The Right Side of Wrong

Red River Mystery #3

by Reavis Z. Wortham

"A sleeper that deserves wider attention." —The New York Times

As 1965 draws to a close, Constable Cody Parker of Center Springs, Texas, has a frightening sense of gathering storm clouds. His dreams prove accurate when he is ambushed and nearly killed on a lonely country road during an unusually heavy snowfall. The attack leads locals to worry that a terrifying killer known as "The Skinner" has returned.

As his nephew, Cody, recovers, Constable Ned Parker struggles to connect a seemingly unrelated series of murders, and the people of northeast Texas wonder why their once peaceful community has suddenly become a dangerous place to live.

Investigating, Ned, Cody, and deputy John Washington cross paths with many colorful characters: cranky old Judge O.C. Rains; the jittery little farmer Isaac Reader; the Wilson boys, Ty Cobb and Jimmy Foxx; and a mysterious old man named Tom Bell. Of course, Ned's preteen grandchildren, Top and Pepper, are underfoot at every turn.

When Cody follows his main suspect across the Rio Grande into Mexico, Ned understands that to save his nephew, he will have to cross more than a river: he will have to cross over to the right side of wrong.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Westerns, Novels

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Reavis Z. Wortham retired in 2011 and now works harder than before as the author of the critically acclaimed Red River historical mystery series. Kirkus Reviews listed his first novel, The Rock Hole, as one of their Top 12 Mysteries of 2011. True West Magazine included Dark Places as one of 2015’s Top 12 Modern Westerns. The Providence Journal writes, “This year's Unraveled is a hidden gem of a book that reads like Craig Johnson's Longmire on steroids.” Wortham’s new high octane contemporary thriller from Kensington Publishing, Hawke's Prey, featuring Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke was released in June, 2017.

Reviews

[Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

just a great series. I'm half way through and am going to be sad probably when I finish the series.

[Sydney Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why, Mr. Wortham, I do believe you have hit your stride. I really believed in Book 1. I struggled with Book 2, for multiple reasons. But I was told to keep going,and I finally have. This one is a solid hit, the place and characters are coming alive!

[Ronna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This third installment of the Red River mysteries is once again a good old fashioned, rip roaring, 1960's, Texas, western. The story combines more modern day western thrills with lawmakers and desperadoes, and great yarns narrated by a couple of pre-teen scalawags. You'll pardon my language, considering I just finished this thoroughly entertaining book!

Constable Cody Parker was shot at while driving down a backroad during an unusual Texas snow storm. Badly smashed within his car and a tree, Cody is rescued by a new elderly man in town, Tom Bell, just in time to save Cody's body from becoming food for a hungry pack of wild dogs. Constable Ned Parker begins the search for the shooter and finds himself caught in a new evil coming to his town. Tearing down illegal whiskey stills was easy work compared to the trouble caused by these new drug traders. Meanwhile, the kids, Top and Pepper, are satisfying their curiosity about, Ted Bell. Thus the adventures and goosebumps begin!! And good men have to make choices that may put them on the right side of wrong to save the good guys!

Once again, Wortham combines, mystery, thrills, humor, and good old fashioned story telling as his characters get into, and barley out of, trouble. Red River is still a distinctly segregated place, but the main characters are a mix of whites, blacks, American Indians, and Mexicans who defy these boundaries within their communities to work and love together, as God intended. The misadventures of Top and Pepper add a rich element to the story as well. This book is not quit like any other book out there today, and is a greatly appreciated change. I thoroughly enjoyed this third installment, and am looking forward to many more books from Reavis Z Wortham.

[Sally Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite out of the 3.

[CW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fun and entertaining novel in the Red River Mystery Series. Reavis Wortham once again does a great job with a mystery set in Northeast Texas during the 1960s. The Right Side of Wrong is sometimes so intense that the reader will be on the edge of his seat and other times will be falling out of their seats laughing. Wortham does a great job of mixing in several humorous situations into this novel.

Constables Ned and Cody Parker and the rest of the gang are faced with another crime wave around Center Springs, Texas. Top and Pepper once again find themselves getting into potentially harmful situations. This book ended up taking a big turn towards the end that I did not see coming, but made the book even more exciting. All the usual suspects are back from his previous novels, but it is not necessary to read the other books first because each book is an individual story. That being said, I strongly encourage you to pick up his other books as well!

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is apparently the third book in this series but I didn't feel lost without having read the others. There was some back story that I had to pick up but it was explained in passing and wasn't that important or hard to piece together to interrupt the flow of the story. I often found myself forgetting what time period the story was set in until someone made a racist comment about a black lawman, and different dining rooms for "coloreds", that always threw me. The mystery is multi-layered and without revealing a lot of plot lets just say that as they continue to investigate they find a much bigger mystery with players that have much more to lose. I loved the characters and the two pre-teens who are always getting in trouble really help move the story along. I would consider myself a new fan.

[Sandra Brannan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single time Rev comes out with a new book, it has become my favorite! This is most certainly no exception. Gotta read it!

[David Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the good work in recreating Texas of the 1960s is thrown away in a totally absurd ending.

http://opionator.wordpress.com/2013/1...

[Lisa Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Constable Cody Parker nearly dies after an early morning ambush. While he recovers, two bodies are found and a drug ring stakes a foothold in nearby Chisolm, Texas. Ned and Miss Becky get a new neighbor. There's something about him that peaks Ned's curiosity, but he can't put his finger on what. He likes the man, but there's no such thing as coincidence in a constable's mind.

The Red River mystery series continues with book three. I struggle for a way to express the shortcomings. This series focuses on the Parker family. There is a lot of day to day life in the sixties, which I like, that revolves around solving murders. This book lacked a cohesion between the clues coming to light that is hard describe.

Spoiler Alert****

It would have been satisfying to see the dirty cop get taken in and instead we have several chapters of a jail break in Mexico. That entire sequence didn't serve any purpose that I can see other than giving me chapters to read through. So the drugs were coming up from Mexico. Really, who cares? Tom Bell turns out to be someone far more than you were thinking. That's nothing but a couple lines at the end of the book. Seriously, that's all we get? The dirty cop we suspected, wasn't dirty alone. Again, a couple lines at the end of the book. They tell us the case gets solved.

This story revolved around a drug transport line being formed and the Parkers stopping it, and we really don't get to see that. The dreams Cody has don't fit into the events as tightly as I would have liked. Top's dream doesn't figure in that I can see. The book starting with the ambush on Cody even seems off now as we have to work backwards to figure out why he was even targeted, and the reason is pretty flimsy. I was disappointed in this installment compared to the other two books.

[Elsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Constable Cody Parker is shot during a snowstorm and left for dead but thanks to Tom Bell, an old-timer returning to his roots after living many years in the Valley, he is saved. His uncle, Ned Parker, retired but reappointed as constable searches for the shooter. Dead moonshiners, reports of large quantities of marijuana and the subsequent deaths of those reporting, and Ned's preteen grandchildren's - Top and Pepper - activities keep the action going. After Cody's recovery, he joins the investigations along with John Washington, the county's black deputy; eventually, the answers and action cross the border into Mexico and things really start popping!

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has many very good elements, but it tries to do too much. The result is that the story is significantly less tightly crafted than the first two books in the series.

The characters are still very sympathetic and they develop in interesting ways through the course of the book. The time and place are still well-presented. But the plot is too far-reaching and fragmented to work well.

Still recommended, but if this were the first book in the series, I would be hesitant to continue.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this local author's Red River mysteries because they take place just across the river from the place I grew up. Top and Pepper, whose grandfather is the local constable, are always entertaining and they would be about my age. I especially enjoy Wortham's use of dialect and terms from my childhood like "no idy", "bar ditch", and "Jack Robinson". I hope he continues the series.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wished I had read these books in the correct order, but I didn’t. This one is a bit mediocre for about half. The second half is wild and action filled. I am generally against corporal punishment these days, but Pepper is deserving. The entire family has good sense, except for her. She is willful and arrogant and doesn’t appear to understand consequences.

[Mary Stenvall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is third in the Red River mystery series, although they aren't mysteries. I enjoy the characters and the representation of the times - from late fifties through early sixties. The second was a little wordy, this one better. I will definitely read the next one.

[Tim Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

#3 in “The Red River Mystery Series.” The story continues as the Parkers live through the 1960s, with social changes creeping into their North Texas agricultural community.
Don’t miss ANY of this series! Reavis Z. Wortham should be on the reading list of every Texana enthusiast!

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books !

I’m a Texan, born and bred and these novels are set in Texas. The setting is the 1960s. One of my favorite eras. Everything from the hilarious to the tragic and you will frown and bust out laughing on the same page. Some of the best books I’ve ever read.

[J Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

I decided to try this as an e-book because it was drastically discounted. Unfortunately, it’s too expensive at any price. This is terrible writing and you should not waste your time with it. If it’s the only book you can find, just go ahead and use it to start a fire.

[Bill Lents · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down home action...

Felt like I was back down in North Texas reading this story. I could even hear the drawl in the words. Homesick and felt pride while reading, or more like living in the story. We'll done.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very engaging but I found it trite. It was almost a fairy tale but in the cowboy genre. If only things were so black and white. Very little depth and nuance in the characters. Historically, it was an accurate stereotype.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining installment in a great series. I love this Author!

[Caren · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good suspense novel from Reavis Wortham. Not as powerful as his previous book in the series, but still well-written with characters you just have to enjoy.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!!!

I love this series. Every book is a new chapter in the lives of the Parker family. So genuine and gritty. Reavis Z Wortham is a master storyteller.

[Laura Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very similar to the Alafair Tucker Mystery Series, except about 50 years later and more violent with more profanity.

[Tracy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

good ole fashioned whodunnut

[Roger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

[Deb Outland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I mostly enjoyed this third book in the Red River Mystery series, I missed the strong characterization in the first two novels. It won’t make me abandon this series, though.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3rd book in series about law officers in rural part of Texas in the 1960s. Still strict separation based on race.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best book in the series so far. I really enjoyed this one which was refreshing as after the second, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue. Looking forward to reading number four.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reavis Wortham's Red River mystery series continues to solidify its position as one of my favorites. I'm torn between wanting to get caught up (I'm within one book of that goal) and wanting to save Vengeance Is Mine as one of my "go to books" in case I have a string of bad reading luck. Decisions, decisions!

In the mean time, I read The Right Side of Wrong much too quickly. I couldn't help myself. It has all the characters I've grown to love: Ned Parker, his wife Miss Becky, his grandson Top, his nephew Cody Parker, Deputy John Washington, and Judge O.C. Rains. An added bonus in this book is a new character, the mysterious Tom Bell, whom I immediately liked. For any of you already acquainted with this marvelous series, you will have noted that I didn't include Pepper in the group of characters I love. That little girl just plain annoys the stuffing out of me, and I wish Top would grow a spine and say no to her hare-brained schemes!

Wortham's Texas in the mid-1960s is pitch perfect as always. Growing up in a rural farm community as I did, he can put me right in the middle of a scene with just one well-chosen word. (The word this time was "bobwire." That's what folks where I grew up always called barbed wire.) Center Springs is a microcosm of our country during the '60s, and The Right Side of Wrong shows us the beginnings of a problem that haunts us to this day and its effects on a small community.

It also shows us how strong prejudice was then and that bigots still had the upper hand; however, we're also shown that the wall is beginning to crumble due to the behavior of people like the Parkers, Judge Rains, and John Washington.

Wortham knows how to write action scenes that will make your hands shake as you try to find a faster way to turn the pages. This time, our heroes travel across the Rio Grande into Mexico in an adventure so dangerous it curled my hair. Wow.

Now this time the Bad-Guy-in-Charge was rather easy for me to deduce, but as in all well-told tales, it's not always the who that makes the story, sometimes it's the how. Watching the judge and the Parkers figure out how to bring him down put a smile on my face.

Reavis Wortham can make you laugh. He can make you cry. He can make you remember your own childhood. He can also make you hunker down so deep inside a story that you don't want to come up for air. You can read these Red River mysteries as standalones and enjoy them, but I don't recommend taking that path. These characters are so wonderful that I strongly urge you to start at the beginning (The Rock Hole) because once you have, you won't want to miss a single chapter in their lives. Do you like Craig Johnson? Peter Bowen? C.J. Box? Donis Casey? William Kent Krueger's Ordinary Grace? If you do, chances are excellent that you'll like Reavis Wortham, too.

Now if I could only make myself stop staring at that lone Red River mystery sitting over there on that shelf....