jules keeps rising. It starts to look like this rookie sheriff may not survive the next election...if he lives to see it.
As more of the town's prominent citizens start turning up dead, the pressure on Jules keeps rising. It starts to look like this rookie sheriff may not survive the next election...if he lives to see it.
324 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
87 people are currently reading
639 people want to read
About the author
Jamie Harrison
8 books132 followersJamie Harrison is the author of six novels: The Center of Everything (January 2021, Counterpoint), The Widow Nash (2017), and the four Jules Clement/Blue Deer mysteries, slated to be reissued soon by Counterpoint Press: The Edge of the Crazies, Going Local, An Unfortunate Prairie Occurrence, and Blue Deer Thaw. She was awarded the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association Reading the West Book Award for The Widow Nash, and was a finalist for the High Plains Book Award.
The Center of Everything (2021) was a January pick by Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, and Indie Next, with a Rave status at Book Marks: https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/the...
The Center of Everything (2021) was a January pick by Oprah Magazine, People Magazine, and Indie Next, with a Rave status at Book Marks: https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/the...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 23, 2021
Beginning in 1995, Jamie Harrison, the daughter of novelist Jim Harrison, wrote four novels set in the fictional town of Blue Deer, Montana, located on the edge of the Crazy Mountains, very near where the real town of Livingston, Montana would be found. The main protagonist was a young archaeologist, Jules Clement, who returned home to Blue Deer and was elected to the office of County Sheriff, a position that had once been held by his father.
Blue Deer is populated with a mix of eccentric characters, some of whom are long-time residents and others of whom are more recent arrivals, including a number of writers, artists and other celebrities who have found their way to Big Sky Country in the last few years. Among other things, Harrison cleverly explores the tensions that have developed between native Montanans and the new arrivals.
The Edge of the Crazies, a wonderfully titled book, opens when someone takes a couple of shots at a screenwriter named George Blackwater. George is wounded but survives, and as Jules begins to investigate the shooting, it appears that there are any number of potential suspects, including George's wife, Mona.
Jules is unlike any other sheriff that the reader has likely encountered. But so, for that matter, are many of the characters in this book, many of whom are jumping in and out of bed with each other with little regard for the potential consequences. Watching the interactions among the characters is a great deal of fun and there seems little urgency in solving any of the crimes that occur as the story proceeds.
Before long, someone is murdered and it appears that the crimes now unsettling Blue Deer might relate back to a mysterious death that occurred years earlier. Jules clearly has his work cut out for him as he must negotiate his way through a minefield of quirky characters and grudges both ancient and more recent. Harrison clearly has a knack for creating unique characters and for understanding the dynamics of a small town in the midst of change. Virtually any fan of crime fiction should enjoy this book.
Blue Deer is populated with a mix of eccentric characters, some of whom are long-time residents and others of whom are more recent arrivals, including a number of writers, artists and other celebrities who have found their way to Big Sky Country in the last few years. Among other things, Harrison cleverly explores the tensions that have developed between native Montanans and the new arrivals.
The Edge of the Crazies, a wonderfully titled book, opens when someone takes a couple of shots at a screenwriter named George Blackwater. George is wounded but survives, and as Jules begins to investigate the shooting, it appears that there are any number of potential suspects, including George's wife, Mona.
Jules is unlike any other sheriff that the reader has likely encountered. But so, for that matter, are many of the characters in this book, many of whom are jumping in and out of bed with each other with little regard for the potential consequences. Watching the interactions among the characters is a great deal of fun and there seems little urgency in solving any of the crimes that occur as the story proceeds.
Before long, someone is murdered and it appears that the crimes now unsettling Blue Deer might relate back to a mysterious death that occurred years earlier. Jules clearly has his work cut out for him as he must negotiate his way through a minefield of quirky characters and grudges both ancient and more recent. Harrison clearly has a knack for creating unique characters and for understanding the dynamics of a small town in the midst of change. Virtually any fan of crime fiction should enjoy this book.
October 17, 2020
This was a new series and new author for me. I found the first half of the book choppy and kinda on the edge of crazy. Once the ‘whodunnit’ began in earnest, I found the book much more readable. I am encouraged to read reviews stating that the series gets better in later books. I found the entanglements between the various characters to exceed those of any soap opera I have ever followed which is to say they were over the top.
March 9, 2018
If I had started the series of Sheriff Jules Clement with this first part, it is quite likely that I would not have finished that book.
Unfortunately for me I started (stupidly) by the third novel, I liked it, and knowing the quality of the author I forced myself to finish this first part. To regret.
I found this book very long, very disjointed, hazy and vaguely depressing. The characters are too numerous and not pleasant enough to enjoy them. The plot is very nebulous, I felt lugged throughout the book as a leaf in the autumn wind. And the conclusion is not very convincing, the final situation is a frightful cliche of bad police novel.
Yet all the qualities I found in the third part (prairie fire) are already present, but at the larval stage, including much less incisive humor in this first part, despite some funny situations.
Despite all its faults, this melancholy book often sounds just right, thanks in its realistic atmosphere. But that's not enough for me to make an interesting novel.
Unfortunately for me I started (stupidly) by the third novel, I liked it, and knowing the quality of the author I forced myself to finish this first part. To regret.
I found this book very long, very disjointed, hazy and vaguely depressing. The characters are too numerous and not pleasant enough to enjoy them. The plot is very nebulous, I felt lugged throughout the book as a leaf in the autumn wind. And the conclusion is not very convincing, the final situation is a frightful cliche of bad police novel.
Yet all the qualities I found in the third part (prairie fire) are already present, but at the larval stage, including much less incisive humor in this first part, despite some funny situations.
Despite all its faults, this melancholy book often sounds just right, thanks in its realistic atmosphere. But that's not enough for me to make an interesting novel.
September 24, 2017
This series is a new one for me, and I really enjoyed book #1. Main character Jules Clement is decent and intelligent. He left Blue Deer, Montana, as a young man, traveled the world, and felt drawn back in his early thirties. Timing is everything, and he was elected sheriff. Things get busy in the county, Jules gets involved with two women at the same time, and he may be in over his head. I found this book hard to put down. There were a lot of twists, which kept me guessing, and I liked the humor. I'm sorry that apparently there are only four books in the series, but at least I have three more to read.
April 16, 2025
3.5. ⭐️ Long before Craig Johnson’s character Walt Longmire was the sheriff of fictional Absaroka County, Wyoming, Jamie Harrison created the affable and curious character of Jules Clement, sheriff of make-believe Absaroka County, Montana.
Raised in the town of Blue Deer, son of a not-always-admirable sheriff murdered in the line of duty at an early age, Jules has perhaps too much history with the town he returns to after a peripatetic life of academia, social work, European travel, and archeological adventure. In other words, he is a bit of an enigma to the residents of his home county. Like many other characters in the book, he drinks too much and flaps around a bit too uncertainly between the beds of different people. Like only himself, he follows his own paths and instincts rather than regulation and routine when it comes to carrying out the law.
Harrison fills the book with erratic, believable characters whose lifestyles and shenanigans Jules tolerates only to a certain point while trying to wade through three murders, a flood, and an assortment of daily small town crimes, missing livestock, the annual wild bird count, and rambunctious high jinks. There is a lot of sardonic humor here in the depiction of small-town Montana life, with wonderful descriptions of the natural and “urban” settings that give the story solidity. Along the way, Jules muses a lot about more philosophical matters: ethics, the rule versus the spirit of the law, grief, mercy, and forgiveness. I gleefully look forward to reading the next book of this series.
Raised in the town of Blue Deer, son of a not-always-admirable sheriff murdered in the line of duty at an early age, Jules has perhaps too much history with the town he returns to after a peripatetic life of academia, social work, European travel, and archeological adventure. In other words, he is a bit of an enigma to the residents of his home county. Like many other characters in the book, he drinks too much and flaps around a bit too uncertainly between the beds of different people. Like only himself, he follows his own paths and instincts rather than regulation and routine when it comes to carrying out the law.
Harrison fills the book with erratic, believable characters whose lifestyles and shenanigans Jules tolerates only to a certain point while trying to wade through three murders, a flood, and an assortment of daily small town crimes, missing livestock, the annual wild bird count, and rambunctious high jinks. There is a lot of sardonic humor here in the depiction of small-town Montana life, with wonderful descriptions of the natural and “urban” settings that give the story solidity. Along the way, Jules muses a lot about more philosophical matters: ethics, the rule versus the spirit of the law, grief, mercy, and forgiveness. I gleefully look forward to reading the next book of this series.
November 13, 2024
Set in the fictional Montana town of Blue Deer, author Jamie Harrison starts a series focused on Jules Clement, a former archeologist and now town Sheriff.
Blue Deer is populated with a host of unusual characters, some recent arrivals. These newer arrivals are a mix of different types of artists and famous people, and it's the shooting of screenwriter George Blackwater that opens this novel.
Jules Clement is an unlikely person for a sheriff. He's well travelled, well read, mild mannered, and seemingly too calm and peaceful for the role. Jules is called on to deal not only with the shooting, but also conflicting and confusing motives, exacerbated by the quirkiness of the characters, many of whom are bedhopping with one another (Jules not being immune to this activity either.)
While the shooting appears initially to be the result of a feuding couple, facts come to light that widening the suspects to include George's brother Ray. Jules also finds links to an accidental death that occurred when George and Ray were in high school.
Pretty soon, bodies are turning up, and Jules is upset, and the motivations of all the personalities involved keep this case nicely messy and interesting.
The characters are eccentric, and there's almost a surfeit of quirk throughout, but I still liked this story and the sometimes elliptical conversations between characters.
This novel felt distinctly different from other mysteries I've read. Perhaps that's why I did like it, as it confounded my expectations, and that's always great.
I listened to this book, and voice actor Justin Price brings a somewhat folksy, wry tone to the proceedings, highlighting the sheer weirdness of the town and its inhabitants.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Highbridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Blue Deer is populated with a host of unusual characters, some recent arrivals. These newer arrivals are a mix of different types of artists and famous people, and it's the shooting of screenwriter George Blackwater that opens this novel.
Jules Clement is an unlikely person for a sheriff. He's well travelled, well read, mild mannered, and seemingly too calm and peaceful for the role. Jules is called on to deal not only with the shooting, but also conflicting and confusing motives, exacerbated by the quirkiness of the characters, many of whom are bedhopping with one another (Jules not being immune to this activity either.)
While the shooting appears initially to be the result of a feuding couple, facts come to light that widening the suspects to include George's brother Ray. Jules also finds links to an accidental death that occurred when George and Ray were in high school.
Pretty soon, bodies are turning up, and Jules is upset, and the motivations of all the personalities involved keep this case nicely messy and interesting.
The characters are eccentric, and there's almost a surfeit of quirk throughout, but I still liked this story and the sometimes elliptical conversations between characters.
This novel felt distinctly different from other mysteries I've read. Perhaps that's why I did like it, as it confounded my expectations, and that's always great.
I listened to this book, and voice actor Justin Price brings a somewhat folksy, wry tone to the proceedings, highlighting the sheer weirdness of the town and its inhabitants.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Highbridge Audio for this ARC in exchange for my review.
December 4, 2008
boring!!!
December 26, 2025
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a quick takes post to catch up. The point of these posts is to be pithy, not thorough (as I typically strive for)
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This is a very odd book, and hard to pin down. I like that about it, but it’s difficult to talk about. This is possibly the least effective, least qualified, small-town sheriff I can think of. It doesn’t matter how small his community is (still a sprawling metropolis compared to Longmire’s), he really shouldn’t have anything to do with law enforcement. Yet, I really like him—he seems like a decent guy, who’ll probably grow into the job (based on the number of books in the series)—assuming he can stay sober and keep his pants zipped.
The county and its residents…boy howdy. A great setting, that’s going to be rewarding. I don’t know if I have much else to say—maybe after another couple of books in the series.
Entertaining, puzzling, a nice mystery (hidden beneath so many wonderful misleading clues and red herrings), a good cast (decent narrator, too, I should add). Check it out.
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This is a very odd book, and hard to pin down. I like that about it, but it’s difficult to talk about. This is possibly the least effective, least qualified, small-town sheriff I can think of. It doesn’t matter how small his community is (still a sprawling metropolis compared to Longmire’s), he really shouldn’t have anything to do with law enforcement. Yet, I really like him—he seems like a decent guy, who’ll probably grow into the job (based on the number of books in the series)—assuming he can stay sober and keep his pants zipped.
The county and its residents…boy howdy. A great setting, that’s going to be rewarding. I don’t know if I have much else to say—maybe after another couple of books in the series.
Entertaining, puzzling, a nice mystery (hidden beneath so many wonderful misleading clues and red herrings), a good cast (decent narrator, too, I should add). Check it out.
January 1, 2013
Don’t you always wonder where the urge or even ability to write comes from? In the case of Jamie Harrison I suspect because she is Jim Harrison’s daughter and grew up in Montana may explain at least in part where Jamie Harrison got her impetus. That unlike her father who has never written a straight up “mystery” is what sets her apart from her father’s work. “Edge Of The Crazies” is set in the mythical town of Blue Deer, MT which like a number of the small western towns that do the front range of the Rockies is populated with a range transplants from elsewhere. It could be the town up Boulder Canyon I once lived in which is why I like the work. Although none of the remaining four books that form a quartet of sorts similar to Lawrence Durrell’s great Alexandria Quartet in that some common characters appear in each of the subsequent works (“Going Local” 1996, “An Unfortunate Prairie Occurrence” 1998, and “Blue Deer Thaw” 2000 but the books are not dependent on one another. Unlike the Alexandra Quartet however the first book in the series is the best, the rest entertaining but not as strong. Perhaps that has something to do with the risk one takes when you commit to reading a book by a new author and when you find you like that book, none of the others quite match that same rush that results from the element of discovery?. Perhaps it’s unfair to even compare the two?
Unlike other mystery authors i.e., Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich who publish books like a chain-smoker consumes cigarettes, Harrison’s last book in this quasi-series was published >10 years ago. Maybe like Robert Pirsig author of “Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance” she’s said all she has to say about these characters who live in this small mountain town? Pirsig would respond to anyone who asked him what his book was about with “I’ve said everything I have to say as plainly as I could and if you don’t get there’s no hope for you” or something similarly unpleasant. After publishing four novels and still being relatively young I suspect she will publish more. I hope so
Unlike other mystery authors i.e., Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich who publish books like a chain-smoker consumes cigarettes, Harrison’s last book in this quasi-series was published >10 years ago. Maybe like Robert Pirsig author of “Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance” she’s said all she has to say about these characters who live in this small mountain town? Pirsig would respond to anyone who asked him what his book was about with “I’ve said everything I have to say as plainly as I could and if you don’t get there’s no hope for you” or something similarly unpleasant. After publishing four novels and still being relatively young I suspect she will publish more. I hope so
January 13, 2009
This is an interesting mystery, although it is filled with overly dramatic plot lines and a few cartoonish characters that are way too interconnected. I like the parts that describe small town life and the funny police blotter items that fuel the local gossip mills. The violence was a little over the top, but probably more realistic than I'd like to admit.
It took me awhile to get into this story, but overall I enjoyed it. I would consider reading another book in the Jules Clement Mystery series, just to find out what happens to the lead characters.
It took me awhile to get into this story, but overall I enjoyed it. I would consider reading another book in the Jules Clement Mystery series, just to find out what happens to the lead characters.
July 12, 2008
Once I again I was drawn to a book simply because of the setting (southern Montana.) But I didn't find anything about this book engaging - the characters were boring, and the mystery wasn't all that mysterious. The ending seemed anticlimactic. There are more in this series, but I won't be reading them.
March 27, 2018
"A grease fire had recently cleaned up the kitchen, and the place was popular again, people apparently reasoning that they were now less likely to be hospitalized for food poisoning."
I almost decided to not finish this book, its grimness contrasting with my usual cozies, but the mordant humor led me on.
I almost decided to not finish this book, its grimness contrasting with my usual cozies, but the mordant humor led me on.
January 31, 2011
The first in a mystery series set in a small Montana town -- great setting and interesting characters make up for the not-that-good mystery. The author really nails sordid little towns and the relations among the police, the officials and the press. Good enough that I'm reading the second one.
April 14, 2013
An average mystery. I didn't get hooked, but the characters were fairly interesting and the description of small town Montana was well done.
May 8, 2017
This book had characters that had the reader asking why, the setting Montana, and an ending that finished the mystery. Overall the language was overpowering and did not add to the story.
March 24, 2022
A decent story but it needed an editor to chop out TONS of descriptions of mountains and other things that made no difference to the story.
June 20, 2022
A very average mystery. The depictions of life in a small rural town were fun. I couldn't keep track of who was who and found it didn't really matter anyway.
November 28, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.
Jamie Harrison’s The Edge of the Crazies is a captivating mystery set in the quirky town of Blue Deer, Montana. This debut novel introduces readers to a colorful cast of characters and a plot filled with twists and turns. Narrated by Justin Price, the audiobook brings an added layer of charm and suspense to this engaging story.
This story revolves around Jules Clement, a former archaeologist turned sheriff, who is tasked with maintaining order in the small town of Blue Deer. The peace is shattered when someone takes a shot at local screenwriter George Blackwater, wounding him and setting off a chain of events that leads to multiple murders. As Jules delves into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies among the town’s residents, each more eccentric than the last.
Justin Price’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. His ability to capture the distinct voices and personalities of the diverse characters adds depth to the story. Price’s expressive delivery enhances the humor and tension, making the listening experience both entertaining and immersive.
Harrison’s writing is sharp and witty, with a keen eye for detail and character development. The dialogue is crisp and often humorous, reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the town’s inhabitants. Harrison skillfully balances the lighthearted moments with the darker elements of the plot, creating a well-rounded and compelling narrative.
The Edge of the Crazies explores themes of community, loyalty, and the hidden complexities of seemingly simple lives. It delves into the impact of past traumas and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.
The Edge of the Crazies is a delightful and intriguing mystery that will appeal to fans of character-driven stories and small-town settings. Jamie Harrison has crafted a memorable debut with a cast of characters that are both endearing and enigmatic. Justin Price’s excellent narration elevates the audiobook, making it a must-listen for mystery enthusiasts.
Jamie Harrison’s The Edge of the Crazies is a captivating mystery set in the quirky town of Blue Deer, Montana. This debut novel introduces readers to a colorful cast of characters and a plot filled with twists and turns. Narrated by Justin Price, the audiobook brings an added layer of charm and suspense to this engaging story.
This story revolves around Jules Clement, a former archaeologist turned sheriff, who is tasked with maintaining order in the small town of Blue Deer. The peace is shattered when someone takes a shot at local screenwriter George Blackwater, wounding him and setting off a chain of events that leads to multiple murders. As Jules delves into the investigation, he uncovers a web of secrets and lies among the town’s residents, each more eccentric than the last.
Justin Price’s narration is a highlight of this audiobook. His ability to capture the distinct voices and personalities of the diverse characters adds depth to the story. Price’s expressive delivery enhances the humor and tension, making the listening experience both entertaining and immersive.
Harrison’s writing is sharp and witty, with a keen eye for detail and character development. The dialogue is crisp and often humorous, reflecting the idiosyncrasies of the town’s inhabitants. Harrison skillfully balances the lighthearted moments with the darker elements of the plot, creating a well-rounded and compelling narrative.
The Edge of the Crazies explores themes of community, loyalty, and the hidden complexities of seemingly simple lives. It delves into the impact of past traumas and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets.
The Edge of the Crazies is a delightful and intriguing mystery that will appeal to fans of character-driven stories and small-town settings. Jamie Harrison has crafted a memorable debut with a cast of characters that are both endearing and enigmatic. Justin Price’s excellent narration elevates the audiobook, making it a must-listen for mystery enthusiasts.
December 4, 2024
Thank you to Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on November 5th, 2024.
I quite enjoyed this new (to me) mystery series taking place in small town Blue Deer, Montana. This is book one of what is currently a set of five books, but I believe it is a recent release of the audio book (I liked the narrator a lot — had a real Montana sound to him).
The independently minded characters gave off a real Montana vibe, without straying too far into stereotype (and not terribly accurate) portrayal of the Montana resident.
Jules Clement was born and raised in Blue Deer, escaped to the East Coast for education and adventure, and then in a surprising move (even to himself) went back to Blue Deer to take up the usually straightforward position of Sheriff. Not so straightforward during this story, though. What starts as someone taking a potshot at a local screenwriter, turns into something else completely as the bodies start piling up and seem to connect in some way to a 20-year old accident.
While I would not say that many of the characters were *likeable,* they were all interesting and had their own kind of depth. The story was slow paced, but not overwhelmed by filler, and I never got bored (which is saying a lot). I loved the character of Jules, whose personality contained many contradictory elements. I’ll definitely be pursuing books 2-5.
I quite enjoyed this new (to me) mystery series taking place in small town Blue Deer, Montana. This is book one of what is currently a set of five books, but I believe it is a recent release of the audio book (I liked the narrator a lot — had a real Montana sound to him).
The independently minded characters gave off a real Montana vibe, without straying too far into stereotype (and not terribly accurate) portrayal of the Montana resident.
Jules Clement was born and raised in Blue Deer, escaped to the East Coast for education and adventure, and then in a surprising move (even to himself) went back to Blue Deer to take up the usually straightforward position of Sheriff. Not so straightforward during this story, though. What starts as someone taking a potshot at a local screenwriter, turns into something else completely as the bodies start piling up and seem to connect in some way to a 20-year old accident.
While I would not say that many of the characters were *likeable,* they were all interesting and had their own kind of depth. The story was slow paced, but not overwhelmed by filler, and I never got bored (which is saying a lot). I loved the character of Jules, whose personality contained many contradictory elements. I’ll definitely be pursuing books 2-5.
December 28, 2024
This is an unusual book. Jules Clement is an unlikely sheriff. He was born in tiny Blue Deer, Montana where his father was sheriff. Jules left his hometown and studied at multiple universities and finally traveled the world with a PhD in Archeology. But, eventually he came home and ran for sheriff. Jules is basically and unhappy man who is plagued by bad dreams and wonders what he is doing as sheriff. One day George Blackwater, a screenwriter, is shot at. His wife is seen shortly before the shooting running away from the scene. George is not killed, but the hunt is on for who tried to kill him. One of Jules psychological failings is that he tends to block out gossip, so he doesn't really know much about the strange cast of characters he lives around. He relies on his friends to fill him in on who is sleeping with who, who is angry with who, etc. This gets him in trouble when the bodies accumulate. George has a wife he hated, a brother he really hated, and a sad history that involved the death of young he woman he loved 20 years earlier. Jules, meanwhile, has a libido that is getting him in trouble. He sleeps with 2 of his suspects and his mind keeps wandering. The history between George and Ray, his hated older brother, seems to be at the center of all the bodies piling up. Small town life can be sordid and grimy and horrible. While it is occasionally humorous, the underlying darkness makes that kind of a sad book.
November 19, 2024
Sheriff Jules Clement grew up in the small town of Blue Deer, Montana, but left for college and to explore the world. He returned to become sheriff and it's been pretty peaceful so far. Until someone takes shots at the resident screenwriter and all the complex relationships in the small town explode into a series of crimes and revelations that will have Jules working double-time to solve this crime spree.
I'm intrigued by the fact that it's the first book in the series because it feels like you've fallen into the middle of the story and are expected to know the characters although Harrison does a great job of introducing them and how they're all connected. Because, boy, are they all connected. It's a very twisty plot that keeps you guessing what's happening and who's guilty of it. Just when I thought I had the hang of it, another thing happens that makes me question everything. And it's not done in a way that feels like the author is trying to dig themselves out of a plot hole, everything feels deliberate and very much like what the characters would do.
I enjoyed the narration by Justin Price but did have trouble figuring out who was speaking a couple of times. Nothing major, but it made me have to go back on a couple of conversations to make sense of them.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the twisty read!
I'm intrigued by the fact that it's the first book in the series because it feels like you've fallen into the middle of the story and are expected to know the characters although Harrison does a great job of introducing them and how they're all connected. Because, boy, are they all connected. It's a very twisty plot that keeps you guessing what's happening and who's guilty of it. Just when I thought I had the hang of it, another thing happens that makes me question everything. And it's not done in a way that feels like the author is trying to dig themselves out of a plot hole, everything feels deliberate and very much like what the characters would do.
I enjoyed the narration by Justin Price but did have trouble figuring out who was speaking a couple of times. Nothing major, but it made me have to go back on a couple of conversations to make sense of them.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for the twisty read!
August 25, 2025
A small town writer is shot in his office... but he doesn't seem overly concerned about it. He is a womanizer and has plenty of enemies so Jules, the local sheriff, has his work cut out for him.
It's not like Jules is even sure he wants to do this job. His father died on the job and being back in Blue Deer, Montana, is fairly confining for him. He's not sleeping (though he is doing some sleeping around) and before the book is over, there will be some deaths. How much does this have to do with a death over twenty years ago?
There was a lot of character building. Place was almost as much of a character. I got distracted trying to figure out which town the fictional Blue Deer was based off of.
This book was written in the nineties and the story very much has that feel. There was just a certain rhythm to mysteries written during that time and this book fits very much into that pattern.
It's not like Jules is even sure he wants to do this job. His father died on the job and being back in Blue Deer, Montana, is fairly confining for him. He's not sleeping (though he is doing some sleeping around) and before the book is over, there will be some deaths. How much does this have to do with a death over twenty years ago?
There was a lot of character building. Place was almost as much of a character. I got distracted trying to figure out which town the fictional Blue Deer was based off of.
This book was written in the nineties and the story very much has that feel. There was just a certain rhythm to mysteries written during that time and this book fits very much into that pattern.
November 19, 2024
I don't often read crime novels, so this was a fun departure for me. The opening scene set a dark tone and introduced a handful of the story's large cast of characters. The many names were a challenge for my memory to manage. But in fairness, I listened to this book over the course of several days and admit that I was distracted some of the time, so I'm sure I missed some details. Even so, I could follow the twisting plot, even when I wasn't sure who was doing what.
This Montana town seems to attract citizens who sleep around, drink heavily, and harbor secrets. It's a lot for the young sheriff to handle (particularly since he engages in some of the same behaviors). He's the central, likable (mostly) figure of the story.
Fans of Yellowstone might appreciate the setting of this story, possibly even imagining a few of the characters mingling with the Duttons.
This Montana town seems to attract citizens who sleep around, drink heavily, and harbor secrets. It's a lot for the young sheriff to handle (particularly since he engages in some of the same behaviors). He's the central, likable (mostly) figure of the story.
Fans of Yellowstone might appreciate the setting of this story, possibly even imagining a few of the characters mingling with the Duttons.
August 8, 2021
This is a really good book that shows a modern small town filled with eccentric people and a good-guy sheriff who suddenly has to solve several murders, a challenging situation very different than his usual tasks of locating goats and wayward people, hauling home DUI drivers, and dealing with such things as skunks in garbage cans. He is up to the task, however, although his life gets a bit complicated when he starts seeing two women at the same time. There is craziness, some laugh-out-loud moments, and a really good mystery plot.
October 22, 2024
Not the edge of the Crazies but smack in the midst of them. Jules Clement has returned to his hometown in western Montana and gotten elected sheriff. He's dealing with the murder of a high school classmate's wife that is somehow connected with the two-decades-old death of another classmate at a senior prank day gone bad. And then the editor of the newspaper turns up dead. Meanwhile there are love interests to deal with.
How did I miss this when it was published in 1995? A rollicking (and how!) debut to the series.
How did I miss this when it was published in 1995? A rollicking (and how!) debut to the series.
July 10, 2025
I can't even give this two stars for being set in Montana and written by a Montana author. sorry, but all the characters hop in bed with each other, including the sheriff who is supposed to be solving the murder. The plot lags and the writing is atrocious. None of the characters are likable and they're Montanans even! I have never in my life met so many unlikable Montanans all together in one place. I am glad I bought a book to support an independent book seller, but I wish I'd bought a different book.
July 19, 2025
Spoiler alert: Blue Deer is Livingston, Montana. Perhaps it’s because I’m from North of Big Timber, but some of the “Montana-isms” explained (some I had never heard in my life despite living there for 18 years, like “tirebiter” is not a thing - it’s a ranch dog that chases and bites vehicle tires, not an unattractive menopausal woman) absolutely annoyed me. Additionally, the plot was unoriginal, predictable, and quite frankly, trashy for a mystery novel. Agatha Christie and Dan Brown have apparently spoiled me and my expectations for mystery novels.
August 8, 2020
My husband has been re-reading this series and I've been itching to join in. I'm so glad I did and gladder to know there are 3 more waiting for me. Jamie Harrison writes so well and I enjoyed her descriptive phrases, setting and interesting flawed characters so much.
This is not your usual mystery and it isn't one to speed through. I am eager to meet up with the denizens of Blue Deer again very soon.
This is not your usual mystery and it isn't one to speed through. I am eager to meet up with the denizens of Blue Deer again very soon.
November 23, 2024
The word "delightful" comes to mind upon reading this first in the Jules Clement series, especially as I just read vol. 2 of the DCI Banks series and just cannot get into such a bland, nearly non-idiosyncratic lead character. Jules Clement is full of his own ghosts and foibles, in a very good way. Also, he doesn't seem to be (yet) one of those super-cops who can do no wrong, but that's in a good way too! I look forward to getting into vol. 2.
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars
A highly entertaining series first published in the 90s and now reissued, set in small-town Blue Deer, Montana, at the foot of the Crazy Mountains, where Sheriff Jules Clement tries to keep order over the often unruly locals and the much wealthier newcomers who come in to buy up a piece of paradise. When a screenwriter is shot dead, Jules suspects the victim’s wife, until she turns up dead too. A very likeable lead character and shot through with wry humour.
A highly entertaining series first published in the 90s and now reissued, set in small-town Blue Deer, Montana, at the foot of the Crazy Mountains, where Sheriff Jules Clement tries to keep order over the often unruly locals and the much wealthier newcomers who come in to buy up a piece of paradise. When a screenwriter is shot dead, Jules suspects the victim’s wife, until she turns up dead too. A very likeable lead character and shot through with wry humour.
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