The Last Death of Jack Harbin

Samuel Craddock Mystery #2

by Terry Shames

A LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF 2014!
 
Right before the outbreak of the Gulf War, two eighteen-year-old football stars and best friends from Jarrett Creek, Texas, signed up for the army. But Woody Patterson was rejected and stayed home to marry the girl they both loved, while Jack Harbin came back from the war badly damaged. The men haven't spoken since.

Just as they are about to reconcile, Jack is brutally murdered. With the chief of police out of commission, it's up to trusted ex-chief Samuel Craddock to investigate. Against the backdrop of small-town loyalties and betrayals, Craddock discovers dark secrets of the past and present to solve the mystery of Jack's death.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Westerns, Contemporary, Crime, Mystery Thriller

253 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Terry Shames is the award-winning, best-selling author of eleven Samuel Craddock mysteries. Her first book, A Killing at Cotton Hill won the Macavity Award for Best First novel Her books have been shortlisted for the Strand Critics Award, Lefty awards, and won the RT Reviews Critics award. The eleventh in the series, The Troubling Death of Maddy Benson, October, 2024, was an Amazon Editor's Pick and won a starred review in Library Journal.

In 2024, she debuted the Jessie Madison thriller series, with Perilous Waters. In March, 2025, she published Out of Control, a suspense novel.

Terry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.

She lives in Southern California with her husband, her dog Monty and her cat Max.
For more visit her website at www.Terryshames.com.

Reviews

[Robert Intriago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as much as the first Samuel Craddock mystery. It takes place in the same town as the previous book. The investigation involves the murder of a handicapped Gulf War veteran, whose brother has ties to a cult leader in Waco, Texas. What I like about the book is the simplicity of the story and the reality of the characters. Ms. Shames tries to keep her story within the bounds of credulity and never tries to force the narrative. I hope she continues the series, since I plan to continue to buy her books.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The supporting characters from book 1 (A Killing at Cotton Hill reappear with retired chief of police Samuel Craddock, when a severely disabled veteran is gruesomely murdered shortly after his caretaker father suddenly dies. I like Shames' writing style, very straightforward and clear. The mystery is well plotted and complex enough to make the reader wonder about possible suspects. On to the next in the series!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very similar in tone, style, and plot to its predecessor. I wrote about that one that it was much better than I had expected, given my prejudices. I had a little more trouble with this one, since the detective took far too long to figure out what was (I thought pretty obviously) going on. A vivid and heartfelt picture, though, of the uncared-for lives of many of our veterans.

[Filipe]

I'm not a big fan of mystery books but I really liked this one, its not complicated you don't get lost with what's happening it is an easy book to read and it keeps you think through out the entire book. I like that it's in a small town in Texas and that everyone has a unique relationship with each other, and people with secrets about the murder.

[Patrick Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last death of Jack Harbin is certainly an interesting book. This book is for someone into all sorts of topics, it can relate to a romance, a sad story and a mystery all at the sane time. I personally had mixed feeling about this book. The book started of in a war and from there would shift between his thoughts and the worlds thoughts. I liked how he eventually made it home. The strangest part for me was his death and how it came to be. I rate this book a 3.5 primarily for the different aspects to the book and how compelling at times It was.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second in the Samuel Craddock series is as good as the first. Being a native Texan, I like finding authors writing mysteries set in Texas - just to see if they can write and IF they can DO Texas. Ms. Shames does both quite nicely. Jarrett Creek and inhabitants are the real deal - their like can be found in small Texas towns I know. And just in case you think that football mania is exaggerated, I assure you that it is NOT. That mania drives this story. The characters continue to be entertaining and well-drawn, especially Samuel Craddock, reminding me at times of Craig Johnson's Walt Longmire. The action is well-paced, with new revelations to keep things lively. I'm looking forward to the next installment and recommend you start the first.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this one even better than the first one. Again, the characters were very well written, even the minor ones. And the mystery was a good one. Enjoyed spending time with the main character again. On to the third book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series and the character Samuel Craddock. I didn't know who was the killer until the very end. I didn't like this one quite as much as the first but I liked it a lot and I want to read all the books in this series! It has some humor, tragedy, mystery, and fun.

[Coralee Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is a series about small town Texas with out including High School football? Taking a cue from "Friday Night Lights, Shames wisely based Book 2 on the football mania that can encompass a rural town in the fall. The victim, Jack Harbin, who was a stand out player, is now severely permanently wounded from war injuries. Blinded, missing most of a leg that still has festering sores, he is scarred physically and emotionally. When his father, Jack's primary care giver is found dead, Samuel's concern is both for Jack's future and if Bob did die of natural causes.

The alcoholic Chief of Police is moved off stage to dry out. Needing a competent investigator, Samuel is asked to step in. He reluctantly agrees. His knee demands surgery, and he wonders if
he still has the 'knack' for investigation. Samuel's reflections on young glory vs older wisdom, on sports as life blood, on loyalty of spouses lift the novel far above the ordinary.

As in book one, Shames is able to capture the essence of a character in a few well chosen words.
The perpetrator was a bit easier to discover. The motivations for the killing were true to life. Looking forward to the continuation of Samuel's story.

The book was nominated for a Macavity (Best Novel for 2015). Library Journal listed it in the top 10 mysteries of 2014. Deservedly so.

[Heather Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Shames has written a fine mystery set in a world filled with fascinating characters caught up in two deaths, one of which is Jack Harbin. The world is Jarrett Creek, a small Texas town near Waco, playing its own part in the story line. The characters, colorful though they might be, come across so real you feel you know all of them. You may not like all of them, but you know them. There are no extraneous characters in this story, nor words, nor scenes, such is the writing of Terry Shames. From larger characters like Jack Harbin, himself, to smaller ones like Lurline, there is no one who hasn't been written to feel and breathe. Everything matters, everyone matters. But no one more than Samuel Craddock, the protagonist. This is a man who has an easy, yet memorable way about him. From his bum knee to his love of his cows, here is a man who matters. He has a sense of honor, a smart, soft spoken persona that worms its way into the reader's heart. Long after you put this book down, you will remember Samuel Craddock.

[Judith Shadford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly involved, surprisingly quickly. My go-to setting for mysteries tends toward Victorian England. Jack Harbin is Texas, contemporary. The Samuel Craddock (mentioned above) is an older, retired Police Chief from a small town, who gets involved because the current police chief is "drying out" and the acting chief is, to put it kindly, dull and bullishly inept.

Here's where Shames's craft comes in. There's a death straightaway. But not Jack Harbin. Instead of long backstories to set up the list of suspects, there's a whole community of folk who help take care of Jack, who have histories. There are conversations at the diner about the last football game and what's wrong with the coach that our team didn't win. And Jack's story is far more complicated. It's easy to separate the large cast of characters because they are already part of the story.

Because Shames has major skills, I was drawn into a thirty-year plot because there wasn't Stop the Action and Tell Me Something I Don't Know. Pretty impressive.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Last Death of Jack Harbin”, second in the 'Samuel Craddock Mystery' series features American football prominently.
It is a sport that is completely alien to me (though my list of alien sports is extensive).
Jack Harbin, once a local sports hero, returned from the Gulf War blind and minus a leg.
He is cared for by his father and a motley crew of veterans.
The farther dies under suspicious circumstances and, not long afterward, Jack is murdered.
Whereas the first book in the series delighted in obfuscation this one (at least as far as I was concerned) gave the game away quite early on.
I knew the 'who' at the centre, but the explanation eluded me for quite a while.
Jack's mysterious trip to California was very intriguing but, unfortunately, doesn't play much of a role in the novel.
Ultimately it is a tale of failed dreams and disappointments but, perhaps unusually, is more uplifting than sad.
4 Stars.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two football buddies from small-town Texas decide to enlist right after graduation from high school. One backs out, stays home and marries the girl they both loved. The other goes to Kuwait and comes home blind and missing a leg. His father devotes his life to caring for his son, but he dies unexpectedly and then Jack is murdered. Samuel Craddock, retire police chief in Jarrett Creek, decides to investigate. He asks the medical examiner to take a closer look at the father's death and they determine he, too, was murdered. Who would want to kill a disabled vet and his father? Jack Harbin's battle buddies want to know as well. There are a lot of mysteries in small towns. The strength of this series are the characters themselves.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid outing for Samuel Craddock. Love the small town feel of these books. I also really like how the people have to deal with the results of a murder - the grief, the funeral, the bills, the reckoning. Such a small detail but so real.

However, the author did add in something that makes me crazy with mysteries, esp. first person ones - where the protagonist knows something but doesn't let us in on the secret. It happened a few times in this book and it bugs the heck out of me.

But that's okay. Still a great summer read, a book I just race through and I can't wait until the next one.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully well-crafted traditional mystery. Samuel Craddock is older know, the former chief of police of a small Texas community where everyone knows everyone else's business. Craddock is kind, sympathetic and trustworthy. You would know you are in good hands if he was handling your problems.

This novel tackles a couple of issues: injured vets, cults, football, motorcycle rallies and more. Before you say, I want no part of any of that, be strong and take a chance on this series. The characters may just feel like people you have known for a long time. Did not guess the conclusion either until close to the end.

A just-right mystery.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book in the series and just as good as the first. Art-collecting former sheriff Samuel Craddock is back and this mystery is multi-layered with a slew of interesting characters. Shames has come up with a terrific follow up to the first book. Samuel is not so much world-weary as he is still grieving for his wife and he is clear-eyed about people and their foibles. A good judge of character and a good head on his shoulders, he inspires confidence as a person one can trust and confide in. No wonder all the ladies are so helpful!

As soon as I catch up on my other library books, I am back for the next one!

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery that goes through a detailed history of the murder victim--which is maybe a little over the top, but also the kind of fleshing out the details that I often enjoy in a series.
Jack Harbin was a high school football star, then a war veteran who was so badly wounded he needed round the clock care, and then was killed. His brother went a whole different route--he joined a misogynist religious cult (maybe that is repetitive) and this being a small town, his wife and Jack's ex-girlfriend are sisters.
In any case, it might be a little overly complicated but in the end I enjoyed it.

[Brace1737 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Samuel Craddock. He lives in a small town in east Texas and enjoys supporting local artists. He hungers for justice even if his years as police chief are fading into memory. He investigates the murders of Bob and Jack Harbin,father and son.
Comment:
This series needs to be better known among mystery readers. Samuel Craddock is a character that you will want to spent a quiet Sunday afternoon with.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting plot, with three best friends in high school torn apart because of perceived loyalties and the meaning of friendship.

The killer was amazingly hidden in plain sight.

Because this is written in first person. I was occasionally thrown out of the story at times, but overall I just completely enjoyed the ride.

I borrowed a copy from the public library and assigned this author as our September group read.

[Patricia Stoltey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Samuel Craddock just as much in book 2 as I did in the first book of the series. In this mystery, disabled Jack Harbin loses his caretaker father in what appears a natural death. But after Jack is brutally murdered, Craddock is drawn from retirement to investigate the case due to the incompetence of the acting police chief. There are many suspects to question, and many secrets to uncover, making for a fine puzzle to solve. This is fine writing.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series, and I look forward to reading more of them! Samuel Craddock is a fabulous character with real depth that we learn about as he begins to investigate different crimes in his town. As the retired sherriff, he has to watch his replacement fumble his duties and steps in as another murder has occurred.

Language: scattered expletives and murder scene descriptions--not horribly graphic.

[Izzy Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed all of the mystery in this book. Throughout the story, there are multiple mysteries that go on. From the first death to Jacks death, and then from the mystery of Jacks death trying to be solved, the suspense was always there. I recommend this book to anyone who’s interested in mystery and suspense, it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat the whole book.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first Samuel Craddock Mystery some time ago and the series had fallen off my radar, but thanks to Goodreads it remained on my to read list. I like the character of an aged ex chief of police living in a small Texas town where everyone knows everyone...but not really. I'm putting this series on my "read sooner rather than later" list.

[Pat Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book!

I feel comfortable with the characters, especially Samuel Craddock, with whom I would have coffee anyday!

Time to get the next in the series!

(And thank you, Timothy Hallinan, for the recommendation.)

[Monical · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good mystery from a "new-ish" writer. The plot gets a bit thick in places, and I thought there was an extra plot twist thrown in for no good reason, but I liked the characters and the main plot perked along well.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. Well written, I enjoyed all the characters and the setting. I like Samuel Craddock and will be looking for more. I am not a small town girl and lived in one as a child and vowed to never live in one again, though this town seems pretty nice.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good mystery, the second in a series.
Retired police chief Samuel Craddick investigates the murder of a former high school football star, who was badly wounded in The Gulf War shortly after high school.
Well paced, well written.

[Groucho42 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, a war veteran's, injured in Iraq, dad dies, then the vet dies. The drunk sheriff is off drying out so the town leaders ask Sam to investigate. Taylor is a bit too out of the can, a standard character, and she's central, but the rest of the story is good.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two in the Samuel Craddock detective series, and I liked it even more than the first one. It had the extra twist of being centered around a blind, disabled veteran and his friends from the service. And lots of other small town stuff. I cannot explain why I like these so much, but I do.

[Nicholas George · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a tad convuluted in its resolution (too many characters that we haven't seen for a while), but otherwise this is a beautifully written story, with very real characters dealing with very real issues. The Texas setting is wonderfully rendered, and Samuel Craddock is a great protagonist.