The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes

Samuel Craddock Mystery #12

by Terry Shames

"The Samuel Craddock series may be the best regional crime series around today" Library Journal Starred Review of Guilt Strikes at Granger's Store

Strange goings-on in a small Texas town

Newly single Chief of Police Samuel Craddock hasn’t got time to worry about his own troubles—not with Lily Barnes’ wild accusation and trucks dumping suspicious cargo outside Jarrett Creek late at night.

A family feud with a lethal twist

Lily is sure her twin sister, Jewel, is trying to poison her—but it’s Jewel who’s discovered dead. Did she have a secret that could lead Craddock to her killer?

A dangerously toxic investigation

Craddock’s fears about the cargo are heightened by a series of alarming events. What’s really being dumped, and why does the millionaire oil boss who owns the land want to keep it hidden? As Craddock closes in on the truth—and a murderer—the stakes couldn’t be higher . . .

Fans of Steven F. Havill and C.J. Box will love this twist-filled mystery series set in rural Texas.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

Terry Shames is the award-winning, best-selling author of eleven Samuel Craddock mysteries. Her first book, A Killing at Cotton Hill won the Macavity Award for Best First novel Her books have been shortlisted for the Strand Critics Award, Lefty awards, and won the RT Reviews Critics award. The eleventh in the series, The Troubling Death of Maddy Benson, October, 2024, was an Amazon Editor's Pick and won a starred review in Library Journal.

In 2024, she debuted the Jessie Madison thriller series, with Perilous Waters. In March, 2025, she published Out of Control, a suspense novel.

Terry is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.

She lives in Southern California with her husband, her dog Monty and her cat Max.
For more visit her website at www.Terryshames.com.

Reviews

[Abibliofob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samuel Craddock isn't your typical small town chief of police. Jarret Creek is where he works and lives. I really love this series by Terry Shames and she constantly surprises me with what she has going on in this rural Texas setting. Samuel has as usually a lot going on at the same time. He is sadly single again and he is about to loose one of his officers, his neigbour is asking him to look into what could be a case of poisoning and there is some strange dumping going on near the river. I have been following this series since the beginning and I like the characters and setting that Shames has invented. I also love the way the books are filled with actual police work and the fact that it's not that easy with lab results and whose juristiction things are happening in. The twists in this the latest is awesome and I can strongly recommend this series for fans of small town mysteries. I also must thank Netgalley and Severn House for letting me read this advance copy.

[Alex P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first time reading any of this author’s work, and even though this is the 12th book in this series, I was able to follow along surprisingly well. The mystery itself was interesting, the characters were likeable, and the ending was pretty cool. I think the only reason I couldn’t rate it higher was the writing style which I just couldn’t vibe with and I really felt that it was too all over the place. Still, I enjoyed it overall and wouldn’t be opposed to reading more from this series to see how it all ties together.

My review is based on a complimentary ARC of this book.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all of the current books that feature dual timelines and multiple points of view, it is refreshing to savor Terry Shames' Samuel Craddock mystery #12, The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes. As always, it is an absorbing story narrated by her protagonist, a seasoned police chief in rural Texas, so everything we experience comes from the perspective of this respected lawman.

The main plot revolves around two members of the local Barnes family, middle-aged female twins who drive identical cars and often dress alike. But these days, they seem to be drifting apart, as Lily accuses Jewel of trying to poison her. So why is Jewel the one lying there, the apparent victim of poisoning? Her family has its suspicions, but no one seems to have a logical answer. At the same time, Samuel hears complaints about large trucks making nighttime deliveries to a site outside the town. and he wonders whether toxic materials are being dumped that could endanger the community. And all of this is occurring when Samuel's lady friend has suddenly abandoned him for a former flame.

It's a lot to handle. Fortunately, Samuel has a devoted team of deputies, each with different skills and insights, and good friends such as his neighbor, Loretta, who can always be depended on for fresh, home-baked goodies and the willingness to be a sounding board for her long-time friend.

Everything is just right in this book. Returning characters and new ones are all fleshed-out humans with details that make them come to life. The mysteries are difficult to solve, making the reader feel invested in Samuel's responsibility to his beloved town. And Samuel himself is a character to root for and to love. Supporting characters such as Loretta, the Barnes twins, and ex-con Russell spring from the pages. And a small surprise at the very end hints at future developments and more books in the series. Terry Shames is writing at the top of her form, maintaining the high quality of this stellar series, which I hope continues indefinitely.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.

[Cindy Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terry Shames continues to write good mysteries that continue the story of a small Texas town and its inhabitants. In The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes, Sheriff Craddock and his small team are dealing with a murder, a mysterious dumping site, and a couple of assaults. In addition, Craddock is asked to look into his ex-girlfriend's new man--which he REALLY doesn't want to do!

Jewel Barnes is murdered. Her family, including her twin sister, may have had cause to kill her. But the twins had recently befriended a young man who was just released from prison. Could he be the killer? At the same time, the sheriff's office receives reports of large dump trucks traveling late at night--investigating this leads to a potentially hazardous dumping ground. As Craddock and officers investigate, the benefits of being a small town police force are shown. Everyone tends to know everyone else, and most people are eager to help out the police however they can. However, the down side of the small force is also shown--sometimes there just isn't enough manpower to complete investigations quickly, and sometimes the small town sheriff doesn't have to clout he needs to cut through bureaucracy.

Shames does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life, and bringing all of the pieces of the puzzle together. In this book, she also takes a look at the gray areas of the law, and the dangers of letting rich men decide what the laws should be, and who should be punished. Excellent addition to the series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Viccy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and Jewel Barnes are sisters and have lived together their whole life. In high school, they even dated the same young man. Like all sisters, they have their good days and bad days, but no one is ready when Jewel is poisoned. There are a lot of suspects. Lily has accused Jewel of trying to poison her, but Samuel Craddock, the sheriff in Jarrett Creek TX knows the whole Barnes family is famous for their bickering. Samuel is also worried about an illegal dump site outside the city limits, where he has no jurisdiction, but he knows something hinky is going on out there. Heavy trucks go in, all loaded up and come out empty. Where did those trucks come from? Who in the Barnes' family wanted Jewel dead? When Samuel discovers Jewel's will had been changed right before she was killed, his antenna goes off. Who is the young man cozying up to Lily and Jewel and what role did he play in Jewel's death? I really enjoy this series, full of small town characters and loads of Texas charm. Recommended for readers who enjoy character and place setting.

[John Lansing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prolific author, Terry Shames, delivers another well-crafted who-done-it in the Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes. This is Shames’ 12th Samuel Craddock mystery and if this book is your first read in the series, you’re in for a treat.
The story takes place in small-town Texas. The Protagonist, Samuel Craddock, is one of my favorite cops. He’s a police chief, who likes his southern cooking. He’s kind of an old fashion gentleman of few words who speaks kindly even to the worst criminals. But don’t be deceived, he has a sharp mind and is always thinking until he figures out a way to solve the crime.
Terry Shames has created a large idiosyncratic family with middle-aged female twins, Lily and Jewel, who’ve lived their entire lives together in the same house with their father. They have a reputation of being dramatic and difficult to deal with. When Jewel Barnes turns up dead, the book takes off like a meteor. So, turn off the television, get comfortable, and enjoy the ride.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Curious Poisoning of Jewel Barnes is the 12th book in this terrific police mystery series by Terry Shames. Often, by the time I get this far into a series, I am tired of the characters, but this series is so strong, the small town scenarios so believable, the writing so good that I can not wait for the latest installment. If you are new to the series it takes place in a small, rural town in Texas. In this book Chief Samuel Craddock deals with both a murder and a case of suspected illegal dumping of hazardous waste in a vacant lot near the town water supply. What start out as two distinct cases soon merge, but why? This book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series, A Killing at Cotton Hill, and reading them all.
This series will appeal to readers of the Walt Longmire books by Craig Johnson.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samuel Craddock is one of my favorite series, as Samuel Craddock is one of my favorite characters in a series. Samuel is anything but an open book, but he can always be counted on to come down on the side of law and what's right. The middle-aged Barnes twins in Jarrett Creek, Texas seem to live a quiet, predictable life, but one of them, Jewel, turns up dead amid suspicious circumstances. Lilly, Jewel's twin, is left alone in the house they shared, but she has family members to lean on. When Chief Craddock discovers it was poison that killed Jewel, the motive is buried deep.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book 12 in Samuel Craddock series. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read any of the previous books. Samuel is asked to investigate strange trucks dumping outside of the small Texas town of Jarrrett Creek.Lily is sure her twin sister Jewell is trying to poison her but Samuel discovers Jewell dead. Are these two incidents connected? The oil baron who owns the dumping site wants the investigation to stop before Samuel even gets started. A good story line.

[Ammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Another murder for small Texas town Chief of Police, Samuel Craddock, to solve. However, he’s simultaneously investigating a potentially toxic dump site. Could the two be linked?

I haven’t read a Craddock book in quite a bit. For some reason, the library doesn’t carry all of them which is their loss. They are so character driven and so good with so much happening in a “quiet” little town. Enjoyable to read Chief Craddock again!
2026(39)

[Traci · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf only a few chapters in. Although several reviews say this works as a stand-alone book, maybe I'd have enjoyed it more if I'd read it in the series. The writing felt as if someone grabbed a bunch of descriptions, plot lines, etc, tossed them in a giant fishbowl, and wrote them in the order they were withdrawn.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toxic waste in a small Texas city

Toxic waste dumping in a small city corrupts several members of a family. Conclusion is all logical, I don’t see how else it could have been brought together; but I did not figure it out till the very end.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite series and this was a really good addition. The mystery was complex and the family in question was pretty colorful. I know Samuel is not happy about how his personal life has turned out but I am.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Sam Craddock. This police chief in a small Texas town has some puzzling things happening: a murder, a couple of assaults and some mysterious nighttime dumping.

The setting and characters are the strength of this series, but this one is also exceedingly well plotted.

[Lorlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

These get better with each one, a nice twisty plot, well written

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good mystery series.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am enjoying this series. Really like the laid-back small town sheriff.

[Christine Ostby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, good writing, good characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.