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Sheriff Dan Rhodes #2
Shotgun Saturday Night
Sheriff Dan Rhodes knows it's going to be a bad day when Bert Ramsey arrives at the jail with a neatly wrapped arm and lays it on Dan's desk. He has another out in the truck, he tells the sheriff, and "a couple of legs, too, but they don't match up."
To Rhodes's relief, the severed limbs—part of a large cache Bert has discovered while clearing brush—are not evidence of a mass murderer at large in Blacklin County, but something more on a par with the usual emergencies the Texas lawman has to deal with: cows loose in the churchyard, ninety-year-old Mrs. Thurman's periodic attacks of "blindness" (which Rhodes cures by sending out a deputy with fresh light bulbs), and the like. Meanwhile, back at the jail, his attenuated employees are bristling about the new deputy, a highly qualified police officer, but a woman, and the air conditioner has collapsed during the heat wave. Plus his personal life has its own problems; does he or does he not want to marry Ivy Daniel?
Then Bert Ramsey is shot to death, and serious crime takes over. A tattoo on the body discloses that Ramsey was once a member of Los Muertos, a violent motorcycle gang from the city, and current members of the gang turn up in Blacklin County. There are questions: Where did the town handyman get the money to buy two color television sets, two VCRs, and a houseful of new furniture? Not to mention six thousand dollars in cash rolled up in a sock in Bert's dresser drawer. Dan Rhodes doesn't have access to the high-tech detection methods of city police—and probably wouldn't use them if he had. Dan has to talk to people and sift the facts from the lies. If he is careful, he believes, and keeps it up, he'll usually get results. "Keeping it up" involves tangling with Wyneva Greer, Ramsey's former girlfriend now living with a mysterious newcomer to the town, Buster Cullens. Buster becomes the next murder victim—of the same killer? Rhodes isn't sure. He soon tangles with the bikers, sustaining a certain amount of damage in the process.
Dan Rhodes is, in the words of Newgate Callender of The New York Times Book Review, "a quiet man, an honest man and a stubborn man," and it seems that no amount of violence is going to deter him from getting to the bottom of the murders in his relatively peaceful and beautifully evoked Texas county.
To Rhodes's relief, the severed limbs—part of a large cache Bert has discovered while clearing brush—are not evidence of a mass murderer at large in Blacklin County, but something more on a par with the usual emergencies the Texas lawman has to deal with: cows loose in the churchyard, ninety-year-old Mrs. Thurman's periodic attacks of "blindness" (which Rhodes cures by sending out a deputy with fresh light bulbs), and the like. Meanwhile, back at the jail, his attenuated employees are bristling about the new deputy, a highly qualified police officer, but a woman, and the air conditioner has collapsed during the heat wave. Plus his personal life has its own problems; does he or does he not want to marry Ivy Daniel?
Then Bert Ramsey is shot to death, and serious crime takes over. A tattoo on the body discloses that Ramsey was once a member of Los Muertos, a violent motorcycle gang from the city, and current members of the gang turn up in Blacklin County. There are questions: Where did the town handyman get the money to buy two color television sets, two VCRs, and a houseful of new furniture? Not to mention six thousand dollars in cash rolled up in a sock in Bert's dresser drawer. Dan Rhodes doesn't have access to the high-tech detection methods of city police—and probably wouldn't use them if he had. Dan has to talk to people and sift the facts from the lies. If he is careful, he believes, and keeps it up, he'll usually get results. "Keeping it up" involves tangling with Wyneva Greer, Ramsey's former girlfriend now living with a mysterious newcomer to the town, Buster Cullens. Buster becomes the next murder victim—of the same killer? Rhodes isn't sure. He soon tangles with the bikers, sustaining a certain amount of damage in the process.
Dan Rhodes is, in the words of Newgate Callender of The New York Times Book Review, "a quiet man, an honest man and a stubborn man," and it seems that no amount of violence is going to deter him from getting to the bottom of the murders in his relatively peaceful and beautifully evoked Texas county.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1987
54 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Bill Crider
241 books236 followersTaught English at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Tex., and went on to become the chair of the Division of English and Fine Arts at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Tex.; prolific writer of mystery, science fiction, western, horror, and children's books, not to mention short stories, articles, reviews, and blog posts; perhaps best known for his Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 23, 2020
"Shotgun Saturday Night" is the second Dan Rhodes mystery by Bill Crider following "Too Late To Die". The Book was published in 1987 and gives the reader the next installment of the events in the small town in Blacklin County, Texas.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes has hired a new deputy to replace the recently departed last one, who was gored to death by a wild pig (in the previous book), and was also engaged to his daughter. The new deputy's name is Ruth. The other employees at the police station don't like her much at first.
To stir things up a handyman brings in three boxes of severed limbs (arms and legs) to the sheriff's office. As Rhodes investigates the apparition of body parts, the handyman who found the boxes is killed by being shot in the chest with a shotgun. A witness claims to have heard "motersickles" at the time of the murder.
Dan Rhodes also acquires a dog in this book. He does not call him dog. He names him Speedo, but his real friends call him Mr. Earl.
The book has lots of references to songs and music from the 50's, and to the Ed McBain's 87'th precinct books which make occasional appearances with questions like (what would Detective Corella do ?).
An all together satisfying read. "Shotgun Saturday Night" moves at a faster pace than the first book in the series and I look forward to the third one in the series.
Both yhumbs up.
Sheriff Dan Rhodes has hired a new deputy to replace the recently departed last one, who was gored to death by a wild pig (in the previous book), and was also engaged to his daughter. The new deputy's name is Ruth. The other employees at the police station don't like her much at first.
To stir things up a handyman brings in three boxes of severed limbs (arms and legs) to the sheriff's office. As Rhodes investigates the apparition of body parts, the handyman who found the boxes is killed by being shot in the chest with a shotgun. A witness claims to have heard "motersickles" at the time of the murder.
Dan Rhodes also acquires a dog in this book. He does not call him dog. He names him Speedo, but his real friends call him Mr. Earl.
The book has lots of references to songs and music from the 50's, and to the Ed McBain's 87'th precinct books which make occasional appearances with questions like (what would Detective Corella do ?).
An all together satisfying read. "Shotgun Saturday Night" moves at a faster pace than the first book in the series and I look forward to the third one in the series.
Both yhumbs up.
May 16, 2011
BOTTOM LINE: #2 Sheriff Dan Rhodes, Blacklin County, Texas, almost-cosy police procedural. A motorcycle gang called Los Muertos, pot plants, and mismatched body parts make things interesting for Dan and his deputies during a warm summer week. And that’s not all: the AC goes out, someone gets shot, and Dan and Ivy’s relationship starts to heat up a bit. Another fine visit with Dan and friends, in what might be a nice place to live, if only odd things didn’t keep happening....
Very quietly written, but with a fast pace and a good deal of action, the edginess of modern life is present, but somehow doesn’t jump out at you. A strong plot, very good continuing characters, and a couple of new ones that are memorable, plus many bit parts that could have easily been pumped up but weren’t, making this a quick, and happy, read. A mite “dated”, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
Ivy shows some spunk here, and while it’s a mite “cutel”, still it’s woven into the plot nicely and doesn’t annoy. I’d ought to be aggravated by the tons of “village cosy” cliches he uses, but I’m not. I very much enjoy “visiting” with Dan and the deputies.
The new deputy Ruth is wonderful, hope we get to see a lot more of her.
Very quietly written, but with a fast pace and a good deal of action, the edginess of modern life is present, but somehow doesn’t jump out at you. A strong plot, very good continuing characters, and a couple of new ones that are memorable, plus many bit parts that could have easily been pumped up but weren’t, making this a quick, and happy, read. A mite “dated”, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
Ivy shows some spunk here, and while it’s a mite “cutel”, still it’s woven into the plot nicely and doesn’t annoy. I’d ought to be aggravated by the tons of “village cosy” cliches he uses, but I’m not. I very much enjoy “visiting” with Dan and the deputies.
The new deputy Ruth is wonderful, hope we get to see a lot more of her.
September 19, 2016
I liked the book fine, my thoughts about it mirrors my review of book 1 in this series. I will probably continue reading the series as long as I can get the books from my library, won't buy them though!
April 2, 2019
This is an excellent second outing for sheriff Dan Rhodes and his Texas county police department. The book is in turns funny, sad, hilarious, and just a little scary.
September 20, 2023
The second book in Bill Crider’s series about Texas Sheriff Dan Rhodes is as good as the first. There’s a murder to be solved, and Rhodes is on the case, while also dealing with a number of eccentricities in their area.
Bert Ramsey is a local handyman who is dependable, reliable, and well-thought-of. When he’s found murdered, Sheriff Rhodes begins his investigation. The Sheriff and Bert recently interacted when Bert found amputated body parts near some brush he was clearing. A tattoo on Bert reveals he was once part of the Los Muertos Motorcycle Gang, not known for having a presence in these parts. What’s more is that Bert’s girlfriend, Wyneva Greer, seems to have found a new boyfriend very quickly.
Rhodes is sheriff in Blacklin County, a rural area that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that big-city police departments have. He has to uncover the mystery using old-fashioned police work, which is mostly talking to people face to face and gauging reactions. Is Bert’s death related to the gang he was once a part of? Does it have to do with the body parts he found? Or was it a lover’s quarrel with Wyneva wanting him out of the way so she could move on?
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
Bert Ramsey is a local handyman who is dependable, reliable, and well-thought-of. When he’s found murdered, Sheriff Rhodes begins his investigation. The Sheriff and Bert recently interacted when Bert found amputated body parts near some brush he was clearing. A tattoo on Bert reveals he was once part of the Los Muertos Motorcycle Gang, not known for having a presence in these parts. What’s more is that Bert’s girlfriend, Wyneva Greer, seems to have found a new boyfriend very quickly.
Rhodes is sheriff in Blacklin County, a rural area that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that big-city police departments have. He has to uncover the mystery using old-fashioned police work, which is mostly talking to people face to face and gauging reactions. Is Bert’s death related to the gang he was once a part of? Does it have to do with the body parts he found? Or was it a lover’s quarrel with Wyneva wanting him out of the way so she could move on?
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
January 28, 2017
Blacklin County, is a small outpost of the mega cities of Texas. The Sheriff's department reminds me of the old TV series "Mayberry, RFD". Sheriff Dan Rhodes is as goodhearted and laconic as the Andy Griffith character. He is surrounded by Deputies of the Barney Fife mentality. The department has just hired a new deputy named Ruth. Ruth is a puzzlement to the Barneys as she leaps into action instead of just pondering the situation. For example Ruth introduces the guys to WD40 when she desqueaks the boss's chair. Sheriff Rhodes is low-key courting a local gal named Ivy. One night he accidentally proposes to her. What is different between Andy and Rhodes is that Rhodes gets beaten up a lot by the bad guys. One of the mysteries of this volume in the series is who and why did someone leave 3 boxes of amputated arms and legs in some overgrown brush. The second mystery is why did the poor guy who found and reported the limbs collection get blown away. More humor that grit in this story, it was a good light read.
August 26, 2012
#2 in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. Laid-back sheriff Dan Rhodes wouldn't dare asy anyone for a hand in solving his latest mystery, in this amusing series entry, he might literally get one.
Dan Rhodes series - That easy-going, empathetic, likeable Sheriff Dan Rhodes is up to his neck in a baffling case when a number of arms and legs are found on a trash pile in Blacklin County, Texas. Soon the man who found them is dead and Rhodes wends his way through a gang of rough bikers and assorted Texas types to find a few answers.
Dan Rhodes series - That easy-going, empathetic, likeable Sheriff Dan Rhodes is up to his neck in a baffling case when a number of arms and legs are found on a trash pile in Blacklin County, Texas. Soon the man who found them is dead and Rhodes wends his way through a gang of rough bikers and assorted Texas types to find a few answers.
September 18, 2014
PROTAGONIST: Sheriff Dan Rhodes
SETTING: Blacklin County, Texas
SERIES: #2 of 21
RATING: 3.25
WHY: Local handyman Bert Ramsey has found 3 boxes of amputated arms and legs, which he reports to Blacklin County sheriff Dan Rhodes. When Ramsey is murdered, we find that there is a lot more than limbs at stake. I found the action scenes unconvincing, and the fact that Rhodes often brought his love interest, Ivy Daniel, with him to investigate not credible. The characters are likeable, and it's good to see that Rhodes doesn't always figure things out perfectly.
SETTING: Blacklin County, Texas
SERIES: #2 of 21
RATING: 3.25
WHY: Local handyman Bert Ramsey has found 3 boxes of amputated arms and legs, which he reports to Blacklin County sheriff Dan Rhodes. When Ramsey is murdered, we find that there is a lot more than limbs at stake. I found the action scenes unconvincing, and the fact that Rhodes often brought his love interest, Ivy Daniel, with him to investigate not credible. The characters are likeable, and it's good to see that Rhodes doesn't always figure things out perfectly.
February 25, 2015
When a local handyman is killed at close range with a shotgun, sheriff Dan Rhodes discovers that he had new possessions and more money on hand than could be explained by his handyman earnings. Then another man, suspected of the first murder, is also found dead, apparently killed by members of a motorcycle gang. Interesting characters, some quite eccentric. There's also the finding of three boxes of mismatched human arms and legs, which the handyman had found not long before his death. How to explain them...
August 1, 2009
A Sheriff Dan Rhodes mystery. He's sheriff of a small rural Texas county that's normally very quiet and laid back. Rhodes is a more human character who appears to be more bumbling than he really is and frequently is on the short end of things. This story involves a motorcycle gang, a couple of murders, and a number of side issues in the daily routine of the sheriff's office.
October 13, 2022
I only found and started reading books that came after this one. After falling in love with the author and characters, I went back and started from the beginning. This book helped solve a missing key to the newer ones. This is one of a few authors I seem to constantly give 5 star as the books are so good. Good ole commons sense western mystery. Can't wait to read the next one.
July 20, 2008
The second entry in Bill Crider,s mystery series.
When the town handyman, Sheriff Rhodes visits the home and finds two new televisions, a houseful of furniture, and six thousand dollars in cash.
A nifty little mystery.
When the town handyman, Sheriff Rhodes visits the home and finds two new televisions, a houseful of furniture, and six thousand dollars in cash.
A nifty little mystery.
April 23, 2010
This is one of my favorite mystery series. Sheriff Dan Rhodes is a good, honest and very likeable character. Well written, great humor, well-plotted mystery. There's character development, so series should be read in order. Highly recommended.
April 6, 2010
Very Good; Continuing character: Sheriff Dan Rhodes; boxes of assorted body parts, murders and a motorcycle gang rile things up in the Sheriff's small own, as he contemplates marriage at the same time
November 5, 2012
read this on reccomendations of readers on this site...decent tale of a Hackberry Holland-type sheriff of a Texas county...fun observations and insights into human nature, as well as, a decent mystery too!!!
September 19, 2012
The 2nd book in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. I enjoyed this one as much as I did the 1st.
This one is about a motorcycle gang that may or may not be causing trouble in town.
Most of the cast is back for this go-round. An easy read, that keeps you guessing.
This one is about a motorcycle gang that may or may not be causing trouble in town.
Most of the cast is back for this go-round. An easy read, that keeps you guessing.
August 7, 2015
This is the second book in the Dan Rhodes series.
Once again, murder is afoot in Blacklin County, and Sheriff Dan Rhodes has to solve it. This book introduces Rapper and Nellie, recurring biker villains, and Deputy Ruth Grady, who becomes a major supporting character.
Once again, murder is afoot in Blacklin County, and Sheriff Dan Rhodes has to solve it. This book introduces Rapper and Nellie, recurring biker villains, and Deputy Ruth Grady, who becomes a major supporting character.
May 10, 2017
Bought Kindle. 60% of the pages is the book but the rest is preview of the next book. I do not need that.
May 6, 2025
Here in Ireland we don't have Sheriffs (actually we do, but they are not part of the police force), but we have more than enough 'cowboys' for a nation our size.
Modern policing involves a lot of talk about communities and neighbourhoods but there are never enough feet on the ground. He leads from the front and goes where the evidence or his hunches point.
Which is one of the reasons I like Sheriff Dan Rhodes of Blacklin County, Texas - he's not just policing the county, he's part of it.
What starts out as an oddball mystery concerning discarded human limbs takes a sinister turn when the finder is murdered shortly afterwards.
The dead man, Bert Ramsey, turns out to have been a one-time member of a motorcycle gang (Los Muertas MC) and a witness reported that she heard 'motorsiccles' in the area shortly before the killing.
And Bert's former girlfriend, Wyneva Greer, definitely knows more than she'll admit to.
There's a lot of incidental detail, including Dan's growing attraction to Ivy, a new female deputy, the AC in the station giving up the ghost, and how Dan gets a dog. It's not vital material but it does round the novel out nicely.
I enjoyed "Shotgun Saturday Night" a lot.
4 Stars.
Modern policing involves a lot of talk about communities and neighbourhoods but there are never enough feet on the ground. He leads from the front and goes where the evidence or his hunches point.
Which is one of the reasons I like Sheriff Dan Rhodes of Blacklin County, Texas - he's not just policing the county, he's part of it.
What starts out as an oddball mystery concerning discarded human limbs takes a sinister turn when the finder is murdered shortly afterwards.
The dead man, Bert Ramsey, turns out to have been a one-time member of a motorcycle gang (Los Muertas MC) and a witness reported that she heard 'motorsiccles' in the area shortly before the killing.
And Bert's former girlfriend, Wyneva Greer, definitely knows more than she'll admit to.
There's a lot of incidental detail, including Dan's growing attraction to Ivy, a new female deputy, the AC in the station giving up the ghost, and how Dan gets a dog. It's not vital material but it does round the novel out nicely.
I enjoyed "Shotgun Saturday Night" a lot.
4 Stars.
July 16, 2019
A quick, delightful and and very satisfying book to read. Deserves 4.5 stars.
Dan Rhodes is the sheriff in a small town in Texas. The book begins with a collection of arms and legs that someone found while clearing brush. The man who discovered them is soon shot to death and had a tattoo on his body that indicated he was a member of Los Muertos, a motorcycle gang from Houston.
Dan Rhodes is the sheriff in a small town in Texas. The book begins with a collection of arms and legs that someone found while clearing brush. The man who discovered them is soon shot to death and had a tattoo on his body that indicated he was a member of Los Muertos, a motorcycle gang from Houston.
September 12, 2017
I started this series backwards - reading the last one first but now I have started over. The first one was good - this one is better. Rhodes gets in trouble a lot and has a great cast of enemies. The end is unexpected and makes you want to hurry to book 3.
March 29, 2018
I read this book right after the first book because I wanted to see what happens to some of the characters. I didn't like this book as much as the first one. Several things happen during the book which seem dangerous and unrealistic for a sheriff to do.
February 22, 2019
Entertaining Novella
Bill Crider has written another entertaining Sheriff Dan Rhodes novella. It is a nostalgic look at small town Texas life with a modern evil twist. May the Dan Rhodes Series continue.
Bill Crider has written another entertaining Sheriff Dan Rhodes novella. It is a nostalgic look at small town Texas life with a modern evil twist. May the Dan Rhodes Series continue.
March 30, 2020
A good quick read. I read it all in one day.
June 19, 2021
Fast entertaining little read with Aw Shucks Andy Griffith-type sheriff. The 2 old guys in the jail crack me up. The way he ended the book though. Needs to work on that.
March 16, 2024
Just goddamn delightful. Light and full of chicken fried good dialogue.
August 5, 2024
Second book of the series was better than the first. Still not as good as the later ones. I feel like the side story with the limbs was not needed/distracting.
July 22, 2025
Witty
Such wit is used in the telling. I recommend it for a quick read! I will surely be continuing those series.
Such wit is used in the telling. I recommend it for a quick read! I will surely be continuing those series.
December 27, 2025
Relaxing read that kept my interest up. Not reading the series in any sequence, just what the library had available over the past two years.
January 4, 2025
This is the second in the long-running Sheriff Dan Rhodes series set in Texas. Originally published in 1987, it mentions Ed McBain's 87th Precinct novels a few times-- usually to mention that Rhodes' small bailiwick doesn't have near the amount of "high tech" that the 87th has. (And just imagine how the tech has changed since 1987!)
Rhodes has to sort out his feelings for his girlfriend while he tries to unravel all the knots in this mystery, and I enjoyed following along. Sometimes it's just plain relaxing to have a mystery with no cell phones or forensics, you know?
Rhodes has to sort out his feelings for his girlfriend while he tries to unravel all the knots in this mystery, and I enjoyed following along. Sometimes it's just plain relaxing to have a mystery with no cell phones or forensics, you know?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews