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In a town full of secrets, one man stops only at the truth.
The beauty of the Adirondack Mountains offers no protection from evil as Police Chief Frank Bennett investigates three impenetrable crimes plaguing idyllic Trout Run, NY. In “Chainsaw Nativity,” Frank’s relentless pursuit of the thief who stole the Joseph statue from the town’s Nativity scene brings him up against the limits of compassion. In “Losers Weepers” a locket that’s lost, found, and stolen holds the secret to past betrayals and leads Frank to suspect the people he trusts the most. And in “Coyote Justice” Frank’s simmering attraction to Penny the librarian threatens to divert him from the path of justice. These three short mystery stories explore twisting mountain trails just as surely as the precipitous terrain of the human heart.
The beauty of the Adirondack Mountains offers no protection from evil as Police Chief Frank Bennett investigates three impenetrable crimes plaguing idyllic Trout Run, NY. In “Chainsaw Nativity,” Frank’s relentless pursuit of the thief who stole the Joseph statue from the town’s Nativity scene brings him up against the limits of compassion. In “Losers Weepers” a locket that’s lost, found, and stolen holds the secret to past betrayals and leads Frank to suspect the people he trusts the most. And in “Coyote Justice” Frank’s simmering attraction to Penny the librarian threatens to divert him from the path of justice. These three short mystery stories explore twisting mountain trails just as surely as the precipitous terrain of the human heart.
125 pages, Paperback
Published December 18, 2013
515 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Hubbard
32 books453 followersS.W. Hubbard writes the kinds of books she loves to read: twisty, believable, full of complex characters, and highlighted with sly humor. She is the author of the Palmyrton Estate Sale Mystery Series and the Frank Bennett Adirondack Mountain Mystery Series, as well as the Life in Palmyrton Women's Friendship Fiction Series. Her short stories have appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and the anthologiesDead Drift, Crimes by Moonlight, The Mystery Box, andAdirondack Mysteries. When not writing, she hikes with her rescue dog, Libby, and her husband. She lives in Morristown, NJ.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 14, 2015
Chainsaw Nativity
Police Chief Frank Bennett was amazed, as were the people of Trout Run; the influx of tourists in the area had increased since the statues of the Nativity had been painstakingly delivered to the green. Made solely from timber, they had been carved by a chainsaw. Frank was particularly taken with Joseph – his expression as he gazed up into Mary’s face had to be seen to be believed. So when suddenly Joseph was missing – dragged from his position within the Nativity scene, Frank took it personally. Finding the thief was a high priority.
Losers Weepers
When the annual clean-up day began with its usual host of volunteers around the park in Trout Run, Frank had the job of coordinating everyone. So when eighty year old Ardyth discovered a gold locket that was obviously valuable, Frank took it to the station. But he had no idea the old, faded photo inside the locket would lead to secrets and betrayals from a long ago past…
Coyote Justice
When Mike Moran’s wife didn’t come to pick him up from the ski fields he was concerned and contacted Frank. Meanwhile Barb contacted Frank’s offsider Earl regarding music she kept hearing out in the snow covered bush. And the large coyote which had been terrorising locals had been sighted – was there a connection between the events? And would Frank ever have the courage to ask Penny out?
These three short mysteries with Police Chief Frank Bennett at the helm are really enjoyable. I haven’t read this author before, but I’ll definitely be searching out her three full length novels in the Frank Bennett series. Great plots, quick easy reads; Dead Drift is an excellent read and one I recommend.
Police Chief Frank Bennett was amazed, as were the people of Trout Run; the influx of tourists in the area had increased since the statues of the Nativity had been painstakingly delivered to the green. Made solely from timber, they had been carved by a chainsaw. Frank was particularly taken with Joseph – his expression as he gazed up into Mary’s face had to be seen to be believed. So when suddenly Joseph was missing – dragged from his position within the Nativity scene, Frank took it personally. Finding the thief was a high priority.
Losers Weepers
When the annual clean-up day began with its usual host of volunteers around the park in Trout Run, Frank had the job of coordinating everyone. So when eighty year old Ardyth discovered a gold locket that was obviously valuable, Frank took it to the station. But he had no idea the old, faded photo inside the locket would lead to secrets and betrayals from a long ago past…
Coyote Justice
When Mike Moran’s wife didn’t come to pick him up from the ski fields he was concerned and contacted Frank. Meanwhile Barb contacted Frank’s offsider Earl regarding music she kept hearing out in the snow covered bush. And the large coyote which had been terrorising locals had been sighted – was there a connection between the events? And would Frank ever have the courage to ask Penny out?
These three short mysteries with Police Chief Frank Bennett at the helm are really enjoyable. I haven’t read this author before, but I’ll definitely be searching out her three full length novels in the Frank Bennett series. Great plots, quick easy reads; Dead Drift is an excellent read and one I recommend.
June 5, 2020
My least favorite of the three Adirondack mysteries. The clumsiness in the writing was more apparent without a well developed plot.
January 8, 2014
It is a small town and he is the Police Chief. He has moved from far away to man the department. He is single now, but he had been married. The town itself is what many would think of as a quiet town but there always seems to be trouble brewing just beyond the sight of the normal visitor.
I could be talking about the late Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone novels, but I’m not. These are the tales of Police Chief Frank Bennett and the small town in the Adirondack Mountains is Trout Run, N.Y. But the three stories in this collection are as amusing and interesting as those by Parker. “Dead Drift” starts with a missing chain sawed Joseph from the Nativity display in the town’ center.
“Losers Weepers”, our second tale, concerns a gold locket, long buried secrets and drugs set against the summer tourist season.
The final, and longest tale, takes place in winter. A woman is shot, killed while out in the backcountry and everyone in town agrees, what with the growing trouble the locals have been having with roaming coyotes in the area, the woman should never have been out on her own, blending into the snowy hillside with her all white outfit. But the Chief suspects there is more to the story after attending a small party held for the husband and teenage children.
Three quick little tales of mystery neatly packaged within 120 pages, “Dead Drift” was a fun read, but now I’m having to take the time and effort to find the three novels which feature the same Police Chief. A fortunate Goodreads win.
I could be talking about the late Robert B. Parker’s Jesse Stone novels, but I’m not. These are the tales of Police Chief Frank Bennett and the small town in the Adirondack Mountains is Trout Run, N.Y. But the three stories in this collection are as amusing and interesting as those by Parker. “Dead Drift” starts with a missing chain sawed Joseph from the Nativity display in the town’ center.
“Losers Weepers”, our second tale, concerns a gold locket, long buried secrets and drugs set against the summer tourist season.
The final, and longest tale, takes place in winter. A woman is shot, killed while out in the backcountry and everyone in town agrees, what with the growing trouble the locals have been having with roaming coyotes in the area, the woman should never have been out on her own, blending into the snowy hillside with her all white outfit. But the Chief suspects there is more to the story after attending a small party held for the husband and teenage children.
Three quick little tales of mystery neatly packaged within 120 pages, “Dead Drift” was a fun read, but now I’m having to take the time and effort to find the three novels which feature the same Police Chief. A fortunate Goodreads win.
February 28, 2017
In the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains a fictional town of Trout Run, New York, Frank Bennett serves as sheriff and searches for the truth in three short stories in this anthology called Dead Drift.
In Chainsaw Nativity he has to find the missing figure of Joseph from the town's new nativity scene and stumbles on more than just a murder cover-up.
Losers Weepers involves an old locket and family problems and still Frank only seeks the truth.
Finding a dead coyote leads to Coyote Justice where Frank solves another murder involving a new full-time family in town. Through all three stories a romance is growing as Penny shows her interest in Frank until he finally realizes they may want the same thing.
I enjoyed all three stories and getting to know the characters in Trout Run. I want to send my thanks to S.W. Hubbard, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the signed copy of Dead Drift that I won in the Giveaway.
In Chainsaw Nativity he has to find the missing figure of Joseph from the town's new nativity scene and stumbles on more than just a murder cover-up.
Losers Weepers involves an old locket and family problems and still Frank only seeks the truth.
Finding a dead coyote leads to Coyote Justice where Frank solves another murder involving a new full-time family in town. Through all three stories a romance is growing as Penny shows her interest in Frank until he finally realizes they may want the same thing.
I enjoyed all three stories and getting to know the characters in Trout Run. I want to send my thanks to S.W. Hubbard, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the signed copy of Dead Drift that I won in the Giveaway.
September 1, 2015
Dead Drift is set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, where Sheriff Frank looks into crimes and investigates only to find how people interact with one another. The book is divided into three parts where one leads to the other.
I want to thank the author and Goodreads First Reads for the opportunity to win this Dead Drift.
I want to thank the author and Goodreads First Reads for the opportunity to win this Dead Drift.
June 21, 2016
This book has three short stories and while I'm not a fan of short stories these were good. They didn't leave me feeling 'cheated' like I normally do with short stories. I loved her other Frank Bennett mysteries (Take the Bait, Swallow the Hook and Blood Knot) and was hoping for a new full length book, but this sufficed.
April 7, 2016
Great book. Love the stories that include location of areas that I live near.
March 20, 2021
Review of eBook
Trout Run, New York has seen an influx of visitors ever since they’d erected Bucky Rheinholz’s chainsaw Nativity on the town green. And when Joseph disappears from the Nativity scene, police chief Frank Bennett is determined to track down the culprit. But what he discovers is nothing like what he thought had happened to the wooden statue.
Ardyth Munger arrives early for the annual Trout Run Municipal Park Clean-Up Day and finds herself assigned to clean the toddler playground. There she finds a gold locket and police chief Frank Bennett sets out to find the owner. But when the locket goes missing from the locked drawer where he’d placed it for safety, Frank finds himself wondering about those closest to him. And when he tracks down the story behind the lost locket, it’s nothing like any of them had expected.
A shot meant for a thieving coyote may have struck Rebecca Moran, a not-from-around-here member of a family only recently making a permanent move into their vacation home. Vonn McGrath, the elderly shooter, is devastated. As police chief Frank Bennett investigates, he learns that the Moran family is keeping secrets . . . and the shooting may not be an accident at all.
Three Frank Bennett stories, “Chainsaw Nativity,” “Losers Weepers,” and “Coyote Justice” are contained in this book. [An excerpt from the first book in the Frank Bennett series, “False Cast,” is also included.]
Each of the stories gives readers a glimpse of the Trout Run setting as they establish a strong sense of place; there’s a thread of familiar characters running through each story and readers meet several of the people living in this small Adirondack Mountain town. Each has an unexpected twist and, by the end of the story, Frank has found the solution for each mystery.
This is a quick, but enjoyable, read and a strong introduction to the author’s series. Readers who enjoy small-town tales of intriguing mysteries will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
Trout Run, New York has seen an influx of visitors ever since they’d erected Bucky Rheinholz’s chainsaw Nativity on the town green. And when Joseph disappears from the Nativity scene, police chief Frank Bennett is determined to track down the culprit. But what he discovers is nothing like what he thought had happened to the wooden statue.
Ardyth Munger arrives early for the annual Trout Run Municipal Park Clean-Up Day and finds herself assigned to clean the toddler playground. There she finds a gold locket and police chief Frank Bennett sets out to find the owner. But when the locket goes missing from the locked drawer where he’d placed it for safety, Frank finds himself wondering about those closest to him. And when he tracks down the story behind the lost locket, it’s nothing like any of them had expected.
A shot meant for a thieving coyote may have struck Rebecca Moran, a not-from-around-here member of a family only recently making a permanent move into their vacation home. Vonn McGrath, the elderly shooter, is devastated. As police chief Frank Bennett investigates, he learns that the Moran family is keeping secrets . . . and the shooting may not be an accident at all.
Three Frank Bennett stories, “Chainsaw Nativity,” “Losers Weepers,” and “Coyote Justice” are contained in this book. [An excerpt from the first book in the Frank Bennett series, “False Cast,” is also included.]
Each of the stories gives readers a glimpse of the Trout Run setting as they establish a strong sense of place; there’s a thread of familiar characters running through each story and readers meet several of the people living in this small Adirondack Mountain town. Each has an unexpected twist and, by the end of the story, Frank has found the solution for each mystery.
This is a quick, but enjoyable, read and a strong introduction to the author’s series. Readers who enjoy small-town tales of intriguing mysteries will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
September 3, 2019
I wasn't impressed with this series, but Dead Drift may be the best in the series so far. Frank Bennett, the main character and Chief of Police of Trout Run, a small town in upstate New York. Other people in the story were overshadowed by Bennett, as he came across as a bossy know it all. Not a very endearing quality, I think. Earl, his deputy, often displayed better quality of character and comprehension of the situations in the story.
There are many interesting characters, and the story had moments of high interest, the ending was totally a surprise. I've read other books by S.W. Hubbard which I think are worth reading too.
Although I found several grammatical errors that should have been discovered by the editor or proofreader; it wasn't a deal-breaker for me. The plot was cleverly written, kept me guessing who the antagonist was. There were a few other themes woven into the story that added some interesting twists, and there were places where the writing was exceptionally well. The suspense held up to the very end.
There are many interesting characters, and the story had moments of high interest, the ending was totally a surprise. I've read other books by S.W. Hubbard which I think are worth reading too.
Although I found several grammatical errors that should have been discovered by the editor or proofreader; it wasn't a deal-breaker for me. The plot was cleverly written, kept me guessing who the antagonist was. There were a few other themes woven into the story that added some interesting twists, and there were places where the writing was exceptionally well. The suspense held up to the very end.
March 4, 2020
Another well told mystery
Once again we find ourselves in Trout Run, a fictional town, in the Adirondack mountains. This is 3 stories in one. The first about a beautiful chainsaw carved nativity, the second about an old gold locket and finally the shooting death of a rich “outsiders” wife. Ms Hubbard knows how to lead you through her mysteries. Looking forward to False Cast and hoping another Treasure novel will be available soon.
Once again we find ourselves in Trout Run, a fictional town, in the Adirondack mountains. This is 3 stories in one. The first about a beautiful chainsaw carved nativity, the second about an old gold locket and finally the shooting death of a rich “outsiders” wife. Ms Hubbard knows how to lead you through her mysteries. Looking forward to False Cast and hoping another Treasure novel will be available soon.
May 27, 2023
Cabot Cove Maine, Neptune California, and now Trout Run New York. All towns with secrets, mysteries, and murder. If you're up for some short story mysteries, this is the book for you. It helps to read the previous 3 books for the background of the characters but Dead Drift also stands up on its own. The characters are well developed and the words paint perfect pictures. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was the typos in Losers Weepers kind of distracted from the reading.
April 20, 2020
Clever!
Three very good short stories are entertaining reading. I do not generally read short stories as there is insufficient time to develop a good plot. I have read previously 2 books in this series, really like the characters and these stories enhanced them. Last one is particularly good, with a great surprise conclusion!
Three very good short stories are entertaining reading. I do not generally read short stories as there is insufficient time to develop a good plot. I have read previously 2 books in this series, really like the characters and these stories enhanced them. Last one is particularly good, with a great surprise conclusion!
October 12, 2020
Meh. Three short stories to continue the series. A little too quick-paced in order to fit the short story format. If you haven’t read an earlier book in the series, it’d probably be a bit confusing—or at least, scattered. I’d rather have seen longer, more thoughtfully written versions of these stories.
December 22, 2019
How Did I Miss This?
I thought I had read everything by Susan Hubbard! I so enjoy the characters she creates and the towns they live in. It’s hard to create a good story in a few chapters, but she did it not once but three times!
I thought I had read everything by Susan Hubbard! I so enjoy the characters she creates and the towns they live in. It’s hard to create a good story in a few chapters, but she did it not once but three times!
April 15, 2020
Okey dokey
This was three short stories in one book. The stories were ok but not nearly as good as the two full size novels I read. I'm going to keep reading about Trout Run, however, because I love Frank Bennett.
This was three short stories in one book. The stories were ok but not nearly as good as the two full size novels I read. I'm going to keep reading about Trout Run, however, because I love Frank Bennett.
March 4, 2021
Short and sweet
A very quick read as a short story as But it has some great Visionary scenes And a cute cast of characters. I won't tell you the end because it's pretty easy to figure out.
A very quick read as a short story as But it has some great Visionary scenes And a cute cast of characters. I won't tell you the end because it's pretty easy to figure out.
August 17, 2023
Short story collection about Police chief Frank Bennett of Trout Run, a small town in the Adirondacks located between Lake Placid and Keene This is a fun read for anyone who knows the area. The stories are simple and the characters are likable.
November 11, 2017
Another enjoyable mystery featuring Frank Bennett and the inhabitants of Trout Run. The three stories are short and intriguing. On to the next one.
February 26, 2018
I really liked these stories but I would much rather it had been book length. I wanted more!
October 5, 2018
Problems abound
I don't usually like reading short stories but this collection is excellent! There is more focus on Frank & I loved getting to know him better.
I don't usually like reading short stories but this collection is excellent! There is more focus on Frank & I loved getting to know him better.
December 15, 2018
Three short stories about crime in Trout Run all to be investigated by Chied of Police Frank Bennett. I think Coyote Justice was my favourite.
Three good well-written enjoyable stories
Three good well-written enjoyable stories
December 18, 2018
Short. Stories aren’t my thing, but these were pretty good. Franks starting to grow on me
April 29, 2019
Intersting short stories loosely tied together.
August 22, 2019
Just not my favorite style of writing, but you should try it for yourself.
April 1, 2020
Good story
The short stories were good and quick to read. I think this book should have been first, say to wet your whistle with the series! I did enjoy them! Now on to book 4
The short stories were good and quick to read. I think this book should have been first, say to wet your whistle with the series! I did enjoy them! Now on to book 4
March 30, 2021
A series of short detective stories about the same detective/town. Not very captivating.
November 7, 2021
Short stories
Good reads but in need of better editing. The stories are reflective of the small town drama. Slow paced yeah nice like a warm pair of slippers and a fire.
Good reads but in need of better editing. The stories are reflective of the small town drama. Slow paced yeah nice like a warm pair of slippers and a fire.
November 12, 2021
Dead Drift
Have really been enjoying these stories. Great characters and my favorite hero Frank. Glad there are at least two more books in this series!
Have really been enjoying these stories. Great characters and my favorite hero Frank. Glad there are at least two more books in this series!
November 17, 2022
I enjoyed each story but the narrator ruined it totally, his voice was so forced sounding I wondered if he'd make it to the end.
March 4, 2023
Dead Drift
S.W. Hubbard
Third book in a collection contains three distinct cases Frank has to solve. Each has its own twists; finding the truth is never easy and rarely comforting.
S.W. Hubbard
Third book in a collection contains three distinct cases Frank has to solve. Each has its own twists; finding the truth is never easy and rarely comforting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews