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Sheriff Bo Tully #5
The Tamarack Murders: A Bo Tully Mystery
Bo Tully, sheriff of Blight County, Idaho, has seen his share of small-town crime. Fact is, everyone in the area knows Tully, and knows his Blight Way of doing things. But when he and his deputy hike into the deep woods, tracking a suspected bank robber, little do they realize that they are about to witness a murder and that, in turn, will lead the sheriff on an intricate trail, a series of twists and turns demanding his utmost attention and keenest crime-solving abilities.
Along the way, Tully has to deal with the likes of a shadowy local named Gridley Shanks, who seems to have a spider web of connections throughout town; two out-of-town elk hunters who don t know much about elk hunting, but are tied to the murder; an elderly couple who end up dead while caring for a rundown mansion and property out of town; a sassy assistant named Daisy; an attractive, tough FBI agent named Angie, who suddenly finds herself involved in her first murder investigation; and a host of other characters. There s also the case of missing loot, which no one can find at least, until Tully puts his mind to it. Will Tully get his man (or men) this time? Does the Blight Way ever fail? Read another page-turning mystery turned misadventure by New York Times bestselling author, Patrick F. McManus.
Along the way, Tully has to deal with the likes of a shadowy local named Gridley Shanks, who seems to have a spider web of connections throughout town; two out-of-town elk hunters who don t know much about elk hunting, but are tied to the murder; an elderly couple who end up dead while caring for a rundown mansion and property out of town; a sassy assistant named Daisy; an attractive, tough FBI agent named Angie, who suddenly finds herself involved in her first murder investigation; and a host of other characters. There s also the case of missing loot, which no one can find at least, until Tully puts his mind to it. Will Tully get his man (or men) this time? Does the Blight Way ever fail? Read another page-turning mystery turned misadventure by New York Times bestselling author, Patrick F. McManus.
170 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
142 people are currently reading
476 people want to read
About the author
Patrick F. McManus
56 books422 followersPatrick F. McManus is an American outdoor humor writer. A humor columnist for Outdoor Life and other magazines, his columns have been collected in several books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
December 26, 2022
Decent mystery
This is an entertaining but not great mystery. Good outdoors details. Mildly humorous. I did not enjoy it as much as Mr. McManus' humorous essays and tales.
I have read and will continue to read other volumes in the series.
This is an entertaining but not great mystery. Good outdoors details. Mildly humorous. I did not enjoy it as much as Mr. McManus' humorous essays and tales.
I have read and will continue to read other volumes in the series.
March 24, 2013
“The Tamarack Murders” by Patrick F. McManus is one of the Bo Tully Mystery Series. I thought I would enjoy this book because McManus is supposed to be a writer who invokes a sense of humor in his books. I DO love a good murder mystery, but this was not a good murder mystery and I think I missed the humor.
I’m sorry to say that, but there were so many characters written into this story that I had a hard time following. Also the book was super short which in my mind didn’t give the novelist time to flesh out the story enough to entice me to read this book word for word. I must admit that I began skimming the pages just to be through with it.
I would not recommend purchasing this book. It was not at all a book that I would lend anyone along with a good review. I received a free print copy of this book in return for my honest review from the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. and Night Owl Reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.
You can read this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-5h
I’m sorry to say that, but there were so many characters written into this story that I had a hard time following. Also the book was super short which in my mind didn’t give the novelist time to flesh out the story enough to entice me to read this book word for word. I must admit that I began skimming the pages just to be through with it.
I would not recommend purchasing this book. It was not at all a book that I would lend anyone along with a good review. I received a free print copy of this book in return for my honest review from the publisher, Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. and Night Owl Reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.
You can read this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-5h
September 17, 2025
2.5 stars
If you are in the mood for slapstick country law this might fill the bill. I gave the series a try, but won't be back.
Library Loan
If you are in the mood for slapstick country law this might fill the bill. I gave the series a try, but won't be back.
Library Loan
November 27, 2016
Meh. I had been underwhelmed by the first book in the Tully mystery series and this book further in (and the second I've read) confirmed it. I really dislike series' that endlessly repeat stereotypic thoughts, tropes, throughout the book. The character seems stuck in an endless repeat of the same habits, the same sidekicks, even some of the same jokes. It just didn't work for me.
Sloppy copyedits also didn't help this book's cause. "Datson" for "Datsun," inconsistent use of "Glenn" and "Glen," and other mistakes really made me raise my brows. What happened to the copyeditor?
Sloppy copyedits also didn't help this book's cause. "Datson" for "Datsun," inconsistent use of "Glenn" and "Glen," and other mistakes really made me raise my brows. What happened to the copyeditor?
June 8, 2025
An entertaining tale by an author unknown to me til now. Sheriffs Bo Tully investigates a bank robbery that is followed by a murder. Sprinkled amongst the sheriff’s investigation we have a front row seat to Bo’s pursuit of the opposite sex.
Onward!
Onward!
January 17, 2019
Guilty pleasure, light reading. The mystery with this one was much weaker than previous ones, though.
July 23, 2023
2023 bk 226. Another gem from the pen of Patrick McManus. I enjoy watching the Sheriff pierce the pieces together to crime in Blight County. This title was missing some of the freshness of the earlier novels - as if an editor or reader insisted on finding a way to incorporate some of the quirky characters of earlier books. A good read, but not the strongest of the series.
June 25, 2014
Sheriff Bo Tulley of Blight County is in the mountains with two of his deputies hunting a bank robber when a man is murdered right in front of him. He uses the highly Blight rules to purse the perpetrator flirting with the ladies along the way. A good enjoyable crime novel that is hard to put down.
April 4, 2015
This was a fun quick read! As usual it had a lot of laughs and some insight into doing things the unconventional way (The Blight Way!) but should not be taken seriously!
September 13, 2017
Terrible characters. The main character- bo Tully- is a womanizing cop that's partially crooked. The town runs on their own rules.
December 15, 2021
I gave this book a 5 star rating due to the great story and buildup to the climax of the book. This book is a great book in terms of mystery novels. It is also a book about small town/county law enforcement, which was very popular from the 90s to the mid 2010s.
"A hunter can tell the difference between an elk and a deer". I like this quote because, while it states the obvious, it is also more in depth. I myself am a hunter and I can tell the difference between an elk and a deer from 500 yards with my bare eyes, I can also spot things that aren't obvious in life outside of hunting. In the book this quote relates to spotting the murderers because they refer to a herd of elk as "a bunch of deer" and they claim to be expert deer hunters who were hunting on the mountain where the murder occurred.
The Book starts out with a manhunt for A bank robber that ends in the bank robber being shot. They then lead an investigation into who shot him. Once they have suspects they interrogate them. They realize who did it and track them both down to a fire lookout tower, where they find both of the murderers dead. They track down the person who killed them and put him in jail.
The theme is that, while small town police may be understaffed and underfunded, they can still do their jobs just as good as the NYPD if they put their minds to it. This is important because 10 percent of Americans live in small towns and while that doesn't seem like a lot, 86 percent of our meat and fruits come from those 10 percent, and while anarchy doesn't sound all that bad, if they was no enforcement of that ten percent there would be constant cattle and land wars.
"A hunter can tell the difference between an elk and a deer". I like this quote because, while it states the obvious, it is also more in depth. I myself am a hunter and I can tell the difference between an elk and a deer from 500 yards with my bare eyes, I can also spot things that aren't obvious in life outside of hunting. In the book this quote relates to spotting the murderers because they refer to a herd of elk as "a bunch of deer" and they claim to be expert deer hunters who were hunting on the mountain where the murder occurred.
The Book starts out with a manhunt for A bank robber that ends in the bank robber being shot. They then lead an investigation into who shot him. Once they have suspects they interrogate them. They realize who did it and track them both down to a fire lookout tower, where they find both of the murderers dead. They track down the person who killed them and put him in jail.
The theme is that, while small town police may be understaffed and underfunded, they can still do their jobs just as good as the NYPD if they put their minds to it. This is important because 10 percent of Americans live in small towns and while that doesn't seem like a lot, 86 percent of our meat and fruits come from those 10 percent, and while anarchy doesn't sound all that bad, if they was no enforcement of that ten percent there would be constant cattle and land wars.
July 2, 2018
I really enjoy McManus' writing, particularly his short column in the back of Field & Stream so I figured I'd give this story a try. Its set in the fictitious county of Blight Idaho in the mountains and the main character is Bo Tully, the sheriff.
This story is of a bank robbery and a murder of one of the bank robbers as they try to make their getaway. Bo Tucker uses the "Blight way" which is basically libertarianesque rules breaking and doing what seems right without regard to law or rules. As this is a bank robbery, the FBI become involved as well.
Its not very well handled. The writing is all right, but it has a lot of editorial issues. There aren't many typos (no more than the usual published book these days) but there are oddities such as how nobody has ever heard of a family -- until they are tracked down to a nearby town, then literally every character who didn't know who they were before now remembers the huge ranch and the haunted mansion that used to be long to the family.
Odd details that everyone in the area ought to know such as bridges, fire lookout towers, and so on are forgotten or unknown, until necessary for the plot. Characters are so similar as to be impossible to tell apart, requiring careful focus on their names to try to distinguish them. Every woman is beautiful and they all fall in love with the sheriff. Its just not very good stuff.
Oh, and by the end of the book, after seeing the phrase "blight way" several times each chapter, you're probably going to be as sick of it as I was.
This story is of a bank robbery and a murder of one of the bank robbers as they try to make their getaway. Bo Tucker uses the "Blight way" which is basically libertarianesque rules breaking and doing what seems right without regard to law or rules. As this is a bank robbery, the FBI become involved as well.
Its not very well handled. The writing is all right, but it has a lot of editorial issues. There aren't many typos (no more than the usual published book these days) but there are oddities such as how nobody has ever heard of a family -- until they are tracked down to a nearby town, then literally every character who didn't know who they were before now remembers the huge ranch and the haunted mansion that used to be long to the family.
Odd details that everyone in the area ought to know such as bridges, fire lookout towers, and so on are forgotten or unknown, until necessary for the plot. Characters are so similar as to be impossible to tell apart, requiring careful focus on their names to try to distinguish them. Every woman is beautiful and they all fall in love with the sheriff. Its just not very good stuff.
Oh, and by the end of the book, after seeing the phrase "blight way" several times each chapter, you're probably going to be as sick of it as I was.
June 3, 2023
I stumbled upon this series several years ago when I needed a book set in Idaho for a challenge spot, and liked it enough to continue the series :) Unless you count driving through a tiny corner of the state without even stopping, I’ve never been to Idaho, but I remember the scenery as we drove through, so it’s easy to envision the setting of these books, even though we were there in summer, and this particular book is set in winter.
Add a bit more humor and snark to the Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson and you have the Sheriff Bo Tully series. Bo and Walt are cut from the same cloth – both determined to unearth the truth, both sometimes working in unorthodox manners, both with similar ‘sidekicks,’ and both respected by their community, which makes it easy to like their characters.
The primary murder in this book was unique, in that it took place right before the lawmen’s eyes, although they did not see the person who pulled the trigger. As they uncovered information and clues, they also uncovered a few solid suspects, but it wasn’t until just before it was revealed in the book that I figured out the motive and who the killer was.
There is only one more book in this series, and while I look forward to reading it, I’m not ready to say goodbye to Bo, Pap, Lurch, Dave, Daisy and the rest.
Add a bit more humor and snark to the Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson and you have the Sheriff Bo Tully series. Bo and Walt are cut from the same cloth – both determined to unearth the truth, both sometimes working in unorthodox manners, both with similar ‘sidekicks,’ and both respected by their community, which makes it easy to like their characters.
The primary murder in this book was unique, in that it took place right before the lawmen’s eyes, although they did not see the person who pulled the trigger. As they uncovered information and clues, they also uncovered a few solid suspects, but it wasn’t until just before it was revealed in the book that I figured out the motive and who the killer was.
There is only one more book in this series, and while I look forward to reading it, I’m not ready to say goodbye to Bo, Pap, Lurch, Dave, Daisy and the rest.
August 20, 2018
Something happened with this book that rarely happens to me; I couldn't finish it. This was all the more bitter because I am in desperate need of something with which to replace my love affair with Sheriff Dan Rhodes.
In this book the dialogue is parochial and the characters seem one dimensional. The deputies complain about everything, and when they finally get around to doing their job seem to need to have their hands held. The sheriff is very forth coming about the affairs he has had with the women around town, including one in his office, and sex is never far from the front of his mind. And one other thing, the author explains, repeatedly, that tamarack needles are bright yellow, I guess in case the reader missed it the first four times. Since I was unable to finish the book I am not sure if that is pertinent to the plot or not.
I will put this one back on the shelf and may, at some point in the far distant future, make another attempt. But for now I am giving it a very generous one star and continuing my search for a sheriff to fall in love with.
In this book the dialogue is parochial and the characters seem one dimensional. The deputies complain about everything, and when they finally get around to doing their job seem to need to have their hands held. The sheriff is very forth coming about the affairs he has had with the women around town, including one in his office, and sex is never far from the front of his mind. And one other thing, the author explains, repeatedly, that tamarack needles are bright yellow, I guess in case the reader missed it the first four times. Since I was unable to finish the book I am not sure if that is pertinent to the plot or not.
I will put this one back on the shelf and may, at some point in the far distant future, make another attempt. But for now I am giving it a very generous one star and continuing my search for a sheriff to fall in love with.
May 5, 2025
Sheriff Bo Tully of Blight county, Idaho, is one of the most likeable fictional characters I have come across in a long time.
He's highly educated, an increasingly successful painter in his spare time, but plays the part of a hick so as not to confuse the local voters.
And he likes to use 'The Blight Way' when it comes to meting out justice - meaning that not every criminal will make it into court.
“The Tamarack Murders” sees Bo in hot pursuit after a bank robbery.
As he chases a suspect up a mountain … a shot rings out from above and the suspect is no more.
It's the start of an intricate investigation, and a rising death count.
An unexpected painting windfall sees Bo thinking seriously about changing his career.
I really enjoy the series but there is a lot of repetition throughout.
4 Stars.
He's highly educated, an increasingly successful painter in his spare time, but plays the part of a hick so as not to confuse the local voters.
And he likes to use 'The Blight Way' when it comes to meting out justice - meaning that not every criminal will make it into court.
“The Tamarack Murders” sees Bo in hot pursuit after a bank robbery.
As he chases a suspect up a mountain … a shot rings out from above and the suspect is no more.
It's the start of an intricate investigation, and a rising death count.
An unexpected painting windfall sees Bo thinking seriously about changing his career.
I really enjoy the series but there is a lot of repetition throughout.
4 Stars.
November 14, 2017
Large Print edition.
McManus manages to leave Bo Tully's messy sex life between books. He flirts in print, but the sex apparently takes place "off stage." Heh!
While pursuing an alleged bank robber, a murder takes place right before Tully's eyes. Then you look back at the title and see the plural. Ruh-roh. A bank robbery brings in the FBI and another female admirerer ... or admired female. Tully has them orbiting like Jupiter's moons. Must be the mustache. All the clues lead back to one man, who's just too darn likable to be a criminal mastermind.
These books are great fun that can be gobbled in a day. I read this one while waiting for jury duty that didn't pan out. Quite a contrast between the real life criminal justice system and The Blight Way.
McManus manages to leave Bo Tully's messy sex life between books. He flirts in print, but the sex apparently takes place "off stage." Heh!
While pursuing an alleged bank robber, a murder takes place right before Tully's eyes. Then you look back at the title and see the plural. Ruh-roh. A bank robbery brings in the FBI and another female admirerer ... or admired female. Tully has them orbiting like Jupiter's moons. Must be the mustache. All the clues lead back to one man, who's just too darn likable to be a criminal mastermind.
These books are great fun that can be gobbled in a day. I read this one while waiting for jury duty that didn't pan out. Quite a contrast between the real life criminal justice system and The Blight Way.
January 16, 2021
This is a light murder series by a humorist. He writes about a sheriff in Idaho who does things in his own way and gets the job done. I have been amused by the series up until now, but this one wore a little thin. The mystery was convoluted but obvious who the mastermind actually was, and the repeated jokes and diatribes from earlier books were getting a bit boring. Part of the fun of reading a series is seeing the character development but Bo remains the very same, saying the same things. I concede that's part of his charm, but maybe the characters around him change? I have the final book on my shelf so will finish it up, but I hope it's a little more entertaining. Also the editing. This one had some distracting editorial issues.
February 27, 2019
Good, but not fantastic
I’ve read most of the books written by this author and enjoyed them all. I drifted away a few years ago and as a result I had a little difficulty remembering all the characters of Blight. The story is good with lots of twists but I suggest it not be the first of this series you read. You don’t get confused, you just can appreciate all the characters if you’ve met them before in his other works. Blight is an interesting place filled with unique characters and McManus brings them all to life in this story. Good job.
I’ve read most of the books written by this author and enjoyed them all. I drifted away a few years ago and as a result I had a little difficulty remembering all the characters of Blight. The story is good with lots of twists but I suggest it not be the first of this series you read. You don’t get confused, you just can appreciate all the characters if you’ve met them before in his other works. Blight is an interesting place filled with unique characters and McManus brings them all to life in this story. Good job.
October 25, 2023
Just for once, I'd love to read a detective novel where the main character (a male) doesn't act like a tomcat in an alley filled with female cats in heat. But it seems that male authors can't help but live out their teenage fantasies in their writing. It makes for tedious reading. Are there no male detectives who just do their jobs without either having sex with every female they meet or else just lusting over them? Perhaps I'm being unduly harsh with this writer, but this book was full of tired cliches and really quite dull reading.
July 25, 2017
Sorry. I could not get past chapter one. McManus has got writing credentials but they weren't evident here. In the first chapter several character are whiners (is that the humor?); there is ridiculously poor police procedure as well as gross assumptions made even before the initial investigation is underway. Questions are literally asked and incorrectly answered. Wow. The writing was amateurish. It felt like a draft that needed a great deal of improvement. Bummer.
February 20, 2019
The first of his mysteries that I've read, but have read his hunting and outdoors stories. I picked this one because it was on sale. Other reviews suggest this is one of the weaker ones in the series. For his literary legacy I hope so. The story had annoying repetitions, that could be explained away as bad copyediting - at least we wouldn't blame the author then. I found it quick, if not satisfying reading. I do plan to read more of McManus' hunting and outdoor stories.
August 12, 2023
The characters in this story were especially Sheriff Bo Tully were so realistic you felt like you had met him. He was definitely small town material and conducted business the way he wanted to since he was the authority in a small town. The test for him started with a bank robbery followed by a shooting which killed who they initially assumed was part of the bank robbery gang but there was no money to be found. The story that followed was interesting in that it clearly gave you an on-going tale of what was happening with the investigation yet it continued to show you the personality of the Sheriff.
February 22, 2019
Sheriff Bob Tully tracks bank-robbing murderers through the mountains and forests of Blight County.
Sheriff bo Tully , with them help of a cast of characters b living in his Blight County, hunts through the mountains, forests and small towns for bank robbers, con men and murderers, to get back the cash from the robbery and put away an assortment of crooks.
Sheriff bo Tully , with them help of a cast of characters b living in his Blight County, hunts through the mountains, forests and small towns for bank robbers, con men and murderers, to get back the cash from the robbery and put away an assortment of crooks.
March 29, 2023
Another fun Bo Tully story. Some parts of the investigation seem to just fall in his lap, while other parts he did legitimately figure out on his own. I had fun reading this one. Oh, and how many ladies can one man be interested in? I think that’s where I found myself drifting a bit in the middle.
January 25, 2018
Could have been great but it wasn’t. Pretty disappointing. I’m hoping I just had some weird pre-edited version because I thought it was repetitive as if I were reading the same chapter over but with minor changes. Odd book.
July 2, 2021
The Sheriff Bo Tully mysteries are enjoyable reading but this volume strikes me as having been written in a bit of a rush or perhaps McManus faced a publisher’s hurried deadline. I have no idea except that to my mind this one rests deep in the shadows of the earlier four.
April 30, 2018
Love this series. Only one more though. Wish there were more.
October 28, 2018
An OK read with a bit of humour to go along, but all in all I found the writing to be immature.
February 11, 2019
Another fun mystery involving a bank robbery.
February 18, 2019
Great read! I was thrilled to get my hands on this entertaining Bo Tully book. It does not disappoint. Loved the humor that had me laughing out loud. I recommend this read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews