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The Sheriff Chick Charleston Mysteries #2
The Genuine Article
Two murders shock a Rocky Mountain ranch town in this captivating suspense novel from one of Montana’s greatest storytellers
In the two years since his last adventure with Sheriff Chick Charleston, Jason Beard has been away at college, preparing to enter the “real world” when he graduates. When he returns to his hometown of Midbury, Montana, for the summer, he expects to see big changes—but finds instead the same old peculiar place, its eccentric citizens up to familiar tricks.
One of those crusty characters is F. Y. Grimsley, a prominent rancher with a nasty mean streak. The day after Grimsley accuses the residents of a nearby Indian reservation of rustling his cattle, he turns up dead, struck on the head by an object that leaves distinctive marks. Sheriff Charleston deputizes Jase, and the two pay a visit to Eagle Charlie in search of answers. Soon after the interview, Eagle Charlie turns up murdered with what appears to be the same weapon that felled Grimsley.
With a potential serial killer on the loose, the sheriff and Jase are anxious to find the culprit before another body is discovered. Their investigation uncovers many dark and unexpected secrets of Midbury, but the crucial clue just might be as plain as day—if they only knew where to look.
In the two years since his last adventure with Sheriff Chick Charleston, Jason Beard has been away at college, preparing to enter the “real world” when he graduates. When he returns to his hometown of Midbury, Montana, for the summer, he expects to see big changes—but finds instead the same old peculiar place, its eccentric citizens up to familiar tricks.
One of those crusty characters is F. Y. Grimsley, a prominent rancher with a nasty mean streak. The day after Grimsley accuses the residents of a nearby Indian reservation of rustling his cattle, he turns up dead, struck on the head by an object that leaves distinctive marks. Sheriff Charleston deputizes Jase, and the two pay a visit to Eagle Charlie in search of answers. Soon after the interview, Eagle Charlie turns up murdered with what appears to be the same weapon that felled Grimsley.
With a potential serial killer on the loose, the sheriff and Jase are anxious to find the culprit before another body is discovered. Their investigation uncovers many dark and unexpected secrets of Midbury, but the crucial clue just might be as plain as day—if they only knew where to look.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1977
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51 people want to read
About the author
A.B. Guthrie Jr.
52 books116 followersAlfred Bertram Guthrie, Jr. was an American novelist, screenwriter, historian, and literary historian who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction during 1950 for his novel The Way West.
After working 22 years as a news reporter and editor for the Lexington Leader, Guthrie wrote his first novel.
Ηe was able to quit his reporting job after the publication of the novels The Big Sky and The Way West (1950 Pulitzer Prize).
Guthrie died during 1991, at age 90, at his ranch near Choteau.
(Source - Wikipedia)
After working 22 years as a news reporter and editor for the Lexington Leader, Guthrie wrote his first novel.
Ηe was able to quit his reporting job after the publication of the novels The Big Sky and The Way West (1950 Pulitzer Prize).
Guthrie died during 1991, at age 90, at his ranch near Choteau.
(Source - Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 22, 2017
Not much mystery to it., August 7, 2017
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This review is from: The Genuine Article (The Sheriff Chick Charleston Mysteries Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Mr. Guthrie had a way with words which is demonstrated in this entertaining novel. Unfortunately the mystery itself is marred by his hostility to Christianity. Obviously the main, professed Christian character has to be guilty of something in Mr. Guthrie's tale. As the story progresses it becomes obvious that he is guilty of murder. No real mystery here other than the identification of the murder weapon.
Guthrie draws no distinction between professed Christians and true Christians. Here is a quote from near the beginning of the book, "I mean primitive religion,' he went on. 'Redneck stuff as preached in the south. Hysterical nonsense." This vitriol is triggered by the mere presence of an evangelist in town. The man hasn't preached yet. At this point in the book his tent isn't even ready for services. There, in this one short passage, Guthrie manages to denigrate religion, Christianity, evangelists, country folks, the South and Southerners. As I am a Christian, a Southerner and at least half country, I am not amused. Almost one star, but I will give him two for his way with words
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Genuine Article (The Sheriff Chick Charleston Mysteries Book 2) (Kindle Edition)
Mr. Guthrie had a way with words which is demonstrated in this entertaining novel. Unfortunately the mystery itself is marred by his hostility to Christianity. Obviously the main, professed Christian character has to be guilty of something in Mr. Guthrie's tale. As the story progresses it becomes obvious that he is guilty of murder. No real mystery here other than the identification of the murder weapon.
Guthrie draws no distinction between professed Christians and true Christians. Here is a quote from near the beginning of the book, "I mean primitive religion,' he went on. 'Redneck stuff as preached in the south. Hysterical nonsense." This vitriol is triggered by the mere presence of an evangelist in town. The man hasn't preached yet. At this point in the book his tent isn't even ready for services. There, in this one short passage, Guthrie manages to denigrate religion, Christianity, evangelists, country folks, the South and Southerners. As I am a Christian, a Southerner and at least half country, I am not amused. Almost one star, but I will give him two for his way with words
November 9, 2025
Hi, I’m the sidekick to Sheriff Chick Charleston. Now, I’m different than most sidekicks as I am clean shaven and I’ve got my teeth and genuine college diploma. I still am wondering what to do with my life. I mean eating my Mom’s pancakes and listening to Dad and the Sheriff dispense life lessons is fine, but this is the 1970s not the 1870s. I ought make something of myself. Serving writs and riding out in the high country for the Sheriff is fine, but maybe there’s The Real Article outside of God’s Country.
I’m not saying there’s nothing happening here. Somebody keeps murdering folk, and there are pretty ladies selling their wares without the benefit of a proper cathouse. None of that seems like much and I can’t imagine why you’d be reading any of this anyhow. You can say a lot about how pretty anything is and how weird the weather is in June and how the pretty girl takes a shine to me. But really it isn’t much. All you need to solve the murder is a little book learning and a few mugs of coffee to keep you awake to the end of it.
I’m not saying there’s nothing happening here. Somebody keeps murdering folk, and there are pretty ladies selling their wares without the benefit of a proper cathouse. None of that seems like much and I can’t imagine why you’d be reading any of this anyhow. You can say a lot about how pretty anything is and how weird the weather is in June and how the pretty girl takes a shine to me. But really it isn’t much. All you need to solve the murder is a little book learning and a few mugs of coffee to keep you awake to the end of it.
January 9, 2018
A great read that will "knock 'm dead"
Guthrie never fails to deliver. This novel is no exception....a smart sheriff, a young deputy and an assortment of characters as raw as the wild country they inhabit.
Guthrie never fails to deliver. This novel is no exception....a smart sheriff, a young deputy and an assortment of characters as raw as the wild country they inhabit.
October 9, 2017
Decent book
I got this because it was on sale. Hoped it would be like Longmire. Disappointed, but still a decent read
I got this because it was on sale. Hoped it would be like Longmire. Disappointed, but still a decent read
October 1, 2020
It's light reading, but I definitely enjoy the locale and the characters are great.
June 14, 2011
It is always nice to read a book that takes place at the same time of year that one is waking up with. It makes it easy to slip right into the pages.
August 30, 2016
Remember enjoying this when I read it back in the 80s.
October 1, 2017
Fast read, but not much suspense. Seems idiocentric writing style.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews