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The Girl in the Tent
In the latest novel in the Joe Court series, Missouri’s most dogged detective is forced to juggle small-town politics while solving a fresh murder with ties to a long forgotten case.
The St. Augustine County Sheriff’s Department is in crisis. Detective Joe Court doesn’t know whether she’ll have a job tomorrow, and she has no idea who her boss will be. She doesn’t even know who’s going to pay for the gas in her cruiser. None of that matters, though. She has a job to do.
The call comes in the middle of the afternoon. A young man walks into the public safety office at his college with blood on his shirt and a gun in his pocket. He says he shot a woman and left her to die, but he won’t say why.
The victim is beloved by those who know her. She spent a lifetime helping families in need. Her shooter had no reason to want her dead, and yet, dead she is.
She won’t be the last, either.
As Joe investigates, she uncovers ties to a murder eight years ago, but every clue and connection she discovers leaves her more baffled than before. Nothing makes sense.
Which was the point.
The case is a trap.
And Joe just sprung it.
The Girl in the Tent is the eleventh novel in the thrilling Joe Court series. She faces one of the most dangerous foes she’s encountered, and she’s doing it alone. Pre-order the book today and clear your schedule. You’ll want some free time.
The St. Augustine County Sheriff’s Department is in crisis. Detective Joe Court doesn’t know whether she’ll have a job tomorrow, and she has no idea who her boss will be. She doesn’t even know who’s going to pay for the gas in her cruiser. None of that matters, though. She has a job to do.
The call comes in the middle of the afternoon. A young man walks into the public safety office at his college with blood on his shirt and a gun in his pocket. He says he shot a woman and left her to die, but he won’t say why.
The victim is beloved by those who know her. She spent a lifetime helping families in need. Her shooter had no reason to want her dead, and yet, dead she is.
She won’t be the last, either.
As Joe investigates, she uncovers ties to a murder eight years ago, but every clue and connection she discovers leaves her more baffled than before. Nothing makes sense.
Which was the point.
The case is a trap.
And Joe just sprung it.
The Girl in the Tent is the eleventh novel in the thrilling Joe Court series. She faces one of the most dangerous foes she’s encountered, and she’s doing it alone. Pre-order the book today and clear your schedule. You’ll want some free time.
496 pages, Paperback
Published April 30, 2024
111 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
About the author
Chris Culver
38 books234 followersChris Culver is the New York Times bestselling author of the Ash Rashid series of mysteries. After graduate school, Chris taught courses in ethics and comparative religion at a small liberal arts university in southern Arkansas. While there and when he really should have been grading exams, he wrote The Abbey, which spent sixteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller's list and introduced the world to Detective Ash Rashid.
Chris has been a storyteller since he was a kid, but he decided to write crime fiction after picking up a dog-eared, coffee-stained paperback copy of Mickey Spillane's I, the Jury in a library book sale. Many years later, his wife, despite considerable effort, still can't stop him from bringing more orphan books home. The two of them, along with a labrador retriever named Roy, reside near St. Louis where Chris is hard at work on his next novel.
Chris has been a storyteller since he was a kid, but he decided to write crime fiction after picking up a dog-eared, coffee-stained paperback copy of Mickey Spillane's I, the Jury in a library book sale. Many years later, his wife, despite considerable effort, still can't stop him from bringing more orphan books home. The two of them, along with a labrador retriever named Roy, reside near St. Louis where Chris is hard at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 6, 2024
RE: Love Joe
I love this series that I happened upon by accident last year, and hope there are future installments. I love her tenacity, and am anxious to see her finally let herself have a full life in spite of her trauma history. I will say, no cop carriers her purse everywhere. That and her lack of romance are the two things that stay with me. This story has several moving posts and is nicely explained in the end, with sprinklings of hope for more. I also wish the audio option was a thing for all of the books, but maybe in time.
I love this series that I happened upon by accident last year, and hope there are future installments. I love her tenacity, and am anxious to see her finally let herself have a full life in spite of her trauma history. I will say, no cop carriers her purse everywhere. That and her lack of romance are the two things that stay with me. This story has several moving posts and is nicely explained in the end, with sprinklings of hope for more. I also wish the audio option was a thing for all of the books, but maybe in time.
December 30, 2025
Very dark
I have read all ten books that came before this one. This one I almost didn't finish. It's very dark and not fun to read.
Joe's whole town, St. Augustine, has basically gone to hell. The entire police force is gone and Joe is working for the Highway Patrol. She is no longer a Detective. When there's a local murder, she works the scene but has no real input. The superior officers don't want to hear what she has to say.
She moves to a lousy house. She works alone doing grunt work. Someone is trying to hurt her. Her family has moved away. A past conviction has come back to haunt her. Basically everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. For someone with Joe's tortured past, it's not good.
So I kept thinking about quitting. It's the week after Christmas and this book doesn't fit the season. But Joe has a wonderful dog named Roy and he is the high point of the book. I guess I finished for him, because she would never let him down.
I guess I will have to read Book 12 pretty soon to see if things get better for Joe. I sure hope so!
I have read all ten books that came before this one. This one I almost didn't finish. It's very dark and not fun to read.
Joe's whole town, St. Augustine, has basically gone to hell. The entire police force is gone and Joe is working for the Highway Patrol. She is no longer a Detective. When there's a local murder, she works the scene but has no real input. The superior officers don't want to hear what she has to say.
She moves to a lousy house. She works alone doing grunt work. Someone is trying to hurt her. Her family has moved away. A past conviction has come back to haunt her. Basically everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. For someone with Joe's tortured past, it's not good.
So I kept thinking about quitting. It's the week after Christmas and this book doesn't fit the season. But Joe has a wonderful dog named Roy and he is the high point of the book. I guess I finished for him, because she would never let him down.
I guess I will have to read Book 12 pretty soon to see if things get better for Joe. I sure hope so!
May 7, 2024
I wavered a bit on this rating..
Joe sounds depressed for the fist quarter of the book. That was NOT the Joe of the earlier books. Then, she got busy. That is what drives her. And she was kept busier in this story than in most of the others.
The ending really pulled it all together. I think that she is still depressed, but wants to find a silver lining to the clouds over her.
I am looking forward to the next few books in this series.
Joe sounds depressed for the fist quarter of the book. That was NOT the Joe of the earlier books. Then, she got busy. That is what drives her. And she was kept busier in this story than in most of the others.
The ending really pulled it all together. I think that she is still depressed, but wants to find a silver lining to the clouds over her.
I am looking forward to the next few books in this series.
May 12, 2024
they just get better and better!
I always look forward to the release of the next Jo Court novel
, and this one was worth the wait! It had me guessing from beginning to end. Jo is a most interesting character, and I like her more with each book! Please keep them coming…..no pressure.
I always look forward to the release of the next Jo Court novel
, and this one was worth the wait! It had me guessing from beginning to end. Jo is a most interesting character, and I like her more with each book! Please keep them coming…..no pressure.
August 14, 2024
Was a pretty good read and I enjoyed it. However the ending was awkward and rushed. The total outcome was wrapped up in a hurry in the last chapter - it appeared the author was rushing to meet a deadline.
April 27, 2025
Just finished the girl in the Tent! boo hoo the last for now? Joe Court book?? She said she is staying and maybe a romance ahead? So hopefully Chris will or is working on another. I hear he has her brother Homer in a series. I'll have to check it out! Love the writing! Great work Chris!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2024
I want more!
I have loved every Joe Court book. Each one leaves me wanting more. I hope there will be another to let us know about Mr. Pennington and his project.
I have loved every Joe Court book. Each one leaves me wanting more. I hope there will be another to let us know about Mr. Pennington and his project.
May 18, 2024
Joe Court series is a good read. I always worry about Roy though. Don’t want him hurt.
May 23, 2024
I love this series!
September 20, 2024
With every installment of the Joe Court series, I love her more. I truly hope this isn't the end. There is still so much going on in St. Augustine, how can we leave Missouri behind?
October 7, 2024
Please hurry with the next Joe Court episode???
December 3, 2024
I loved this series and hate to see it end.
September 27, 2025
This series was by far the best I have read in a long time. Start at the beginning and be captured by these books. Truly a series you won't be able to put down. 10 stars.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews