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Mick Hardin #4
The Reluctant Sheriff
Back in the familiar setting of the Kentucky hills, Mick Hardin returns standing in as the sheriff while the previous sheriff, his sister Linda, recuperates from a gunshot wound sustained in the line of duty. Living in Linda's house in Rocksalt, Mick finds himself entwined in the trials and tribulations of being a sheriff in the perturbing Kentucky community. Unable to retire from a world of dubiousness and violence, Mick Hardin is back with determination to deliver retribution.
A dark and fierce return to the Kentucky hills, where nothing is what it seems.
A dark and fierce return to the Kentucky hills, where nothing is what it seems.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published March 25, 2025
106 people are currently reading
4704 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
May 20, 2025
Told in dual storylines, The Reluctant Sheriff takes readers thousands of miles away from Mick's hometown in Kentucky and picks up where Johnny Boy's story left off in the last book.
Details to follow.
Details to follow.
August 6, 2025
At last, Mick Hardin’s fourth instalment, which I gobbled up in a couple of days.
Offutt mixes up Kentucky and Corsica and all the different characters very smoothly whilst getting deeper into Mick and his raison d’etre.
He continues exploring how the Kentuckian code of the hills anchors its adherents but how it also leads them to violence they can do better without. What happens when they become untethered? Do they have the strength to stand on their own?
As usual with Offutt, I enjoyed reading this instalment and must now knuckle down to the wait for the next one.
An ARC kindly provided by author/publisher via Netgalley
Mysterious Corsican 'cat-fox'
Offutt mixes up Kentucky and Corsica and all the different characters very smoothly whilst getting deeper into Mick and his raison d’etre.
He continues exploring how the Kentuckian code of the hills anchors its adherents but how it also leads them to violence they can do better without. What happens when they become untethered? Do they have the strength to stand on their own?
As usual with Offutt, I enjoyed reading this instalment and must now knuckle down to the wait for the next one.
An ARC kindly provided by author/publisher via Netgalley
Mysterious Corsican 'cat-fox'
October 15, 2025
My least favourite in the series so far, but still good!! I think it was a combination of things, like setting such a huge chunk of the story outside of the hills, and the book having a different feel from the previous three, that affected my rating. But I hope the series will continue, it's very comforting to listen to (and I love Mick).
March 25, 2025
Mick Hardin returns in Chris Offutt’s The Reluctant Sheriff, the fourth book in this series about a war (and peacetime) veteran returned to the hills of Kentucky, testing his ability to fit into the landscape he has always loved and missed when away. Now he is filling in as Sheriff as his sister, Linda, the actual Sheriff, recovers from injuries incurred in the prior series novel, Code of the Hills. Almost immediately he is presented with a case that forces him to confront a very painful part of his past, the failure of his marriage. His ex-wife asks for his help for her husband. What could go wrong? And then there are murders and more violence. Throughout this story, the beauty of the land and the bonds of friendship are offset by the violence of people and man’s destruction of nature.
I have now read three of the four books in this series and highly recommend them. They are a window into a place and culture, as well as the life and mind of a singular character who has much to say about living through war and other violence, trying to go home, family bonds, and the healing power of the natural world.
I do suggest that you read earlier books before reading this, especially Code of the Hills, so that you can understand the relationships between characters and why the action begins with Mick as Sheriff.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This is my review.
I have now read three of the four books in this series and highly recommend them. They are a window into a place and culture, as well as the life and mind of a singular character who has much to say about living through war and other violence, trying to go home, family bonds, and the healing power of the natural world.
I do suggest that you read earlier books before reading this, especially Code of the Hills, so that you can understand the relationships between characters and why the action begins with Mick as Sheriff.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this book. This is my review.
November 4, 2025
I love this series which is so thoughtfully written. The main character Mick Hardin is someone who has served in the military and received some hard knocks in life. I love that he is self-aware and vulnerable as he seeks what to do next with his life. In the meantime, he is filling in as sheriff for his sister Linda who was shot in the line of duty.
Mick is tired of some of the calls on his time as sheriff. After all, “He was a homicide investigator, not a family drama interventionist.”
He reflects on his current skills such as knowing “how to circumvent a trip line that ignited a homemade bomb made of gasoline and metal shards, but not how to talk to people he cared about. That trait had cost his marriage.”
As he goes about the daily work of sheriff he continues “to re-feel the end of his marriage, the end of a future he’d counted on.”
He reflects that, “People thought hate was the opposite of love but those emotions were twins that came from the same place, like a stone in its socket of earth. The inverse of love was indifference.”
At first, when I began reading the following sentence I thought I was reading a lovely description of nature, gradually I realized the author was describing a long-married couple who live alongside each other as helpmeets:
“None of their leaves touched, as if each tree recognized its neighbor’s space. They didn’t compete or encroach but remained side by side like two draft horses working together to ease the other’s load.”
Now he is divorced and single, “Part of him was glad to avoid the emotional vulnerability. On the other hand he was lonely as the last leaf on a tree in winter.”
He reflects that “Driving the old pickup meant he was literally inside the past, encased by memory.”
As he goes about investigating a murder he visits a funeral home to interview the funeral director. He describes the parking lot of a funeral home: “Each space was overly wide, a thoughtful touch for people who were bereaved and not thinking clearly.”
And the funeral director: “He wore a deliberately cheap suit to reassure his clients that he hadn’t gotten above his raisings.”
Also, “His plain black shoes were never polished to a sheen. Mick remembered Marquis’s father occasionally wearing tasseled loafers that irritated people due to their fanciness.”
He learns that the mortician doesn't get out much. Apparently, “Nobody wants to see a mortician in a bar or restaurant.” He travels further afield to take his wife out to dinner on occasion.
Most of the story takes place in rural Kentucky, however some of the action takes places on the island of Corsica where Johnny Boy is recovering.
“The seat was as small as everything else in Corsica and he supposed big people spilled over the edges.”
Mick's sister Linda who was shot in the line of duty has been undergoing physical therapy and is currently living in her late mother's home. She is surrounded by childhood memories. She reflects that she has few fond memories of her mother but one that comes to mind is: “When the occasional suitor came calling, her mother positioned the young man at a specific spot on the rug to gauge his height, then reported to Linda whether she should wear heels or flats.”
As someone who has moved many times, lived in three countries and traveled some, I appreciated the passages that deal with the feeling of displacement, or lack of belonging:
“It was not his world. He was in it but not of it. He was like a wandering ghost seeking solid ground.”
“Aside from being alone in the woods, he’d always felt most relaxed on an airplane, moving between worlds in which he did not fit.”
There is the inevitable shootout at one point in the story and Mick realizes that “The chaos of combat required a loose flexibility, and his band of misfits had that in spades.”
I liked this analogy: “Said she’d talk to you and nobody else. Clammed up tighter than bark to a tree.”
Here is an example of Chris Offutt's great dry humor: “After our chin wag, he had a sudden failure to thrive.” In other words, after our chat I took his life.
Finally, when the danger is past and the conflicts mostly resolved, Mick comes to the realization that “He’d never learned to be nice to himself, only others.” After a little self-care, who knows where he will be for his next adventure!
Mick is tired of some of the calls on his time as sheriff. After all, “He was a homicide investigator, not a family drama interventionist.”
He reflects on his current skills such as knowing “how to circumvent a trip line that ignited a homemade bomb made of gasoline and metal shards, but not how to talk to people he cared about. That trait had cost his marriage.”
As he goes about the daily work of sheriff he continues “to re-feel the end of his marriage, the end of a future he’d counted on.”
He reflects that, “People thought hate was the opposite of love but those emotions were twins that came from the same place, like a stone in its socket of earth. The inverse of love was indifference.”
At first, when I began reading the following sentence I thought I was reading a lovely description of nature, gradually I realized the author was describing a long-married couple who live alongside each other as helpmeets:
“None of their leaves touched, as if each tree recognized its neighbor’s space. They didn’t compete or encroach but remained side by side like two draft horses working together to ease the other’s load.”
Now he is divorced and single, “Part of him was glad to avoid the emotional vulnerability. On the other hand he was lonely as the last leaf on a tree in winter.”
He reflects that “Driving the old pickup meant he was literally inside the past, encased by memory.”
As he goes about investigating a murder he visits a funeral home to interview the funeral director. He describes the parking lot of a funeral home: “Each space was overly wide, a thoughtful touch for people who were bereaved and not thinking clearly.”
And the funeral director: “He wore a deliberately cheap suit to reassure his clients that he hadn’t gotten above his raisings.”
Also, “His plain black shoes were never polished to a sheen. Mick remembered Marquis’s father occasionally wearing tasseled loafers that irritated people due to their fanciness.”
He learns that the mortician doesn't get out much. Apparently, “Nobody wants to see a mortician in a bar or restaurant.” He travels further afield to take his wife out to dinner on occasion.
Most of the story takes place in rural Kentucky, however some of the action takes places on the island of Corsica where Johnny Boy is recovering.
“The seat was as small as everything else in Corsica and he supposed big people spilled over the edges.”
Mick's sister Linda who was shot in the line of duty has been undergoing physical therapy and is currently living in her late mother's home. She is surrounded by childhood memories. She reflects that she has few fond memories of her mother but one that comes to mind is: “When the occasional suitor came calling, her mother positioned the young man at a specific spot on the rug to gauge his height, then reported to Linda whether she should wear heels or flats.”
As someone who has moved many times, lived in three countries and traveled some, I appreciated the passages that deal with the feeling of displacement, or lack of belonging:
“It was not his world. He was in it but not of it. He was like a wandering ghost seeking solid ground.”
“Aside from being alone in the woods, he’d always felt most relaxed on an airplane, moving between worlds in which he did not fit.”
There is the inevitable shootout at one point in the story and Mick realizes that “The chaos of combat required a loose flexibility, and his band of misfits had that in spades.”
I liked this analogy: “Said she’d talk to you and nobody else. Clammed up tighter than bark to a tree.”
Here is an example of Chris Offutt's great dry humor: “After our chin wag, he had a sudden failure to thrive.” In other words, after our chat I took his life.
Finally, when the danger is past and the conflicts mostly resolved, Mick comes to the realization that “He’d never learned to be nice to himself, only others.” After a little self-care, who knows where he will be for his next adventure!
April 22, 2025
Here we are in book 4 already. Four! And it’s just as entertaining as the first time we wandered into the Hills of Kentucky.
The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt is told in two threads. Mick is one point of view, of course. Our hero is the reluctant Sheriff trying to hold the line and solve a murder or two while his sister is recuperating. We also get to hear from Johnny Boy. I’m trying not to spoil the whys and whats of how both men came to be where they are now. Sooo, let me just say it surprised the hell out of me how much I enjoyed Johnny Boy’s journey. I love Johnny Boy. How can you not. But him Nope, no. I didn’t think I’d enjoy that at all. Happy to say, I was wrong. Johnny Boy stole the show! I loved watching him piece his soul back together bit by bit.
“He was like a wandering ghost seeking solid ground.”
Don’t get me wrong. I will always love and root for Mick, but he was in his head a lot of the time here. Just dwelling on the past and complaining about his present situation. And I truly don’t understand why Offutt shutdown the hysterically, sweet flirtation between . It almost felt like Offutt was cleaning up plot points and closing shop on others in this book. This better not be the last book, Offutt!
What makes Mick, this book, and the whole darn series special is the writing. These stark, succinct pages capture the quiet rhythm of a rural community with a charm all its own. The Kentucky Hills move and breathe with violence and natural beauty. Those two forces together form a hard-hitting world where the code of the Hills will catch up to you one way or another.
“The past overlapped the present in every way, with little regard to the future. The sun would come up. The birds would sing. People would get by. Any further speculation was never worth the risk of disappointment.”
My favorite line from this visit though was this gem…
“Did you see that loose hog?” Johnny Boy said.
“It was blacker than a cow’s insides.” Haha… I had to look that one up.
Read this series. It’s a peek at a world we don’t often get to hear from. It’s a pleasure to visit every single time.
July 2, 2025
3.75 stars
Reluctant Sheriff is the fourth novel in the Mick Hardin series - and just as delightful as the first three. Opening the cover of this book was like gathering again with old friends.
Mick Hardin, ex-Army, divorced, living in his mothers house - now owned by his sister, Linda - who is the county sheriff. He temporarily takes over her job as she heals from a gunshot wound. Mick loves the area where he was born and raised however he has a nagging need to be elsewhere doing other things. He can never seem to shake his past - not his home town or his reputation as an Army Ranger doing Special Ops work. It is the military service and his acquaintances from then that now has him on the run.
Offutt writes in an easy style that moves the plot along and keeps you turning pages. Mick Hardin is a mix of 'good ole country boy from the back hills' and 'intelligent Special Ops killer full of government secrets'. His ex-wife pulls him back to the hollar, but those secrets keep him attached to his military training and life style.
Clearly hoping edition number five is already in the making.
Reluctant Sheriff is the fourth novel in the Mick Hardin series - and just as delightful as the first three. Opening the cover of this book was like gathering again with old friends.
Mick Hardin, ex-Army, divorced, living in his mothers house - now owned by his sister, Linda - who is the county sheriff. He temporarily takes over her job as she heals from a gunshot wound. Mick loves the area where he was born and raised however he has a nagging need to be elsewhere doing other things. He can never seem to shake his past - not his home town or his reputation as an Army Ranger doing Special Ops work. It is the military service and his acquaintances from then that now has him on the run.
Offutt writes in an easy style that moves the plot along and keeps you turning pages. Mick Hardin is a mix of 'good ole country boy from the back hills' and 'intelligent Special Ops killer full of government secrets'. His ex-wife pulls him back to the hollar, but those secrets keep him attached to his military training and life style.
Clearly hoping edition number five is already in the making.
April 12, 2025
Favorite of the series
January 30, 2025
Latest in the Mick Hardin series about a warworn vet who returns to Kentucky and becomes embroiled in down home violence. It really is preferable to have read the previous three to follow the plot since Hardin doesn't explain all the points (such as why Mick's sister Linda was shot, necessitating a long rehab and Mick's stepping into her sheriff's role). Also, there is a lot of connection to international events that wouldn't make sense otherwise. All that being said, the characters are believable, the action sequences well wrought, and there is some gorgeous writing ("The past overlapped the present in every way, with little regard to the future. The sun would come up. The birds would sing. People would get by.") Also, there are several insights into interrogation techniques sprinkled here and there. Looking forward to installment #5.
March 27, 2025
The fourth novel in the series of Mick Hardin. Glad to learn the fate of Johnny Boy, who was wisked off to Corsica for action in previous novel. Ray-Ray and Linda will make a good team. Another great story set in the rural hills of Kentucky Appalachian. What will the future hold for Mick? Will have to wait and see. Highly recommended.
September 27, 2025
Over the years, Mick Hardin has become one of my favorite protagonists. He’s not a towering figure or especially charming, but there’s something quietly compelling about him.
In this installment, Mick takes on the temporary role of sheriff. After years as an Army CID officer, he’s now responding to calls about missing cows and domestic disputes, when all he really wants is to enjoy his retirement.
The calm doesn’t last. People from his past return and bring trouble with them, just as he’s drawn into a murder investigation. To survive and protect the town, Mick teams up with some unlikely allies in what turns out to be the most explosive conflict of the series.
Even as he fights to keep the peace, it’s clear that Mick no longer feels at home in Kentucky. What used to ground him now only deepens his sense of disconnection.
By the end, his future feels uncertain. I’m already looking forward to what happens next.
***
“Mick drove east of town, determined to focus on the future instead of his own sad past. He loved the hills. He loved his grandfather's old truck. He loved birds and wildflowers. It occurred to him that he was adept at loving things that were incapable of loving him back.”
In this installment, Mick takes on the temporary role of sheriff. After years as an Army CID officer, he’s now responding to calls about missing cows and domestic disputes, when all he really wants is to enjoy his retirement.
The calm doesn’t last. People from his past return and bring trouble with them, just as he’s drawn into a murder investigation. To survive and protect the town, Mick teams up with some unlikely allies in what turns out to be the most explosive conflict of the series.
Even as he fights to keep the peace, it’s clear that Mick no longer feels at home in Kentucky. What used to ground him now only deepens his sense of disconnection.
By the end, his future feels uncertain. I’m already looking forward to what happens next.
***
“Mick drove east of town, determined to focus on the future instead of his own sad past. He loved the hills. He loved his grandfather's old truck. He loved birds and wildflowers. It occurred to him that he was adept at loving things that were incapable of loving him back.”
April 12, 2025
The fourth in Chris Offutt’s Mick Hardin books (he’s a pal so I’ll try to be unbiased), The Reluctant Sheriff continues the series’ fantastic melding of crime fiction genre conventions with intense literary flare. No shit, the prose here is utterly suburb that when Chris ventures into spy territory and shoot-outs with gangsters in the hills of Kentucky, it never comes off as hokey. Just well written crime fiction with an *emphasis* on character and interiority without being dry. The third in the series, Code of the Hills, was top notch. Chris just keeps upping the ante in this series. Excited to see what comes Mick’s way next.
March 16, 2025
I must start by confessing that this is the first book by Chris Orfutt I've read, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage because it is the third in the Mick Hardin series. However, Orfutt is good enough at unobtrusively filling in the backstory that I never felt like I was missing something. Hardin is a veteran, filling in for his sister who is the sheriff, while she recovers from being wounded. Mick is investigating three seemingly unrelated murders. But this is a small town in the Kentucky hills, so how unrelated can they be? When two small time members of a Detroit drug gang show up looking for a place to hide out, Mick has his hands full. I enjoyed this tremendously. I plan to wait a little while to forget some spoiler details, but will definitely be going back and starting this trilogy from the first book.
December 4, 2025
I really like this series, set in Kentucky’s eastern hills, with propulsive plots, colourful characters, and snappy, funny dialogue and situations. In this one, Mick has to temporarily abandon his plans for some downtime to fill in for his sister, the county’s first female sheriff, as she recovers from the gunshot wound she received in the previous book in the series. (Mick’s a former Army investigator.) Of course he’s drawn in to a murder investigation
April 13, 2025
Probably should have read the first in the series before the last. A lot of unanswered questions.
August 17, 2025
Reading a Chris Offutt story is a lot like enjoying a wonderful, home cooked meal in the south. No matter how many times you consume it, it’s consistently delicious and you can’t wait for the next time. Each novel in Offutt’s Mick Hardin series has been this way for me. The Reluctant Sheriff is no exception and if possible, Offutt has seasoned the content of this series just the right amount. In doing so, he’s created the recipe for one of my favorite rural crime series of all time.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for this title.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for this title.
November 9, 2025
I thoroughly enjoy this series.
August 21, 2024
Another great book in this series. It’s fast paced, well written with well developed characters. I can really recommend this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.
September 28, 2025
3'5, si no le pongo cuatro es porque me ha gustado menos que otras entregas de la saga. Y es que la trama me parece algo más endeblez y la estructura paralela (Kentucky/Córcega) a veces se me hacía bola. Pero sigue siendo una delicia la manera en que Offutt combina thriller con drama personal melancólico; y lo bien que escribe en general; y esa sensación de western crepuscular que va a parar en un final épico primero y luego... ¿merecido? Me ha gustado mucho, ya digo. Pero ha habido mejores casos de Hardin
September 5, 2024
Rating
★★★★★
4.6 out of 5 Stars
Review
Thanks tChris Offutt’s The Reluctant Sheriff is an amazing installment in the Mick Hardin series, blending Southern atmosphere with crime fiction to deliver a gripping tale set in the atmospheric hills of eastern Kentucky.
We follow ex-Army CID officer Mick Hardin, who reluctantly steps in as sheriff after his sister, Linda, is injured in the line of duty. Mick, who has been eager to escape the small town of Rocksalt and retire far away from murder, is now forced to confront not only the mundane squabbles of the townspeople but also a murder that is a bit too close to home.
Pros:
Writing Style: Offutt’s writing is smooth and easy to follow, making it accessible without sacrificing depth. The vivid descriptions of Rocksalt and Corsica allow readers to visualize the world clearly, crafting an immersive experience.
Character Development: The novel excels in creating layered, relatable characters. Offutt effortlessly develops Mick’s personality, revealing much about him through first-person narrative without over explanation.
Atmosphere and Setting: The novel captures the mood of Southern noir beautifully, emphasizing the environment of a small town. The tension between Mick and the town’s history is palpable, and Offutt makes excellent use of setting to reinforce the dark undertones of the narrative.
Cons:
New Readers May Feel Disconnected: For those unfamiliar with the Mick Hardin series, the backstory might feel incomplete at first, as the novel doesn’t rely heavily on exposition. However, it’s a minor issue since Offutt does provide enough hints for readers to grasp Mick’s core motivations.
Side Plots : While the main plot around the murders is engaging, some subplots, such as Linda’s recovery and the business tycoon’s interference, could have been given more attention.
Conclusion
The Reluctant Sheriff is a compelling crime novel that skillfully balances character development with a well-constructed mystery. While the story does not stand out in the genre of crime thriller, it is still an interesting read that a fan of of mystry thriller will not regret picking up. Offutt’s ability to build tension and craft a strong sense of place makes this novel a standout in the Southern noir genre.
Thus it is recommended for those who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with rich character development and a gritty, immersive setting.o Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.
★★★★★
4.6 out of 5 Stars
Review
Thanks tChris Offutt’s The Reluctant Sheriff is an amazing installment in the Mick Hardin series, blending Southern atmosphere with crime fiction to deliver a gripping tale set in the atmospheric hills of eastern Kentucky.
We follow ex-Army CID officer Mick Hardin, who reluctantly steps in as sheriff after his sister, Linda, is injured in the line of duty. Mick, who has been eager to escape the small town of Rocksalt and retire far away from murder, is now forced to confront not only the mundane squabbles of the townspeople but also a murder that is a bit too close to home.
Pros:
Writing Style: Offutt’s writing is smooth and easy to follow, making it accessible without sacrificing depth. The vivid descriptions of Rocksalt and Corsica allow readers to visualize the world clearly, crafting an immersive experience.
Character Development: The novel excels in creating layered, relatable characters. Offutt effortlessly develops Mick’s personality, revealing much about him through first-person narrative without over explanation.
Atmosphere and Setting: The novel captures the mood of Southern noir beautifully, emphasizing the environment of a small town. The tension between Mick and the town’s history is palpable, and Offutt makes excellent use of setting to reinforce the dark undertones of the narrative.
Cons:
New Readers May Feel Disconnected: For those unfamiliar with the Mick Hardin series, the backstory might feel incomplete at first, as the novel doesn’t rely heavily on exposition. However, it’s a minor issue since Offutt does provide enough hints for readers to grasp Mick’s core motivations.
Side Plots : While the main plot around the murders is engaging, some subplots, such as Linda’s recovery and the business tycoon’s interference, could have been given more attention.
Conclusion
The Reluctant Sheriff is a compelling crime novel that skillfully balances character development with a well-constructed mystery. While the story does not stand out in the genre of crime thriller, it is still an interesting read that a fan of of mystry thriller will not regret picking up. Offutt’s ability to build tension and craft a strong sense of place makes this novel a standout in the Southern noir genre.
Thus it is recommended for those who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with rich character development and a gritty, immersive setting.o Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC.
June 15, 2025
Elementary school students have told jokes for decades about the difficulties of writing 500-word essays on a subject and the not-so-ingenious ways they found to make up for any shortcomings. Published authors shouldn’t have that problem. A book is a book, and (to paraphrase Abraham Lincoln) it should be long enough to reach the end. However, when reading Chris Offutt’s short novel, “The Reluctant Sheriff,” I got the distinct feeling that the author believed his story wasn’t long enough to justify marketing it as a novel. So, he padded it, with the unfortunate result being a book in severe need of editing that nonetheless ends far too conveniently and abruptly.
“The Reluctant Sheriff” is the fourth book in a series featuring Mick Hardin. He’s an ex-Army CID investigator who has assisted his sister, a county sheriff in rural Kentucky, in solving some tough cases. In the last novel in the series, his sister was wounded and is now recuperating. As a result, Hardin became the county’s acting sheriff… reluctantly. His current case involves the fatal shooting of a bar owner named Skeeter Martin, whose body was found in the bar’s parking lot one morning. The local police arrested a member of the house band, who had an argument with Skeeter the night before. Because the detained man is Mick’s ex-wife’s current husband, she asks him to investigate what is technically a city case. The case expands significantly when two more men, including a prominent local contractor, are murdered soon afterward by what appears to be the same gun that shot Skeeter.
I had high hopes for “The Reluctant Sheriff,” especially after Hardin’s investigation revealed ties to a shady business tycoon named Murvil Knox, who had hired the dead contractor on a major construction project. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed when the main storyline got lost in sidetracks and one major subplot that eventually went nowhere. That subplot involved Hardin’s former deputy, Johnny Boy Tolliver. In the last book in the series, Tolliver had a traumatic experience, which the author only hints at in “The Reluctant Sheriff.” (I didn’t read the earlier book, so I don’t know for sure what happened to Tolliver.) As a result, Hardin calls in a favor with an old army buddy and sends Tolliver to Corsica to recuperate. Meanwhile, no one in town knows what happened to him. That recuperation primarily involves Tolliver doing some manual labor, taking French lessons, and, most of all, taking up about one-third of the novel with his subplot.
The Corsican subplot isn’t the only problem with the story. At one point, Hardin’s sister goes on a date with a local doctor who has some information about the case. The author spends an entire chapter discussing her preparation and the actual date (non-spoiler: pleasant but not exceptional) in prose that seems more fitting for a teen romance novel about prom night. Later, the author introduces a new character, an ex-girlfriend of Hardin who’s an MI6 agent. (I don’t know if she appeared in any earlier novels in the series.) Her only significant connection to the plot seemed to be providing additional highly trained firepower to help Hardin even the odds in the book’s climactic shootout with some bad guys.
Remove the subplots and padding, and “The Reluctant Sheriff” contains the basis for a solid 100-page novella. The author has a talent for language and captures the feel of the Kentucky hills perfectly. The dialogue has some gems, as when one character says, “he had a sudden failure to thrive,” regarding a dead man. Similarly, Hardin bonds with a potential witness who is watching an episode of “Gunsmoke” on television by mentioning that his papaw liked “Gunsmoke.” Unfortunately, “we lived too far in the woods for good reception. Had an antenna outside mounted on a post. Wasn’t worth a nickel.” When the potential witness asks why they didn’t get a satellite dish, Hardin replies: “Papaw said he wasn’t about to pay for something that ugly.”
“The Reluctant Sheriff” contains several samples of enjoyable dialogue and description. I especially enjoyed the anecdote about the bootlegger who built his house on the border between two dry counties. Whenever the sheriff of one county arrived to investigate, the bootlegger stayed on the other side of the house so the sheriff couldn’t arrest him. I also enjoyed the characters’ colorful names, such as the aforementioned Skeeter and Murvil, as well as one named Shifty.
However, the book contains several plot flaws besides the padding. Mick Hardin is a former army CID investigator. He investigates two murder scenes and does some preliminary forensic work. (Understandably, his department lacks the budget or personnel for advanced forensics.) The description of the forensic details seems to have been written by someone whose only familiarity with the subject came from watching a few episodes of “CSI.” (Offutt doesn’t appear to have any background in criminal investigation.) The description of the climactic shootout is exciting, but it feels incredibly contrived. Several characters die in the shootout, whose deaths can only be described as extremely convenient in terms of wrapping up the plot. As a result, the book’s conclusion seems hurried.
I enjoyed parts of “The Reluctant Sheriff” far more than the whole. The book gave me a genuine sense of place and contained several dialogue gems. However, the author failed to capitalize on a good story idea and spent too much time on subplots that weren’t effective. The way the case wrapped up was especially disappointing. Chris Offutt has considerable talent as a writer, but he didn’t display enough of it in this book.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
“The Reluctant Sheriff” is the fourth book in a series featuring Mick Hardin. He’s an ex-Army CID investigator who has assisted his sister, a county sheriff in rural Kentucky, in solving some tough cases. In the last novel in the series, his sister was wounded and is now recuperating. As a result, Hardin became the county’s acting sheriff… reluctantly. His current case involves the fatal shooting of a bar owner named Skeeter Martin, whose body was found in the bar’s parking lot one morning. The local police arrested a member of the house band, who had an argument with Skeeter the night before. Because the detained man is Mick’s ex-wife’s current husband, she asks him to investigate what is technically a city case. The case expands significantly when two more men, including a prominent local contractor, are murdered soon afterward by what appears to be the same gun that shot Skeeter.
I had high hopes for “The Reluctant Sheriff,” especially after Hardin’s investigation revealed ties to a shady business tycoon named Murvil Knox, who had hired the dead contractor on a major construction project. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed when the main storyline got lost in sidetracks and one major subplot that eventually went nowhere. That subplot involved Hardin’s former deputy, Johnny Boy Tolliver. In the last book in the series, Tolliver had a traumatic experience, which the author only hints at in “The Reluctant Sheriff.” (I didn’t read the earlier book, so I don’t know for sure what happened to Tolliver.) As a result, Hardin calls in a favor with an old army buddy and sends Tolliver to Corsica to recuperate. Meanwhile, no one in town knows what happened to him. That recuperation primarily involves Tolliver doing some manual labor, taking French lessons, and, most of all, taking up about one-third of the novel with his subplot.
The Corsican subplot isn’t the only problem with the story. At one point, Hardin’s sister goes on a date with a local doctor who has some information about the case. The author spends an entire chapter discussing her preparation and the actual date (non-spoiler: pleasant but not exceptional) in prose that seems more fitting for a teen romance novel about prom night. Later, the author introduces a new character, an ex-girlfriend of Hardin who’s an MI6 agent. (I don’t know if she appeared in any earlier novels in the series.) Her only significant connection to the plot seemed to be providing additional highly trained firepower to help Hardin even the odds in the book’s climactic shootout with some bad guys.
Remove the subplots and padding, and “The Reluctant Sheriff” contains the basis for a solid 100-page novella. The author has a talent for language and captures the feel of the Kentucky hills perfectly. The dialogue has some gems, as when one character says, “he had a sudden failure to thrive,” regarding a dead man. Similarly, Hardin bonds with a potential witness who is watching an episode of “Gunsmoke” on television by mentioning that his papaw liked “Gunsmoke.” Unfortunately, “we lived too far in the woods for good reception. Had an antenna outside mounted on a post. Wasn’t worth a nickel.” When the potential witness asks why they didn’t get a satellite dish, Hardin replies: “Papaw said he wasn’t about to pay for something that ugly.”
“The Reluctant Sheriff” contains several samples of enjoyable dialogue and description. I especially enjoyed the anecdote about the bootlegger who built his house on the border between two dry counties. Whenever the sheriff of one county arrived to investigate, the bootlegger stayed on the other side of the house so the sheriff couldn’t arrest him. I also enjoyed the characters’ colorful names, such as the aforementioned Skeeter and Murvil, as well as one named Shifty.
However, the book contains several plot flaws besides the padding. Mick Hardin is a former army CID investigator. He investigates two murder scenes and does some preliminary forensic work. (Understandably, his department lacks the budget or personnel for advanced forensics.) The description of the forensic details seems to have been written by someone whose only familiarity with the subject came from watching a few episodes of “CSI.” (Offutt doesn’t appear to have any background in criminal investigation.) The description of the climactic shootout is exciting, but it feels incredibly contrived. Several characters die in the shootout, whose deaths can only be described as extremely convenient in terms of wrapping up the plot. As a result, the book’s conclusion seems hurried.
I enjoyed parts of “The Reluctant Sheriff” far more than the whole. The book gave me a genuine sense of place and contained several dialogue gems. However, the author failed to capitalize on a good story idea and spent too much time on subplots that weren’t effective. The way the case wrapped up was especially disappointing. Chris Offutt has considerable talent as a writer, but he didn’t display enough of it in this book.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
December 17, 2025
I read and enjoyed all four books in this series. I don't know if this is the final book in the series, but based on the way the book ended, I think the author and Mick are taking a break.
Or maybe the author is going to have Mick take Nikki up on her offer to go to London, and he will get involved in her MI6 Secret Squirrel $#!7.
Another option the author has is for Mick to get involved in whatever mission Sebastien left Corsica to complete.
But if this book is the end of the series and he never returns to the hills and hollers of Kentucky, I am happy with the way things ended for Mick Hardin.
Or maybe the author is going to have Mick take Nikki up on her offer to go to London, and he will get involved in her MI6 Secret Squirrel $#!7.
Another option the author has is for Mick to get involved in whatever mission Sebastien left Corsica to complete.
But if this book is the end of the series and he never returns to the hills and hollers of Kentucky, I am happy with the way things ended for Mick Hardin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2024
Thanks for the ARC! Got through this one quick. The setup of Mick being forced into a sheriff position to fill in for his injured sister, despite wanting nothing to do with it grabbed me quick. The setting of the hills of Kentucky worked really well for this sort of crime story, and the characters all were fully formed and easy to either root for, or dislike quite a bit. The story taking off and landing in Corsica was unexpected, but enjoyable, as it's not an area I knew anything about going into the descriptions. Good book, and excited to check out more by Chris Offutt!
April 4, 2025
For those of us who have followed this series from the beginning in
The Killing Hills, we know that Mick Hardin has not really felt at home since he came back as his time in the service was ending. After the events in the last book, Code of the Hills, we knew he was probably going to have to stick around awhile due to the fact that his sister, Linda, was shot and a few others things happened. The Reluctant Sheriff: A Mick Hardin Novel by Chris Offutt picks up a few weeks later and things for Mick are not easy at all.
For one thing, Mick Hardin is filling in as sheriff while his sister, Linda, the actual elected sheriff, is working on coming back from her line of duty injury. He’s wearing the uniform, driving her official car, living in her house, and doing the job while she is living at Shifty Kissick’s place, doing her grueling physical therapy, and going slowly mad from boredom and the chaos there. The Kissick home has never been known in the mountains of eastern Kentucky as a place of peace and calm and it certainly isn’t these days.
For another thing, the department is short staffed as the deputy known as “Johnny Boy” is on leave and gone for reasons detailed in the previous book. So, Mick is constantly responding to calls, both trivial and important. He hates family drama calls and the latest was a bit out there, in more ways than one. As bad as it was, the next family drama deal is going to smack close to home.
When he gets back to the station, he finds his ex-wife and the woman he still madly loves, Peggy, waiting in his office. She wants his help. Her new husband, Zack Jones, has been held with charges pending over in Rocksalt. It seems that the police in the city plan to charge him with murder of Marlowe Martin, known to all as “Skeeter.” He was the owner of the Ajax Bar and Grill. He was found dead, hours earlier, in the parking lot of the establishment by guys delivering liquor to the place. While the business itself sits just across the county line, the actual parking lot is in the jurisdiction of the city, and that means it is a city murder case under the jurisdiction of Chief Logan.
Fortunately, Logan and Mick Hardin have known each other for years and like and respect each other. They have no issues. So, Logan is willing to discuss the details of the case. Such as the fact that Zack is part of a band, played at the bar, and felt that he and his bandmates where being cheated out of their full pay for the gig. Zack and Skeeter had a very heated public argument in the preceding hours before Skeeter was found dead and has no real alibi. Logan is more than willing to provide copies of the crime scene, let Mick talk to Zack, and let Mick do whatever else he wants to do involving the case. For a man used to being part of Army CID and working homicides, this access gives Mick a solid starting point to do something productive as he awaits Linda’s return to work.
What follows is an interesting case that is the primary storyline accompanied by several secondary ones. As always, Mick’s loner mentality, his default setting, as well as the author’s love for the land and its people comes through loud and clear to the reader. So too does the fact that as always in this series, things come up just like they do in real life, often not in a clear cut and straightforward way. This series is not like a lot of the reads out there and you really notice the difference when you read one.
Those aspects of the read do not get in the way of a mighty good mystery. In fact, if anything, they enhance it. Then there is the fact that there is more than one mystery at work in The Reluctant Sheriff: A Mick Hardin Novel by Chris Offutt. This fourth book in the series, where every book builds on the preceding one and the series, is well worth your time.
My digital ARC came by way of the publisher, Grove Press, through NetGalley with no expectation of a review.
Kevin R. Tipple ©2025
February 7, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy of this novel about a man who has to return to his hometown due to family obligations, obligations that draw up old enemies and new dangers for a man who just wants a quiet retirement from the violence he has seen.
I live in a small town. I tend to stay out of the many matters that seem important, like the new street signs, the argument over what to do with school bus parking, and of course why are the taxes so high. From what I understand there are 6 Facebook pages, and a couple of other social media sites that take verbal sniping and vitriol to such great heights. I like the pace of my small town, I just don't like the people. Unlike John Mellencamp I don't think I want to be buried here. One can understand the frustration of a person who has escaped from a small town, traveled the world, and fought in a few wars returning back home. Not for a visit, but for family obligations. Obligations that seem to bring more violence, and raise feelings for what could have been, and what life currently is. And it seems only to be getting worse. This is the life of Mick Hardin, protagonist of this really powerful series, in his fourth outing The Reluctant Sheriff, written by Chris Offutt. Hardin tries to solve one mystery involving a person from his past, while favors made to others are suddenly coming due, with even more bodies filling his small town.
Mick Hardin left Rocksalt, Kentucky with few reasons to come back, joinging the Army as a way of escaping from the small town that promised little. After proving himself in battle Hardin joined the Criminal Investigation Division where he proved to himself that he was very good at solving crime. Retiring from the Army meant living on a small island in Europe. Instead Hardin found himself without a wife, and helping his sister who has become Sheriff of Rocksalt. A bullet has kept her out of commission and Hardin is filling in as Sheriff, investigating deer breaking into barns, and suspicious daughters-in-law. A shooting involving the man his wife left him for brings him into a case that starts to expand quickly with more bodies appearing. Along with that two different people ask Hardin for a favor, one that will bring him much trouble, and one that might set him free, though both promise a lot of ultra-violence.
I hate coming into a series late, especially when I love the book that I am reading. I had read an earlier book by Chris Offutt, dealing with his father's writing career, but not being a fan of police procedurals, I passed on these books. I will admit when I am wrong, and I was real wrong. Offutt is a very good writer, able to capture emotions and develope characters, and write crackling action scenes that the most fervent gun-porn reader will enjoy. Mick Hardin feels real, a man good at a few things, mostly violent, but a man who wants more from himself, even as he gives so much of himself. There are a lot of things going on, including a sub-plot involving Mick's brother, I won't go into, but I must say this offers some of the best writing in the book. Offutt tosses in lines that stand out in this book, almost poetry that gives the story a resonance that I did not expect. Offutt keeps everything together, and offers a lot of possibilities for more stories. Something I hope he will.
One can start here, but as one who did, I must recommend starting with the other books in the series. I wish I had. This is a series that builds its characters, makes one care in what happens, and how things happen. Don't sleep on this author like I did. I really can't wait to read more by Offutt.
I live in a small town. I tend to stay out of the many matters that seem important, like the new street signs, the argument over what to do with school bus parking, and of course why are the taxes so high. From what I understand there are 6 Facebook pages, and a couple of other social media sites that take verbal sniping and vitriol to such great heights. I like the pace of my small town, I just don't like the people. Unlike John Mellencamp I don't think I want to be buried here. One can understand the frustration of a person who has escaped from a small town, traveled the world, and fought in a few wars returning back home. Not for a visit, but for family obligations. Obligations that seem to bring more violence, and raise feelings for what could have been, and what life currently is. And it seems only to be getting worse. This is the life of Mick Hardin, protagonist of this really powerful series, in his fourth outing The Reluctant Sheriff, written by Chris Offutt. Hardin tries to solve one mystery involving a person from his past, while favors made to others are suddenly coming due, with even more bodies filling his small town.
Mick Hardin left Rocksalt, Kentucky with few reasons to come back, joinging the Army as a way of escaping from the small town that promised little. After proving himself in battle Hardin joined the Criminal Investigation Division where he proved to himself that he was very good at solving crime. Retiring from the Army meant living on a small island in Europe. Instead Hardin found himself without a wife, and helping his sister who has become Sheriff of Rocksalt. A bullet has kept her out of commission and Hardin is filling in as Sheriff, investigating deer breaking into barns, and suspicious daughters-in-law. A shooting involving the man his wife left him for brings him into a case that starts to expand quickly with more bodies appearing. Along with that two different people ask Hardin for a favor, one that will bring him much trouble, and one that might set him free, though both promise a lot of ultra-violence.
I hate coming into a series late, especially when I love the book that I am reading. I had read an earlier book by Chris Offutt, dealing with his father's writing career, but not being a fan of police procedurals, I passed on these books. I will admit when I am wrong, and I was real wrong. Offutt is a very good writer, able to capture emotions and develope characters, and write crackling action scenes that the most fervent gun-porn reader will enjoy. Mick Hardin feels real, a man good at a few things, mostly violent, but a man who wants more from himself, even as he gives so much of himself. There are a lot of things going on, including a sub-plot involving Mick's brother, I won't go into, but I must say this offers some of the best writing in the book. Offutt tosses in lines that stand out in this book, almost poetry that gives the story a resonance that I did not expect. Offutt keeps everything together, and offers a lot of possibilities for more stories. Something I hope he will.
One can start here, but as one who did, I must recommend starting with the other books in the series. I wish I had. This is a series that builds its characters, makes one care in what happens, and how things happen. Don't sleep on this author like I did. I really can't wait to read more by Offutt.
April 3, 2025
The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt
Mick Hardin #4
Mick Hardin had dreams for his future, but none have played out as he had envisioned. He has focused on caring for, protecting, and supporting others to the point that by the end of this book I am wishing him some quiet time on his own to regroup, determine what he really wants, and perhaps find it though his future dream(s) may not be anything like his original ones.
What I liked:
* Mick Hardin: retired Army CID officer, born and raised in the Kentucky hills the story is set in, knows the culture and local code, has an interesting moral compass, protective, puzzle solver, intelligent, lethal, someone I would want on my side, a bit of a loner, finds peace in the woods, a good man who deserves more than he has found so far.
* Raymond: ex-marine, in relationship with JC, strong, lethal, focused, intriguing, someone I would want with me in a dangerous situation, takes on job as a deputy when Mick asks him to
* Linda Hardin: town sheriff, Mick’s sister, intelligent, professional, a bit of a loner, good leader, injured on the job in the last book and on medical leave, wondering what her future holds in store for her
* Johnny Boy Toliver: deputy to Sherrif Hardin, in Corsica to regroup, has an alternating storyline in Corsica while the rest of the story unfolds in Kentucky, curious to find out what his future will be
* How the community values and expectations play such a big part in the stories in this series
* The way directions are given when one has to find a location in the hills
* Police procedural aspects of the story, where they led, and how the various cases were tied up and dealt with by the end of the book
* Sebastien & Nikki: people that were part of Mick’s past life that show up in this book – eager to see what parts they will play in the future
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That I was drawn into the story, cared about the characters, and was invested in the outcome
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the many secrets Mick and wishing he didn’t have to
* Thinking about the impact of choices some made and how choice impacts people and their future
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Mick Hardin #4
Mick Hardin had dreams for his future, but none have played out as he had envisioned. He has focused on caring for, protecting, and supporting others to the point that by the end of this book I am wishing him some quiet time on his own to regroup, determine what he really wants, and perhaps find it though his future dream(s) may not be anything like his original ones.
What I liked:
* Mick Hardin: retired Army CID officer, born and raised in the Kentucky hills the story is set in, knows the culture and local code, has an interesting moral compass, protective, puzzle solver, intelligent, lethal, someone I would want on my side, a bit of a loner, finds peace in the woods, a good man who deserves more than he has found so far.
* Raymond: ex-marine, in relationship with JC, strong, lethal, focused, intriguing, someone I would want with me in a dangerous situation, takes on job as a deputy when Mick asks him to
* Linda Hardin: town sheriff, Mick’s sister, intelligent, professional, a bit of a loner, good leader, injured on the job in the last book and on medical leave, wondering what her future holds in store for her
* Johnny Boy Toliver: deputy to Sherrif Hardin, in Corsica to regroup, has an alternating storyline in Corsica while the rest of the story unfolds in Kentucky, curious to find out what his future will be
* How the community values and expectations play such a big part in the stories in this series
* The way directions are given when one has to find a location in the hills
* Police procedural aspects of the story, where they led, and how the various cases were tied up and dealt with by the end of the book
* Sebastien & Nikki: people that were part of Mick’s past life that show up in this book – eager to see what parts they will play in the future
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* That I was drawn into the story, cared about the characters, and was invested in the outcome
* All of it really except…
What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about the many secrets Mick and wishing he didn’t have to
* Thinking about the impact of choices some made and how choice impacts people and their future
Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
February 18, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
The latest in the Mick Hardin series will leave you looking forward to the next installment.
Chris Offutt, a master of Appalachian noir, returns with "The Reluctant Sheriff," a novel that burrows deep into the heart of rural Kentucky and explores the often-uneasy balance between law, community, and personal demons.
This is a character study wrapped in a crime narrative, seasoned with Offutt's signature blend of grit, humor, and melancholic beauty.
The titular sheriff, Mick Hardin, isn't exactly eager to wear the star. He's a man haunted by a troubled past, more comfortable with the quiet rhythms of his small town than the messy realities of law enforcement. Yet, fate (and local politics) conspire to thrust him into the role, forcing him to confront not only the crimes plaguing his community but also the ghosts of his own making.
Offutt's prose is as lean and muscular as his characters. He paints a vivid portrait of rural life, capturing the stark beauty of the landscape and the complex relationships that bind (and sometimes break) the community. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, revealing the unspoken tensions and simmering resentments that underlie the surface of everyday life.
What sets "The Reluctant Sheriff" apart is its focus on character. Hardin is a flawed and compelling protagonist, a man wrestling with his own imperfections while trying to uphold a sense of justice in a world that often seems to operate outside the lines of right and wrong. He's not a superhero; he's just a man trying to do his best in a difficult situation, and it's this very human vulnerability that makes him so relatable.
This isn't a fast-paced, action-packed thriller. It's a slow burn, a novel that unfolds at its own pace, allowing the reader to soak in the atmosphere and get to know the characters. It's a story about the complexities of human nature, the enduring power of community, and the often-difficult choices we make in the face of adversity.
"The Reluctant Sheriff" is a welcome addition to Offutt's body of work, a testament to his skill as a storyteller and his deep understanding of the human condition. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates gritty, character-driven fiction with a touch of Appalachian soul.
The latest in the Mick Hardin series will leave you looking forward to the next installment.
Chris Offutt, a master of Appalachian noir, returns with "The Reluctant Sheriff," a novel that burrows deep into the heart of rural Kentucky and explores the often-uneasy balance between law, community, and personal demons.
This is a character study wrapped in a crime narrative, seasoned with Offutt's signature blend of grit, humor, and melancholic beauty.
The titular sheriff, Mick Hardin, isn't exactly eager to wear the star. He's a man haunted by a troubled past, more comfortable with the quiet rhythms of his small town than the messy realities of law enforcement. Yet, fate (and local politics) conspire to thrust him into the role, forcing him to confront not only the crimes plaguing his community but also the ghosts of his own making.
Offutt's prose is as lean and muscular as his characters. He paints a vivid portrait of rural life, capturing the stark beauty of the landscape and the complex relationships that bind (and sometimes break) the community. The dialogue crackles with authenticity, revealing the unspoken tensions and simmering resentments that underlie the surface of everyday life.
What sets "The Reluctant Sheriff" apart is its focus on character. Hardin is a flawed and compelling protagonist, a man wrestling with his own imperfections while trying to uphold a sense of justice in a world that often seems to operate outside the lines of right and wrong. He's not a superhero; he's just a man trying to do his best in a difficult situation, and it's this very human vulnerability that makes him so relatable.
This isn't a fast-paced, action-packed thriller. It's a slow burn, a novel that unfolds at its own pace, allowing the reader to soak in the atmosphere and get to know the characters. It's a story about the complexities of human nature, the enduring power of community, and the often-difficult choices we make in the face of adversity.
"The Reluctant Sheriff" is a welcome addition to Offutt's body of work, a testament to his skill as a storyteller and his deep understanding of the human condition. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates gritty, character-driven fiction with a touch of Appalachian soul.
August 19, 2025
This series had begun to outgrow the Kentucky Appalachian Hills in #3, "Code of the Hills", and in this installment it's problems no longer fit the setting.
Introducing Sebastian and Corsica in #3 provided a destination for Mick to hope for and eventually for Johnny Boy to disappear too. Within "The Reluctant Sheriff", Corsica provides Johnny Boy's rehabilitation that is mostly separate from the actions in all of the Kentucky storylines: Mick (and ex-wife Peggy), Linda (and local police politics), Raymond Kissick (and Shifty and Juan Carlos), Charley Flowers (and Vernon), and Murvil Knox. When we get to experience small town Sheriff life in Rocksalt, Kentucky it's heavily weighed down in this novel by Mick's growing depression stemming from his now ex-wife Peggy's betrayal in #1 "The Killing Hills". His depression is hastened by the stress of his sister, Linda being shot in the line of duty as Rocksalt's Sheriff in #3, and his recent retirement from Army CID investigator and transition back into 'civilian life' that is thwarted at every turn. The original murder of the bar owner and its subsequent "Reluctant Sheriff" story line is lost with the reappearance of Vernon and the Detroit storyline that leads to a huge firefight that felt out of place, like an add-on that didn't hit home as nicely as a similar firefight did in #3 "Code of the Hills". I would have liked to see more of Interim Sheriff Mick Hardin and Deputy Ray-Ray Kissick (and dispatcher Sandra) and how they navigated the daily public service calls in Rocksalt, KY as well as a more detailed exploration of the town's corruption due to local villain Murvil Knox. Another reason this installment falls short for me is ***spoiler*** Knox's revealed vigilant murder ends up only being a sentence in the closing chapter where Offutt had 4 complete novels to really build up his corruption and his warranted community vengeance comeuppance and really went into left-field instead. 2 stars as the series has lost it's way.
Introducing Sebastian and Corsica in #3 provided a destination for Mick to hope for and eventually for Johnny Boy to disappear too. Within "The Reluctant Sheriff", Corsica provides Johnny Boy's rehabilitation that is mostly separate from the actions in all of the Kentucky storylines: Mick (and ex-wife Peggy), Linda (and local police politics), Raymond Kissick (and Shifty and Juan Carlos), Charley Flowers (and Vernon), and Murvil Knox. When we get to experience small town Sheriff life in Rocksalt, Kentucky it's heavily weighed down in this novel by Mick's growing depression stemming from his now ex-wife Peggy's betrayal in #1 "The Killing Hills". His depression is hastened by the stress of his sister, Linda being shot in the line of duty as Rocksalt's Sheriff in #3, and his recent retirement from Army CID investigator and transition back into 'civilian life' that is thwarted at every turn. The original murder of the bar owner and its subsequent "Reluctant Sheriff" story line is lost with the reappearance of Vernon and the Detroit storyline that leads to a huge firefight that felt out of place, like an add-on that didn't hit home as nicely as a similar firefight did in #3 "Code of the Hills". I would have liked to see more of Interim Sheriff Mick Hardin and Deputy Ray-Ray Kissick (and dispatcher Sandra) and how they navigated the daily public service calls in Rocksalt, KY as well as a more detailed exploration of the town's corruption due to local villain Murvil Knox. Another reason this installment falls short for me is ***spoiler*** Knox's revealed vigilant murder ends up only being a sentence in the closing chapter where Offutt had 4 complete novels to really build up his corruption and his warranted community vengeance comeuppance and really went into left-field instead. 2 stars as the series has lost it's way.
June 8, 2025
Here is my original review of this novel on NetGalley... https://www.netgalley.co.uk/book/4480...
The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt is another wild ride in the hills of Kentucky with Mick Hardin, the one person you can rely on to have your back in whatever situation, in the lead. Continuing from where his previous outing – Code of the Hills – ended, Mick is still the stand-in sheriff of his hometown, impatiently waiting to hand the charge back to his sister, the original sheriff, who is convalescing from a gunshot injury, and be on his way to a new life. Before that, though, there are murders – one first, then two more – to be solved, a choice – between the law and justice – to be made, and gunbattles involving gangsters and mercenaries to be fought.
The Reluctant Sheriff is only the second novel by Offutt I have read, but he has already become a favourite. This book has all the things that worked for the previous one – superb characters, an intriguing storyline, a fast-paced plot, crisply rendered action, and an immersive description of the settings. Mick and the other recurring characters feel more familiar than such a short acquaintance would suggest, and two of the new ones – Mick’s associates from long ago – certainly deserve more appearances. Contrasting with the action in Kentucky is the convalescence – of the mind and soul this time – of Johnny Boy Tolliver, the former deputy whom Mick had helped to get away from a tricky situation, movingly described by Offutt. The ending of The Reluctant Sheriff suggests that Offutt is not finished with this series, and I am eager to follow his characters wherever he takes them.
I am thankful to Grove Atlantic for the Digital Review Copy of The Reluctant Sheriff through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt is another wild ride in the hills of Kentucky with Mick Hardin, the one person you can rely on to have your back in whatever situation, in the lead. Continuing from where his previous outing – Code of the Hills – ended, Mick is still the stand-in sheriff of his hometown, impatiently waiting to hand the charge back to his sister, the original sheriff, who is convalescing from a gunshot injury, and be on his way to a new life. Before that, though, there are murders – one first, then two more – to be solved, a choice – between the law and justice – to be made, and gunbattles involving gangsters and mercenaries to be fought.
The Reluctant Sheriff is only the second novel by Offutt I have read, but he has already become a favourite. This book has all the things that worked for the previous one – superb characters, an intriguing storyline, a fast-paced plot, crisply rendered action, and an immersive description of the settings. Mick and the other recurring characters feel more familiar than such a short acquaintance would suggest, and two of the new ones – Mick’s associates from long ago – certainly deserve more appearances. Contrasting with the action in Kentucky is the convalescence – of the mind and soul this time – of Johnny Boy Tolliver, the former deputy whom Mick had helped to get away from a tricky situation, movingly described by Offutt. The ending of The Reluctant Sheriff suggests that Offutt is not finished with this series, and I am eager to follow his characters wherever he takes them.
I am thankful to Grove Atlantic for the Digital Review Copy of The Reluctant Sheriff through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 19, 2024
The Reluctant Sheriff by Chris Offutt is number four in the Mick Hardin series further detailing the exploits of the retired military investigator and his return to his rural Kentucky stomping grounds.
In the newest novel, Mick Hardin has been acting sheriff for some time while filling in for his sister Linda after her injury in a shoot-out in a previous novel.
Offutt returns with previously introduced characters and settings detailing a series of local murders while including more to the plotline of Johnny Boy’s stay in Corsica while teasing out bits and pieces about the mysterious background of Johnny Boy’s host, Sebastian, along with his strange relationship with Mick.
To reveal more about the murders would require spoilers, but readers can be reassured, that all of the finer hallmarks of his previous Hardin novels are present in The Reluctant Sherrif.
For me, not a lot needs to be mentioned about the writing of Chris Offutt that is not already known. For one thing, there are not many Southern fiction writers who can assemble words to tell stories in such a smooth way as Offutt. His writing is so flawless and even, he makes writing seem easy, but we all know that is certainly not true. One can only imagine the amount of time and effort when it comes to his skills.
While the novel does tie up loose ends, the door to future Mick Hardin novels is clearly left open and in such a way, previous readers will realize that Offutt might have something special in store for Mick later on.
The Reluctant Sheriff is highly recommended to those fond of rural noir. It is also highly recommended readers also explore the other writings of Chris Offutt as well.
Netgalley provided an ARC of this novel for the return of a fair review. The novel is set to be published in March of 2025.
In the newest novel, Mick Hardin has been acting sheriff for some time while filling in for his sister Linda after her injury in a shoot-out in a previous novel.
Offutt returns with previously introduced characters and settings detailing a series of local murders while including more to the plotline of Johnny Boy’s stay in Corsica while teasing out bits and pieces about the mysterious background of Johnny Boy’s host, Sebastian, along with his strange relationship with Mick.
To reveal more about the murders would require spoilers, but readers can be reassured, that all of the finer hallmarks of his previous Hardin novels are present in The Reluctant Sherrif.
For me, not a lot needs to be mentioned about the writing of Chris Offutt that is not already known. For one thing, there are not many Southern fiction writers who can assemble words to tell stories in such a smooth way as Offutt. His writing is so flawless and even, he makes writing seem easy, but we all know that is certainly not true. One can only imagine the amount of time and effort when it comes to his skills.
While the novel does tie up loose ends, the door to future Mick Hardin novels is clearly left open and in such a way, previous readers will realize that Offutt might have something special in store for Mick later on.
The Reluctant Sheriff is highly recommended to those fond of rural noir. It is also highly recommended readers also explore the other writings of Chris Offutt as well.
Netgalley provided an ARC of this novel for the return of a fair review. The novel is set to be published in March of 2025.
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