Justice Rendered

The Anderson Chronicles #3

by Kit Karson

One murdered, one missing, and an entire town full of suspects.Scrappers find the body of a much-despised junk man, covered in grass clippings and a rogue kiddie pool, at the local dump. In the process of the murder investigation, Sheriff Peter Elliott discovers the residents of Stone County, Montana are hiding a shameful secret.An antique serving fork points the way to a world of greed and betrayal. As the team gets closer to the truth, they realize that nothing is off the table, including the murder of Peter and his deputies.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2024

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how different each of Kit Karson’s books is in this series.

Karson has carefully chosen different types of villains and victims and chosen a different deadly sin to showcase in each of her sequels. Despite this victim being someone the town of Anderson dislikes, it still pulls the reader in. Fred is a junk dealer who perpetually annoys the townsfolk. When he’s found in the landfill, there aren’t many who sympathise, yet Karson builds up the case so that her readers are intrigued. How did he get there? What did he do to warrant that ending? When did it happen? Who did it? Just when you think you have a lead, some of the townspeople go missing, and Sheriff Peter Elliott has his work cut out trying to discern if the events are related.

You’ll love a peek at life in small-town Montana in this third book in the Anderson Chronicles. Anderson is so richly described that I felt like I’d been there before and met the cast of characters. When I learned that the author is a 5th-generation Montanan and that the ‘Anderson’ in the title refers to her family ranch, I knew why it felt like I was revisiting a favourite location. Karson knows her setting, and it shows.

You can read this as a standalone, but you’ll get to know the setting and characters better if you start with ‘Land Grab’ and continue in order.

I was gifted this copy by Books Go Social and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Avira N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karson delivers tightly wound mysteries where justice is never simple, and danger lurks beneath Montana’s rugged beauty. In Land Grab, outsiders scheme to carve up Anderson for profit. A baker’s wife finds a bloody crime scene—her husband missing. Hours later, a sapphire dealer is found hanged, his gems gone. Suicide? The autopsy says murder. Sheriff Peter Elliott must untangle a web of theft, threats, and Russian Mafia muscle before more bodies drop.

Innocence Slain takes a darker turn. Women have vanished from Anderson for years—unnoticed, until Stacey Nichols disappears. New deputy Birdie Bradshaw’s investigation into old cases uncovers a pattern long ignored. Meanwhile, Stacey is fighting to escape her captor. With time running out, Peter races to find her before she’s lost forever. 

A junk man turns up dead at the dump, buried under grass clippings and a kiddie pool in Justice Rendered. A town steeped in secrets, an antique serving fork, and a killer with nothing to lose—Peter’s investigation turns deadly as danger closes in. A couple is found murdered in their Moonlight Mountains home, and their son and daughter-in-law are nowhere to be found in Nefarious Intent. A bus crash and stolen church funds complicate the matter further. With the media circling and pressure mounting, Peter must hunt the killer before time runs out.

Peter Elliott remains at the heart of the series. He is no grizzled relic or cowboy caricature. He’s methodical, sharp, and respected. Karson crafts him as a leader who has earned his authority yet remains vulnerable, a man who understands that justice in Anderson is rarely black and white. His interactions with other characters, including with the gossipy bakery owner, the conniving Liz Benton, or the relentless Helen Ferguson, bring levity to the heavy cases he investigates. Zack is an absolute darling.

Karson masterfully blends small-town quirks, such as petty disputes over garage sales, nosy neighbors, and long-standing feuds, with the stark realities of crime. Equal parts picturesque and decaying, the town of Anderson makes for more than a backdrop. Shaped by its sapphire mines, fading traditions, and secrets that refuse to stay buried, it becomes a living, breathing entity. Each book builds its tension deliberately, drawing readers into Anderson’s rhythms before tightening the noose. Innocence Slain carries the most emotional weight, delving into the town’s darkest truths, while Land Grab leans into political maneuvering and greed. The result is a crime series where the past is never truly buried, and justice is anything but simple. Fans of Craig Johnson’s Longmire series or C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett novels will find much to love here.  Anderson, Montana, may look idyllic on the surface, but Karson ensures we never forget just how dark and dangerous it can be underneath.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book #3 in the Anderson Chronicles. Each book can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone, but so far, each book has been a winner. Characters, plots and results are all excellent. JUSTICE RENDERED is filled with twists and turns that not only leave readers trying to figure who did it, but why. Sheriff Peter Elliot and his supporting cast of friends, family and deputies seem to go from one head scratching crime to the next when they find the naked body of the perpetual garage sale man.....who NO ONE likes.....in the landfill covered in grass and a child's wading pool. With only a few clues, the capable members of the sheriff's department must follow an invisible trail to murder and mayhem.
Kit Karson continues to develop these characters into three dimensional people you'd meet in a small tourist town, including a few eccentric figures who keep the sheriff's office busy. Overall this series has been alot of fun to read while flexing my brain cells to follow the clues. 5 easy stars.....that makes 3 in a row!!!!

[Linda Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was OUTSTANDING and I would read it again ! It's now in my Keeper Pile.
I loved Peter, the sheriff and his dog, Zack. I can see where it would be easy to start at this book. Because I've never read anything by this author and I loved this book with all the people, many who were hiding in plain sight. I'm hoping Peter finds true love in future books because he sure deserves it. Holly, his ex he needs to keep putting distance between them. Peter does have a lot of loyal expert and some new to the on his team but they all are determined to get the job done. It all makes for some great twists, turns, surprises. And the ending, oh dear !
On Amazon I titled my review: 5+ STARS FOR AN OUTSTANDING STORY

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice Rendered the 3rd book in The Anderson Chronicles by Kit Karson. The series continues as another person in town is found murdered, and the sheriff and his department are once again on the search for the answers to solve the murder. I did enjoy the fact that Peter seems to be moving on from his feelings for Holly. I have enjoyed this new author for me, and would suggest their books to others.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Mahnoor Lasania · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was OUTSTANDING, and I would read it again! I loved Peter, the sheriff, and his dog, Zack. I literally read through this series in just a few days, and it was so amazing! I'm hoping Peter finds true love in future books because he sure deserves it. The series makes for some great twists, turns, and surprises. And the ending, oh dear!

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mystery in small town Montana. As the body of a man is found in the junk yard, there seem to be more questions than answers about who the man was. It seems that he was not well-liked, and most people had a motive to want him dead. Can the sheriff solve the case before it is too late?

Another great read! I enjoyed this book!

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read that will definitely peak your interest. Read along as Fred thinks it will be perfect for his needs. Find out if it was.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Corinne Severn · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Justice Rendered, we follow the investigation into the murder of a small time junk dealer named Fred, a man that few people knew and a handful of others disliked. As Sheriff Peter Elliott goes about uncovering clues, we get to know his small investigating team of deputies, clerks, associates, and his ever mindful canine companion Zack. We also meet a broad cross-section of the inhabitants of the small town of Anderson, residents who either supply some information about the comings and goings of the junk dealer or are questioned as suspects. As we learn a little about the backgrounds and/or personalities of the characters, the author weaves a colorful tapestry of the town and its folks.

"A dapper man in a coat and vest reminiscent of the style worn in the old west stood at the hotel entrance. Manager Phil Meyer, hands on hips and a scowl on his face, confronted Peter. 'You've got to do something about that mess, Sheriff. On top of the unsightly view, when the wind gets up just right, the smell goes straight into our dining room.' "

The story includes a good smattering of red herrings to keep us uncertain about how the murder unfolded. For example, the Sheriff discovers the junk dealer's truck at his home, but there was no indication that the murder took place at the property. Did the victim leave his home with the murderer?

As can be expected of a good plot, this murder is not the only mystery to unravel. Two of the town's shop owners disappear either the night of the murder or shortly afterwards. The sheriff's team must uncover if and how the disappearances might related to the death of Fred.

To unravel the backstory of the victim, the author includes chapters that transport the reader back in time. While these chapters are not highlighted with any indication of date, it is relatively easy to discern how these tie into the overall plot.

I enjoyed this book and recommend it to readers who appreciate a good mystery in a small town setting with an earnest team of investigators and an eccentric cast of inhabitants. While the murder victim might not be a sympathetic character that the reader can feel invested in, the author has created an intriguing story with many likeable characters and a town that has heart. We cheer on the deputies as they struggle through the challenges and life-threatening situations that they face. In the end, we want a win for the team.

This review was originally published on the Reedsy.com site. I received a free copy for an honest review.