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Jack McBride #1
Stillwater: A Jack McBride Mystery
Big secrets run deep.
Former FBI agent Jack McBride took the job as Chief of Police for Stillwater, Texas, to start a new life with his teenage son, Ethan, away from the suspicions that surrounded his wife’s disappearance a year earlier.
With a low crime rate and a five-man police force, he expected it to be a nice, easy gig; hot checks, traffic violations, some drugs, occasional domestic disturbances, and petty theft. Instead, within a week he is investigating a staged murder-suicide, uncovering a decades’ old skeleton buried in the woods, and managing the first crime wave in thirty years.
For help navigating his unfamiliar, small-town surroundings, Jack turns to Ellie Martin, one of the most respected women in town—her scandal-filled past notwithstanding. Despite Jack's murky marriage status and the disapproval of Ethan and the town, they are immediately drawn to each other.
As Jack and Ellie struggle with their budding relationship, they unearth shattering secrets long buried and discover the two cases Jack is working, though fifty years apart, share a surprising connection that will rattle the town to its core.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Former FBI agent Jack McBride took the job as Chief of Police for Stillwater, Texas, to start a new life with his teenage son, Ethan, away from the suspicions that surrounded his wife’s disappearance a year earlier.
With a low crime rate and a five-man police force, he expected it to be a nice, easy gig; hot checks, traffic violations, some drugs, occasional domestic disturbances, and petty theft. Instead, within a week he is investigating a staged murder-suicide, uncovering a decades’ old skeleton buried in the woods, and managing the first crime wave in thirty years.
For help navigating his unfamiliar, small-town surroundings, Jack turns to Ellie Martin, one of the most respected women in town—her scandal-filled past notwithstanding. Despite Jack's murky marriage status and the disapproval of Ethan and the town, they are immediately drawn to each other.
As Jack and Ellie struggle with their budding relationship, they unearth shattering secrets long buried and discover the two cases Jack is working, though fifty years apart, share a surprising connection that will rattle the town to its core.
Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
264 people are currently reading
2178 people want to read
About the author
Melissa Lenhardt
10 books494 followersMelissa Lenhardt writes women’s fiction, historical fiction, and mysteries. The New York Times called HERESY an “unapologetically badass western” and “an all-out women-driven, queer, transgender, multiracial takeover of the Old West.” Heresy also won the 2022 Audie Award for Best Multi-Voiced Performance. Her debut women’s fiction novel, THE SECRET OF YOU AND ME, was the first LGBTQ+ novel published by Mills and Boon in the UK. A lifelong Texan, Melissa is currently traveling the world as a digital nomad.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
December 13, 2022
3.50 Stars — Stillwater is a novel that conflicts me in a number of ways. But for those whom enjoy a solid detective story, lighthearted humour and a bit of romance its perfect. If like me — you can tolerate a bit of romance then it’s still probably worth a look in.
Predominately, I’m eluding to the fact that it is certainly at the very least, 40% romance. Now I’m not so ‘typical male’ that I can’t tolerate any romance. However it by choice is just not really my kind of deal. In saying that, Melissa Lenhardt does a pretty good job of not making it all together sappy, it fits within narrative well and whilst it was definitely my least favourite component of the novel it does fit within the character development arc well and give aid to building tension in terms of keeping Jack Mcbride grounded and allowing his character flaws to be more apparent & showcases more of his fallibility, so all-in-all it’s wasn’t some of the more enjoyable passages, but it’s also not just in there for fun.
Jack Mcbride himself is likeable, unlike many of the other characters in this effort. Most are deeply entrenched in the asshole box, save for 2-3 minor characters. The town itself isn’t described in too much detail, something I think that could’ve been done better. In many novels such as this, the town is a character and here I didn’t feel that. We get history and descriptions here and there but largely it is the people we learn about, the town doesn’t have a great presence here, unfortunately. Much if that is down to the authors prose and style, but it’s pretty evident and I think this could’ve been a really strong novel with that atmospheric surrounding being explored more.
The author writes in a very simplistic, easy going style which supports the genre, yet there’s also a hint of something more now and again, especially pertaining to an almost fantasy style in terms of dropping small details in here and there to be used cleverly later. Not that this is new in mystery/drama but the way it is done shows the author thinks of things on a grander scale. On that note — the ending must be addressed. If you’re wanting a novel that resolves with things tied up neatly in a bow.. this isn’t for you! The author has clearly written this with a sequel in mind and it’s important to mention this, as the follow-up novel “Fisher King” is available but this is not a sequel that was determined after the success of the first novel, ergo this novel concludes. Much is left hanging in the air and is clearly designed to have people hanging for the second instalment. So that’s a big commitment to make and one many wouldn’t know of as many reviews also don’t mention this. It didn’t upset me, as I saw it coming and knew the sequel was already available, but it did upset many others especially those whom read this effort before there was a sequel available!
This was an enjoyable novel and could’ve easily been a strong 4 ⭐️ effort with just a bit more polish. It sneaks up on you and is a genuine page-turner, without being one that’s easily surmised pertaining to why it is such! But that’s not a bad thing. It means the characters are fleshed out fairly well (despite some not being done so well enough at the same time, ie the twin brother) and that the reader is caring about what happens to them. I found myself curious to know more about many of them, but I was more interested and concerned with how Jack Mcbride was going to emerge victorious and what the deeper mystery and reveal was going to be. But I guess I’ll have to read Fisher King to find out.
Predominately, I’m eluding to the fact that it is certainly at the very least, 40% romance. Now I’m not so ‘typical male’ that I can’t tolerate any romance. However it by choice is just not really my kind of deal. In saying that, Melissa Lenhardt does a pretty good job of not making it all together sappy, it fits within narrative well and whilst it was definitely my least favourite component of the novel it does fit within the character development arc well and give aid to building tension in terms of keeping Jack Mcbride grounded and allowing his character flaws to be more apparent & showcases more of his fallibility, so all-in-all it’s wasn’t some of the more enjoyable passages, but it’s also not just in there for fun.
Jack Mcbride himself is likeable, unlike many of the other characters in this effort. Most are deeply entrenched in the asshole box, save for 2-3 minor characters. The town itself isn’t described in too much detail, something I think that could’ve been done better. In many novels such as this, the town is a character and here I didn’t feel that. We get history and descriptions here and there but largely it is the people we learn about, the town doesn’t have a great presence here, unfortunately. Much if that is down to the authors prose and style, but it’s pretty evident and I think this could’ve been a really strong novel with that atmospheric surrounding being explored more.
The author writes in a very simplistic, easy going style which supports the genre, yet there’s also a hint of something more now and again, especially pertaining to an almost fantasy style in terms of dropping small details in here and there to be used cleverly later. Not that this is new in mystery/drama but the way it is done shows the author thinks of things on a grander scale. On that note — the ending must be addressed. If you’re wanting a novel that resolves with things tied up neatly in a bow.. this isn’t for you! The author has clearly written this with a sequel in mind and it’s important to mention this, as the follow-up novel “Fisher King” is available but this is not a sequel that was determined after the success of the first novel, ergo this novel concludes. Much is left hanging in the air and is clearly designed to have people hanging for the second instalment. So that’s a big commitment to make and one many wouldn’t know of as many reviews also don’t mention this. It didn’t upset me, as I saw it coming and knew the sequel was already available, but it did upset many others especially those whom read this effort before there was a sequel available!
This was an enjoyable novel and could’ve easily been a strong 4 ⭐️ effort with just a bit more polish. It sneaks up on you and is a genuine page-turner, without being one that’s easily surmised pertaining to why it is such! But that’s not a bad thing. It means the characters are fleshed out fairly well (despite some not being done so well enough at the same time, ie the twin brother) and that the reader is caring about what happens to them. I found myself curious to know more about many of them, but I was more interested and concerned with how Jack Mcbride was going to emerge victorious and what the deeper mystery and reveal was going to be. But I guess I’ll have to read Fisher King to find out.
February 22, 2017
This was one of the most frustrating, satisfying, annoying novels I’ve read in a long time. I put satisfying in the middle because, despite its faults, the book was a genuine page turner. Even when I was mad at the author, I wanted to know what would happen next.
After reading the sample on Amazon, I thought it looked like a good mystery so I ordered the whole book. I think it was just $1.99. Once I started reading it, I learned this was really a romance novel with a mystery tucked in.
Now I’ve got nothing against cozy mysteries. When my wife and I are taking long rides, I’ll happily listen to the adventures of Hamish Macbeth or Agatha Christie or some other writer whose victims expire with a minimum of blood and mess. I expect something a little more realistic and, yes, gritty, when I’m reading by myself, however. Some romance? Sure. I just don’t want adults well into middle age getting all pie-eyed when they see each other, acting in general like high school seniors with raging hormones. And I don’t care much for the politics of high school love either, but that’s just me. Both of these factors figured prominently in Ms. Lenhardt’s book.
Okay, I’ll admit I wanted to know what was going to happen with the relationships. I kind of cared for these people and I wanted to know who the killer(s) were/are. She’s a good writer and even though I tossed my Kindle down once in frustration (“this isn’t a mystery! It’s a romance novel!!”), I picked it up again because I paid 99 bucks for the Kindle and I shouldn’t treat it so shabbily and, dammit, I wanted to know how it was all going to turn out.
The mystery was pretty good and, yes, she leaves a lot of ends untied and her next book is a lot more expensive than the two bucks I spent on this one. I’ll pay fifteen bucks for a new Dennis Lehane novel, but probably not the follow on to this one. On the other hand, I see she’s got another book selling for $3.99. I might just pop for that.
Overall: good book, little heavy on romance, good characters, good writing, nice small-town feel, fair mystery. I’m a writer too, so I’ll forgive the author leaving loose ends for us to tie up in the next (more expensive) book. Yeah, I know I'm cheap. But like I said, I'm a writer too.
After reading the sample on Amazon, I thought it looked like a good mystery so I ordered the whole book. I think it was just $1.99. Once I started reading it, I learned this was really a romance novel with a mystery tucked in.
Now I’ve got nothing against cozy mysteries. When my wife and I are taking long rides, I’ll happily listen to the adventures of Hamish Macbeth or Agatha Christie or some other writer whose victims expire with a minimum of blood and mess. I expect something a little more realistic and, yes, gritty, when I’m reading by myself, however. Some romance? Sure. I just don’t want adults well into middle age getting all pie-eyed when they see each other, acting in general like high school seniors with raging hormones. And I don’t care much for the politics of high school love either, but that’s just me. Both of these factors figured prominently in Ms. Lenhardt’s book.
Okay, I’ll admit I wanted to know what was going to happen with the relationships. I kind of cared for these people and I wanted to know who the killer(s) were/are. She’s a good writer and even though I tossed my Kindle down once in frustration (“this isn’t a mystery! It’s a romance novel!!”), I picked it up again because I paid 99 bucks for the Kindle and I shouldn’t treat it so shabbily and, dammit, I wanted to know how it was all going to turn out.
The mystery was pretty good and, yes, she leaves a lot of ends untied and her next book is a lot more expensive than the two bucks I spent on this one. I’ll pay fifteen bucks for a new Dennis Lehane novel, but probably not the follow on to this one. On the other hand, I see she’s got another book selling for $3.99. I might just pop for that.
Overall: good book, little heavy on romance, good characters, good writing, nice small-town feel, fair mystery. I’m a writer too, so I’ll forgive the author leaving loose ends for us to tie up in the next (more expensive) book. Yeah, I know I'm cheap. But like I said, I'm a writer too.
February 22, 2015
So so good! I had the opportunity to read be an early reader, and this book had me hooked. Well-written, suspenseful, and filled with personality, I highly recommend it to mystery fans!
November 26, 2015
The story was good as well as the mystery. However... nothing was resolved, or at least it didn't feel as if it was. I detest cliffhangers and maybe that isn't quite what this was, but I am left feeling very confused. None of the other reviews mention this abrupt, unresolved ending... I think I need to find a new site for reviews, Its starting to feel like Amazon all over again ( yeah I know Amazon owns this site now.)
February 15, 2016
I got really caught up in the positive Reviews for the book and think I had unrealistic expectations.
1. The writing is poor. There's a few stories happening with multiple really awkward relationships. It's almost like the author wanted to write a mystery and then with no romance writing experience, decided to throw that in too.
2. It's also not a mystery. There's a cop. And crime. But that hardly classifies it as a mystery. There's more than one half hearted crime that instantly link everything to one person but the details are foggy and there's really no substance to any of it. All of this is aware early on. Every crime also gets wrapped up rather quickly and then it's just awkward relationships again.
3. The ending is an embarrassment. Plain and simple.
Child molesters. Prostitution. Nazis. All elements that really had nothing to do with anything.
1. The writing is poor. There's a few stories happening with multiple really awkward relationships. It's almost like the author wanted to write a mystery and then with no romance writing experience, decided to throw that in too.
2. It's also not a mystery. There's a cop. And crime. But that hardly classifies it as a mystery. There's more than one half hearted crime that instantly link everything to one person but the details are foggy and there's really no substance to any of it. All of this is aware early on. Every crime also gets wrapped up rather quickly and then it's just awkward relationships again.
3. The ending is an embarrassment. Plain and simple.
Child molesters. Prostitution. Nazis. All elements that really had nothing to do with anything.
September 29, 2015
Author here: I hope you enjoy reading STILLWATER!
May 22, 2017
WoW, way to leave it at a cliffhanger.
July 24, 2016
I don't even know where to begin. I had such high hopes for this book and I've just suffered a huge letdown. First, the book ended with nothing being resolved. None of the numerous storylines were tied up in a nice little package and no one got a happy ending. In addition, the end was so totally predictable. I could see it coming from a mile away but kept hoping the author would surprise me.
Jack had come to live in Stillwater with his son, Ethan, after his wife, Ethan's mother, left them. Jack is the new chief of police. The old chief resigned and there were definite signs of corruption and even something more. A couple of his co-workers are in the man's pocket and he wonders who he can trust. In addition, right off the bat he is called to a double murder staged to look like a murder suicide. Then a young boy finds a skeleton in the woods, which they come to find out is a woman who supposedly ran off years ago. In the middle of trying to solve the cases, Ethan is giving him problems while blaming Jack for his mom's leaving. When Jack gets involved with a local woman and informs Ethan he is going to file for divorce, their already strained relationship takes another hit.
I worked my way through the entire story, actually enjoying the writing style and the characters but then the cold case ends up at a dead end, unresolved. The murder suicide is solved but there's more to the story that hasn't completely been revealed. That ends up being another loose end because one of the bad guys is on the run. All this left me very frustrated. But the real killer was when Jack's ex turns up at the very end, shortly after he gets involved with Ellie. So the story ends with Ellie telling him he has to try and make things work with his wife!
This is the very reason I absolutely hate soap operas. This book should have come with a warning. Truthfully, Jack's failure to solve his cases and catch all the bad guys makes him seem rather incompetent on the job. And none of his relationships are successful either. His son, his ex, his current interest, and even his co-workers . . . The only reason I gave it two stars was the fact the writing itself was good. I kept waiting for something more but it simply didn't deliver.
Jack had come to live in Stillwater with his son, Ethan, after his wife, Ethan's mother, left them. Jack is the new chief of police. The old chief resigned and there were definite signs of corruption and even something more. A couple of his co-workers are in the man's pocket and he wonders who he can trust. In addition, right off the bat he is called to a double murder staged to look like a murder suicide. Then a young boy finds a skeleton in the woods, which they come to find out is a woman who supposedly ran off years ago. In the middle of trying to solve the cases, Ethan is giving him problems while blaming Jack for his mom's leaving. When Jack gets involved with a local woman and informs Ethan he is going to file for divorce, their already strained relationship takes another hit.
I worked my way through the entire story, actually enjoying the writing style and the characters but then the cold case ends up at a dead end, unresolved. The murder suicide is solved but there's more to the story that hasn't completely been revealed. That ends up being another loose end because one of the bad guys is on the run. All this left me very frustrated. But the real killer was when Jack's ex turns up at the very end, shortly after he gets involved with Ellie. So the story ends with Ellie telling him he has to try and make things work with his wife!
This is the very reason I absolutely hate soap operas. This book should have come with a warning. Truthfully, Jack's failure to solve his cases and catch all the bad guys makes him seem rather incompetent on the job. And none of his relationships are successful either. His son, his ex, his current interest, and even his co-workers . . . The only reason I gave it two stars was the fact the writing itself was good. I kept waiting for something more but it simply didn't deliver.
September 29, 2016
Good debut novel.
Interesting characters live in this small town, some live with terrible secrets. Ex-FBI agent after losing his job comes to town as a sheriff with his teenage son. Almost a year ago his wife left him, all he wanted to heal and relax in this town with almost no crime. He was very wrong, first day two killings, next day skeleton discovered in the field. His son having a hard time at the new school, and wants his mother back. Author Melissa Lenhardt writes romance books mostly, and I don't read them, read many good reviews on the Goodreads about this book, also like to buy and read books written by female authors, to encourage others. Not many of them writes mystery/thrillers. "Center fold of National Geographic" really had a good laugh, that was really good Ms Lenhardt.
Interesting characters live in this small town, some live with terrible secrets. Ex-FBI agent after losing his job comes to town as a sheriff with his teenage son. Almost a year ago his wife left him, all he wanted to heal and relax in this town with almost no crime. He was very wrong, first day two killings, next day skeleton discovered in the field. His son having a hard time at the new school, and wants his mother back. Author Melissa Lenhardt writes romance books mostly, and I don't read them, read many good reviews on the Goodreads about this book, also like to buy and read books written by female authors, to encourage others. Not many of them writes mystery/thrillers. "Center fold of National Geographic" really had a good laugh, that was really good Ms Lenhardt.
July 28, 2015
I'm the literary agent for this amazing new mystery series, debuting in October, and I love it. The characters jump off the page and they have so many interesting subplots that by the end of the book, you feel like you live in Stillwater too (and you kinda want to check the wooded area in your backyard to make sure there isn't a skeleton buried out there). I hope all you readers enjoy it as much as I did.
March 12, 2021
Perhaps if you were looking for a steamy soap opera quality romance, you would find this book enjoyable. However, if you were looking for a mystery, I doubt it, as very few pages are devoted to the actual crimes, despite the books' description which focused on the mystery aspect of the story not the romance. Worse yet, at least for me, were the countless stereotypes the author fell back on to advance the mystery and romance: the redneck small town; the corrupt local law enforcement; gossipy women; southern damsels in distress; love at first sight, and a former FBI agent (personality bizarrely somewhere between caveman Neanderthal and gallant knight) turned small town police chief who is too horny, too smitten or just too stupid, to have the good sense to proceed to the police station to film the confession of the suspect before heading to his girlfriend's to have passionate sex. Very disappointing!
October 27, 2015
It has been a long time since I picked up a modern-day mystery and I'm very glad I picked this one. "Stillwater" is engaging and compelling - an interesting blend of police procedural and Southern storytelling. On the one hand there is a tangled mystery with multiple layers and plenty of clues for the sharp-eyed reader. On the other hand there is a slate of compelling and interesting characters, with many leaping off the page in the manner of a Lee Smith or Jill McCorkle. Jack and Ethan, Ellie and Miner...character after character is given just enough touches to make them feel real without feeling bogged down.
All of this is set in a small Texas town so vibrantly drawn that it almost seems to be another character in the story. My only complaints would be that the introduction of the second mystery somewhat dragged events away from the first, leaving both with perhaps not quite enough page time, and that a certain event near the end of the story was a bit too on the nose. However, since a follow-up is in the works, I'll forgive that last one as it provides plenty of potential conflict going in to the next book. And that's another book I'll be picking up when the time comes.
Recommended for mystery/police procedural fans and also for fans of Southern fiction.
All of this is set in a small Texas town so vibrantly drawn that it almost seems to be another character in the story. My only complaints would be that the introduction of the second mystery somewhat dragged events away from the first, leaving both with perhaps not quite enough page time, and that a certain event near the end of the story was a bit too on the nose. However, since a follow-up is in the works, I'll forgive that last one as it provides plenty of potential conflict going in to the next book. And that's another book I'll be picking up when the time comes.
Recommended for mystery/police procedural fans and also for fans of Southern fiction.
July 3, 2018
This book has the makings of a good story. But it just did not get there. Too many things are left unresolved, but not in the way of a “cliffhanger”. Beyond that, I’m left asking myself is this a crime drama or a somewhat sappy love story? It tries to be both. At least it is a quick read.
September 15, 2020
I’m debating between 3.5 and 4 stars. The story was good overall and I liked the characters for the most part. I sort of hate small towns from personal experience though so it was kind of bittersweet to be sucked into this small town story. There was a bit too much time devoted to the love story for my personal preference. It’s not that I dislike a love story but when I read a mystery I don’t want there to be too much of that ‘love stuff’ distracting me from the must-figure-out-what-is-going-on hysteria. I was really getting angry at Jack for not telling his son anything about his Mom. I liked him and I wanted to throttle him. The more I reflect on this book, the more I’m inclined to move closer to a 3 star review. Too formulaic? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just 3 am and I’m being too judgemental. If any of my friends out there have read this book or anything by this author I would love to hear what you think.
June 24, 2021
Murder solved
I really enjoyed this read. At times there were tangents of information I thought was too much but 1/4 into the book the author was able to get it under control. I liked and disliked characters and some scenarios I was able to call but the most part the read was entertaining and hard to place down. Ready to read the next McBride Mystery.
I really enjoyed this read. At times there were tangents of information I thought was too much but 1/4 into the book the author was able to get it under control. I liked and disliked characters and some scenarios I was able to call but the most part the read was entertaining and hard to place down. Ready to read the next McBride Mystery.
October 12, 2020
The story drags on without any resolution, just a lot of loose ends. The book ends in several cliffhangers, none of which are engaging enough to actually search if a sequel exists.
August 5, 2022
I throughly enjoyed the detective story line of this book! But way to sexual additions through out the investigation! There is a sequel but unsure of my desire to read, due to the sex inserts! Guess my prude-ness ways is showing up!
August 21, 2016
This book was mediocre at best; it felt very disorganized and sloppily written. The plot did not grip me at all and there was nothing really driving it forward to pull me into the "can't stop reading, must know what happens" zone. I realize that in real life things do not tie up in a nice neat little package with no loose ends but it did not feel as if the mysteries had much closure. It's like the author lost interest in her mystery story halfway though in favour of writing about the main character's love life, because it was reading like a romance towards the end.
Oh, and the main character is supposed to be half-Latino and fluent in Spanish yet the small amount of Spanish in this book was atrocious! It made it very hard to believe this character actually spoke Spanish. He first introduces himself to a Mexican by saying "Me llamo es Jack McBride" which translates to "I call myself is Jack McBride"; the "es" should not be there. Or the author could've used "Mi nombre es Jack McBride." And further on in the book a Mexican says "No habla inglés" referring to herself... but habla is the third person conjugation (hablo being first person). So we're led to believe that this Mexican woman doesn't know how to say "I don't speak English" in her own language? Just to make sure I wasn't crazy or forgetting my Spanish, I ran the intended phrases through Google Translate and was correct. I guess the author must've been using Bing for her translations.
Oh, and the main character is supposed to be half-Latino and fluent in Spanish yet the small amount of Spanish in this book was atrocious! It made it very hard to believe this character actually spoke Spanish. He first introduces himself to a Mexican by saying "Me llamo es Jack McBride" which translates to "I call myself is Jack McBride"; the "es" should not be there. Or the author could've used "Mi nombre es Jack McBride." And further on in the book a Mexican says "No habla inglés" referring to herself... but habla is the third person conjugation (hablo being first person). So we're led to believe that this Mexican woman doesn't know how to say "I don't speak English" in her own language? Just to make sure I wasn't crazy or forgetting my Spanish, I ran the intended phrases through Google Translate and was correct. I guess the author must've been using Bing for her translations.
April 19, 2018
I'll say this up-front - I really enjoyed Stillwater and look forward to reading more in the series. That said, it really suffered from an identity crisis.
There's a new sheriff in town - literally. Jack McBride, former FBI agent, takes the job of sheriff in small-town Texas where gossip spreads faster than the Texas heat. Predictably, he finds folks he can trust and those he can't all while trying to solve two crimes. We meet interesting characters and watch events unfold in a well-drawn small town atmosphere.
So, where's the identity crisis?
Halfway through the novel, the author seems to become more interested in Jack's life as well as his potential love interest and less focused on the mysteries McBride is tasked with solving. It seemed to slowly switch genres from mystery to romance. It's not problematic since I liked the characters and ultimately wanted to see how their relationships evolved, but there wasn't great resolution to the mysteries or some of the important sub-plots. Instead, we were presented with cliffhangers and the prospect of investing in the second novel to find resolution. It's an annoying trend that I'm seeing more and more.
There's a new sheriff in town - literally. Jack McBride, former FBI agent, takes the job of sheriff in small-town Texas where gossip spreads faster than the Texas heat. Predictably, he finds folks he can trust and those he can't all while trying to solve two crimes. We meet interesting characters and watch events unfold in a well-drawn small town atmosphere.
So, where's the identity crisis?
Halfway through the novel, the author seems to become more interested in Jack's life as well as his potential love interest and less focused on the mysteries McBride is tasked with solving. It seemed to slowly switch genres from mystery to romance. It's not problematic since I liked the characters and ultimately wanted to see how their relationships evolved, but there wasn't great resolution to the mysteries or some of the important sub-plots. Instead, we were presented with cliffhangers and the prospect of investing in the second novel to find resolution. It's an annoying trend that I'm seeing more and more.
February 11, 2016
OMG! THERE IS NO HEA! WTF?
What the hell did I just read? If just one reviewer would have said there was NO HEA I would never have bought this book. NEVER.
I’m so disappointed I can’t believe it. That won’t take away from my 5 star review because it was a great mystery/suspense but it stops me from ever reading this author again. If you’re going to put a man and woman in your book and have them fall in love then give them a HEA not what you did, Ms. Lenhardt.
I liked the players: Miner, Freeman, Buck, Diego, Kelly, Jane, Marta, Esperanza, they were all wonderfully written. But they can’t make up for the horrendous ending.
As to the narrator: He was phenomenal. Once you knew who the players were you just knew who was talking before the book ever told you, male and female. He laughed, whispered, cried, yelled, every emotion there was, he did. I’ve never listened to Mr. Dufris before but I WILL go through his 386 narrations and see if he’s done anything else I’d be interested in. I sure hope he’s done some historical novels. He is just spectacular!!!
What the hell did I just read? If just one reviewer would have said there was NO HEA I would never have bought this book. NEVER.
I’m so disappointed I can’t believe it. That won’t take away from my 5 star review because it was a great mystery/suspense but it stops me from ever reading this author again. If you’re going to put a man and woman in your book and have them fall in love then give them a HEA not what you did, Ms. Lenhardt.
I liked the players: Miner, Freeman, Buck, Diego, Kelly, Jane, Marta, Esperanza, they were all wonderfully written. But they can’t make up for the horrendous ending.
As to the narrator: He was phenomenal. Once you knew who the players were you just knew who was talking before the book ever told you, male and female. He laughed, whispered, cried, yelled, every emotion there was, he did. I’ve never listened to Mr. Dufris before but I WILL go through his 386 narrations and see if he’s done anything else I’d be interested in. I sure hope he’s done some historical novels. He is just spectacular!!!
September 29, 2015
Moving to Stillwater, Texas, may have sounded peaceful for ex-FBI agent Jack McBride, but as he takes over in the town as chief of police, life is anything but dull. McBride and teenage son, Ethan, are looking to settle down and get away from the suspicions about his missing wife. Within a week, however, a young couple is found dead and a decades old skeleton is found. The scene of the deceased couple looks like an open and shut murder-suicide. But McBride has a sense it was anything but. McBride develops an intriguing relationship with local bookstore owner, Ellie, and begins to discover that Stillwater is not as quiet as it seems; rather, it runs thick with corruption, mystery and deception. Lenhardt’s voice is outstanding, her characters pop off the page and keep you turning pages deep into the night.
February 14, 2016
There was too much going on in this book that bothered me and made me roll my eyes thinking what are these characters doing! If Ellie has had such terrible relationships with men in her life, like Daddy issues and a really bad marriage, and is guarded and private about her personal life why would she jump into bed with a virtual stranger she has known less than a week? That's a very big weakness in a supposedly strong character. Also for an FBI agent, Jack can sometimes be an idiot like the incident in the car with prisoner Diego and then again not Mirandizing suspect Freeman. for a person on a brand new job in a new town with major cases, he walks around with his mind in his pants. Makes for a really big flaw in his character. And though I know this is to be s series, there was too much left unaddressed at the end of the book.
January 26, 2017
Really frustrating book. When I finished I wondered what was compelling about any of the characters that would make someone want to write a book about them. That a small town cop in his first week on the job would encounter a double murder and a 50 yr old dead body
November 21, 2015
Big things are afoot in little Stillwater, Texas and disgraced FBI Agent, Jack McBride - the new Chief of Police must use everything in his small town arsenal to figure them out.
Melissa Lenhardt's debut, STILLWATER: A JACK McBRIDE MYSTERY is a wonderfully written, deeply layered mystery that unearth's one surprising secret after another until the bitter end. A very enjoyable read that already has you anticipating the next installment.
Melissa Lenhardt's debut, STILLWATER: A JACK McBRIDE MYSTERY is a wonderfully written, deeply layered mystery that unearth's one surprising secret after another until the bitter end. A very enjoyable read that already has you anticipating the next installment.
September 28, 2015
I read. A lot. As a matter of fact, I preordered this book on Amazon and read it in three days. And I'm not easy to please as mystery is my genre of choice. But I have to say, Stillwater was fantastic. Melissa Lenhardt kept pulling surprises out of the plot. She nailed small town Texas without tropes or cliches. The characters were well defined and came alive on the page. (Ethan was my favorite). The only bad thing I have to say about the book is that now I have to wait for the next one!
November 3, 2015
I am so excited to share this book with my friends! The author is a childhood friend of mine, so OF COURSE I was going to read the book no matter what, but I have to say....this book is awesome. I am super impressed. I love a good crime drama, and Melissa hits all of the elements, including a strong, female heroine. I can't recommend this book highly enough. And I loved making all the comparisons to the book with my hometown.
September 1, 2015
What a wonderful suspenseful story about a former FBI agent turned small town sheriff. I hope this is a new series as Jack and his son move to the small town of Stillwater and encounter a murder on their first day in town. Lots of action and intrigue, romance and secrets. From blackmail, illegal immigrants, drug running to child porn this story covers them all. Well written, I'll be looking for more books by Melissa Lenhardt.
March 12, 2016
Wow, this book was good. I downloaded a copy when I saw that it was set in East Texas, and I was expecting a typical light and fluffy read. While it wasn't heavy lifting, the writing was surprisingly impressive. Lenhardt can write dialogue like few people I've read, and she managed to craft a story that was interesting and didn't fall into the same typical plots that are so common in popular fiction. I really loved it and will be looking out for the second Jack McBride installment.
August 12, 2016
I was REALLY hoping for a new mystery/crime series starring a Quinn or a Jesse or a Harry...but Jack McBride is not it! This book should be listed as a romance novel with an uninteresting crime on the side.
March 13, 2016
I was under the impression this was a mystery. In my view, there was too much soft-core romance and not nearly enough mystery. Probably won't read any more in the series, if they happen. Simply wasn't for me.
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